Dear Parents and Carers

“…you might remember where God started in loving you. It wasn’t that you were brilliant, beautiful and the best thing since sliced bread, but that you were someone in need. If you don’t…recognize someone in need of your loving contribution, chances are that you are not listening enough.”

Peter Steele SJ, ‘The Mind’s Guests’

I quote these very wise and pertinent words in the light of Easter, as we move towards the great feast of Pentecost. Steele’s point is, simply, that love is gratuitous, and where we experience God’s love is where we are in need, within ourselves, of God’s healing. Love is merited. It is given unconditionally. Steele urges us to consider what need we might recognize and try to meet in others – our children and families most obviously, but also the person across the street, the person who makes us a coffee, the homeless man in Civic, our work colleagues.

COVID

Today, I have emailed all parents, via Compass, an update on COVID arrangements. I will not rehearse all the points made in the letter but I will iterate the passage concerning carlines next week. From the beginning of next week, Monday May 23^rd, we are closing the gate near the hoppers.The day will end at 3.10pm. This means that all children (K – 6 inclusive) can now be picked up at the morning drop off site. As you drive down to the school, between Lanigan House and the Church, the left-hand lane is for drive through pick-up; the right-hand lane is for parking your car. You may park your car in the angled car spaces adjacent to the Church, or you may park your car in the main carpark. Please be advised that parking space is scarce. Parents are now able to park their cars and collect their children from outside the school.

Crossing

We are fortunate to have a Crossing Supervisor assist our families with crossing Wisdom Street in the morning and afternoon. The afternoons can be a busy and stressful time, for motorist and pedestrians alike. I urge all parents who are using the crossing to please refrain from crossing until the Crossing Supervisor has stopped in the middle of the crossing and indicated that it is safe to cross. Aside from your own safety, parents who cross without waiting for supervisor potentially set a less than ideal example to their children, which in turn potentially puts their children at risk. Thank you for your support.

NAPLAN

Last week, students in Years 3 & 5 completed NAPLAN tests, including Maths, Reading, Writing and Writing Convention assessments. Results should be known in mid-Term 3. My thanks to all students for their participation, to the staff for their support and encouragement and to Paul Jenkins for his excellent IT support.

Student Social and Emotional Well Being – Parent Information Night

Like all Catholic schools, Sts Peter and Paul has a School Counsellor, an excellent service provided by Catholic Care. We are very lucky in having the services of Laura Lamerton, a very skilled counsellor who lends great support to our students. Laura is presenting an information night for any interested parents, at 6pm, next Tuesday May 24^th, in the school hall. Laura will be addressing the social and emotional needs of children coming out of lockdown. I urge all interested parents, particularly any parents who may have lingering concerns, to attend the night.

Book Fair

A highlight of the week has been the Book Fair. It has been wonderful to see so many excited students (and parents) enjoy the Book Fair display and enjoy some of the books on offer. A percentage of all money raised goes back into the school library. My thanks to the parent community for their great support, and to the wonderful efforts of our school librarian, Amanda Basedow, and to all staff for their assistance.

Pupil Free Days

A reminder that Catholic Education has given all Catholic schools an additional two pupil free days this term. Sts Peter and Paul’s pupil free days are Friday May 27 and Tuesday May 31. OSH club will run a care program on both days.

Walk Safely to School Day

This Friday, we are holding our ‘Walk to School’ day. Very simply, Anna Williams, Fron Garrett-Rumba and I will meet interested students at 3 different locations. Mrs. Williams will meet students at McNicholl Street Park, Ms. Garrett at Hughes Shops and I will meet students at Kitchener Street. We will rendezvous at 8.15am and walk to school at 8.30am. It is a great way to start the day.

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

As you would be aware from previous newsletters, 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 ASAP 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 Groups and Host Nominations:

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.

You can nominate yourself as a host at the following link, and you can also use this link to place your child into a Home Group.

Please note, homegroups will only go ahead if they have a  hosts, so ensure your group has a nominated host. Thank you.

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1i8-3PGSXoMyacLuK5KGt9ITdj015z-g9WhX5eY4xV_g/edit?usp=sharing

The Sacrament of Confirmation:

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. 

What does the program involve?

The program includes:

• 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, June 9th 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.

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

MacKillop House & CatholicCare Call for Assistance

CatholicCare are seeking financial assistance with their Canberra based ministry, MacKillop House. Mackillop House in Lyneham nightly accommodates some 20-22 women of all ages, as well as many mothers and their children in need. The ACT government has agreed to provide some funding towards the upgrading of the bedrooms and common lounge areas at MacKillop house, however more funding is needed to complete the project.

To read more about the lifechanging work that CatholicCare do through MacKillop House, click here

If you are in a position to make a small donation to CatholicCare and MacKillop House, please go to Qkr! and follow the links to ‘payments’/ ‘MacKillop House & CatholicCare’

Sixth Sunday of Easter, Year C

Just like last week’s gospel, this passage also comes from the Last Supper discourse in the Gospel of John. Again, although its original context was pre-crucifixion, the language works in the post-resurrection Easter season as we anticipate the celebration of the Ascension next week. This double purpose language is, of course, no accident. The gospel was written 60 or more years after the death and resurrection of Jesus and so the writer was consciously conveying the double meaning of ‘going away’: Jesus going to his death; and Jesus going back to the Father. But Jesus also promises his return in this speech. Continuing the double meaning, the gospel writer knew that Jesus had come good on his promise to return after his death and so conveys to the gospel audience, and to us, a sense of confidence and hope that the second promised return will also be fulfilled at the right time.

In the meantime, Jesus promises to send the Holy Spirit to the disciples and to the world. The Holy Spirit is to be the Advocate (the Paraclete) of the Father and the Son. The Holy Spirit performs a dual purpose: firstly, to carry on the teaching; and secondly, to continue to remind the believers of all that Jesus said and did. The action of the Holy Spirit continues in the world today – inspiring and teaching those who are open to hearing and keeping alive the memory of Jesus, his teaching and his compassion. We talk about being full of school spirit and team spirit but these feelings of loyalty and commitment are only a distant echo of what it is to be filled with the Holy Spirit.

(Reflection by Greg Sunter)

Blessings for the week ahead,

Stephanie Burns

Religious Education Coordinator

Catholic education election report card on major parties

Catholic education has released a federal election report card assessing the responses from the major political parties on education priorities.

The report card assess the Coalition, Labor and Green’s responses to the priorities of:

• Genuine school choice through fair funding and ensuring affordable contributions from families
• Enabling faith-based education through religious protections
• Improving capital funding
• Support for delivering national priorities such as quality teaching, early childhood education, mental health and wellbeing programs and Closing the gap initiatives for Aboriginal and Torres Islander students

National Catholic Education executive director Jacinta Collins said the report card shows the Liberal National Coalition and Labor are on par in addressing Catholic education’s priorities, particularly on school choice.

“We are fortunate that both major parties continue to support genuine school choice in Australian education and are committed to families who choose a Catholic education for their children,” Ms Collins said.

Responses sought from key independent candidates are also being evaluated.

The full report card and major party responses is available via www.ncec.catholic.edu.au/federal-election-2022

Authorised by J Collins, National Catholic Education Commission, Level 3, 156 Gloucester Street, Sydney.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY

to those students who are celebrating their birthday this week

Alja J

Callum R

Miranda C

Audrey B

Ciara F

Congratulations to Chloe U in 6M, who recently competed in the National Gymnastics Championships. Chloe placed 5th in Synchronised Trampoling, 6th in Individual Trampoling and 10th in Double Mini Trampoling.

We are very proud of you Chloe!

Have you seen the Active Streets map on the school gate? It highlights safe travel routes for our local area. Our Year 4-6 students, (an age when students may start considering independent travel), have also received an Active Streets pack that includes support materials for use at home.

We encourage the students of St Peter and Paul who live locally to walk or ride safely to school where practicable. Walking or riding to school is a great way for all of us to be physically active each morning and afternoon while helping to reduce congestion around the school and limiting our environmental impact.

We’d especially love to see lots of students walking or riding next Friday, May 20th, to participate in National Walk Safely to School Day.

To support this event, at 8:15 am next Friday 20th May, teachers will station themselves at locations in Garran and Hughes as indicated on the attached map. They will depart their location at 8:30 am, walking safely to school following the journey suggested on the Active Streets safe journey map. There is no need to register. We are looking forward to meeting many active students and families along the way.

BOOK FAIR IS ON NOW!

Why are we having a book fair? Watch the Link below-

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AfHJ98jVAgM&ab_channel=scholasticaustralia

What you need to know-

• The book fair is on in the Library:

• Wednesday 18th May- 8:15-9am and 3:15-5pm
• Thursday 19th May- 8:15-9am and 3:15-5pm
• 3 ways to pay- Card (eftpos machine facilities and this is the preferred payment method), Cash or online payment www.scholastic.com.au/payment *you need to choose Book Fairs Payment, (not book club).
• There is also stationery and posters for sale which are always popular! 

Thank you in advance for your support! 

Our goal is to reach 310 books!!!   

Winners of the colouring competition will be announced in next week’s newsletter!

National Simultaneous storytime is happening on Wednesday 25th May at 11am.  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.

A special thanks to Stuart Baines (Father of Grace in Year 1) who has organised a special visit to the National Library for the NSS event for Sts Peter and Paul’s students in Year 1, Year 2 and Year 6! We are incredibly grateful and excited for the opportunity. Please ensure you have completed the permission form via compass if you have a child in any of those grades. 

The classes remaining at school will be watching the live streamed event altogether in the Hall!

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

Keep reading!

Mrs Basedow

What a busy week in the Kitchen Garden Program. Our Kinders and Year 1s had another great lesson in the kitchen plus we had our first Garden Club with Year 1.

This week both grades continued their journey, learning about fruit in cooking and hydration in class. Did you know our bodies are made up of 50% water so it’s really important for us to drink lots of it. Water helps our brains to think and our bodies to move.

The children made fruit kebabs and apple turnovers using bread as pastry and the jam we won a prize for at the Canberra show. The children also practiced making patterns, threading, rolling, cutting and very importantly cleaning up and taking turns.

In the garden this week Year 2 are growing seeds in science which are doing beautifully and will be planted in the kitchen garden when the seedlings are ready. Year 1 will be planting seedlings as well for Religion in a few weeks.

Our wonderful Year 1s helped on Friday by watering the garden and finding some weeds. They did a great job and promised to be back next time.

If you would like any information on this program 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

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.

 Lauretta Raccosta,

Canteen

Lauretta.Raccosta@cg.catholic.au

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 Winter Uniform price list.

Lauretta Raccosta

Uniform Shop

Lauretta.raccosta@cg.catholic.edu.au

If you enjoyed the recent immersive Van Gogh experience (or even if you didn't) there is another exhibition coming to the National Museum of Australia that you will probably also like.  It runs from 8 June to 9 October 2022.

From Grande Experiences, creators and producers of the most visited multi-sensory exhibition in the world, Van Gogh Alive, comes the world premiere of a new, captivating art experience celebrating the spirit of Indigenous Australia.

Using 360-degree, large-scale projections and cutting-edge light and sound technology, this is visual storytelling as you’ve never seen it before. Artworks from over 70 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists are transformed into one powerfully rich story of culture and Country.

Connection is a spectacular, first-of-its-kind experience, that simply cannot be missed. Exploring the spiritual connections to land, water, sea and sky through a vibrant and multi-sensory symphony of sound, light, and colour. State-of-the-art technology is used to create an immersive exhibition space, enveloping you in large-scale projections and cinematic surround sound.

Taken from National Museum website

https://www.nma.gov.au/whats-on/connection