WALKING TOGETHER-SYNODALITY 2022

 He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?

Micah 6:8

At St Bede’s Primary School we provide a high-quality Catholic education for all students, giving due emphasis to the fundamental literacy and numeracy skills required for both learning and life. We offer excellent opportunities and experiences in covering the curriculum as well as valuable extracurricular experiences for our students.  In 2023 our Annual Improvement Plan will aim to:

• Build high expectations of students and their learning
• Develop and implement high-quality pedagogy and a culture of best practice
• Grow engagement in the school community.

The beautiful thing about St Bede’s is that we do all things together as a strong, united community. We walk and journey together. As we increase enrolments we need to grow in our connectedness and ensure that we reach out, accept new families and journey with them.

As the year draws to a close, it is timely to reflect on our theme for 2022; ‘Walking Together’. Archbishop Prowse also declared that the Archdiocese of Canberra & Goulburn will also have a year of ‘Walking Together’. He explains; 

“The word SYNODALITY is frequently used in our Catholic circles these days. Pope Francis uses it very often as indicating a way to evangelise. We do that by “walking together.” The Emmaus scene in the Gospel of Luke (24:13-35) is a great biblical example of this.

ln the immediate aftermath of the “scandal” of Calvary, two disciples in the evening of the day walk dispirited away from Jerusalem. Before meeting the Risen Lord, their interior attitudes are summed up by the expression they use: “we had hoped.”

Chastising them for their lack of faith, Jesus instils hope in them. At a kind of Eucharistic meal they share with Jesus, their “eyes were opened” and they recognise that the one walking alongside them is, in fact, the Risen Lord.

Filled with a joy so strong, they comment that their hearts were burning with fervour for Jesus. Their attitudes are completely changed. What they thought was a death with no hope bas become new life in Christ. They return to the very place they were running away from filled with the Gospel imperative to affirm the faith of others that “He is Risen.” They put to death their own narrow priorities and take on the priorities of the Kingdom of God."

At St Bede’s our students are encouraged to use their God-given talents to reach their full potential. It is with optimism and a deep sense of privilege that we fulfill the mission of the Parish in growing the Kingdom of God. To have a relationship with God and to know the person and message of Jesus Christ is important to us. This is another way we can walk together with our Lord.

Throughout the year, our students and teachers have journeyed together to explore this theme. Everyone has constructed an understanding of what this theme personally means to them. This theme also ties in beautifully with our school motto “Walk in love & peace”.

I thank Mrs Dwyer and Mr Macintyre who shared the Religious Education role in 2022, who in conjunction with teachers, guided our staff and students to explore this wonderful theme.

I would like to thank all who have walked with St Bede’s throughout 2022 and those who have guided and supported me throughout the year.

Regards

Andrew

Congratulations to the children who made their first Eucharist last weekend! It is a momentous step in your faith journey.

As I sit here and reflect on First Eucharist, I wonder why this sacrament is so transforming, and I think there are many reasons. Firstly, partaking in communion is nourishment for our spiritual selves. It is the taking of body and blood that connects us so strongly to Christ. Fr Alex presided over the Mass on Sunday and spoke to the congregation about the significance of this connection, especially for those experiencing Eucharist for the first time. In my personal experience, communion is like opening the door to prayer, and those moments of silence following communion, are the closest and deepest moments shared with God.  

Secondly, it is because we are gathered as a community. We are children, adults, individuals, students, teachers, parents, part of a class and (the best) school, but we are also part of a parish, something greater, we belong. There is something very special about our community and how it comes together to support each other, and on Sunday, we were surrounded by this feeling.

As you know, these occasions don’t just happen, so I would like to thank a few people for their contribution. Firstly, Mr Levi Heffernan for preparing the children so well for this sacrament over the past term. Thank you, Mrs Debbie Deighton, and Mrs Patrea Johnston, for accompanying us with beautiful music. I also wanted to thank our wonderful families, friends, student readers, choir, and altar servers for supporting us on the day. Finally, thank you to Mel Kent, our parent volunteer, for coordinating our morning tea and the many families who brought a plate to share; the children were very happy with all the goodies.

With graduation mass and the end of the year approaching, we have much to be grateful for. The Year 6 students will say goodbye to St Bede’s and move on to high school, a big step in their lives.

Come along to Our End of Year Mass as we celebrate the year that was and look towards our next chapter. It will be at the Cathedral, on the last day of school, Thursday 15 December, at 10 am. All families are welcome.

Blessings

Nikki Dwyer

Religious Education Coordinator

Parent Teacher Meetings will be on Monday 5 December and Tuesday 6 December. These meetings are optional in Term 4 and can be made via the Compass Parent Portal. The sessions will open today (Friday 18 November). To book a session, please click on more and navigate to Conferences.  If you are unable to schedule a time, please contact your classroom teacher via email.

If you met in Week 5 or Week 6 with the class teacher and Mrs Elliott, there is no need to book another meeting session.

Please reach out for support if you need assistance.

Teachers have commenced preparing student reports for Semester 2. The reports will be distributed via the Compass Parent Portal on Friday 9 December (Week 9).  Please note that students who have commenced in Term 4 will not receive a student report. As assessment would be incomplete and not be representative of growth and learning, a letter containing a general comment will be constructed and sent home.

The reports will contain the same elements as Semester 1:

• Grades for each Key Learning Area
• An effort grade for each Key Learning Area
• Engagement with Learning 
• Learning Strengths- Comment statements
• Learning Goals- Comment statements
• Absentee information 

As noted in the P&F Newsletter Report last week, the disco has moved dates.  Rather than a paid event after hours, the disco will be a free celebratory event on the last day of school, Thursday 15 December, during school hours.  All students will wear their sports uniform on the last day as we will attend the End-of-Year Mass at the Cathedral in the morning and then return to school.  They will remain in their sports uniform for the disco and DO NOT need to bring a change of clothes.  Instead, they are invited to bring accessories to add to their uniform, fitting with the theme.  The SRC nominated a short list of themes to each class.  The votes are in and the winner is ‘Christmas’!  Students are invited to bring tinsel, antlers, Christmas earrings, socks, decorations, etc. to wear on their uniform to the disco.  The DJ will be pumping tunes from 12:00-2:00pm.  A free lunch, supplied by the P&F, will be served during the disco.  Students will then return to their classrooms for clean up and a final assembly at the very end of the day.  This will be a great way to celebrate the end of the year.  Thank you to our P&F who are funding the music and food for the day. 

Please be advised that the YWCA will utilise the school hall for before/after school care from the commencement of 2023. YWCA, in conjunction with St Bede's are currently working through the accreditation process and logistics associated with this move.

YWCA will communicate directly with those families who are accessing care to provide information and updates as required. Our wider school community will be updated via the school newsletter.

Christmas Carols – jingle, jingle, jingle!

St Bede’s will combine with the Cathedral Parish for a Carols by Candlelight event! Please save the date it is going to be a fantastic event.

When: Wednesday 7^th December at 5.30 pm for a 6 pm start

Where: NOW AT …..St Bede’s Primary School (on our grass lawn area)

You are welcome to bring a blanket or chairs and a picnic to enjoy, or there will be a BBQ sausage sizzle and gelato available to purchase on the night, thanks to our P&F.

The following students received an award in Week 6:

ACHIEVEMENT AWARDS

WALK IN LOVE AND PEACE AWARDS

YEAR 6

LEADERSHIP AWARDS