Dear Parents and Carers

Last week, I attended the Principals’ Retreat in Bowral. Over the three days, we spent some time looking at Catholic Education system directions and initiatives, including that of the Science of Learning and Reading. We also spent some significant time thinking about and reflecting upon Christian anthropology, and what that means for us, as leaders in a Catholic school. My thanks to Anna Williams, who led the school so beautifully in my absence.

NAPLAN

This week, our students in Years 3 and 5 will sit the NAPLAN tests (and Year 7 and 9 students, as well, in high schools and colleges). The students have had opportunities to prepare and practise, and families have been informed of the process. My thanks to our Years 3 & 5 teachers, for their great support, and to Anna Williams and Paul Jenkins, for organising and implementing the process. The tests are an important snapshot of the students’ learning, as a whole cohort, and in that sense, it is particularly useful for identifying learning trends and areas which the whole may need to pay particular attention. It is also useful for identifying learning trends over a period of time, and progress that has been made. It is important to remember, for any individual student, that it is one test on one day, and not necessarily indicative of a particular students’ learning or progress. I wish all of our students the very best for the tests.

Year 6 Leadership Day

Our excellent Year 6 students have recently returned from camp, and this Friday, they are taking up the first of their Leadership Days. This is taking place at BFirm and provides many opportunities for the students to develop their teamwork, resilience and grit. Our leaders develop these skills and attitudes in an atmosphere of fun and support. My thanks to Luke Gubler and Katie McGregor for their hard work, organization and support.

https://bfirm.com.au/

2024 Enrolments

Although still relatively early in the year, we will be shortly entering the enrolment period, and opportunities will exist for parents and prospective students (from Kindergarten to Year 6) to visit the school for tours, see classes in action, and come to an information night. I look forward to talking with parents about the opportunities that exist for all of our students, boys and girls, from grades K – 6.

Have a wonderful week with your families.

Best wishes

Cameron Johns

Principal

Welcome to Sabbath Week. 

……and on the seventh day God finished the work that he had done,

 and he rested on the seventh day from all the work that he had done.

Genesis 2:2

I hope that you can all take some time this week to spend with your families.

Sacrament of First Reconciliation

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

Reconciliation Retreat 

Students in Year 3 and any other students enrolled in the Sacrament of First Reconciliation will be attending a Retreat Day on Friday 24th March at Holy Trinity School. Please complete the online Consent Form via Compass. Thank you to the families who have already completed the form. Please email veronica.hall@cg.catholic.edu.au if you have any questions.

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 Laxmi:

Laxmi lives with her mother and siblings in Jajarkot, one of the least developed districts in the remote Karnali province, with almost half of the population living below the poverty line.

Tragedy struck when Laxmi was 10-years-old. Her father, who worked hard to pay for his children’s education, passed away. Laxmi was devastated.

Before her father’s passing, Laxmi joined a child's club at her school that was run with the support of Caritas Nepal, through the Nepal Livelihoods and Resilience Program. Child's clubs support students to develop their speaking, writing and leadership skills through extracurricular activities. 

Thanks to the support of her club, Laxmi was encouraged to resume her education. She became an active member of her child's club, where she developed the skills and confidence to become a leader, advocating for clean water taps at her school. 

Sunday Gospel: John 9:1-41, Fourth Sunday of Lent  – Year A

The blind man went off and washed himself and came away with his sight restored.

Our Lord, by the power of his word alone, could have healed the dis-ease of this man, blind since birth. Yet, he made a paste with spittle and put it over the eyes of the blind man. Just as God would have moistened the dust of the earth to shape the first human being, for the blind man, it was as though he had been created anew.

God rarely works by telepathy but has a preferred way of working through the elements of creation, especially in the Sacraments. So, with the Anointing of the Sick, pressing olive oil onto the forehead and hands of the sick or dying symbolises the Holy Spirit entering the very pores of the sick person, relieving that person of undue anxiety and giving strength for the next stage of life.

This sacrament is a formal ritual of healing by the Church. But there are a million informal ways, such as putting one’s arm around someone who is lonely or unwell, which are sacramental to the world.

We could pause for a moment that we might go into the world like the man healed by Jesus, eyes wide open to see where we might exercise the healing power of the Lord of the Gospel (adapted from Michael Tate).

Blessings for the week ahead,

Veronica Hall

Religious Education Coordinator

HAPPY BIRTHDAY

to those students who are celebrating their birthday this week

Grace R

Leo A

Henry D

Hugh D

Levi G

Awards will be presented at the assembly on Thursday 23 March 2023 at 2.15 in the school hall.

Principal's Award: Isla B, 4W

Learning Support Awards: 

(please note that LS awards are given to any child in the school that the Classroom Support Assistants have noticed doing something wonderful): 

Lucas S, 6W; Abigail J, 1M; Kade C, 3W; George W, 3W

Earth Hour Schools Day is on Friday 24 March.

Here at Sts Peter and Paul, we will be joining hundreds of schools in Australia and thousands around the world, to switch off our lights for an hour.

To support this school learning, we invite you to explore these free Learning at Home ideas from Cool Australia.

https://www.coolaustralia.org/learning-at-home/

You might like to use the flyer below to have a home conversation about reducing lunchbox waste too.

CALLING ALL YEAR 6 STUDENTS AND FAMILIES

LET'S HAVE AN END OF TERM CATCH UP

AFTER SCHOOL

WEDNESDAY 5 APRIL

EDDISON PARK

PLEASE BRING A PLATE OF FOOD TO SHARE

Chief Minister’s Reading Challenge 

We are officially underway with the ACT Chief Minister’s Reading Challenge. I am pleased to say that ALL children have already read at least one book (in class or at home) to add to their record! K-2 are keeping a whole class recording chart, Years 3-6 have an individual online recording sheet via the Library Google Classroom and Google Docs.

Congratulations to Year 1 White who have already completed their class challenge of reading 30 books! I’m so impressed- especially for you taking part in the Australian Reading Hour last Week! A special congratulations to Avanthika J in Year 6 who is the first student in the school to complete the individual challenge! Thank you for setting a wonderful example to our school community! 

For Parents and Carers

Tips for reading with all children:

• visit the local library and enjoy spending time choosing new books and reading together, including e-books and audio books
• give books or book vouchers as presents
• ensure that your children see you reading, such as the newspaper, a cookbook, novel, short stories, manuals, or magazines
• identify online reading, such as online news, reviews, communications and e-books
• go to libraries or bookshops when authors are visiting - children and teenagers love meeting their favourite writers
• make sure your home is a reading home - with books and quiet, comfortable spaces to read
• encourage your children to read in any of the languages your family uses
• identify or schedule time for reading, such as before bed or between getting ready for school and leaving
• read books together before watching the film and then share thoughts about the two portrayals of the story.

Tips for reading with older children:

• encourage children to keep a book with them so they can read on journeys or in spare moments – this could include e-books
• support your child to search for books and read book reviews in interest areas, such as hobbies, sports, genres, favourite authors and biographies
• encourage children to join you as you read a recipe for you as you cook, or share a movie summary or review
• read books you can talk about together - ensure the talk is light-hearted, not testing or over-questioning
• encourage your children to swap books with their friends.

Tips for reading with younger children:

• read the books together with funny voices, or take turns to read different characters
• talk about your favourite parts of the books and which authors you like the most
• try reading in different locations like the backyard, coffee shop, or lounge room floor
• allow your child to choose how to read the book. They may like to do echo reading with you (parent reads and the child echoes back), shared reading with you (taking turns to read) or independent reading (read to you or to themselves).

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). 

Keep reading! Mrs Basedow

Sts Peter and Paul Swimming Carnival

Thank you once again for an amazing Swimming Carnival! Please keep an eye out for when we will be presenting students with ribbons and anncouncing Age Champions.

Congratulations to IRAGA, who came away with the house win on the day.

South/Weston Region Swimming Carnival Wednesday 5th April at the Stromlo Leisure Centre, Corner of Uriarra Road and, Dave McInnes Rd, Stromlo.

If your child is selected to represent our school at the regional carnival, they will receive information in relation to this on Thursday this week (tomorrow). Please be aware that there will be a quick turnaround for bringing these notes back (Wednesday 28th March) as nominations need to be submitted to the convening school for organisational purposes. Thank you in advance for your assistance with this.

Saints Peter and Paul Cross Country Carnival Friday March 31st at Eddison Park, Woden

This year our Cross Country Carnival is being held at Eddison Park. If you would like to help out on the day, and have a current Working with Vulnerable People Card, please email  Sarah Walsh (see email below) with an image of the front and back of your valid WWVP card. 

As with the swimming carnival, we will also be welcoming any parents/caregivers/other family members as spectators.

If you think your child may qualify for the South/Weston Region Cross Country Carnival, please have a look at the information below.

South/Weston Region Cross Country Carnival Tuesday 6th June at Stromlo Forest Park, Opperman Avenue, Stromlo.

If your child is selected to represent our school at the regional carnival, they will receive information in relation to this soon after our school carnival. 

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!

Hello again. Another week has flown by and we have had a fabulous time in the kitchen and garden.

Last week saw Kinder having their first lesson in the kitchen, learning about the Grains group and how to behave in a new classroom. They have started to learn how to wash dishes, clean up and take turns, all very important life skills. They made a jam sandwich as their Go Food with the yummy jam (the one we won a prize for at the Canberra Show).

Our garden is alive and kicking. We have lots happening. Our wonderful garden crew met on Friday at lunch time and watered and weeded. They also planted some spinach seeds and harvested tomatoes and potatoes. We even tried some of  the produce to see how it tasted.

If you would like mor information on what we do in the kitchen garden program or would like to you child to come along please email Mrs Katie Birch katherine.birch@cg.catholic.edu.au

The Garden Club

PUMPKIN BREAD

Ingredients

1/2 medium butternut pumpkin

3 cups plain flour

3 cups castor sugar

2 tspn bicarbonate soda

1 tspn baking powder and salt

2 tspn cinnamon and nutmeg

1/2 tsp allspice and ground ginger

1 cup vegetable oil

4 eggs

1/4 cup water

1/2 cup chocolate chips (optional)

Method

Preheat oven to 170 degrees and grease two small loaf pans and set them aside.

Place pumpkin with the skin on in a medium saucepan, add 1 & 1/2 cups water and bring to the boil. Continue to boil until pumpkin is cooked through, remove from water, skin should peel off easily.

Puree the cooked pumpkin with a stick blender or masher and drain any excess water through a colander, then set aside to cool.

Place all of the dry ingredients in a large bowl and mix together. Make a well in the centre and pour in the oil, eggs and water, stir to combine. finally stir in the pureed pumpkin and chocolate chips (if using) until well combined.

Pour into the prepared pans and bake for 60-80 minutes or until cooked through.

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.

 CANTEEN VOLUNTEER ROSTER

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.

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. 

Please visit the schools website for the Uniform price list.

Winter is almost here!  Get in early and beat the rush. 

Winter School Uniform now available on Qkr!

Lauretta Raccosta

Uniform Shop

Lauretta.raccosta@cg.catholic.edu.au

NETBALL   NETBALL   NETBALL

Previous netball experience is not necessary, and all children are welcome to play!

Kindy and Year 1

NSG Net is an introductory skills program for all children aged between 5 – 7-years (Kindy and Year 1). Netball skills are taught through fun activities and modified netball games. Registration is directly via the SCNA PlayHQ page here: https://www.playhq.com/netball-australia/register/50cc44

Years 2, 3 and 4

NSG Set is a 13-week program for children aged 7 to 9 years (Years 2 and 3) with modified rules. Games are not scored and a ladder is not kept.

NSG GO is a 13-week program for children aged 9 and 10 (Year 4). This program plays full-rules netball and provides a transition year to the Junior competition. Games are scored, but a ladder is not kept.

Years 5 and 6

Juniors is a 10-week competition for children aged 11 and 12 years, plus 3 rounds of finals for teams that qualify. The competition is split into two divisions depending on demand.

Matches are played on Saturday mornings beginning on Sat 29 April 2023 (end of week 1 of Term 2).

There will be NO games on the following dates: 10 and 24 June; 1, 8 and 15 July.

Games are played at the SCNA courts, Makin Street, Deakin. Game times and fees (plus a small processing fee) are:

* The division the team is entered into will depend on the number of SCNA rep players in each SPP team

Register your child’s interest in playing via the Google doc by Friday 10 March:

Registration will open once it has been determined there are sufficient numbers to enter a team.

SCNA representative players

If your child is playing representative netball for SCNA, please get in touch as soon as possible to arrange their SPP registration.

Players must be registered with a club to represent SCNA.

Coaches needed!

Coaches are needed for teams for years 2, 3, and 6. Previous coaching experience is not necessary.

All coaches are required to obtain a Working with Vulnerable People (WWVP) card.

 Lucy Webb, Netball Coordinator (stpandpnetball@gmail.com)

NETBALL PLAYER POLICY

At Saints Peter and Paul we aim to support all levels of netball experience and we recognise that players develop at different rates. Saints Peter and Paul supports all players regardless of skill level and will endeavour to match them to the most suited team. We are guided by Netball Australia’s Junior Netball Policy.

Winter season – regular rounds

1. All players are required to attend all training sessions and must contact the team coach if they are unwell and cannot make it to training. It is very hard to include all players on the court at game time if they consistently miss training.
2. All players in NetSetGo (Set) (Years 2-3), NetSetGo(Go) (Year 4) will receive equal court time.
3. In NetSetGo(Set) (Years 2 – 3) all players will be rotated between all court positions throughout the regular season.
4. Players in Junior Division 1-3 (Years 5 & 6) will get equal court time if they show commitment to training and their team spirit.
5. Players in NetSetGo (Year 4) and Juniors Division 1-3 (Years 5 & 6) should be prepared to play any position asked of them. However, it is recognised that area specialisation will start to occur as player skill and experience grows. It is recognised that a coach may guide a player to a position they see the player has strength in.
6. All players who trial for the SCNA representative program will be included in a Division 1 or 2 team of their age group where appropriate.

Winter season- final rounds

1. All Junior Division 1 – 3 (Years 5 & 6) players who make the final rounds (semi, preliminary and grand final) will be played at the discretion of the coach. All players can expect a minimum of two quarters of court time per game if they have shown commitment to training and their team spirit.

Summer season

1. As the summer season is not a serious competition, all players are expected to get equal court time and equal opportunities to play all positions.