Dear Parents and Carers,

Thank you to our group of incredible volunteers who were able to complete a mountain of work on Sunday at our Working Bee. The team refilled our sandpit, mulched garden beds, replaced and raked the soft fall on the equipment and oiled timber at the front of the school. Many hands make light work, and these jobs would take Mr Marsham an unbelievable amount of time to complete by himself. We will have our next working bee in Term 1, 2020, all welcome.

Tomorrow we will welcome our 2020 Kinder students for their orientation morning. They will spend time in their classrooms while members of the school community speak to parents about life at Sts Peter and Paul. Our Year 5 students will pay a special visit to the classroom to read books with their 2020 buddies. On the 2^nd of December we will have an orientation for students who will be joining us from years 1-6 in 2020. The students will spend time in classrooms and familiarise themselves with student cohorts and daily routines. At present we have approximately fifteen new students who are joining us in Years 1-6 in 2020.

Our talented students will also partake in the annual talent show tomorrow afternoon. This will begin in the hall at 1.30pm. Thank you to Mrs de Jongh who devotes a huge amount of her own lunch and recess time to prepare and rehearse the students for this fun event. I am looking forward to seeing our talented students perform for the school. Check out our Facebook page for updates https://www.facebook.com/STPPGARRAN/.

Reconciliation

Our Year 3 students had a fabulous day at their Reconciliation Retreat Day yesterday which culminates the learning students have been undertaking in preparation for this Sacrament. Tomorrow they will undertake the Sacrament of Reconciliation at Holy Trinity Church from 6:30 pm. Congratulations to all these students and a special thanks to their teachers and parents who have prepared them well for this commitment.

Staff

We are thrilled to welcome a new little person to our community. Laura Williamson (Kinder teacher), her husband Evan and son Hugo welcomed another precious boy, Henry Francis, into their family yesterday. Welcome to the world Henry, we can't wait to meet you!

Carline and Car-park

Parents and visitors are welcome to park in the staff car-park at any time if there are vacant spaces. Please do not double-park in the staff car-park at any time. Often staff members need to leave school during the day between 8.30 am and 3.30 pm to attend meetings off-site.

Blessings and best wishes

Sean Rutledge

Sunday Gospel: First Sunday of Advent, Year A. Matthew 24:37-44

The Liturgical year has turned full circle and we begin the new year this Sunday with the first Sunday of Advent. This year we will read from the Gospel of Matthew which was written sometime in the 80s, approximately fifty years after the death and resurrection of Jesus.

Two people are referred to in today’s Gospel, Noah and the Son of Man. Both are meant to urge Christians to live with an alertness to God’s reign. People were not ready for the flood in the time of Noah. According to the book of Daniel, at the end of time when all the powers of evil have been overcome, one ‘like a Son of Man’ will be given all authority in God’s new world. The early Christian communities related this image to Jesus. Matthew is therefore urging his community to be alert and ready for the day when Jesus will return. This is the same message that Paul writes to the community in Rome – ‘wake up now’.

Thank you to 3/4B for their lovely Values Assembly on Service last Thursday. We heard the story of Mary Mackillop, the students enacted the parable of the Good Samaritan and told us what being of service to others means to them. They ended with the song 'Making a difference' by John Burland.

Reconciliation Retreat day

On Tuesday, 26^th November, Year 3 students participated in a Reconciliation Retreat Day at Holy Trinity, Curtin. It was a wonderful day where the children were able to participate in a variety of activities designed to support the learning happening in the classroom. Thank you to Mr Jenkins, Mr Gubler and Mrs Shepherd for joining us on the day.

Sacrament of Reconciliation

On Thursday 28^th November, a number of your Year 3 students will join with many of their peers from our parish as they receive the Sacrament of First Reconciliation. The liturgy will be held at 6:30pm at Holy Trinity Church, Curtin. All are warmly invited to attend.

Dates for your Diary:

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

Tuesday 10^th December – Kinder Nativity 2:15pm

Wednesday 11^th – Last day for St Vincent de Paul Christmas Appeal collections. (Children may wear Christmas attire on this day)

Friday 13^th December – Year 6 Graduation Mass, 12:00pm

Blessings for the week ahead as we begin the Advent season,

Stephanie Burns

Religious Education Coordinator

The following children will be presented with their Awards at the next Awards Assembly on Thursday, 5 December, commencing at 2.15 in the hall.

Principal's Award: Eloise H, Hamish S

CONGRATULATIONS

Week 8, 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.  

Fruit incentive ticket WINNER for last week was Ewan D, 3/4B. 

Congratulations Ewan, 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

SPECIAL LUNCH DAY

Just a reminder that next Wednesday 4 December the school will be holding our LAST special lunch day for the YEAR!

Children will receive a couple of party pies, drink and a treat for $6.00.

LAST CHANCE ORDERS – have you forgotten to place an order, the absolute latest for orders is this FRIDAY 29 NOVEMBER.

Orders close 9AM!

Order on Qkr!

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

CALLING ON ANY YEAR 2 PARENT/CARERS THAT CAN HELP OUT IN THE CANTEEN

ON WEDENSDAY 4 DECEMBER FOR SPECIAL LUNCH DAY.

As the end of the year draws near, all borrowing has now stopped.

Please return all library books.

Overdue notices will be sent via email in the next week. Please look out for it, so that you can return anything you may have at home.

Thank you to all of our generous families who have made our Giving Tree initiative a huge success.

Many books were donated as gift.

The gift book full of books will be donated to the St Vincent de Paul Christmas appeal later this year. 

 Christmas break volunteers for Mr Marsham’s garden

WE HAVE ONLY A FEW VOLUNTEERS. IF YOU HAVE ANY SPARE TIME (IT WON'T TAKE LONG) PLEASE CONTACT ROBYN MOORE

We are organising a roster for the care and maintenance of our vegetable garden over the Christmas break

If your family could spare a week or weekend, 
watering and picking and storing our produce, we would love to hear from you

Please email your name, contact details and availability to 

robyn.moore@cg.catholic.edu.au

Thank you from the Gardening Club

PICNIC POSTPONED

Due to the advice provided to us by ACT Health, the Carols Picnic has been postponed until next Tuesday evening (17 December).

Garreth Wigg

Sts Peter & Paul families are invited to come and enjoy a relaxing evening together,  outside on the school grounds in each other's company while Christmas hymns and songs aplenty fill the air.

WEDNESDAY. 11 DECEMBER

6-7.30PM

Ice blocks will be provided for all students in attendance.

This is an alcohol-free event.

Canberra Symphony Orchestra presents family picnic concert on Government House lawns

CSO Shell Prom
Saturday 30 November, 6pm – 8pm Gates open 4.45pm*
Lawns of Government House Dunrossil Drive, Yarralumla

The Canberra Symphony Orchestra presents a program of musical theatre and film favourites for the Shell Prom picnic concert, from My Fair Lady to Frozen. Guest voalists Simon Gleeson and Genevieve Kingsford join the orchestra onstage, under the baton of acclaimed conductor Geoffrey Castles.

An annual favourite on Canberra’s musical calendar, the Shell Prom is an opportunity to enjoy a live orchestra in a relaxed, family friendly environment.

Pack a picnic or grab dinner from the Lions Club sausage sizzle on the night.

Tickets $20-$30. Group and family discounts available.

Book online at cso.org.au/prom or call CSO Direct on 02 6262 6772.

*Please allow time for bags to be security checked