Dear Parents and Carers

“In the second half of life, we do not have strong and final opinions about everything, every event, or most people, as much as we allow things and people to delight us, sadden us, and truly influence us. We no longer need to change or adjust other people to be happy ourselves. We have moved from doing to being to an utterly new kind of doing that flows almost organically, quietly, and by osmosis. Our actions are less compulsive. We do what we are called to do and then let go of the consequences.”

Fr Richard Rohr, OFM

In the quote above, Richard Rohr, well-known Franciscan priest, is exploring the spirituality of a life that has moved into a deeper and richer sense of self and of purpose. Rohr calls it the second half of life, partly because almost always it only takes place as we chronologically enter the second part of our lives, but also because it is so different from the first half of life. Typically, the first half of life is spent defining oneself by what we can achieve, and our self-definition is often based on a sense of personal accomplishment. The inevitable experience of loss, or failure, or health concerns, or other things that happen outside of our control, can lead us into a more uncertain, but ultimately more generative and mature way of being. This is what we call a ‘second half of life’ spiritualty. It is, for example, the spirituality of Jesus, and what he brought to all of his encounters with others.

Andrew Fuller

As parents, we know all too well that parenting can lead us into challenges and difficulties that call for the type of spirituality that Rohr expressed above. Last night, child psychologist Andrew Fuller spoke to a large crowd of parents (including parents from Malkara, Hughes Primary, Holy Trinity Primary School, and other schools) about the challenges of parenting and strategies that we can all implement. It was a rich and worthwhile evening, and a great deal was gained from Andrew’s presentation. My thanks to our Community Council, who organised the evening, and to our Community Council Chair, Tegan Ingold, who spoke at the end and thanked Andrew on behalf of the school community. https://andrewfuller.com.au/

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. The school is unable to entertain any requests for particular teachers. Due to time constraints, parents are asked to submit any requests by Friday, November 17^th.  Thank you for your support.

Think U Know

Tomorrow, our students in Years 5 & 6 will be part of a presentation called ‘Think U Know’, which is concerned with online safety. It is a timely presentation, as it deals with some of the challenges that children, and their parents, experience as they navigate the world online. I encourage, for example, all parents to keep a vigilant watch over their child’s use of devices, in terms of times and places. It is probably a good idea for children to not have their devices in their rooms at night, for example. ‘Think U Know’ will be a helpful presentation for our older students.

Reports

All schools are in the season of final assessments and report writing. Teachers are currently in the process of writing and refining their class reports. Reports this year will include a comment. Reports will be published this year, via Compass, on Monday of Week 10 (December 11^th). Class lists will also be sent home on that day.

Save the Date – Christmas Carols

Our Christmas Carols fun night will be held on Wednesday evening, December 13^th, at 6pm. Families are invited to a picnic on the school grounds and class groups will be invited to perform, in grades, some Christmas Carols. My thanks to our performing arts teacher Lisa Gill for helping to prepare the children. The Community Council are also cooking a sausage sizzle on the night, and there is a rumour that man with a flowing white beard may be making an appearance. I look forward to seeing our families on the night.

Have a wonderful week with your families.

Best wishes

Cameron Johns

Principal

Social Justice - St Vincent de Paul Christmas Appeal

Students and families are invited to donate non-perishable Christmas goodies to help families. Each grade level has been provided with a food donation suggestion:

All donations will be collected by St Vincent de Paul on Friday 1 December. Thank you for your generous support.

Sunday Gospel: Matthew 25:14-30, 33rd Sunday in Ordinary Time Year A

The rich man, his servants and the talents

Gospel Reflection by Greg Sunter

This week’s gospel is a very familiar parable and one that is often used with students and young people. It is generally used as an encouragement to make the most of the gifts and skills that the listeners possess. It is rarely, however, placed in its context as part of the full Chapter 25 lesson about the time of waiting and preparation for the coming of the Lord and the Christian life.

Again, the story is presented as a parable of the Kingdom – a glimpse into the right order of things in the realised Kingdom. A very wealthy master entrusts his considerable assets to his servants to manage in his absence. The three servants were allocated money, ‘each in proportion to his ability’. The emphasis of the parable is on what each servant did with the funds they were allotted. They were charged with managing the money in the place of their master; acting in their master’s place to further develop his wealth.

Like all of Jesus’ parables, this one has a sting in the tail. Although the third servant has done nothing illegal or corrupt, he is very harshly dealt with. His crime is laziness! He was given a great opportunity to demonstrate his abilities and yet he shied away and returned to his master exactly what had been entrusted to him, unimproved. The author of Matthew’s gospel uses this parable to shock the audience out of complacency. They cannot rely solely on the promised return of the Lord, they must continue to act on Jesus’ message and work to bring about the Kingdom in their own lives. Those who fail to act, leaving everything to the work of God, are as bad as the lazy servant who failed to grasp an extraordinary opportunity.

Blessings for the week ahead,

Veronica Hall

Religious Education Coordinator

Please Save the Date!

 Christmas carols and picnic

 Wednesday 13th December from 6pm in the school grounds

HAPPY BIRTHDAY

to those students who are celebrating their birthday this week

Lucy Clark

Gabriel MT

Parker B

It's nearly a wrap for 2023!

Book Club Issue 8 is now open and arriving at your school. It's full of books to spark magic and joy in students so they read more for fun, including

• Christmas and Holiday Gift Ideas
• Hot New Releases
• Over 350 Summer Reading Ideas
• Big Savings on Packs
• $3 Value Books, and much, much more!

Orders for issue  8 close 30th November. It will then take up to two weeks for the books to arrive at school and be handed out. This will be the final brochure for the year and is a great time to support the school while doing your Christmas shopping! 

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/ 

Our school is St Peter and Pauls when you are in the LOOP app. 

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

This is the last week for borrowing books!

Lunchtimes in the Library

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

Lessons in the Library

Kinder has been learning about the difference between fiction (reading for imagination) and non fiction (learning for information). We have been exploring the non fiction shelves to find books about topics that interest us!

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

Extra extra read all about it, Saints Peter and Paul rock Broadway Jr scenes !

Lights shining, breathing, shaky, eyes darting. “Break a leg,” your friends say backstage. Looking around, you realise that everything you’ve worked for comes down to this. This is the moment. This day. This time. Stepping out onto the stage you have no choice but to… perform. All of our worries instantly diminished, and our hopes set high. For there was only one thing we could do. We had to become our characters. Staring out into the audience, we felt our hearts burst with pride.

Magical Matilda 

Matilda is a genius, but is brought up by the worst parents ever: Mr and Mrs. Wormwood. Mrs Wormwood is a vain, sassy, self-obsessed woman, while Mr. Wormwood is selling cars illegally. Matilda realised when people are not obeying rules, they need discipline. So, Matilda takes Mrs. Wormwood's hair dye and mixes it with Mr. Wormwood's hair dye to make his hair turn blue (naughty). 

5 months ago

Years 5 and 6 started training and learning Matilda jr, the Musical. We started with the auditions and ended with an applause. The auditions went well, and some got call backs but everyone made themselves proud. A week later, we found out our roles, and started to practise our lines immediately. Rehearsals kicked in soon, and we found ourselves knowing all of our lines.

Backstage magic 

While the spotlight shone on the performers, the magic of the production extended far beyond the stage. Backstage, a team of dedicated crew members and teachers worked tirelessly to ensure seamless set changes, flawless lighting, and a captivating atmosphere. The teamwork between the cast and crew was evident, creating an unforgettable experience for everyone involved.

As the adventure ends, we want to thank the teachers for spending their time and effort into making this musical a success. To everyone who participated, thank you for your commitment and support. To the parents and family members, thank you for providing costumes and setting us all up for success with all your love and support. Matilda jr. will forever hold a special place in our hearts, and we can’t wait to see what the future holds for everyone.

Warm regards,

Sienna G and Stella H

The kitchen and garden were busy as usual. 

We made fruit turnovers in the kitchen this week as the children learn about the benefits of apples and did some work to learn more facts about fruit. 

It was mint power in the garden as we trimmed some plants as they were very happy and growing too much. The spinach and mint looked better afterwards. The children then took some mint home with a few ideas of what to do with it.

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

The garden club

GRANDMA'S FRUIT AND COCONUT SLICE

Ingredients

1 cup self raising flour

1 cup sugar

1 cup coconut

125 gr butter

1 Tbs golden syrup

1 egg, lightly beaten

1 cup dried fruit of your choice

Method

Preheat oven to 180c and grease a lamington tin.

Place flour, sugar and coconut in a medium bowl and make a well in the centre.

Melt the butter and golden syrup together and add to the dry ingredients.

Add the beaten egg to the mixture, mix through then fold in the dried fruit.

Press mixture into prepared tin and bake for 25 minutes or until golden brown.

Ice with a lemon icing (lemon juice and icing sugar mixed together) and cut into small squares while slightly warm.

Variations

Apple slice: Replace dried fruit with 1 cup grated apple, add 1 tsp cinnamon and ground ginger to the dry ingredients.

Chocolate raspberry slice: Add 2 Tbs cocoa to the dry ingredients and leave out the dried fruit. Press frozen raspberries into the slice prior to baking and ice with a basic chocolate icing.

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.

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