Dear Parents and Carers

“Hope, on one hand, is an absurdity to embarrassing to speak about, for it flies in the face of all those claims we have been told are facts. Hope is the refusal to accept the reading of reality which is the majority opinion; and one does that only at great political and existential risk.”

• Walter Brueggmann

Welcome back to Term 3! I hope the holiday period has been a restful and restorative time for you and your family. The children have started the week and the term calmly and full of anticipation. I have returned from 5 weeks LSL, which included a period in Ireland attending a retreat. Both the leave and the retreat were excellent experiences, and as I hope the recent holiday has been for you, very restorative. My leave was made all the easier by the fact that I knew that I was leaving the school in very good hands. I would like to thank Anna Williams, Veronica Hall and Amanda Basedow, for doing such a wonderful job as Acting Principal, Assistant Principal and Religious Education Coordinator, respectively. Their efforts and commitment were excellent.

In the quote above, the Old Testament scholar writes convincingly about hope. Hope, together with faith and love, is one of the three theological virtues, as described by St Paul, one of our patrons. The quote above comes from the latest Quarterly Essay called Voice of Reason: On Recognition and Renewal, by Megan Davis, Professor of Constitutional Law at UNSW. Hope is foundational to our shared faith in the possibilities of a future that we cannot see at present, a future which promises an abundance of God’s grace that exceeds human comprehension. At times, our lives and the lives of those whom we love can be such that hope seems a near impossible concept. Davis reminds us, through Brueggmann, that hope is never without ground or reason.

NAIDOC Week

NAIDOC week nearly always takes place in the school holidays, and so for schools, it is usually celebrated in the first week of Term 3. This week, Sts Peter and Paul is celebrating NAIDOC week with a liturgy on Thursday at 2.15pm in the school hall. All parents are welcome to attend. On Friday, our Indigenous students are attending the Archdiocesan NAIDOC Mass for schools, at St Christopher’s Cathedral, Manuka. Katie McGregor and I will be attending with the children. 

Year 3 Excursion

On Thursday, our Year 3 students, with their teachers, are visiting The Canberra Theatre for a production called, ‘Are we there yet?’ I am sure our students will enjoy the excursion and production a great deal and it will be a wonderful springboard into a term’s learning in reading and writing. My thanks to Paul Jenkins and Sarah Walsh for organising the excursion.

Upcoming Parent Events

Next Tuesday night, July 25^th, there is a ‘Think-U-Know’ information night for parents at 6pm in the school hall. ‘Think-U-Know’ addresses issues and concerns around online safety. At 6.30, on the same day, on Teams, there is an online meeting for parents of children in Year 3 who are making their First Eucharist this year. This is a very important information session and parents of children making their First Eucharist are required to attend. The evening will be streamed from the meeting room at Holy Trinity, Curtin, and Fr John will be attending, as will Veronica Hall, our REC, and personnel from Holy Trinity. Both schools undertake the sacramental program at the same time, and students from both schools receive the Eucharist together. It is one of the ways that we celebrate being two schools in one parish.

It is wonderful to be back at Sts Peter and Paul. I look forward to catching up with many parents over the next few weeks.

Have a wonderful week with your families.

Best wishes

Cameron Johns

Principal

Sacrament of First Eucharist

The Sacrament of First Eucharist will be celebrated at Holy Trinity Church, Curtin, on Saturday 16 September and Sunday 17 September 2023.

Children in Year 4 or above who have celebrated their First Reconciliation may enrol in the Parish's Family-Based Sacramental Program for First Eucharist.

 Enrolment by Friday 21 July must be completed online using the Qkr! app.

To enrol:

• Download the Qkr! app. 
• Tap on ‘North Woden Transfiguration Parish’
• Tap ‘Parish Payments and Sacraments’
• Choose ‘Sacrament’ from the top menu bar
• Tap ‘Sacrament of First Eucharist’
• Complete the form and make your online payment.

First Eucharist Parent Information Night

An information night for the Sacrament of First Eucharist will be held via Zoom on Tuesday 25 July commencing at 6pm. We are also looking for volunteers to host a family group. The role of a host is not difficult, with session notes and guidance provided. If you are interested in hosting a family group, please complete the ‘Host Nomination’ form (attached in the Compass notification) and attend a Zoom information session at 5:30pm on Tuesday 25 July. 

If you have any questions, please contact Catherine Grinsell Jones at the parish office on 6281 3999.

First Eucharist Parent Information Zoom link: https://cgcatholic.zoom.us/j/67521189036

Feast of the Transfiguration

Sts Peter and Paul with Holy Trinity Primary School Curtin will come together to celebrate the Feast of the Transfiguration on Friday 4 August. The Feast of the Transfiguration, recalls and celebrates Jesus’ revelation of his divinity to three of his friends—Peter, James, and John—on a high point on Mount Tabor. According to the Gospel accounts, Jesus took the three disciples onto the mountain to pray. While they were praying, his appearance was changed by a brilliant white light that radiated from him and his clothing. Moses and Elijah, the greatest prophets of the Old Testament, appeared with Jesus, and a voice came from heaven, saying, “This is my beloved Son. Listen to him.”

At 9:15am, students and staff will travel to Holy Trinity via bus. The day will involve buddy activities with a class from Holy Trinity, a shared lunch (provided by Holy Trinity) and the celebration of Mass as a parish. Kinder to Year 3 students will return to school on a bus while Years 4 to 6 will walk (weather permitting).  Please keep an eye out for the consent form via Compass. If you have any questions, please email veronica.hall@cg.catholic.edu.au

Sunday Gospel: Matthew 13:24 - 30, 16th Sunday in Ordinary Time - Year A

Let them grow together until the harvest.

Today’s gospel features a parable about the kingdom: the weeds in the field. This is a fascinating parable about something undesirable or unwanted being mixed in with something that is apparently good – and Jesus presents the parable as a description of what the kingdom of heaven is like.

Let’s look at the imagery of the parable. Darnel is a weed that looks exactly like wheat while it is growing. Only once the ears have formed can it be distinguished from the wheat. It is a malicious prank to sow darnel among wheat.

To describe the kingdom of God in this way may seem a bit odd. Can the kingdom of God be a ‘corrupting’ or ‘souring’ or ‘irritating’ influence? The kingdom message of Jesus can be seen as a corrupting force in that it set about corrupting and destroying what was a flawed system. The parable also demonstrates that it only takes a tiny amount of this ‘corrupting’ influence to have a dramatic effect (adapted Greg Sunter).

Blessings for the week ahead,

Veronica Hall

Religious Education Coordinator

HAPPY BIRTHDAY

to those students who are celebrating their birthday this week

Claire De V

Amelia J

Grace P

Ryan G

Awards will be presented at our assembly on Thursday, 27 July at 2.15 in the school hall.

Principal's Awards: Yvaine M, 6M; Ava G, 5M

Congratulations Senora!

Our wonderful Spanish Teacher, Oriella de Johnson, wrote an article about some of the fabulous Spanish experiences our students have had this semester. The
article shares our students’ language learning with the broader community. We are proud to announce Oriella’s
work was published via the Modern Language Teachers’ Association (MLTA) website of the ACT.

You can access the article on the following website: https://www.mltaact.asn.au/#publications (Contact Semester 1, June 2023).

Congratulations Oriella!

Welcome back to Term 3! We have a very fun and exciting term coming up in the Library. 

Term 3 Library dates to remember:

Library Lessons for Term 3 & 4 have changed! Please remember Library Bags!

Get excited for Book Week in Week 6. Stay tuned for more details soon!

Orders close Friday 4th August. It will then take up to two weeks for the books to arrive at school and be handed out. 

All orders are placed online via the LOOP app. 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/ 

 

Do you have Library books at home? We have over 500 overdue Library books! I would be very grateful if you could have a look at home to see if you have any Library books that need to be returned. 

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

Keep reading!

Mrs Basedow

South/Weston Region Athletics Carnival Thursday 17th August at Woden Park Athletic, Ainsworth St, Phillip ACT 2606.

If your child has qualified for the South/Weston Region Athletics Carnival, information will go home to you in relation to this next week. A permission note will come home via Compass, where you will also be provided with the opportunity to pay. 

Boorowa Touch Football/Netball Carnival Friday 20th October

Thank you to all the parents and carers who have already returned their Boorowa notes. We are hoping to take as many Years 2-6 students as possible as this will be the first Boorowa Netball and Touch Football Carnival in 2 years. If your child is attending and you will be driving them, please consider volunteering as our success at this carnival will depend on volunteers. Thank you to those who have already raised their hand! We still need quite a few volunteers (particularly referees), so if you are driving your child to this event please consider volunteering.

If your child is interested in attending Boorowa, they can receive a note from 3W. All expression of interest notes will need to be returned by Friday July 21st in order to secure a spot. Once all notes are returned, teams will be created and you will receive more information about this towards the end of term.

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!

Welcome back!. This term we welcome Years 3 and 4 into the kitchen. Mrs Moore  is taking some well deserved leave but don't worry, our kitchen is in good hands!

As it was NAIDOC Week during the break, we will be talking about some of the spices used in indigenous cooking, which will be very interesting. We will also show the children the indigenous plants that we have.

The garden is looking great and has thrived over the break. 

For more information contact Mrs 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 3?

Click on the link to add your name to the roster!

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

NEW Term 3 Canteen Roster OUT NOW

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

https://stpandp.schoolzineplus.com/CanteenTerm3

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. 

 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