We would like to extend our heartfelt thanks to all of you for preparing a wonderful morning tea to celebrate World Teachers' Day. Your thoughtfulness and support made the occasion truly special for our staff.

It means a lot to us to have such a supportive community that values and recognises the hard work of our teachers. Thank you for your generosity and for helping us honor their dedication!

We would like to remind you that children may arrive at school from 8:30am, giving them time to play before lessons start. Please ensure that children do not arrive before this time. The lower oval is now open before school for ball games. This enables parents and students to walk into school safely without balls flying past.

Additionally, all children should be collected by 3:30pm. Children are asked to remain seated outside the primary classrooms and wait for parents to collect. Children are only allowed to play once parents have collected them.

Thank you for your understanding and cooperation!

We would like to share that Mrs Jess Higgins will be leaving St Bede's to pursue other opportunities. We wish her all the very best in her new venture and thank her for her contributions to our school community.

As we move forward, we are currently in the process of recruiting a new French/Library teacher. We appreciate your support and understanding during this transition.

We wish to inform you that Ross Fox, Director of Catholic Education, will be resigning from his role at the conclusion of 2024. We thank Ross for his significant investment in the refurbishments at St Bede's and for reversing the decision to close our school. We wish him all the very best for the future.

During the recruitment process for a new Director, Mrs. Pam Betts will serve as the interim Director. 

This year, I was fortunate enough to have been selected to attend the NSW Catholic School’s Spirit on Country conference. This conference brings NSW (and ACT) schools together to celebrate and learn about how Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture, history and truth come alive in their communities.

The conference was held in Tamworth, and a big focus of the conference was all around truth telling. To begin the truth telling, our first day was spent on country at the sight of the Myall Creek Massacre.

This is the sight of one of the many unprovoked attacks on Aboriginal people during the 1800’s. However, 28 Aboriginal elderly men, women and children died on the 10^th of June 1838. The difference is that even though many of these attacks were never brought to justice, the convict stockmen involved in the attack at Myall Creek were.

As I sat under a tree at the memorial site, I realised we, as a nation, have a long way to go. And it is through truth telling and listening that healing can begin to happen. 

This experience set the tone for the next two days of the conference, to have a heart that is open, and ears that are listening. The Holy Spirit was certainly with all of us as we engaged with each keynote speakers and breakout sessions. I even got to meet a legend of the NRL game – Gregg Inglis, yep! GI himself! And author, Anita Heiss!

I have walked away from this conference with a sense of purpose, a deeper appreciation of my role in leading Aboriginal Education and drive to make sure our school is one that helps to close the gap as we walk in love and peace.

Haley Stonham

Curriculum Coordinator

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Contact  

Once again our wonderful STEM teacher (amongst other things), Mr Ben Macintyre will be growing in his facial hair to support Movember.  Funds raised are used to support men's mental health.

If you would like to contribute to Mr Mac's fundraising for such a worthwhile cause you can do so at:

https://au.movember.com/mospace/115839?utm_source=qrcode&utm_medium=mo_app&utm_campaign=movember&utm_content=app_share_mospace_qr

Due to the absence of our wonderful canteen manager Tess on Friday 8 November, please note our Snack Shack will be operating with a reduced menu for that Friday only.  

We thank our Year 5 parents who have volunteered to man the canteen and allow us to still offer a slightly reduced menu.  Please see Qkr! for available options.

The following students received an award in Week 3:

WALK IN LOVE AND PEACE AWARDS

PRINCIPAL'S AWARD