Dear Parents and Carers

“Healing is the simplest criterion of preaching the word that I can imagine. The truth heals and expands us in its very hearing: “The truth will make you free” (John 8:32). It allows and presses us to reconfigure the world with plenty of room for gentleness and peace for ourselves, and for those around us. Only whole people can imagine or call forth a more whole world”.  

Welcome to the 2025 school year! I hope the Christmas and holiday period has been a time of renewal and energy for you and your families. The children have started back happy and contented and it has been a delight to see their energy and enthusiasm for school. The staff are well and rested, and we are looking forward to the many opportunities the year will provide.

We welcome to the school 37 new Kindergarten students and 19 new students from Grades 1 – 6. We welcome the following families to Sts Peter and Paul: 

Alsharif; Arora; Ballingall; Banjo; Beaumont; Bennetts; Cajina; Cassidy; Digin; Huang; Inglis; Isabel; Jineesh; Jones; Joo; Karnati; Kourloufas; Krishnaja Ajay; Kubala; Kumar; Lane; Lelliott; Lum; Mahendrarajah; Martin; Morrison; Nilles; Pereira Watts; Rayan; Saeed Basaad; Sammak; Simmonds; Skeehan; Vineeth; Vo; Wright; Yu

Whether new or returning, I welcome all of our families and I look forward to working with you all this year, as your child or children continue their growth and learning.

Richard Rohr Reflection

With his customary eloquence and challenging prose, Richard Rohr draws our attention to the importance of healing in our lives. In particular, he suggests that religion is at its best when it effects a healing in the lives of people. In a world in need of more gentleness and peace, having ‘room for gentleness and peace for ourselves, and for those around us,’ is surely a good thing. Next week’s newsletter will see us break open our theme for the year, which comes from a question the woman at the well asks Jesus, in John’s Gospel: ‘Where can I find this living water?’ a question that goes to the heart of our need for healing.

Meet and Greet

A reminder that next Monday night, at 6pm, we will hold our ‘Meet and Greet’ night. The night affords an opportunity to meet your 2025 child’s teacher, as well as parents in the community, and hear a little more about what is happening this year. We begin the evening in the hall. All parents are invited and our new Before and After school care providers, Community Services #1, have offered to mind children, if that is a need for your family.

First Reconciliation Information Night

A reminder that next Tuesday, February 11^th, we are holding our Information Night, online, for parents of students in Year 3 who are making their First Reconciliation this year. Details will be sent home shortly.

Opening School Mass

A reminder that Thursday week, February 13^th, sees our Opening School Mass take place, at 12.00pm, in the hall. All parents are welcome, and we look forward to Fr James Antony, our new parish priest, celebrating our Mass with us.

I look forward to seeing all of new and returning families over the coming days and weeks. Have a wonderful week with your families.

Best wishes

Cameron Johns

Principal

Welcome to 2025. This year, we are exploring the question posed in John’s Gospel: “Where can I find this living water?” This theme invites us to reflect on Jesus as the source of life, love, and renewal, encouraging us to nurture our spiritual journey. Just as living water refreshes and sustains, our faith calls us to be a life-giving presence to others. Throughout the year, our school community will explore how God’s living water nourishes us, helping us grow in kindness, hope, and service to those around us, deepening our own relationships with God.

First Reconciliation 

Our Sacramental preparations for 2025 will begin with a Reconciliation Parent Information Night next Tuesday 11th February at 6pm via Teams. A link for this meeting will be sent out through Compass on Friday.  Please see the introductory letter attached for more details. 

TIMETABLE FOR THE SACRAMENT OF FIRST RECONCILIATION PROGRAM 2025

Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year C  Luke 5:1-11 - Jesus Calls His First Disciples

Jesus demonstrated his unfamiliarity with the culture of fishermen on three counts. While the crowd was large, a fishing boat was hardly an appropriate choice for a podium from which to teach. What’s more, in asking Peter to move into the deep and let down his nets, he proved that he knew nothing about the way in which fishermen plied their trade. They invariably used two boats in tandem with one net stretched between them. They then manoeuvred their boats to encircle the fish before dragging their catch into the nearest boat. Moreover, no experienced fisherman would dream of paying out his nets for a catch in broad daylight, fishing was a night-time occupation. Daytime was for preparations. Still, Peter complied with Jesus’ suggestion, humouring him rather than anticipating a catch of any worth. The huge, unexpected catch struck him immediately as miraculous, making him conclude that he was in the presence of holiness. The only response he could think of was to declare his unworthiness. Without agreeing with Peter or uttering even a single word of criticism, Jesus invited Peter and his companions to a different kind of fishing: enticing people to experience the in-breaking presence of God in the world. That’s a very deep-water venture if ever there was one! The disciples’ experience on the lake that day led them to trust Jesus. Can we trust Jesus enough to embark on a similar venture? 

• From God’s Word, Daily Reflections, 2025

Yours in Christ, 

Andrea McQuirk 

Religious Education Coordinator

Get ready for Sts Peter & Paul first ever Colour Fun Run, coming to you on Friday 21 March 2025!

Raise $10 to receive your first incentive prize. We are fundraising for playground equipment.

More information coming out in Week 2, don't miss out!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY

to those students who celebrated their birthday in January 

Devamsh A

Holly P

Paxton A

Aalsdair D

Harper deS

Tracy C

Inaara M

Yugen C

Salma A

Charlie S 

Olivia C

Elliot I

Sophia W

Willem F

Fletcher S

Tamara B

Ivy B

Shayden B

Charlotte H

Malama M

Ghensen Jarred S

Theadrina T

Hugo W

Zion M

HAPPY BIRTHDAY

to those students who are celebrating their birthday this week

Viraj V

Sophie M

Audrey I

Akisha L

Reuben Trynes

Rafael Y

Ofelia C

Garden Club

Our garden club will start again in Friday of Week 2.

Everybody welcome!

DAMPER

Ingredients

2 cups self raising flour

1 tspn salt

1 tblspn butter, softened

1 cup milk

Optional

1 tbspn rosemary, chopped

or

1 tspn wattleseed

Method

Preheat oven to 220 degrees, grease a baking pan.

In a large bowl, stir together the flour, salt and optional ingredients

With your hands, or a pastry blender, cut in the butter.

Make a well in the centre of the flour mixture, pour in milk and stir until the dough comes together.

Turn the dough onto a lightly floured surface and form into a round loaf 8 inches across.

Place the loaf onto prepared pan and, using a sharp knife, cut a cross in the top.

Bake in oven for 25 minutges, then lower temperature to 175 degrees. Continue to bake for an additional 5-10 minutes. The loaf should be golden brown and bottom of loaf should sound hollow when tapped.

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.

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

WEEK 2 TERM 1, CANTEEN VOLUNTEER ROSTER

Thank you helpers; your assistance is very much appreciated

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

 

ARE YOU ABLE TO HELP OUT IN THE CANTEEN?

 Parent/carer helpers are most welcome in the Canteen.

A lending hand is always required and very much appreciated.

 Helping in the Canteen is a great opportunity to meet new people and make a valuable contribution to the school.

 No doubt your child/ren will get a buzz from seeing you at the school. 

So, if you have any spare time and would like to help out 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 add your selected time to the roster.

https://stpandp.schoolzineplus.com/CanteenRoster2025

All volunteers must have a WWVP card. 

CANTEEN REMINDERS

Please ensure your child’s class is UPDATED and CORRECT on Qkr! This is to avoid their lunch being misplaced or lost.

Qkr! lunch orders are available for advance ordering however if a lunch order has been placed in advance and your child is not at school please cancel the lunch order in your Qkr! activities by 8.45am that day.

Qkr Tips

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 its’ 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 uniform.

Please note, the uniform shop is unable to accept donations during Term 1.

The uniform shop is limited with space.  Donations will be accepted again in Term 2.

Lauretta Raccosta

Uniform Shop

Lauretta.raccosta@cg.catholic.edu.au