Dear Parents and Carers

“Lent comes providentially to reawaken us, to shake us from our lethargy."

-- Pope Francis

Today is Ash Wednesday and we begin the Season of Lent. Lent, like the Season of Advent, is a time of waiting and of preparation. It is a time dedicated by the Church to a period of fasting or ‘clearing out’: it is a good time to ask ourselves, ‘How do things stand with me?’ If Easter is Season of new life and of acknowledging and celebrating Christ’s triumph over death, then Lent is the season that is inviting us to reflect upon the fact that we cannot triumph over death by ourselves. Today, all students from K – 6 participated in an Ash Wednesday liturgy and received the mark of the ashes on their foreheads, signifying our need for God and God’s grace.

Reconciliation Information Evening

Last night, the Reconciliation Information night was held via zoom, for parents of students in Year 3 who are making their First Reconciliation this year. My thanks to Fron Garrett-Rumba for coordinating our Sacramental program, to our 3/4 teachers (Luke Gubler, Anna Kain and Amanda de Jongh) and my thanks too to Fr John Woods for his support of our students and families. If you were unable to attend last night, please see your child’s teacher for further information.

Kindergarten InitialLit

Sts Peter and Paul is currently trialling a new program called InitialLit in Kindergarten. InitialLit is a program that is heavily phonics based and is designed to strengthen children’s understandings of letter-sound relationships, and therefore contribute to the children’s ability to learn to read. InitialLit is part of a wider program in English. A number of Catholic primary schools are trialling the program in the Archdiocese and in itself, it is part of a wider initiative called ‘Catalyst’, which sees all schools adopt a suite of educational initiatives. CE has a website devoted to Catalyst. You can access the page at https://catalyst.cg.catholic.edu.au/

Years 1 and 2 Intervention Program

Sts Peter and Paul are looking at refining our approaches to the use of data and assessment and trialling different ways of tracking children’s learning. We are implementing a reading intervention program for any child who may need it, in Years 1 or 2. All students are currently being assessed in terms of their reading and will be reassessed again in week 5. Any child who is not at an expected grade level will enter a reading intervention program. Details of the program will be made known to parents of students who may require additional help. Please see your child’s teacher or me for any further details.

Year 6 Camp

Next week, our Year 6 students are going on their Year 6 camp, at Borambola, outside of Wagga. It will be a great deal of fun and is an excellent way for our Year 6 students to start their year. Our Year 6 teachers, Paul Jenkins and Sarah Kennelly, will be accompanying our students. Maryanne Armstrong and I will also be attending the camp. I will be away Wednesday to Friday and Sean Rutledge will very capably lead the school in my absence. https://www.sport.nsw.gov.au/sportandrecreation/facilities/borambola

Have a wonderful week with your families.

Best wishes 

Cameron Johns

Principal