Week 4, Term 4 2025
Principal's Message
Dear Parents and Carers,
Boorowa Touch Football and Netball Carnival
Our students had a fantastic day at the Boorowa Touch Football and Netball Carnival last week. It was a wonderful day filled with fun, teamwork, and great sportsmanship. A big thank you to Mrs Webb for her excellent organisation of the day, and to all the parents who attended, coached, and/or managed teams. We also thank Ms Doyle, Ms Smith, and Ms McArthur for their supervision and support of our students. The carnival was a great opportunity for many to try a new sport, build confidence, and enjoy the spirit of friendly competition.
All Saints and Souls Mass
Last week, Year 3/4 Blue reverently led our school community in celebrating the All Saints and All Souls Mass. It was a beautiful and prayerful celebration, reminding us to give thanks for the saints and to pray for all those who have gone before us.
Socktober
Last Thursday, we celebrated Socktober by wearing our most colourful and silly socks! It was a fun-filled day that brought lots of smiles while supporting a great cause. Through our efforts, we helped raise funds for Catholic Mission’s Global School Partners, contributing to projects that make a real difference in the lives of others.
Kindergarten Orientation
Yesterday, we were delighted to welcome our 2026 Kindergarten students for their second orientation morning. While the children enjoyed playing with their new friends and completing some early school activities, parents participated in an information session about starting school. It is an exciting time as our newest students begin settling into our community and becoming familiar with school life. We look forward to welcoming them back in Week 6 for a Teddy Bears’ Picnic, where they will play games and share stories with their older ‘buddies’. Thank you to Ms Maple, our Kindergarten teacher for 2026, for all her support for our new students for Kindegarten 2026.
Library News
As we draw towards the end of the term, students are asked to return all library books so that our annual stocktake can take place. Please note there will be no library borrowing in Weeks 7–10. We kindly ask families to check at home for any outstanding library loans and ensure all books are returned. Thank you for your support in keeping our library collection complete and ready for next year.
Staffing 2026
I am pleased to announce that we will be adding to our staff cohort in 2026. Next year, we will welcome a number of new teachers to our school as we continue to grow and strengthen our community. With the addition of a third Year 1/2 class and three other new classroom teachers, we will be well placed to provide even greater support for our students and staff in a variety of ways.
We are very excited about the quality of teachers who will be joining us next year:
- Ms Samantha Roberts, a highly experienced teacher within the Catholic Education system, currently teaching at St Gregory’s, Queanbeyan.
- Ms Joanne Virgona, another very experienced teacher who is currently teaching in the government system in Wagga Wagga and will be relocating to Canberra to join us.
- Ms Madisson Doyle, our current Year 1/2 teacher, who will be joining the staff in a permanent capacity. Ms Doyle has already contributed so much to our community, and we are delighted she will be staying on.
- Mr Keira Minchin, a graduate teacher who is currently working in schools. We know Mr Minchin will bring great enthusiasm, dedication and a fresh perspective to our team.
We warmly welcome all four teachers to our beautiful St Benedict’s community.
Sadly, in 2026 Mrs Laura Webb will be moving on to a new position at St John Vianney’s, Warramanga. During her two years with us, Mrs Webb has made a significant contribution to our school and provided wonderful support and opportunities for our students. We wish Laura every success in her new role—she will be greatly missed, but we know she will continue to make a valuable contribution to her new community.
School Engagement Survey
Help us be the best school we can! A new annual School Engagement Survey will be launched mid-November across all of our Catholic schools. This survey will give you the opportunity to reflect on your experiences at St Benedict’s Primary School as a parent or carer and provide feedback.
Your feedback will be valuable to help us understand how to better support your child and improve our school.
The new survey has been developed with the support of JWS Research. It will take around 10-15 minutes to complete, and your responses will be kept completely confidential and only reported at an aggregate level.
You can expect the 2025 School Engagement Survey to be distributed through Compass as a News Item and push notification in the coming days! If you have any issues accessing the survey link when it is pushed out, please contact the Catholic Education Office through Strategy.Survey@cg.catholic.edu.au
Yours in partnership,
Alana Quirk
Prinicpal's Reminders
Save the Date – End of Year Music Performance
We are excited to invite families and friends to our End of Year Music Performance to celebrate all the wonderful work students have been doing in their Music lessons with Mr Luis Ruiz Marin. The students are looking forward to sharing their learning and entertaining us with a variety of performances — including recorder, percussion, and even a marching band!
Although this event will have some Christmas 'flavour', it will predominantly showcase broader music performances by our classes. This event has been present in the parent Compass Calendar, but was titled 'Christmas Concert'.
When? Wednesday 17 December
Time? 11:30am
Where? School hall
From the Assistant Principal
Sunsmart
As the weather warms up, it is timely to remind ourselves about how we can manage hotter days both at school and at home.
At school:
- all classrooms make use of the breeze by opening windows and doors, using fans and air-conditioning when needed
- we vary our normal teaching environment by the use of our shady and cool outdoor facilities
- teachers encourage students to drink water and allow access to drink bottles and bubblers at all times
- we limit outdoor activities and events during the hottest parts of the day
- the Library is open twice per week at lunch times to allow students to remain indoors
Parents can help by:
- sending your child to school with a full water bottle
- using a freezer brick in lunch in your child's lunch box to help food stay fresh
- ensuring your child's school hat is in their bag each day
- assisting your child to apply sunscreen before they head off to school
You can find more information about our SunSmart Policy on our school website.
Spotlight on Religious Education
Jesus the Resurrection and the Life – Pilgrims of Hope
In John’s Gospel (11:17), we hear Jesus say:
“I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me will live, even though they die.”
This is a powerful promise. Jesus shows us that He is the Son of God, the One who brings life and hope. When He raises Lazarus from the dead, we see that God’s love is stronger than death. Jesus brings new life wherever there is sadness or fear.
This Scripture invites us to be pilgrims of hope, people who keep walking with trust, even when life feels uncertain. We can share hope by being kind, forgiving, and loving, just as Jesus taught us.
Jesus says, “I am the life.” Life with Jesus is full of joy and peace. At the heart of this life is love. God is love, and love is God. When we love others, we show God’s presence in the world.
This week, let’s think about:
- How can I bring hope to someone who feels sad?
- How can I show love in my family and community?
- How can I trust Jesus as the resurrection and the life?
May we walk together in faith, hope, and love, knowing that Jesus calls us to new life every day.
Honouring Sacrifice and Praying for Peace
On Tuesday, November 11, our school community will gather at 10:30am for a special Remembrance Day liturgy led by Mrs De Salis and Fr Joseph. This is a time to pause, reflect, and pray for all who have served and sacrificed for peace and freedom. Together, we will remember those who gave their lives in war and those who continue to work for peace in our world today.
“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.”
Matthew 5:9
This verse reminds us that peace is at the heart of God’s plan for humanity. As followers of Christ, we are called to be peacemakers in our families, schools, and communities. On Remembrance Day, we honour those who lived this call in extraordinary ways and pray that we too may bring peace wherever we go.
How Can We Mark Remembrance Day at Home?
- Light a Candle: Place a candle in your home as a sign of hope and prayer for peace.
- Pray Together: Offer a simple prayer as a family:
“Lord, make us instruments of your peace. Help us to bring hope and love to our world.” - Talk About Peace: Share stories of kindness and courage. Ask: How can we be peacemakers today?
- Create a Symbol: Make a poppy or draw one as a reminder of sacrifice and hope.
As we gather for our liturgy, let us remember that peace begins with us. May we honour the past by living as people of hope and love in the present.
Dates to Remember
Benny's News
Out and About at Benny's
Kinder Helicopters
Crazy Sock Day
Kindergarten 2026 Orientation
E-Safety Learning in Years 3 and 4
Over the past few weeks, students in Years 3 and 4 have been participating in a series of lessons focused on E-Safety, including two virtual webinars.
At the end of Term 3, students completed the Cyber Smart Challenge—a set of three interactive modules developed by the eSafety Commissioner. These modules introduce primary school students to key online safety topics such as cyberbullying, protecting personal information, and sharing images responsibly.
Earlier this term, students attended virtual webinars presented by Catholic Network Australia and the NSW Department of Education. Both sessions helped students build practical skills to manage screen time, stay in control online, and interact safely in digital spaces.
To consolidate their learning, students will now share their new knowledge with their peers through a brief oral presentation. We look forward to hearing the thoughtful strategies they have developed to keep themselves and others safe online.
Happy Birthday
Merit Awards
Team Kids
Community News
