Dear Parents and Carers.

“When Jesus selected leaders, he ignored every popular idea of his day (and ours) about what kind of person could fit the role. Jesus’ band of disciples started out untrained and without influence – a motely group for world change…He saw in them something no one else did…”

Joyce Rupp, The Cup of our Life

Joyce Rupp’s words provide solace and balm for us all. Whether we are in formal leadership positions or not, we can often carry around external markers of success about how we are travelling. This mentality can creep into our lives as parents and spouses or partners. Jesus reminds us, as we travel through the season of Lent, that we are good enough as we are. Our only ‘job’, as it were, is to be open to being in relationship with Jesus, with God, with the Spirit who moves through our days and our lives and finds us where we least expect it to happen.

NAPLAN

Last week, our students in Years 3 & 5 sat their NAPLAN tests, which is compulsory for all Years 3 & 5 students across Australia, short of those students who have permission to be exempt. The tests are earlier this year in comparison to other years. Normally, NAPLAN tests take place in the second week of Term 2. The earlier tests mean that schools and parents will receive the data earlier in the year, in comparison to other years. For schools, this will enable us to better plan and meet any general areas that need attention, with a significant amount of time left in the teaching year. I am proud of all our Years 3 & 5 students for sitting the tests, and my thanks to our Years 3 & 5 teachers, for their support of our students. I would also like to thank Anna Williams and Paul Jenkins, for their organisation and coordination of the tests.

Harmony Day

Yesterday, like many schools, we celebrated Harmony Day. Harmony Day reminds us of the inherent dignity of all people, whatever their creed, nationality, political views, or any other defining feature of their identity. Harmony Day asks us to respect our own sense of self, while simultaneously going beyond our own borders and finding common ground with others. We celebrated Harmony Day with a liturgy, at 12pm. I would like to thank our Year 1 teachers and students for leading us in our Harmony Day reflections.

Reconciliation Retreat Day

This Friday, our Year 3 students are having their Retreat Day, centered on the Sacrament of Reconciliation. Our students are sharing the day with staff and students from Holy Trinity, Curtin, who are also going through the program. It will be an excellent day for the children. I would like to thank our Year 3 teachers, Sarah Walsh, Gayle Hunt and Paul Jenkins, for their great support and help and our REC, Veronica Hall, for her leadership and organisation.

Cross Country Carnival

A reminder that next Friday, March 31^st, we are holding our annual Cross Country Carnival, at Eddison Park. All grades will be involved. My thanks to Sarah Walsh and Luke Gubler for organising the carnival. Parents are most welcome to attend, and we are always looking for more volunteers. If you are able to volunteer some time, please contact Sarah or Luke via their emails (sarah.walsh@cg.catholic.edu.au and luke.gubler@cg.catholic.edu.au), or via the front office.

Have a wonderful week with your families.

Best wishes

Cameron Johns

Principal

Sacrament of First 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. A wonderful day has been planned for the students. Some of the activities include guided meditation, artwork and we will attend mass.

Important Information:

• Students are to be dropped off at Holy Trinity, Curtin from 8:45am.
• Students are to come to the Holy Trinity school hall. Miss Walsh will be at the front of the school to assist students.
• The retreat commences at 9am.
• Students are to wear comfortable clothes suitable for a day at school.
• Students need to bring lunch, recess and a labelled hat in a small bag.
• Students will walk back to school at 2:15pm. If the weather is inclement, staff and students will catch a bus.

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. 

Sunday Gospel: John 11:1-45 , Fifth Sunday of Lent  – Year A

I am the resurrection and the life.

On this last Sunday in Lent Lazarus is given to us to help us think about the tombs in which we lie hidden and the life to which we are called. The bad spirit seduces most of us into having some form of secretive life. It might be a secret we can’t tell, a sin we can’t confess or a memory we want to bury. At its worst it can be a lifestyle or a pattern of unethical behaviour we have divorced from the rest of our lives. We may even con ourselves into believing that all of this is normal and ‘not so bad’.

These tombs often look similar. They seem small on the surface, but as we get away with our secrets we bury ourselves in them more deeply. We jealously guard the entrance, displacing energy to defend our tombs and we’re ashamed if anyone rolls away the stone and sees the mess inside.

But this Sunday Jesus stands at the entrance of our tombs and calls us out of them. We’re asked to face down the bad spirits that keep us locked in secrecy, to move away from shame, embrace repentance, recognise the price to be paid for being true to what’s best in ourselves and we’re invited to know the light and life of Christ’s healing and forgiveness.

No one can pretend that this journey is easy, but it’s what Lent is all about: the journey from the tomb of our own particular deaths, through penance to the new life of Easter. May this Eucharist allow us to see the Lord stand at our tomb and gently call us by name, ‘Come forth’. And at His word may we be unbound and let go free (adapted from Richard Leonard).

Blessings for the week ahead

Veronica Hall

Religious Education Coordinator

HAPPY BIRTHDAY

to those students who are celebrating their birthday this week

Joel J

Amelia M

Isabella M

Harry R

Oliver B

With enthusiasm and solidarity our Student Task Force worked together this week on a brand new and exciting initiative. This group of children have been empowered to help shape and formulate a way of expressing what it means to be a student of Sts Peter and Paul Primary School.

The children examined our school’s mission statements and identified key components from the statements. They then tossed keywords around to come up with a living, tangible way of expressing what it means to belong, in a supportive learning environment that celebrates success. As partners with teachers the students have designed a quick-call phrase to remind students of their behaviour in a fun and supportive way.

The next stage of this project is to make the ideas come to life.

We would like to thank the following students for their hard-working, can-do attitiutute to help this idea evolve. The children will receive a Certificate of Appreciation at this week’s Awards Assembly.

Thank you, Caomh, Lakshya, Will, Vanessa, Massimo, Ava, Stella and Luca.

The School community council is Eggceptionally Eggcited about Easter and would like to celebrate! There will be an Easter egg guessing competition; each class will have the opportunity to guess how many Easter eggs are in the jar- and one class will win the entire jar full of eggs! 

There will also be a colouring competition- prizes will be awarded for junior and senior students with the most creative entry.

 Keep an eye out for both within the next couple of weeks at school!

Book Club Issue 2 

Scholastic book club will be running again this year. Issue 2 brochures have been sent home. Orders close FRIDAY 24th 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

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

A special congratulations to the following students who have been selected to represent our school at this carnival: Hannah A, Grace B, Emily G, Lachlan R, William S, Kiera S, Ava G, Kai R, Isabel W, Lachlan A, Lucy A, Stella H, Cooper L, William R and Lucas S. We wish you all the best if you have chosen to compete in your races in Week 10.

Thank you to all families who have returned permission notes. If you are yet to bring this back in, please send it at your earliest convenience as we will be submitting the list of students attending on Wednesday 29th March. 

Swimming Carnival 1st, 2nd and 3rd place Ribbon Assemblies

All 8-10 years, 50m and 100m ribbons will be handed out at our morning assembly next Wednesday 29th March. The Junior Age Champions will also be announced at this time.

All 11-12 years, 50m and 100m ribbons will be handed out at our morning assembly next Tuesday 28th March. The 11 years and Senior Age Champions will also be announced at this time.

Saints Peter and Paul Cross Country Carnival Friday March 31st at Eddison Park, Woden (Week 10)

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!

MINI QUICHE LORRAINES

Ingredients

8 eggs

1/2 cup thickened cream

3 medium onions, diced

2 cups bacon, diced 

1 cup grated cheese

Method

Preheat oven to 160 degrees and grease a 12 hole muffin tray, set it aside.

Lightly beat the eggs and cream together in a large bowl.

Add the remaining ingredients and mix to combine.

Divide mixture amoung muffin tray holes and bake for 15 minutes, until egg has set.

Let the quiches cool slightly in the pan before turning them out onto a wire rack to cool completely. Store in fridge or freezer in an airtight container.

The kitchen and garden were a hive of activity last Friday. Our fabulous Environment Leaders were away but we had some help from Year 4. We also had a few students who came for the first time and I’m sure will come again.

In the kitchen our Kinder classes enjoyed another session of cooking and food science and learnt about the goodness of fruit. They made fruit skewers and ate them with yoghurt and a little bit of award winning jam. Finger licking goodness!! They also discovered that eating a rainbow of colours in the fruit group is really good for us and makes us GLOW and GO.

In the garden we had some amazing help to plant Year 1 seedlings. The Year 1’s have raised seeds in class to learn about Creation and have been caring for them in their classrooms. Now we can care for the seedlings in the garden. We also cleared a garden bed ready to plant something for winter.

For more information about the Kitchen Garden Program email Mrs Katie Birch, katherine.birch@cg.catholic.edu.au

If you think your child/children would like to join our garden club its on every Friday at lunch time.

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.

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.

New Roster out now!

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 2 canteen roster

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

https://stpandp.schoolzineplus.com/CanteenTerm2

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