Dear Parents and Carers

I would like to begin by thanking the Community Council for their great efforts last Friday, for the Fathers’ Day breakfast and the subsequent stall. It was a very good morning and a wonderful celebration for our fathers and father figures. My thanks as well to our Year 3 students and teachers (including Mr. Edwards), for a wonderful assembly celebrating all the things to do with dads. I hope all of our fathers and significant male figures enjoyed a good Sunday.

SCR Fundraiser

Thanks to our wonderful Student Representative Council over $380 was raised yesterday on our 'What do you want to be when you grow up?' day. What a marvellous achievement!

Further Community Events

At the end of Week 9, on Friday September 19^th, we are holding our Trivia Night in the school hall, which promises to be an exciting night with the opportunity to win many prizes and raise some funds for the school. My thanks to the Council for their great work. Another initiative of the CC is the creation of 2025 Sts Peter and Paul Tea Towels, which will feature every child and staff member, with a self-portrait. Also a fundraiser, these tea-towels are an excellent memento of the year. My thanks to the Community Council and Sarah Walsh, for their great work and coordination.

Student Achievement

We have learned over the last week that Audrey in Year 6, who recently represented the A.C.T. in the Australian Gymnastics Competition in Perth, did extremely well, and won the Bronze Medal for her age-group, for her overall performance on floor. Icing on the cake, she was ranked in the top 10 gymnasts at her level. Her team of 6 representing the ACT at her level have managed to came away as the champion team. An amazing achievement from Audrey and one that has come about from Audrey’s many years of dedicated practice. Congratulations Audrey on your excellent result. 

Year 6 Leadership Opportunity

This Friday, all Year 6 students will be traveling to Treetops for their Term 3 Leadership Day. Treetops affords the students the opportunity to develop individual and group skills, by helping to develop the students’ resilience, communication and trust – all in a setting that is outdoors, physical and fun. My thanks to Luke Gubler, Paul Jenkins and Katie McGregor for their coordination of the activity.

Sacrament of 1^st Eucharist

A reminder that our students in Year 4 who are receiving the sacrament of First Eucharist are doing so the weekend after next, on the weekend of the 20^th and 21^st of September. Please keep the families, the teachers and students themselves in your prayers, as they prepare for this important milestone.

Grandfriends’ Day

Last week a Compass message was sent out to all families, asking them to ‘save the date’ for Grandfriends’ Day, on Thursday September 25^th. It is always a wonderful day in the Sts Peter and Paul calendar, and worthy celebration of the gifts that grandparents and older mentor figures bring into the lives of students. All grandparents, grandparent figures, and families, are invited to attend on the day. More details to follow in the Religious Education News section.

Last Day

A reminder that the last day for Term 3 for all students is Thursday September 25^th. Friday the 26^th is a pupil free day for all Catholic systemic schools in the Archdiocese of Canberra/Goulburn.

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. 

This Friday the students will attend a Retreat Day at Holy Trinity for further preparation. Please make sure you have completed the COMPASS permissions form prior to the day. 

Timetable for First Eucharist 

Grandparents Day 

On Thursday the 25th of September, Week 10, we are celebrating Grandparents/Grandfriends Day. All are welcome to attend class visits at 12:15pm, followed by a BYO picnic at recess.

Please note: Students will need to bring their own packed lunch for first break at 11:10am. Families are also welcome to pack a BYO afternoon tea for recess. No food will be provided on the day, so please ensure students come prepared with everything they need.

The Exaltation of the Holy Cross Feast Day - John 3:13-17

What a juxtaposition we find in the title of today’s feast. How can we exalt in the cross on which Jesus died such a tortuous death? Well, when seen from the perspective of the resurrection, the picture starts to become clear. The cross was the means by which God, in the person of Jesus, would in his endless love and compassion, bring a wayward world back home to him. Today’s Gospel gives us perhaps the most well-known Bible verse of all, in John 3:16, ‘Yes, God loved the world so much that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not be lost but may have eternal life.’ God didn’t send his son to condemn us, but to save us. Out of his great love for humanity, God redeemed us, and in the resurrection, showed us the way back to communion with God and to eternal life in God’s presence. We exalt the cross because it restores to us all that was lost, and it stands forever as a reminder of God’s endless outpouring of love for us. 

From God’s Word, Daily Reflections, 2025

Yours in Christ, 

Andrea McQuirk 

Religious Education Coordinator

TRIVIA NIGHT – Next Friday, 19th September 2025 !!

Grab your friends (or come along and make new ones!) and get set for a night packed with laughs, brain teasers, and awesome prizes! Parents, teachers, family, and friends—lock in your seat or a table and let the fun begin!  

What’s in store:
A professional trivia host to keep the energy high and the laughs flowing
Over $10,000 in raffle prizes & silent auction items
Adults-only night of community, connection & guaranteed fun

Your $20 ticket includes a shared platter of nibbles. BYO food and drinks (yes, including alcohol!) to enjoy at your table.

Teams:

• Tables seat 10 — one person from your group please email parentcouncilstpandp@gmail.com with your team members’ names.
• Don’t have a team? No worries! Select “allocate me to a team”when booking and let us know your child’s grade — we’ll match you with others.
• Can't get a babysitter?? How about one parent come along as ambassador for your family and we will allocate you to a table full of friendly faces!!

Special Silent Auction Highlight
Thanks to Jane Macken at LJ Hooker Woden/Weston, one lucky bidder will win a commission-free property sale — a saving worth thousands!

What’s included:
✔️ Full real estate service from one of Canberra’s top-performing agents
✔️ Marketing strategy, expert negotiation & proven results
✔️ Option to sell to a friend/family member
✔️ Valid for 12 months

Conditions: Property must be in Woden Valley, Weston Creek, or the Inner South. Marketing costs payable by the seller (approx. $4,000). Reserve price: $1,000.

This is a rare opportunity to access premium real estate expertise with zero commission fees — all while supporting St Peter & Paul’s fundraising efforts!

Date: Friday, 19th September 2025

Venue: School Hall, Sts Peter & Paul, 59 Wisdom St, Garran
Time: 6:30 pm start
Cost: $20 per person (includes nibbles) via QKR
BYO: Food & drinks welcome
Ticket Sales Close: 12 pm, Wednesday 17th September

Don’t miss this chance to connect, compete, and celebrate while raising funds for our school!

Our Trivia Night Raffle is HUGE!
Over $2000 in prizes are up for grabs – and guess what? You don’t even have to be at Trivia Night to win!

Snag your tickets near school drop-off next week!
Wed–Fri (17th-19th), 8:30–9:00am
$10 each or 3 for $20

Don’t miss your chance – grab a ticket (or three!) and get in on the fun!

All money raised goes towards the upgrade of our outdoor play equipment. 

Sts Peter & Paul School Community Council

HAPPY BIRTHDAY

to those students who are celebrating their birthday this week

Philomena R

Xavier M

George F

Oscar P

Risav D

Madison H

Jaden K

Amelia D

Jackson K

SCIENCE DAY – Tuesday 23rd September, 2025

Sts Peter & Paul will be celebrating our ‘Annual Science Day’ on Tuesday 23rd September. In class groups, students will participate in a variety of engaging science activities. Keeping with tradition, the Year 6 students will lead the experiments with teacher support and supervision.

Students are invited to dress as scientists/inventors for the day. 

Activities include:

• Bubble Wands
• Robot Hands
• Boomerangs
• Air Cannons
• Plastic Bag Parachutes
• Skewer Towers
• Weird Whirring Widgets

We look forward to an exciting day of science! Keep an eye on our Facebook page and newsletter for photos and student reflections.

Science Week Coordinators

Paul Jenkins and Bridget Pigram

In the garden this week we were very busy with preparing our garden beds and mulching. Our beans and lettuces are ready to plant. Fingers crossed that they grow well! 4W have been taking care of them and they have done a great job.

This week we are also gnome painting. The Bird Scarers of Sts Peter and Paul. Bright colours and stripes will be the theme this year at Floriade. Each class will help decorate the gnomes before we drop them off to Floriade.

Please email me katherine.birch@cg.catholic.edu.au if you would like to be involved in garden club or cooking. Don’t forget Garden Club is for everybody and is on every Friday lunch after the eating bell.

The Kitchen Garden Club

Mrs Birch and Mrs Moore

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 9 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.

Thank you to all the students who participated in today’s Pizza Special Lunch Day! 

 Mrs R was so overwhelmed with all the assistance she received by the Kinder Parents

 A Huge Thank you, Nik, Matt, Varni, Kemi, Traci, Jen & Gretel for your help today! 

You made the day run a lot smoother. 

Your help was very much appreciated, and it was a fun day!

THANK YOU

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.  

Spring is here! 

Students will be wearing summer uniform on their return to school in Term 4.

The Uniform shop is stocked up with second hand uniform, please visit on a Tuesday morning to purchase second hand uniform.

All second hand clothing $2!!!

Next Tuesday only 8.30am -9.30am

Please visit in person.

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.

 Please visit the schools website for the Uniform price list.

Lauretta Raccosta

Uniform Shop

Lauretta.raccosta@cg.catholic.edu.au