Dear Parents and Carers

On the weekend, our students in Year 3 who are to receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation this term were presented to the parish at one of our weekend Masses. I attended Sunday’s 9.30am Mass, which was celebrated by Bishop Pat Power. Our children were joined by the students from Holy Trinity, Curtin, as well as children from the Parish School of Religion. My thanks to Veronica Hall, our wonderful REC, and our excellent Year 3 teachers, Paul Jenkins and Sarah Walsh.

Year 5 Camp

Our Year 5 students have returned from a wonderful camp at Berry, run by NSW Sports and Recreation. The students had a very good time, as the photos on Facebook attest, and took part in a number of activities, including archery and canoeing. My thanks to the students and to the staff who accompanied them: Fron Garrett-Rumba, Anna Williams, Josh Gereis and Sarah Walsh.

Swimming Carnival

Today is our annual Swimming Carnival, our first official carnival since 2021, as COVID denied us the opportunity to hold the event. The swimming carnival is for students in Grades 2 – 6. Like events such as the camp mentioned above, events like the swimming carnival afford our students a different way of belonging and contributing to the school. They are also good fun, and while the weather is still warm, it is a great time of year to hold them. My thanks to Sarah Walsh and Luke Gubler for their outstanding organization and preparation of the carnival.

Parent Teacher Interviews

This week, over Monday, Tuesday and today, we have held our Term 1 parent/teacher interviews. As we are now into the second half of Term 1, the class routines are well and truly established, and the school is well placed to discuss children’s learning progress and learning habits. If you have not booked a time to meet with your child’s teacher, I encourage you to try to make a time to meet, by emailing your child’s teacher directly.

School Wide Positive Behaviour

This week, Anna Williams, our excellent Assistant Principal, is leading the school through the beginning stages of a Schoolwide Positive Behaviour Plan. SWPB, as they are known, are comprised of a small team made of staff, students and parents and attempt to craft for the school a set of rules and practices that foster what the name implies: positive behaviours, throughout the school. Our wonderful school will further refine and enhance the excellent practices in place and continue to embed the very positive behaviours already existing. My thanks to Anna for leading us in this important work.

NAPLAN

Next week, over 3 days, our students in Years 3 & 5 are participating in the nationwide testing known as NAPLAN. Normally held early Term 2, the earlier timeframe means that schools will receive the data earlier, and thus be able to more effectively use it to inform teaching practice. My thanks to our Years 3 & 5 teachers, and to Anna Williams, for coordinating NAPLAN for our school.

Catholic Leaders’ Retreat

This week, from Wednesday to Friday, I am participating in the annual Catholic Leaders’ Retreat, held each year in Bowral, NSW. Wednesday is a system day, where all 56 principals gather together, along with senior personnel from Catholic Education, and Thursday and Friday are the retreat itself. During my absence, the school will be very capably led by our Assistant Principal, Anna Williams.

Have a wonderful week with your children and enjoy the long weekend.

Best wishes

Cameron Johns

Principal

Sacrament of First Reconciliation Presentation Masses 

Please pray for the students and their families as they prepare to receive the Sacrament of First Reconciliation. 

Project Compassion

Project Compassion runs during the season of Lent. Students are invited to donate to Caritas through Project Compassion. All classrooms have Project Compassion boxes in their classrooms. Classes are raising money to buy virtual chickens. For every $5 raised a chicken will be added to their farm. All money raised will go to Caritas. Thank you for your support. 

How does Caritas help? Let's meet Tereesa:

A young Gamilaroi woman born and raised on Darug land, Tereesa felt disconnected from her culture. At just 16 years old, she had to leave school after falling pregnant with her first child. A single mother struggling with homelessness, Tereesa’s only concern was finding stability for her children.  

“I was homeless. I didn’t have a place to call home…my kids never had a connection to the community,” Tereesa said. 

Seeking a better future for her children, Tereesa joined Baabayn Aboriginal Corporation’s Young Mums and Bubs Group, supported by Caritas Australia. Baabayn helped Tereesa access housing for her family and psychological support.

Through Baabayn, Tereesa was also able to hear stories from Indigenous Elders and reconnect with her culture.  Already an aspiring artist, Tereesa was able to flourish at Baabayn as she learnt Indigenous artwork and symbols.

Sunday Gospel: John 4:5-42, Third Sunday of Lent  – Year A

The water that I shall give will turn into a spring of eternal life.

All people thirst for meaning, but of what does that meaning consist? The people in the desert thirsted for water, but they misunderstood their thirst. The woman of Samaria thirsted. Her conversation with Jesus showed that she thirsted for understanding and insight as well as water. For what do we thirst in this world of such great excess and unmeasured need? Life has not become simpler with all of our advances. We still thirst for more – for the newest, the fastest and the best. How much is enough, and when do we cross the line into ‘too much’?

The gospel readings for the scrutiny Sundays very clearly lay out the choices that are placed before the catechumens and the rest of the believing community as well. This Sunday it is between water that quenches thirst and water that does not. Jesus identifies himself as the source of water that guarantees eternal life. He places before the Samaritan woman a choice that requires a step of profound faith. She knows the thirst-quenching quality of the water from Jacob’s well, but she is not acquainted with the water promised by this stranger who is also an enemy of her people. The choice is not an obvious one. A similar choice is placed before us. We know the demands of our culture and the circumstances of our lives. Are we able to acknowledge the sins of which we are guilty, recognise the grace that is being offered to us, and make the right choice?

HAPPY BIRTHDAY

to those students who are celebrating their birthday this week

Isabel W

Sadie W

Ari A

Zoe K

Jack G

Natalie T

Parents often ask for support around how to help their children manage strong emotions. The self-regulation systems in the brain develop across childhood and are complete by about 23-25 years of age. You can promote this development by regularly connecting with your kids, providing routines and modelling your own self-regulation. It starts with parents as supportive coaches/modellers as the following article discusses….

How to model healthy coping skills

Helping kids learn strategies for handling big emotions

Painful feelings are unavoidable, but how we respond to them is a choice. And showing children how to cope effectively with uncomfortable emotions is one of the most important ways we can support their wellbeing and development.

Healthy coping skills take many forms, including mindfulness, self-compassion, exercise, deep breathing, and positive self-talk. They help us manage our most intense emotions, and they’re also linked to lower levels of impulsivity.

Children pick up behaviour patterns from adults, so one of the best ways to teach your kids good coping skills is to practice them yourself. This can mean taking space after a tense interaction, practicing paced breathing when the train is running late, or having a daily yoga practice. It can be helpful to narrate your behaviour to your kids as you model (“Okay, that phone call made me feel anxious, so I’m going to do some belly breathing and walk around the block to help calm myself down”). Leading by example is also usually more effective than trying to tell kids what to do.

If you struggle with regulating your emotions (like we all do from time to time), you may worry about your ability to model effectively. Start with practicing one or two skills that feel manageable and add on from there. Taking it slow will help you build confidence and internalize the habits you are working on.

Many parents find it hard to prioritize working on their own coping skills. When you’re balancing competing responsibilities, it can feel like there’s just not enough time in the day. You might even feel like setting aside time for your personal development is selfish. But kids pick up on how we treat ourselves, and they are likely to copy our habits, positive or negative. Sometimes, the best way to care for your child is to show up for yourself, too.

You can read the full article here; How to Model Healthy Coping Skills - Child Mind Institute

You can contact the School Counsellor by calling Saints Peter & Paul on Monday & Tuesdays, or via email (shandelle.steere@catholiccare.cg.org.au). Alternatively, if you are considering referring your child to see the school counsellor, you can directly submit a referral via the online submission site: https://catholiccare.force.com/housing/s/school-referral-form.

Tomorrow, March 9th is the AUSTRALIAN READING HOUR. Australian Reading Hour is a national day dedicated to sharing the joys of books, reading and stories. 

We ask Australians to spend one hour on the day reading, sharing and enjoying the stories they love with others!

Lunchtime Library Club will look a little different as the only activity in the Library will be reading books together. Please head to the website for more information https://australiareads.org.au/australian-reading-hour/.

Why do we need Library Bags? 

I often get asked this question by students…. And it is for a few reasons: 1) It keeps books borrowed from the Library separate from other books that may be at home. 2) They are easy to find when it is Library day and 3)... they protect our Library books!

Last week a brand new book, only purchased and added to the Library at the beginning of the year, was found on the playground. As you can see it is completely ruined as it was left outside over a weekend in the rain. Please continue to remind your children that it is very important to care for any books borrowed from the Library. This includes keeping them dry, away from food and to treat them with care so the plastic covers and pages don’t get torn or damaged. 

As always, a massive thank you to all the families who do take care of our wonderful books and encourage Library borrowing! 

Book Club Issue 2

Scholastic book club will be running again this year. Issue 2 brochures will be coming home this week. Orders close WEDNESDAY 22ND March. 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/ 

You are encouraged to download the LOOP app which is an easy way for parents to order book club. Please note orders will take approximately 1 week to be delivered to school after the issue closing date (not when you place the order). 

• Please remember that 15% of all Scholastic Book Club 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!

Swimming Carnival

Thank you so much to everyone who helped make today such a success! Staff, volunteers, parents, sports leaders, students - the day would not have been so good without you all.

The ribbons will be presented soon, stay tuned.

If you ever have any questions about anything related to Sport, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with Luke Gubler (luke.gubler@cg.catholic.edu.au) and Sarah Walsh (sarah.walsh1@cg.catholic.edu.au) and hopefully we will be able to help you out!

CHERRY CRUMBLE SHORTCAKE

Ingredients

150 gr butter, softened

2/3 cup pure icing sugar

1 & 3/4 cups plain flour

1 tsp cinnamon

Pinch salt

1/2 cup walnuts

300 gr frozen cherries 

Method

Preheat oven to 180 degrees and line a slice pan with baking paper overhanging the rim of the tin.

Beat butter and sugar in an electric mixer until lilght and fluffy.

Add flour, cinnamon and salt in a separate bowl and add the butter mixture.

Add walnuts and stir gently until mixture is crumbly.

Reserve 1 cup of the crumble mixture. Press remaining mixture into the base of the prepared pan, top with cherries and scatter remaining crumble mixture on top.

Bake for 35 minutes until golden and cut into squares to serve.

Hello readers

This week Years 1 and 2 had another wonderful cooking experience in the kitchen.

Both years continued to learn about healthy eating and how we can use the foods from the five food groups to keep us healthy. Alas, this was Year 1’s last session this term. They will return in Term 2 for some more lessons.

Our beautiful kinders are about to start their journey…..

In garden club we kept our plants happy by watering and harvesting what has grown since last week. It was a very productive Friday lunch time.

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

The Garden Club

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.

 Ice creams are the only over-the-counter sales at lunch time in Term 1.

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

Lent Special - Fish Fingers

Available very Wednesday and Friday during Lent

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 1?

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 1 canteen roster

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

https://stpandp.schoolzineplus.com/CanteenRosterTerm1 

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.

Special Lunch Day

Wednesday 15 March

  WEDNESDAY 15 March the school will be holding its FIRST special lunch day for the YEAR! 

Children will be able to order sushi roll, drink and a treat for $7.50.

 Orders available on Qkr! Now

 Download the app on your mobile phone to place your order.

 ORDERS CLOSE 9AM FRIDAY 10 MARCH!

PLEASE NOTE:

DUE TO NUMBERS THAT NEED TO BE GIVEN TO MR SUSHI, NO LATE ORDERS WILL BE ACCEPTED.

Gulten Free & Vegetarian options are available.

No other lunch orders will be available 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 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 Uniform price list.

Lauretta Raccosta

Uniform Shop

Lauretta.raccosta@cg.catholic.edu.au

The balloons are back!

On 11 March the Canberra Balloon Spectacular @ Enlighten Festival lifts off.  It runs until 19 March.

Balloons will inflate from 6.15 am and launch around 6.45am each morning from Patrick White Lawns. The balloons are scheduled to fly daily, weather permitting. Daily announcements if balloons will launch and fly are made at 6.15am and published on enlightencanberra.com and via the Enlighten Festival and EventsACT social channels.

There’s a hot breakfast to enjoy as the balloons lift off and drift across the dawn sky. Be sure to check out the balloons throughout the morning with great views around the lake and from the Arboretum.