Dear Parents and Carers

“Such a life did not come to an end with Mary’s death; when she died, only the transitory died, so that what was eternal in her life might be revealed – that eternal light from the many thousand candles enkindled by each moment of her life.”

• Karl Rahner SJ, on the Feast of the Assumption of Mary

Yesterday we celebrated the Feast of the Assumption of Mary into Heaven. Fr John Woods celebrated the Mass in our school hall, and all grades, Kindergarten – Year 6, participated in the Mass. Parishioners from the Parish of the Transfiguration (Curtin) attended, as did some parents. This feast celebrated the example of Mary, for all of us. Her death revealed her life for what it was: a monument to love. My thanks to Fr John and to Veronica Hall, our excellent REC, for coordinating the Mass, and to Lisa Gill, our also excellent performing arts teacher, who helped lead us in our liturgy. It was a wonderful Mass.

Curriculum News

Yesterday, our Mini-Maths mornings started in the school library. Led by our Assistant Principal Anna Williams, and ably assisted by Sarah Kennelly and Sarah Walsh, the Mini Maths Mornings (which run each Tuesday from 8.15 until Week 10), for parents of children in Years 3 – 6, highlight methods in teaching Maths concepts. These strategies favour the use of concrete materials and rich conceptual understandings. My thanks to Anna for her excellent work, and to Sarah and Sarah, for their great support.

This week is Science Week, and our school celebrates the week on Friday with science led activities in classrooms, led by our Year 6 students. All children (and staff) are invited to come dressed on the day as a scientist.

Week 6 is Book Week! It promises to be an excellent week with many activities, led by our passionate librarian Amanda Basedow, and it too culminates in a Book Week costume parade, with children invited to come dressed as book characters on Tuesday of Week 6. The staff are also coming dressed as characters, with our own theme being ‘Fairy Tales’. My thanks to Amanda for her support and coordination of the day.

South Canberra PSSA Athletics Carnival

On Thursday, we have 40 students attending the zone PSSA Athletics carnival, participating in various running and field events. My best wishes and congratulations to the many students who are part of the day and who are competing at the event. The students will be looked after by Luke Gubler and Cathy Shepherd. I wish our students the very best for the carnival.

Have a wonderful week with your families – and let us all cheer on the Matildas tonight!

Best wishes

Cameron Johns

Principal

First Eucharist

 We continue to pray for the students preparing to receive the Sacrament of First Eucharist. 

Upcoming events:

Presentation Masses - 26 August at 6:00pm and 27 August at 9:30am, Holy Trinity Church, Curtin.

First Eucharist Retreat - 8 September, Holy Trinity Primary School, Curtin

Sacrament of First Eucharist - 16 and 17 September, Holy Trinity Church, Curtin

The Assumption of Mary

It was a special occasion to join with the parish in prayer to celebrate the Assumption of Mary. Thank you to Fr John, the Youth Ministry team and the school choir with Miss Gill for leading us in a joy and faith filled mass.

 Sunday Gospel: Matthew 15:21-28, 20th Sunday in Ordinary Time Year A

Woman, you have great faith.

Gospel Reflection by Greg Sunter

This week’s gospel provides a fascinating illustration of Jesus’ response to those in need. Jesus has travelled to the area of Tyre and Sidon – part of modern day Lebanon. He was physically removing himself from the place of his very active ministry and taking a break. When the Canaanite woman approaches Jesus and his disciples, she is an interruption; a nuisance. Jesus is very abrupt with her. He tells her simply that his ministry is to the house of Israel – the Jews – and is not for her. But the woman is persistent and again asks Jesus to help her. Jesus is even more abrupt and tells her that it is not right to take the food of the children and throw it to the dogs. Through this use of metaphor, Jesus refers to the children of Israel (the Jews) and to the gentiles and pagans – sometimes referred to as ‘dogs’ to reflect their lowly status in the eyes of the Jewish tradition. Still the woman persists and turns Jesus’ metaphor back on him, saying that even the dogs get to eat the scraps that fall from the table.

The woman’s persistence and faith pay off. Jesus is moved by her faith and through that faith heals the woman’s daughter. Despite his initial abruptness and reluctance, Jesus responds with compassion to the woman’s request. It is as though she needed to demonstrate that she was really serious and that she did in fact believe that Jesus could make a difference in her life and the life of her daughter. This is an important story in Matthew’s gospel. This gospel was written predominantly for Jewish Christians but this story reveals that the ministry of Jesus and the reign of God is open to anyone who believes.

Blessings for the week ahead,

Veronica Hall

Religious Education Coordinator

Commencing on the first Monday of September and running through with some breaks until a little after Easter 2024, we will conduct an RCIA journey.  The RCIA is a journey for those seeking to come into the Church or for those looking to complete their sacramental initiation, having been baptised Catholic or in another Christian tradition.  There is an Inquiry phase when folk share what they value and what has drawn them to the RCIA.  This is followed by the Catechumenate where there is a consideration of life experience in the light of the Scriptures and Church teaching and practice. During Lent there is time of personal renewal in preparation for Reception into the Church at Easter.  This is followed by a time of consideration of how one might live out the faith received in this time and place.  Further, the RCIA journey requires a group of parishioners to journey with those inquiring about our Catholic faith. If you or someone you know is interested or would like to be a part of a diverse RCIA Parish Team of parishioners to accompany the candidates, please contact the Parish Office or Fr John. Please pray for this initiative and consider whether you might be more personally involved.  Perhaps this could be source of renewal for you?

Fathers' Day Breakfast

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

 FRIDAY 1^st SEPTEMBER

7:45am - 9am

in the school grounds

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

We look forward to seeing you there!

Fathers' Day Stall

Students will be given the opportunity to purchase a special gift for their dads, grandads or other special male carer in their lives!

• The stall will be held on FRIDAY 1^st SEPTEMBER during school hours.

All gifts are $7.00; limit 1-2 gifts/child

 Vouchers will be used to 'buy' a gift on the day- there will be no cash sales on the day

PURCHASE NOW VIA Qkr!

Orders close at 12 noon, Thursday 31 August.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY

to those students who are celebrating their birthday this week

Hannah A

Evelyn B

Razma G-H

Fletcher K

Saylor V

Mia T

Awards will be presented at our assembly on Thursday, 24 Aug at 2.15 in the school hall.

Principal's Award: Madison H, KW; Irin R, KW; Lachlan A, 6M; Reuben T, 2M

Learning Support Awards: 

Lucas S, 6W; Annika T, 5M; Ned S, 6M; Arne C, 6W, Phoebe E, 2W

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

Father's Day Celebrations

SAVE THE DATE!

 To celebrate Father's Day this year we will be holding a Father's Day breakfast

 FRIDAY 1^st SEPTEMBER 

7:45am - 9am in the school grounds

This will be followed by a Father's Day stall for the students - further details to follow!

Yesterday some of our lucky learners brought their special someone to school to share in our first of four 3-6 Mini Maths Morning. The enthusiastic group explored ways to practice place value concepts through hands-on activities, number talk and mental challenge. Next week we will explore the importance of multiplicative thinking. These mornings have been made possible thanks to Miss Kennelly, Miss Walsh, Mrs Basedow and Mrs Williams and funding from the ACT Block Grant Authority's Parent Engagement Grant Program. Our K-2 Mini Maths Mornings sessions will be offered in Term 4, with bookings opening in the coming weeks.

Book Week is NEXT WEEK!!! 

The most exciting time of the Year in the Library is almost here! We love celebrating Book Week at Sts Peter and Paul Primary and know many families are preparing their Book Week costumes. Remember, it is a dress up parade of students’ favourite characters from books. Costumes can be as simple or as creative as possible! It is not a competition - it is a chance to gather as a community and to celebrate books and reading! 

If students can bring the book that their character is from, it makes it easy to identity which book they are from.

Our parade will be at 9am on Tuesday 22nd August (Week 6) and we warmly welcome parents and carers to join us to watch the parade. 

After the parade, students will participate in a range of art and craft activities based on the Zart Art Book Week ideas. 

Mrs Racostta has organised a FANTASTIC Book Week Special Canteen Menu on Friday in Week 6!!  

The ‘Book Week Themed’ canteen menu was incredibly popular last year!  

SNSL are running a Competition for Libraries

Share a story about how school libraries or staff have had a positive impact on your life.

As part of the Australian School Libraries Day celebration, you have the chance to win one of eight $100 gift vouchers for your nominated school library.

To win, tell us in 100 words or less why you love your school library and how the staff in the library have helped you. https://studentsneedschoollibraries.org.au/asld/competition/

Entries will close at 11:59pm on Australian School Libraries Day (Wed Aug 23rd), and winners will be announced on Thursday August 24th.

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.

Tomorrow sees many of our students from Years 2-6 compete in the South/Weston Athletics Carnival. We wish them all the best for their Track and Field events!

Boorowa Touch Football/Netball Carnival Friday 20th October

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.

Teams have almost been finalised, and once they are, a coach/manager will be assigned to each team alongside a team list. The coach will be responsible for any training opportunities for the team.

Netball Clinics

The next few weeks are very exciting for our students in Kindergarten, Year 1 and Year 2! Students from K-2 will be participating in netball clinics on Monday’s for Weeks 6-10. If you have a child in K-2, please ensure that they wear their full sports uniform on Monday. 

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 readers

Great fun in the kitchen last week. Apple turnovers - yum! Apples are so good for you - especially the skin. The children learnt all about this and then put the humble apple to the test with great success. Staff enjoyed them too.

The garden is growing. We have broccoli and beans on the way. How exciting! The strawberries needed a good weed and water but are also coming along nicely. Thanks garden crew. 

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 assist on your day. 

ARE YOU ABLE TO HELP OUT IN TERM 3?

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.

 https://stpandp.schoolzineplus.com/CanteenTerm3

 All volunteers must have a WWVP card.

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