Celebrating the Spirit of St Benedict

This week at St Benedict’s, we unite in joy and reflection as we celebrate the feast day of our patron, St Benedict. This special occasion is more than a date on the liturgical calendar—it’s a chance to connect with the legacy of a man whose quiet wisdom and enduring faith continue to shape our school’s mission and values.

Our celebration begins with a liturgy on Thursday, bringing together our community in a sacred moment of prayer and thanksgiving. It will begin at 9am. All are invited to attend.

Then on Friday, the spirit of joy and creativity will shine through our very first “Bennie’s Got Talent” quest—an exciting showcase of the gifts that make our school community so vibrant. The auditions have been hotly contested, so be sure to come along and see our wonderful performers. 

But who was St Benedict, and why do we hold his name so close to our hearts?

Born in Italy around the year 480, St Benedict of Nursia grew up during a time of great turmoil and change. As a young man, he withdrew from the distractions of the world to live a life devoted to prayer, simplicity and service. His example soon drew followers, and he eventually founded several monastic communities.

His most lasting contribution came in the form of the Rule of St Benedict—a set of guiding principles that encouraged a balanced life of work, prayer and community. “Ora et Labora” (pray and work) became the heartbeat of Benedictine life. The Rule didn’t just form the foundation of Western monasticism—it offered a timeless model for living with purpose, humility and compassion. At St Benedict’s, his spirit is present in all we do. Our school motto, “Pray Together, Work Together”, reflects the Benedictine charism. Whether it’s in the classroom, the playground or the parish, we walk alongside each other in unity and faith.

At St Benedict’s, these values are woven into the fabric of our everyday life. Whether it’s showing kindness to a friend in the playground, striving to do our best in learning, or coming together in prayer and celebration, we seek to follow St Benedict’s example of living with faith and integrity.

So this week, as we honour our namesake through liturgy and laughter, may we be inspired by his enduring message: to listen with the ear of the heart, to serve with joy, and to always seek God in the ordinary moments of each day.

Happy Feast Day, St Benedict’s! Let the celebrations begin.

Diocesan Spelling Bee Success!

We are delighted to announce that Dylan T has achieved an impressive runner-up position at the Diocesan Spelling Bee in the Stage 2 category this week. This accomplishment is a testament to Dylan's hard work, dedication, and exceptional spelling skills.

Dylan's first competed at the school level, showcasing his talent and earning his place in the regional competition. After excelling at the regional level and won, Dylan advanced to the Diocesan Spelling Bee, where he continued to shine and secure his runner-up position.

Congratulations, Dylan, on your remarkable accomplishment! 

Semester 1 reports - English, Mathematics and Student Goals

This year, you may have noticed the comment section at the end of the reports. These are the comments on specific goals that have been set with the students and were discussed during our partners in learning conferences towards the end of Term 1. The comments provide detailed feedback of how your child has progressed in their goals, how they have engaged in learning to work towards their goals as well as future steps for Semester 2. These comments replace the traditional mathematics and English comments that you may have seen in reports previously.

NAIDOC Week 2025 – Celebrating 50 Years of Strength, Vision & Legacy

Dear Families,

We are proud to invite you to our NAIDOC Week 2025 NAIDOC prayer service, taking place on Thursday 31st July at St Benedict’s Edgeworth at 9.15 am. This year marks a significant milestone—50 years of NAIDOC Week, a time to honour the enduring strength, vision, and legacy of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

The theme for 2025 is “The Next Generation: Strength, Vision & Legacy” This powerful theme celebrates the leadership of Elders and the rising generation who carry culture, advocacy, and community forward. It reminds us of the importance of truth-telling, justice, and self-determination.

What’s Happening:

· Cultural Prayer Service 9.15 am – (families welcome).

· Cultural performances and storytelling

· Student-led presentations and art displays

· Interactive workshops and bush tucker experiences

· Classroom activities exploring First Nations history and culture.

We encourage students to wear red, yellow, and black to represent the Aboriginal flag, green, black, white, and blue to represent the Torres Strait Islander Flag and to bring their curiosity and respect as we learn and celebrate together.

Event Details:

· Date: Thursday 31st July

· Time: Prayer Service 9.15am - families welcome to attend the prayer service.

· Location: St Benedict’s Edgeworth.

NAIDOC Week is more than a celebration—it is a commitment to walking alongside First Nations communities in truth, respect, and shared future-making. We look forward to seeing you there! Clare Parker- Aboriginal Education Teacher

St Benedict's Liturgy

We would like to extend our thanks to 4 Red and Mrs. Caban for the beautiful and inspiring liturgy they presented in celebration of St. Benedict, our patron saint. This special day holds great significance for our school community, and the liturgy was a truly memorable experience.

The singing was absolutely beautiful, filling the space with harmonious melodies that touched the hearts of everyone present. The students' voices blended perfectly, creating an atmosphere of reverence and joy.

Our prayer space was spectacular. Thoughtfully arranged and adorned, it provided a serene space for reflection of who St Benedict was and is to our school. The attention to detail and the care put into creating this space were evident and greatly appreciated by all.

Thank you, 4 Red and Mrs. Caban, for your dedication and hard work in making this liturgy a success. Your efforts have brought our community together in a meaningful way, and we are grateful for the opportunity to celebrate St. Benedict with such beauty and grace.

Thank you, have a peaceful holiday,

Michelle Collins

Religious Education Co-ordinator

Feeling Tired?

Can you believe that we are halfway through the year and term 2 is coming to an end? At school, we are noticing that the students (especially the younger ones) are getting very tired. Term 3 is known to be busy. Some would say that it is the busiest term of the year, so I think that it is a good time to mention how important it is to have some down time in the holidays. I know that for some this isn’t possible, but if you can organize at least a couple of days with no scheduled activities, your refreshed child will thank you for it. I’m sure that you would appreciate a pyjama day too. Your wellbeing is as important as theirs.

In terms of sleep, if your child stays in bed for an extra hour or 2 and it’s not affecting your day,  let them. Sometimes our mornings are so rushed and then with sports etc. in the afternoons, our children sometimes aren’t getting the sleep that they need throughout the term, remembering that children need upto 10 hours a night.  Being able to catch up on weekends and in the holidays will see them being happier and healthier.

Enjoy this winter break, and if you are travelling, stay safe. See you in term 3 all refreshed and ready to hit term 3.

Deanne March

Pastoral Care Worker

Congratulations to our final group of students to complete the

in Term 2.

They are:

From 2 RED:        Eza Rose A, Thea D, Paige S, Archie S, Malina W

From 3 BLACK:   Blake A, Indi G, Everlee G, Mackenzie H, Ava I, Cruz M, Blake S, Ronan S

From 3 RED:        Violet E, Lachlan H, Archer H, Jax J-A, Bhavisha S

From 4 BLACK:   Blake B

From 4 RED:        Sameer D, Max F, Sofia G, Madelyn K, Hunter M, Thomas S, Haidyn T

From 5 BLACK:   Evana B, Hamish P

From 6 BLACK:   Ivie O, Evie W.

131 students from Year 2 to Year 6 have now completed the Challenge. Very well done.

I look forward to receiving many more completed PRC sheets after the holidays.

Mrs Nicolaidis (PRC Co-Ordinator)