Dear Parents and Carers

“The chalice of the Holy Spirit is identical in this life with the chalice of Christ. The chalice is drunk only by those who have slowly learned in little ways to taste the fullness in the emptiness.”

Karl Rahner SJ

Welcome back to another school term. I hope all families enjoyed a change of pace during the school holidays and a chance at some rest and a change in routine. Starting the school term yesterday with a morning assembly was a great way to begin the term.

The above quote comes at the end of a longer passage by Rahner. The author is describing the lived reality of many of us, when we experience life on the margins: when we feel great loneliness, an aching emptiness, the silence of God, the betrayal of friends, the loss of vision, dreams or energy – all these feelings or thoughts can spring from experiences, that lead us potentially into despair. Keeping faith in those moments is the challenge of us all. The point that Rahner makes is that God is with us in those moments – “…tasting the fullness in the emptiness…” and it is at that point that a deeper consolation occurs.

Week 2 Parent/Teacher Conversations

Next week, all parents will have the opportunity to make a time to meet with their child’s teacher, via Teams. My hope is that the opportunity will provide all parents and teachers the opportunity to discuss the academic, social and emotional wellbeing of the students. This week, a letter will be sent home which will detail how parents can make a time to meet with their child’s teacher.

TOMS Competition

Last term, two teams of students entered the Tournament of Minds Competition. Under the wise and discerning stewardship of Mrs Katie Birch, the students collaborated and solved a problem, in the fields of Maths, Science, English or STEM, and then had to present their findings and the outcome. The students had to learn and refine other skills too, including those of teamwork and communication. I am very proud of all of the students for their efforts. Well done Maximo A, Lilia W, Cooper L, Niamh D, Claudia K, Zara S, Sienna G, Louis B, Ciara F, Anna S, Abigail W, Tara W, Lucy A and Eleanor S. Special thanks as well to Katie, for her efforts and work with the students.

Canteen in Weeks 1 & 2

For the next three weeks, the Canteen is closed at Sts Peter and Paul, as Lauretta Raccosta is working in the role of Learning Support Assistant. The canteen will resume normal operations in Week 4, when K – 2 and Year 6 students return to school.

Grandparents/Grandfriends Day

I am pleased to say that Remote Learning has not stopped all calendar events that would normally take place in normal learning periods. Friday of Week 2 (October 15^th) sees the celebration of Grandparents’ Day/Grandfriends’ Day. At 10.30, students will call via Teams, or another platform, their Grandparents or Grandfriends, and interview them. They will send home cards and messages of thanks and we will post a Facebook message to all of our Grandparents and Grandfriends. Further information will be sent home in the near future. My thanks to Fron Garrett-Rumba for her work and organisation.

Assembly Links

Next week’s Monday morning assembly Teams link can be found here:

https://teams.microsoft.com/l/meetup-join/19%3ameeting_ZDU5OWRiYWMtM2U5Mi00MTY5LWE0ZGQtOWU2ODYxY2Y2ZmIz%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 to Thursday’s awards assembly (next week) can be found here:

https://teams.microsoft.com/l/meetup-join/19%3ameeting_OWViYmU5YjctOTkyZS00MzYwLWI3OGItYWE1YzliMDZjZTYx%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

Gospel Reflection

Mk 10:17-30

This Sunday's readings confront us with the need to make choices in life, choices for God. They also remind us that no significant choice is without its price. However, if we make the right choice, we are assured that we will be richly rewarded.

We all want to be happy in life. We just don't always know which doors to open, and how far to enter them. We need wisdom for that. The more options that are open to us, the more difficult it is to choose, but choose we must. To choose one option is to relinquish the others. The young man in the Gospel wanted eternal life. Surely there is nothing more worthy than that. However, the price he was asked to pay was more than he had expected, and he went away saddened. To choose is to face the consequences of the word of God, and sometimes this is as sharp as a two-edged sword.

One of the mysteries of faith is the incomprehensible generosity of God. We choose wisdom instead of all of the good things of the world, and we receive these good things along with wisdom itself. We are asked to relinquish all of the things that we value, and we get them back a hundredfold. We are invited to take a step into the unknown. We are told that we will not fall. However, we are never sure of this until we take the step and discover that we have not fallen. God demands so much, but gives so much more.

Adapted from Greg Sunter

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

Sunday  10^th October, 28^th Sunday in Ordinary Time

http://www.prayingwithchildren.org/w4ym3g0ds.html

First Eucharist Parent Information Night and First Eucharist Celebration Sign-up

October 12th 5:30pm 

As you are aware, due to the lockdown in the A.C.T, the Sacrament of First Eucharist was not celebrated in Term 3 as scheduled, and was instead postponed. Like all other places of worship, the Parish was unable to reschedule until the A.C.T announced the end of lockdown and eased the associated number restrictions for Masses.  

As the ACT Government has now released their roadmap to opening, The Transfiguration Parish Sacramental Team have created a schedule for First Eucharist celebrations. We therefore invite all families of students making their First Eucharist to attend a short parent information night via Zoom at 5:30pm on October 12 (Zoom link below). The purpose of this meeting will be to outline the rescheduled dates for this Sacrament. The Parish will be offering families a choice between two celebration options, and strongly encourages your attendance at this meeting to understand their differences. 

At the end of the PIN, a sign-up document will be shared with families where they will be able to select a suitable option and date. In developing this schedule, we have endeavoured to best meet the needs of our families and to provide options so that the Sacrament is a special celebration.  Regrettably, we must remind you that there will be number restrictions for these celebrations. We therefore strongly encourage you to attend the Zoom meeting, when the sign-up sheet will be made available, to ensure you are able to Celebrate the Sacrament on your preferred date and time. 

Finally, we thank you for your patience during this time. As parents, you are the first teachers of your child’s faith.  We, the parish and school community, thank you for the support  and encouragement you have provided in preparation of this Sacrament. We also thank home group leaders for their generosity and support. 

Zoom Link: 

https://cgcatholic.zoom.us/j/64762836749?pwd=U2wvKzJkMUNXZmNqclRSRU9rNmdNUT09

Password: 323816

Blessings,

Fron Garrett

Religious Education Coordinator (Acting)

HAPPY BIRTHDAY

to those students celebrating their birthday this week.

Ella L

Ewan D

Ava G

Principal's Award: Alex H, 5M

Welcome Back

Welcome back to Term 4! We wish everyone could be at school, but hopefully the next few weeks will go fast. We have a huge term planned in the Library as you would have seen from the Term Overviews. 

New Books

There are also many exciting new books that are ready for borrowing when the students return. Many of these have been purchased with reward funds from our book fair. 

Book Returns

Could I ask that you please have a very good look around your homes for any library books you might have (from our school) and if you plan to pop into school to pick up class work packs etc, please drop off any Library books currently loaned out to students. I will leave the rainbow box in the front foyer for the returns and greatly appreciate your assistance with this. 

Overdue reminder slips will be sent home if books are still outstanding in Week 5. 

Book Week Wednesday 3rd November (Week 5)

Date for your diary - We are celebrating Book Week in Week 5 - Wednesday 3rd November. Students are encouraged to dress up as their favourite book character and we will have a virtual parade to adhere to social distancing measures. The classes will also watch the pre-recorded performances from Meerkat Productions as part of the celebrations.  

Students will also receive their Chief Minister’s Reading Challenge Awards and prizes will be given out (randomly chosen) for all who participated.  

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

Keep reading! Mrs Basedow

Welcome back everyone to Term 4. We miss you all a lot!!

Our garden is growing and new seedlings have been planted ready to be looked after by you. Hopefully, these will grow and we can use the produce in our kitchen to make yummy food.

Students have been busy at home in the garden and kitchen. Particularly Year 1 as you can see from the photos. Fabulous work! The beautiful scarecrow is called Lady of the Garden. Perhaps it can become friends with Mr Sticks in our school garden?

The 3/4 children have been working hard as well on their food group research. There is a sample below. There will be more to come next week.

Please keep the photos coming. It is great to see what you are doing in your gardens and what healthy meals that you are cooking in your kitchens.

Please send any pictures to Mrs Katie Birch at Katherine.birch@cg.catholic.edu.au.

The Garden Club

MUESLI SLICE

Ingredients

2 cups natural untoasted muesli

1 cup self raising flour

1/2 cup dried apricots, chopped

1/2 cup sultanas

3/4 cup brown sugar

180 gr butter

1/4 cup honey

2 eggs, lightly beaten

100 gr milk chocolate (optional)

Method

Preheat oven to 180 degrees and grease and line a 3cm deep lamington pan.

Combine muesli, flour, dried fruit and sugar in a bowl.

Melt butter and honey in a small saucepan over low heat, stirring constantly until butter is melted.

Cool for 5 minutes then add butter and eggs to the mixture. Stir until combined.

Spread mixture into the prepared pan and bake for 30 - 35 minutes, or until a skewer inserted into the centre comes out clean. Allow to cool in the pan.

Meanwhile, place chocolate, if using, into a small heat proof bowl over a saucepan of simmering water, stir with a metal spoon until melted.

Spoon chocolate into a small snap lock bag, snip corner off the bag and drizzle chocolate over the slice. Allow to set before cutting into squares.

The recipes in the newsletter this term are from the Sts P & P cookbook. All recipes are easy to make and are great for lunchboxes or treats at home. Books are $20, payable on Qkr!, and available for pickup at the front office.

Now that some of our restrictions have lifted, our nature parks are slowly opening back up.

Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve is a wonderful place to visit. Follow the link to check out what's on offer.

https://www.tidbinbilla.act.gov.au/