Dear Parents and Carers

“No one lights a lamp to put it under a tub; they put it on the lamp-stand where it shines for everyone in the house.”

Matthew 5: 15

Our RE theme for 2022 is ‘Let your light shine’. Our theme is taken directly from the fifth chapter of the Gospel of Matthew, which sees Jesus exhort his disciples to be a ‘light to the world’ and to ‘let their light shine’. One of the aims of education is to enable children to flourish and in partnership with parents, to enable them grow, develop, and learn in such a way that they become a light to the world. Our theme for the year captures our vocation beautifully.

First Reconciliation Parent Information Night

On Monday night, we held an information session for the parents of children in Year 3 who are making their First Reconciliation this year. The Reconciliation program is a combination of home and school. My thanks to those parents who have volunteered to be Home Group leaders. As with all of our sacramental programs, we prepare our children in partnership with Holy Trinity School, who belong to the same parish as Sts Peter and Paul. Together with Monsignor John Woods, we work collaboratively and have some combined experiences, for example retreat days, and the like. My thanks to Fr John, Steph Burns, our 3/4 teachers – Paul Jenkins, Sarah Walsh, Josh Gereis and Michael Washington – and the Leadership Team from Holy Trinity, for their partnership and support.

Meet the Teacher

Last night, we held our annual ‘Meet the Teacher’ evening. It is an ongoing sign of the times that we held the evening over Teams, as opposed to our preferred model, which would have been in-person. Nonetheless, the evening provided a good opportunity to make contact with your children's teachers and to receive information about the year. All grades have sent home a term overview, a term letter and a grade-relevant curriculum summary, which is designed to give parents a good sense of the curriculum covered in each grade year. Please contact your child’s teacher if you would like a recorded copy of the meeting and/or the slides they used in the presentation. A PDF copy of the slides I used in my presentation is attached to this newsletter. My thanks to all teachers for their work and preparation.

Meet the Teacher 2022_final.pdf

COVID and Rapid Antigen Tests

My thanks to all parents and families for their support of the school and its processes during these COVID affected times. I hope the daily updates concerning exposure counts is helpful; it appears that we are having minimal positive cases. Nonetheless, I ask all parents to maintain the twice-weekly testing regime, and to inform the school if your child or children tests positive for COVID. All disclosures are strictly confidential and student or family names are, of course, not made known. Thank you for your support.

Temporary Cessation of Carnivals

Due to ACT Health and CE guidelines and COVID imposed restrictions, we are unable to hold our sports carnivals for the moment. Both our swimming and athletics carnivals were due to be held this term. We aim to hold our athletics carnival later in the year, when hopefully much if not all of the restrictions will have eased, or gone altogether. Our swimming carnival, again, will be held later in the year and will take the form of a ‘fun day’. The school will keep parents informed of all updates and changes, as they happen. Thank you all for your support.

Have a wonderful week with your families.

Best wishes

Cameron Johns

Principal

This year at Sts Peter and Paul, we are all called to ‘Let Your Light Shine”

Our Sacramental preparations for 2022 began this week with a Reconciliation Parent Information Night on Monday 7^th February. Thank you to all of the parents and carers who were able to join us, and a special thank you to all parents who have volunteered to be hosts for the parish home groups, we could not do it without you.

For anyone who may have missed it, below is some information provided by Fr John regarding the Sacrament.

I am now inviting parents of baptised children in Year 3 (and above) to enrol them in the Parish’s Family-Based Sacramental Program for First Reconciliation. To enrol your child, please access or download the QKR! App.  Tap on ‘North Woden Transfiguration’, and tap ‘Sacraments’, fill in the form and make your online payment by Thursday 10 February 2022.

The program is dependent on the generosity of some parents to host or to co-host a family group. The role of a host is not difficult. 

Dates to remember:

• Four family group meetings (done at host's discretion)
• Presentation Mass, 19-20^th March (either Saturday 6pm or Sunday 9.30am at Holy Trinity)
• A children’s Retreat Day Friday 25 March. (TBC)
• Celebration of the Sacrament of Reconciliation will occur at the time you select on a Saturday, 4.30-5.00pm commencing 26 March. Details provided at the PIN.

Any enquiries can be directed to the Parish Office (6281 3999/wodennorth@cg.org.au)

In other Sacramental news, many children from our Parish are continuing to celebrate their First Eucharist during Parish Masses each weekend at Holy Trinity. We would like to congratulate all these children and their families on this important step in their faith journeys.

Opening School Mass 2022

As many of you would be aware, we were scheduled to celebrate the beginning of the 2022 school year with an Opening School Mass on Friday 11th February at 12:00pm. Traditionally, this Mass is also the time that Fr John would bless the Year 6 leaders as they commence the academic year, and present them with their leadership badges. Unfortunately, due to COVID restrictions, we cannot, at this time allow, the whole school to attend this Mass together.
It has been decided that the Year 6 cohort will attend Mass as representatives of the school community, where Fr John will bless them and their leadership badges.
All other classes will share in an Opening School Prayer Celebration that will reflect the reading and prayers used at Mass.
The parents and carers of the Year 6 students are invited to attend this special Mass, as we recognise that this is a very special occasion for these families.
Those in attendance will be asked to please check in using the Check in CBR App, be seated in the marked seats throughout the rear of the church, and all are kindly reminded to remain socially distanced at all times. We want to thank you for your understanding. We look forward to giving the children in other cohorts the opportunity to attend Mass together very soon.

Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year C  Luke 6:16.20-26

We are perhaps more familiar with the Beatitudes from the Gospel of Matthew in which the kingdom of Heaven is promised to those who are ‘blessed’ because of their afflictions. Rather than the Sermon on the Mount from the Gospel of Matthew, the Gospel of Luke presents the same event and teaching as the sermon on the plain as it occurs on ‘a piece of level ground’. This version may appear a little more confronting than the Matthew version. Rather than the afflicted being ‘blessed’, they are to be ‘happy’. It seems odd that anybody should be happy to be poor, hungry, mourning or reviled and we would certainly regard these as states of sadness and difficulty; not times for rejoicing at our good fortune! However, this Gospel in particular frequently reminds us that God does not think, feel and behave as we might expect. God’s actions are frequently contrary to the expectations of society. The Gospel of Luke makes it plain that the reign of God will upend the structures of society. The lowly will be raised and the mighty will be brought low. It is in this context that the poor, the hungry and the outcast are regarded as happy. Their happiness comes from the reassurance that although they are rejected and dismissed by society, they are indeed the most favoured of God. Whatever the world dishes up to such as these, they can rejoice in the knowledge that in the reign of God their fortunes will be reversed and they will be favoured. However, just as the fortunes of the poor and afflicted will be reversed for the better, those who are rich, well fed, happy and well regarded will also have their fortunes reversed. Alas to them! Their comfort and joy leaves no room for the generosity of God! (Reflection by Greg Sunter)

Blessings for the week ahead,

Stephanie Burns

Religious Education Coordinator

HAPPY BIRTHDAY

to those students who are celebrating their birthday this week.

Anaya Ray T

Grace W

If anyone has spare empty 4 litre icecream containers can you please send them into 2 White.

They will be used as compost bins.

Thank you

Scholastic book club is running again this year. Issue 1 brochures were sent home last week. Orders close Friday Week 3- 18th February. All orders are placed online- please note we do not accept cash or orders at school as all orders are placed online. Click here to access an online version: https://www.scholastic.com.au/book-club/book-club-parents/ 

Please remember that 20% of all sales go to our school Library. The money made will be used to purchase lots of new books for the Library, as well as prizes and awards for events during the year. Last year we were able to purchase over 500 books due to the amount of money raised from our Book Fair and Book Club sales!

Keep reading!

Mrs Basedow 

THE CANTEEN IS CASHLESS

 Families are required to make all canteen payments via Qkr!

There will be no over-the-counter sales at lunch time at this stage.

All over-the-counter sale items (snacks & treats) must be ordered in your child’s lunch order via Qkr! which will be delivered to them at lunch time.

CANTEEN REMINDERS

Please ensure your child’s class is updated on Qkr! This is to avoid their lunch being misplaced.

• Due to current situation, Qkr! orders are available a day at a time (no advance ordering). Orders must be placed by 8.45am each morning.
• If a lunch order has been placed, and your child is not at school please cancel the lunch order in your Qkr! activities by 8.45am that day. Flyer attached

Thank you

Lauretta Raccosta,

Canteen

Lauretta.Raccosta@cg.catholic.edu.au

Can you lend a helping hand with washing jumpers?

 We are seeking some volunteers who would be keen to help out with washing some unnamed and unclaimed lost property jumpers to then be returned to the uniform shop for second hand clothing.

Please email Lauretta.raccosta@cg.catholic.edu.au

if you are able to assist in any way.

Thank you

OPEN TUESDAY MORNINGS

8.30 – 9.30AM

 The Uniform Shop is a service for the parents and children.  

We sell New & Quality Second-hand school clothing, and all money raised goes back to the school to provide resources for the children.

The Uniform Shop is available via Qkr!

On Tuesdays - Fridays, orders will be delivered to your child’s classroom. Orders need to be placed before 8.45 am. 

UNIFORM SHOP BOOKINGS

DUE TO COVID19, and with the need for physical distancing amongst adults the Uniform Shop will be appointment only on Tuesday mornings over the next coming weeks.

Please click on the link below to book your time slot.

https://stpandp.schoolzineplus.com/UniformShop

A reminder that items order through QKR! will be delivered to your child’s classroom to be sent home.

Please visit the schools website for the Summer Uniform price list.

Lauretta Raccosta

Uniform Shop

Lauretta.raccosta@cg.catholic.edu.au

BANANA BISCUITS

Ingredients

250 gr butter

2 cups sugar

4 bananas, mashed

3 cups self rising flour

1 cup roilled oats

1 cup shredded coconut

Method

Preheat oven to 230 degrees, line trays with baking paper and set aside.

Beat butter and sugar together in a bowl and stir in mashed banana.

Add flour, oats and coconut and mix until combined.

Place teaspoons of the mixture onto the prepared trays about 5 cm apart.

Place in oven, turn it straight down to 200 degrees, then bake for 10 minutes. Leave to cool on trays.

Books, comics, games, music, puzzles!

Head on out to EPIC this weekend, satisfy your bibliophilia and support a very worthy cause.

The following links will give you some more information about the event. 

https://www.lifelinecanberra.org.au/books/bookfair/

https://canberraweekly.com.au/an-epic-birthday-bash-for-lifeline-canberras-bookfair/