Dear Parents and Carers

Resilience is really a secular word for what religion was trying to say with the word faith. Without a certain ability to let go, to trust, to allow, we won’t get to any new place.
—Richard Rohr

Welcome back to another school year. I hope and trust that all families had a wonderful Christmas holiday and a very good start to 2024. It was wonderful today to see the children return, and in the case of our Kindergarten students, start their school journey from the beginning. Aside from our new Kinder students, we have 19 new students in Grades 1 – 6. The staff have spent the last 4 days in professional learning days, and many days prior to that were spent in getting ready for the school year. We are all excited to see the children return.

The quote above comes from the America Franciscan priest Richard Rohr. I thought it an apt quote to start the year. Every year all of us start with some hopes for the year, even if expressed only to ourselves. It seems that many of the hopes involve some change and change always involves some degree of trust and letting go. Today, many kinder parents ‘let go’ of their children, as their sons and daughters took their first steps into formal education. I think of last year’s Year 6 parents, whose children are starting High School this year. Or perhaps we have older children, who may be starting university, careers or getting married. For the people we love in our lives, and for own selves, change is inevitable. My hope for all of our community members is that when dark clouds gather around the change, we have the courage and faith to stay the course, knowing that we don’t have to have all the answers or solutions.

2024 School Theme

Last week, our Acting Religious Education Coordinator Amanda Basedow skilfully led the staff in a spirituality day, at the parish centre at Curtin. Part of the day was spent with the parish community in Eucharistic celebration. During the day, we explored our theme for the year, which is to ‘flourish’. Specifically, our scripture text for the year comes from Psalm 92:13 Planted in the House of the Lord; they will flourish. To flourish is more than doing very well. It is more than achieving excellent test results. A person could do those things, but at great cost to themselves or those around them. To flourish is to see one’s whole self grow and bear fruit for others – it is about using one’s intellectual, physical, emotional and spiritual gifts to make the world a better place. Sts Peter and Paul’s mission, as a school, is to contribute strongly to the lifelong flourishing of all of students.

New Families

Today we welcomed 31 Kindergarten students, and 21 new students from Grades 1 – 6. I would like to welcome the following families who are new to our school: Cabangal, Bainbridge, Bravo,Tomas Lele, Williamson, Raichura, Dulla, Khanna, Adhami, Alotaibi, Gomez Velez, McIntosh, Villavincencio, Bruce, Benedet, Cooper, Cockburn, Perkins, Wang, Pollock, Walter, Acharya, Montiel, Alsharif, Khadka, Hopkins and Yangden. My hope is that all of our students, returning or beginning, flourish through 2024.

New Staff

We welcome a number of new staff to Sts Peter and Paul this year:

• Samantha Mance, Acting Assistant Principal and 4M teacher;
• Natasha Kapantais, Year 1 teacher;
• Maddi Mertz, Year 1 teacher;
• Rebecca Wright, Kindergarten teacher;
• Samantha Stinziani, Year 5 teacher;
• Sarah Adam, Classroom Support Assistant;
• Liz Spiteri, Classroom Support Assistant;
• Molly Marsham, Classroom Support Assistant.

I welcome all of our new staff and ask our parent community to welcome and support them too, as you do so beautifully for all of our staff.

Week 2 Events

A reminder that our Year 5 teachers, and Samantha Mance, are joining our Year 5 students on their camp at Berry, from Monday – Wednesday next week. My thanks to Luke, Sam and Sam, for their commitment to the students. Our Meet and Greet night is next Thursday, February 8^th, at 6pm, starting in the school hall before proceeding outside. It would be wonderful to see all parents on the night.

Have a wonderful week with your families. I look forward to seeing you all over the coming days and weeks.

Best wishes

Cameron Johns

Principal

This year at Sts Peter and Paul, we are all called to ‘Flourish’ 

Welcome to 2024, and an extra special welcome to all the new families in our community. Our theme for 2024 is “Planted in the House of the Lord, they will flourish” Psalm 92:13. Throughout the year, we will be looking at the ways we can flourish, individually and as a school community and help those around us to flourish. 

Our Sacramental preparations for 2024 will begin with a Reconciliation Parent Information Night next Tuesday 6th February at 6:00 via Zoom. A link for this meeting will be sent out through Compass on Friday. If you are interested in being a ‘host’ for one of the Homegroups, we will be meeting online from 5:30pm, before the PIN to discuss what hosting entails.

Below is some information provided by Fr John regarding the Sacrament.

I am now inviting parents of baptised children in Year 3 (and above) to enrol them in the Parish’s Family-Based Sacramental Program for First Reconciliation. To enrol your child, please access or download the QKR! App.  Tap on ‘North Woden Transfiguration’, and tap ‘Sacraments’, fill in the form and make your online payment by Friday 2nd February 2022.

The program is dependent on the generosity of some parents to host or to co-host a family group. The role of a host is not difficult. Hosts will be required to attend an Information Session at 5.30pm, prior to the 6pm Tuesday 6th February, Parent Information Night via Zoom.

Dates to remember: 

TIMETABLE FOR THE SACRAMENT OF FIRST RECONCILIATION PROGRAM 2024

• RETURN OF ENROLMENT FORM, FEE AND HOST NOMINATION FORMS: Prior to Friday 2nd February 2024; forms to be completed online via Qkr! App.

• HOST GROUP LEADERS PREPARATION SESSION: Via Zoom 5.30pm Tuesday 6th February
• PARENT INTRODUCTORY NIGHT (All Parents): Via Zoom 6.00pm Tuesday 6th February
• PARENT SACRAMENTAL LEARNING OPPORTUNITY (Optional): Via Zoom 6.00pm Tuesday 20th February
• PRESENTATION MASSES: Each family to attend one of the following: Holy Trinity Church, Curtin 6.00pm Saturday 2nd March 2024  OR Holy Trinity Church, Curtin 9.30am Sunday 3rd March 2024

• RETREAT AND PRACTICE FOR CHILDREN: Holy Trinity School Hall 9.15am–2.15pm Friday 22nd March, 18 Theodore Street, Curtin

• SACRAMENTAL CELEBRATION: Holy Trinity Church, Curtin 6pm Tuesday, 7th May

Any enquiries can be directed to the Parish Office ( 6281 3999/  wodennorth@cg.org.au )

Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year C  Luke 5:1-11

Mark 1:29-39- He cured many who suffered from diseases of one kind or another.

This week’s gospel follows directly on from last week’s reading and, as is typical with Mark’s gospel, the events occur on the very same day. The urgency of the gospel is obvious in this week’s reading; Jesus had a very busy 24 hours! Having launched his public ministry in the synagogue earlier that day, Jesus accompanies his new disciples to meet some of their family and have a meal. However, on arriving at the home of Simon and Andrew, they find Simon’s mother-in-law is sick. Unlike the public displays of his healing power that preceded and will follow this episode, Jesus does not say anything but simply takes the woman by the hand and helps her up. Her response of beginning to wait on Jesus and his disciples is a faith response and a recognition of who Jesus is. A theme that runs through this gospel is that the disciples never fully understand who Jesus is. Here, a woman who has just met him recognises him as the Messiah and begins to serve him.

Still on the same day, we see the expansion of Jesus’ healing ministry. On this one day he has cast an unclean spirit out of a possessed man in the synagogue, healed Peter’s mother-in-law of a fever and then healed the crowds of people who came to the door. The next morning he announces that they will take the ministry to the whole region of Galilee. In a very simple way, the gospel of Mark has described the growth of Jesus’ ministry from very humble isolated examples to a deliberate reaching out to the people of an entire region.

Adapted from Greg Sunter

Blessings for the week ahead,

Amanda Basedow

Acting Religious Education Coordinator

Sts Peter & Paul Primary School, Garran

Sports Uniform & Library Days Term 1 2024

HAPPY BIRTHDAY

to those students who celebrated their birthday earlier in January or are celebrating their birthday this week

Gabriella S

Holly P

Paxton A

Alasdair D

Harper deS

Tracy C

Ariella J

Iaara M

Salma A

Charlie S

Olivia C

Finn B

Sophia W

Willem F

Shayden B

Thomas M

Charlotte H

Malama M

Abby D

Threadrina T

Hugo W

Viraj V

Audrey I

Ioanna M

Welcome to 2024! I hope you all had a lovely break and are excited for a busy year ahead full of good books and wonderful literary adventures! 

Just a few things to get everyone started…

Please take note of your child or children’s library days. Kinder- Year 4 must have a Library Bag to borrow books to take home. 

Mondays- 2M, KW & Library Admin

Tuesdays- 3M, 3W, 1W, KM

Wednesdays- 4M, 4W, 5W, 2W

Thursdays- 5M, 6W, 1M & Library Admin 

The Library is open at Lunchtimes (after eating time) on Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays for children to come and read, draw or play quietly.  

Happy reading!

Amanda Basedow 

Teacher Librarian

Welcome to the new school year. If you have any questions or concerns about your child’s learning, please contact your child’s classroom teacher. The Classroom Support Assistants work closely with the children each day but the Catholic Education privacy and confidentiality policies do not allow them to provide daily updates or share information about your child's learning progress. Thanks for your support.

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.

Ice creams are the only counter sales at lunch time in Term 1.

Purchase a “daily counter sales voucher” via Qkr! for your child to go to the canteen to collect an ice cream at lunchtime.

CANTEEN VOLUNTEER ROSTER

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

ARE YOU ABLE TO HELP OUT IN THE CANTEEN?

 Parent/carer helpers are most welcome in the Canteen.

A lending hand is always required and very much appreciated.

Helping in the Canteen is a great opportunity to meet new people and make a valuable contribution to the school.

 No doubt your child/ren will get a buzz from seeing you at the school.  So, if you have any spare time and would like to help out 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 add your selected time to the roster.

https://stpandp.schoolzineplus.com/Term1Roster

All volunteers must have a WWVP card.

CANTEEN REMINDERS

 Please ensure your child’s class is updated and CORRECT on Qkr! This is to avoid their lunch being misplaced.

If a lunch order has been placed, and your child is not at school please cancel the lunch order in your Qkr! activities by 8.45am that day. Flyer attached

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. 

It is usual practice for most schools to offer second-hand clothing at the uniform shop to families at a discounted price. Quality second-hand clothing can only be purchased during uniform hours.  We do understand that this may not be convenient for some families so please feel free to send me an email if you are unable to get to the uniform shop during its’ hours and I will do my best to attend your needs.

Lauretta Raccosta

Uniform Shop

Lauretta.raccosta@cg.catholic.edu.au

AUSTRALIAN DAMPER

INGREDIENTS

2 cups self raising flour

1 teaspoon salt

1 tablespoon butter, softened

1 cup milk

1 tablespoon chopped rosemary

1 teaspoon wattleseed

METHOD

Preheat oven to 220 degrees. Grease a baking sheet.

In a large bowl, stir together the flour and salt.

Use a pastry blender (or your hands) cut in the butter.

Make a well in the centre of the flour mixture and pour in the milk and water. Stir until dough comes together.

Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface and form into a round loaf 20 cm across.

Place the loaf onto the prepared pan and, using a sharp knife, cut a cross in the top.

Bake for 25 minutes, then lower temperature to 175 degrees. Continue to bake for an additional ten minutes. Loaf should be golden brown and the bottom should sound hollow when tapped.