Congratulations
Congratulations to Ms Hayley Dwyer, 3/4 Gold’s classroom teacher, who got married the first Friday of the school holidays. I know as a community you join with me in congratulating the new Mrs Gould. We wish Hayley and Daniel a long and happy life together

School Ski Team
I am very pleased to announce that St Benedict’s now has a Ski Team. The team made up of Matilda (5/6 Blue), Mila (5/6 Blue) and Grace (3/4 Gold) will be competing this week at the ACT & Southern NSW Interschools championship at Perisher. Thank you to Mrs Erika Wagstaff for her coordination of the team. Good luck girls!

School Supervision
As we begin Winter I am concerned about the number of students who arrive at school well before 8:30am – some as early as 8:00am – and then need to sit and wait for the teacher who begins duty at 8:30am. If students are being dropped to school or making their own way they should not be on site prior to 8:30am. If your work commitments do not allow for a drop off after 8:30am you might like to consider accessing YWCA before school care.

Approaching Other Children
Parents are reminded that it is never appropriate to approach other children to confront them about issues between your child and the other student. Imagine how you would feel if another parent or carer approached your child and spoke to them. It is inevitable that there are social conflicts, misunderstandings, and unkind actions. At St Benedict’s we encourage students to develop skills that will assist them to deal with social situations, with teachers offering assistance and support. If you are concerned about how your child is coping socially please contact your child’s teacher.

August is Hats ON again!
August is fast approaching, and although still cold, it is the month we start to witness a rise in UV levels in Canberra that warrants sensible sun protection during at least some periods of the day.

The beginning of August is Hats ON Again for all of us!
In Canberra average daily UV levels reach 3 and above for part or most of every day between August and May. When UV levels reach 3 and above, the Cancer Council recommends sun protection to reduce the potential risk of skin damage which lays the ground work for skin cancer later in life, including deadly melanoma.

From August through to the end of May each year St Benedict’s student will need to wear their hat as a form of sun protection. It may also be worth considering the use of sunscreen over the remaining winter and spring months.

Grandparents and Grand Friends’ Day
Next Friday 1^st August is St Benedict’s Grandparents and Grand Friends Day. Grandparents and Grand Friends are most welcome to join us for our school mass at 10am, followed by a special morning tea and visits to the classroom. We look forward to seeing many significant ‘Grand’ people on the day.

Sick Students
If your child is ill please keep them at home for their own benefit but also so as not to spread it to other students and staff. Please make sure that your emergency contacts are up-to-date so that we can contact you quickly if your child becomes ill or is injured at school. If your child needs medication at school, you are required to complete a “Request to Dispense Mediation” form which is available at the Front Office and on our website. A reminder that students are not to self-administer medication. Medication should not be kept in children’s bags but kept in the Front Office area and the Office staff will administer. All information is then noted in a medication book. Teachers will not administer or supervise the taking of medication. Please ask your child to take medications to the Front Office upon arrival at school.

Boorowa Touch and Netball Carnival
Every year the local schools in Boorowa host a Touch and Netball Carnival for teams from Years 2 to 6. St Benedict’s has been attending this carnival for the last couple of years and parents and students who have attended the day are always enthusiastic to attend the day again.

Shortly an Expression of Interest form will go home to students in Years 3 - 6 to assist us with planning for this event. Please return the Expression of Interest form to school as soon as possible.

School Fees
Thank you to the many families who have finalised their fees for last term. Term 3 School Fees have been sent out today via email for the families that have selected this option otherwise they will be sent home as per normal. If you have not yet finalised your Term 2 fees could you please attend to this as a matter of urgency. Should you be experiencing difficulty with the fees please come and make a time to speak with the school.

Uniform
As we return for the new term I feel it is timely to remind our students and families about our school uniform policy. Below is an excert from the policy regarding student appearance. Please read through it and discuss it with your child.

Student Appearance

• All aspects of student's appearance are gender inclusive i.e. apply to both girls and boys.
• Student’s hair should be clean and neat; fashionable extremes are not permitted. Shoulder length hair or longer must be tied back. Only natural, all-over hair colour is acceptable. The Principal or Assistant Principal will contact parents if other hair styles are of concern.
• Accessories are to match school colours (maroon, navy blue, yellow and white).
• No jewellery may be worn other than small, plain (silver or gold, no colour) ear studs, a watch or medical alert identification. Only one stud per ear (i.e. earlobe)
• Nail polish and make-up in any form are not part of the school uniform.
• Students out of uniform are required to bring a note from home on the day.
• If a student is out of uniform, parents may be contacted and requested to give a commitment to resolve the problem.

Leaving St Benedict’s
If you anticipate that your child will leave St Benedict’s at the end of this year, could you please notify the Front Office. We need to begin planning for staffing and class configurations for 2020. Thank you to those who have let us know already, this is very much appreciated. Naturally Year 6 parents need not respond to this request.