Dear Parents and Carers

School Camps

This week, Year 6 are on school camp, and at the time of writing are enjoying being at Borambola, near Wagga, N.S.W. I am joining the Year 6s on camp with Katie McGregor and Paul Jenkins. My thanks to Katie and Paul for everything they have done in preparing what will be a great experince for the children. Next week, our Year 5 students go on camp to Berry, and again will participate in activities that will challenge, extend and enrich their school life, and their relationships with each other. Samantha Mance will be joining Sarah Cunneen and Sam Stinziani on camp. My thanks to Sam and Sarah for all of their work and preparation.

Sacrament of Reconciliation

A reminder for parents of children who are making their First Reconciliation this year: there is an Information Night next week, on Tuesday February 25^th, at 6pm online. This information night is concerned with the meaning of the sacrament and is not to be confused with the administrative information night, which was held last week. Please contact Andrea Mcquirk to let her know if you would like to attend as it will not go ahead if there is not enough interest: andrea.mcquirk@cg.catholic.edu.au 

The weekend after next, March 1^st and 2^nd, sees our students be presented at one of three Masses over the weekend. I look forward to joining our students at one of the Masses.

Years 3 – 6 Student Leadership Information Night

A reminder that Monday Week 4, February 24^th, at 6pm in the school hall, we are holding an Information Night for parents of all grades, but particularly Grades 2 – 6, regarding leadership opportunities in Years 3 – 6 (of which the school camps above are a part). All parents are welcome to hear about the variety of learning opportunities that are on offer for all students as they progress through their middle and senior primary years.

Have a wonderful week with your children.

Best wishes

Cameron Johns

Principal

First Reconciliation 

The children are beginning their preparation for the Sacrament of First Reconciliation with home groups starting to take place. 

All families will attend a Presentation Mass next weekend at Holy Trinity Church. This is a special opportunity to connect with the Parish and celebrate the children as they take this important step in their faith journey.  

TIMETABLE FOR THE SACRAMENT OF FIRST RECONCILIATION PROGRAM 2025

Ash Wednesday Mass 

We warmly invite you to our Ash Wednesday Mass on Wednesday, 5th March, at 12:00 pm in the Sts Peter and Paul School Hall.

This significant occasion in the Liturgical Calendar marks the beginning of the Lenten season, a time of prayer, fasting, and reflection as we prepare our hearts for Easter. Ash Wednesday reminds us of our call to repentance and renewal, symbolised by the blessing and receiving of ashes as a sign of humility and commitment to our faith journey.

ALL families are welcome.

A Message from our Youth Minister 

Dear Sts Peter and Paul Community, 

My name is Julia and I am super excited to be your new Youth Minister for 2025! My role is to support the implementation of the Catholic Schools Youth Ministry International (CSYMI) model within the Sts Peter and Paul’s community. As the Youth Ministry Officer (YMO) my role is to help enhance the religious life of the school, which includes working with teachers and students during their RE lessons and in the formation of a year 6 Youth Ministry Team. 

A little bit about me, I graduated from high school last year and this is my first year as a YMO in a school. I was born and raised in Canberra and my family and I are big football fans. I enjoy reading, traveling, and spending time with my family and friends. I am super excited and keen to be at Sts Peter and Paul’s this year to spread God's great love throughout this wonderful school. 

I look forward to getting to know and supporting the Sts Peter and Paul community this year!

God Bless! Julia Norgrove ?

julia.norgrove@cg.catholic.edu.au

Seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year C  Luke 6: 27-38 - Love for Enemies

Jesus’ directive to love our enemies is ignored more often than observed. We gossip about family feuds and boast that we’ll never be able to forgive so-and-so for the harm they did to us half a lifetime ago. Jesus knew that kind of thing from growing up in a tiny village. Yet, he still insisted that following him required forgiving our enemies. Just a few years ago, a mother who lost three of her own children and a young nephew when they were hit by a car driven by a drunken driver in suburban Sydney said publicly: ‘I think in my heart to forgive him… I’m not going to hate him because that’s not who we are’. We hear the same kind of thing in the Bible story of Joseph, who found it within his heart to encourage the brothers who had sold him into slavery to let go of the past and to break free of the guilt that had captured them. When we can imitate Joseph and that mother, we have made a giant step towards restoring life to ourselves and to those we have forgiven. 

From God’s Word, Daily Reflections, 2025

Yours in Christ, 

Andrea McQuirk 

Religious Education Coordinator

The Seasons program is for students who have experienced grief, loss or change in thier living arrangements such as in a separated family or divorce or a blended family. The death of a family member is also applicable, after a 12 month period of bereavement. The program is a quiet space for the children to experience the depth of their feelings about the changes in their lives in a supportive and encouraging way. 

The program in Term 1 is for the children of Grades 1 and 2.

https://www.mackillopseasons.org.au/companion-portal/L1-3-Sample%20message%20for%20newsletter.pdf

 School-Wide Positive Behaviour (SWPB)

At Sts Peter and Paul we use a School- Wide Positive Behaviour Framework.. Both our students and teachers want our expectations for behaviour to be positively phrased and fair for all. 

At Sts Peter and Paul, we are all SainTS - Succeeding Together Safely.

Succeeding

Succeeding means trying your best, having courage, and embracing challenges.

Together

Together means welcoming, supporting, and valuing everyone.

 Safely

Safely means responding with respect.

These three expectations underpin everything we do here at Sts Peter and Paul Primary School.

School Student Broadband Initiative (free NBN service)

The Federal Government's School Student Broadband Initiative provides a free NBN service to eligible families with school age children. Please share the link below with families through your usual channels.

Link: School Student Broadband Initiative (SSBI)

Contact: jane.kilmartin@cg.catholic.edu.au or 0400 380 925 (Consultant to the Executive Director)

Service area leader: Executive.Director@cg.catholic.edu.au

PART-TIME PARISH SECRETARY, NORTH WODEN: 

Part-time position of 19 hours per week. 

Applications addressing the Selection Criteria with attached resume should be addressed to Parish Priest, Fr James Antony (james.antony@cg.org.au ) by Friday 28 February 2025. 

Please email wodennorth@cg.org.au or phone (02-6281 3999) for duty statement and selection criteria.

"Don't forget, Colour Run coming on 21 March!

Simply go to www.myprofilepage.com.au and click onto the register button to create a cybersafe, online profile page.

Raise $10 to receive your first incentive prize!

You can even earn free bonus donations."

HAPPY BIRTHDAY

to those students who are celebrating their birthday this week

Viren K

Ethan TL

Nigel N

Summer M

Sean O

James M

Coamh R

Daniya A

Agnes R

Awards will be presented at our assembly on Thursday 27 February at 2.30 in the school hall.

Principal's Award:

Hannah A 5M; Emily G, 5W 

Learning Support Awards: Daniyal J, 6M; Penny A, 3W; Benjamin E, 1W

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

This term in sport, Year 5 are doing tennis. We have had some people come in and teach us different activities. For example, they taught us how to hit a tennis ball over a net properly. We learnt how to hold the tennis racquet properly and how to hit the ball like you would in a proper tennis match. To start with I thought I would be really bad but as I tried again and again, I got better. Soon we'll all be pros! I have always thought that tennis would be a boring sport but now I realise it actually is really fun. I have learnt so much over the past three weeks and I'm getting better and better as I go on. I could never taught myself that much on my own. I have unraveled all of my abilities and so has everyone else. 

Everyone has enjoyed tennis a lot and are better than they thought they would be.

Evelyn 5M

Welcome to 2025!

As we settle into the new school year, here are a few important library updates.

Library Borrowing Days

Please ensure your child brings a library bag to borrow books (Kinder – Year 4).

Library Days:

• Tuesdays: 3M, 3W, 4W, KM
• Wednesdays: 5M, 5W, 1M, 1W, 2W
• Thursdays: 6M, 6W, 2M, 4M, KW

Lunchtime Library Hours:
The library is open for quiet reading and drawing after eating time on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays.

Chess Club:
Chess Club runs during recess on Tuesdays.

Book Club – Issue 1 Closing Soon!

Thank you to all families who have placed orders. Orders close Friday, Week 3 (21st February).
All orders must be placed online:
Scholastic Book Club

Chief Minister’s Reading Challenge – Starts Now!

Each year, tens of thousands of ACT students take part in the Chief Minister’s Reading Challenge (CMRC), discovering the joy of reading.

Sts Peter and Paul Primary is excited to participate once again! Every student is registered, and the challenge runs from:
Monday, 17 February – Friday, 4 July 2025

How the Challenge Works:

Students must read 30 books (class reading + individual reading).

Books can include fiction, non-fiction, poetry, eBooks (SORA), audiobooks, graphic novels, home books, and library books—as long as they are age-appropriate!
Students can read themselves, listen to an adult or sibling, or use audiobooks/online books.

Prizes & Awards:

• Winning schools will be invited to the National Library of Australia for the awards ceremony.
• Individual student awards will be given to those who complete the challenge.
• Raffle tickets & book club prizes will be awarded to participants.
• Class prizes for full class participation!

Thanks to our event sponsor, Paperchain Bookstore – Manuka!

How Sts Peter and Paul Primary is Participating:

Kinder – Year 2:

• Reading logs will be sent home in Week 4 inside reader bags.
• Parents should record each reading session (date & initials).
• Completed logs should be returned to the library.
• Small prizes will be given for completing the log.

Years 3 – 6:

• Students will update reading logs weekly during library time.
• Additional time will be given for reading.
• Small prizes will be given for completing the log.
• Each class will compete for a class prize.

Our school has proudly participated for over five years, and we’re excited for another great challenge!

Any Questions?

Please feel free to contact Mr. Washington or myself with any questions.

Thank you for your ongoing support of our library. This is a fantastic opportunity to inspire a lifelong love of reading!

Happy reading!
Amanda de Jongh

amanda.dejongh@cg.catholic.edu.au

Saints Peter and Paul Swimming Carnival Friday 14th March at the Lakeside Leisure Centre at the corner of Anketell Street and Athllon Drive in Greenway

We are very excited to have our Swimming Carnival this term for Years 3-6!

On Friday, parents with children in Years 3-6 will receive 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.

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!

Exciting International Letter Exchange!

Our Year 3 students recently took part in a special letter exchange program with students from Wakayama Prefecture, Japan! Each of our 48 students wrote a personal reply to letters received from their Japanese pen pals, using both English and Japanese. This provided a fantastic opportunity for authentic language practice, allowing students to apply their Japanese skills in a real and meaningful way.

We look forward to hearing back from our new friends in Japan! Below are a few photos of the letters and the replies.

This week was busy, busy, busy in the kitchen and garden.

The Year 3 and 4 students were busy making ja m and lemon butter for the Canberra Show. It's a little activity we do each year to support the show. The acivities included practising correct knife skills while learning the art of traditional jam making. Be sure to go and have a peek at Sts PP wonderful jams. Fingers crossed for first price again this year!

In the garden we had a fabulous time for the first garden club of 2025. We planted lettuce and spinach and harvested potatoes for the Canberra Show. The children had a lot of fun in the garden and it was a lovey day with the sun shining.

Garden club is on every Friday at lunch after the eating bell. For more information email katerhine.birch@cg.catholoic.edu.au. Everyone is welcome! We will planting and watering all of our new seedlings.

The Garden Club

Mrs Birch & Mrs Moore

LEMON BUTTER

Ingredients

4 eggs

1 cup sugar

100 gr butter

3 lemons

Method

Break eggs into saucepan.

Add sugar, beat with electric mixer until creamy.

Finely grate lemon skin, put aside.

Cut lemons and juice, strain juice into egg mix.

Add butter to egg mix, stir over low heat with whisk.

Stir until mix is thick like honey, add rind.

Pour into containers, seal and label.

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.

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

Please contact me if you are unable to assist 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 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.

 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.

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