Dear Parents and Carers

“Our Lord lived most of his time in ‘Ordinary time;’ and so did our Lady and so have all the countless millions of women and men who have tried to follow the shifting light of grace which has come their way, day by day, and year by year, throughout their lives…He was, his mother was, the apostles all were, walking in ordinary time: and it was out of that faithful walking, as we believe, that all the of the good of the world germinated and came to flower.”

- Peter Steele SJ

We are currently in the Church season of ‘Ordinary time.’ Ordinary time, as a Church season, refers to the liturgical period which does not celebrate Easter, Lent, Advent or Christmas. Another way of thinking about ‘ordinary time’ as a human reality is to see it as those times in our lives which are removed from what we might call ‘peak experinces’, which nonetheless make up most of our days. Peter Steele reminds us, above, that they are no less graced. It is in the faithful rendering of our daily duties and efforts at love, in the simple acts of kindness as we move through our days, that God’s grace is made manifest and known, to those whom we encounter. J.R.R. Tolkien put it well: ‘It is the small acts of kindness that keeps the darkness at bay.’

Merici Musical

Today, students from Years 5 and 6 visited Merici College, at the College’s invitation, to see their performance of 'Legally Blonde Jr.'. It is an invaluable opportunity for our students, as it broadens their artistic horizons and allows them to see what is possible to perform. Given that our school is putting on a musical later this year, it is a timely opportunity for our students. My thanks to Merici for inviting us, and my thanks to our Years 5 and 6 teachers for organising our attendance.

NAIDOC Week

This week, schools around Australia are celebrating NAIDOC week. We are holding a liturgy tomorrow in the school hall, at 12pm. Parents are invited to attend if possible. Our Youth Ministry Team are leading us in our NAIDOC reflection. On Friday, Katie McGregor and Andrea McQuirk will be accompanying some of our Indigenous students to St Christopher’s Cathedral, where the Archbishop will be celebrating a Mass in celebration of NAIDOC week.

Carpark Safety

Parents are asked please to be mindful of the crossing in the school carpark. Pedestrians (of whatever age) have right of way when using the pedestrian crossing. I would ask parents to consider using the drop off line, please, where possible, in the morning. If a car is parked for the purpose of dropping off children, the car may take up the space for someone who needs to park the car for a considerable length of time. Please feel free to use the carline drop off in the morning, which is always supervised by a teacher, from 8.30am onwards.

Rostrum Regional Finals

On Thursday night, one of our Year 6 students, Poppy, will be representing Sts Peter and Paul at the Regional Rostrum Public Speaking competition. I am very proud of Poppy and I wish her the very best.

Principal PL

I am away for a short period of time in the coming days. On Friday, I am attending a symposium for non-government schools, organised by the A.C.T. Directorate. Next week I am interstate attending a course and visiting other schools. I am back on Thursday of week 2. During my absence, Samantha Mance will very capably lead the school.

New Playground Equipment

The school is getting a new junior playground installed in the coming weeks, which will be very exciting for our students and a wonderful addition to our playground. The installation was due to take place in the holidays, but the company found themselves delayed due to other work commitments. They are due to start in mid-August. It is anticipated to take one week, and will involve some minor, but manageable, disruption to the school during recess and lunch. I will keep the parent community informed of the coming installation.

Have a wonderful week with your families.

Best wishes

Cameron Johns

Principal

First Eucharist 

The Sacrament of First Eucharist will be celebrated at Holy Trinity, Curtin, on Saturday 20 September and Sunday 21 September 2025.

Who is eligible? 

Children in Year 4 or above who celebrated their First Reconciliation may be enrolled in the Parish’s Family-Based Sacramental Program for First Eucharist. 

Enrolment 

Enrolment by Friday 25 July must be done online using the Qkr! App. 

To enrol: Download the Qkr! app.

Tap on ‘North Woden Transfiguration Parish’.

Tap ‘Parish Payments and Sacraments’.

Choose ‘Sacrament’ from the top menu bar.

Tap ‘Sacrament of First Eucharist’.

Complete the form and make your online payment.

Next Tuesday the 29th of July at 6pm we are holding our Parent Information Night for First Eucharist via Microsoft Teams.

Here is the meeting link:

Microsoft Teams 

Join the meeting now

Meeting ID: 420 854 146 916 7

Passcode: nh9N8SS9

If you would like to host a Home Group and have any questions, please join the meeting from 5:30pm where we can clarify what this will look like.

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to reach out.

NAIDOC WEEK 

This Thursday (July 24th) the Youth Ministry team will lead the school in our NAIDOC Week Liturgy at 12pm. All families are welcome to join to pay respect to the First Nations people of our country. 

17th Sunday in Ordinary Time - Jesus’ Teaching on Prayer Luke 11:1-13

If we’ve ever wondered ‘how to pray’, we can find words of guidance in Jesus’ instructions to the disciples. He invites us to call God ‘Father’, an intimate term which indicates how God sees us, as his children. The words, ‘may your name be held holy’ could also be termed: ‘Father, may we always honour you, and know how special you are. There is no-one else like you’. Jesus encourages us to acknowledge and voice our desire to do God’s will in our lives, that God’s kingdom of love, goodness, mercy, compassion and salvation be our reality. We pray that our needs are met, and that our sins are forgiven. And just as God the Father forgives the sins of others. ‘And do not put us to the test’ could also sound like, ‘we pray that we can bear what life brings us, with your grace and with the help of the Holy Spirit’. God wants to hear from us more than we can imagine, and wants to give us all we ask for, in the name of his Son. 

From God’s Word, Daily Reflections, 2025

Yours in Christ, 

Andrea McQuirk 

Religious Education Coordinator

• Calm Down: Use ways like deep breathing or counting to stay calm when you’re upset.

Our Trivia Night Fundraiser is coming up soon — and it’s going to be a fantastic night of fun and community spirit!

We’re reaching out to parents who own or work for a business to ask if you’d consider donating a prize, gift voucher, or item for our Silent Auction & Raffle at the Trivia Night on Friday 19th September.

Every contribution—big or small—makes a meaningful impact. Funds raised will go toward upgrading our outdoor play equipment, helping create a better and more engaging space for our kids.

Your generosity also strengthens the connection between local families, businesses, and our school community.

If you are able to donate something, please contact Talena on 0412230704 or email stspandptrivianight@gmail.com. 

Thank you in advance for your support—we truly appreciate it!

School Community Council 

Welcome back to Term 3! We have a very fun and exciting term coming up in the Library. 

Term 3 Library dates to remember:

Library Lessons for Term 3 have changed! Please remember Library Bags!

Get excited for Book Week in Week 5. Stay tuned for more details soon!

 ISSUE PREVIEW | Scholastic Australia

Book Club issue 5 will be coming home this week.

Orders close Monday 11th August. It will then take up to two weeks for the books to arrive at school and be handed out. 

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. 

Please contact amanda.dejongh@cg.catholic.edu.au  if you have any questions regarding the Library or borrowing.

Keep reading!

Mr Washington and Mrs de Jongh

Welcome back to Term 3!

This term in the kitchen Year 2 and Year 6 will be cooking and learning about healthy eating in class.

Garden Club starts back up on Friday. It is on every Friday at lunch after eating time. Mrs Birch will make an announcement at morning assembly to remind everyone.

If you have any questions about the kitchen garden program, please email katherine.birch@cg.catholic.edu.au

The Garden Club

Kitchen and Canteen “Stock Drive"

To help stock our pantries for 2025, we are having a “Stock Drive" in Week 2 on Thursday 31 July.

We are asking students to come to school wearing silly socks, but in return they must bring an item to stock our pantries.

Each class will be asked to bring in a different item and there will be a prize for the class with the highest percentage of participation.

In each classroom, there will be a box to place the items.

We understand the cost-of-living crisis we are currently in, and we are not asking for expensive or branded items, generic brands are most welcomed! Not all students from a family need to bring in items to be able to wear silly socks, as long as one of the children brings in an item for their class. The issue will be deciding which class wants the prize more!

Your class items are listed below

Kinder - Brown paper bags

Yr 1 - Baking Paper (not greaseproof paper)

Yr 2 - Baking Paper (not greaseproof paper)

Yr 3 - Self Raising Flour (white or wholemeal)

Yr 4 - Plain Flour (white or wholemeal)

Yr 5 – Paper towel and/or muffin patty cases

Yr 6 – Sugar and/or oil or oil spray

Thanking you in advance, every little bit helps… much appreciated!

Mrs Moore & Mrs R

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 2 TERM 3, 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?

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 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/CanteenRoster2025

All volunteers must have a WWVP card.

Qkr! TIPS

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 shop 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 to your needs.

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.

Lauretta Raccosta

Uniform Shop Lauretta.raccosta@cg.catholic.edu.au

HAPPY BIRTHDAY

to the following students who are celebrating a birthday this week

Diya D

Amelia J (4M)

Riyan G

Eve R

Croi R

Kirstyn L

Vanessa B

Congratulations to the following students. Awards will be presented after the Year 6 Growth Assembly which is at 2:15pm on Thursday 31st July.

Principal's Award: Ebony S - 5M, Frans-Leigh R - 5W

Learning Support Award: Charlie S - 3W