Dear Parents and Carers

Swimming Fun Day

Last Friday, we held a ‘Fun Day’ at the indoor pool at Tuggeranong. It was a wonderful day and the children all enjoyed themselves thoroughly. My thanks to Sarah Kennelly for organising the day so well and for helping the children have such a wonderful time. My thanks too to all staff and parents for their support.

Early Career Teacher Day and Retreat

Yesterday and today, our two first-year teachers, Jess Gowing and Josh Gereis, are spending the day with other first-year teachers and CE staff, in a planning and information day. Yesterday saw our new teachers commissioned at the Cathedral (I attended as well). They also had a day of professional learning. Today is a retreat day. Josh and Jess are two very good teachers, and the days will be of great benefit. Investing in our early-career teachers is a commendable and important initiative from the archdiocese.

Remembrance Day

Today, the school gathered together in the hall to mark Remembrance Day, and honour those who have lost their lives in all wars. Our prayer service was planned and led by Maddie Greenwood, our Youth Minister, as well as our Year 5 teachers and students. We also had a very special visitor, Group Captain Jason Baldock (father of Eliana and Nathan), who gave the Commemorative Address. My thanks to our wonderful students and staff members for their organisation, and all staff for their support.

Planning Day

On Monday, the school’s Leadership Team is meeting for the day, to plan our Strategic Plan for the next 3 years, and to also plan our Annual Improvement Plan for 2023, which in itself is a breakdown of the Strategic Plan. Joining the 2022 Leadership Team will be Veronica Hall, our 2023 REC, and Dominic Braybon, from Catholic Education. Typically, schools are asked to pick 3 main goals around learning and wellbeing. Strategies and metrics are also discussed. The final version of the SP & AIP will be published on the school’s website before the end of the year.

Semester 2 Reports & Parent/Teacher Interviews

The Catholic Education Office has taken the step this Semester of removing the comment boxes from the Semester 2 reports. CE have asked all schools to include this text, from the office, in a letter or newsletter to parents:

‘Catholic Education Canberra and Goulburn (CECG) has communicated to schools informing them that general comments will not be required on the Semester 2, 2022 reports. This is in line with other educational jurisdictions and systems. Given teacher workload at present, including staffing pressures across the profession, CECG’s position is to prioritise parent/teacher conferences occurring during Term 4. These meetings provide an opportunity to discuss your child’s progress, their strengths, challenges, and future areas of focus. A Semester Report will be sent home as in previous semesters providing A-E grading and attendance information’.

In summary, this means that a report will be sent home to parents, with a grade for all subject areas. General comments will not be included. In lieu of comments, Sts Peter and Paul will hold parent/teacher interviews in Week 8 of this term. A link will be sent home to parents in the coming weeks, which will allow parents to book a meeting with their child’s or children’s teacher/s.

Class Lists – 2023

The students have submitted their requests for ‘Friendship Four’ and the teachers are in the process of compiling the class lists for 2023. Multiple factors are taken into account, including of course the friendship choices of the students. The school can only guarantee one friend for the students’ lists. Working dynamics, even split of gender and ability, and teacher knowledge, all need to be factored into the final lists. If any parent has a particular reason why their child should not be in the same class as another child, please email me directly, if you haven’t already done so. Teacher requests cannot be entertained. The final decision regarding class and teacher placements rests with me.

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'

Thirty-Third Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year C Gospel Reflection

This week marks the final week of Ordinary Time in the Church’s liturgical calendar and draws us almost to the end of our journey through the gospel of Luke. Next week’s reading of the crucifixion concludes the Year of Luke. It is in this context that we need to read today’s gospel passage. Jesus and his disciples are gathered around the Temple in Jerusalem in the final days before he is to be put to death. The end is imminent and Jesus takes the opportunity to reassure the disciples that, although they are about to experience a period of distress, betrayal and persecution that will stretch well into the future, ultimately, God’s love and mercy will triumph – not only in their own lives but also in the world.

The language of passages like today’s gospel can be off-putting at times and can also be seized upon by those who would interpret scripture literally. The graphic descriptions certainly lend themselves to predictions of gloom and doom. However, we must also remember that the gospel was written some 50 or more years after the death of Jesus. At the time of writing, many of these things had already come to pass. The message for the community who were suffering through these very experiences is that they should not despair because all of this was anticipated by Jesus and that ultimately the reign of God will come about and the effort and distress that they have endured will be vindicated.

Unfortunately, the lectionary has the passage concluding at verse 19; the complete passage continues on for another 17 verses and so we don’t get the full effect of Jesus’ speech. In the latter portion, Jesus assures the disciples that the kingdom will surely come to pass. It is a promise that we affirm every time we say the Creed.

(Reflection by Greg Sunter)

Remembrance Day Liturgy 11/11

A big thank you to Year 5, and their teachers Fron Garrett, Katie McGregor and Gayle Hunt for the time and effort they put into preparing a very reverent and moving liturgy in honour of Remembrance Day.

Have a blessed week,

Stephanie Burns

Religious Education Coordinator

HAPPY BIRTHDAY

to those students who are celebrating their birthday this week

William F

Max E

Chimi P

Palden W

Irena J

Awards will pressented at our Assembly on Thursday, 17 November at 2.15 in the hall. 

Principal's Award: Sadie W, KM; Indie G, 3/4M

Last Book Club for the year

Issue 8 is available now. Orders close 30th November and then it will take a week for orders to be delivered to our school. Thank you for your support with assisting our school raise money to purchase new books for the Library!  Remember to order via the LOOP app.  

THE CANTEEN IS CASHLESS FOR ALL LUNCH ORDERS

Families are required to place ALL lunch orders via Qkr! before 8.45am

Please purchase over-the-counter sale items (snacks & treats) for your child in a lunch order. 

Over-the-counter sales at lunch time are back for ice creams only.

Purchase a “daily counter sales voucher” via Qkr! for your child to go to the canteen to collect an ice cream at lunchtime.

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 TERM 4?

 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

or click on the link below to slot a time in.

Term 4 canteen roster

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

https://stpandp.schoolzineplus.com/term4roster

All volunteers must have a WWVP card.

Qkr! TIP

Is your child sick and not going to school, and you have placed a lunch order on Qkr!?

 You have till 8.45am that morning to cancel the lunch order - instructions on how to cancel lunch orders are below.

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.

NEW TO THE SCHOOL? PURCHASE A STARTER PACK ON QKR!

Step 1: Download the app Qkr!

Step 2: Register - follow the steps

Step 3: Find our school - Sts Peter & Paul Primary School

Step 4: Register your child/ren - select “new enrolments”

Step 5: Purchase a starter pack for pick up at the front office between school hours.

Orders can be placed via Qkr! Order on a Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday or Friday and the item/s will be delivered to your child’s classroom.

Orders need to be placed before 8.45am.

Please see SZapp for the Summer Uniform price list.

It is usual practice for most schools to offer second-hand clothing at the uniform shop to families at a discounted price. Quality second-hand clothing can only be purchased during uniform hours.  We do understand that this may not be convenient for some families so please feel free to send me an email if you are unable to get to the uniform shop during it's hours and I will do my best to attend your needs.

 The uniform shop is limited with space, so as a guide, clothes should only be donated if washed and in perfect resalable order.

The uniform shop is asking for NO MORE donations of white sports tops please.

Please give any used second-hand uniform to Mrs R in the canteen, Thank you.

Lauretta Raccosta

Uniform Shop

Lauretta.raccosta@cg.catholic.edu.au

This week was a little quieter in the kitchen and garden due to the fun day at the pool. However, Year 1 still managed to do an amazing job in the garden.They weeded, watered and planted tomatoes, zucchinis and cucumbers. Now we look forward to watching them grow and taking care of them. 

Eventually we will cook with them in the kitchen and maybe even sell them to our community. 

For more information email mrs Katie Birch Katherine.birch@cg.catholic.edu.au. 

The Garden Club

CHOCOLATE OR APRICOT COCONUT BALLS

Ingredients

2 cups desiccated coconut

1 pkt arrowroot biscuits, crushed

395 g tin condensed milk

Plus

2 Tbs cocoa

or

1 cup chopped dried apricots

Method

Line a large tray with baking paper and set aside.

Pour the coconut onto a large plate and set aside.

Place the remaining ingredients in a bowl and mix together well.

Roll mixture into bite sized balls, then roll each in the coconut.

Place balls on the prepared tray and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes before serving.

Store in an airtight container in the fridge.

The recipes in the newsletter are from the Sts P & P 50th Anniversary Cookbook. The recipes come from either our wonderful cooking guru, Mrs Moore, or were donated by members of our community. This yummy recipe was donated by our fab Canteen Manager, Mrs R.

Books are now at the bargain price of $10 (and you will receive a bonus tea towel), payable on Qkr!. Books will be sent home with your child once payment has been receipted.