Dear Parents and Carers

“We can be at the forefront of a new era in Australia’s public life. As one body in Christ, let us work together, drawing strength from the resilience and wisdom of First Australians by recognizing their experiences and collaborating across boundaries.”

• ‘Listen, Learn, Love’, Social Justice Statement, Australian Catholic Bishops Conference

Each year, the Australian Catholic Bishops release a social justice statement. Typically, it addresses enduring and very real needs in the Australian community – gambling, domestic violence, homelessness, economic practices that keep many Australians in poverty, and the like. This year, they have released the document ‘Listen, Learn, Love’. The subtitle is, ‘A new engagement with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples’. Unsurprisingly, it canvasses many of the themes that the campaign around the Indigenous Voice to Parliament addresses, and the statement explicitly discusses the Voice. The statement from the bishops asks that we listen and use the power of our imaginations to imagine the experince of much of Indigenous Australia over the last two hundred and more years. Bravely, and appropriately, the Church states that it too has been a part of the harm done to our first inhabitants. The statement writes, ‘The Church has participated in many of the grave injustices and contributed to the racism which is at the heart of all these wrongs. For example, Church missions and orphanages took many of children forcibly removed from their families over many years during the 20^th century.’ When you don’t have much of a voice, it is often the way that decisions get made for you.

The statement in full can be found at: https://socialjustice.catholic.org.au/resources/social-justice-statements/

Learning Celebrations

This week, like so many schools around Australia, we celebrate Book Week. Yesterday was the high point of our celebrations, with a spectacular parade and a day of very fun activities for the children. It was a whole staff team effort, but one led superbly by our excellent teacher librarian, Amanda Basedow, who always puts so much energy and passion into all things books, and particularly events like Book Week. My thanks to Amanda for her great leadership, and to all staff for their support.

From reading to Maths: yesterday our passionate Maths lover and Assistant Principal Anna Williams held the second of her ‘Mini Maths Mornings’, with again a very good parent and student attendance rate. Parents and students were treated with opportunities to learn fun and enjoyable ways to deepen Maths concepts and find creative ways to explain foundational concepts. My thanks to Anna for leading and coordinating the mornings, and to Sarah Kennelly and Sarah Walsh for their great support.

On the weekend, our Tournament of Minds teams will participate at the ANU and present the solution to the ‘problem’ they have to solve. The solution has to be solely invented by the students themselves, with no adult assistance, and they are required to present their solution using drama and props, complete with a script. My thanks to Katie Birch, who has organised the school’s involvement in Tournament of Minds and has led the children so well in their participation. I wish our teams the very best for the weekend. Our participation children are: Audrey I, Nathalie C, Juanan M, Harper de S, Massimo M, Bentley B, Michael W, Cavanaugh B, Amy L, Isabella T, Roxie M, Lauren M, Ariella J, Lucia M, Sienna G, Ciara F, Zara S, Maximo A, Eliana B and Ava G.

Student Achievement

Congratulations to Lucas Sloane who is competing next week in the Australian School Sport Swimming Championship. Lucas is competing in the 50m and 100m Backstroke, as well as 4 x 50m freestyle relay. Congratulations, Lucas! We wish you the very best. A mighty achievement.

Congratulations too to Bethany Tam, who is representing the ACT in Nationals Clubs Gymnastics Competition. Well done, Bethany! A wonderful effort. I wish Lucas and Bethany the very best for their competitions.

Presentation Mass

This weekend, our Year 4 students who are receiving the Eucharist for the first time are attending one of the Presentation Masses at our Parish Church at Curtin. It is a recognition that the children are part of a community larger than the school – the local, and indeed universal, Church. I wish our students and families the very best as they take this step in faith.

Athlete's Foot

If any of our families by school or sports shoes from Athlete's Foot, a percentage of the price is donated back to the school. This morning, Megan came in to donate a cheque for $500 and we are so grateful.

Have a wonderful week with your families.

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 & 27 August at 9:30am, Holy Trinity Church, Curtin

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

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

Sunday Gospel: Matthew 16:13-20, 21st Sunday in Ordinary Time Year A

You are Peter, to you I will give the keys of the kingdom of heaven.

Gospel Reflection by Greg Sunter

Jesus asks the disciples who people say he is. They report that people associate Jesus with one of the great prophets of Jewish tradition. By people identifying Jesus with other great prophets they were projecting Jesus into the same mould as that prophet. What they were saying was that Jesus will be a great leader in the style of John the Baptist, or Elijah or even Jeremiah. The expectation of a messiah was running very high at the time of Jesus and everyone had their own idea about what that messiah would be like – usually aligned with some previous leader. They didn’t seem to understand that Jesus was breaking the mould and was not going to fit in with any of those expectations. To see him as one of the great prophets come again is always going to be an inadequate understanding of Jesus as messiah.

When Jesus pushes the disciples for their own ideas, it is Simon Peter who speaks up and identifies Jesus as being the Son of the living God. Making a play on Peter’s name (in Greek, petros = Peter and petra = rock), Jesus states that hereafter, Simon Peter will be known as Peter and upon the rock of his profession of faith the church will be built.

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?

HAPPY BIRTHDAY

to those students who are celebrating their birthday this week

Hamish S

Yvaine M

Ari B

Claire H

Chimi D

Imogen K

Stella H

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.

Book Week is Brilliant!

A huge thank you to everyone who participated in yesterday’s book parade and activities day! There were lots of happy, smiling faces around the school and I hope your children enjoyed the day! 

A special thank you to the fantastic staff at our school, who went above and beyond with their costumes and help and support to run the fun, book activities based on the shortlisted books. 

Remember, Mrs Racostta has organised a FANTASTIC Book Week Special Canteen Menu for this Friday!!  

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

Today is Australian School Library Day! 

This year’s theme is Libraries are made by people ~ and our Library is certainly better when it is filled with the students reading and engaging with books! 

Today is the last chance to enter the competition below and I would be very grateful for entries!  

 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

Every year, we have an exciting event called Book Week where everyone gets the chance to dress up and share their favourite book characters with the school. This year’s Book Week theme was Read, Grow, Inspire.

There were fun activities set up in each classroom that were based on CBCA book nominations and winners of the year. Some of the activities this year were French knitting, screen printing, puppet making, necklace making and matchbox creations. The books that inspired the activities were Frank's Red Hat by Sean Avery, Dirt by Sea by Michael Wagner and Snap! By Anna Walker. Everyone had such a great time sharing their story characters and dressing up in their outstanding costumes. We are so lucky to have a librarian like Mrs Basedow.

As well as the students, all of the teachers came as book characters because Book Week is not just for the students! We saw Three Little Piggies, The Brickhouse and The Big Bad Wolf. Snow White was also there as well as the Seven Dwarfs. The Evil Queen was even there, she was especially scary because she was not the fairest in the land. The magic mirror announced to everyone that the kids at Sts Peter and Paul were the best. We definitely agree with that as everyone dressed up and looked spectacular.

The day was a great success and by the end no one wanted it to end. Thank you to The Evil Queen AKA Mrs Basedow for the amazing work she put into creating the best Book Week in HISTORY!

Written by Zara Stamatis and Maja Galea - 6W

ACT Athletics Carnival Thursday 12th September at the Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) Leverrier St 

Last Thursday, 40 of our students represented our school at the South/Weston Athletics Carnival. My thanks to Mr Luke Gubler and Mrs Cathy Shepherd who accompanied our athletes on the day.

A huge congratulations to Hamish S and Kunaishe J who have qualified to represent the South/Weston region at the ACT Athletics Carnival next month! 

Netball Clinics

Students from K-2 began their netball clinics on Monday where they will be learning the fundamental skills required for netball, and of course, how to work as a team! These clinics will continue each Monday untll the end of term. If you have a child in K-2, please ensure that they wear their full sports uniform on Monday. 

Boorowa Touch Football/Netball Carnival Friday 20th October

A permission note and opportunity to pay for the Boorowa Touch Football/Netball Carnival is now live on Compass! Please head over to Compass to fill this in. 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.

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 was wonderful in the kitchen and garden. The Year 4s made hash browns which were fun to make and yummy. Learning about the vegetable group and what can be done with it is a great skill to know. They learnt awesome skills such as peeling, mashing and roasting. Perhaps they could try and make them at home.

In the garden this week the strawberry patch received a make over with some weeding and watering. We can see them again now!! And they are growing. We will be able to use them in the kitchen which is exciting. Thanks to the special garden club crew who always do a great job.

If you have any questions or would like to know more about The Kitchen Garden Program please email 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 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.

 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.

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