After being spoilt with a very mild autumn, it appears that winter is on the way!  There has been a sudden change in temperature and the onset of illness is upon us.  This often means higher student absences, staff illness, big emotions and low levels of tolerance.  To ensure that we all look after each other, please consider taking advantage of a rest day or recovery time if your child is sick.  Whilst we encourage building resilience, no one likes being sick at school. 

Since my last Principal’s message, there has been exciting news from the Vatican!  On May 8, 2025, Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost was chosen as Pope Leo XIV, making history as the first American born pope.

Pope Leo XIV has expressed a strong commitment to peace, unity, and social justice. His background in mathematics and canon law gives him a unique perspective on the challenges facing the modern Church.

As he begins his papacy, Pope Leo XIV has emphasised the importance of dialogue and bridge-building, encouraging Catholics worldwide to work together for a more united and compassionate Church. 

By following Pope Leo’s example, we can all walk in love and peace every day, whether it’s by helping a friend, standing up for what is right, or simply sharing a smile. Let us keep Pope Leo XIV in our prayers as he leads the Church in the spirit of love and peace!

Shout Outs

Parents

A massive shout out to the dedicated team who worked behind the scenes to coordinate our St Bede’s Dinner, held last Saturday evening.  Thank you to Carmen D’Costa, Dom Kensey, Jessie Strong and Meera Keogh for working tirelessly to produce a wonderful evening, including great food, entertainment and outstanding company.  This event is an important social event on the St Bede’s calendar.  It is an opportunity to bring people together and be grateful for our school community. 

Thank you to everyone who contributed to the evening by donating, sponsoring teacher tickets and joining in the fun.  A well-earned night out and a fantastic fundraising achievement, raising over $9000!  Well done to everyone involved. 

Staff

A shout out goes to Toby McNaughton and Elyse Charles for wrapping up this year’s sporting carnivals with another pearler.  The Athletics Carnival was a huge success, completing all activities on the day and keeping the schedule on track!  Thank you for all of the planning, organisation, communication and support before and during the day.  What a team!

Breen Fox

Acting Principal

The P&F is seeking a new Secretary volunteer.  This role includes:

• Liaising with the P&F President
• Preparing and distributing the P&F working group meeting agenda
• Taking minutes during the P&F working group meeting
• Attending the P&F working group meeting, Tuesdays Week 2, every term

If you can contribute a couple of hours per term to assist in this role, or you would like to ask questions about the role, we would love to hear from you! Contact breen.fox@cg.catholic.edu.au

Celebrating Our Patron Saint: St Bede the Venerable

Next Tuesday, we celebrate the feast day of our school’s patron saint—St Bede the Venerable! His feast day is actually on the 25 May. All are invited to our mass at 12:30pm in the school hall. Kinder and Year 5 will be leading us in our celebration and Fr. Josh will be presiding.

St Bede was a kind and clever monk who lived in England over 1,300 years ago. He loved learning, teaching, and writing, and he spent most of his life in a monastery where he studied the Bible, history, and science.

St Bede is best known for writing a book called The Ecclesiastical History of the English People, which helped people understand the history of the Church in England. Because of his great wisdom and love for learning, he was given the special title “Doctor of the Church.”

At our school, we honour St Bede by trying our best in our learning, being curious about the world, and living out our faith with kindness and humility—just like he did. We walk in love and peace, and we show Respect, Responsibility, and Resilience in all we do.

St Vinnies Winter Appeal

As the weather gets colder, many families in our community are doing it tough. This term, we’re supporting the St Vinnies Winter Appeal with the theme “Give Warmth This Winter.”

We’re inviting all students and families to help by donating warm sleeping essentials, pantry essentials and hygiene essentials. Here is the breakdown of grades and donations -

• K, 1, 2: Rough Sleeping Essentials: jackets, jumpers, gloves, sleeping bags, warm socks, scarves, blankets, sleeping mats (all donations MUST be new items)
• Year 3 and 4: Pantry Essentials: long life milks, cereals, rolled and quick oats, spread, tinned foods, jar foods, baking goods, dry pet foods, muesli bars, crackers, popcorn, biscuits, tea and coffee, juice, rice, pasta, non-perishable soups (just a few ideas!)
• Year 5 and 6: hygiene essentials: toothbrush, toothpaste, deodorant, moisturiser, hairbrush, face washers, toiletries bag, body wash, shaving foam, shampoo & conditioner, sanitary products.

Donations will be collected during Weeks 5 - 9 and will be collected in each classroom’s basket. Our Year 6 Wellbeing Leaders will monitor donations, and help to create awareness of why our support of the Vinnies WInter Appeal is so important to those in need in our community. 

Every little bit helps bring comfort and hope to someone facing a difficult winter. Let’s show our school’s spirit of love and peace by giving from the heart. Together, we can make a big difference!

Sacrament of Confirmation

Please keep our Year 5 and 6 Candidates and their families next week as they finalise their preparations to receive the Sacrament of Confirmation next Friday.

A few reminders for our Confirmation families:

• Sponsor letters, stoles and white cards are all due back to school by Tuesday 27 May
• Sacrament practice is Thursday 29 May at 4:30pm at St Christopher’s Cathedral. Students can be picked up out the front of the Cathedral at 5:15pm.

Just a reminder that school fees are due today, Friday 23 May, unless you are on another arrangement with the school.  We would appreciate your prompt payment.

As always, if you require an extension to pay, please reach out to the office if you have not already done so.

The following students received an award in Week 4:

WALK IN LOVE AND PEACE AWARDS

PRINCIPAL'S AWARD