Dear Parents and Carers

“We need to foster our contemporary sense of the transcendent and openness to the other, the world and culture that are not all bad. We need to be attentive to the arts and culture, open to ecumenical and interfaith dialogue and mutual learning.”

Fr Frank Brennan SJ. ‘Handing on the Faith’

In 2012, the Australian Jesuit priest Frank Brennan addressed the teachers from the Diocese of Sandhurst, in central Victoria. His address, as the title suggests, was concerned with Catholic education in the 21^st century and what it means to hold and pass on the faith. His address is as relevant now as it was 11 years ago. The paragraph above suggests a spirituality that sees God in all things and finds a presence of the divine everywhere. A rich and healthy spirituality is not closed off from the world, but rather sees the reality of grace at work everywhere. Doing our work well at Sts Peter and Paul, in partnership with our parish community and our parents, means giving our students the ability to ‘read’ our culture and discern where God is present, and where God is calling us to act, to meet a need.

First Eucharist

This weekend, our children in Year 4 who are making their First Eucharist are receiving the Sacrament at one of the parish Masses at Curtin. My thanks to our Religious Education Coordinator, Veronica Hall, for her excellent work in supporting our students; and our Year 4 teachers, for the same work and support: Michele Pratt, Nic Marsham, Bridget Pigram and Katie Birch. My thanks also, to Fr John Woods for his support and encouragement and to all of our families for their help. Congratulations to all of our students for this step in their faith and commitment to their journey.

School Registration

Last week, the school welcomed our Registration Panel for a two-day visit. Registration takes place once every 5 years and provides an opportunity for an independent panel to affirm the journey a school has been on, as well as collaborate with the staff and the Leadership Team in articulating goals for the future. The two-day visit was a very positive and affirming experience for the staff and the school, and I would like to thank the parents, staff and students who spoke to the panel members. The full report will be made available to me in the coming weeks and will help inform our 2024 Annual Improvement Plan, which will be written next term.

Andrew Fuller Visit Next Term

I am very pleased to announce that next term, on 14 November, the child psychologist Andrew Fuller will be speaking to our parent community. His visit is being hosted by the Community Council. Andrew will be speaking on building resilience in our children. Further details will be made known soon.

Grandfriends Day

A reminder that Friday week – the last day of the school term – grandparents and grandfriends are invited to visit our school to be part of a celebration that honours the role that grandparents play in our lives. Grandparents and friends are invited to come to school at 12.30 and participate in classroom activities with their grandchildren, and then join the school community for lunch at 1.10 (parents are also invited to the lunch), on the oval. Please bring food, blankets and chairs. It will be an excellent day and I look forward to seeing you on the 22^nd.

Kindergarten 2024 Orientation Day and Information Night

Next term, on October 31^st, we are holding our Orientation Morning for 2024 Kindergarten students, from 9.30 – 12pm. A letter is being sent to all of the parents of the 2024 Kindergarten students. That evening, from 6pm in the School Hall, we are holding an Information Night for parents, which will share information about our 2024 Kindergarten program. I look forward to seeing our new parents on the night.

The Wallabies have begun the World Cup in France with a win – the next test for the team will be against Fiji, next Monday morning. It was sad to see the Raiders get bundled out of the finals campaign. I hope that your team, whatever the code, has gone through to the finals.

Have a wonderful week with your families.

Best wishes

Cameron Johns

Principal

First Eucharist

This weekend, our parish celebrates students receiving the Sacrament of First Eucharist. All members of the Sts Peter & Paul community are invited to attend one of the masses at Holy Trinity Church, Curtin.

Saturday 16 September - 6pm

Sunday 17 September - 9:30am and 5:30pm

First Eucharist Retreat

Last week, Year 4 participated in a day of prayer, reflection and fun during their First Eucharist Retreat at Holy Trinity. The day commenced in prayer with students attending mass celebrated by Fr Woods. Following lunch, students engaged in Godly Play, an art activity and participated in contemplative prayer called Visio Divina. A big thank you to Nic Marsham, Katie Birch and Emily Capper (HT) and Holy Trinity staff for supporting our students.

Social Justice - Mission Market Day - Friday 15 September

On Friday, our Year 6 students will host our Catholic Mission Market Day. Students are invited to bring in gold coins to purchase vouchers to use on the day.

$1 for 2 vouchers or $2 for 5 vouchers.

All monies raised will be donated to Catholic Mission.

Sunday Gospel: Matthew 18:21-35, 24th Sunday in Ordinary Time Year A

I tell you that you forgive not seven times but seventy times seven.

Gospel Reflection by Greg Sunter

This gospel passage follows directly from last week’s passage. It concludes the whole of Matthew Chapter 18 that deals with sin, forgiveness and reconciliation. Peter’s question to Jesus and suggested answer is a reflection of the view that there is a limit to the number of times we should forgive someone. Seven is a significant number in scripture and implies a ‘perfect’ amount. Even though by his use of seven, Peter is suggesting that he should forgive someone many, many times, Jesus quickly corrects Peter and says not seven, but seventy-seven times (or seventy times seven). Jesus plays on the use of the number seven and multiplies it to indicate that one should forgive as many times as is required – without keeping count; without keeping score.

The story of the unforgiving servant is a familiar one of forgiveness and mercy being shown but not passed on. The sting in the tail of this parable is Jesus’ final warning that, ‘So will my heavenly Father do to you, unless each of you forgives his brother from his heart.’ This is an unsettling statement, as we believe God’s forgiveness to be without measure and without end. Jesus warns that unless we seek to imitate God’s forgiveness and forgive others ‘from our heart’ (with compassion) then we are not going to recognise the forgiveness of God and will cut ourselves off from it.

The whole idea of forgiving from the heart is a powerful contradiction of a popular concept: ‘I can forgive, but not forget.’ Is it really possible to forgive but refuse to forget? Surely holding on to a memory of hurt is holding on to the hurt itself and does not display that any forgiveness has occurred at all. To forgive but not forget is to keep count. How many times should I forgive the one who has hurt me? As many times as it takes!

Blessings for the week ahead,

Veronica Hall

Religious Education Coordinator

Grandfriends Day Schedule of Events

HAPPY BIRTHDAY

to those students who are celebrating their birthday this week

Madison H

Jaden K

Amelia D

Charles H

Jackson K

Hrithvik M

Awards will be presented at our assembly on Thursday 21 September at 2.15 in the school hall.

We are thrilled that our Year 6 team won their netball Preliminary final last weekend and will be competing in the Grand Final next Saturday at 10am at the Deakin courts! 

GO GIRLS! We hope you have a fantastic game!

Boorowa Touch Football/Netball Carnival Friday 20th October

Sts Peter and Paul’s teams for Boorowa have been finalised! Yesterday, I emailed the coaches for each of these teams. They will be in touch with parents and carers shortly with training opportunities for your child’s team. We have entered 9 teams into the competition, a fantastic participation amongst our Years 2-6 students!

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 you have not yet had a chance to provide consent and pay for your child to attend the Boorowa Touch Football/Netball Carnival, please do so at your earliest convenience. 

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!

NETBALL COORDINATOR NEEDED FOR 2024!

SPP is looking for a new netball coordinator. This is a parent volunteer position that:

- seeks volunteer coaches and managers for each team

- coordinates the nomination and registration of teams for the winter and summer seasons

- distributes and collects netball uniforms

- liaises with SCNA, particularly in the lead up to the winter competition

Preparation for the summer season is a good time for a handover, before the winter 2024 season. Please call me on 0407 614 474 if you would like more information about what's involved.

SUMMER TWILIGHT NETBALL

The SCNA Summer Twilight Competition will run for 9 weeks beginning the week of Monday 16 October (Term 4, Week 2) and end on the week of Monday 11 December (Week 10) at the SCNA courts, Makin Place, Deakin. All children are welcome and encouraged to play!

Days and times for each year group are: 

Registration for a team will open when the team has at least 7 players, as required by SCNA. Players are still needed for years 3, 4, 5 and 6. Indicate your child's interest and your ability to coach in the Google doc here: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1mqy0L_nao-AMDIKsK6Ftjekmq20tNPNt/edit?usp=sharing&ouid=108623873506021899237&rtpof=true&sd=true. Registration will open when there are at least 7 players listed in the document.

Cost is $90 for those who registered for the winter season. SCNA have now advised that NEW registrations will be subsidised reducing registration to $104.49 (not $164.49 as previously advised). Please email me letting me know that your child is a new registration adn what size t-shirt they wear. I will provide you with a voucher code and arrange for a uniform to be left at school for your child.

Thank you to those who have volunteered to coach and umpire. The year 6 team is still in need of a coach. Please note that SCNA will not be providing umpires for Years 4, 5 and 6.

Lucy Webb

Netball Coordinator

Phone: 0407614474

Email: stpandpnetball@gmail.com

Last week we did a huge clean up in the Kitchen Garden with our fabulous garden club crew and Environment Leaders.

We weeded and watered as per usual, but also picked up all the rubbish and organized all the garden club resources so everything has a place to live.

Have a look at how our garden is growing!!

For more information, 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.

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

It's Spring and that means Floriade!

Floriade returns to Canberra’s Commonwealth Park, from Saturday 16 September to Sunday 15 October, with so many activities for the whole family!

The 2023 theme Floral Wonderland invites you to explore and experience a diverse program of entertainment, cultural celebrations, food and wine, horticultural workshops, market traders, artistic displays and more as Floriade celebrates all things flowers, food and gardens.

Floriade is a free non-ticketed event with gates opening from 9.30am – 5.30pm daily. Last entry 5.15pm.

NightFest, Floriade’s dark side, returns for four captivating nights from 28 September to 1 October.
Tickets are required and are on sale now.

https://floriadeaustralia.com/

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?