Dear Parents and Carers

Mothers’ Day Celebrations

I would like to begin by wishing all of our mums a very happy Mothers’ Day for last Sunday. I hope you were all justly spoiled and had a day where you felt affirmed and blessed for the immeasurable gift you are in the lives of your child or children. At Sts Peter and Paul, we celebrated Mothers’ Day with a breakfast and coffee van, with class art on display. This was followed by a wonderful assembly by Kindergarten, which celebrated the gifts of mothers. Children also had an opportunity to buy a present from the Mothers’ Day stall, for their mum or significant female family member or friend. All of this was possible because of the work of many people. My thanks to Katherine Jones and the Community Council for their great work and support for the breakfast, coffee and present stall; to Scott and Kelly Bush for donating significant quantities of food to the breakfast stall; to the Kindergarten team for the wonderful assembly; and to all teachers for coordinating their class’ art works. All came together to contribute to a wonderful morning.

Enrolment Period

All Catholic schools are in the formal enrolment period. Parents are encouraged to submit any applications for 2025 enrolments within this time period. Sts Peter and Paul’s final Open Day is on Tuesday May 21^st, from 9am – 11.30am. We are experiencing a very healthy number of enrolments and look forward to welcoming our new students in 2025.

Author Visit – Sts Peter and Paul

Last Monday, the author Tristan Bancks visited Sts Peter and Paul, and spoke to our Years 3-6 classes about writing, reading and the creative process. He was very entertaining and informative, and staff and students alike enjoyed his visit. My thanks to our REC and Teacher Librarian Amanda Basedow, for organising his visit, and for helping to create and sustain a rich culture that values reading and books.

Confirmation

Students in Year 6 have begun their Sacramental journey with the Sacrament of Confirmation. Last night we held our Information Night, online. The students receive the Sacrament in late June, on one of two nights. We are celebrating the Sacrament with our sister school, Holy Trinity, at Curtin. My thanks to Amanda Basedow, our acting Religious Education Coordinator, and Katie McGregor, our Year 6 teacher, for their hard work and great support of our families. My thanks too to Fr John Woods for his faithful and enduring leadership and support.

Staff Professional Learning

Late this week and next week, members of the school community are participating in some significant professional learning. Thursday and Friday this week sees the A.C.T. Teacher Librarian Conference take place, over two days, on Thursday and Friday. Amanda Basedow will be attending those days. Monday and Tuesday next week see the conference ‘A Current of Grace – Renewing Catholic Education’ take place, at the Australian Catholic University. A large number of staff will be attending from the Archdiocese, and from around the country. Amanda Basedow will be attending the two days, on Monday and Tuesday, and I will be attending on the Monday. Tuesday sees me attending ‘Siloam’, which takes place once a term for principals, in Terms 2 – 4, and serves as a mini-retreat. Samantha Mance will capably lead the school in my absence.

Rostrum Public Speaking Competition

Next week, students in Year 6 compete in the school Rostrum Public Speaking competition. Sam Mance and I will be the judges. The winner goes on to compete in the zone competition, and if successful, goes onto compete at the A.C.T. competition. I wish all of our Year 6 students the very best for next week, and with all of their preparation.

Have a wonderful week with your families.

Best wishes 

Cameron Johns

Principal

Day Breakfast and Liturgy

Thank you to the Community Council for our wonderful Mother’s Day breakfast last Friday. It was wonderful to see so many Mothers and Grandmothers being celebrated. A very big thank you to our Kinder students for a lovely Mother's Day Prayer Celebration and Sarah Kennelly, Mary de Smet, Laura Williamson and Rebecca Wright for preparing the students so beautifully. 

Thank you to the Year 6 parents who attended last night's Teams meeting for the Parent Information Night. 

DATES FOR THE SACRAMENT OF CONFIRMATION 2024

PRESENTATION MASSES: During the program of preparation please take your child to Mass for Presentation- 6.00pm Saturday 1 June 2024 OR 9.30am Sunday 2 June 2024

RECONCILIATION:

As part of the program of preparation please take your child to Reconciliation, any Saturday 5-5.30pm at Holy Trinity Church, Curtin

PARENT AND CHILD STOLE NIGHT:

Holy Trinity School Hall 5.30pm Thursday 6 June 2024, 18-20 Theodore Street, Curtin

RETREAT AND PRACTICE FOR CHILDREN:

Holy Trinity School Hall 9am-2.30pm Friday 14 June 2024, 18-20 Theodore Street, Curtin

SACRAMENTAL CELEBRATION: Families to attend one of the following nights:

Holy Trinity Church, Curtin 6pm Tuesday 18 June 2024

Holy Trinity Church, Curtin 6pm Wednesday 19 June 2024

Enquiries to: Parish of Transfiguration, North Woden,

3 Strangways Street, Curtin ACT 2605 or wodennorth@cg.org.au Ph.: 6201 3999

PENTECOST SUNDAY YEAR B

John 20:19-23- As the Father sent me, so I send you: Receive the Holy Spirit.

‘At Pentecost,’ says Pope Francis, ‘the Spirit made the apostles go forth from themselves and turned them into heralds of God’s wondrous deeds.’

The Pope mentions this in Evangelii Gaudium, his Apostolic Exhortation focused ‘on the proclamation of the Gospel in today’s world.’ In it, he points out that ‘Jesus wants evangelisers who proclaim the good news not only with words, but above all by a life transfigured by God’s presence.’

Highlighting that we are called ‘to pray and work,’ the Pope is concerned to encourage Christians to joy-filled action. Pentecost is not only about what we receive, but what we do in response.

However important or useful our interior prayers and personal pieties might be, any authentic response to the Spirit should make us look beyond ourselves. ‘Mystical notions without a solid social and missionary outreach are of no help to evangelisation,’ the Pope suggests. We are not called to be passive receptacles, storing up fuzzy feelings.

Action, therefore, is crucial for Christian living. While acknowledging the worthiness of initiatives like regular Eucharistic adoration, the Pope stresses that the Christian calling should never become ‘a privatised lifestyle.’ Our prayer should direct us to sharing the love of Christ with others, especially those in need.

‘In union with Jesus,’ the Pope says, ‘we seek what he seeks and love what he loves.’ So, at Pentecost we recall that having received the Spirit we are not meant to retreat from the world, but rather become Spirit-bearers to and in it.

Adapted from Nick Brodie

Blessings for the week ahead,

Amanda Basedow

Religious Education Coordinator (Acting)

HAPPY BIRTHDAY

to those students who are celebrating their birthday this week

Isaac K

Aija J

Riana R

Baron M

Wesley B

Awards will be presented at our assembly on Thursday 23 May at 2.15 in the school hall.

Principal's Award: Year 6

Learning Support Awards:

Alex B, 3W; Ari A, 3W; Abby D, 3W; Riyan G, 3W; Kirstyn L, 2M; Kolbe T, 4W; Baran M, 4W

(please note that LS awards are given to any child in the school that the Classroom Support Assistants have noticed doing something wonderful): 

At Sts Peter and Paul, we are all SainTS - Succeeding Together Safely.

This term we are unpacking our behaviour expectation of Succeeding. 

Succeeding means trying your best, having courage, and embracing challenges.

SWPB Fortnight Focus Weeks 3-4

Sharing Rights and Responsibilities

Our focus for the next fortnight is - Sharing Rights and Responsibilities. We are talking within our school community about how we can demonstrate this value in class and on the playground. Our Year One students are remembering that if they choose a game to play today they will let someone else choose the game tomorrow. They are also concentrating on cleaning up after themselves without having to be reminded. While our Year Six students are stepping up and helping staff or other students with responsibilities around the school.

All our students are to be commended for demonstrating the value of Sharing Rights and Responsibilities!

Tournament of Minds is a problem solving competition for teams of students from both primary and secondary years. Tournament's aim is to enhance the potential of our youth by developing diverse skills, enterprise, time management, and the discipline to work collaboratively within a challenging and competitive environment.

They are required to solve demanding, open-ended challenges from one of the following disciplines, English or STEM, over a period of several weeks and then attend a competition to present their solutions. Practise sessions usually take place at lunch and recess and requires each child to make a commitment.

As in previous years, we will be entering a team into this competition. If you would like your child (Years 3-4 or Years 5-6) to be considered for this competition, please email Katie Birch at katherine.birch@cg.catholic.edu.au by 22/5/24.

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.  

Years 3-6 Author visit- Tristan Bancks- Monday 13th May 

On Monday, Years 3-6 had a great visit by Author Tristan Bancks. My thanks to the parents who purchased books, the students were very excited to get them signed by the author! 

The National Simultaneous Storytime- next Wednesday 22nd May at 12pm

National Simultaneous Storytime (NSS) is held annually by the Australian Library and Information Association (ALIA). Every year a picture book, written and illustrated by an Australian author and illustrator, is read simultaneously in libraries, schools, pre-schools, childcare centres, family homes, bookshops and many other places around the country. Now in its 24th successful year, it is a colourful, vibrant, fun event that aims to promote the value of reading and literacy, using an Australian children's book that explores age-appropriate themes, and addresses key learning areas of the National Curriculum for Foundation to Year 6.

Event Information- NSS receives positive media coverage and generates a great deal of community interest. 2023 was our biggest and most successful NSS to date with over 2.18 million participants at over 59, 000 locations!

This year NSS takes place on Wednesday 22 May 2024 at 12:00pm and we would love it if you could join us! Everyone can join NSS, it doesn't matter whether you are at home, a school, a public library or even a university library! Register below to participate

Oh, how I love the sky…. And moving through The marvellous BLUE

About the author
Aura Parker is an award-winning illustrator, writer and designer. Her picture books are joyful with a playful sense of humour, brimming with details to explore. Aura Parker’s storytelling through words and pictures inspires imagination, courage and confidence in young readers as well as a love, curiosity and passion for nature.

Our school will be participating in the NSS in the School Hall at 12pm and we are already very excited! In the lead up to the big event, all classes will be completing a range of activities using themes from the book. 

Don’t forget to order your Blue Themed Special Lunch through QKR! My thanks to Mrs R for organising this wonderful special lunch to go with our NSS day. 

The Book Fair is coming

Instead of Book Club this term, we are having our annual Book Fair in Week 5! The Book Fair is always an exciting event at Sts Peter and Pauls and this year is going to be better than ever! Remember every sale provides resources for our Library and is our major Library fundraiser for the year. 

Happy reading!

Amanda Basedow 

Teacher Librarian

Fruit muffins were on the menu in the kitchen this week as the children learnt about the fruit group. The muffins were delicious, and the children learnt about sharing, taking turns as well as mixing and measuring. So much to learn in the kitchen!!

In the garden we watered all our new plants, checked on our Indigenous garden and planted some beans and lettuce that can be used in our kitchen. It is great to see our garden grow!

If you have any questions or would like more information about the program, please email katherine.birch@cg.catholi.edu.au.

The Garden Club

APPLE PIE

Ingredients

1 slice bread

1/4 cup pie apples

pinch cinnamon

1 tspn honey

Method

Cut crusts off bread.

Roll bread with rolling pin or can.

Place bread into muffin tins.

Put in oven for 5 minutes at 180 degrees.

Mix apple, cinnamon and honey.

Cook again for 5 minutes.

Enjoy with yogurt, if desired.

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.

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

WEEK 4,  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 in the canteen?

TERM 2 CANTEEN ROSTER OUT NOW

 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.

Please ensure you have your WWVP card.

https://stpandp.schoolzineplus.com/T2Roster

 

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.

BLUE Special Lunch Day

WEDNESDAY 22 MAY

The school will be holding its next special lunch day which falls on National Simultaneous Storytime day! 

Children will be able to order a BLUE BUN hot dog, BLUE drink and a BLUE treat for $7.00.

Orders available on Qkr! Now

Download the app on your mobile phone to place your order.

ORDERS CLOSE 9AM FRIDAY 17 MAY!

 Gluten Free options are available (not BLUE).

No other lunch orders will be available on that day.

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 opening hours and I will do my best to attend your needs.

Lauretta Raccosta

Uniform Shop

Lauretta.raccosta@cg.catholic.edu.au