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Welcome to the Week 2 newsletter. As our term gets underway at full speed, we want to thank parents for taking the time to read the newsletters as we seek to maintain open and clear communication with our parents and families. We continue to use COMPASS for reminders and Facebook to celebrate great things but see our newsletters as the key platform to keep parents up to date.
Staffing Changes for Term 2
This term we welcome a new member of staff as Mrs Ashleigh Garven takes up the Specialist RFF role across all classes. This year, the RFF timetable enables students to receive specialised instruction in KLA of History/Geography (known as HSIE). The KLA is also covered within Library lessons where the content drives the focus and development of information skills, but Mrs Garven will take the students in the RFF classroom opposite the Library where they will cover the remainder of the content of that KLA.
Mrs Garven has extensive experience in the department schools, most recently at Edgeworth Public school and is very much looking forward to joining the staff team here at SBE.
Another small teaching change that may be picked up is that Mrs Julie Saperas will now be teaching in her role as English as an Additional Language and Dialect (EALD) Teacher on Thursdays and Fridays. Mrs Barbara McLean will take the Teacher Librarian role on Wednesday’s that Julie filled in Term 1. These are minor changes as both Julie and Barbara are already part of our school community.
In the Office, we welcome Mrs Mary Bruce to work alongside Mrs Suzi Di-Nardo on Mondays, Thursdays and Fridays.
Uniform - Transition to Winter
This term, we will transition to Winter Uniform - probably around Week 5 but I will watch the developing weather patterns and the ETA of the first cold snap. In the meantime, students are able to switch to the winter uniform should a day prove too chilly for the summer uniform to be comfortable. Once I confirm the transition to Winter, it will be expected that all students comply with that uniform. This is an opportune time to discuss the following points.
- Full transition to winter skirt/ skort. Please note that this will be the first year where some students (who have already transitioned to the new summer tunic/ skort) will have to make a complete change to the winter tunic/skirt/skort that was once worn all year. The summer check is not to be worn once we transition to winter.
- Essentially, no bare legs in winter.All boys are also expected to transition to long grey pants. Girls have the option to wear long charcoal pants as well or grey stockings under their winter tunic/skirt. Stage 3 girls who are into adult sizes do have the option of wearing opaque Black stocking (80+ Denier) as these are easily accessible and more comfortable for their sizing compared to the school size stockings.
- The grey school jacket is the first layer to go on when the weather cools down. We do have a middle layer of a grey sloppy joe, but this is meant for when the weather turns particularly chilly and a third layer is beneficial. The school jacket is a much nicer look AND it is easily managed by our younger students when taking on and off (zippers vs pullovers)
- No hat No Play rule applies all year. We are disappointed to not have our new stock of hats available for purchase and appreciate parents are awaiting their arrival. In the meantime, students will be expected to continue to wear their school hat or a short-term substitute in its absence (bucket and plain) throughout the cooler months. Often students tend to think it is not necessary because the sun is not hot but we know that skin damage happens on the coldest of days. It needs to be a life habit - if you are outside, wear a hat.
A reminder that Lowes has a 20% off ALL school uniforms from May 3rd - 5th. A perfect time for you to ensure you have all you need for winter. They will allow you to pay sale price if you order something that is out of stock and have it arrive in a week or so time. As I said, we have time before I call full transition to Winter Uniform.
WHS Notices - Evacuation and Lockdown Drills
An important part of the school's WHS calendar is to conduct a variety of emergency procedure drills. These drills ensure that all students, staff and community members have the skills and understanding on how to respond in the unlikely event of an emergency as well as allow us to check the functioning of the sirens that alert the community. Obviously, we do lots of talking with the students prior and after the drill so they understand what is happening and why we do them. However, we understand that students can come home with stories of an apparent emergency at school. So, letting parents know is an important part of the process.
We had our first emergency drill yesterday which was a straightforward evacuation from the classroom. We will also conduct an evacuation from the playground. Evacuations are perhaps the easiest as students can see and know there is no actual emergency. We will also conduct lockdown drills (one from the classroom and one from the playground) which perhaps can cause confusion for students, but they remain a necessary part of the procedures. We will let parents know in advance that we will be conducting these so that parents can settle any worries the students mistakenly come home with as a result of the drill.
Have a great week,
Jules Mulhearn
School Office
Phone: 4958 1858
Email: admin@edgeworth.catholic.edu.au
Admin/ Finance Officer Suzi Di-Nardo Monday to Friday
Admin Office Mary Bruce Monday, Thursday & Friday
We would like to welcome Mary Bruce to our school office. Mary will be working in the office Monday, Thursday & Friday for Term 2. Mary comes with many years experience in a school office enviroment and will be an asset to our school.
FEES
Statements are sent out at the beginning of each month. A statement was sent via email to all families today 2nd May. Please check your Junk Mail if you have not received your statement.
Your first installment for the year should have been paid by now. First payments were due by the 31st March and it is the expectation that at least one payment a month is paid to yor account unless a prior arrangement has been made.
Please arrange for a regular weekly, fortnightly or monthly Bpay, Direct Debit or an annual payment. If you are paying by instalments we ask that your first instalment is made by 31 March and the debt extinguished by 30 November 2023. If paying in full please ensure this payment is made by 30 June 2023.
Additional costs may apply throughout the year for representative sport and other extracurricular activities.
Payments can be also be accepted at the administration office between 8.30am-3.00pm Monday to Friday or credit card payments can be taken over the phone.
HAPPY EASTER EVERYONE!!!
You may be asking yourself why I am wishing you a happy Easter now that Easter seems like a distant memory. The answer is this; we are still very much within the season of Easter as the Easter season does not end after Easter Sunday. The special and joyful season of Easter continues for 50 days through until Pentecost Sunday.
In the Easter season we will hear of the Risen Jesus appearing to his disciples. Those
appearances of Jesus convey to his weak and failed disciples forgiveness, acceptance and love. As Catholics in the world of today we are called to witness to the values of the Gospel in an increasingly secular and challenging environment. It takes courage and commitment to be faithful to the values of the Gospel and the teachings of the Church in the world today. When we fail, as we can do in our discipleship, let us recall the appearances of the Risen Jesus to his disciples.
As we look towards Pentecost the Easter Scripture readings will tell us that faithfulness in discipleship is only possible by the power of the Holy Spirit. This time of Easter reminds us of the Holy Spirit dwelling within us, of the gifts of the Holy Spirit that we have received, and that it is only with the power of the Holy Spirit that we can be disciples of Jesus Christ.
A prayer to share:
Loving God,
We thank you for the gift of families.
We ask your blessing on all families today and always.
Be with us in our daily life together.
Be our guide in times of challenge.
Be our strength in times of difficulty.
Be our joy in times of delight.
Help our families to grow stronger in your love
and show us how to love one another
as you have loved us.
May we welcome Jesus as the unseen guest in our home.
May we be His voice and hands,
respecting and caring for those we meet.
May we look to the example of Jesus, Mary and Joseph,
as we strive to be the best family that we can be.
Most Holy Family of Nazareth, pray for us. Amen.
Yours in faith,
Miss Michelle Collins
(Religious Education Co-ordinator)
While PBL and our Wellbeing framework continue to be the driving forces to promote the safe and nurturing environment in our school, it is important that we continue to be vigilant for any bullying behaviours that can impact on another person's experience here at school. It is equally important that parents are aware of the implementation of these procedures, even if they never need them directly. It’s good to know they are in place. Much like a seatbelt in the car, they are there to protect all members of our community if things go wrong, as they occasionally do.
Over the next three weeks we would like to use the student welfare updates to unpack the bullying protections we have in place at our school. The purpose of this series of articles is to clearly set out the procedures regarding any alleged bullying behaviours. It is actually one of our biggest documents, so I want to unpack it over a number of weeks. ( I will also move all three weeks of articles into a Special Edition newsletter for future Reference, should it ever be needed).
- Week 2 Newsletter - Purpose of Documentation, Recognising and Defining Bullying, Types of Bullying. Promoting Bullying Awareness
- Week 3 Newsletter - Investigating, Recording (tracking) and Confirming Bullying Behaviours. Including occasions when Bullying is not confirmed and why.
- Week 4 Newsletter - Responding to bullying, Consequences and actions, Supporting Anti Bullying strategies.
Purpose of Anti Bullying Documentation
All members of St Benedict's Edgeworth: students, teachers and parents have a right to feel safe, respected, trusted, and happy within the community.
Clear, well implemented policies and the modelling of positive behaviours and anti-bullying strategies has become a vital part of ensuring the safe and supportive environment in which learning can take place and positive wellbeing of all is paramount
Bullying behaviours are in direct conflict with these clear purposes and priorities of the Catholic school and needs explicit procedures to recognise, investigate, name and address behaviours that do not align with it.
Recognising (and Defining) Bullying
Whilst defining bullying can be problematic and hotly debatable, much of the definitions centre on repeated, deliberate hurtful behaviours that are dominated by a misuse of power. The National Safe School Framework (2011) defines bullying as:
Repeated verbal, physical, social or psychological behaviour that is harmful and involves the misuse of power by an individual or group towards one or more persons.
Types of Bullying
Some types of bullying are unpacked below. Again, the determining factor with these behaviours is the repeated target and misuse of power. One off incidents can be harmful but that alone does not confirm bullying.
Promoting Bullying Awareness
A perception of bullying can actually be three different realities.
- An incident is a one-off conflict, equally contested and no misuse of power but did cause harm. (This is the importance of the definition. It is still responded to and recorded but not confirmed as bullying)
- An incident is tracked to be an emerging pattern of potential bullying. (This is the importance of reporting and recording the one- off incidents - to find emerging patterns).
- An incident is confirmed as bullying behaviours (Very specific school procedures are enacted which will be unpacked in the coming week's articles)
We will discuss how we investigate and confirm patterns of bullying behaviours in next week's newsletter but within this initial phase of Anti Bullying education it is essential that we promote Bullying Awareness.
Age-appropriate conversations about the nature of bullying behaviours and how to respond to them is a proactive way to prevent them occurring in the first place.
Students drill down to these questions about Bullying.
- What is it (and what it is not)?
- What can students do about it if they see it?
- What will the school do if i report it?
All students are equipped with skills to spot it, stop it and report it. That way it is picked up before it even starts and most certainly responded to firmly if it has taken hold. Minimise potential, minimise risk of harm, minimise power of bullying behaviours.
Improving the experience of students when learning mathematics
On the pupil free day last week, the staff at St. Benedict's were busy at work planning and refining their teaching of Mathematics. The day was titled 'Improving the experience of students when learning mathematics'. The day was tailored specifically to our school priorities and was based on the research and evidence based practice by a number of Mathematical experts including Peter Sullivan.
We were joined by our Education Officers Michelle Rosewell and Claudette Stace who facilitated our first session. This was focussed on the approaches to student-centred structured-inquiry teaching, looking at how to best teach Mathematics. We examined pedagogies associated with, and teaching to foster student and teacher agency, student inclusion and the building of connections.
After enagaging in the research, Megan Hunt and I led the staff through what the teaching and learning of Mathematics looks like at St. Benedict's. Together, we worked through the essential components of an effective Mathematics block and brainstormed strategies we are already using in class. After some collaborative and engaging discussion, we agreed on what the teaching of Mathematics looks like at SBE.
This agreed instruction model is now visible in all classrooms. It is comprised of 3 essential components, which are all essential to enage students. The word (re) before each section signifies the model is cyclical and teachers may revisist according to the needs of their students. The aim of adopting this agreed model for teaching mathematics at SBE is to forster students who:
- can think for themselves, critically and creatively
- actively create their own knowledge.
Please watch the below video showing what we try to instil in our students daily... Maths is Everywhere!
Congratulations to our first group of students to complete the Premier’s Reading Challenge for 2023 this term.
They are:
From 3 BLACK: Bailey O’Malley, Sophie Stewart
From 4 BLACK: Olivia Price
From 6 RED: Kayla Williams and Emma Woodward.
Well done.
I look forward to receiving many more completed PRC sheets over the next weeks.
Mrs Nicolaidis (PRC Co-Ordinator)
Issue 3, 2023 out now
Orders to be placed through LOOP only
As always, ‘thank you’ to everyone who purchases items from Book Club. Because of your support, the school continues to be able to select many new resources for our library.
All students will receive the May issue of Book Club by this Tuesday, May 2.
Orders for Issue 3 should be completed by Monday, 15 May, 2023. If you have an enquiry you can email me at pam.nicolaidis@mn.catholic.edu.au.
To place your order please use Scholastic’s excellent on-line ordering platform (go to scholastic.com.au/LOOP or download the LOOP app), 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
P&F UPDATE
MOTHERS DAY STALL
The Mother’s Day Stall will be held on Tuesday the 9th of May. Please note that payment is via CASH only and Eftpos and QKR are not available for the stall. Please try and send in the correct money with your child. We are looking for some helpers at the stall. If you are able to assist please contact us via email parentsandfriends.sbcps@gmail.com
MEET YOUR P&F EXECUTIVE
President – Sarah Toohey
Hi, my name is Sarah Toohey, P & F President. I currently have two children attending St Benedict’s and one who will start in kindergarten next year. I am a teacher who is passionate about providing students with the best opportunity and have enjoyed being able to play a role in the parents and friends committee over the last 18 months.
My family love to travel and enjoy new experiences and learning opportunities. We love to spend time at the beach and build sandcastles in the sand. My children particularly enjoy Caves Beach, they love looking for crabs and exploring the caves. We also enjoy going on bushwalks, particularly if we find waterfalls.
I am looking forward to a successful year with the P & F supporting our school community and providing fun activities for students to enjoy.
To contact any of the P & F Executive Committee please email parentsandfriends.sbcps@gmail.com
CANTEEN UPDATE
Haley has been busy preparing the Canteen Winter Menu which will be released in the next week or so.
The Canteen is open on Monday, Wednesday and Fridays. If you have any spare time from 9am – 12pm on Mondays, Wednesdays or Fridays and are interested in volunteering in the Canteen please let the office and Canteen Supervisor Haley Fenwick know. It can also be a one off occasion or a couple of times a year. This will ensure the Canteen can remain open.
DATES TO REMEMBER
Tuesday 9th of May – Mother’s Day Stall
Congratulations to our week 1 award recipients.
|
Class |
Achievement, Progress and Effort Awards |
|
KR |
Spencer Piggot Ivan Banstola |
|
KB |
Sezal Banjara Ella Creek |
|
1R |
Mia Lee Talia Walter |
|
1B |
Roman Somai Evie Vas |
|
2R |
Madelyn Kilian Noah You |
|
2B |
Willow Harris Levi Kinnaird |
|
3R |
Ella Hall Jake Dimovski |
|
3B |
Bailey O'Malley Finn Ryan |
|
4R |
Tom Shakespeare Aden Herrmann |
|
4B |
Hope Fenwick Lyndsie Kilian |
|
5R |
Casey McGovern Miller Burgess |
|
6R |
Kayla Williams & Emma Woodward |
|
6B |
Joshua Saopa Brock Van Der Veer |
School environment awards - now open
Enter Lake Mac’s School environment awards,- $50 Bunnings voucher with each entry, monetary prizes and environmental sustainability assistance for your school.
Entries close 30 June 2023.
Landcare in schools - free plants
Lake Macquarie schools can arrange free native plants through our Landcare in Schools Program.
Plants are available for projects such as habitat plantings, bush tucker gardens, National Tree Day and sensory gardens.
Request your plants by completing this online form.
Lake Mac Seed library
Join the Lake Mac Seed Library - borrow, grow and share a range of seeds for free, get involved at our seed processing events and meet passionate local growers.
Free Sustainability workshops and tours
Workshops are available to all Lake Macquarie schools, topics include waste reduction, cycle skills, biodiversity audits and tours of the Organic Resource Recovery facility at Awaba.
Please register your schools interest by sending in your Expression of Interest for terms 3 and 4.
Create an artwork for Waste to Art 2023
The Sustainable Neighbourhoods Waste to Art exhibition is back again in 2023.
We are inviting local schools to explore the challenges of waste, litter and overconsumption, while showcasing your creativity.
This year our exhibition will be held from 11 October to 7 December across two locations in Swansea and Toronto.
A Waste to Art Education Kit is also available with key concepts and opportunities, local teaching resources and inspiration, lesson plans and curriculum links.
You can start collecting materials and creating your artworks now. Registrations will open soon, and close on 4 September. For more information visit sustainableneighbourhoods.org.au/waste-to-art.
Pen and Marker recycling for schoolsSchools can pick up a pen recycling box from their local Officeworks store.
Here’s how your school can get involved.
- Talk to your local Officeworks about getting a recycling box for your school.
- Set up the recycling box in your school and display our list of recyclable items.
- Once your recycling box is full of old pens and markers, return it to your local Officeworks.
Take your recycling box back to your school and start filling it up again!Red Cross Youth-led disaster and Climate resilience project
See attached flyer
Community Electric Vehicle Open Day - Saturday 13 May, 10am-2pmCouncil Administration Building, 126-138 Main Road, Speers Point. Learn about owning and driving an electric vehicle at this free community day with:Test ridesTalks with local EV owners
Viewings of the latest car models and displays of EV charging from experts and installers
Bring the whole family and enjoy the free rides, activities, pizza and gelato. This is a free event, and registrations are not required to attend.Registrations are required to experience a test ride, opening 1 May.
Community Electric Vehicle Open Day - Lake Macquarie City Council