Dear Parents and Carers,

St. Bede was a dedicated scholar and an inspiration for our School Vision. Children and teachers are encouraged to continually reflect on themselves as learners and set challenging learning goals so they can reach their full potential. This past week all the students have been busy writing their learning goals for this term.

Students from Kinder – Year 2 have commenced IntiaLit and Years 3 -6 Soundwaves, which are structured phonics-based spelling programs to assist students to build capacity to develop literacy skills. Kinder to Year 6 will be participating in explicit writing lessons to build capacity on the writing process and develop skills and knowledge of grammar and punctuation, using daily review to support knowledge retention. In Religious Education the teachers are focusing on continuing to implement the Brisbane Guidelines for teaching Religious Education and Catholic Social Teachings. This is supported by the explicit teaching of Scripture relevant to the unit of work being taught.

This year our whole school goals are:

• to improve the quality of writing across all grades
• to strengthen student improvement in Mathematics
• to improve student achievement by using effective evidence-based/informative practices.

The staff all participated in training for PBL (Positive Behaviours for Learning) at the professional development day on January 31. PBL will be the new framework for behaviour management and student wellbeing at St Bede’s. It complements the School Vision of ‘Live, Love, Learn’ from the Heart of Jesus, which is the centre of our beliefs about teaching and learning. More information about PBL will be provided to you in our newsletters.

Unfortunately, we still are unable to have any school events or extra events at school or at a venue outside of school. This year we will not be conducting our usual parent information night which was to have been held on Wednesday February 16. A note will be sent home with each student from their class teacher, outlining what is to be taught in each Key Learning Area and general routines for the class. The Overviews will be sent home with each child on Wednesday February 16.

We look forward to seeing many of our parents who have volunteered to assist at the swimming carnival tomorrow. Proof of vaccination will be required upon entry to the pool. Only volunteers will be admitted.

Thank you so much to all our parents who have endeavoured to follow all the Level 3+ restrictions. Please ensure you contact the office if you need to come into the school, sign in at the front office and wear a mask.

Please keep our Braidwood community in your prayers and continue to be thankful for the small everyday blessings around us.

God Bless