WE ARE BUILDERS!

“Therefore encourage one another and build up one another, just as you also are doing.” 

1 Thessalonians 5:11

At St Bede’s Primary School we are builders! Every single member of our school community are also builders! In partnership with parents, our fantastic staff and terrific students are responsible for building our school community and each of its members. The metaphor of building is simple and very effective. It is able to be easily understood and can be applied to many situations.

Of course there is the physical building that has occurred with our refurbishments and improvements over the past 12 months and will continue to happen with our new playground, however, we build in many other ways that are more important than bricks and mortar.

At St Bede’s we build each other up. Staff do this by providing supporting and providing feedback on the completion of tasks, homework, sporting activities, manners, effort and behaviour. We build each other by assisting in the community and helping each other in many different ways. We are a community of builders. 

We are also building our school in other ways. We aim to build engagement and knowledge in our students. We aim to build community and parent engagement. We aim to build and grow a culture of collaboration and sharing. We aim to build a sense of welcome, inclusion and support. We have and are continuing to build a school where all flourish and contribute. 

Of course in using this metaphor in a religious sense, we at St Bede’s are continuing to carry out the mission of the Catholic Church of building the kingdom of God by sowing seeds for the future in each student.

In the scripture passage above St Paul is speaking to the Thessalonians to comfort them with the Word and each other, to build the community and earn salvation. It was the community's responsibility, and they were encouraged to build each other up to live in a holy way. It is our responsibility to build each other up to spread kindness and “Walk in Love and Peace”.

Have a great weekend!

Andrew

Feast of Mary MacKillop

On Monday 8 August, our School gathered to celebrate the Feast Day of Mary MacKillop. Thank you to Mrs Dwyer and Mrs Fox for organising the mass, Year 2 students for leading and Fr Trenton for celebrating with us. We are also very fortunate to have our talented teachers, Mr Morwitch and Mr Heffernan, to play our music for the mass.

Mary MacKillop, the first saint of Australia was a remarkable woman. She was a trailblazer in her lifetime, leaving a culture of exemplary living for her followers to emulate. Mary paved the way for education of poor children and a variety of ministries which addressed the needs of 19th century Australia. 

God of the prophets you gifted Mary MacKillop with vision and courage.
In her we see one who was not afraid to speak fearlessly your gospel of love.
We pray for the sensitivity and imagination to read the signs of our times, and to articulate new possibilities for our own day. Like Mary, may we learn to confront all that is oppressive and unjust, and empower others towards true freedom and integrity. Spirit of wisdom, be with us as we face new horizons. 

Amen.

Thank you to the 45 families who completed the Parent Survey in Term 2. We appreciate your feedback and look forward to identifying some focus areas for 2023 and beyond. We will develop a range of strategies to add to our improvement agenda. A summary of the parent and student data will be shared in coming weeks.

Should you like to discuss anything from the survey specifically, please reach out. Alternatively, if any parent would like to meet to provide any feedback, our door is always open. Please come in and have a conversation by booking a time through the office.

As previously advised, St Bede's will have a pupil free day on Friday 9 September. Care will be available from YWCA on these days.

YWCA, who are our current before and after school providers, will provide care for students enrolled at St Bede's on those days.  Parents can enrol their child/ren by contacting YWCA on 6185 2000.  

If parents need to enrol students into before and after school care at St Bede's, the website is https://childrens-services.ywca-canberra.org.au/school-age-care/