Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. Romans 12:12

As we reach the midpoint of the school year, I continue to be inspired by the strong sense of community that makes St Bede’s such a special place to belong. Our students, staff, and families live out our shared values each day. Together, we demonstrate and deeply value kindness, compassion, service, and respect. These aren’t just words, they’re reflected in the daily actions of our children and the way our families support and uplift one another. This collective spirit creates a nurturing environment where everyone feels welcomed, valued and encouraged to grow both personally and spiritually.

A wonderful example of this spirit was on display at our Grandparents' Day Liturgy, so beautifully led by our Year 1 students and supported by Kindergarten. The joy on the faces of our grandparents, friends and parents, and the pride and reverence shown by our students, reminded us of the powerful role family plays in nurturing faith and values across generations. It was a simple yet sacred celebration, one filled with laughter, sharing, and heartfelt connection.

As the Church and our school continue the Jubilee Year 2025, we are called to reflect on the theme “Pilgrims of Hope.” This message has taken on renewed meaning for me following my recent pilgrimage to Italy, where I had the opportunity to walk in the footsteps of saints, explore sacred sites, and pray at places that have shaped the Catholic faith for centuries. Being in Rome, Assisi, and other holy places reminded me that pilgrimage is not just about travel, it’s about deepening our relationship with God and with one another.

That same spirit of journeying together is alive here at St Bede’s. Whether it’s students learning something new, staff walking alongside families, or our community supporting one another in times of need. We are all pilgrims of hope! If your family needs support, has questions or concerns, I encourage you to reach out to your child’s classroom teacher, Breen, or myself. We are always here to listen and walk the road with you.

At St Bede’s, we draw inspiration from St Paul’s message in Romans. St Paul wrote these words to encourage early Christians to remain faithful amid hardship, trusting in God’s promise of salvation. Today, his call reminds us to embrace hope joyfully, to face difficulties with patience, and to nurture our relationship with God through continual prayer. By living these virtues, we build a resilient and compassionate community grounded in faith, just as St Paul urged the first followers of Christ to do.

As we move into the final weeks of Semester 1, may we all continue to be pilgrims of hope and continue to live out the values that we hold so dear to us. 

Thank you for walking this journey of faith and learning with us.

Regards
Andrew

Please be reminded that students will finish for Term 2 on Thursday, 3 July, as Friday, 4 July will be a pupil free day. Term 3 will commence on Tuesday, 22 July, following a pupil free day on Monday, 21 July.

Additionally, Catholic Education is currently finalising the term dates for 2026. We will share these with you as soon as they become available.

Thank you for your ongoing support.

It’s been a busy and exciting few weeks at St Bede’s, with our students achieving great success across a range of sports, from cross country and netball to national-level rock climbing!

Netball Gala Days

Our Netball Gala Days were held on the 29th of May for Years 3 and 4, and on the 5th of June for Years 5 and 6. Congratulations to all students who participated—you represented St Bede’s with enthusiasm, skill, and wonderful sportsmanship.

A special thank you to the amazing parents who volunteered their time to help coach our teams. Your support is greatly appreciated.

A standout mention goes to the Year 6 Hawks, who progressed to the finals day. With a mix of strong wins, close losses, and a draw, the team showed great determination and teamwork. A big thank you to Bianca G, our dedicated coach for both days. Your calm leadership and encouragement made a huge difference!

ACT Cross Country Championships

On Friday 12th June, four of our students braved a chilly morning to represent St Bede’s at the ACT Cross Country Championships. Each of them gave a fantastic performance—well done!

• Olivia F (8 yrs) – Congratulations on a great run!
• Georgia G (10 yrs) – 1st place – Outstanding achievement!
• Kathryn T (11 yrs) – Well done!
• Ashton KM (12 yrs) – Great effort!

National Rock Climbing Championships

In late May, Carly and Megan K competed at the National Bouldering Championships in Queensland, representing the ACT Bouldering Team.

Bouldering is a form of indoor rock climbing performed without ropes at lower heights—and it's now an Olympic sport! Due to their age categories, both girls competed in the same division, with Carly being one of the youngest competitors.

We’re proud to share that both girls now hold national rankings:

• Megan – Ranked 29th in Australia
• Carly – Ranked 39th in Australia

An amazing effort—congratulations!

NSW/ACT Regional Snowsports Championships

The NSW/ACT Regional Snowsports Championships are just around the corner! If your child would like to participate, please email your registration number and selected events as soon as possible so we can finalise our team.

Boorowa Netball and Touch Football Gala Day

Mark your calendars! The Boorowa Netball and Touch Football Gala Day will be held on Friday 24th October 2025.

In early Term 3, we’ll be sending out registration information and asking for volunteers to help with coaching. This is always a highlight of the school year, and we look forward to another fun and successful day for all involved!

Let’s keep the momentum going and celebrate the spirit of sport at St Bede’s!

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!

Parents often ask for support around how to help their children manage strong emotions. The self-regulation systems in the brain, develop across childhood and are complete by about 23-25 years of age. You can promote this development by regularly connecting with your kids, providing routines and modelling your own self-regulation (or recovery -if you get flustered). It starts with parents as supportive coaches/modellers as the following article discusses….

Helping kids learn strategies for handling big emotions.

Painful feelings are unavoidable, but how we respond to them is a choice. And showing children how to cope effectively with uncomfortable emotions is one of the most important ways we can support their wellbeing and development.

Healthy coping skills take many forms, including mindfulness, self-compassion, exercise, deep breathing, and positive self-talk. They help us manage our most intense emotions, and they’re also linked to lower levels of impulsivity.

Children pick up behaviour patterns from adults, so one of the best ways to teach your kids good coping skills is to practice them yourself. This can mean taking space after a tense interaction, practicing paced breathing when the train is running late, or having a daily yoga practice. It can be helpful to narrate your behaviour to your kids as you model (“Okay, that phone call made me feel anxious, so I’m going to do some belly breathing and walk around the block to help calm myself down”). Leading by example is also usually more effective than trying to tell kids what to do.

If you struggle with regulating your emotions (like we all do from time to time), you may worry about your ability to model effectively. Remember that you’re only human, and that all parents make mistakes. Start with practicing one or two skills that feel manageable and add on from there. Taking it slow will help you build confidence and internalize the habits you are working on.

Many parents find it hard to prioritize working on their own coping skills. When you’re balancing competing responsibilities, it can feel like there’s just not enough time in the day. You might even feel like setting aside time for your personal development is selfish. But kids pick up on how we treat ourselves, and they are likely to copy our habits, positive or negative. Sometimes, the best way to care for your child is to show up for yourself, too. You can read the full article here; How to Model Healthy Coping Skills - Child Mind Institute

If you’d like to talk about this article (or anything else), you can contact me via email Amy.Kennedy@mccg.org.au or by phoning through the school on a Friday.

Amy Kennedy

Student and Family Counsellor

Writer: Rosa Klein-Baer Clinical Expert: Grace Berman, LCSW

As the holidays draw near, many Defence families find themselves in the midst of change—with exercises intensifying, posting orders being issued, and relocations and deployments underway. This can be a particularly busy and sometimes challenging time for both parents and children.

If your family is experiencing any of these transitions and you feel your child may benefit from additional support, please don’t hesitate to contact us at school. We’re here to help and will do our best to assist you during this time.

There are also a number of great events and activities planned for Defence families over the holiday break. Some upcoming highlights include:

Upcoming Events

28 June
Trivia Night
Sergeants Mess, Duntroon
Hosted by the Duntroon Community Centre
Event Details

10 July & 14 July
ADF Families Event: Chocolate Tasting Experience
Presented by DMFS
Event Details & Registration

11 July
Movie Day
Hosted by the Duntroon Community Centre
Event Details

18 July
ADF Equip – Parental Absence Workshop
Presented by DMFS
Event Details & Registration

Useful Contacts and Links

• Duntroon Community Centre
  www.duntrooncommunitycentre.org.au
• Invictus Australia – Canberra Events
  View Events
• Defence Member and Family Support – Canberra (DMFS)
  Event Listings and Info

Wishing all our Defence families a safe, restful, and enjoyable holiday break.

The following students received an award in Week 8:

WALK IN LOVE AND PEACE AWARDS

PRINCIPAL'S AWARD