Dear Parents and Carers

Ash Wednesday

Today is Ash Wednesday and it marks the beginning of the Season of Lent. Lent is a period of time that is set aside as ‘preparation’ for the Season of Easter. Within Catholic spirituality, Lent is normally associated with acts of reflection and acknowledgement of our own shortcomings – all designed to remind us (as we can sometimes need) of our dependence on God to live lives that ultimately ‘bear fruit’, to borrow a phrase from the Bible. Today the school attended Ash Wednesday Mass in the school hall, celebrated by Fr John Woods. My thanks to Amanda Basedow, our REC, for coordinating the Mass, and to Fr John for his great support of our school.

Parent Sacramental Learning Opportunity – Reconciliation

A reminder to our parents of students in Year 3 who are making their First Reconciliation this year, that there is an opportunity, next Tuesday night at 6pm, to learn more about the Sacrament that your child will be receiving this year. The Sacrament of Reconciliation is one of the two sacraments of healing, and therefore it is helpful if there is a good grounding and understanding of the sacrament. I encourage all parents to attend. It is taking place on online.

Communication Between School and Home – School Calendar

We know that in all facets of life, communication is essential. A reminder to parents that the school calendar is the site which explicitly has dates and events in the school life, which impact on parents. The calendar can be accessed via the school’s website https://stpandp.act.edu.au/ and https://stpandp.act.edu.au/calendar Sam Mance, our Acting AP, updates the calendar regularly as events come to hand e.g., if a grade excursion is added to the calendar. The Term Overview, from your child’s teacher, also contains dates that are relevant to your child’s grade (and these include whole school events).

Swimming Carnival

Coming up in Week 6 is our Grades 2 – 6 Swimming Carnival, held at the Tuggeranong Leisure Centre. As always with our sporting carnivals, we require a healthy cohort of parent volunteers, to assist in making the carnival a successful and safe day for our students. If you are able to volunteer, please email Luke Gubler directly on luke.gubler@cg.catholic.edu.au. My thanks to Luke for coordinating the carnival.

Parent Teacher Interviews

In Week 6 of this term, we are also holding our Parent/Teacher Interviews, which provides home and school the opportunity to check in on the progress of our students as they settle into a new class and routines and expectations. It is an invaluable opportunity for parents to meet with their child’s teacher. Next week, a Compass message will be sent out, asking parents to book in a time to meet with their child’s teacher. I encourage all parents to attend.

Year 6 Camp

In two weeks, our wonderful Year 6 students will be going on camp to Borambola, from Wednesday February 28^th to Friday March 1^st. Borambola is located just outside Wagga Wagga and is administered by NSW Sports and Recreation. It is an excellent camp and our students have always enjoyed themselves. My thanks to Katie McGregor for organising the camp.

Information Night: Years 3 – 6 Leadership Opportunities

A reminder that on Monday February 26^th, at 6pm in the school hall, parents are invited to attend an Information Night which details leadership opportunities for students in Grades 3 – 6. Luke Gubler and I will speak to opportunities for camps, extension and extra-curricular opportunities as well as an optional homework program. I encourage all interested parents to attend, particularly those in Years 2 and 3.

Have a wonderful week with your families.

Best wishes 

Cameron Johns

Principal

Planted in the House of the Lord; they will flourish Psalm 92:13

Sacrament of Reconciliation

Thank you to our Year 3 parents who attended the Reconciliation Parent Information Night last week. It was a great information session and we look forward to the Home Groups starting soon.  Any further enquiries can be directed to the Parish Office ( 6281 3999/  wodennorth@cg.org.au )

Upcoming dates to remember: 

• PARENT SACRAMENTAL LEARNING OPPORTUNITY (Optional): Via Zoom 6.00pm Tuesday 20th February
• PRESENTATION MASSES: Each family to attend one of the following: Holy Trinity Church, Curtin 6.00pm Saturday 2nd March 2024  OR Holy Trinity Church, Curtin 9.30am Sunday 3rd March 2024

• RETREAT AND PRACTICE FOR CHILDREN: Holy Trinity School Hall 9.15am–2.15pm Friday 22nd March, 18 Theodore Street, Curtin

• SACRAMENTAL CELEBRATION: Holy Trinity Church, Curtin 6pm Tuesday, 7th May

Today, the season of Lent begins with Ash Wednesday, which also marks the beginning of the annual Caritas Australia Project Compassion Appeal. Donations to Project Compassion allow Caritas Australia, the Catholic Agency for International Aid and Development, to work with local communities around the world to end poverty, promote justice and uphold dignity.

Please give generously to Caritas Australia this Lenten season and help vulnerable people around the world, now and for all future generations.

With your support, Caritas Australia has been able to assist communities around the world through income generation, water and sanitation, food security, education and disaster risk reduction programs.

Project Compassion 2024 reminds us that the good we do today will extend and impact the lives of generations to come. Together, we can help vulnerable communities face their challenges today and build a better tomorrow.

TAPITAS- This year our school will be focusing on raising money for drinking water. We have a whole school display, where each class will receive a ‘water drop’ for every $5 raised. The children will be learning more about Project Compassion in class during Friday Prayer and at morning assemblies. 

Each class has a Project Compassion Box on their Prayer table for donations and we thank you in advance for supporting such a worthy cause. 

FIRST SUNDAY OF LENT YEAR B

Mark 1:12-15- He was tempted by Satan, and the angels looked after him.

Mark’s Gospel is bold and challenging. It doesn’t beat around the bush. Throughout this year, there will be many Sundays when we really need to tune in because Mark’s Gospel doesn’t wait for the reader to be ready. It is right in your face, to use a modern expression. Sometimes Mark reminds us of the wise old person who doesn’t use many words, but every one of those words counts. There can’t be many books of so few pages that have had such a mighty impact on the world. 

Today, a few lines tell us that Jesus went into the desert for 40 days and ‘was tempted by Satan.’ He was ‘with the wild beasts’, meaning he was vulnerable as he was immersed in the natural world. This was surely an experience of struggle and growth. Then suddenly Jesus discovers that John the Baptist has been arrested. In a few lines, Mark creates the impression of a challenging time. 

How did Jesus respond? He seems to have been enlivened, to have decided to create change. He is full of energy and purpose. ‘The time has come,’ he says. In his vulnerability, he has discovered that ‘the kingdom of God is close at hand.’ 

This year, through Project Compassion, Caritas Australia will ask us to consider several stories of vulnerability and hope in action. Over the coming weeks, we will meet a number of extraordinary women: Ronita from the Philippines, Leaia from Samoa and Memory from Malawi. They remind us that in many situations around the world, women are the heart of the community and the drivers of change. In each case, a partnership involving Caritas Australia and local agencies has led to new opportunities not just for an individual but for families and communities. The kingdom of God is, indeed, closer than we think. Together with Ronita, Leaia and Memory, our decisions help to bring it to reality around the globe. 

Perhaps we might spend time with the words of Sunday’s Psalm: ‘God guides me in the right path; God teaches the Lord’s way to the poor.’ 

Adapted from Michael McGirr

Caritas Project Compassion Prayer

We pray for all who are trying to rise from the ashes in their lives. May our support for Project Compassion remind us that now is the time to turn to the Lord with all our hearts and embrace the needs of God’s whole family.

Amen

Blessings for the week ahead,

Amanda Basedow

Religious Education Coordinator (Acting)

Awards will be presented at our assembly on Thursday 22 February at 2.15 in the school hall.

Principal's Award:  Alexander B, 3W

Learning Support Awards: 

Alex B, 3W; Savannah G, 3W

(please note that LS awards are given to any child in the school that the Classroom Support Assistants have noticed doing something wonderful): 

HAPPY BIRTHDAY

to those students who are celebrating their birthday this week

Charlotte M

Dominic M

Ethan TL

NAPLAN testing will occur in our school between 13 and 25 March 2024 for students in Years 3, 5, 7 and 9.

Online NAPLAN tests provide more precise results and are engaging for students. The tests are tailored (or adaptive), which means that each test presents questions that may be more or less difficult depending on a student’s responses. This helps students remain engaged with the assessment.

Tailored testing allows a wider range of student abilities to be assessed and measures student achievement more precisely. A student’s overall NAPLAN result is based on both the number and complexity of questions they answer correctly. Your child should not be concerned if they find questions challenging; they may be taking a more complex test pathway.

All Year 3 students will continue to complete the writing assessment on paper.

NAPLAN provides valuable information to schools and parents about literacy and numeracy achievement. It supports school improvement processes by enabling teachers to monitor student progress over time and to identify areas of strength and development.

All eligible students are encouraged and supported to participate in NAPLAN testing. Visit www.nap.edu.au to see interactive versions of the test and for more information.

I have been enjoying reading all the reasons why our students love the school Library! 

Book Club Issue 1 is closing soon! 

• Thank you to families who have placed orders already. Orders close Friday Week 3- 17th February. All orders are placed online- please note we do not accept cash or orders at school as all orders are placed online. Click here to access an online version: https://www.scholastic.com.au/book-club/book-club-parents/ 

You are encouraged to download the LOOP app which is an easy way for parents to order book club. 

Please note orders will take approximately 1 week to be delivered to school after the issue closing date (not when you place the order). 

Our school is St Peter and Pauls when you are in the LOOP app. 

Lunchtimes in the Library

The Library is open at Lunchtimes (after eating time) on Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays for children to come and read, draw or play quietly.  

Happy reading!

Amanda Basedow 

Teacher Librarian

amanda.basedow@cg.catholic.edu.au

Saints Peter and Paul Swimming Carnival Friday 8th March at the Tuggeranong Pool, at the corner of Anketell Street and Athllon Drive in Greenway

We are very excited to have our Swimming Carnival this term for Years 2-6! Yesterday on Compass, parents with children in Years 2-6 received a link to a GoogleForm to nominate your child/children for races or to elect them as a non-swimmer. If your child is a non-swimmer, they will participate in Novelty Events. We ask that you please fill this form out at your earliest convenience.

Race Nomination Form: https://forms.gle/gFeXxSK8gqL5j8e5A

Parent Volunteers

Our carnivals would not be possible without our volunteers. If you are interested in volunteering on the day, please email Luke Gubler (see email below) with an image of the front and back of your valid WWVP card. Thank you in advance!

This week in the kitchen and garden the Year 3 and 4 classes were very busy.

They made jam with plums generously donated to the school and tomato bruschetta using tomatoes from our garden. It was exciting to learn about why fruits are healthy for us and that we can grow our very own. In class, students are also learning about why the Fruit Group is essential and beginning to learn about health messages.

In garden club we welcomed a new member called Miss Peg. I wonder if you can see why she was named that? We had a very fun time creating her. The plants received a well needed water and prune. And our bay tree is having a growth spurt!

New members are always welcome on a Friday lunch time after the eating bell.

The Garden Club

SPINACH FILO TRIANGLES

Ingredients

Bunch of spinach, washed, chopped

1 apple, grated

500 gr ricotta cheese

1 egg, lightly beaten

1 lemon, zested

Pinch salt & pepper

8 sheets filo pastry

1/4 cup olive oil

Method

Preheat oven to 180 dgrees, line oven trays with baking paper and set aside.

Bring a saucepan of salted water to the boil, add spinach and cook for 30 seconds. Drain, run under cold water, drain again.

Squeeze all the moisture from both the spinach and apple using paper towel. Place in bowl with ricotta, egg and lemon rind.

Place 1 filo sheet on a clean chopping board. Cover remaining pastry with damp towel to prevent it from drying out.

Cut file sheet in 3 strips and brush with oil. Place a tablespoon of mix in the corner and fold diagonally (into a triangle), place on prepared tray.

Continue with remaining strips then with other sheets.

Brush triangles with oil and bake for 20 minutes, until golden.

THE CANTEEN IS CASHLESS FOR ALL LUNCH ORDERS

Families are required to place ALL lunch orders via Qkr! before 8.45am

Please purchase over-the-counter sale items (snacks & treats) for your child in a lunch order.

Ice creams are the only counter sales at lunch time in Term 1.

Purchase a “daily counter sales voucher” via Qkr! for your child to go to the canteen to collect an ice cream at lunchtime.

CANTEEN VOLUNTEER ROSTER

Thank you, helpers; your assistance is very much appreciated!

Please contact me if you are unable to assist on your day.

 TERM 1 CANTEEN ROSTER

 If you have any spare time and would like to help in the canteen, PLEASE feel free to contact me through email at lauretta.raccosta@cg.catholic.edu.au

or click on the link below to slot a time in.

 https://stpandp.schoolzineplus.com/Term1Roster

 All volunteers must have a WWVP card.

Qkr! TIP

Is your child sick and not going to school, and you have placed a lunch order on Qkr!?

 You have till 8.45am that morning to cancel the lunch order - instructions on how to cancel lunch orders are below.

OPEN TUESDAY MORNINGS

8.30 – 9.30AM

The Uniform Shop is a service for the parents and children. 

We sell New & Quality Second-hand school clothing, and all money raised goes back to the school to provide resources for the children.

The School Uniform is available via Qkr!
Tuesdays - Fridays, orders will be delivered to your child’s classroom. Orders need to be placed before 8.45 am. 

It is usual practice for most schools to offer second-hand clothing at the uniform shop to families at a discounted price. Quality second-hand clothing can only be purchased during uniform hours.  We do understand that this may not be convenient for some families so please feel free to send me an email if you are unable to get to the uniform shop during opening hours and I will do my best to attend your needs.

 Lauretta Raccosta

Uniform Shop

Lauretta.raccosta@cg.catholic.edu.au

NETBALL

Previous netball experience is not necessary, and all children are welcome to play!

Kindy and Year 1

NSG Net is a 12-week introductory skills program for all children aged between 5 – 7-years (Kindy and Year 1). Netball skills are taught through fun activities and modified netball games. Registration is directly via the SCNA PlayHQ: https://www.playhq.com/netball-australia/register/ee8aea

Years 2, 3 and 4

NSG Set is a 12-week program for children aged 7 to 9 years (Years 2 and 3) with modified rules. Games are not scored and a ladder is not kept.

NSG GO is a 12-week program for children aged 9 and 10 (Year 4). This program plays full-rules netball and provides a transition year to the Junior competition. Games are scored, but a ladder is not kept.

Years 5 and 6

Juniors is a 10-week competition for children aged 11 and 12 years, plus 3 rounds of finals for teams that qualify. The competition is split into between 2 and 4 divisions depending on demand. Matches are played on Saturday mornings beginning on Sat 4 May 2024. There will be NO games on the following dates: 8 and 29 June, 6, 13 and 30 July.

Games are played at the SCNA courts, Makin Street, Deakin. Children wear a netball uniform loaned from school. Game times and fees (plus a small processing fee) are:

* Division will depend on number of rep players in each team.

** Fees for representative players are $195.01.

 Register your child’s interest in playing via the Google doc by Friday 15 March 

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1mqy0L_nao-AMDIKsK6Ftjekmq20tNPNt/edit?usp=drivesdk&ouid=114452892877626940704&rtpof=true&sd=true 

Registration will open once there are sufficient numbers to enter a team.

SCNA representative players

If your child is playing representative netball for SCNA, please get in touch as soon as possible to arrange their SPP registration. Players must be registered with a club to represent SCNA.

Coaches and managers needed!

Coaches and managers are needed for teams for all year groups.

Previous coaching experience is not necessary. All coaches are required to obtain a Working with Vulnerable People (WWVP)  card.

Lucy Webb, Netball Coordinator (stpandpnetball@gmail.com)

Santa got them Skates?
Now get them the Skills
To help keep them Safe!

National Capital Rollerskating Club hold Learn to Skate classes on Wednesdays, during school terms, at Queanbeyan High School.

Our 5:15-6pm class for Term 1 2024 runs from 7 February to 10 April. This class is open aged and skate hire is available (though stock is limited).

Fees are: $155 P/term ($16 drop-in fee) Skate hire is $30 P/term ($4 P/drop-in).

Enrolment is a two-step process:
1) Become a member or renew for 2024: 2024 Membership
2) Register for the class: Term 1 2024 SkateStars Registration