Dear Parents and Carers

“Never be deluded into thinking that if you have contrition for your sins, if you are sorry for your sins, God will come and forgive you—that he will be touched by your appeal, change his mind about you and forgive you. Not a bit of it. God never changes his mind about you. He is simply in love with you. What he does again and again is change your mind about him. That is why you are sorry. That is what your forgiveness is. You are not forgiven because you confess your sin...You do not come to confession to have your sins forgiven. You come to celebrate that your sins are forgiven.”

• Herbert McCabe, OP

Last week, I had the privilege of attending the annual Principals’ Retreat, which was led by the English Dominican priest Fr Timothy Radcliffe. It was an excellent retreat and there were many fruits from the experince. He spoke, at one point, about one of his fellow Dominicans, the late Herbert McCabe (quoted above), who was himself a brilliant scholar and preacher, and a friend to Timothy Radcliffe. I have used the quote above, from McCabe, as it speaks to the journey our Year 3 students are on at the moment. Many of our students will be receiving the Sacrament of Reconciliation in the coming weeks. Far from being a dour sacrament that highlights our flaws – as so many of us have come to think of it – it should be seen as a reason for celebration and joy, for it speaks to the graced reality that we already live. We are already unconditionally known, loved and forgiven.

Swimming Carnival

Last Friday, we held our Swimming Carnival, for students eligible in Year 2, and all Years 3 – 6 students. It was a great success and my thanks to Luke Gubler for his excellent work in coordinating the carnival and ensuring its success. My thanks too to the many staff who assisted Luke, and to the many parent volunteers as well, without whom such events would be impossible. I would also like to thank Natasha Kapantais, who organised the K – 2 Water Fun Day, at school. My thanks to Natasha for doing an excellent job and ensuring our younger students also had a lot of fun. My thanks too to all K – 2 staff for their support.

WWVP Cards

As I have written above, parents were an essential part of the success of the Swimming Carnival. This speaks to a larger reality: that our parent volunteers are a vital part of school life and contribute greatly to the social and educational fabric of the school. I am deeply grateful to the many parents who volunteer their time and their gifts to the school. Parents who would like to assist with carnivals, excursions, the canteen, and so on, will need to acquire a Working With Vulnerable People card (WWVP). Parents can apply for a WWVP card through Access Canberra WWVP Cards.

Car Line Etiquette

Many new parents or visitors to the school speak of the school’s very warm, welcoming and friendly culture, exhibited by staff, students and parents, alike. Like all good relationships, I believe it can never be taken for granted. A reminder please for patience and good will in the carline, as those qualities, and others, sustain the life of a community. Thank you for your support. Please see me if you have any questions around processes and procedures.

Parent Thanks

We are approaching the start of the Netball Season, and I would like to acknowledge and thank Lucy Webb, for her excellent work in volunteering her time in organising the teams and their participation in the South Canberra Netball Association competition. Lucy’s support is invaluable.

Easter Celebrations

Easter is also approaching rapidly, and as took place last year, the Community Council is sponsoring a Hat Parade and an Easter coloring-in competition. Stay tuned for details around the dates of these events, however, it is never too early to start thinking about an amazing Easter Hat! Parental support, again, is essential, and I would like to thank Katherine Jones for her great efforts and for making this possible.

NAPLAN – Years 3 & 5

Today, Thursday and Friday, our Years 3 and 5 students are sitting the annual NAPLAN tests, which assess children’s progress in Reading, Writing, Spelling, Grammar and Punctuation, and Maths. I wish all of our students the very best, and thank them, and their teachers, for their participation. Special thanks to Sam Mance and Sarah Kennelly, for coordinating the exams, and to Paul Jenkins too, for coordinating and managing the IT component.

Have a wonderful week with your families.

Best wishes

Cameron Johns

Principal

Please give generously to Project Compassion this Lent. We have raised over $240 already but would love to have more donations.

Thank you again to Year 3 White who last week had the most donations in their class project compassion box! 

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. 

Sacrament of Reconciliation

Home Groups

Home Groups will be starting soon (if they haven’t already).

Please remember a Parent/Carer must attend these sessions with your child.

A huge thank you to the Families who have offered to host a group- we are very grateful for your time. 

Any further enquiries relating to the Sacrament of Reconciliation can be directed to the Parish Office ( 6281 3999/ wodennorth@cg.org.au )

Upcoming dates to remember: 

• RETREAT AND PRACTICE FOR CHILDREN: Holy Trinity School Hall 9.15am–2.15pm Friday 22nd March, 18 Theodore Street, Curtin. All Year 3 students are to attend the Retreat day (even if they are not a candidate for Reconciliation). Please ensure you have filled out the permission form via Compass. 

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

FIFTH SUNDAY OF LENT YEAR B

Gospel- John 12:20-33

If a grain of wheat falls on the ground and dies, it yields a rich harvest.

We want to see Jesus

I can observe a baby, but the parents ‘see’ their baby very differently. They gaze with total fascination, trying to perceive what this little bundle of flesh is really all about, trying to get an insight into its personality, visualising a possible future, hoping for a response.

This Gospel passage begins with a request from some Greeks ‘to see Jesus’, surely in all the ways parents see their baby. They were trying to perceive what this Jesus was really all about, trying to get an insight into his personality, imagining a possible future, hoping for a response.

And there was a response full of allusions to the future.

Jesus was as a grain of wheat. He died and was buried in the earth and that death was fruitful for the whole of humankind. He foresaw being nailed to the cross which would be dropped upright into a hole in the ground.

Our Lord says of that scene: ‘When I am lifted up I will draw all people to myself.’ How were people drawn to this scene?

People saw the length to which Jesus was prepared to go in order to persevere in his mission to live out the message that his Heavenly Father was full of mercy and wanted all people to share in Divine Life. This led to his being lifted up on the cross, being buried in the ground like a grain of wheat, only to rise to new life.

We could take a moment to pray that we will shortly see all this with the eyes of faith as we participate in the rituals of Good Friday and Easter.

Adapted from Michael Tate

This year we will be taking part in Earth Hour as a school on Friday 22^nd March from 2-3pm.

We will do our best to turn off all lights, interactive boards, iPads and any other technology we have in the school.

 Earth Hour will officially be taking place on Saturday 23^rd March from 8:30pm-9:30pm.

Please follow the link below if you would like to find out any more information about Earth Hour.

https://www.earthhour.org.au/

Awards will be presented at our assembly on Thursday 21 March at 2.15 in the school hall.

Principal's Award: Daemie P

Learning Support Awards:

Charlie S, 2W; Hanshika M, 4M; Siraj A, 4W; Tobias T, 6W; Abigail J, 2M; Miller L, 1W; Sadie W, 2M

(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

Leo A

Henry D

Hugh D

Levi G

At Sts Peter and Paul we are so happy to see that a lot of students came to the swimming carnival last Friday. Even if they didn’t race they supported their peers by chanting, the Year 6 leaders could feel the energy. We’re sure that all houses gained house points and everyone had so much fun with novelties. Thanks so much to all the parents and teachers that volunteered to help the students, a big thank you to Mr Gubler for organising the event. 

For the past several weeks the Year 6 leaders have had an amazing time with kids from Malkara, as well as bonding with them. We hope they continue to learn, grow, play and succeed together safely, just like the beautiful students of Sts Peter And Paul, they have been flourishing all year.  We hope that students of both Malkara and our school can have a lovely week, and we hope Year 6 has a wonderful year. We wish them luck in all their future endeavours.

Dushan D, Harry G, Toby T

Book Club Issue 2 is open now! 

• Thank you to families who have placed orders already. Orders close Friday Week 9- 29th March. 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). 

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.  

 Library days for Classes

We have over 100 overdue library books! If you have some at home please return them to the Library. A reminder also to treat our books carefully! Many of the plastic protective covers are coming back damaged. It takes time and money to replace, which means less time for me to get our new books onto the shelves. Thank you for your assistance with this! 

Library Request! 

Do you have any small blue items around your house? In preparation for the National Simultaneous Storytime next Term, I am asking families to bring in anything blue to create a display- similar to what is in the photo below. Please ensure items are clean eg. yoghurt tops. Thank you in advance. 

Happy reading!

Amanda Basedow 

Teacher Librarian

amanda.basedow@cg.catholic.edu.au

The winter netball season is nearly here! The Year 2 and Year 4 teams are still looking for players to join the fun.

The focus is on learning, having fun and being outside. 

PREVIOUS NETBALL EXPERIENCE IS NOT NECESSARY OR EXPECTED - EVERYONE IS WELCOME TO JOIN! 

Year 1 children who have completed the NSG Net program are welcome to join the Year 2 team.

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:

Year 2 (NSG SET) 9.00 – 9.50 am $209.50

Year 4 (NSG GO) 10.00 – 10.50 or 11.00 – 11.50 am (TBC) $229

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

Please email stpandpnetball@gmail.com if you would like further information.

Lucy Webb

Netball Coordinator (Volunteer)

POTATO GNOCCHI

Ingredients

6 potatoes, peeled & diced

6 eggs

2 cups self raising flour

Pinch salt

Dash olive oil

Method

Boil potatoes in a saucepan of water until soft, then drain through a colander over the sink. Place back in saucepan and mash.

Place another large saucepan of water on to boil while making the gnocchi.

Add eggs and salt to the mashed potato and blend with a stick blender.

Add flour to the potatoes until you achieve a thick dough-like consistency.

Tip dough onto a floured bench, divide into 4 balls, then roll each into sausages. Cut each sausage into 2cm pieces.

Preheat oven to 100 degrees and line a baking tray with paper.

Add salt and a dash of olive oil to the boiling water. Add about 10 gnocchi to the water. When they rise to the top (in about 3 minutes) remove with a slotted spoon and place on the prepared tray to keep warm.

Repeat with remaining gnocchi and serve with your favoutie pasta sauce.

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.

Thank you to all the students who participated in today’s FIRST Special Lunch Day for the year! 

Mrs R was so happy seeing all the children and staff enjoying Sushi for our special lunch day.

Thank you Dimity, Tara, Jacinta, Briony & Kinda for your help today.

You made the day run a lot smoother and what a fun day we had. Your help was very much appreciated!

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.

The Uniform shop is stocked up with second hand uniform, please visit on a Tuesday morning to purchase second hand uniforms.

The uniform shop is limited with space, so if you wish to donate pre-loved items, PLEASE ONLY DONATE CLOTHES

that are washed and in perfect resalable order.

Lauretta Raccosta

Uniform Shop

Lauretta.raccosta@cg.catholic.edu.au

As part of our ongoing commitment to providing your school with the latest information about outside school hours care, we're excited to share our new Digital Tool Kit with you.

Many schools who we partner with have requested information to put on their website or share with their parents. So we have developed the Digital Tool Kit, which is designed to provide you with engaging OSHClub information.

All the resources can be found on our Google Drive. You can simply view and download them. We have also attached a handy Overview Guide that covers everything you need to know.

We thank you for your support.

View the Tool Kit

Have we missed something?

Do you need any resources that are not currently in the kit?

Please email us at marketing@junioradventuresgroup.com.au and CC in your OSHClub Representative. Our team will look into your enquiry and get back to you.

Useful links for parents

We encourage parents to visit our website and discover the benefits of our programs, such as how they can support their child to be healthy, confident, and resilient. Parents can find all the information they need about outside school hours care on our website:

• For parents who want to enrol at your school's service, they can register online HERE.

• For parents that are currently enrolled; they can book online, anytime HERE.

• For parents who want information about our Child Care Subsidy (CCS) they can learn more HERE.