Dear Parents and Carers,

We have all done well to reach the end of a huge term, still smiling, and enjoying the life of the school. Your children are a precious gift and, as a community, we celebrate their achievements and work step-by-step beside them as they overcome challenges big and small. It is wonderful to see the massive leaps that our students are making with their learning. On Monday, reports were sent home for all our students. We hope you have celebrated the successes with your children’s learning and discussed academic goals to challenge and improve their learning for term 3. We especially wish to thank our hard-working staff. The teachers and staff at St Bede’s work tirelessly, to ensure that each supported with their learning in a creative and inspirational learning environment.

On Tuesday night we witnessed some of our Year 3 and 4 students receive their First Reconciliation at St Bede’s Church. The students all embraced the preparation for the Sacrament very and maturely reverently. We especially would like to thank Ms. Lisa Kaptein for her preparation of the students, supported by Mrs. Johanna Barling and Mr. Gerard Galvin. We are truly blessed to have Fr Mick and Brother Brian to guide and support our students and families.

This week we had an Aboriginal Cultural day for our students. We were fortunate to have two performers from the Maluerindi people present some traditional Aboriginal dances and workshops. The students enjoyed the performance and embraced the opportunity to deepen their understandings of the Indigenous culture. We especially wish to thank Mrs Johanna Barling for organising this performance for our students.

Tomorrow, our students will be participating in a RE fun day. We thank Ms Lisa Kaptein for organising this day. The students will be having a plain clothes day for a gold coin donation towards Camp Quality. We also have canteen tomorrow with an additional special of a cup of popcorn for $1. We thank Bec Thistleton, Trina Moller and Jo Parsons for their hard work ensuring that our canteen is operating and providing our students with yummy, healthy food.

We have students who are often absent or late to school. A reminder to all parents that under Section 22 of the Education Act 1990, it is the parents’ responsibility to ensure that a child who is of compulsory schooling age attends school every day, and during the times on every day, when school is open for attendance. Parents must have a reasonable excuse for not complying with the compulsory attendance requirements in the Act. Parents please ensure that your child arrives at school on time by 8:55 am each day and if in the event they are sick or absent it is a requirement that a note be provided to the class teacher with a reasonable excuse. If parents do not have a reasonable excuse, they are liable under the Act and guilty of an offence.

There are a few staffing changes for next term. We say farewell and thank you to Mrs. Janine Ryan who has resigned from her position teaching in Year 5. We thank Janine for her contribution to St Bede’s. Mrs. Jennie Marsh and Mrs. Ann Monkhouse will be taking Year 5 for the remainder of this year. We are extremely grateful to Jennie and Ann for accepting this position at St Bede’s. As of next term, Mr. Alex Shain will be working one day a week. Mrs. Cherie Kilburn will be taking Years 1 and 2, for the other day each week.

We would like to take this opportunity to thank all our parents for the many ways that you support us here at Bede’s. We hope you all have a lovely holiday and enjoy this time with your children. When we return to school, we will have no hats for July and August. Just a reminder we have a pupil free day on Monday, July 12. The staff will be participating in a Spirituality Day at Goulburn. We look forward to seeing all our students return to St Bede’s for term 3 on Tuesday July 13.

God Bless

Marylou Gorham