What a great start to Term 4!

Reading to Dogs Program 

This term we continue to partner with ACT Companion Dog Club as we continue to develop our 'Reading to Dogs Program'. We will be joined every Monday afternoon by a beautiful dog for some students to read a favourite book to. This is such a calming and engaging experience for students. If you would like your child to become involved, please email patrick.ellis@cg.catholic.edu.au 

Belconnen Community Service - BUNGEE Program 

This term we begin a partnership with Belconnen Community Services to run a Bungee Program. Bungee is an inclusive resilience building program that promotes emotional wellbeing through the arts. The program supports young people (aged 5-18) to participate in activities designed to build resilience, enhance well-being and social and emotional health. Bungee fosters a supportive environment that encourages participants to socially connect with others as well as develop new and existing artistic skills.

Bungee offers a suite of art based programs in schools and community settings. The program employs professional artists and support workers who develop a series of interactive, structured workshops that are tailored to the individual skill level, need and interest of the enrolled participants. The program offers weekly sessions and run over eight weeks in a school setting and nine weeks in the community settings.

This term we begin this program on a Thursday. Damien Webb will be overseeing this program in his role as Classroom Support Teacher.

Seasons for Growth 

This term, Jo Krippner will be returning and transitioning back into the Classroom Support Teacher role for 2019. As part of this role she will begin running Seasons for Growth sessions. The Seasons for Growth Children and Young People's Program strengthens the social and emotional wellbeing of children and young people who have experienced significant change or loss in their lives. There will be one Year 3/4 group participating in this program in Term 4. Further sessions will run during 2019. 

Sporting Events

The Catholic Schools Netball Carnival is on this Saturday 20 October. Good luck to our teams participating. Next Friday, 26 October, the Boorowa Netball and Touch Carnival is also on. Good luck to the teams participating and representing our school. Thank you to all the parents who are helping with coaching and managing teams and also to Erin Hardwicke for her organisation and preparation behind the scenes.

Catholic Mission Week 

Next week we celebrate Catholic Mission Week.

Catholic Mission is the international mission agency of the Catholic Church in Australia. Locally and globally, we answer the call to love God and to love our neighbour, and work to establish the Reign of God through building communities of missionary disciples who share their faith by proclaiming the Word, serving people in need, acting for justice and creation, and adopting child-focused, community-based development programs.

Reminders

A reminder to email through any requests regarding class placements for 2019. 

Please keep the money coming through for the upcoming Family Rainbow Walkathon and to return all permission notes. We are getting closer to the big day!

Playground

You will have noticed a few new additions in spaces across the school. The garden beds and sitting area outside the canteen have been upgraded to provide a safer and more comfortable space for students. A new ramp has been created at the entrance of the school which is more accessible compared to the side ramp. New blinds have been installed in the office and sick bay areas as well as the after school care room in the hall. Our stage in the hall has also had some repairs. We are waiting on installation on our new additions to the infants play equipment. Finally, a new permanent outdoor Ping Pong table has been set up on the playground. We look forward to playing some games with students and building up our skills.

Enjoy the week ahead.

Kind regards,

Pat Ellis

Principal