Welcome to the Week 3 Newsletter. In the last week, we have welcomed our new Kindergarten cohort and welcomed back all our other classes to a brand-new year of learning. It is always impressive to witness students energy and renewed commitment upon starting a new year, a new classroom and new learning.  The students have been absolute troopers. Their resilience has been the strength and triumph of our first few  week back and I want to thank all the students for remaining positive and hopeful. It is simply the best part of working in a school to hear it alive with voices and busy with movement again.

In my report below I want to take time to unpack the focus of the first two week's learning in the classrooms, alongside setting up the classroom routines, expectations, building relationships and setting goals for the year ahead.

Time spent in these areas, aligned with the whole of school, is crucial to building a foundation for successful learning throughout the year. Most of the information below will be covered in the whole school presentation at the Parent Teacher Evening this Thursday but of course the real reason for Thursday night is about meeting and greeting the class teachers. 

A Snapshot of our School

Last week and this week, the students have spent considerable time getting to know the school in this way. Through a variety of group tasks, independent task and whole class discussions the students have unpacked the content outlined in the attached PDF at grade appropriate levels. It appears in our parent handbook but given that we only provide this to new parents and staff, I thought it might be a good opportunity to share with all parents a "Snapshot of our School". Perhaps you are already aware of it or maybe you have always wondered different things about our school. The Snapshot includes;

• A Brief History of Our School 
• Origins of our School Name, Motto and Crest
• Our Josephite Charism and foundational values
• Our School Vision and Mission Statement.

These components of school identity are intertwined. Our values are built from our origins and the charism of the Sisters of St Joseph who founded the school. These foundational values are like pillars that strengthen our school vision and mission. You will also see them as foundational to our school rules (PBL) that I will unpack below. This school stands on the shoulders of giants, and it is so wonderful to be strengthened by that tradition as we create new tomorrows. 

Snapshot of our School 2024.pdf

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Strategic Improvement Priorities for 2024 

Our school is committed to strategic and continuous improvement. 2024 is the second year in a 3 year strategic improvement plan that gives rise to annual focus areas of school improvement. We list these as key priorities as we ready to launch the year ahead and will use these to guide our whole school, class, and individual intiatives throughout the year. As we unpack these initiaitves throughout the year we will connect them to one or more of these priorites as they apply. I share them now and will unpack these as a small part of our evening on Thursday but trust these will come familiar to all as the year unfolds. 

Have a great week, 

Jules Mulhearn

Welcome Back

This is the first opportunity I have had to welcome you all back to a new school year. The start of the new school year is always a refreshing time where we celebrate yet another New Year and fresh start to our learning. New books, new resources, new classroom, new teacher it is an exciting time for all involved.

A new year brings about all kinds of things to look back on and look forward to.  It brings new challenges and exciting new experiences. All kinds of feelings and emotions are tied up into the beginning of a new school year as we anticipate the new beginnings and the year ahead.

In closing, I would like to share with you this prayer for our school as we commence the new school year.

SPECIAL EVENTS

We have two very important events on at school this week:

ASH WEDNESDAY LITURGY: to be held in the school hall at 10:15am (time has been slightly adjusted for Father to attend). Year 5 Black will be leading us in this Liturgy with Father.

OPENING SCHOOL MASS and BLESSING OF OUR NEW CHAPEL SPACE: Mass to be held in the school hall before moving to the Chapel for the blessing. Year 6 leaders will be assisting with this Mass. We will also welcome our new staff and students to our school community. Year 6 leaders will receive their badges and make their pledge.

Yours in faith

Miss Michelle Collins

Religious Education Co-ordinator

Student Welfare at St Benedict’s Edgeworth is centred on the Whole School Wellbeing Framework from which we build several different initiatives designed to promote, encourage and build a deeper understanding of wellbeing and positive relationships within a Catholic School. There are several aspects upon which we hope to build upon in 2024 and we will continue to unpack these as part of the Student Welfare Updates this year. 

Positive Behaivours for Learning

Eventually, any discussion of a school's support for student welfare comes to the topic of behaviour support or management. In line with the values of our school and keeping with the focus on positive wellbeing, our behaviour support comes in the model of Positive Behaviours for Learning or PBL. 

Our Matrix unpacks the behaviours we encourage and, by omission, the behaviours we do NOT want to see. The core premise of PBL is that we spend more of our time explicitly teaching, promoting and rewarding these positive behaviours (with a focus across a 3 weeks/ PBL cycle). The idea being that we can minimise the time we then need to spend on poor behaviour choices. Affirmations and Consequences are discussed below. 

Affirmations

PBL Bennies are awarded by all staff across all areas of school life. They are tallied and in-class rewards are provided until the Whole School Milestones are reached and presented at the designated PBL Assemblies each term (usually Weeks 4,7 and 10). 

50 Bennies	PBL Certificate
100 Bennies	PBL Ribbon
150 Bennies	Pin Badge
200 Bennies	PBL Medal

Consequences

No PBL framework can maintain its positive focus without also preparing to respond to students making negative behaviour choices/ habits. While certainly not the driving force, it is firmly in place to ensure fair and consistent responses from K- 6. Across any 3 week PBL cycle, the onus to make better choices is on the child in the first instance (3 reminders = 1st Minor), then with the support of the parents (2nd Minor) and finally with a formal consequence within the school (3rd Minor= major). 

NAPLAN

NAPLAN is coming up for our Year 3 and Year 5 students in March this year. The assessment window opens on Wednesday 13 March. Please find attached information for parents and carers about NAPLAN 2024.

It may have been hot, and there were many hearts, hands and minds in the one space but last Monday was a joyous occassion as our new Kinders joined our school and our Buddies stood tall and proud by their side. 

Issue 1, 2024 out now

Orders to be placed through LOOP only

· Parents GET $5 CREDIT for orders over $35 on Issue 1 to help keep the reading rolling! (Valid for LOOP Parent online orders only.)

‘Thank you’ to everyone who put orders in from any of the Book Club issues during 2023. As a result of the purchases you made, the school received hundreds of dollars worth of books of our own choosing for free. We look forward to your continuing support this year.

Students received the February issue of Book Club last week.

Scholastic have an excellent on-line ordering platform that parents can use to place their child’s order. For those families who have previously placed an on-line order please remember to update your child’s profile to their 2024 class.

To order and pay by credit card visit scholastic.com.au/LOOP or download the LOOP app. Once you have done it the first time, it becomes easier.

Orders for Issue 1 should be completed by Monday, 19 February, 2024. If you have an enquiry you can email me at pam.nicolaidis@mn.catholic.edu.au.

Book Club provides a fun and convenient way of bringing the best in children's literature into your home. It’s packed full of exciting books from best-selling authors, popular titles and series that kids love, as well as products and books that make perfect gifts for younger siblings who may not be at school yet.

When ordering from Book Club, you are not only helping your children, but you are also helping your school—every purchase made earns Scholastic Rewards for St Benedict’s, which are used to buy educational resources.

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

$5 Credit Promotion - Issue 1, 2024 Terms & Conditions

Online Parent LOOP Promotion Only

To qualify for the $5 Credit Promotion on Book Club Issue 1, 2024, customers must place an order of $35 or more online through the LOOP Parent Payment Platform (mybookclubs.scholastic.com.au) or via the Book Club LOOP App.

Upgrade to the latest version of the Book Club LOOP App before logging on to be offered the $5 Credit Promotion at checkout.

The promotion is available for the first valid transaction on Issue 1, 2024 only, and is limited to one $5 Credit per customer.

The $5 Credit must be redeemed on one (1) order through the LOOP Parent Payment Platform or via the Book Club LOOP App before its expiration date, which is three (3) months from the order submission date. It cannot be applied to previously placed orders, and any unredeemed credits will be forfeited.

Book Club News

We reserve the right to cancel any order due to unauthorised, altered, or ineligible use of offers and to modify or cancel any promotion due to system error or unforeseen problems. Ongoing Credit Promotions are subject to change without notice, and other restrictions may apply.

Please note that the applicable purchase amount does not include any shipping charges, and an order must be placed in one transaction to meet the minimum spend.

Mrs Pam Nicolaidis

Book Club Co-Ordinator and Library Assistant

Lakes Region Swimming Carnival

Congratulations to the following children who will represent St Benedict's at the Lakes Region Swimming Carnival at Lambton Pool on Monday 19^th February.

Boys – Nate Toohey (8 Yrs. 50m Freestyle, Jnr Boys 50m Breaststroke, Jnr Relay), Jackson Smith (9 Yrs. 50m Freestyle, Jnr 50m Backstroke,  Jnr Relay), Rhys Toohey (9Yrs. 50m Freestyle, Jnr 50m Backstroke, Jnr Relay), Isaac Rose (10 Yrs. 50m Freestyle, Jnr Boys Relay), Bailey Smith (All Age 100m Freestyle, 11 Yrs. 50m Freestyle, 11 Yrs. 50m Backstroke, Snr Relay), Jack Fry (11Yrs. 50m Freestyle, Snr 50m Breaststroke, Snr Relay), Billy Johnson (12 Yrs. 50m Freestyle, Snr 50m Backstroke, Snr Relay), Hudson Moore (All Age 100m Freestyle,12 Yrs. 50m Freestyle, Snr 50m Breaststroke, Snr 50m Backstroke, Snr Relay).

 Girls – Mackenzie Hunter (8yrs. 50m Freestyle, Jnr 50m Backstroke, Jnr Relay), Willow Moore (9Yrs 50m Freestyle, Jnr Relay), Scarlett Hunter (9Yrs. 50m Freestyle, Jnr 50m Breaststroke, Jnr Girls Relay), Madelyn Kilian (9Yrs. 50m Freestyle), Kiani Miller (All Age 100m Freestyle, 10 Yrs. 50m Freestyle, Jnr 50m Breaststroke, Jnr 50m Backstroke, Jnr 50m Butterfly, Jnr 200m Individual Medley, Jnr Relay), Olivia Price (11 Yrs. 50m Freestyle, Snr 50m Backstroke, Snr Relay), Allira Weet (11Yrs. 50m Freestyle), Audrey Roberts (All Age 100m Freestyle, 12 Yrs. 50m Freestyle, Snr 50m Breaststroke, Snr 50m Backstroke, Snr Relay), Marley Cochrane-Finlay (12Yrs. 50m Freestyle, Snr 50m Breaststroke, Snr 50m Backstroke, Snr Relay), Isla Durazza (12 Yrs. 50m Freestyle, Snr Relay). 

An Event has been set up on Compass to parents, providing details regarding the Carnival.

Regional Winter Sports Trials – Wednesday 6^th March

This week I will be visiting Yrs. 5 and 6 classes to see if any children qualify for the upcoming Winter Lakes Regional Trials in the sports of Netball, Soccer (Boys and Girls) and Hockey (Boys and Girls).

Students selected need to be talented, experienced players who are currently involved in the sport, preferably at a representative level. Children must be in Year 5 or 6 in 2024.

The school can send a maximum 3 boys and 3 girls per school. If there are more than 3 children who meet the requirements for selection, a school trial will be held.

Selected students will receive information and paperwork regarding the Regional Trials and School Trials if required.

Please note that the Rugby League selection process begins at Diocesan level. These trials will take place on the 26^th March.

Wayne Bailey,

Primary Coordinator.

Parents and Friends update 

 

parentsandfriends.sbcps@gmail.com

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Canteen update

 

Volunteers for the next two weeks:

Monday 12 February- N. Dimovski

Tuesday 13 February- Closed

Wednesday 14 February-V.Sutton

Thursday 15th February- Volunteer needed 

Friday 16th February-N.Tickner & F.McPherson

 

Monday 19th February- T. Dunnill 

Tuesday 20th February- Closed

Wednesday 21st February - M. Bashford 

Thursday 22nd February- Volunteer needed 

Friday 23rd February- K. Miller & C.Boyle 

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

The school assists local organsiation to promtote their child related services, events and activities. The school is not directly linked to these events but we are happy to support the greater edgeworth and Cameron Park community.