Welcome to the Week 9 Newsletter. Whilst a busy one, this week can often be a time where we lose a bit of steam or motivation as we reach for the final week of term and the upcoming school holidays. Maintaining momentum is what is key at such times; knowing that we just keep moving forward. The  STEM and BOOK Fairs this week and the CST Mascot Launch Day next week  are certainly ensuring that momentum continues.

Last week I dealt with a number of matters that on the surface might have indicated a trend of poor choices for students. And while individually they were, my job is often to look at the whole picture in context. It is only when you step back and consider that we are not dealing with these things every week, that you realise just how well the students are doing for this point of the year. Term 3 is that last peak before the journey to the end of the year begins and Week 8 - 9 of Term 3 could be seen as the steepest part of that peak. It reminds me of a long favourite poem of mine. I appreciate that 10 weeks between holidays does not seem a long period of time to adults, but to little people and little learners these last few weeks can feel an eternity. Girls and Boys, you are doing great. Keep Focus, Keep Going or as Dory says, "Just keep swimming". 

Introducing our Class Mascots - part of our Catholic Social Teaching Project 

In recent newsletters we have discussed the Catholic Social Teachings (CST) that seek to apply the Gospel Values to the changing social realities of our times. It calls on people of faith to engage with the world in a way that promotes justice, peace, and the dignity of every person. Our challenge in this project is how to bring the CST into the everyday lives of the SBE community, particualrly our young people.

The CST Class Mascot project has emerged in response to the challenge of making the sometimes complex ideas of the CST accessible for the students at SBE. In making them well-known, referenced across all areas of learning and articulated as a guide for all, we can rise to the challenge of making the world a better place. This week we want to briefly introduce each of our class mascots and the lessons (CST) that they learn along their journey. Perhaps your child could give you some more clues about their mascot and their champion CST (a sneak preview before our major launch). 

We will share a great deal more of each mascot's story at our CST Mascot Launch Day Assembly on the 27th September. Everyone Welcome. Invitation is below. 

CST_Mascot_Launch_Day_Inivitation.pdf

CST_Mascot_Launch_Day_Inivitation _pdf 1.36 MB

Student Disco

A wonderful night at our student disco last week. The student responded marvellously to the 80s theme and danced their shoes off. For some teachers, it just felt like the good old days.

It was a joy to watch, and the students were very well behaved.  A huge thanks to the P & F who ensured the canteen was full of treats to replenish energies and continue the party. 

Have a great week, 

Jules Mulhearn

Perpetual Day of Rememberance

Sunday September 15 was an important day in our Diocese. It is known as our Perpetual Day of Remembrance. Now we pause to remember that children have not always been safe. Lots of things have changed since then. You will recall that last week we celebrated National Child Protection Week when we highlighted all the good things we do these days to make sure children and young people feel safe and supported in our schools and the broader Church. 

It is important that all of us do our part to make sure everyone in our school – students, staff and families – feel safe, respected and supported. Sunday was a day to focus on Jesus and pray that we will keep changing and growing and behaving in ways that allow all people in our community to be safe, to be respected and to be free to learn and grow.  

So, let us pray together that Jesus will be our light, helping us to see how to love and respect each other so that our school community radiates the love and compassion of God.  

DIET AND NUTRITION

Our final two weeks of Wellbeing Lessons this term will focus on Diet and Nutrition. Below is the overview of this weeks articles from our SchoolTV site.

Families today, with school-age children, have very busy schedules. This can sometimes make it hard to sit down to homemade meals every day when there is such an abundance of pre-packaged and processed food at the available. However, it is still important to teach your kids healthy eating habits. Diet and nutrition is crucial to your child’s development. Not only can it prevent many chronic diseases, but it also impacts on your child’s brain development and learning abilities.

There are many benefits to incorporating a healthy diet and good nutrition. It can stabilise your child’s energy, improve their mood and maintain a healthy weight. Not only will it improve their general wellbeing, but it can also have a positive impact on their mental health.

During our lessons I will share with your child information about the five food groups and eating a balanced diet. This information will be shared at the appropriate grade level for your child through fun activities, games and informative tasks.

Below is a link to our School TV Channel which has an abundance of useful resources and information.

https://edgeworth.catholic.schooltv.me/newsletter/diet-nutrition

KINDERGARTEN 2025 PLAYGROUP

At Saint Benedict’s as a staff, we decided to implement a Playgroup for our 2025 incoming Kindergarten students and their care givers. We believe that this opportunity will play a crucial part in students’ preparedness not only as they commence their orientation in November, but into the start of their school year in 2025. I was truly blessed to assist in the facilitation of three of the four sessions.

Some of the benefits I saw included the development of social skills and friendships between the participants, including opportunities for parents and caregivers to make connections prior to school starting. This opportunity has also given our 2025 Kindergarten students the opportunity to get “the lay of the land” with the support of a family member close by giving them a safety net as they explore their new surroundings.

I will be interested to see the positive impact this experience will have on this cohort of Kindergarten students when our Orientation Program commences on Tuesday 12^th November 2024.

I would like to thank: Mrs Mulhearn, Mrs Franks, Mrs Saperas and Mrs Garven who assisted with the running of the program along with Ms Slade and Miss Sakoff who assisted with setting up each morning. Finally, I would like to thank our year 5 students who attend the playgroup sessions to assist in supporting our preschoolers along with helping to pack up at the end of each session. This playgroup experience would not have happened without your support.

God Bless

Miss Michelle Collins

(Acting Assistant Principal)

6 Red happenings

One focus of Term 3 has been beginning the transition to High School. The majority of students have visited their new schools for 2025 and have returned to school full of enthusiasm, albeit with a little trepidation. Recently we participated in an on-line workshop conducted by Headspace. It focussed on Primary students transitioning to High School. The workshop was full of very interesting strategies and activities to empower students to embrace the new challenges ahead.

Part of our Religious Education studies has been revisiting the meaning of the Paschal Mystery and how life is full of lived experiences, the sadness when experiences end but the beginning of new experiences. Transitioning from Primary School to High is a perfect example of the Paschal Mystery in action.

The STEM project has been another priority this term with all students working in small groups. Each group has followed the Engineering Design Process by identifying a real-world problem and planning a solution. The skills of collaboration, creative thinking, problem solving and design & make, which are part of the design process, are skills students will utilise for the rest of their lives. If you have the opportunity, please visit our STEM Fair in the hall this week.

During maths we have been consolidating number and measurement concepts and applying concepts to problem solving. We are becoming confident in selecting what we think are the most effective strategies used to solve problems.

Our English block each day has been focussing on informative and persuasive texts.

Gymnastics has been thoroughly enjoyed on a Tuesday afternoon. Whilst the skills are challenging, we have embraced the complex manoeuvres involved.

With all these happenings and many more, no wonder the year is flying. We cannot wait for our Canberra Excursion next term and savouring our final few months as Primary students.

James Morris

(6 Red Class Teacher)

Our school is hosting a Scholastic Book Fair on this Thursday 19^th and Friday 20^th of September.

The times are the following.

19^th September 8:15 am -4.00pm; 20^th September 8:15 am -1.00pm.

Our Book Fair Family Event is in the school library and we would love to see you there!

You and your child will have the opportunity to explore a huge range of affordable books featuring characters and subjects kids love and want to read about. From newly released books and bestsellers to award-winning titles and perennial favourites.

This is also a great way for you to learn about, and discuss your child's interests and every book sold benefits our school by adding resources to our library and classrooms.

Scholastic Book Fairs help us show students the wonder of reading. After all, when kids choose their own books, they will be more excited to read, and they will naturally read more! Students will have the opportunity to make their Book Fair wish lists during their borrowing time. Students will then bring these home. If you would like to make a payment online for a wish list item the instructions will be on a yellow Book Fair Pre-Payment pamphlet that students will take home.

Each student that buys a book will be entered into a draw and have a chance to will one of six $10 vouchers. These will be drawn at the end of our fair and winning students will be able to pick a book or stationery item from the fair.

This will be a cashless Bookfair. Eftpos will be available.

Ms Mateos

Teacher Librarian

Canteen update 

 Volunteers over the next fourtnight 

• Monday 16th September - 
• Tuesday 17th September- closed 
• Wednesday 18th September - C.Schumacher
• Thursday 19th September - Volunteer needed
• Friday 20th September- L.Shakespeare 

• Monday 23rd September- Volunteer required
• Tuesday 24th September- closed 
• Wednesday 25th September -V.Sutton 
• Thursday 26th September- Volunteer required
• Friday 27th September- closed for cleaning 

The Canteen’s regular open days are Monday, Wednesday Thursdays and Fridays. If you have any spare time from 9am – 12pm on these days and are interested in volunteering in the Canteen please let the office and our Canteen Supervisor Haley Fenwick know. It can also be a one off occasion or a couple of times a year.

Polding Athletics Championships

Congratulations to Rupert Miller (Yr.4) who represented the Maitland/Newcastle Diocese in the Junior Boys Discus, during the Polding Athletics Championships held at Glendale last Friday. Rupert overcame an arm injury to be placed 11th overall in the final. A great effort Rupert!!

Congratulations to the following students who were recognised for their efforts in Learning, Improvement and Kindness to Others last week.