Dear Parents and Carers

“If I could make you all a gift for Christmas, it would be that that you should realise that we are all more free than we suppose. We are freer to be growing persons – pathfinders, path-takers, path-stayers – than most people have told us, whether inside the Church or outside it. Sometimes people blandish us; sometimes they manipulate us: sometimes they bluff us, or blackmail us emotionally, or bully us. But what John and Jesus brought home to more than a few people – is that we can take possession of our own lives. We do not have to be diminished by the mean-spiritedness of others. Slavery may be contagious, but so is liberty. The path to both ways forks open in our own hearts.”

Peter Steele SJ, ‘Roadworkers’

This Sunday is the second Sunday of Advent, and it features John the Baptist, ‘preparing the way of the Lord’. The metaphor that the late Jesuit priest Peter Steele SJ uses for such a preparation is that of John being a roadworker: that is, tearing up an old road before it can be made smooth again. Peter Steele suggests Advent asks of us to ‘tear up such roads’ in our lives that may have the need to be made smooth again: habits, attitudes of the heart, dispositions. He encourages us by suggesting that we are capable of change – more capable than we think we are. Whatever else Christmas brings you in terms of gifts and presents, my hope for us all is that it also brings with it the capacity to change, where change is needed.

2025 Staff

The school staff for 2025 are listed below:

Principal: Cameron Johns

Assistant Principal: Samantha Mance

Religious Education Coordinator: Andrea McQuirk

Coordinator: Fron Garrett-Rumba

Classroom Support Teacher: Maryanne Armstrong

Kindergarten: Sarah Kennelly/Laura Williamson, Natasha Kapantais

Year 1: Sarah Walsh, Maddi Mertz

Year 2: Luke Gubler/Ruth de Valentin, Holly Audsley

Year 3: Andrea McQuirk/Fron Garrett-Rumba, Bridget Pigram

Year 4: Michele Halis-Pratt/Samantha Mance, Katie Birch/Rebecca Wright

Year 5: Samantha Stinziani, Sarah Cunneen

Year 6: Katie MGgregor, Paul Jenkins

Front Office Reception: Trish Collis

Initial Lit Coordinator: Marie-Ann Barrett

Japanese Teacher: Amanda de Jongh

Performing Arts Teacher: Lisa Gill

Librarian (Semester 1): Michael Washington/Amanda de Jongh

Librarian (Semester 2): Amanda Basedow

Cooking Teacher: Robyn Moore

STEM Teacher: Nic Marsham

Accelerated Learning Coordinator: Sarah Kennelly

Years 3 – 6 Leadership Coordinator: Luke Gubler

Academic Enrichment Coordinator: Katie Birch

Robotics and Drones Coordinator: Paul Jenkins

School Chaplain:  Bernadette Johnson

Promotions Officer: Anne Perkovic

Classroom Support Assistants: Talia Wagner, Deki Wangmo, Jade Arranz, Cathy Shepherd, Anne Perkovic, Liz Spiteri, Molly Marsham, Melissa Saggers, Mel Harding, Sarah Adam, Chris Basedow (from Semester 2).

Canteen and Uniform Shop Officer: Lauretta Raccosta

Groundsman: Greg Egan

Departing Staff

We have a number of staff who are leaving Sts Peter and Paul, or taking leave, and I thank them all for their many years of service and dedication to the school: Sue Wales, Gayle Hunt and Mary de Smet are all retiring after many years of service to Catholic Education, and I thank them all for their extraordinary years of service, to Catholic Education in general and Sts Peter and Paul in particular. It has been a pleasure working with Sue (who has given over 40 years to Garran), Gayle and Mary, and I wish them all the best for the coming years. They will all be missed. Melissa Neit is transferring to St Anthony’s Primary School at Wanniassa, and I thank Mel for her years of service to Sts Peter and Paul and wish Mel all the very best as she takes her many gifts to St Anthony’s. She will be missed by us all, and St Anthony’s is a lucky school. Mel’s 2M class partner, Anne Hitchings, is stepping down from a classroom position, although we are very fortunate to retain Anne’s services as a relief teacher. I thank Anne for her many years of partnership with Sue Wales, and with Mel Neit this year, and her excellent care and teaching of the children. We also farewll Tricia Drabsch who is leaving to pursue a career as an Occupational Therapist, which she will excel at. 

We formally farewell Anna Williams who is continuing her role with ACARA (Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority), and Veronica Hall, who is continuing with the Public Service – I thank Anna and Veronica for their excellent work and equally excellent contributions to Sts Peter and Paul. We wish Tyra Peterson all the very best in her leave for 2025 and we look forward to her return in 2026. Finally, I would like to acknowledge and thank our Parish Priest, Monsignor John Woods, who is leaving the Parish of the Transfiguration, and moving to the South Belconnen parish (which includes St Vincent’s and St Matthew’s). Monsignor John has also been a great supporter of the school, its staff and the children and their families, and we will miss him very much. The school will have the opportunity to farewell Fr John at the Year 6 Graduation Mass.

Important 2024 Dates

A reminder of the following dates for the remainder of the school year:

• Vinnies Christmas appeal items are collected from the school. Please have all items in by this Friday.
• Year 6 Graduation Mass: 12pm, Curtin.
• Reports are published Tuesday December 10^th.
• Class lists are sent home in hard copy Tuesday December 11^th.
• End-of-year Music Performance for all grades, with family picnic (Christmas Carols): Tuesday December 10^th, 6pm.
• Kindergarten Nativity Story, 12pm, Thursday December 12^th.
• Fun Day – Year 6 – Monday December 16^th.
• Year 6 Graduation Dinner: Monday December 16^th.

Last Day and First Day

A reminder that the last day of the school year for students is Monday December 16^th. School resumes next year on Tuesday February 4^th.

I would like to thank all parents for their wonderful support of the staff and school this year. It is greatly appreciated by me, and all the staff. I wish all of our families the very best for the Christmas and holiday period, and I look forward to seeing our new and returning families next year.

Best wishes

Cameron Johns

Principal

Sts Peter and Paul Primary School

St Vincent de Paul Christmas Appeal

Thank you so much to all the families in our community for their continued generosity during our Vinnies Christmas Appeal. Our donations will be collected on Friday. If you would still like to donate before midday on Friday, please feel free to drop off donations at the Christmas tree. 

Graduation and End of Year Mass – Church of the Transfiguration, 12 noon

As a school community, we will gather in prayer to farewell the graduating class of 2024 and celebrate the end of the school year. Mass will be celebrated by Fr Woods in the Church of the Transfiguration, Curtin. Students will be travelling to and from the Church by bus. A Compass consent note has been sent to all families. We ask that the consent to travel is submitted by Thursday 5 December. All families are warmly invited to attend.

Gospel - Luke 3:1-6

Second Sunday of Advent (Year C)

John the Baptist proclaims a baptism of repentance.

The second and third weeks of Advent this year focus particularly on the role of John the Baptist as the one who prepared the way for Jesus and announced his coming. It continues the theme of preparation that was begun last week, but still, rather than preparing for the birth of Jesus, we are exploring the wider theme of preparation. The gospel writer includes a quote from Isaiah in which the prophet says, ‘Prepare a way for the Lord.’ (Often translated as ‘Prepare the way of the Lord’.) The application of this passage to John the Baptist is a logical one. This gospel emphasises that John was preaching ‘a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins’. Throughout the gospel of Luke, the recognition of sinfulness and the desire to repent and seek forgiveness is the prelude to receiving God’s favour.

This gospel makes it clear that one way in which we can prepare a way for the Lord is to recognise our faults and failings and to seek forgiveness. It is only through such repentance that we can make ourselves receptive to the love of God. The only preparation of the way that is necessary for the Lord is a personal preparation to be receptive. We are absolutely assured of God’s love. The problem is that we often feel that we are undeserving of that love or are unable to receive it. When we are called to ‘Prepare a way for the Lord’ it is a call to prepare a way in our own hearts – to break down the barriers that we have put up; to clear the obstacles that we have placed in the path. God’s love will find a way! We simply make the way easier for ourselves to recognise God’s love if we ‘Prepare a way’.

Adapted from Greg Sunter

I would like to thank you all for your support and kindness during my time as Acting Religious Education Coordinator, particularly in terms of our social justice initiatives this term. I feel incredibly grateful to work in a community that values all its members and places the core message of Catholicism at the forefront of all interactions.

Blessings for the week ahead,

Sarah Walsh

Religious Education Coordinator (Acting)

HAPPY BIRTHDAY

to those students who are celebrating their birthday this week

Phoebe E

Hugo B

Maxwell M

William B

Odin V

Olivia P

Emily G

Poppy de S

Isabella C

Ana Q

Cameron B

And to those celebrating their birthday in the rest of December

Archie S

Ollie S

Charlotte R

Leo H

Yuki S

Ghensey Julianne S

Elena M

Isla C

Hugo VdG

Livette T

Joseph N

Carter B

Daemie P-O

Pushti R

Reuvena N

Eleanor M

Thomas O

FIND YOUR JOY

Play with children

Get out in nature

Smile

Travel

Get lost in a good book

Lie and look up at a tree

Sing out loud

Go for a walk

Have a cuppa and chat with your bestie

Compliment a stranger

Dance to a favourite song

Turn mundane chores into an adventure

Exercise

Volunteer to help someone 

Take a nap

Watch a fav movie again

Take time to smell the roses .... literally

Clean out a cupboard or drawer

Take time to cook and slowly eat a yummy meal

Watch a sunset or sunrise

Walk on the beach

Hug

Eat chocolate

Listen to children laugh or sing

Get the tissues out and read some memories from some of our Year 6 students.

Kindergarten – Jack M

 My first memory at Sts Peter and Paul was going to the zoo for my first time on an excursion with my Mum as a parent helper. We saw a peacock and the class went wild. After the excursion my Mum took me to get a donut. My favourite memory was when a fox got into the school and everyone was scared and someone was eating a sandwich and the fox took it right out of the kid’s hands. My teacher was Mrs de Smet and I couldn't ask for a better kindergarten teacher because she was patient and helped anyone and anything they needed help with. 

Year 1 – Gabriella S

 I was in 1 White with Miss Ellis for the first term and then Mrs Wales, Mrs Hackwill and Mrs De Valentin, they were all such lovely teachers, and I will miss them all so much. That year me and Yianna were best friends and every day we planned a play date that was supposed to go for 4 days. I remember that I couldn’t wait for the last day of school because I got to dress up in free clothes for my birthday and I couldn’t wait to wear my green and purple butterfly dress. 

Year 2 – Eliana B

 Year 2 was a blast, an interest in math sparked and a passion for writing strengthened. It was my first year participating in the swimming and athletics carnival races. Even though I didn’t place, I still had an excellent time. My teacher was Miss Walsh and she was great. It was her first year teaching but it felt like she had the experience of someone who had been teaching for 50 years. Anyway, Year 2 was full of adventure, swimming, lock owns, Harry Potter and so much more. 

 

Year 3 - Toby T

It was my first year as a senior, meaning that it was my introduction to the senior bathrooms and senior playground. It was also the second year we had covid and online school. My teachers were Mrs de Jongh and Mrs Birch. Look, I barely remember anything from Year 3, however one of the most unforgettable memories was in Year Three, and that’s what I like to call, the great wipeout, basically most of the boys just went to Marist, and my homeboy, Ollie was one of them. The great wipeout, however, did prove who was loyal and who wasn’t, you know the quote, “hard times show the truest of friends” or something like that, I don’t know who made it though.  

Year 4 – Olivia P 

In Year 4, I had Miss Walsh again, the only difference was I had her in 2022. She was still that kind, caring person. In 4W we still had a lot of fights, but she was one of the best teachers to resolve problems. In Year 4 we had our first secret Santa, I had Natalie (it was still a 3/4 class, I was just in Year 4) and I made her a cat doorstop out of wood, it was an orange cat, it was about  1½ books tall with a wooden wedge screwed to the back to make it a doorstop, I made it with my dad and it took us about a week to make it because my dad cut it into a cat shape then I painted it. We still had to wait for it to dry. The person who had me as Secret Santa me a PEN. I was thinking I wasted all my week making a doorstop just to get a pen, but Natalie was so happy, so I didn’t waste my time. Miss Walsh was a really caring teacher just like I wrote in Year 2’s memory. I made Miss Walsh a little cactus decoration with wood too and the other day when I walked in to do Friday prayer in her class with Zozo, I saw it on the shelf (it’s been there for 2 whole years) it was incredible because I forgot I made it and it shows how caring she is.  

  

Year 5 – Indie G

Year Five camp was the best! We would stay up, play games, do fun activities, and be with friends. Not to mention the funny moments. However, the things that made Year Five special were the teachers. They were happy to join in on the jokes and they always made it special because of their personalities. If you were sad, they would make you happy, if you were lonesome then they would make you fulfilled. Miss Garrett was sweet and gentle, and Mr Gereis was fun and kind. l will never forget them because they will always have memories closest to my heart. Especially during Matilda. I loved having Miss Gowing around. She was kind, caring and sweet, not to mention her choreographing skills! I miss her and will always because she was an amazing teacher!

 Year 6 2024 – Isabella T

 In year six I had Mrs McGregor, she always pushed me to work harder and step out of my comfort zone from time to time. I enjoyed all the fun days I experienced such as going to the National Art Gallery, Treetops, and going to the AIS. Camp was so fun, and the food was even better. I had the cutest kinder buddy ever who probably thought I was weird since I would randomly come up to him and scare him from time to time. In Year Six we had a prac teacher. She was the best. She made lessons very enjoyable and brightened up the classroom. Then there was market day. It was one of the best days. Amy, Lucia and I made a boost juice stall, which in my opinion was one of the best stalls. I also did rostrum, which is where you do a speech. Even though I didn't qualify, I still tried my best and I enjoyed it very much. When high school felt like a billion years away it now feels so close.

NETBALL UNIFORM RETURNS

All uniforms MUST be returned to school before the end of term to the collection tub at the front office. 

2025 WINTER NETBALL SEASON

Expressions of interest are now open for the 2025 Winter season. Please include your child's name here: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1mqy0L_nao-AMDIKsK6Ftjekmq20tNPNt/edit?usp=drivesdk&ouid=114452892877626940704&rtpof=true&sd=true

Things to note for 2025:

SCNA have realigned the category memberships to better align with Netball Australia best practice. Therefore, SET will be Year 2 only; GO will be Years 3 and 4, and Juniors will remain as Years 5 and 6.

Netball ACT have increased their costs. Fees are estimated for each age group as follows:

SET (Year 2) - $224.49

GO (Year 3 and 4) - $244.49

JUNIORS (Years 5 and 6) - $279.49

Fees will be confirmed in early 2025.

Mrs Lucy Webb

Netball Coordinator 

stspandpnetball@gmail.com 

Performing Arts Club News!

A very busy time for our club members who will be wrapping up the year with a series of performances.

Choir Club have been working together to prepare for the Southern Cross Care performance tomorrow. They will also be leading the singing at our Carols Night next Tuesday.

Drama Club have had a very busy few weeks preparing for a range of performances. Students will be supporting the choir at the performance on Thursday. The team have spent the semester writing, scripting and rehearsing their own play ….. Harry Potter and the Reversal Spell. They will be performing next Tuesday after recess and then taking on the task of hosting the Carols Night in the evening.

Mallet Band, a small but mighty group, will be performing at the Southern Cross Care on Thursday and then again at the Carols night on Tuesday.

SPP Pipers will be performing on Thursday and you can hear them play at the Carols Night on Tuesday. The band has also been invited to perform at the Canberra’s College of Pipes and Drummers end of year concert next Saturday.

Keep an eye on this space for the clubs being offered in 2025.

Last week we saw the students up and down and up and down competing in the best showcasing of explosive power Sts Peter and Paul has ever witnessed. If you felt the shaking of the earth don’t be afraid – that was simple BANGALONG bounding their way to victory this week in the House Cup Competition, winning the sack race for the right to hold the House Cup. This Friday we shall see competition like never before combining all of our previous events into one. The students will be going head to head to head to head in an obstacle course designed to test them in ways they have never been challenged before. This is the final week of competition before our all stars come in to play and will be a final chance to compete for house glory. Will we see our first repeat victor at Sts Peter and Paul? Or will we see Iraga come storming through to claim house pride?

This week in the kitchen and garden we had a lot of fun – as usual!

The children made Christmas Crack in the kitchen. It is definitely a sometimes food but a delicious one to have at this time of year. The children had a great time getting into the Christmas spirit. I hope there was some left to share with family by the time the children got home!

In the garden we pruned and watered. The children had a lot of fun sorting seeds from our pea pods that were not harvested in time. Our seed pots are doing well and we will be planting seedlings this Friday in garden club. Anyone is welcome.

Call for help

We have worked very hard this year to make our garden grow and we are expecting a very hot summer. At this time of year we send out an SOS for helpers to water over the holidays. If you would be available to water at any time for a week or so (or only a few days) could you please email robyn.moore@cg.catholic.edu.au.

We will put together a roster, meet with any volunteers and explain what needs to be done and when. It is really very simple and would be a great help to the Garden Club.

2025

Garden Club will run again in 2025 on a Friday at lunch time after eating time. If you have any questions about what we do in the Kitchen Garden Program, please email Katie Birch katherine.birch@cg.catholic.edu.au.

Merry Christmas

On behalf The Garden Club crew we wish all Sts Peter and Paul families a fabulous Christmas and joyous New Year.

We look forward to more fun next year so watch this space in 2025.

The Garden Club

MRS P’s CHRISTMAS ROCKY ROAD

Ingredients

3 x 200 g blocks Cadbury milk chocolate

1 pkt snake lollies

1 pkt milk bottle lollies

1 pkt marshmallows

Christmas bits suggestions

Red & green M&Ms

Raspberry lollies

Desiccated coconut (leave white or dye using red or green food colouring)

Christmas sprinkles or 100s & 1000s

Any Christmassy coloured lollies that you think will taste good

Method

Grease and line a 19cm by 29cm slice pan with baking paper.

Chop lollies roughly and place in a large bowl.

Melt the chocolate, one block at time, in the microwave for 1 minute (may need an extra 10-20 seconds).

Add to chopped lollies.

Add optional extras and mix well.

Press mixture into prepared pan, refrigerate for at least 2-3 hours until set.

Cut into bite size pieces.

As the year draws to a close, stock is very low.  

We are reducing our stock in the canteen to prepare for our fridges and freezers to defrost during the school break. 

Thank you very much for your support.

If your child orders a product that becomes unavailable, we will substitute the item with something to the same value or like.

We provide a Gluten Free Menu on Qkr! for the children with gluten allergies.

  Gluten items are hard to come by, please do not order these items unless you have a gluten allergy. 

If your child does not have any lunch, they will be provided with a vegemite sandwich.

If any child has a “Mrs R school hat”, can you kindly bring it back to the canteen – please DO NOT leave them in lost property.

Could all Canteen invoices please be paid before the end of the year.  Payments are made via Qkr! “Canteen Invoices”.

Canteen will be closed on the first Wednesday of Term 1 for set up.   It will reopen again on Thursday 6 February 2025.

Mrs R would like to thank ALL the volunteers that helped this year in the Canteen! Your assistance was very much appreciated. 

Looking forward to enjoying your company in the canteen in 2025!

If you would like to help out in the canteen in 2025, please email me your details

Thank you, Lauretta Raccosta, Canteen 

Lauretta.Raccosta@cg.catholic.edu.au

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 2025?

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

UNIFORM SHOP EXTENDED OPENING HOURS

FOR 2025

 FRIDAY 31 JANUARY 2025

9AM – 1PM  

School holiday opening hours via appointment only

https://stpandp.schoolzineplus.com/UniformShop2025

 MONDAY 3 FEBRUARY 2025

10.30AM – 12.30PM  

School holiday opening hours via appointment only

https://stpandp.schoolzineplus.com/UniformShop2025

TUESDAY 4 FEBRUARY 2025

8.30AM – 9.30AM

Usual uniform shop hours, no appointment necessary

 However, beat the crazy rush next year and get in before this year is through to purchase any school uniform needed!

Uniform can still be purchased via Qkr! and delivered to your child till the end of the year!