“I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die.” John 11:25

As we come to the end of Term 1 and enter the Easter season, I would like to reflect on the powerful experiences our school community has shared this past week. Holy Week has been a sacred time at St Bede’s, marked by beautiful liturgies and opportunities to pause, pray, and enter into the story of Jesus’ passion, death, and resurrection.

Our Holy Week liturgies were moments of deep faith and reverence. From the reflective atmosphere of Holy Thursday’s re-enactment of the Last Supper to the solemnity of Good Friday’s Stations of the Cross, and the joyful celebration of the Resurrection, each gathering allowed our students and staff to journey together through the Easter story.

The scripture passage above relates to our reflections this week. These words of Jesus speak not just to eternal life after death, but to the hope and renewal we are offered each day. At St Bede’s, this message is alive in our classrooms in the way we support each other through challenges, celebrate successes, and nurture the gifts within every child. It is also evident across our whole school community.

This term, we also witnessed students exploring the Easter message through classroom prayer, creative art pieces, and acts of service in the playground and wider community. These actions reflect the living gospel, the message that Christ is risen, and we are called to be people of light and hope.

We acknowledge that Easter does not hold the same significance for everyone. In our diverse and respectful community, we recognise and honour the different ways our families experience this time. For Catholics, Easter is the foundation of our faith, but its themes, renewal, hope, sacrifice, and love are values that resonate universally and unite us in our shared humanity.

In this Jubilee Year of Pilgrims of Hope, we are reminded that we are all on a journey, searching for meaning and light. Easter strengthens us to walk this path with courage, together.

May this Easter bring peace to your hearts, joy to your homes, and renewed hope for the journey ahead. I wish you all a safe and restful holiday break, and a truly blessed Easter.

Regards

Andrew

The past few weeks have been full of sporting activities and excitement! It has been wonderful to see students stepping out of their comfort zones, trying new sports like futsal, and competing at the regional level in swimming.

South-Weston Regional Swimming

Congratulations to our 26 swimmers who participated in the South-Weston Swimming Carnival at the AIS last Friday. All students competed with great enthusiasm and gave their best effort. A number of students achieved personal bests in their events — a fantastic outcome!

Special congratulations to Sofia (Year 3) who came first in the 50m Backstroke, and to both Sofia and Maddi (Year 6) who have qualified for the ACT Championships to be held in May.

Sports Stars of the Week

Following the recent Futsal Carnivals, we are proud to announce that eight St Bede’s students have been selected to represent the ACT at the National Futsal Carnival in Queensland this September.

Congratulations to:

• Olivia (Year 3)
• Kayla, Mason, and Houston (Year 4)
• Asher, Freya, Kai, and Ashton (Year 6)

This is a huge achievement, and we are incredibly proud of you all!

Female Football Week

Celebrate Female Football Week in Canberra from 2 to 11 May! This exciting event highlights the growth of women's football and the vital role females play at all levels of the game. A variety of sessions, including a Dads & Daughters training, Mums & Bubs session, Fast 3s competition, and an Off-the-Pitch Player Education webinar, will be hosted by Capital Football. Whether you're a player, coach, volunteer, or parent, there’s something for everyone to get involved in.  Join us as we celebrate female involvement in football and encourage more Women and Girls to play and engage in the sport! For more details on events, visit Capital Football's website and keep up to date on our social channels @CapitalFootball.

Looking Ahead: Term 2

Term 2 is shaping up to be another action-packed term for sport. Our Cross Country Carnival will take place on Friday 2 May, and our Athletics Carnival is planned for Tuesday 13 May, Week 3.

We wish all our families a fabulous and restful holiday break!

Yours in sport

Elyse Charles

Due to the Cross Country being held on Friday 2 May (Week 1, Term 2) we are asking all students to please wear their sports uniform on that day.  Please note dance will commence in Week 2, Term 2.

Building Our Defence Family Community

As our defence family continues to grow, we’re excited to share upcoming events and helpful information for all our defence families. Whether you’re new to the area or have been part of our community for some time, we want to ensure you feel supported and connected.

If you're a defence family and would like to get in touch, share resources, or suggest ideas, please don’t hesitate to contact Elyse Charles at elyse.charles@cg.catholic.edu.au. We’re always looking for ways to strengthen our defence community, and we’d love to hear from you!

New to Canberra?

The Duntroon Community Centre is a fantastic place to connect with others. They offer a wide range of activities for both children and adults, including playgroups and special events. Visit their website to see what’s on: www.duntrooncommunitycentre.org.au

Upcoming Event

ADF Families Event – ADF Equip: Parental Absence
A supportive session designed to help families navigate the challenges of parental absences. Register here on Eventbrite

Let’s continue to support each other and grow stronger together as a defence family! 

Elyse Charles

Just a reminder that the top carpark off Nuyts Street is for drop off and pick up only before and after school.  Please do not park there during school hours as it is used as a playing surface.  In the final week of Term 1, we had parents parking there during the day to pick children up whilst other children were playing on the surface.  If you need to collect and/or drop off your child/ren during school hours, please park in the main and overflow carpark off Hicks Street.

We have noticed an increase in the number of students arriving to school with take-away hot beverages.  We acknowledge that this is a lovely treat before school or an extended breakfast but we kindly ask that these drinks are consumed before coming onto school grounds.  Hot beverages pose a safety hazard with drinks being spilt upon collisions with other students and sports equipment.  In some instances, students are still drinking during assemblies, carrying them into class and empty cups are being littered on the playground.  Thank you for your support. 

3 Rivers Pest Control will be on site early on Tuesday 29 April to assess and eliminate wasps in the area.  We have noticed multiple wasps beginning to congregate in the main courtyard, especially during eating times.  We have not been able to locate a nest in the area but will take precautionary action to move them on. 

The canteen will not be open on Friday 2 May (Week 1, Term 2) and there will be NO lunch orders available.  All students will need to supply their own lunch on that day.  Thank you for your understanding and cooperation.

The following students received an award in Week 10:

WALK IN LOVE AND PEACE AWARDS