Dear Parents and Carers

Remote Learning Term 4

On Tuesday it was announced by the A.C.T. Government that the A.C.T. lockdown would continue for another 4 weeks and remote learning for all Canberra schools would continue for a further two weeks (K – 10) after that. This means that, all being well, face-to-face teaching will resume at Sts Peter and Paul on November 1^st, at the beginning of Week 5. Undoubtedly, this is not the news that we were all hoping for and I acknowledge the stress that this places on our families. My hope is that we will all return to face-to-face for Term 4. Yesterday, the teachers spent the day planning and preparing for next term. We have been discussing things that have worked well and things that we could refine and improve. On Wednesday in the second week of the holidays, September 29^th, Sean Rutledge and I will host another meeting for all parents, to discuss Term 4 remote learning. There will be two different times. A link to the meetings will be sent later in the week. We miss the children very much and look forward to their return on November 1^st. It is not the same without them here. I am confident that we will continue to do our very best, and to continue to meet the learning needs of the students in these less than ideal times. I speak on behalf of all staff when I say that I appreciate your support a great deal – it has been invaluable – and we will continue to strive to find new ways to collaborate and work with you, for the children’s education.

Magic Show

On Tuesday, Sts Peter and Paul hosted Magic Mike, a magician who has presented a magic show previously in the school. He ran three online shows for the children and it was a great success, providing something different and fun for our students. My thanks to Sean Rutledge who coordinated his online visit to our school.

Awards Assembly

A reminder that today, at 2 p.m., Sts Peter and Paul is hosting our Week 10 awards assembly. I look forward to seeing all the Sts Peter and Paul families and students online, as three of our Year 6 leaders host our assembly.  Our teachers, acknowledging all of the hard work of our students, will give awards. These assemblies will of course continue next term, online and in person, when we return to face-to-face. A link to the 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

Thank you for your excellent support of the staff, students and whole school, during this difficult and extraordinary time. The partnership between home and school has been invaluable. I hope that all parents, and all students, find some time to recharge and have some ‘down time’ during the next two weeks. I look forward to seeing you all when school resumes on Tuesday, October 5^th, Monday being a public holiday.

Best wishes

Cameron Johns

Principal

Gospel Reflection

Mk 9:30-37

In this week’s Gospel the Disciples are taken aback by what Jesus has been telling them. They are also afraid of asking too many questions, they almost seem to prefer being ignorant rather than admit the limits of their own understanding. Strangely, this self-imposed ignorance does not prevent them from posturing for position. What a warning for the Church this episode seems to offer!

While this excerpt of Mark’s Gospel is often interpreted in terms of the virtue of humility, the other aspect of Jesus’ point is easily overlooked. Every Christian is called to be ‘last of all and servant of all’. Ours is a faith of humble service.

The scriptures repeatedly make the point that faith is always embedded in creation. A mountain, a road, a town, and a house all frame the action in this episode. Because the Church exists wherever its members go, our beliefs and prayers are not restricted to church buildings. We take our faith on roads, into our homes and towns, and even up mountains.

Given this, our faith compels us to have a special care for all of creation. As Jesus clearly intimates, by humbly serving created things we express our love of the Creator who made them all.

Adapted from Greg Sunter

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

Sunday 19^th September, 25^th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Sts Peter and Paul Family Prayer Evening

In Week 3 of Term 4 we will invite all parents and families to join us via Zoom for a family prayer liturgy. This session will allow us to pray as a community. There will be the opportunity for you and your child to pray together. Please keep an eye out for an invitation towards the end of the term break.

First Eucharist Update

I will be meeting with Fr John this week to develop a plan for First Eucharist. Our hope is that we will be able to have small groups of students make their First Eucharist over a series of weeks after lockdown. This will depend upon Church number limits at the time. Please stay tuned for a compass correspondence later in the week.

Blessings,

Fron Garrett

Religious Education Coordinator (Acting)

Emerging minds have also brought out a well-being resource for practitioners, parents and carers to use to support children during a pandemic. 

https://emergingminds.com.au/resources/toolkits/supporting-childrens-mental-health-during-a-pandemic/?fbclid=IwAR16Lds-2hw-mO6Rhq1bw3q-i7T1WGEGX9PiIvkEosEQ7yN821FiEREySgI

The donation drive has been started by Charlie (a local student) and his mother, Mel Clode

Charlie needs your help to help his friends

Malkara School has been impacted by the devasting effects of Covid-19.

My five year old Charlie attends kindergarten at Malkara School – an incredible school that provides specialist preschool and primary education to kids with significant intellectual disabilities.

In Charlie’s case it means that despite having had strokes, heart surgeries , epilepsy, brain damage and a complex medical life – he still has access to a high quality education with caring staff who feel like part of our family. Sadly Covid-19 has come in and visited our beautiful school. Charlie wasn’t there at the time and so we have capacity to help all our friends that were.
Many Malkara families and staff have been impacted by Covid-19 and are now isolated – some with Covid-19. This is a very hard time physically and emotionally for these families. The impact of this nasty virus on very vulnerable communities like ours is devastating.

Over the coming week we will be doing a drive to help the families of at least 16 children and 30 staff feel the love of our bigger community. We really need your help.
We will be initially pulling together treat care packs and need donations of the following:

• 50 boxes/baskets or other that can be used to deliver goods
• Things for kids to do at home for example: small lego/duplo kits, playdough, bubbles, sticker books, pencils, crayons, chalk, new kids magazines, indoor and outdoor toys
• Treat food for example: pancake mix, cupcake mix, lollies, chips, biscuits
• Treats for adults for example: new magazines, cosmetics such as lipgloss , handcream, sachets of tea and hot chocolate.
• Gift vouchers for online purchases for example: uber eats or other food digital gift cards.

Businesses are also encouraged to get involved by supplying meals, goods or services that can be delivered contactless.

Drop off locations have been set up at:

• 12 Thurgood Court, Gordon
• 37 Jaeger Circuit, Bruce
• Ngunnawal Street Pantries
• 22 Bullala Court, Ngunnawal
• 2 Gamba Square, Ngunnawal

HAPPY BIRTHDAY

to those students celebrating their birthday this week.

Jackson K

Samson T

Czarina L

and to those celebrating their birthday during the holidays

Kate VdP

Emily B

Isaac G

Oliver W

Lucy B

Niamh D

Jai B

Ebony S

Kinder Maroon has been very busy during remote learning!

We have had a huge Term in the Library!

Unfortunately, ending in Remote Learning meant that we could not celebrate Book Week properly… but we will have that to look forward to in the second half of Term 4! 

I hope you continue to read a lot over the holidays! 

Mrs Basedow

With the official announcement from the Chief Minister that lockdown is to be extended until at least 15 October and remote learning to continue for students K-10 until at least the start of Week 5, and perhaps with a staggered return, School Sport ACT has made the unsurprising decision to cancel all events scheduled to take place in Term 4.

They are not looking to make further postponements due to there not being sufficient time left in the term, and if students do return to school based learning in Week 5 and 6 they are anticipating schools will be busy with catching up on missed activities and assessment.

Cancelled SSACT events include;

• All four Secondary Netball events
• Secondary Football Finals
• Secondary Girls Softball
• All 4 Primary Regional Track and Field events
• Both Secondary Regional Track and Field events
• The 12&U and 13&O ACT Track and Field Championships

For all information regarding SSO/Community conducted Term 4 events please keep an eye on the online Calendar. Liz Yuen will be making amendments to that as information as it is provided to her.

Hello Everyone

Gardens are growing and you are all busy in your kitchen too.

Our garden here at Sts Peter and Paul is still growing and getting ready for Summer. But it is stilling missing all of you. Mr Marsham has been looking after it and talking to the scarecrow.

Thanks to those families who have sent in pictures of their gardens and kitchens. Please keep sending them in as we love seeing what’s going on inside your kitchens and outside in the garden!

If you have any pictures keep sending them in to Katherine.birch@cg.catholic.edu.au

Have a lovely holiday.

The Garden Club

APPLE SLICE

Ingredients

1 pkt vanilla cake mix

1 cup desiccated coconut

125 g margarine

425 g can pie apples

300 ml tub sour cream

1 egg

Pinch ground cinnamon

Method

Preheat oven to 180 degrees and grease a 30cm x 20cm slice tin.

Melt margarine and stir in the cake mixture.

Press mixture into the prepared tin and cook for 15 minutes, until just turning golden brown.

Meanwhile combine the apple, sour cream, and egg in a bowl and mix well.

Pour mixture over the cooked base and place back in oven, cooking for a further 20 minutes or until the top turns golden yellow.

Remove from oven and sprinkle with cinnamon. Serve when cool.

This has been a tough term. Perhaps these school holidays could be a time to reenergise and relax together........... read, go for a walk, play hopsctoch, watch movies, sing, draw, garden, cook, read, jump on a trampoline, write a letter to someone, take some photos, read, kick a ball around (outside, not in the house), clean out some cupboards, bake, do a jigsaw puzzle, lie in the grass, watch the clouds go by, dance, read, do a crossword puzzle, play netball or basketball, watch TV, play board games, paint, ride a bike; virtually visit a zoo, design your dream house, tell some jokes, read, write a story, walk the dog, meet up online with family, design a comic book, make your own obstacle course, read ......... above all relax, spend time together, stay safe and be kind

Little Athletics ACT are proud to bring the children of the ACT and region the first ever ‘Little Athletics ACT – Stay Active Challenge!’

We know that there are so many kids out there that just can't wait to get stuck in to the start of the Little Athletics season or are just looking at fun ways to stay active through this current lockdown, and we want to help!

Little Athletics ACT would appreciate if schools were able to encourage the participation in this program to all of it’s students. There is no extra work required for the schools as it is totally delivered by Little Athletics ACT and the parents.

This challenge will see four challenges specific age group challenges released via email to you each week, and take you through a fun activity/training session and a mini event-challenge!

All of these challenges can be done from your living room, backyard, or a nearby community oval.

CLICK HERE TO FIND OUT MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE CHALLENGE

Entry and registration

Any current, future or former little athlete born from 2005 to 2016 is eligible to participate in the Stay Active Challenge.

Expressions of interest are now open for this challenge. All specific information required to participate in the challenge will be sent via email after submission of these EOI's.

If you have any questions relating to any aspect of the Stay Active Challenge, or Little Athletics more generally, don't hesitate to contact Matt at development@actlaa.org.au

Regards,

Matthew Wade
Manager: Growth & Development (MGD)

University of Canberra, Building 29, University Drive, Bruce ACT 2617

PO Box 5049, University of Canberra, Bruce ACT 2617

T: 02 6247 1296 | F: 02 6247 1297 | E: development@actlaa.org.au | W: www.athleticsintheact.com.au