To begin with the players were subject to some intense questioning by the students. What was your worst loss? Who is the most annoying player on the Brumbies team? How many training sessions do you have in a week?

Then it was off outside for some skill drills. There were four different activities and every class group had the opportunity to train with the Brumbies stars. After drills the players signed posters for every student and presented the school with two signed footballs and a commemorative poster also signed. All at St Bede's had a great day and we are grateful to Tim O'Brien our local Junior Development Officer who made the arrangements for the visit.

After lunch we were very honoured to have a visit from well known local author Jackie French. Jackie French's writing career spans 17 years, 48 wombats, 132 books, 23 languages, 3,721 bush rats, over 50 awards in Australia and overseas, 6 possibly insane lyrebirds, assorted 'Burke's Backyard' segments, radio shows, newspaper and magazine columns, theories of pest and weed ecology and 27 shredded back doormats. Jackie very cleverly explained the history of Australia in just under an hour. Jackie answered questions from the children and very generously donated some of her books to the school library. St Bede's is very lucky to have such a successful writer come and share her skills and knowledge.

CATHOLIC SCHOOLS WEEK

This week St Bede's will celebrate Catholic Schools Week along with the other 583 Catholic Schools in NSW. These schools range in size from 20 to 2022 students and include seven special schools for children with disabilities. Almost one in five NSW children is educated at a Catholic school. St Matthew's at Windsor, established in 1835 is the oldest existing Catholic School, twenty-four years longer than St Bede's. In 1965, nuns and brothers made up 69 per cent of all teachers; it is now less than 1 per cent.

St Bede's will be celebrating Catholic Schools Week, on Monday with an R&R Bounce Back Show - the Resiliency and Responsibility rock 'n' roll puppet show and the School Cross Country. On Thursday the school will be an Open Day with Term One Assembly at midday - visitors very welcome.