Dear Parents and Carers

Enrolment Period

Our enrolment period is in full swing. Today, we had our second Open Morning, which was well attended, with a large number of parents keen to see the school and understand the many opportunities that are available to students. Our Year Six leaders are doing a wonderful job showing parents around the school. Tonight, we have our Information Night at 6pm in the Stem room and next Thursday, at 9.30am, we have our final Open Morning. In further news, the Deputy Director of Catholic Education, Dr Tony Bracken, had a conversation with Marist headmaster Matthew Hutchinson. Mr. Hutchinson told Dr Bracken that, “No Catholic student leaving a Catholic school in Year 6 will be denied entry into Year 7.” There is a great deal of misinformation around enrolments from Year 6 into Year 7 at Marist, with many parents of the opinion that they will not get in to Year 7, if they don’t go in Year 4. This is an incorrect view. Furthermore, the data and evidence we have from Sts Peter and Paul, over the last number of years, is that no boy from our school has been denied entry into Year 7 from Year 6. Please contact me if you have any questions.

Paul McDonald Visit

Yesterday, we had a visit from Paul McDonald, an authority on children’s literature, bookshop owner and consultant to many schools. He spoke to the staff about creating a culture of reading, at home and at school, and also spoke to a group of parents in an afternoon session. He was a wonderful speaker and reminded us of the importance of modelling good reading habits and attitudes. My thanks to Amanda Basedow, our excellent librarian, for all of her work in coordinating Paul’s visit from Sydney and our parent workshop yesterday afternoon.

Mothers’ Day Breakfast

A reminder that we are holding our first post-COVID Mothers’ Day breakfast this Friday morning at 7.45am, on the blacktop area near the canteen. Coffee and pastries will be available. At 9.15am, our beautiful Kindergarten students are presenting an assembly to our parents, and then all students will have an opportunity to buy a present for their mother, or significant mother figure, through the purchase of a ticket available through Qkr. I look forward to seeing our mothers on Friday morning.

Walk to School Day

A reminder that Friday next week, are holding our ‘Walk to School’ day. Children and families are invited to assemble at particular points. We will then walk to school with the children. It is always a lovely day and a great affirmation of healthy choices. I am taking part too. Click on the link for more information:

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1rWOeJNuIQND7-LJZbehtsQecW2UOyfWEw7FQ6GIxAHs/edit

My thanks to Fron Garrett-Rumba for organising the event.

Long Service Leave

In the second half of the term, from Weeks 6 – 10, I am taking some long service leave. For the 5 weeks I am away, Anna Williams will very capably act as Principal, with Veronica Hall acting as the Assistant Principal and Amanda Basedow acting as the Religious Education Coordinator. Please contact me if you have any questions.

Have a wonderful week with your family.

Best wishes

Cameron Johns

Principal

Confirmation

We are still awaiting the Confirmation Candidate Booklets from the parish. As soon as they are made available, they will be sent home.

Social Justice - Vinnies Winter Appeal 

Throughout Weeks 3 and 4, we are inviting students to, ‘Share your Kindness’ and donate one or more of the the following items: toiletries bag, toothbrush, toothpaste, deodorant, shampoo, conditioner, soap, face washer, hairbrush, moisturiser, and feminine hygiene products. Donations can be dropped off at the school foyer in the labelled tubs. 

‘Share your Kindness’ weeks will culminate in Crazy Hair Donation Day on Friday 19th May. Students are invited to have crazy hair and donate one or more of the items listed above. Thank you for your support. 

Sunday Gospel: John 14:15-21, Sixth Sunday of Easter - Year A

I shall ask the Father and he will give you another Advocate 

Today’s Gospel speaks of an advocate. This translates a Greek word: ‘paraclete’. Our Lord says: ‘I will send you another Paraclete to be with you forever.’ Our Lord was a Paraclete, and he would send another.

What does this strange sounding word mean? Here is a hint. We all know that parallel lines run, well, para-llel. They run alongside each other. A paraclete is a person who stands alongside someone and pleads their case.

That is how our Lord Jesus Christ saw himself. His role was not to condemn but to plead the case for mercy and compassion, to be the intercessor par excellence.

Our Lord promises another Paraclete dwelling within us, individually and as the body of Christ’s disciples, the Holy Spirit advocating our cause, assisting us to live Truthfully by the measure of the One who is the Way, the Truth and the Life. This Paraclete particularly assists us by acting as the Spirit of Truth.

We could pause for a moment to thank God for the two Paracletes, constantly pleading our case before the Throne of Mercy

(Fr Michael Tate).

Blessings for the week ahead,

Veronica Hall

Religious Education Coordinator

Welcome back to Term 2 parents and students!

As you’ve most likely already seen in the return to school, transitioning back to a school routine can find students experiencing a wide variety of emotions, from excitement and happiness to apprehension and fear. Emotions may be at an all-time high right now, and coupled with increased exhaustion from long school days, here are some reminders to keep in mind that parents can do to help students develop their emotional regulation skills at any age.

Create an emotionally expressive environment at home and school. This means creating spaces where they are free to say how they feel without fear of being judged or "shut down".

Talk to them openly about emotions and feelings. When you are feeling an emotion, share that with them. Talk to them about your emotions and tell them how you cope with some of the hard emotions yourself.

Model appropriate emotional regulation skills yourself. Let them see you when you are happy, sad, or angry, and show them appropriate responses to those emotions. They need to be able to see healthy responses to all of the emotions.

Help them understand how to take care of their physical needs. Helping them get a good night's rest, eating healthy foods, and exercising the body are all essential to being able to feel satisfaction in life.

Help them engage in activities that build a sense of achievement. Doing one positive thing every day can lead to a sense of achievement and contentment. The things that bring us joy have been shown to decrease negative moods and increase positive moods.

Parents are welcome to contact the school counsellor via phone or email (Shandelle.steere@catholiccare.cg.org.au) should you have any questions concerning your child’s emotional regulation abilities or mental health concerns.

This year, to celebrate Mother's Day, we are excited to be holding the following events:

 Mother's Day Breakfast

All mothers, grandmothers and other special carers are invited to attend a breakfast with their children on

FRIDAY 12^th MAY

from 7:45am - 9am

in the school grounds

 A coffee cart will be serving hot beverages and a light breakfast will be provided. 

 We look forward to seeing you there!

Mother's Day Stall

We will be offering the students a Mother's Day stall where they can choose their own special present for their mums or other special women in their lives! 

• The stall will be held during school hours on FRIDAY 12^th MAY  
• All gifts are $7.00; limit of 1 - 2 gifts/child
• Vouchers will be used to 'buy' a gift on the day and these are now available to purchase via Qkr!; there will be no cash sales on the day
• Children will be given their voucher/s by their teacher on Friday to use at the stall

PURCHASE OF VOUCHERS WILL CLOSE AT 2PM THURSDAY 11^th MAY!!!

Happy Mother's Day to all!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY

to those students who are celebrating their birthday this week

Amelia Q

Isaac K

Principal's Awards: Irena J, 5W; Ioanna M, 5M

Learning Support Awards: Hamish S, 6W, Imogen K, 1M; Penny A, 1W; Nataile T, 3W; Cormac B, 3W

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

The DaVinci Decathlon

Two teams competed in the DaVinci Decathlon competition this week. They enjoyed a day of deep thinking and challenged themselves with tasks including English, Science, Mathematics, Engineering, Art and Poetry. It was a fun day and both our teams were complimented on their team work and hard working attitude. Well done!!

Mrs Katie Birch

ACT Swimming Championships

A huge congratulations to Emily G, Lachlan R, WIlliam S, Ava G, Kai R, Stella H and Lucas S who competed yesterday at the ACT Swimming Championships. You all did exceptionally well and the community at Sts Peter and Paul are so proud of you! Some personal bests were achieved and ribbons are soon to be awarded.

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

I am still waiting for confirmation from School Sports ACT on information to send home to those who have qualified in their age bracket. Once I have this information, a permission note will go home to you via Compass. Thank you in advance for your understanding with this.

Athletics Carnival - Save the Date!

The Sts Peter and Paul Athletic’s Carnival will be held Thursday 1st June (Week 6). This carnival will see students from K-6 participating in a range of track and field events, and fun novelty events on the day. Keep your eyes peeled for further information about this!

National Walk Safely to School Day

Walk Safely to School Day asks that we all consider our transport habits and try to incorporate more walking as part of a healthy, active way to get around. And although walking all the way to school isn’t realistic for many of us, it’s quite easy to figure out how you can build a walk into your family’s daily routine.

You can teach your child the healthy habit of walking more by:

• Walking with them the whole way to school
• If they get the bus or train, walk past your usual stop and get on at the next stop
• If you have to drive, park the car a few blocks away from the school and walk the rest of the way.

Regular exercise like walking with your child not only helps them (and you!) beat chronic problems like obesity, heart disease, behavioural and mental health issues and diabetes. It also gives you a great opportunity to teach your child safe ways to behave around roads and traffic.

Remember, Active Kids are Healthy Kids so get planning your own Walk Safely to School Day journey for Friday 19th May 2023!

For more information, visit https://docs.google.com/document/d/1rWOeJNuIQND7-LJZbehtsQecW2UOyfWEw7FQ6GIxAHs/edit

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!

This week in the kitchen we cooked corn and noodle soup. The children leant about corn and the vegetable group. The corn came from our garden, so they even got to take the husk off and compost it. Very exciting!

In the garden we did our usual watering and maintenance. It was very cold but at least we had a visit from our garden pet.

For more information 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,

or

Purchase a “daily counter sales voucher” via Qkr! for your child to go to the canteen to purchase (snacks & treats) 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 2?

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

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.

YEAR GROUPS ARE HOSTING SPECIAL LUNCH DAYS AGAIN!

   Mrs R is so excited to be having volunteers back into the canteen that we will commence having Year Groups host the special lunch days!

Year 5 will be hosting our next special lunch day.

If you are a Year 5 parent/carer and can help on the day (even for a short while), we would love your assistance!

No training required.

 Helping in the Canteen that day is a great opportunity to meet parents in your child’s class.

No doubt your child will get a buzz from seeing you at the school too! 

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 children.

The Uniform Shop is available via Qkr!

On 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 Winter 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 open hours and I will do my best to attend your needs.

Lauretta Raccosta

Uniform Shop

Lauretta.raccosta@cg.catholic.edu.au