Dear Parents and Carers

“At such times, the fire does after all consume us, and we can become ashen people – as Ash Wednesday reminds us we might, and challenges us not to be. Lent, then can be an occasion for us to ask whether we are the directors of our own fires, or merely the material which, bit by bit, it will eat away.”

Peter Steele SJ, Bread for the Journey

Today is Ash Wednesday, the beginning of the season of Lent, and we marked the occasion by attending Mass. The late Peter Steele, quoted above, writes metaphorically of Lent – and of Ash Wednesday in particular – as being a period where we are invited to reflect upon where things stand with us. He writes of our ‘fires’, using the image as a metaphor for our talents and gifts. He challenges us to direct our ‘fires’ to the service and good of others and not be consumed by them, by which he means to be so self-absorbed that we are taken up by, in a sense, our own fire. Later in the term the school will be celebrating Easter, with all classes and grades retelling the events of Easter. My thanks as always to our wonderful REC, Stephanie Burns, for coordinating the Mass, and to Fr John Woods, for his support of our school and students.

Swimming Carnival

A reminder that tomorrow Grades 2 – 6 will be attending the Swimming Carnival at Lakeside Leisure Centre (Tuggeranong Pool). Mary de Smet has done a wonderful job in preparing the carnival and it promises to be an enjoyable day. My thanks to the many parents who have volunteered their time in assisting at the carnival. Sts Peter and Paul, like all schools, relies on parent volunteers at certain key events, such as sporting carnivals, and I am grateful for the parent support tomorrow. All parents are very welcome to attend the carnival and enjoy the day. Swimming lessons continue for our Year 1 students.

Parent – Teacher Interviews

Next week there are parent teacher interviews being held on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, with Tuesday being a late day for all classes. Teachers will be available up to 7pm on that day. In this newsletter is a link to your child’s or children’s teachers, in which you will be able to book in a time. I encourage all parents to make a time to meet with their child’s teacher and to discuss the progress their child is making at school. My thanks to Paul Jenkins for coordinating the interviews.

Principals’ Retreat

Next week I am away from Wednesday – Friday in Bowral, attending the annual principals’ retreat. All principals from the Archdiocese attend the retreat, as well as Mr Ross Fox, the Director of the Catholic Education Office, and other senior leaders from the office. It is an invaluable period of time for the principals and includes input from the office concerning initiatives and directions. In my absence, the school will be very capably led by Sean Rutledge.

Have a wonderful week with your families.

Best wishes

Cameron Johns

Principal

Sunday Gospel: Matthew 4:1-11 First Sunday of Lent – Year A

This Sunday’s Gospel tells us of Jesus being tempted by the Devil in the desert. The temptations are an effort to get Jesus to betray his humanity and not endure the limitations of his daily life.

Jesus was offered three shortcuts. Firstly, sustenance (bread out of stones). Secondly, angels to keep him safe. Thirdly, when he wanted to change the world, absolute power.

These were the Temptations of Christ, but also for us. If we are tempted to sin, we will find the marks of this pattern. We want the whole world to satisfy us, or we want to take big risks and come out unscathed, or we want to have complete power over others. Jesus rebuked all these temptations with the words “Scripture says”

The forty days of Lent are a perfect opportunity to read what “Scripture says” about the life of Jesus Christ.

Ash Wednesday Mass & Launch of Project Compassion 2020

Today we attended Ash Wednesday Mass at 12:00pm. Staff, Students and Parishioners received a cross of ash on their foreheads. The ashes are a visible symbol of penance. The ashes are made from blessed palm branches, taken from the previous year's Palm Sunday Mass.

Ash Wednesday sees the season of Lent begin. This also marks the beginning of the annual Caritas Australia Project Compassion Appeal. Donations to Project Compassion allow Caritas Australia, the Catholic Agency for International Aid and Development, to work with local communities around the world to alleviate poverty, hunger, oppression and injustice. Each classroom at Sts Peter and Paul will receive a Project Compassion box for their donations or you can donate online via the website at lent.caritas.org.au.

Sacrament of Reconciliation 2020

The Sacrament of Reconciliation will be celebrated in the Parish of the Transfiguration, North Woden on Thursday, 2nd April at 6:00 pm at Holy Trinity Catholic Church, Curtin

Last night there was a Parent Information Meeting at the Parish Centre at Curtin.

Many thanks to the parents and carers who were able to attend, and to the teachers who attended to support our students.

I encourage the community to pray for these children as they prepare to receive the Sacrament of First Reconciliation.

Sts Peter and Paul Playgroup

A reminder that the Sts Peter and Paul Playgroup will be running again this year, with our first session being held this week. This year we will be holding the playgroup in our Japanese classroom, and the adjoining courtyard. All parents and carers from the community are invited to come along with their children aged 0-5. The playgroup runs every second week during school terms from 9:30-11am. Please bring morning tea and a water bottle for your child. Contact me for any further information.

Dates for your Diary:  

Blessings for the week ahead,

Stephanie Burns

Religious Education Coordinator

Parent/Teacher Interviews 2020

Parent/Teacher interviews will be held next week, on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday after school. As in past years, bookings will be organised through google forms. You will find the links for each class listed below. You may already have received information about next week’s Parent/Teacher interviews, via Schoolzine. The best devices to use when making the bookings are a PC or laptop, rather than an iPad or iPhone. If you are a new family and are having difficulty with booking an interview time, please phone Trish Collis who will be happy to assist you.

The Parent Teacher interviews provide an early opportunity for parents to meet their child’s teacher and to discuss their progress over the past four weeks. Parents will be provided with their child’s Interim Report. The Interim Report provides parents with information about how their child is settling into their new class and the routines of the new school year. Parents are encouraged to provide teachers with any information that will assist the teacher to understand the particular needs of their child.

Kindergarten Maroon (Miss Dunn)

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1vnpFCggLAtLk3epqHPB8wwFhQRjPkbmzrrA2c6cUI6w/edit?usp=sharing

Kindergarten White (Mrs Barrett and Mrs Stephanie Burns)
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1M2D5FHbuPY_BmUtgfc23lNLt4MHdkHdsq-MGcuyZh-4/edit?usp=sharing

Year One Maroon (Mrs Pratt and Mrs Birch)
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1BOCk_Yqj0Q9kJ1W4d57FiKNFKSac2C91uyX8fLYHuyI/edit?usp=sharing

Year One White (Mrs Wales and Mrs De Valentin)
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Xz8HAe8x8tpkf8K-jNNRhzY8BwxBdwz1_W6XasT_2K0/edit?usp=sharing

Year Two Maroon (Miss Walsh)

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1x96DpffAY2W13U8hbpNW7ZdrHsLoF4Q33yJ6i0-0Yls/edit?usp=sharing

Year Two White (Mrs De Smet)

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1e8O6E0UmTLzJaUNkWjmDzo6Pk0FeVbBFFPcEnDq-bhc/edit?usp=sharing

Year Three/Four Blue (Miss Kennelly)

https://docs.google.com/document/d/145Qc5SZRePjGuTDS_7iE7NdQgx2c4x_Wlo5nefzbz7Q/edit?usp=sharing

Year Three/Four Maroon (Mrs Kain and Mrs Hitchings)

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1_02fKvFQHuxdfI5cbd8sSTed38m92f4MGB1H1zKtQw8/edit?usp=sharing

Year Three/Four White (Mrs Hunt and Mrs Portolesi)

https://docs.google.com/document/d/17UBRbdKWNHUMksN3X72q14NqdHgvhDm0G6z9T1wfKbw/edit?usp=sharing

Year Three/Four Yellow (Mr Gubler)

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1oumAyaB_fK24kVqtrWhj63uNDYGxMjc_YKD37EL1mEU/edit?usp=sharing

Year Five/Six M (Mr Jenkins and Mrs Birch)

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Xt1IkMNBg34ZTjv51X1Fc1i9otJovvQ88p1i4OhWzqc/edit?usp=sharing

Year Five/Six W (Mrs Neit and Mrs Hitchings)
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1eDxJwYrWOvUgdhiBMPeeAUfVECITaRi5u24PqST5vho/edit?usp=sharing

Saints Peter and Paul Swimming Carnival
Tomorrow Thursday 27^th February at the Lakeside Leisure Centre
We are getting very excited about our carnival now. Thank you to the parents who have offered to assist us on the day with timekeeping and novelty events. You should have received an email from me on Monday 24^th February. If you have not recieved this, please be at the pool by 9.15am and we will go from there.

The order of races for the day is:

  200m

  100m

  50m

  25m

Just a gentle reminder to please remember to sign your child/ren out at the recording table, if you would like to take them home early.

Thank you so much for submitting your permission, medical and event nomination forms for this event via Schoolzine. We appreciate your patience as we move towards using less paper at school.

School Sport ACT
The website is now up and running!!! The new site is www.schoolsportact.org.au If you have a moment, please get on and check it out.

I will attach information from SSACT about their Online Registration Process for any families who would like to register their child/children to try out for ACT representative sport, once this is available to me.

Hockey Clinics
Thank you so much for sending your child to school in their sport clothes last Friday. The children had a great time participating in these clinics.

If you ever have any questions about anything related to Sport, please don’t hesitate to get in touch mary.desmet@cg.catholic.edu.au Hopefully I’ll be able to help you out!

Our next awards assembly will be on this Friday, 28 February at 2.15. All families are welcome to attend.

We will also be having another market stall, selling produce from our very own gardens for a gold coin donation.

The Canberra Show is this weekend!!

We have several entries this year, produce grown in our gardens, including a very big pumpkin, and strawberry jam made by our students. 

If you're at the show, pop in and say hello to the very big pumpkin!

We have always won prizes at the Show so fingers and toes crossed for this year.

Huge thank you to our Mrs Moore for all she does to make this happen. 

NAPLAN Online will occur in our school between 12 and 22 May 2020.

NAPLAN Online is a more engaging assessment that adjusts questions to each student’s achievement level. It also delivers more precise results to schools and parents more quickly.

NAPLAN provides valuable information to schools and parents about literacy and numeracy achievement. It supports school improvement processes by enabling teachers to monitor student progress over time and to identify areas of strength and development.

All eligible students are encouraged and supported to participate in NAPLAN testing. Visit www.nap.edu.au to see interactive versions of the test and for more information

This year, we are looking at expanding the Seasons for Growth Program in our school. It is an education program that builds the resilience and wellbeing of children who have recently experienced some BIG Life Changes. 

Many factors can cause change such as:

• Friends moving away

• Loss of someone or something you love

• Parents and families separating

• Moving to a new place

• Impact of illness

• Family work-life changes. 

Change affects everyone differently, as does grief. It’s the impact of the change, not the event itself that Seasons for Growth focuses on.

Seasons for Growth aims to support young people to understand their feelings, help them develop skills for coping with change and restore self-confidence. It is designed to assist children in meeting others who may feel the same way about change and reassures them that their feelings are normal. The program is underpinned by evidence about resilience, emotional competence and identity.

If you feel your child may benefit from being part of this program or would like more information, please contact Melissa Neit, our School Chaplain, at Melissa.neit@cg.catholic.edu.au or your child’s Classroom Teacher.

Week 5, Term 1

Time	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday
9-12	SPECIAL LUNCH Year 1 Parent/carer helpers needed please Justine M Megan W Lulu Tegan I	Eleen B Margaret W	Sally B Lynette W Sarah A

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 Emily S, 5/6W. 

Congratulations Emily, you have won a $2.00 voucher, to spend at the canteen.

Please see Mrs R at the canteen to collect your voucher.

SPECIAL LUNCH THEME DAY

WEDNESDAY 4 MARCH

It’s time for our FIRST Special Lunch Day of the year, and Mrs R wants to celebrate her birthday with the whole school!

So gather together with your friends and enjoy a hotdog, drink & a treat for $6.00

Orders availableon Qkr! now

 Download the app on your mobile phone to place your order.

ORDERS CLOSE 9am ON FRIDAY 28 FEBURARY!

 Gluten free & vegetarian options are available.

 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.

Yr 1 will be hosting the special lunch day. 

If you are a Yr 1 parent/carer and can help out on the day (even for a short while)

    please contact me at 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.

You can place an order via Qkr! Order on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday or Friday and the item/s will be delivered to your child’s classroom. Orders need to be placed before 8.45am.

Please see the SZapp for the Summer Uniform price list.

School Hats can be purchase at the canteen Wednesdays, Thursday & Fridays

(CASH ONLY PLEASE)

 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 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 your needs.

 The uniform shop is limited with space, so as a guide, clothes should only be donated if washed and in perfect resalable order. The uniform shop is asking for no more second hand donations of white sports tops please.

 Please give any second hand uniform to Mrs R in the canteen, Thank you.

Lauretta Raccosta

Uniform Shop Manager

Lauretta.raccosta@cg.catholic.edu.au

We realise that parents cannot always find time to contact the school when they might like. Therefore, in an attempt to increase the possible contacts between school and home, we have established a parent network. Volunteer contacts (arranged at the start of each year) will liaise between parents and the class teacher, to set up class-centred activities and an occasional social event. Our aim is to increase the mutual support available for all members of our school community. While no parent should feel obliged to take part in these activities, you are all warmly invited to take advantage of whatever events might be of value to you. This is not an onerous task, more a point of contact. It is also a great way to meet the parents of students  in your child's class.

Please contact Maryanne Armstrong maryanne.armstrong@cg.catholic.edu.au if you are willing to be the Parent Contact for you child's class.    

Kinder White

1 Maroon:  Erin Frost

1 White

2 Maroon

2 White

3/4 Blue

3/4 Maroon

3/4 White

3/4 Yellow

5/6 Maroon

5/6 White