Dear Parents and Carers

“Our lives are touched by those who lived centuries ago, and we hope that our lives will mean something to people who won't be alive until centuries from now. It's a great "chain of being," someone once told me, and I think our job is to do the best we can to hold up our small segment of the chain connected, unbroken. Our arms are linked - we try to be neighbours of His, and to speak up for his principles. That's a lifetime's job.”
― Dorothy Day, The Reckless Way of Love: Notes on Following Jesus

Today, we celebrate All Saints’ Day. This day is set aside to recognize the lives of the Saints and what it is they can teach us. Like most Catholic schools, our school claims a saint – and in fact, claims two saints – as patrons. Sts Peter and Paul, as I sometimes tell our students, are two excellent examples of people whose lives were turned around completely, as a result of an encounter with Jesus. They are, in modern parlance, great examples of the transformative power of learning. As lifelong learners, they changed irrevocably, and for the better. Saints can console us, inspire us in dark times, and be fellow journeymen and women. Saints are normal people, who excel at being human. For all the saints in our lives – both official and those unrecognized – let us be grateful.

School Disco

A huge thankyou to Katherine Jones and the Community Council for the fantastic disco last week. The kids all had a fun and wonderful time.

Class Lists – 2024

Our teachers have begun the task of preparing the class lists for 2024. This is a long and detailed process, with a number of factors being considered. Students will have an opportunity to nominate 3 people with whom they would like to be placed next year. The school guarantees only 1 friend, although students may be placed with two or all of their choices. If any parents have concerns about their child’s classmates for 2024, and if you would like the school to try to ensure that your child is not placed with a particular student, please email me directly. Sts Peter and Paul is unable to entertain any requests for particular teachers. Thank you for your support.

School Musical – Matilda

This week is a particularly busy week in the life of the school. We are presenting a shortened version of our school musical, ‘Matilda’, to students from Malkara today. Tomorrow, we are performing for our K – 4 students, and any parents who cannot make the evening performance (matinee tickets are available). Our two sold out performances are on Thursday and Friday evening. The children are very excited and very keen to perform, and I am very proud of them and their efforts. My deep and sincere thanks to Jess Gowing, who brings amazing talents in performing arts to the production, and to our Years 5 & 6 teachers: Josh Gereis, Fron Garrett-Rumba, Katie McGregor and Luke Gubler. My thanks, too, to Mr Muller for the amazing light and sound equipment, and for all the time he has spent in the hall installing everything and making sure it all works. 

Mini Maths Mornings

Yesterday, our Mini Maths Mornings came to an end in KW. For the past 4 weeks, Sarah Walsh and Sarah Kennelly have been running some workshops designed for parents of students in K – 2 and have done an amazing job in helping explain concepts and ideas in Maths, and the way they can be successfully taught to our younger students. My thanks to Sarah and Sarah for their excellent efforts.

Canteen Volunteers’ Morning Tea

Friday week, on November 10^th, at 1pm, we are hosting a ‘thank you’ afternoon tea for this year's wonderful canteen volunteers. My thanks to Lauretta Raccosta for organising our afternoon tea.

Andrew Fuller

A reminder that on Tuesday November 14^th at 6pm, our Community Council is hosting a talk by Andrew Fuller, renowned child psychologist, for all of our parents. This will be a wonderful opportunity for all of our parents. Please see the flyer in this newsletter and come along for an excellent evening.

Have a wonderful week with your families.

Best wishes

Cameron Johns

Principal

Illuminate: Youth Ministry Year 6 Team 

The members of our Youth Ministry team have been invited to participate in Illuminate with other Youth Ministers from across our archdiocese. A permission note has been sent via Compass to the Youth Ministry students. I encourage parents who have received the permission note to complete the form before Friday 3 November. Thank you for your prompt attention to this matter.

Sunday Gospel: Matthew 23:1-12, 31st Sunday in Ordinary Time Year A

They do not practise what they preach

Gospel Reflection by Greg Sunter

This week’s gospel is a lesson on leadership. The gospel writer has Jesus offering a very strong criticism of the religious leadership of his day as exemplified by the scribes and Pharisees. He accuses them of not practising what they preach – a rather familiar criticism often levelled at politicians, teachers and church leaders in our own society today. When the criticism is used today it often implies that if the person fails to practise what they preach then what they have to say carries little weight. But rather than totally rejecting the scribes and Pharisees, Jesus cautions his listeners to take notice of what they have to say – as their teachings were always grounded in scripture and tradition – but not to follow their example of behaviour.

Throughout Matthew’s gospel we encounter criticisms of the scribes and Pharisees. This example is of the same nature: they were too caught up with rules and obligations and did not approach life with compassion and concern for the individual. The community for whom Matthew’s gospel was intended was struggling with being both Jewish and Christian. They were coming to realise that to be followers of Jesus’ way they needed to cast aside some of the attitudes and behaviours of their Jewish tradition. That applied particularly to the model of leadership that they had inherited from Jesus: a model of leadership through service, not power and authority. This gospel passage makes it very clear for that original community as well as ourselves that true leadership is provided through service to others and through humble action. Unlike the Pharisees of Jesus’ time, Christian leaders are called to do away with the trappings of power and prestige and, instead, be of service to those whom they would lead.

Blessings for the week ahead,

Veronica Hall

Religious Education Coordinator

HAPPY BIRTHDAY

to those students who are celebrating their birthday this week

Kabir S

Indie G

Anna S

Daniel B

Henry B

Nathan H

This term we welcome Miss Maddison Mertz as the Library Teacher on Mondays and Wednesdays! 

Library Lessons for classes are as follows and please remember Library Bags! 

Lunchtimes in the Library

This term the Library will be open during lunchtimes Mondays and Tuesdays (after eating time). It’s great to read, draw, complete a puzzle or play a board game! 

Overdue Library Books

Do you have Library books at home? We have over 300 overdue Library books! We would be very grateful if you could have a check at home to see if you have any Library books that need to be returned. 

Lessons in the Library

Year 4 & 5 have been doing some wonderful learning in preparation for Remembrance Day with Miss Mertz based on the book The Poppy, by Andrew Plant. Look at their fantastic work!

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

Keep reading!

Mrs Basedow and Miss Mertz

Another view of the wonderful Boorowa Netball and Touch Football Carnival.

This week cauliflower was on the menu in the kitchen. Yum...and we used it from our own garden. Very exciting!!

Our Garden club crew were pleasantly surprised by the strawberries and how all their weeding and watering is paying off. They all taste tested them too! We are planning to plant some more veggies in the next few weeks so our crew will be kept busy.

Garden club is on every Friday lunch. All new gardeners are welcome. 

The garden club

BEST EVER MAC & CHEESE

Ingredients

400 gr macaroni pasta

1 & 1/2 cup cream

3/4 cup milk

1 & 1/4 cup tasty cheese

1/2 cup parmesan cheese

Pinch salt & pepper

1/3 cup dried breadcrumbs

1/2 cup grated tasty cheese (extra)

Pinch ground paprika, to serve

Method

Preheat oven to 200 degrees on the grill setting and grease a large oven proof casserole dish.

Boil pasta in a large saucepan of salted water for approximately 10-15 minutes or until al dente. Drain and keep warm.

Heat cream and milk in saucepan over medium heat. Bring to the boil then reduce heat, stir in the grated cheeses, salt and pepper. Continue to stir until cheese has melted, then add the pasta.

Toss to coat pasta in the sauce, transfer to the prepared dish and sprinkle with breadcrumbs, extra grated cheese and paprika.

Grill macroni and cheese for 2 minutes, or until topping is golden and crispy. 

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.

Sour Snap Stix and Zooper Doopers are available via canteen vouchers!

CANTEEN VOLUNTEER ROSTER

Thank you, helpers; your assistance is very much appreciated!

Please contact me if you are unable to assist on your day.

 TERM 4 CANTEEN 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

or click on the link below to slot a time in.

https://stpandp.schoolzineplus.com/term4canteen

 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.

Thank you to all the students who participated in today’s Special Lunch Day! 

Mrs R was so happy seeing all the children and staff enjoying Sushi for our special lunch day.

Thank you Chris, Doris, Laura & Katherine for your help today.

You made the day run a lot smoother. Your help was very much appreciated!

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. 

 STARTING SCHOOL IN 2024?

PURCHASE A STARTER PACK ON QKR! NOW

Step 1: Download the app Qkr!

Step 2: Register - follow the steps

Step 3: Find our school - Sts Peter & Paul Primary School

Step 4: Register your child - select “new enrolments”

Step 5: Purchase a starter pack for pick up at the front office between school hours.

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 school’s website for the Summer Uniform price list.

Lauretta Raccosta

Uniform Shop

Lauretta.raccosta@cg.catholic.edu.au

The next PERKS Parenting Seminar covers disordered eating and body image concerns. Learn about the warning signs, practical strategies to best support your teen or pre-teen with recovery and when you need to seek professional help. Details are:

Date: Tuesday, 7 November

Time: 4-6 pm

Venue: Woden Community Hub, Westfield Woden, above Commonwealth Bank

Cost: Free

Register below:

https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/perks-parenting-seminar-focus-on-disordered-eating-tickets-721676181887?aff=oddtdtcreator