Dear Parents and Carers,

It is hard to believe that we have been back at school for four weeks! This week was the first full week at school for Kinder and they are doing remarkably well. When visiting classrooms, it gives much pleasure to see how focused and engaged that the children are, with their learning.

Tomorrow, we will have our first school mass to bless and celebrate a new school year. This mass will be celebrated at St Bede’s church at 10am. At the mass, the Year 6 leadership badges will be blessed by Father Sijo and all staff and students will be given a blessing. Parents, carers and grandparents are most welcome to attend the mass. All students are to be in their full summer uniform.

Lately we are seeing a few variations to our uniform. A reminder that all students wear black shoes. The girls wear either the school dress or navy shorts with a blue shirt and white socks. Please-no leggings or tights with the dress. Boys wear navy shorts, blue shirt and navy socks. Uniform is available from our second-hand uniform shop or Len Mutton & Co. Thank you for your assistance with this.

Next Week is the commencement of Lent. On Tuesday we celebrate Shrove Tuesday. Traditionally our students are given pancakes on Shrove Tuesday to eat at Recess. This year, the St Bede’s parishioners have kindly offered to provide the pancakes for our students and staff. We are extremely grateful to them for doing this. The following day is Ash Wednesday. Ash Wednesday begins the Lenten Season. Lent is the time before Easter when Catholics prepare to commemorate Jesus’s Resurrection through prayer, penance, and fasting. During the season of Lent, let us embrace the call to penance, prayer, and almsgiving. Through self-discipline and reflection, may we draw closer to the transformative love of Christ, preparing our hearts for the joy of Easter. We will all be attending mass on Ash Wednesday at 12pm. Parents and carers are most welcome to attend.

This year we have several new staff members at St Bede’s. They love working at St Bede’s and being part of the school and Braidwood community and are feeling very welcomed.

• Ms Hayley Millsom - Hayley has been teaching for several years in the Wollongong Diocese and more recently Wilcannia-Forbes Diocese.
• Ms Laurel Clark - Laurel is an experienced teacher who has worked at department and catholic schools.
• Ms Elizabeth Conroy - Elizabeth is an experienced teacher who has worked in several schools in Sydney.
• Mrs Sue Anderson - Library - Sue has many years of experience teaching in CECG schools as a Teacher-Librarian.

Community Council News - Currently there are two positions vacant, the position of Treasurer and a parent to share the Fundraising role. The Council has 6 meetings per year which are held at school in terms 1 and 4 and online in the evenings, during terms 2 and 3. The meetings are usually no longer than an hour. Should you be interested in either of these positions, please contact either myself or Richard Bunn on 0427633184 for information about the roles and email an Expression of Interest to Marylou Gorham at office.stbesesb@cg.catholic.edu.au by this Monday March 3.

This week we have many students and staff away with various illnesses including whooping cough, stomach viruses, rhinovirus and colds. If your child is feeling unwell, please keep them away until they are better, to avoid spreading the illness to others. Thank you in advance for your assistance with this.

This Saturday is the Braidwood Show which I am sure many of you will attend to view our wonderful display and to see the amazing work our children have done. We are extremely grateful to Ms Doszpot and Ms Cooper for organsing the display and to Ms Doszpot and Ms Kelly for their organisation of the drinks stall. If you can assist in any way on the day, please contact Ms Doszpot at school tomorrow.

God Bless