Dear Parents and Carers

With only two weeks to go, there is still a great deal happening and a great deal in store for the students. This week, teachers have been holding Semester 2 Parent/Teacher Interviews and discussing with parents their children’s achievements and learning needs. I would like to thank all parents for their participation, all teachers for their commitment and Anna Williams for coordinating and organising the interviews. The interviews themselves have taken place within the context of the Semester 2 reports, which will be published on Compass to parents on Monday of Week 10 (December 12). On the same day, 2023 class lists will be sent home. Class lists are now nearing being finalized, and the school is unable to take any further parent requests, regarding student placements. I thank parents for their input.

Choir

Last Tuesday, the school was priviledged to hear our choir perform a number of songs for us.

The choir sang beautifully and the school was captivated. Special mention must go to Ciara F who played the guitar for one of the songs and sang a solo. A very big thank you for Alissa Pearson for her hard work and for providing the children with this wonderful opportunity.

Year 1 Zoo Excursion

Yesterday, our Year 1 students went on an excursion to the National Zoo and Aquarium. It was a wonderful day, and the students had a great deal of fun. With the weather being warmer, it added to the enjoyment of the day. My thanks to our Year 1 teachers for organising the excursion.

Volunteers Afternoon Tea

Today, our annual ‘thank you’ for our wonderful canteen volunteers took place at Home Ground. My thanks to Lauretta for coordinating the afternoon tea, and a very big vote of thanks from me to all of our volunteers, for their great work and help over the course of the year. With our first full year of face-to-face teaching since 2019, it has been essential to have our helpers assist with the school getting back into the rhythm of normal operations, where things like the canteen is concerned. Thank you.

Year 5 Camp

Next week, our Year 5 students go on camp, from Wednesday – Friday, at Cooba, near Cooma. It will be a great camp and much fun, and a good way for the Year 5s to finish the year. I will be attending Wednesday and Wednesday night, with Anna Williams joining our campers for Thursday and the remainder of the camp. Anna and Stephanie Burns will lead the school in my absence.

Swimming Program

Next week, our Year 1s and 2s begin a two-week swimming program. Again, aside from the skills that the children will learn, it will be a fun way for the children to finish the term. My thanks to our Year 1 and 2 teachers, and Fron Garrett-Rumba, for coordinating the program.

Christmas Picnic

A reminder that the Christmas Picnic, which will feature the appearance of Santa, is taking place on Wednesday December 14^th, from 5.30 – 7.30, on the school grounds. BYO food and drink. I hope to see you there.

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”  

Vinnies Christmas Appeal 2022 

St Vincent de Paul is committed to making Christmas a time to renew hope. They are dedicated to providing shelter, food, clothing, financial support, friendship and care for tens of thousands of people in the Canberra/Goulburn region. 

This year, as with previous years, students at Sts Peter and Paul are invited to donate to the St Vincent de Paul Christmas Appeal.  These items will be combined by members of our local Vinnies chapter to fill hampers for families in the Canberra region.    

Each class has been allocated a small list of suggested items to donate in the table below (please select from the list and donate what you can).  

These will be placed in near the Christmas Tree in our school foyer. 

All donations will be presented to a St Vincent de Paul representative at Wednesday morning assembly in Week 10 (14th December).

SRC LED CHRISTMAS DRESS UP DAY - BONUS DONATION : This year as a special SRC (Student Representative Council) led initiative, we will have a bonus donation day. On Wednesday 14th December, Students are invited to bring in a small gift for a child or family to donate to St Vincent de Paul (unwrapped to aid in hamper creation for the team) Students may dress up in Christmas-themed clothes on this day. Thank you for your generous support of St Vincent de Paul.

Please send in all food items by Tuesday 13/12/22. 

Second Sunday of Advent, Year A Gospel Reflection 

When John the Baptist performed baptism it was for the forgiveness of sin. The baptism he gave was a mark of the desire to enter into a new life of right action. It was not a baptism of initiation into community that is the case today. John had two key words that he is recorded as preaching: repent and prepare. His call for repentance was a call to turn away from sin; a call to have a change of heart; a call to turn one’s life around and make a fresh start. His call for preparation is in the long line of prophets that includes the great prophet Isaiah from whom we take today’s first reading. All of the prophets urged the people towards hope in the future. Isaiah and others spoke specifically of a person – a Messiah – who would bring that hope to reality. But the tradition demanded a readiness for the Messiah and that was the call to preparation that John the Baptist echoed at the beginning of the public life of Jesus. 

John’s taunting of the Pharisees and Sadducees is an indication of this need for preparation and readiness. He accuses them of being too confident of their own rightness. He demands proof from them of their honest repentance: ‘but if you are repentant, produce the appropriate fruit’. Rather, he suspects that they think that salvation is assured for them by virtue of being a Jew; a son of Abraham. He warns them that an axe hangs poised to cut down any part of the Jewish tradition that is failing to produce good fruit. This is a theme that is picked up later by Jesus himself; you can’t be complacent about your own position, you have to welcome the new truth revealed by Jesus and give yourself wholeheartedly to God. 

(Reflection by Greg Sunter) 

2022 Graduation Mass and Candle Ceremony 

On Monday 12th December at 12:00pm we will be celebrating the Graduation of the class of 2022 with a Mass in our school hall. We will also be holding the traditional candle ceremony, where Year 6 Leadership in the Sts Peter and Paul Community will pass from the current Year 6 students, onto our upcoming leaders for 2023.  

All families of Year 5 and 6 students are invited to join us for this very special occasion.  

Have a blessed week,  

Stephanie Burns 

Religious Education Coordinator 

The wonderful Mr Marsham will be leaving Sts Peter and Paul at the end of this year, after many years of faithful (and super-handy) service to our school community.

At the morning assembly on the last day of school (15^th December), the children will be singing a special song to Mr Marsham to farewell him and honour the time he has given to Sts Peter and Paul. Parents are invited to join us for this special occasion at morning assembly at 9:00am. 

We will also invite the children (and staff!) to dress-up in honour of Mr Marsham (for example, wear something hi-vis ) if they would like to. 

SHHHH It's a surprise, please don't mention anything to Mr Marsham! 

A big congratulations to Zoe T (6M) who was presented with a 'Prize Award' at last night's Australian Maths Trust's Awards Ceremony for her outstanding results in the Australian Maths Competition last term. 

Congratulations Zoe, we are so proud of you!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY

to those students who are celebrating their birthday next week

Emily G

Poppy de S

Cameron de J

Ana Q

Cameron B

LOST PROPERTY

There are a lot of items at lost property!

Please send your child down to have a look.

Anything left at the end of the year will be donated.

 Lost Property clothing rack is situated in front of the canteen. Please ensure all uniform is clearly labelled with your child’s name.

Lunch boxes/containers – We ask that all families check their child’s lunch boxes/containers to ensure they have their first and last name easily identifiable. This allows any lost containers to be returned if they are forgotten at lunch time. Unnamed containers are disposed of.

BORROWING HAS FINISHED FOR THE YEAR! 

Thank you to all families who have been busy looking for overdue Library books. We still have a number of Library books that need to be returned as soon as possible so that stocktaking can begin. If you have lost Library books there is a $10 lost book fee that can be made via QKR! though it is much easier if the books are returned. 

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

Keep reading!

Mrs Basedow

An exciting week in the kitchen and garden, with lots of smiles in both.

Our Year 5 and 6 students continued to learn about their last food group – the Meat and Alternatives Group. They found out how eggs can be wonderfully versatile in the kitchen. Homemade potato cakes were on the menu. They looked awesome and tasted even better. They were much healthier than the one that you can buy from a fast food restaurant. The students also learnt that if you don’t want to eat meat or you can’t, there are alternatives.

In the garden we welcomed a new fruit tree – a Feijoa or pineapple guava. It settled in nicely next to the two lemon trees. Fingers crossed we will have lots of fruit in a few years to enjoy in our kitchen and sell at our stall. Our Garden Club crew also did a fabulous job with cleaning up the garden so our plants can grow. As you can see - wow!

For more information please email Mrs Katie Birch katherine.birch@cg.catholic.edu.au

Until next time!

The Garden Club

RICE PAPER ROLLS

Ingredients

150 g vermicelli noodles

Bunch coriander, soaked and chopped

Bunch mint leaves, rinsed and chopped

2 carrots, peeled and grated

200 g cabbage, shredded

5 spring onions, topped, tailed and cut lengthways

1 pkt rice paper roll wrappers

Method

Place noodles in a bowl. Cover with warm water, soak 10 minutes then drain.

Meanwhile bring a saucepan of water to boil, add the soaked noodles and cook for 2 minutes. Drain and rinse well with cold water. Tip noodles onto a clean tea towel, pat dry and place in a bowl.

Prepare all other ingredients, add to the noodles and mix to combine.

Lay a clean, damp tea towel on the bench or table.

Fill a large bowl with warm water and place a wrapper in the water for 30 seconds.

Lift out of water and onto the prepared tea towel. Spoon a tablespoon of mixture onto the middle of the wrap, roll twice then fold ends in and continue rolling to form a roll.

Place on serving tray with damp clean tea towel over.

Repeat with remaining wrappers. Serve rolls with soy sauce or peanut sauce.

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.

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. 

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 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.

 END OF YEAR PROCEDURES

As the year draws to a close, we will be reducing our stock in the canteen to prepare for our fridges and freezers to defrost during the school break.

Lunch orders will be available until Thursday 15 December.  If your child orders a product that becomes unavailable, we will substitute the item with something to the same value or like.

Canteen is closed the first Wednesday of Term 1 for set up.   It will reopen again on Thursday 2 February 2023.

 If you would like to help out in the canteen in 2023 please email me your details

Thank you, Lauretta Raccosta, Canteen 

Lauretta.Raccosta@cg.catholic.edu.au

Mrs R would like to take this opportunity to thank all the canteen volunteers that have helped her out this year.  

This afternoon, we had an afternoon tea for our wonderful volunteers to show them how much we appreciate them. 

Mrs R knows your time is very precious, and your help is always appreciated!

Thank you

We love our volunteers

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 School Uniform is available via Qkr!
Tuesdays - Fridays, orders will be delivered to your child’s classroom. Orders need to be placed before 8.45 am. 

The Uniform shop is stocked up with second hand uniform, please visit on a Tuesday morning to purchase second hand uniform.

The uniform shop is limited with space, so if you wish to donate pre-loved items, PLEASE ONLY DONATE CLOTHES

that are washed and in perfect resalable order.

Thank you

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

STARTING SCHOOL IN 2023?

PURCHASE A STARTER PACK ON QKR! NOW

Step 1: Download the Qkr! app

Step 2: Register - follow the steps

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

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

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

Beat the crazy rush next year and get in now before this year is through to purchase any school uniform needed for 2023! 

Lauretta Raccosta

Uniform Shop

Lauretta.raccosta@cg.catholic.edu.au

UNIFORM SHOP EXTENDED OPENING HOURS FOR 2023

WEDNESDAY 25 JANUARY 2023

9AM – 12AM  

School holiday opening hours via appointment only

https://stpandp.schoolzineplus.com/uniformshop2023

MONDAY 30 JANUARY 2023

9AM – 12PM  

School holiday opening hours via appointment only

https://stpandp.schoolzineplus.com/uniformshop2023

 TUESDAY 31 JANUARY 2023

8.30AM – 9.30AM

Usual uniform shop hours

  However, beat the crazy rush next year and get in before this year is through to purchase any school uniform needed!

 Uniform can still be purchased via Qkr! and delivered to your child till the end of the year!