Dear Parents and Carers,

Today we hosted the opening and blessing of our Hall and surrounding areas renovation project. We welcomed guests from Catholic Education, staff, students and members of the wider school community. The blessing was conducted by Fr John and followed by a matinee performance of the Stage 3 production Ali Baba and the Bongo Bandits. If you have not seen our renovation yet I recommend you pop your head into the school sometime this week to have a look. Huge thank you to:

• The Architect, Gabby Honan and builder Paul Walker for all your hard work and flexibility;
• Catholic Education for your financial contribution;
• The Honan Family and HDM Metal for the donation of the school crest, signs and planter box in the foyer.

Thank you to all that braved the weather conditions at the Boorowa Carnival. I have heard it was truly four seasons in one day. Thank you also to our staff members, Mrs Mortimer, Mr Kucher, Mrs de Smet, Mrs Arranz and Mrs Portolesi, for attending the carnival and ensuring the day ran smoothly. By all reports it was an incredible day. With the Catholic Schools Carnivals finishing up this year, this carnival will be the major sporting event on our calendar in 2020. A special thanks to all our Coaches, Managers and especially Umpires many of whom were students from Canberra Grammar School. Without your support a carnival like this would not be able to run smoothly.

Grandparents Day

We enjoyed a very successful Grandparents Day on Monday with over 75 Grandparents and Grandfriends in attendance. Thank you for your patience and understanding with my error in entering the wrong date in the Calander. We have had a lot of feedback about the format of the day, most of it being overwhelmingly positive. Mass was a special feature of the day where students sat with their grandparents, followed by time in classrooms and then Grandparents having a space to recharge with a light afternoon tea before braving the playground with their grandchild/ren. Some feedback which we have taken on board was to have some more time in classrooms especially for those with multiple classrooms to visit. We also had some Grandparents Skype in and do a virtual tour which is an option for parents to consider for 2020 if your grandparent is unable to travel.

Staffing

Mrs Armstrong is back at school this week after her father passed away in the last week of the holidays. Maryanne will be working part-time in her Learning Support role this term as she continues to care for her mother, who has also been unwell. We continue to keep Maryanne and her family in our thoughts and prayers. Mrs Mortimer will be Acting Coordinator for the remainder of the term.

On Friday this week, Mrs Williamson will have her last day in Kinder White before she takes maternity leave. We wish the Williamson family all the best with the impending arrival of their second child. Mrs Williamson will be replaced by Mrs Portolesi on Fridays for the remainder of the term.

80th Birthday

Our beloved groundsman, Mr Kerry Marsham, will turn 80 in early November. To celebrate this momentous occasion, we are inviting all members of our school community to get involved in a 'dress like Mr Marsham' day. On Wednesday 13 November we will celebrate with a whole school sing song and the naming of our school garden as the "Mr Marsham Garden'. Attached are some photos of Kerry in his usual attire of boots, jeans and a fluro shirt or top. Thankyou for helping us mark this very special occasion

School Working Bee

We are seeking helpers from our school community to get involved with our Spring Working Bee on Sunday the 24^th of November from 10 am-12 pm. Some light landscaping, timber maintenance and more are on our list of things to do. The more, the merrier (and the quicker we get done!) A pizza lunch will be a reward for any brave volunteers.

School Disco

We are keenly anticipating our Term Four disco that will be held on Friday, November 8. Our DJ, Jungle Jerry, has been busy collating playlists of classics which promise a little something for everyone. With talent like this in store, our disco promises to be a memorable night. A special thanks to OSHClub who have sponsored nibbles for parents to be served in the courtyard while the disco is on.

Tickets are available now on Qkr!. Sessions will be the same as last year:

6.15pm – 7.00pm   Kinder, 1, 2

7.15 pm – 8.15 pm Years 3-6

A ticket will entitle students to a sausage sandwich, juice and prizes on the night.

Classes for 2020

Thank you to the parents that have written to me regarding class placements for 2020. A reminder that these need to be finalised by the end of week 4. Shortly, we will begin the process of examining class lists for 2020. As you can imagine, this is quite a complex process, and I have included some of the considerations teachers as professionals take into consideration when looking at placements. When forming the class lists the following factors are taken into consideration:

• Gender;
• Special Needs;
• Work Habits;
• Cognitive ability;
• Friendships;
• Behaviour;
• Health considerations;
• Religion (to assist in achieving a balance between classes, especially in Sacramental years) and
• Common names.

Ideally, we aim for an equal spread of both positive and challenging characteristics. Where practical, parental requests based on educational concerns will be considered. Parents who wish to discuss particular concerns regarding the placement of their children in particular classes should put their concern in writing and address it to the Principal by Friday of Week 4 (Term 4). All Parent concerns will be seriously considered during the process. It must be clearly understood, however, that no definite guarantees can be given regarding parental requests.

Blessings and best wishes,

Sean Rutledge

Religious Education News

Sunday Gospel: Luke 19:1-10, Thirty-First Sunday in Ordinary Time – Year C

This week’s Gospel, tells the reader of Zacchaeus and his story. It is in fact, one of the best instances of a kind of ‘triangular’ pattern constantly appearing in the Gospel: Jesus interacts with some person in need, usually a person on the margins of society. The acceptance he displays to such a person incites murmurs of dissent and complaints from a third party – a nameless ‘they’. They cannot square his actions with their idea of God and of the kind of behaviour God approves. Their protests and mutterings show how deeply they themselves stand in need of conversion if they are to truly know and love the God who lies behind the mission of Jesus.

The question, then, as so often in a Lukan scene is: who really stands in need of conversion? Sometimes it is not always the most obvious candidate.

Grandparents Day

On Monday, 28^th October, Sts Peter and Paul celebrated our wonderful Grandparents and Grand-friends. We began the celebration with a beautiful Mass, classroom visits and a cuppa in our newly renovated hall. It was a beautiful way to recognise the special bond between children and their Grandparents.

Thank you to all who were able to attend.

Dates for your Diary:

Sunday 17^th November  - Presentation Mass for candidates receiving the sacrament of Reconciliation.

Tuesday 26^th November – Retreat Day for Reconciliation candidates.

Thursday 28^th November – Sacrament of Reconciliation, 7:00pm at Holy Trinity Church.

 Blessings for the week ahead,

Stephanie Burns

Religious Education Coordinator

The following children will be presented with their Awards at the next Awards Assembly on 7 November, commencing at 2.15 in the hall.

Principal's Award: Archie B, Matthew T

CONGRATULATIONS

The music assembly will be on THURSDAY 7/11/19 in the hall.

We are holding it immediately after the 2019 Music Count Us In event, our start time will be approximately 12.20pm.

The performing groups are:

Kindergarten - singing a song

Stage 1 - singing a song

1W - ukulele

2W - ukulele

3/4M  - ukulele

3/4B - ukulele

5/6 M - ukulele

School Choir

It's always a joyful assemby, families welcome to come along.

On Tuesday, Stage 3 students ‘travelled’ to a Japanese classroom in Osaka, to participate in a language and cultural exchange. We were able to link up via Skype and the children were very excited to see each other.  Our children introduced themselves in Japanese, sharing information about their age, members of their families, their travel experiences to Japan and also their favourite Japanese things.

The Japanese students didn’t know where in the world we were and took turns asking our children things about our national flag, animals and climate. After a few failed attempts such as Russia, Canada and New Zealand, they then picked Australia. They also shared some Japanese culture items with us. They really enjoyed being able to speak English and share their learning with us. Similarly our students had a wonderful time conversing in both Japanese and English.

Learning a foreign language can be difficult without contact with native speakers, so this opportunity was fantastic in allowing the students to hear and speak Japanese and be understood. Many of the children received a round of applause from their Japanese friends which was both encouraging and affirming.

We are looking forward to our next Skype.

次回もお楽しみに！

Amanda de Jongh

THURSDAY 31 OCTOBER

Order a lunch order on Thursday

and receive a special Halloween Treat.

DON’T MISS OUT!

SPECIAL LUNCH DAY

WEDNESDAY 6 NOVEMBER the school will be holding our first special lunch day for the term. 

Children will be able to order a sausage roll, drink and a treat for $6.00.

Gluten free and vegetarian options are available.

Order on Qkr!

 ORDERS CLOSE 9AM THIS FRIDAY 1 NOVEMBER!

No counter sales or other lunch orders will be available on that day.

As always the day would not be successful without any volunteer helpers.

Year 6 will be hosting the special lunch day. 

If you are a Year 6 parent/carer and can help out on the day (even for a short while) please contact me at Lauretta.raccosta@cg.catholic.edu.au

Kindest Regards,

Lauretta Raccosta,

Canteen Manager

 Week 4, Term 4

Thank you helpers; your assistance is very much appreciated.

Please contact me if you are unable to make your shift or able to help, Thank you.  

Congratulations Lucy, you have won a $2.00 voucher, to spend at the canteen. Please see Mrs R at the canteen to collect your voucher

Do you want to win a $2 voucher to spend at the canteen?

Simply purchase fresh or frozen fresh fruit from the canteen and be in the weekly draw to WIN!!!

 Thank you, Lauretta Raccosta, Canteen Manager

Lauretta.Raccosta@cg.catholic.edu.au or 6281 1932

Healthy Kids, Healthy Bodies, Healthy Canteens

Actsmart Mobile Round Up for National Recycling Week

 Do you have any of these things lying around gathering dust at your house?

 Mobile phones (including personal digital assistants that are mobiles);

Mobile phone accessories (including ear pieces, car kits, cases etc.);

Mobile batteries of all kinds; 

Mobile phone chargers; 

Wireless USB mobile devices; 

 If you’d like to get them out of there, please drop them off in the box located outside the Two White classroom, no later than Thursday 14^th November.

We will be taking them to the Actsmart tent, (near the Canberra Times Fountain, located outside the Canberra Centre on City Walk between 8am-8pm on this day) to be part of a Guinness world record attempt for the largest amount of mobile phones collected for recycling in 24 hours.

Thank you very much for your support!