Dear Parents and Carers

“…greatness of spirit is manifested in simple everyday realities. It involves striving untrammelled for all that is great, better and more beautiful, while at the same time being concerned for the little things, for each day’s responsibilities and commitments.”

Pope Francis, Rejoice and Exult

I hope you are all well as we enter the last 10 days of the school term. The Pope’s simple and direct message is all the more powerful as it affirms the day to day realties that make up our lives. It suggests that greatness does not lie in amazing achievements or holding a lofty position (as amazing as those achievements may be), but rather in living out our relationships with others, and the responsibilities that come with those relationships, with hope, faith and love, and with courage and patience.

Undoubtedly, this is a difficult and stressful time for all families, and I appreciate the fact that it is not at all easy managing home learning and managing your own jobs. These are difficult times. Daily reports of cases appear, in Canberra, to be fluctuating a great deal. This makes it difficult to assess whether or not the lockdown will continue into Term 4. The holiday break provides an extra buffer and period, increasing the chance of a return to face-to-face learning. Even with the holiday period, however, remote learning may continue. The Catholic Education office will follow the advice of A.C.T Health, as it does in all matters to do with public health, especially where schools are concerned. CE is in close contact and relationship with A.C.T. Health. If the A.C.T. Government continues the lockdown, we will follow directions accordingly. Accordingly, next week members of the Leadership Team are meeting with grade teams (online) to discuss and work through some issues around the possibility of beginning Term 4 in lockdown.

The staff have been working very hard for the students and have done an extraordinary job. They have been working tirelessly for many hours each day. It is a different experience of teaching – as I imagine so many jobs must be different from their normal experience – and it is a more tiring experience. I am very proud of all the staff and the ways that they have met the challenge of lockdown and remote learning, balancing the usual and expected demands of the job whilst striving to find new ways of meeting the educational needs of the children. This Friday, September 10, there will be no check in after 12pm. The children will still have work to complete, or tasks set by their teachers, but the teachers will spend the remaining time on Friday afternoon preparing for next week’s lessons and work.

I wrote above about the unhoped for possibility of remote learning going into Term 4. To that end, after the morning check in next Wednesday morning, September 15, all teaching staff will spend the rest of the day in collaboratively planning and working together to ensure that Term 4, if remote learning is a requirement, begins as smoothly as possible.

I would like to thank all parents for their continued support of the school, the students and the staff. This is a difficult time for the whole Canberra community, as it is for the country, and the world. That makes even the smallest duties, the smallest acts, even more important and fundamental for our school.

Assemblies in Week 10

A reminder that we have a morning assembly on Monday in Week 10 and an awards assembly on Thursday afternoon at 2 pm.

The link for the Monday morning assembly can be found here:

https://teams.microsoft.com/l/meetup-join/19%3ameeting_YzgxM2Q2YzgtZGRhMi00MDYyLTg4OWUtYjk2NTEwZjU5ODI3%40thread.v2/0?context=%7b%22Tid%22%3a%229ba8c2d6-be27-4583-a686-5c6f5c4a9e97%22%2c%22Oid%22%3a%22d9f4c758-695b-4776-9692-9284018829a2%22%7d

The link for the Thursday assembly can be found here:

https://teams.microsoft.com/l/meetup-join/19%3ameeting_ZWNhZGM2YTMtZTI4NS00NmUyLThjYzYtYWI5NzM2MjE3Nzc4%40thread.v2/0?context=%7b%22Tid%22%3a%229ba8c2d6-be27-4583-a686-5c6f5c4a9e97%22%2c%22Oid%22%3a%22d9f4c758-695b-4776-9692-9284018829a2%22%7d

Have a wonderful week with your families.

Best wishes

Cameron Johns

Principal

Gospel Reflection

Mk 8:27-35

‘But you, who do you say I am?’ This would have to be one of the most powerful questions of the Gospels. It echoes down the centuries and is just as relevant today as it ever was. ‘Who do you say I am?’ Our answer to that question is perhaps the most revealing statement of our faith. Our answer no doubt changes over time as we grow in understanding and as we experience the ups and downs of life, but nonetheless, just like Peter in the Gospel passage, our answer remains a clear statement of our faith. ‘Who do you say I am?’ Just a good guy who lived 2,000 years ago? A role model? A friend? God made flesh? The Word come down from heaven? Nobody? Everybody? Our saviour? An inspired man of God? The Messiah?

Have you ever tried to answer this question? It is a confronting question, ‘Who do you say I am?’ It’s confronting because, as Christian people, we believe that our actions are a reflection of our beliefs and values. It’s confronting because whatever we say in answer to that question has implications for the way we live. ‘Who do you say I am?’ You see, the question is in the present tense, not the past. It doesn’t ask ‘Who do you say I was?’  It asks, ‘Who do you say I AM?’ The very question asks us to recognise that Jesus was not just some guy who lived 2,000 years ago but rather someone who continues to be a presence in our lives today. And he stands before each and every one of us today and asks that same, demanding, confronting, purposeful question: ‘Who do YOU say I am?’

Adapted from Greg Sunter

https://www.prayingwithchildren.org/im0v3rth1shh.html

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

Sunday 12^th September, 24^th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Blessings,

Fron Garrett

Religious Education Coordinator (Acting)

The awards will be announced in our online whole school assembly on Thursday of Week 10.

Principal's Awards: James R, 2M; Luka G 3/4B

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

Oliver W, 3/4W; Zara S, 3/4W; Irena J, 34W; Kuna J, 3/4B; Eleanor M, 2M; Samson T, 5M; Amelia W, 5M; Neive M, 5W

HAPPY BIRTHDAY

to those students celebrating their birthday this week.

Eva A

Jack M

Maya W

George F

Anaishe J

Jaden K

Charles H

Amelie S

Live Magic Shows

We are excited to welcome back Michael Webb, AKA Magic Mike, to run some magic shows for us next week. Michael has been at school several times over the last few years, performing live magic in classrooms and has been very popular with our students. On Tuesday next week, we will welcome him to run 3 Zoom magic shows for our community. The shows will run on Tuesday, and Zoom links will be sent out via Compass later this week and published on Microsoft Teams classroom channels. The timetable for the shows is below:

Tuesday 14^th September

K-2 show- 10-10:30am

Years 3/4 Show- 10:45-11:15 am

Years 5-6 Show- 11:30-12 pm

"Michael Webb AKA Magic Mike has been a professional magician for over 10 years and for the last 18 months he has been performing his magic in the virtual world, performing 100s of shows online for 10s of thousands of people world-wide. Including comedians Hamish and Andy, and the Australian Cricket team. Magic Mike’s Virtual show is highly interactive and provides a much needed distraction from the world.

Virtual magic shows are here to stay and Magic Mike’s fun and cheeky personality definitely shines through during his online magic show, as well as his 10 years of magic experience. Overly the last 18 months, Michael has performed virtually for tens of thousands of people, and he loves it!

“18 months ago I didn’t think virtual magic would work. but I’ve found Zoom magic to be super interactive as every trick involves multiple people with tons of banter back and forth. Zoom magic might just be my favourite way to perform. I’ve created dozens of new effects that I love to show and experiment on people, plus I can now share my magic with people from all over the globe. Its been a huge win"

Calling for more photos of remote learning in the kitchen and garden…

Home Gardening and Kitchen Club

Even during remote learning - gardens are growing and children are cooking….. It is lovely to see!

Thank you to everyone who has sent in a photo of what is happening in their homes. Year 1 have been busy with Aaleyah and Grace who enjoy helping their plants grow and enjoying cooking healthy food. Our teachers have also been very busy.

And just to reassure you, our garden and kitchen here at Sts Peter and Paul are quiet without you but they are still growing and preparing themselves for when we are safer. The plants in the Kinder courtyard are starting to bloom.

The Year 3/4’s are also working hard to learn about healthy eating and are creating virtual posters of the Five Food Groups and why they are important to our bodies.

So don’t forget – if you’re in the garden or enjoying cooking in the kitchen – grab your phone and send a picture to me, Mrs Katie Birch, at Katherine.birch@cg.catholic.edu.au.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        

COCONUT SLICE

Ingredients

125 g butter

1 cup sugar

2 eggs

1 & 1/2 cups self raising flour

1/3 cup (store-bought or homemade) lemon butter

1 cup coconut

1 lemon

Method

Preheat oven to 175 degrees and line a 25-30cm slice tin with baking paper then set aside.

Place melted butter and half the sugar in a bowl and stir. 

Add one egg, then the flour and stir until mixture forms a ball.

Press into the base of prepared tin and spread with the lemon butter.

Place the remaining sugar and egg in a bowl with the coconut and lemon juice, mix well to combine.

Spread this over the lemon butter and bake the slice for 20 minutes.

Cool slice in the tin for 10 minutes then lift out using the paper and cut into slices.

I have also included the link: 

Fhttps://natureplaysa.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/Nature-Play-SA-35-Things-to-do-as-a-family-during-COVID-19.pdf?fbclid=IwAR3ByYXbyh-86ZnP5snDRYqvh9YisCPdFZtkDxO8nSB19Wx6XMqf7LyyKhc

Stay safe