Dear Parents and Carers

“The hobbits’ ability to remain cheerful and unbowed in face of hardship and suffering is one of their most endearing qualities…Many religious philosophers, like St Augustine, urge us to rejoice and be glad, because life is short, suffering is temporary and our true home is in heaven, where our reward will be great.”

“Tolkien’s Six Keys to Happiness” – Gregory Bassham

I am currently working with some students in the Year 6 Reading Extension Program. We are reading Part 1 of J.R.R. Tolkien’s classic, The Lord of the Rings. Tolkien was a Catholic and many of his writings have Christian themes woven through them. One question we have been wrestling with is, ‘Why was the most powerful object in Middle Earth entrusted to one the least powerful characters?’ The students have also read an essay by Gregory Bassham, titled ‘Tolkien’s Six Keys to Happiness’. It is a wonderful essay. The second key is called, ‘Make Light of your Troubles’. The quote above addresses that very idea. We know that life carries with it demands that at times can feel heavy. Tolkien, through the characters of the hobbits, urges us to make light of our troubles and keep them in perspective, knowing that they are passing. What remain are faith, hope and love, and the gifts we make of them in the lives of others.

Book Fair

Last week, we held our annual Book Fair in the library. It was, as always, a very popular event for our community. We had many families visit the library and many children were excited about the varieties of books that were available to purchase. My thanks to Amanda Basedow for her excellent work, and to the many staff who assisted with staffing the fair.

Athletics Carnival

My very great gratitude continues, and I would like to express my thanks to our Sports Coordinator, Luke Gubler, for organizing an excellent carnival last Thursday. We were blessed with the weather and the children had a very enjoyable day. My thanks too to the many parent volunteers we had – we couldn’t have done it without you – and to the staff for their excellent support. My great thanks too to the senior students at St Mary MacKillop College, who provided great assistance.

Student Achievement

Continuing the themes of sport, yesterday we had 50 students participate in the PSSA Cross Country Carnival. One of our students has progressed to the A.C.T. Finals: Isabel W, 6W. My congratulations to Isabel, who came first in her race. A wonderful acheivement! 

Indie G has also used her gifts in a way that deserves particular mention. On Friday, Indie is being recognized at a ceremony at the John Curtin Medical Research Centre, A.N.U., for raising a substantial amount of funds for brain cancer research. Indie and her friend raised the funds by creating and selling their own jewelry. Congratulations to Indie for a wonderful achievement and a great recognition of your generosity and gifts.

Confirmation Stole Night & PJ Day

A reminder that this Thursday afternoon, at 5.30, parents and students in Year 6, who are receiving the Sacrament of Confirmation this year, are gathering with other students in the hall at Holy Trinity, Curtin, to make stoles for the sacramental night. My thanks to Amanda Basedow for coordinating the evening. On Friday, a reminder we are holding our Vinnies Winter Appeal, and students are encouraged to wear PJs for the day, and bring in a donation of warm clothing or toiletries. Again, my thanks to Amanda Basedow for coordinating the day.

School Reports and Parent Teacher Interviews

As we enter the second half of the school term, teachers are very busy preparing the Semester 1 reports. Reports will be published via Compass on the afternoon of Monday in Week 10 (July 1^st). Parent/Teacher interviews will take place in Week 9. Online booking forms will be made available to parents in the coming days.

Have a wonderful week with your families.

Best wishes

Cameron Johns

Principal

Sacramental News 

Please continue to pray for our students as they prepare to make the Sacrament of Confirmation. 

It was lovely seeing so many families at the Presentation Masses over the Weekend. We look forward to seeing you at the Stole Night this week. 

DATES FOR THE SACRAMENT OF CONFIRMATION 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

Vinnies Winter Appeal 2024

Every year our school supports the Vinnies Winter Appeal. Over the next few weeks we are seeking donations to help those in need this Winter. Classes have donation tubs and we are asking for the following items in particular. On Friday June 7th (Week 6), students are invited to dress in their PJs in exchange for their donations. Thank you in advance for helping this worthy cause. 

TENTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME YEAR B

Gospel- Mark 3:20-35- It is the end of Satan.

Family members are often the last ones to allow us to change from who we have been to who we want to become. Unintentionally, family will sometimes continue to treat us as the child we were growing up in the family environment, despite our various accomplishments and changes in direction. Sometimes it’s easier to continue to treat someone we love as we have always treated them, rather than learning to adjust and accommodate a new way of relating. When you’re the one seeking to establish a new life or a new way of operating, family can appear to be ‘keeping you in a box’.

In a style typical of the Gospel of Mark, the two incidents with Jesus’ family ‘sandwich’ and focus attention on the interaction with the Scribes who accuse Jesus of being under the influence of Satan. Like the family of Jesus who don’t want to see him for who he really is becoming, or has become, the Scribes misunderstand Jesus’ fight against evil. Jesus dismisses their claims through his use of the image of binding the strong man before entering the strong man’s house. Jesus has ‘bound’ Satan – the strong man – proving himself the stronger and has set about undoing the work of evil in the world.

Today’s gospel paints a picture of Jesus’ family wanting him to play safe and remain the person they’ve known him to be, rather than growing into his ministry and preaching his challenging message. They can see that his actions are causing the authorities to pay attention and their reaction is to try to get Jesus to stay under the radar; to live small.

Adapted from Greg Sunter

Blessings for the week ahead,

Amanda Basedow

Religious Education Coordinator (Acting)

HAPPY BIRTHDAY

to those students who are celebrating their birthday this week

Evelyn H

Mia SR

Felix B

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 5-6

Reaching Out To Others

Our School Wide Positive Behaviour program continues with a focus for this fortnight on Reaching Out To Others. Our Year 2s are making new friends by asking others to join in their games. While our Year 4s are offering to help someone sitting by themselves, by encouraging them to find a friend to play with. Our teachers have been commenting on how many new friendships have been formed, this fortnight, as we reach out to others.

What a Magical Book Fair!!

What a fantastic turnout for our Magical Book Fair! 

THANK YOU everyone for your support for our Library fundraiser - what a wonderful three days! I have loved seeing the excitement on the children’s faces! A special thank you to our wonderful staff volunteers for giving up their time to help run the book fair, I am grateful to you all.

Total books sold: 439!!!

We had over $7700 in sales, of which our Library gets a percentage to purchase lots of new resources and books for the Library! 

If you have a book on order from the Book Fair, it will be delivered as soon as it arrives by post from Scholastic. 

Amelia McInerney Author Visit for Kinder, Year 1 & Year 2- this Thursday!

Internationally published children’s author Amelia McInerney was born and raised in Melbourne but has spent her adult life living in the US, UK, Canada, as well as in four states of Australia. She has finally come to a stop in Canberra, where she spends most days writing kids' books, staring out the window thinking about kids' books, and occasionally just plain staring out the window. When she's not writing, thinking or staring, Amelia likes to help people while simultaneously playing with slime; an unusual combination that makes her other job doing ultrasounds highly suitable. She also enjoys yoga and snorkelling, although not simultaneously.

Amelia’s first picture book, The Book Chook, was a CBCA Notable Book 2020 and was shortlisted for the Speech Pathology Australia Picture Book of the Year. Her subsequent titles include: Bad Crab, My Bird Bertie, Mary Had a Little Lamb: What Really Happened and Who Fed Zed? (the latter also shortlisted for SPA Book of the Year and long listed for ABDA Book of the Year.) By far, Amelia's favourite vegetable is the potato and she has a penchant for it in all cooked forms. She also has three kids, two chickens and a hermit crab.

Library Days- borrowing will resume as normal this week. 

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

Last Friday we went to the National Gallery of Australia on one of our Leadership Days. We learned a lot about trees and did activities about them. We learned how trees can tell a story and were asked to draw our favourite tree in our school.

Sts Peter & Paul is a good school.

Isabella & Cameron

Year 6 

VEGETABLE LASAGNA

Ingredients

1 large onion, diced

3 small zucchinis, grated

1 capsicum, choppped

1 large eggplant, cubed

2 carrots, grated

1 small sweet potato, cubed

2 tbsp tomato passata sauce

1 pkt lasagna sheets

Method

Preheat oven to 180 degrees, grease a large ovenproof dish and set aside.

Heat oil in a large frying pan, add onions and stir until translucent then add the remaining veggies and cook for a few minutes.

Add passata and turn down to low, cover and simmer for 2 hours.

Cover the base of the prepared dish with the lasagna sheets.

Place 1/3 of the veggie mix over the lasagna sheets and top with grated cheese.

Repeat this two more times ending with the cheese. Bake in oven for 30 minutes, until golden.

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 7,  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.

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 to your needs.

Please note, the uniform shop is unable to accept donations now. We will advise once we will accept donations again.

Lauretta Raccosta

Uniform Shop

Lauretta.raccosta@cg.catholic.edu.au