Thank you to all of those who were involved, especially our Year 1 parent helpers, in our Ash Wednesday Mass celebration yesterday.  Fr Andrew Lotton presided over this Mass and shared insights about preparing for Easter. 

Lent is a season of penance, reflection and fasting which prepares us for Christ's Resurrection on Easter Sunday, through which we attain redemption.  Getting ready for Lent is as simple as stop, look and listen:  Stop your activity for a few minutes; take a look at your life; listen to the Spirit within you. When you do that, you will be able to tailor your resolutions to your own needs.

Project Compassion

The theme for Project Compassion 2019 is based around Hope and giving Lent 100% in the name of hope.

Hope enables us to rise above our fears and helps those in great need to shape a better future for their communities. Through your generous support of Caritas Australia you are demonstrating the power of hope.

How can you show the power of hope at St Bede’s?

Project Compassion Paper Crane Giving Tree

Dress in Wear Purple, for the purple pancake races on 11^th April!

A message from Lucy in Year 6:

Hi, my name is Lucy and I am proud to be your Social Justice leader for 2019.  Lent is a very important time of year because it is the season of giving.  That is why I am going to be helping all of you give to one another as well.

This year’s Lent Appeal is going to be great.  With help from my wonderful Social Justice Committee, we will have a giving tree with purple paper cranes and a pancake race where you will wear purple clothes.  A note will come home next week for you to donate money.   I think that this is an easy and fun way to help people who are less fortunate than us.  A big thank you from the Social Justice Committee and myself to the St Bede’s community.     

Sacrament of Confirmation Family Information Night

Just a reminder that if your child is participating in Confirmation this year that there will be an information session for parents at 5pm, TODAY, in the school library.

Have a peaceful and restful long weekend.

Nikki Dwyer

Religious Education Coordinator

Our St Bede’s annual swimming carnival was a huge success last week with all the students participating in an event. Congratulations Scholastica as the winning house and Bridget S for being an overwhelming winner of the Swimming Achievement award.  I would like to sincerely thank all those who volunteered to help out on the day and to the many parents and grandparents who came to cheer on the children in the races or novelty events.

The regional representation carnival will be held on Monday, 4 April, at the AIS. Those selected will be notified in the next couple of weeks.

Our next big event is the Athletics Carnival to be held in Week 10 - Wednesday, 10 April.  All students from Kinder to Year 6 participate in this wonderful event at Woden Athletics track.  More information will be forwarded shortly.   

Netball

Netball registration has now closed and the teams are being put together for the forthcoming season.  It looks like we will have five teams in the South Canberra competition this year which is marvellous for a little school.  Thank you, Jenny Tiffen, for your wonderful organisation and commitment to promoting netball at St Bede’s.

 

IMPORTANT - If your child is interested in any representative sport, ACT School Sport requires that ALL nominations be lodged by parents.  Trial information, etc is on their website and the link is School Sport ACT

Have a great weekend.

Julie Douglas

Sports Coordinator

julie.douglas@cg.catholic.edu.au

The P&F’s first fundraising activity for the year will be an Easter Raffle.

The Easter Raffle has traditionally been extremely successful and we ask that each family make a donation of an Easter egg, bunny, basket or other related item to form part of the prize pool.  A box will be placed in the front office for donations.

Tickets will be coming home shortly with your child. 

Please ensure the school is aware of any medical conditions that your child may have, even if considered relatively minor and regardless of whether it is ongoing or in isolation.  Any medical information about your child is, of course, confidential.   

Do you or a friend have

an under school age child?

Playgroup is held in the Multi Purpose Room on Fridays from 9.00am until 11.00am.

Enrolments for 2019 are welcome at any time

We always welcome visitors to our wonderful little school and are happy to show them around at any time. 

If you know anyone who is looking for quality Catholic education and a nurturing and caring environment for their children, please don’t hesitate to tell them drop in and speak to us.

All occasions of absence of a child from class require an explanation from parent/guardian.  A written note is requested as all days of absence need be accounted for - the school roll being a legal document.  Email notification is acceptable. However, it is especially important if the absence is going to be of an extended nature (e.g. overseas trip) that you ensure written notification to the Principal is made prior to any absence.  Appropriate forms are available from the front office and also on the school website. 

Ms Kerry Watson is a private piano teacher who has conducted classes at St Bede’s for many years.  Lessons are on an individual basis during the school day.  If you have a child from Year 2 onwards who would like to learn piano, please email Kerry on lynehampianostudio@iinet.net.au

Enrolments for 2019 YWCA School Age Care are now open.

Please head to the website https://ywca-canberra.org.au/childrens-services/before-school-care/

for more information and to download a copy of the enrolment form.

If you have any questions, please call child care accounts on 6180 5777.

The following students received an award in Week 3:

ACHIEVEMENT AWARDS

WALK IN LOVE AND PEACE AWARDS

LEADERSHIP AWARDS

Seven resilience robbers and what to do instead

Sometimes, despite your best intentions, parenting habits can actually feed children’s fears and anxiety.

Check out the following common parenting mistakes that reduce children’s resilience.

Robber #1:    Fight all their battles for them
There’s nothing wrong with going in to bat when kids struggle or meet with difficulty inside or outside school, but make sure this is the last resort, not the first option.

Resilience alternative:  Give kids the opportunity to develop their own resourcefulness.

Robber #2:    Make their problem, your problem
Sometimes parents take too much responsibility for issues that are really up to children to work out or decide.  We put jumpers on them even when they don’t feel the cold, remind them to return library books and wake them in the morning when they are capable of getting themselves up.

Resilience alternative:  Make their problem, their problem.

Robber #3:    Give kids too much voice
In this era of giving children a voice, it is easy to go overboard and allow them too much of a say in what happens to them.  Kids often take the easy option to avoid hard or unpleasant situations.

Resilience alternative:  Make decisions for kids and expect them to adjust and cope.

Robber #4:    Put unrealistic or relentless pressure on kids to perform
Expectations about success and achievement are important.  Too low and kids will too easily meet them.  Too high and kids can give up.  Too much and kids can experience anxiety.

Resilience alternative:  Keep expectations in line with children’s abilities and don’t put excessive pressure on them.

Robber #5:    Let kids give in too easily
Resilient learners link success with effort.  They don’t give up because they don’t like a teacher or when confronted with complex activities.  Similarly they don’t bail out of a sporting team halfway through the season because the team is not winning or they are not enjoying it.

Resilience alternative:  Encourage kids to complete what they have started even if the results aren’t perfect.

Robber #6:    Neglect to develop independence
Don’t wait until they are teenagers to develop the skills of independent living.  Start early and promote a broad skillset so that they can look after themselves if you are not around.

Resilience alternative:  Don’t routinely do for kids what they can do for themselves.

Robber #7:    Rescue kids from challenging or stressful situations
There are many times kids are put in situations outside their comfort zone for a period. For instance, giving a talk, singing at the school concert or going on school camp may be challenges for some kids.  They are all situations that kids usually cope with, so show your confidence in them and skill them up rather than opt for avoidance.

Resilience alternative:  Teach kids that overcoming challenges enables them to grow and improve.

Extracted from Spoonfed Generation by Michael Grose