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Dear Parents
It is with great pleasure that I announce the new school leaders for 2021. The School Captains are Clara and Timmy. The SRC President is Isabelle. The sports leaders are Tilly & Arabella (Scholastica), Jared & Genevieve (Benedict) and Maya & Amelie (Polding). They will receive their leadership badges at the beginning of the school year Mass in February. Congratulations children!
We have a number of families who are leaving us at the end of the year, some after a long association with St Bede’s. We wish the very best to the Cusack, Down, Gepolla, Irvine, Jones, Kowalski, Libbis, Peters, Stevenson and Tilyard families as they embark on new journeys with their children at other schools.
At the end of the term we farewell two staff members. We send our love and very best wishes to Helen Garrity and Michelle Mangeruca as they leave St Bede’s to pursue a different journey in their lives. Helen has been on staff since 2009 and for many years was our Kindergarten teacher. Michelle has been with us over the last two years teaching Year 4. On behalf of the entire school community, I wish them both the very best in their new ventures. We will miss you!
We will also farewell our Year Six group in Week 10. Next week they will celebrate completing their primary school journey with a Graduation Mass and dinner. They will also have a fun day on Wednesday 16 December at ‘Big Splash’ at Macquarie. May they enjoy the rest of their school years and look back on their time St Bede’s with fondness.
We have quite a few significant celebrations happening in the next couple of weeks. Next Monday we celebrate Advent with a liturgy. This will be led by the staff and will be celebrated in the hall from 11.30am.
Next Wednesday we will celebrate the Kindergarten nativity. This is always a special occasion in our school calendar and I know that Mrs Trow and Kindergarten have been working hard on this for most of this term. Unfortunately, only Kindergarten parents are able to attend this event this year.
Our traditional end of year school Mass is on the last morning of the year (Friday 18 December). Unfortunately we are unable to attend the Cathedral this year however, the students will participate at school beginning at 10.15am. The P & F will supply recess and lunch on this day. As at December 1 there are changes to the social distancing arrangements at schools for indoor events around Covid-19. Usable indoor spaces can now have one person per two square metres instead of one person per four square metres. With this in mind, one parent from Years 5 and 6 can attend the end of year Mass as well as one parent of an award recipient. Award recipients will be contacted by Breen Fox next week to be invited to this event.
Our Christmas toy appeal donation in the front foyer is looking a little sad. We have a new idea to bring some Christmas cheer! We are inviting all students to participate in a Christmas dress-up day next Friday 11th December. The children can come dressed up in Christmas themed outfits or colours, for example a Christmas tea shirt, red, green or white ribbons, Santa hats, reindeer ears or tinsel. Please do not purchase something especially, just a touch of Christmas. In return, we ask families to make a donation via money or a gift. Unwrapped children’s toys can be sent to the front office Christmas tree and they will be collected by St Vincent de Paul. If you would prefer to donate cash towards vouchers, money can be donated via Qkr! through school payments/payments/St Vincent de Paul Christmas appeal as $5, $10 or $20 denominations. Thank you for your contribution towards brightening up this festive time for other families.
Despite this year being unusual in many respects, we have been able enhance our school in some ways that will enhance learning and make everyone feel comfortable in their school space. We now have smart screens throughout the school as well as up-to-date computers in all learning spaces. We have also applied for a ‘Sporting Schools’ grant to assist us in providing accredited sports packaged throughout the year. New carpet is to be installed in the senior classrooms as well as new doors to all outdoor spaces during the summer break. The bus bay, new front fence and garden will be completed by early next year.
We have also decided to alter our information session at the beginning of next year. In 2021, it will be more of a ‘Meet and Greet’ with a special emphasis on welcoming new families. Supervision and dinner will be supplied for any children who need to attend. Please ‘Save the Date’ – Tuesday 9 February 2021 (Term 1, Week 2). The starting time will be advertised early next year.
Reports will be coming home next Friday. They are a reflection of the fantastic achievements your child/children have made over the last semester. If you have any concerns please make an appointment with the class teacher to discuss.
I would like to thank the many parents who have helped in any way this year. Your contribution does not go unnoticed and makes this school the special place that it is. I would like to especially thank members of the School Board and the P&F Committee for their unfailing assistance throughout 2020. I would also like to thank personally each family for their unwavering support especially during the remote learning period. We hope that next year will a fresh start and things can return to normal.
The last day of term is Friday 18 December.
The first day of Term One 2021, is Monday 1st February for all children except new Kindergartens. Their first morning is Tuesday 2nd February.
School begins at 9am and concludes at 3.10pm.
As this will be my last Principal’s message for 2020, I wish to thank our hard-working staff who have worked tirelessly to make your child’s year so successful. Their commitment to their profession and your children is immense and something that makes this school exceptional.
On behalf of the staff of St Bede’s, I would like to wish you all a very happy and holy Christmas and a peaceful and safe holiday season. Please take care.
Kind Regards
Julie
