“In lockdown I’ve often gone in prayer to those who sought all means to save the lives of others. So many of the nurses, doctors and caregivers paid that price of love, together with priests, and religious and ordinary people whose vocations were service. We return their love by grieving for them and honouring them… They are the antibodies to the virus of indifference. They remind us that our lives are a gift and we grow by giving of ourselves, not preserving ourselves but losing ourselves in service.”

• Pope Francis, December 2020

Pope Francis spoke these words less than a year ago. At the time, he was addressing health care workers in Rome. He was praising them for their courage and their selflessness. His words are inspiring, as they so often are, and in particular, his phrase “…they are the antibodies to the virus of indifference…” struck home with me. This is because situations like COVID, I think, apart from the havoc they wreak on people’s bodies and lives, can make us indifferent to the needs of our neighbour. Simple acts of kindness and generosity can take on a completely new meaning and be a sacrament in themselves, in that they point to something greater behind the act of kindness. That ‘something greater’ is what we commonly call grace, or love, or the presence of God. Our lives are a gift, always.

Lockdown and Remote Learning

Today marks the second day of our Remote Learning. I hope that the transition to remote learning has been as smooth as possible for you and your children. Undoubtedly, there will be the occasional hiccup as we navigate the future, but I think the staff’s skill, ingenuity, commitment and hard work, combined with the experience of last year, will stand us in very good stead. Please do not hesitate to contact me, or your child’s teacher, if there is something you need or if there is a way we can help. The level of student attendance through MS Teams and the amount of work that teachers are getting back from their students has been excellent. This bodes very well. You would know of course that lockdown has been extended for another two weeks from tomorrow, until September 2, meaning that weeks 7 and 8 are in effect lockdown weeks too. On Friday, we will release the work for the next two weeks and the website will be updated accordingly. In all of this, parents can become needlessly stressed about the amount of work their children are doing. There will be some days when an hour of work may be all you can achieve; other days will see you and your child work for 3 hours, or more. Your mental, emotional, spiritual and physical wellbeing is extremely important, and it is ok to give yourselves permission to hasten slowly when you need to. Please contact me directly if I can be of any assistance.

Zoom Meeting for Parents on Friday

On Friday at 9.30am and again at 4pm, Sean Rutledge and I will host a zoom meeting to explain and outline your child’s learning over the next two weeks. Like last year, we hope to both outline expectations and the way the learning will work, as well as take you through the website in more detail and provide assistance in navigating the site. I hope that it will also provide an opportunity to address any questions you may have. 

School Routines and Calendar Events – Medium Term Future

The current situation with COVID and the ACT lockdown, with the subsequent demands of remote learning, demands the full attention of schools be focused on ensuring that things are running as smoothly as possible and that families are given as much certainty as possible, particularly as these times are so uncertain in themselves. Within this context, it is also important that schools try to keep the bigger picture in mind, as much as possible, as they would in normal times. To that end, staff at Sts Peter and Paul are looking at ways in which we might be able to incorporate awards, assemblies, Science Week, Book Week, and the like. In some cases, it will mean postponing an event until we return to face-to-face; in other cases, we will be able to introduce a modified version of the event in question. We will communicate in due course details around future school events.

Please do not hesitate to contact me if there is any way in which the school can support your family during these difficult and uncertain times.

Have a good week with your family.

Best wishes

Cameron Johns

Principal

Gospel Focus – Peter’s faith

Having laid out a fairly difficult teaching to the crowd, Jesus is faced with the fact that many of those who were following him couldn’t cope with what he was saying and they walked away from him. Jesus turns on the Twelve and demands of them, ‘What about you, do you want to go away too?’ One can almost hear the frustration and weariness in his voice. Peter’s response must have been a great relief to Jesus. Peter declares that Jesus has the message of eternal life and is the Holy One of God. He still hasn’t quite got the full picture but it’s something Jesus can continue to work with!

Living the Gospel – Message and Medium

We live in a world that is saturated by advertising and marketers trying to persuade us to think certain things, want certain things and even act in certain ways. At times the message and the medium of the message blur and it’s not always clear where one stops and the other begins. For Christian people the medium – the person – IS the message (or at least should be!). We are called to live what we believe. That can be tough at times, especially in our modern world, but the challenge comes from the example Jesus gave.

Adapted from Greg Sunter

Sacrament of First Eucharist

Due to the lockdown all Sacrament of First Eucharist dates have been postponed. We will be in touch with families once new dates have been scheduled. Thank you for your patience.

A prayer for the world

God of love and hope,
you made the world and care for all creation,
but the world feels strange right now.
The news is full of stories about Coronavirus.
Some people are worried that they might get ill.
Others are anxious for their family and friends.
Be with them and help them to find peace.
We pray for the doctors and nurses and scientists,
and all who are working to discover the right medicines
to help those who are ill.
Thank you that even in these anxious times,
you are with us.
Help us to put our trust in you and keep us safe.
Amen.

Praying during lockdown

Lockdown provides an excellent opportunity to focus on our prayer lives. The following resources may support you to do so during this time. If you would like any further prayer resources for this time, I would be very happy to help, please email me on fran.garrett@cg.catholic.edu.au

Daily online Mass

https://www.catholicvoice.org.au/mass-online/

3 minute retreats
A 3 minute scripture reflection with accompanying music and reflection images

https://www.loyolapress.com/3-minute-retreats-daily-online-prayer/3-minute-retreats-archives/

 World Christian Community of Meditation Website

This website provides great videos about the History of Christian Meditation and how to pray in this way.

https://wccm.org/meditate/how-to-meditate/

 Is a weekly online child-friendly reflection of the coming Sunday’s Gospel.

https://www.prayingwithchildren.org/pghm3g399.html

Blessings,

Fron Garrett

Religious Education Coordinator (Acting)

HAPPY BIRTHDAY

to those students celebrating their birthday this week.

Mia T

Elke S

Hamish S

Yvaine M

Postponement of Book Week Dress Up Parade. 

Unfortunately we are unable to have our dress up parade this term. 

I know everyone was looking forward to it, but it will be best to postpone it until Term 4 when we will also hopefully have the Book Week Performances rescheduled. Please keep those costumes ready for Term 4…... and if you did not have time to organise yours, you now have longer to think about how you could dress up as your favourite character!

Book Club Issue 6 is available now!

Book Club is open and home delivery is available!

https://scholastic.com.au/media/6421/bc621web.pdf

In response to the current lockdowns, scholastic has added the temporary option for all parents to have their orders sent directly to their homes. This option will enable them to place and receive orders while their children are undertaking schooling at home. 

• When parents place their Issue 6 Book Club orders, they'll have the option to select home delivery or school delivery if you have Book Club opened–if not, the default will be home delivery.
• The home delivery option will automatically be added to schools in the lockdown area.
• The home delivery option can be selected by parents at the time of ordering for $7.50
• Your school will still earn 10% in Scholastic Rewards on home delivery orders.
• Any school deliveries will still be sent to the school once you submit your school order (I will place the school order on Thursday 2nd September so orders need to be finalised by then). Please let your children know that it will then take 2 weeks for the orders to arrive at school. They should be here by the end of week 10. 
• Remember to use your LOOP app to order book club and once again thank you for your support of our school library.  

Please contact amanda.basedow@cg.catholic.edu.au if you have any questions regarding the Library or borrowing.

Keep reading! Mrs Basedow

Science Week is a bit different this year. Click on the link below to access information on the many online events.

https://www.scienceweek.net.au/

BOOROWA TOUCH/NETBALL CARNIVAL CANCELLED FOR 2021

We are sorry to advise that the Boorowa Touch/Netball Carnival has been cancelled the 2021. With the current COVID situation we have made the decision to cancel the Carnival.  We would like to thank everyone for your support & hopefully we will see everyone for the 2022 Carnival on the 21/10/22.

Stay safe & take care.

St Joseph’s Primary School

School Sports ACT

• All SSACT events scheduled to take place up until the 2 September will not be conducted on the dates currently displayed on the calendar of events – this includes; all four Primary and two Secondary Region Track and Field Carnivals, all Secondary Netball events and the Secondary Football Finals.
• With no qualifying Regional Track and Field events, the ACT 12&U Track and Field Champs (Tues 7 Sept) and ACT 13&O Track and Field Champs (Tues 14 Sept) will also not take place as originally scheduled.
• If permitted, the three Primary Football events scheduled for the end of Week 9 and mid Week 10 may still proceed.
• If permitted with ACT Health COVID Exemptions approved (as they have between 500 and 1500 attendees) and alternate dates found with the AIS and Woden Park, the Regional and ACT Track and Field events will be rescheduled for late Term 3 and the beginning of Term 4.
• Priority will be given to completing the Secondary Football Finals as the Regional qualifying events have been conducted, over the yet to commence Secondary Netball competition. If permitted, Secondary event dates will be postponed to within the first four weeks of Term 4.
• Whilst SSACT continues to plan events, whether they can take place is dependent on ACT Health advice and restrictions imposed by the ACT Government, we must all be prepared for the outcome of no School Sport events for the remainder of the school year.

For schools – please still submit your Track and Field entries to Kerry Boden by the due dates as planned, if there is a problem contact her directly; school.liaison.aact@iinet.net.au.

 As you can understand, this space is ever evolving and many plans have to be kept fluid, we will keep you informed as to what might or might not be possible as it comes to hand with the aim of allowing school’s time to get organised should events be permitted late Term 3 / early Term 4.

Kind Regards

School Sport ACT

Where has everyone gone? That’s what our resident kitchen garden pet is saying. We will tell it that you are all staying home to keep safe and will be back soon.

Our kitchen garden is missing its awesome crew and our classrooms have been very quiet while everyone is doing the right thing. The garden is still growing and getting ready for spring by enjoying the sunny days we have been having. The fruit trees have buds on them and the worms are enjoying their compost.

In classrooms, the Year 3/4s have been busy working on their fabulous Food Group fact posters. They have been doing a great job researching each food group including water and sometimes foods and finding out why (or why not) we need them. They have worked together in teams helping each other to answer some research questions. One group found out that: eating nutrients help our bodies fight sickness.

But all is not lost…they will continue learning about healthy eating on line at home and will be able to present their work to their teachers.

As usual if you have any questions email Mrs Birch at Katherine.birch@cg.catholic.edu.au.

The Garden Club

CAULIFLOWER SOUP

Ingredients

2 tsp vegetable oil

1 cauliflower, cut into small florets

1 onion, grated or finely chopped

1 carrots, grated

3 potatoes, grated

1/2 tsp curry powder (optional)

2 tbs chicken stock powder

1.5 L water (approximate)

Pinch salt & pepper, to taste

Method

Heat oil in a large saucepan over low-medium heat. Add cauliflower, onion, carrot and potatoes and gently soften (do not brown). Add curry powder if using.

Add the chicken stock powder and enough water to cover vegetables. Bring to boil and reduce to a simmer.

When vegetables are very tender take them off the heat and allow to cool slightly then blend with hand held stick mixer.

More liquid may be added at this time according to preference of soup thickness.

Return soup to the heat and simmer for further 30 minutes.

Season with salt and pepper before serving.

This can be a difficult time so above all, be kind to yourelf and go gently.

While at home with your children there are so many things you coud do: read; draw on the driveway or footpath with chalk; play board games; write a story; dance; play game conole or computer games; read; cook; play elastics (you may need to ask a grandparent about this); clean; play hopscotch; visit a zoo, virtually; write a letter to someone; go for a walk; write messages of kindness and love with chalk for your neighbours; read .......  the list is long.