Dear Parents and Carers

This week we celebrated Family Week. We thank Ms Kaptein and some of our students who made the beautiful banner at the front of our school. We also honoured Saint Mary of the Cross, Mary Mackillop. Mary MacKillop was a prodigiously hard worker who put the needs of others before herself. She used the strengths of others but also didn’t tolerate those who were not genuine. Mary MacKillop was kind to all people, even if they did not agree with her. Mary cared about the people who had no one to look after them, such as boys and girls who just roamed the streets, children in the country who had no school to go to, people who were old and sick and people who had nowhere to live. Her commitment to the schooling of children from poor and rural communities established a model of Catholic education that continues today.

Health advice

Yesterday, each family received correspondence from the Director regarding the current situation with Covid in NSW. Parents please try to keep travel within our LGA. Today we received the news that the ACT have had one confirmed case of Covid and are going into a 7 day lockdown from 5pm. Teachers at St Bede’s have been provided with additional release from class and are well prepared in case we were to go into a lockdown and move to remote learning. Students have been particpating in online tasks each week. Parents we ask you to assist us by ensuring your children can logon at home to either See Saw (K-2) or Google Classroom (3-6). This will help each child access their learning should the need arise. 

On Monday, each family received a book of raffle tickets for our Father's Day raffle. Please support this fundraiser for our school which will go towards new IT equipment for our classrooms. The prizes are just what every dad would love! Please remember to return your tickets and money once sold, to your child's class teacher.

Earlier this year, our Years 3 to 6 students participated in the Rotary Public Speaking Competition at Bungendore. They will be receiving their trophies at assembly tomorrow morning. This will be an opportunity for all of us to recognise the achievements of our students.  Unfortunately our parents are unable to attend but we will share photos. 

This Sunday some of our Year 3 and 4 students will receive the Sacrament of First Eucharist. We congratulate these students and ask that you keep them and their families in their prayers. We thank Father Mick, Brother Brian and Ms Lisa Kaptein for preparing our students.

Please continue to keep in your prayers all those communities that have been adversely affected by this recent COVID outbreak. We pray that all in our Braidwood community stay safe and well.

God bless

Marylou Gorham

All students from Years 3-6 will participate in the school based round of the Northern Region Public Speaking Competition. There is one topic per year level.

Year 3 - Goals are good for you
Year 4 - What makes the world go ‘round
Year 5 - If Only
Year 6 - Being young is over-rated

Speeches will be judged on the following criteria:

• Delivery
• Suitability and Audience Interest
• Content and Creativity
• Organisation
• Timing

Timing for speeches:

Years 3 & 4 : 2 minutes; with a warning bell at 1 minute and 30 seconds and at 2 minutes
Years 5 & 6 : 3 minutes; with a warning bell at 2 minutes and 30 seconds and at 3 minutes

Speeches will be presented in class towards the end of Week 8 or Week 9. Class teachers will provide specific information to their class. Two students will be selected to represent the school from each year level.
St Bede’s will host the NR Public Speaking Competition in Week 2 next term. Successful students may then be selected to represent the region at the Archdiocesan Competition to be held online in Week 4 next term.

Prayer

Saint Mary MacKillop Prayer

Ever generous God,

You inspired Saint Mary MacKillop

to live her life faithful to the Gospel of Jesus Christ

and constant in bringing hope and encouragement 

to those who were disheartened, lonely or needy.

We ask that our faith and hope be fired afresh by the Holy Spirit

so that we too, like Mary MacKillop, may live with courage, trust and openness.

Ever generous God hear our prayer.

We ask this through Jesus Christ.

Amen

Sacrament of First Eucharist

This Sunday, children in Year 3 & 4 will be making the Sacrament of First Eucharist. There will be a special mass for the children and their families on 10:30am Sunday 15th August 2021 at St Bede’s Church, which is the Feast of the Assumption. Please keep Josh, Harvey, Lewy, Remi, Grace, Lewis, Meredith, Rose, Nicholas, Elsa, Hamish, Mack, Stella & Eli in your prayers as they celebrate this special day on Sunday.

Year 5 & 6

In Religious Education this term, Year 5 & 6 are looking at how people draw strength during times of challenge. As we begin exploring the concept of challenge, the Olympics and Paralympians have provided a source of lots of discussion. We have researched the life stories of some of the Paralympians and have written them letters looking at how they draw strength through their careers and how we can use this inner-strength as a source of inspiration to tackle the challenges that we may face.

Keeping Your Child Safe Online

Tips for helping your child stay safe while online gaming.

• Maintain supervision of your child when they are playing games.
• Consider disabling in game chat functions if they are not critical to the game. If your child is playing games with voice chat, consider enabling the speakers so you can monitor discussions.
• Children should only play games with people they know and trust. However if your child is playing multiplayer games, encourage them to keep the topic about the game only.
• To protect personal information, help your child create a smart username and profile that gives out no personal details. It might be a nickname or a made up name.
• Learn how to block and report other players and inappropriate contact

visit https://www.thinkuknow.org.au/ for more information