Dear Parents and Carers

Welcome to Term 2. I hope that all families enjoyed a good break over the holiday period, and that Easter, in particular, was restorative, and afforded some good family time. It has been excellent to see the children back today.

COVID Protocols

Last week, I wrote to the parent community (via Compass) and outlined, in a letter, some changes around the school’s COVID safe practices. These include the following:

• The school can now have outdoor and indoor assemblies. Unfortunately, parents are still unable to attend assemblies.
• Adults on the school grounds are no longer required to wear masks, indoors or outdoors.
• Parents can join school functions, if they are outdoors and off site. For example, the Cross Country Carnival on Friday April 29^th is a very good example of an occasion at which parents can join us.

Grade cohorting arrangements at recess and lunch, and the end-of-day carline pickup arrangements, are still in place, for the time being.

Yesterday, A.C.T. Catholic Principals met online with Catholic Education personnel to discuss further arrangements and changes. These will be outlined in the future, after the school has worked through what any further changes might mean for current school operations, and how to best effect a smooth transition from current arrangements to an easing of COVID related school practices. I will be writing to parents in coming weeks about any further changes to school routine. In the meantime, please inform the school, via the front office or me directly, if your son or daughter, or anyone in your family, has contracted COVID. Please contact me directly if you have any questions. Thank you for your support.

Cross Country

This Friday, we are holding our annual Cross Country Carnival at Edison Park. We are all looking forward to the day and it will be very good to be able to run a carnival, outside, under relatively normal conditions. Parents are very welcome to attend the carnival, as spectators or as volunteers to assist with the running of the event. If you are able to assist, please contact Sarah Kennelly sarah.kennelly@cg.catholic.edu.au . A letter detailing the carnival will be sent home to parents shortly.

Federal Election

As all parents would be aware, we are in the midst of a Federal election campaign. As it does for both Federal and A.C.T. government elections, Catholic Education is making overtures to candidates for all parties, including independents not aligned to any party. The overtures are of course concerned with funding for Catholic schools. In the A.C.T., funding for Catholic schools comes mostly from the Federal government. Today, Philippa Brierley (Principal at Holy Trinity, Curtin) and I were asked by the Catholic Education office to meet with candidates from the Greens Party, with Ross Fox (Director of Catholic Education), to discuss with them their funding position on Catholic education. Other principals will be having similar meetings with Independents, as well as candidates from the Liberal and Labor parties. Meetings such as the one that took place today provide a valuable opportunity for representatives from Catholic Education to press the claims for better funding for Catholic Education.

Enrolment Period

Next week, the enrolment period for all Catholic schools begins. The official enrolment period is from May 2 - May 19. Sts Peter and Paul are holding Open Mornings on Tuesday May 3, Monday May 9 and Wednesday May 18. The times for the Open Mornings are all 9.30 – 11. There is also an Information Evening on Monday, May 9, from 6pm – 7pm, on the school grounds. I look forward to welcoming new and prospective parents to Sts Peter and Paul. Current parents who enrolling a sibling into Kindergarten for 2023 are encouraged to do so within the enrolment period.

Thank You

I would like to thank Steve Watts, father of Charlie Watts in 5W for coaching the Grade 5 boys’ Futsal team. Last term, the boys participated in the South Coast Illawarra Championships, and performed very well. My thanks to Stephen and all parents for their great support of the boys. I would also like to thank Evie Crocker’s grandparents, Margaret and Kevin, for their recent kind donation to the Kitchen Garden. Their gift will go a long way in adding value to the garden.

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”

Confirmation – Year 6

The Sacrament of Confirmation will be celebrated in our Parish this Term. Children who have already celebrated their First Reconciliation and First Eucharist and are in Year 6 or above may be enrolled.

To enrol your child, please

1. Download the Qkr! App
2. Search for ‘Woden North Transfiguration Parish’
3. Click on ‘Parish Payments and Sacraments’
4. At the top, Click on ‘Sacrament’
5. Then select ‘Confirmation’
6. Fill out the Enrolment form and pay the $40 (This helps to defray the cost of a workbook, commemorative certificate, medal and administrative costs. If you have difficulty meeting the offering, please contact the parish office for a confidential discussion.)

The Enrolment Form asks for your child’s confirmation name and sponsor.  If your child has not yet decided on a confirmation name or sponsor, you should still return the form by Friday 29 April and provide this information when it becomes available.  (A confirmation name is the name of a saint who inspires the candidate to follow Jesus).  The sponsor assists the candidate to grow in their Catholic faith.  The sponsor must be a confirmed Catholic normally not less than 16 years of age, living a life of faith consistent with that role, having a good relationship with the candidate and being neither parent nor sibling of the candidate as they are sponsoring on behalf of the wider family of faith. 

Preparation for this Sacrament will be done through a Family-Based Program

The Parish Family-Based program affirms the direct participation of parents in their child’s faith journey with the prayerful support of the Parish community.  The program compliments but does not replace the religious instruction given at Catholic schools or through a School of Religion.  Parents have found the program to be a graced time with their child and that in turn has made the celebration of the Sacrament all the more meaningful.  Home-based family groups will be discussed and allocated at the Parent Information Night (PIN).

Hosting a Family Group

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, with session notes and guidance provided.  N.B. Hosts will be required to attend an Online Information Session at 5.30pm on Tuesday 3 May, please contact me if you would like to discuss further.

All hosts must have, or have applied for, a Working With Vulnerable People (WWVP) card. There is no cost involved in applying for a WWVP card for volunteers.

What does the program involve?

The program includes:

• An Information Session for hosts of a family group at 5.30pm, Tuesday 3 May, via Zoom.
• An Introductory Night for all parents to receive an overview of the family sessions at 6 pm, Tuesday 3 May, via Zoom.
• Four Family Group Meetings for parents and children.
• Presentation Mass. Each family must attend either of the Saturday 4 June 6pm, Sunday 5 June 9.30am or 5:30pm Mass, at Holy Trinity Church, Curtin.
• Parent and Child Stole Night, in Week 7 (date TBC), in the Holy Trinity School Hall, 18-20 Theodore Street, Curtin.
• Pending COVID-19 restrictions, a children’s Retreat Day and practice, Friday 17 June, 9.15am-2.15pm, in the Holy Trinity School Hall.

What next?

If you would like your child to celebrate Confirmation this year, you must complete enrolment and payment to the Parish Office by Friday 29 April 2022.  Enquiries can be made to the Parish Office (9am – 3.30pm Mon, Wed and Fri, 6281 3999, or email to wodennorth@cg.org.au)

Please note: The Sacrament will be celebrated in the Parish of the Transfiguration, North Woden, on Tuesday 21 June 2022 at 6pm and Wednesday 22 June at 6pm. 

Third Sunday of Easter, Year C

 Scholars suggest that the 21st chapter of the Gospel of John is a later addition to the Gospel, especially given the finality of the language at the end of chapter 20. The style of chapter 21 is much more church-oriented than the earlier chapters. The barbeque breakfast on the beach takes on a Eucharistic feel and the passage is at pains to portray Peter as the leader of the disciples and the one chosen by Jesus to provide leadership into the future. We must remember that the Gospel of John was written almost 70 years after the death of Jesus and if this final chapter is indeed an addition, then it is likely written sometime in the 2nd century. It was only in the late 1st and early 2nd centuries that the church began to adopt a structure of bishops as leaders of communities, and it was important to clearly establish the authority of Peter as the first leader of the Church and the authority of his successors. Obviously, a scriptural reference to Jesus’ choice of Peter would have cemented the case and so this later addition to the Gospel of John may have been constructed to serve this purpose.

Regardless of its original intended purpose, this passage provides a wonderful account of the appearance of the resurrected Jesus to his disciples. Like other post-resurrection accounts, the disciples do not at first recognise Jesus and it is not until the miraculous catch of fish that the beloved disciple declares, ‘It is the Lord’. In a beautifully everyday touch, the risen Jesus prepares breakfast on the beach for the disciples and blesses the simple food in the same way as he did the bread and wine at their last supper.

(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

Cooper L

Avah Rose P

Alexander W

Levi G

Shay G

Natalie C

Ned S

Dear Families, 

This is a friendly reminder that the Cross Country is scheduled for this Friday the 29th of April at Edison Park. 

Please find below the approximate starting times for each race: 

Can you please ensure that your child comes to school in their sports uniform. They are most welcome to wear a shirt that is their house colour. 

Finally, we are still seeking volunteers to assist with jobs at the carnival, between 9am and 11am (approx). We are after both time keepers and course markers to ensure our carnival runs smoothly. If you are available to offer assistance, can you please contact me directly on the below email address:

sarah.kennelly@cg.catholic.edu.au

In your email, can you please include your: 

• Preferred email address 
• Contact number 
• WWVP Registration Number and expiry date

Many thanks, 

Sarah

Remember to STOP for our supervisor

A school crossing supervisor is supporting our school each morning and afternoon to increase safety for children. Please support this initiative by driving safely near the school and encouraging children to use the supervised crossing.

Our crossing supervisor is responsible for controlling a busy environment, which includes managing the flow of pedestrians, cyclists and motorists during peak times. It is important for motorists to drive at a speed which allows them to safely stop when the supervisor enters the road. Please be patient and allow the crossing supervisor and other pedestrians to safely clear the road prior to proceeding.

The school community is encouraged to familiarise themselves with the basic crossing supervisor procedures:  

• The supervisor will ask pedestrians to wait in a safe location by the side of the road
• When it is safe, the supervisor will stop traffic
• The supervisor will blow their whistle twice to indicate it is safe to cross.

The School Crossing Supervisor program is delivered by Transport Canberra and City Services’ (TCCS) School Safety Program. If you have any feedback about the program, please contact TCCS.  

Please be patient, polite and respectful to our supervisor, they are committed to keeping our students safe.

Welcome back to Term 2! We have a very fun and exciting term coming up in the Library. 

Library Lessons for Term 2 remain the same as Term 1. Please remember Library Bags!

Term 2 Library dates to remember:

• Scholastic Book Fair! 
• Our book fair is on before (8:15am-9:00am) and after school (3:15-5:00pm) Tuesday 17th May, Wednesday 18th May and Thursday 19th May (Week 4). 
• Eftpos and cash facilities will be available. Students will be viewing the books and items available in Week 3 and will bring home a ‘wish list’ (please note- you do not have to purchase all or any of the items on the list). 
• This is our major fundraiser for our school Library and we would love as many children as possible to participate!  
  

• National Simultaneous storytime is happening on Wednesday 25th May at 11am and all students will participate in the Hall. National Simultaneous Storytime (NSS) is held annually by the Australian Library and Information Association (ALIA). Every year a picture book, written and illustrated by an Australian author and illustrator, is read simultaneously in libraries, schools, pre-schools, childcare centres, family homes, bookshops and many other places around the country. Now in its 22nd successful year, it is a colourful, vibrant, fun event that aims to promote the value of reading and literacy, using an Australian children's book that explores age-appropriate themes, and addresses key learning areas of the National Curriculum for Foundation to Year 6.

• Chief Minister’s Reading Challenge. It is fantastic to see that some students have already completed their reading challenge! Kinder, Year 1 and Year 2 classes are completing their reading challenge as classes and are already half-way through!!
• A huge thank you to the Parents, Carers and Teachers for helping and encouraging students to continue to complete the challenge. 
• The challenge finishes in August so there is still plenty of time!!

• The Library @ Lunchtime: The Library will be open on Tuesdays and Wednesdays during lunchtime (after eating time). Please remind your children to come as it is a great place to read, sit, draw or talk quietly. 

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

Keep reading!

Mrs Basedow

Welcome to Term 2!

We start this term's newsletter by celebrating Easter with Kinder in the kitchen. They spent a happy food science lesson making some Easter treats at the end of last term.

This term Kinder will continue their Food Science journey in the kitchen, learning about healthy eating and both Year 1 and Year 2 will also have some more lessons.

The garden is looking great and producing wonderful food. Thank you to those families who helped keep it going during the holidays.

If you would like more information please email Mrs Katie Birch Katherine.birch@cg.catholic.edu.au

The Garden Club

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 VOLUNTEER ROSTER

Thank you helpers; your assistance is very much appreciated

Please contact me if you are unable to help out on your day.

Are you able to help out in the canteen in TERM2?

 If you have any spare time and would like to help out in the canteen, PLEASE feel free to contact me through email at lauretta.raccosta@cg.catholic.edu.au

 Term 2 canteen roster available now

Click on the link below to add your selected time to the roster.

https://stpandp.schoolzineplus.com/canteenrosterterm2.

All volunteers must have a WWVP card and show proof of vaccination.

Lauretta Raccosta,

Canteen

Lauretta.Raccosta@cg.catholic.au

Friday 29 September

Are you having a lunch order on cross country day?  A set menu has been designed for that day only!

Cost $7.00

 Menu: sausage roll or party pies (2) or fish n chips or pizza  or cheese & spinach roll (v) or nuggets

with a fruit juice, a pkt of chips and a frozen frugart snack. 

Orders are available now via Qkr!

Please note the above set menu is the only food available for students on that day. 

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. 

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

Lauretta Raccosta

Uniform Shop

Lauretta.raccosta@cg.catholic.edu.au

HOUSE COLOUR T-SHIRTS. 

Cost $10.

 Are you having trouble finding a plain t-shirt?

 We sell plain house colour t-shirts ready for the cross country carnival.

 With 100% breathable soft cotton and UPF rated sun protection for year round.

 Sizes range from 4-16. 

Now available on Qkr!

There are a lot of jumpers and other items in lost property.

 If you have lost something, please come by and have a look.  

This is your last opportunity as any items still left there by the end of the week will be donated to the uniform shop.