KINDNESS AND GENTLENESS

"Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love." 

 Ephesians 4:2

As we enter the month of November and the weather starts to warm up, I wanted to highlight the importance of kindness and gentleness in our school community. St Bede’s is proud to have strong values and expectations.

In a world that can sometimes be challenging, teaching our children to be kind and gentle towards others is a fundamental building block of their education. It fosters a warm and inclusive environment where all students feel safe, valued, and supported. Our current Kindy Set Go students have experienced the kind and gentle St Bede’s students as they have been welcomed over the past 3 weeks. Our new parents have also experienced this.

Our dedicated teachers always focus on kindness and gentleness as we continue to live our school motto “Walk in love and peace”. Parents and teachers role model kindness and gentleness in their words and actions when interacting with other people. This carries through to our children as they engage with each other. We encourage parents to engage in conversations about kindness and gentleness at home. Your guidance and support play a crucial role in reinforcing these values.

At St Bede’s we teach our students the significance of using gentle words and actions when solving problems or conflicts. At times, we support students with restorative conversations to resolve issues. By practising peaceful and respectful communication, we create a harmonious school environment.

This scripture from the book of Ephesians emphasises the importance of humility, gentleness, and patience in our interactions with others. It reminds us to approach one another with kindness, understanding, and love, even in the face of challenges and differences. By doing so, we can build stronger, more harmonious relationships and contribute to a more peaceful and compassionate world.

Our school is always exploring opportunities for students to participate in acts of service, such as helping those in need or giving back to the community. These experiences teach children the power of kindness and generosity. Our Year 5 students demonstrate kindness and gentleness with their buddies.

We believe that kindness and gentleness are not just behaviours but qualities that can shape our students into compassionate and empathetic individuals. By instilling these values, we create a safe and nurturing environment where our students can thrive both academically and emotionally. At lunchtime today, I witnessed a Kindy Set Go boy trip over. He was quickly comforted by a Year 6 girl.

Have a wonderful weekend.

Regards

Andrew

Dear Parents,

Thank you! All Saints Liturgy

We want to extend our heartfelt thanks to Year 1B and Mr Baldwin for their dedication in preparing our students for the All-Saints Liturgy, which took place this week on Wednesday. The students exhibited remarkable reverence, and their reading was truly beautiful.

We raised over $500 for Catholic Mission this year. Thank you to those families who donated money to our cause. This will go a long way in making a difference in the lives of those less fortunate.

Friday, November 10, 2023: Remembrance Day Liturgy

Our upcoming liturgy, dedicated to Remembrance Day, is being prepared by 3G and Mrs. Wright. This event will take place at 9.30am. It is an opportunity for our students to reflect on the significance of this day and remember the sacrifices made by those who served our nation.

Wednesday, December 13, 2023: End of Year Mass at the Cathedral

We have an important date for your diaries. Our End of Year Mass will be held on December 13th (Wednesday) at 10 am. This is a significant religious event in our school calendar, and we encourage all families to attend and share in this special occasion. 

Tuesday, December 12, 2023: Nativity and Carols Event

Mark your calendars for our Nativity and Carols event on December 12th, starting at 5 pm. This will be a delightful picnic-style gathering, so we invite you to bring along some dinner and treats to share with others. The evening promises wonderful entertainment, and the entire school will participate in some way, making it a joyful and community-driven event.

Christmas Giving:

We would also love donations in the form of children’s gifts. Every year St Bede’s families so generously gift either toys or money to this appeal so that children in our local community who are going without can also receive gifts at Christmas. Please know that your donations are greatly appreciated and needed. Qkr! will be set up as a means of giving via donations and all gifts (must be unwrapped) need to be at school by December 1^st as the process of pairing appropriate gifts with the needs of the community takes some time. In the past gifts that have been big hits are sports balls/equipment, Lego of any description and craft items. If your child would love it, that is a good sign.

We look forward to your participation in these upcoming events. Your support and involvement are integral to the spiritual growth and community spirit at our school.

Warm regards,

Nikki Dwyer

Religious Education Coordinator

As the end of year draws near and the weather begins to heat up students become tired and emotional. St Bede's students receive the message to continue to be tolerant of others and to be kind. The end of year can become very busy for students and their family.

Parents are encouraged to organise a 'rest day' for their children if they need a break. Please submit an absence via the Compass Parent Portal.

Much time and effort is placed into organising class groups each year. Teachers take into account class dynamics, friendships, needs, academic and sporting ability, and much more when considering where each child is placed.

Parents are invited to contact the office to make an appointment with Andrew for a phone call or meeting to discuss individual needs of a student if they deem it necessary. This conversation is about needs only as opposed to teacher selection. Please note that parents should not approach class teachers to make requests.

It is anticipated that all relevant conversations will take place by Friday 10 November. 

Please be advised that dates have now been finalised for 2024. These dates are for students and mark the first and last day.

Term 1: Wednesday 31 January- Friday 12 April

Term 2: Tuesday 30 April- Friday 5 July

Term 3: Tuesday 23 July- Friday 27 September

Term 4: Monday 14 October- Monday 16 December