Dear Parents and Carers,

Thank you to all the parents who were able to attend our Catholic Schools Week celebration and open classrooms. We also had some families join us for Mass at West Wallsend and Glendale parishes over the weekend, and a large number of staff to support our school. It is always lovely to see our school community come together and to acknowledge the great work done by our children and their teachers.

From the Catholic Schools Maitland Newcastle Website:

“Catholic Schools Week 2025 runs from 2 June – 6 June celebrating what makes our Catholic Schools great and raising awareness of the many opportunities Catholic schools provide through faith-based education.

It provides an opportunity for our schools to not only showcase their rich and vibrant Catholic identity, but to affirm their integral role within our local communities, highlighting the multitude of learning and faith experiences that occur every day.

This year, with the Jubilee Year in place, the theme Pilgrims of Hope resonates strongly with our schools. We use the word ‘pilgrims’ not to suggest that we are walking dusty roads with hiking poles, but rather to symbolise that we are all on a journey – teachers, students and families. And hope? That’s what keeps us moving forward, even when the path isn’t clear.”

P&F Acknowledgement

The children have been making use of floor cushions donated by the P&F. These are for use in the hall during long assemblies and school performances or masses, to make the children more comfortable when sitting for a long period of time on the hard floor. We thank the P&F for their contribution to the school.

FACE (Family and Community Engagement) Meeting

We will hold our first FACE meeting On Monday 16^th June at 8.30am in the library. As this is before our next PBL assembly, we are hoping that this is a convenient time for parents to attend. At the meeting, Mr Hassett will present the use of our writing assessment program, purchased for the school by the P&F. We will also discuss fundraising for the remainder of the year – parents are invited to submit any ideas they may have.

Questions with notice to the principal will be accepted by email until Thursday 12^th June.

Also, we are seeking volunteers to assist with the Father’s Day Stall sales on Wednesday 3^rd September, if you are able to help out please contact the school office.

Safeguarding Message:

At St Bendict's, we are blessed with a wonderful community that values respect, kindness, and a commitment to nurturing our children. As part of the Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle, we adhere to the  Community Code of Conduct, which can be found here on this link -  Catholic Schools Community Code of Conduct which ensures that all interactions on school grounds reflect these core values.

I would like to take a moment to remind everyone that our behaviour—whether in the car park, at drop-off, or on the playground—is witnessed not only by our own children but by all students on site. As role models, our words and actions leave a lasting impression, shaping how children learn to interact with others. Positive communication, patience, and respect go a long way in creating a safe and supportive environment for all.

We ask that parents, grandparents, carers and all visitors continue to uphold these expectations by fostering a spirit of cooperation, engaging respectfully with staff and with other visitors when on school grounds, and supporting our school’s mission to provide a positive learning space. By working together, we strengthen our community and set a wonderful example for the children entrusted to our care.

Thank you for your partnership in making St Benedict's  a place of learning, growth, and mutual respect.

Take care and God Bless,

Danielle Reed

St Bennies Maths & Spelling Bees – Finals Fever!

Last week, the hall was buzzing with excitement as students from Kindergarten to Year 6 took part in the St Benedict’s Maths and Spelling Bee Finals. Finalists competed within their stage levels, showcasing lightning-fast number crunching and standout spelling skills – all powered by memory and focus alone! It was wonderful to witness the courage, concentration, and encouragement shown as each student stepped up to the challenge.

Congratulations to all our finalists, and a special well done to our stage champions. The first-place winners from Stages 1 to 3 will now go on to represent St Benedict’s at the Lakes Region Spelling Bee Final, held at St Joseph’s Primary School, Kilaben Bay.

A big thank you to all the parents, grandparents, and special friends who came along to support and cheer on our finalists – your encouragement made the event even more special. We’re so proud of every student who gave it a go – what a fantastic celebration of learning!

Mrs Lewis and Mr Morris

CYBERSAFETY REMINDER - IMPORTANT NOTICE FOR PARENTS

As we continue to navigate the digital age, it's crucial to remember that social media is not always a safe space for our young children. While platforms may seem kid-friendly, they can still be breeding grounds for bullying and other harmful behaviors.

We urge you to monitor your child's online activities and have open conversations about the potential dangers they may encounter. Even on sites designed for children, the risk of cyberbullying is real and can have lasting effects on their well-being. By the end of this year, these sites will be illegal for children under 16 in Australia. 

Additionally, please remind your children about the importance of privacy and respect online. They should never post pictures of their friends without permission, as this can lead to unintended consequences. It's also essential to avoid sharing images that include school logos on uniforms or other identifying details. This helps protect our students' privacy and maintains the security of our school community.

For more information and resources on how to keep your children safe online, please visit the following websites:

• eSafety Commissioner Parent Resources 
• ChildSafe Australia eSafety Online 
• Australian Cyber Security Centre: Protect Your Children Online 

Together, we can create a safer online environment for our children. Thank you for your continued support and vigilance in this matter.

Minecraft World First – St Bennies Joins Global Education Preview!

Earlier this year, a select group of Stage 3 students were invited to take part in a world-first preview of a brand-new Minecraft Education world: Peter is Here – Exploring the Origins of St. Peter’s Basilica. Our school was one of only two in Australia selected to be part of this special opportunity.

Students explored the immersive world before its official release and provided valuable feedback to help improve the user experience. Even more exciting – they had the chance to speak directly with the actual Minecraft developers and Microsoft Education specialists behind the project!

Minecraft Education is a classroom-specific version of Minecraft, designed to support curriculum learning. It includes in-game lesson tools, structured challenges, and teacher controls – turning play into powerful learning.

Peter is Here is a unique experience developed by the Vatican in collaboration with Microsoft. Students become Vatican Conservators, solving restoration challenges and uncovering the cultural, artistic, and spiritual significance of St. Peter’s Basilica – all while building critical 21st-century skills like problem-solving, digital literacy, and collaboration.

The world has now officially launched across the Diocese, and we invite all students to explore and play!

Want to try it at home?
Students can access Peter is Here using Minecraft Education on their device with Minecraft Education installed. Simply log in with your school Microsoft account, open the Library, and search “Peter is Here” in the lesson worlds.

Will you be able to reach the final level and uncover the secrets hidden deep within the Basilica?

Mrs Lewis

Happy Birthday!

Those of you that know me will know how much I LOVE a birthday celebration. And, the birthday of our Church is no different. On the weekend we celebrated Pentecost the birthday of our Catholic Church.

Pentecost is the day that the Church was born. Christ was crucified, rose again, spent forty days with his disciples, and then ascended to heaven. Pentecost immediately followed. For two millennia, Christians have been celebrating the Church's birthday with joy and exuberance. Pentecost takes place 50 days after Easter Sunday. Here's how it all got started.

According to book of Acts, the Church came into being on the day of Pentecost. As

120 worshipers, including the Disciples, were fasting and praying in an upper room in Jerusalem, the Holy Spirit descended upon them in a violent rushing wind that was heard throughout the city. Small flames of fire rested upon their heads, and they began to speak in other languages. As crowds came to investigate the commotion, the Apostle Peter spoke to them about Jesus and exhorted them to repent. From the crowd of Jews and converts, 3,000 realized the truth of his words and became followers of Jesus.

There are many Pentecost traditions. In some churches, baptisms are performed throughout the day. Pentecost is also known as Whitsun day, because of the white garments worn by those who are baptized. In most Pentecost services, priests or church officials wear red vestments. Sanctuaries are decorated with banners depicting flames, wind, and doves. Churches in Italy disperse rose petals from the ceiling to symbolize the tongues of fire described in the book of Acts. French churches blow trumpets throughout the service to suggest the Holy Spirit coming with a violent rushing wind. Here at St Benedict's Catholic Primary School our students from Year 3 Black will lead us in prayer at a special morning assembly on Tuesday 10th June at 9:00am.

Feast Day Celebration!

In Week 10 we will celebrate our end of term 3 in a very special way. On THURSDAY 3rd July we will celebrate the feast day of St Benedict - our schools patron saint with a special liturgy presented by 4 Red. St Benedict's actual feast day is on the 11th of July (in the school holidays) hence why we celebrate this special day earlier. 

On FRIDAY 4th July we will remember those less fortunate than ourselves through our Mission Day and Bennie's Got Talent Performance. We will be wearing our PJ's and winter warmers as a reminder that not everyone is as lucky as we are to have such warm clothes. To show our gratitude each student is asked to bring ONE item from the list below depending on what stage they are in at school. Please check the lists and donate accordingly. Early Stage One - Kindergarten,  Stage 1 - Year 1 and Year 2, Stage 2 - Year 3 and Year 4 and Stage 3 - Year 5 and Year 6.

PLEASE ONLY BRING IN YOUR DONATION ON FRIDAY 4th JULY.

LET THE CHILDREN CELEBRATE -

Jubilee Year - Pilgrims of Hope

As we continue to celebrate this Jubilee Year - Pilgrims of Hope, the Maitland Newcastle Diocese have put together an exciting funfilled day of events and activities to share this special time with our students in a way that is relatable to them as children. The organisers are both teachers from our Diocese who are known for sharing their faith through fun and creative ways. The day is being offered free of charge and morning, and afternoon tea is provided, attendees are asked to bring along a packed lunch. Get in quick as I am sure places will fill up fast for this exciting day.

Yours in Faith,

Miss Michelle Collins

(Religious Education Co-ordinator)

Oh! That’s Not Fair.

We’ve all heard our children tell us that something isn’t fair. What is “fair”? Well, it’s one of the most important fundamental values. It’s treating each other with kindness and respect, it’s ensuring everyone can play and have a turn and play by the rules so that everyone is safe and has fun. By having conversations and helping your child understand and cope with feelings of unfairness and building their moral development, you can empower your child to process these feelings with empathy and resilience. Helping children understand fairness is an important part of growing up and will help them both at home and at school.

When children are under 7, their thoughts are very black and white. Rules, instructions and guidelines must be very clear with no opportunity for any misunderstandings. When everything is black and white, things will make more sense in their world. But fairness is tricky. As adults, we see all the other implications. We have a moral compass that goes deeper than the simple right/wrong, good/bad, fair/unfair perception our children have. So, when they are struggling with fairness, they’re seeing things in simple terms of “fair” or “unfair.” They’re missing all of the different factors and consequences we’re considering. We need to help them understand and consider all the information.

As children move closer to 10 years of age, they start to build their moral compass. This is influenced by the values and principles that they are exposed to at home, school, and in the media. When children state that something isn’t fair, it’s their way of testing out their moral muscles and figuring out what’s right and wrong in their eyes. It’s about them trying to find their place in the world. So, when your older primary child complains about something being unfair, engage them in discussions about fairness, justice, and empathy. Maybe not there and then, but when emotions aren’t as heightened. Challenge them to think about the circumstances and consider different perspectives. When we understand what others need and perhaps what we don’t, we recognize our differences and think a little beyond ourselves. Talk about what makes something that’s “unfair” make sense. For example, your child complains that having to go to bed early on Saturday night isn’t fair. Once you have a conversation about having to go to bed early, because they have to get up early to drive all the way to Singleton for a football game, and that you don’t want your child to be tired and therefore possibly let down their team, they will hopefully understand your reasoning. Telling them to go to bed and getting into an argument about what is and isn’t fair won’t help the situation. Providing them with a calm explanation is all that’s needed. The same concept applies at school. When a student with a learning disability gets extra time in a test, some might see this as being unfair. If these students are given a clear reason for the other child receiving more time, they will understand and hopefully be empathetic towards the student. Another time at school where staff hear about unfairness, is in the playground. Often this is because someone doesn’t have a clear understanding of the rules, or the rules are unfairly changed without everyone else’s knowledge or agreement. There is no black and white, just a lot of mottled grey. We will always talk over the rules with the group and discourage any manipulating of the rules that favour a particular child, or favour everyone except a particular child. I’m sure all of our students are familiar with the term “fair play” and the expectation for respect and kindness behind it.

As adults, it’s our job to teach children, that yes, sometimes things may seem unfair. But when we help them to explore the situation with kindness, respect and empathy and grow their moral compass, they will understand the greyness of fair. We see some children at school, standing up and questioning why rules were changed, or asking why a particular student is allowed an iPad without stating that “it’s not fair”. This shows the student is growing and maturing emotionally.

Issue 4, 2025 out now Orders to be placed through LOOP only

Every Book Club LOOP order earns a $5 Promo Code (included with order confirmation).

This is redeemable on the next issue of Book Club once you spend $19.50

‘Thank you’ to everyone who purchases items from Book Club throughout the year. As a result of these purchases, the school is able to select new resources for our library. All students received the June issue of Book Club last week.

Issue 4 orders should be completed by Monday, 16 June 2025. If you have an enquiry you can email me at pam.nicolaidis@mn.catholic.edu.au.

Please use Scholastic’s excellent on-line ordering platform (go to scholastic.com.au/LOOP or download the LOOP app) to place your child’s order, then pay by credit card.

For more information about Scholastic and Book Club, visit www.scholastic.com.au

Mrs Pam Nicolaidis

Book Club Co-Ordinator and Library Assistant

Congratulations to the following students who have completed the Premier’s Reading Challenge over the last fortnight.

They are:

From 2 BLACK:   Ella Creek, Aubree Guest, Oliver O’Brien, Evelyn Smith, Evanna Viju, Angus Watson

From 3 BLACK:   Ryder Marriott, Nate Peachman, Zavier Thompson

From 3 RED:        Giselle Arnold, Ivanna Bajracharya, Paige Fenner, Amelia Gulabovski, Xavier Manusiu, Lucas Marks, Lucas Steel, Oliver Stewart

From 4 RED:        Lennox Heard, Alex John Bibin, Willow Moore

From 5 RED:        Sophie Atkins, Ella Hall, Diona Parayil Vibin, Emily Topic             

Well done

Mrs Pam Nicolaidis

PRC Co-ordinator

Congratulations to all our PB4L award winners!  There were far too many to list in the newletter........which is a wonderful problem to have!