Dear Parents and Carers,

This year, NAIDOC Week is celebrated from July 7 to 14, to celebrate and recognise the history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. Yesterday, we celebrated NAIDOC Week with a beautiful liturgy. We thank Ms Jebb, Ms Cooper and Year 1 for preparing and leading the liturgy and reflecting on this years theme “Keep the fire burning! Blak, Loud and Proud’.  On Friday of week 1 next term, I will be taking a group of Indigenous students and leaders from St Bede’s to the Northern Regions NAIDOC Mass at St Peter and Paul’s Cathedral at Goulburn. We look forward to celebrating NAIDOC Week with our Northern Regions schools.

Semester One reports were posted on Compass on Monday. We hope you enjoyed the opportunity to celebrate the strengths and successes of your child’s report. It is a wonderful opportunity to ask your child what they are most proud of learning this year and then together develop challenging but achievable goals for the next semester. The teachers certainly valued the opportunity to discuss each child’s academic performance at the recent parent interviews, as well as their effort and attitude to learning.

Next term the Seasons for Growth program will be conducted for students in Years 3 and 4. Seasons for Growth supports children who have experienced change and loss, including, although not limited to friendship changes; family separation; loss or death of someone they care about; loss of a pet; relocation and migration; physical or mental illness; or change of school. Children may benefit from learning the skills to understand and make sense of these situations. We suggest that children impacted by bereavement wait 6-12 months before participating in a Seasons for Growth program. Please note, siblings are not permitted to engage in the same group. This allows a confidential space where students can share freely. The program is evidence-based and uses the imagery of the seasons to describe and understand the experience of change, loss and grief. Our Companions will facilitate the group where students will support and learn from each other in age appropriate and engaging activities. Participants learn that change and loss are a natural part of life and that they are not alone in dealing with the effects of these experiences. They also learn communication, decision making and problem-solving skills to support them to adapt to their new circumstances, all while developing a peer-support network at school. Faith Costigan, our school counsellor, will facilitate the program as a trained Seasons for Growth ‘Companion’. Students will join a small group of between 4-7 participants and attend the weekly 45-minute sessions, for 8 weeks, commencing in week 2. Each child will receive a journal to guide them through the program and to record their experience and learning which they can take home after their final session. If you would like your child to be involved, can you please email or contact the front office tomorrow or by the end of the first week next term and arrangements will be made for a permission note to be sent home. Please sign and return this as soon as possible and please note that places are limited. We envisage running this program in term 4 for Stage 3 students, to ensure they won’t miss out. For more information, please visit https://www.mackillopseasons.org.au/programs/seasons-for-growth-children-and-young-people/

Ms Lis Mertens will be returning to St Bede’s next term following a trip overseas to spend time with family. Lis will be teaching Kinder each Thursday, releasing Shaye Cooper for REC duties. We look forward to welcoming Lis back and hearing all about her trip.

We have had a very productive and rewarding term with many successes and achievements to celebrate! We wish everyone a safe and relaxing holiday. Keep well and we look forward to seeing all our students return to school on Wednesday July 24. Monday July 22 and Tuesday July 23 are pupil free days to enable staff to participate in professional development and planning for the term ahead.

Have a lovely holiday!
God bless