Dear Parents and Carers

Thank You

I have read that gratitude is the foundation of any healthy spirituality. I would like to begin this week’s newsletter by thanking the parent body for their immense support of the school, the staff and what we are trying to do in looking after the children. Both I and other members of staff have received many emails of support and encouragement and I appreciate your good will and the expression of that good will. The fact is, we live in uncertain times. Ambiguity can be difficult at the best of times and all of us handle it differently. These times are ambiguous in many ways, and where that intersects with matters of health, it leaves us all feeling potentially scared and worried. I hope and trust recent communication has been clear about the direction of the school over the next two terms:

• Catholic Education encourages all parents to keep their children at home, if they are able
• Sts Peter and Paul is open as usual for the remainder of the term and we continue to teach the children at school
• The school will move to a remote learning model next term which will see children continue their education at home
• The school will make provisions for children of essential services workers. Those children can continue to come to school.

If messages or communication are not clear, please do not hesitate to let me know. As well as thanking the parent body, I would like to thank the staff for their patient and tireless dedication to their jobs, in what has been a difficult and trying time for everyone. Finally, you should be very proud of the children: they have been resilient, calm and positive, and fully engaged in their learning. They are a credit to themselves.

I have attached a link to an article in the Catholic Voice, titled ‘Caring for your wellbeing during stressful times’.

https://www.catholicvoice.org.au/caring-for-your-wellbeing-during-stressful-times/

College Visits

Last Friday a staff member from St Clare’s and 4 current students visited the school and spoke to the Year 6 girls. It was an excellent visit. The Year 6 girls got a good sense of what life is like in College and what they may expect. Visits such as these help all children prepare for the end of Year 6 and life in the second stage of their education.

Maths in 3/4B

The last few weeks have seen me spend some time teaching in 3/4B, in the subject area of Maths. Miss Kennelly and I are trialling an inquiry approach to the teaching of Maths, which features, among other things, extensive use of concrete materials and much collaboration between the students. I have thoroughly enjoyed teaching and working with the students and Miss Kennelly and can only hope they have enjoyed it as much. Some great connections and learning has been taking place, particularly in the use of arrays in multiplication.

Have a wonderful and healthy week with your families.

Best wishes 

Cameron Johns

Sunday Gospel: John 11:1-45, Fifth Sunday of Lent – Year A

The following is a reflection by Greg Sunter on this week’s Gospel.

The raising of Lazarus marks a turning point in the Gospel of John. Chapter 11 concludes with the Jewish authorities plotting to arrest Jesus and then Chapter 12 begins the final week of Jesus’ life in Jerusalem. The significance of this episode is highlighted by the disciples who question Jesus about the wisdom of going back to Judea when the people there had wanted to stone Jesus to death. In going to save the life of his friend, Lazarus, Jesus knows that he is journeying towards his own death. In fact, the end of Chapter 11 makes clear that it is some of the witnesses to the raising of Lazarus who go and complain to the authorities and precipitate the action against Jesus. In the gospel of John, it is the episode with Lazarus that effectively signs Jesus’ death warrant. The gospel makes clear that Jesus gives up his own life so that Lazarus may live.

Sacrament of Reconciliation 2020

Due to the recent announcements regarding COVID-19, Fr John has asked that we forward the following message to all parents of children who were to receive the Sacrament of First Reconciliation.

Dear Parents, 

Due to the Coronavirus (Covid-19), we will not be proceeding with the celebration of First Reconciliation on Thursday, 2nd April. In due course, when circumstances permit, we will notify you of a new date of celebration.

I thank you for your understanding.

We continue to keep each other in prayer during these challenging times.

Regards,

Fr. John

Masses and prayer during COVID-19

As you would be aware, effective from midday 23rd March 2020 there will be no public Masses or liturgies offered until further notice.

Although unable to offer Mass or other liturgies in the Parish, there are resources available to support our faith life in these days. 

• You are able to view the daily Mass on the Catholic Voice website (catholicvoice.org.au) from 6am each morning.
• In addition, the daily Gospel, daily commentary(Living Word at https://www.catholicvoice.org.au/living-word/) and prayers of intercessions will be available for personal and family prayers.
• Liturgical and Scriptural resources (catholic.org.au/coronavirus).
• The following is taken from The Australian Catholics Bishops Conference website, and features prayers families can pray at home. https://www.catholic.org.au/prayathome

Blessings for the week ahead. Please stay safe and take care of each other.

Stephanie Burns

Religious Education Coordinator 

Our school assembly, scheduled for next week, will not go ahead. Awards will still be presented to students.

Well haven’t things changed over the past 5 weeks. I want to let everyone know that the School leadership team and teachers are working behind the scenes to ensure that remote learning capability is in place for each and every student to continue on their learning path.

From the council, it has been determined to postpone all activities scheduled for Term 2 due to current circumstances surrounding COVID-19. A decision on Term 3 activities will be made at follow up meetings based on health advice re COVID-19. Discussions were held about having a disco in early Term 4 and we will again try for carols late Term 4.

On a personal note it is important during this time that you look after your loved ones and yourself. If you are at work check in on your colleagues especially those working from home and if you are working from home ensure you stay in touch with others.

Regards
Thomas

NAPLAN has been cancelled for this year.

Our students have been working very hard and have produced some excellent writing pieces. Here are some examples from our Writing Wall display. Well done 3/4B and KW!

Playgroup has been cancelled for the remainder of Term 1 and for Term 2.

Physical Activity from Home
If your children are looking for some guided physical activity at home, you might like to check these websites out.

Joe Wicks P.E. Teacher
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAxW1XT0iEJo0TYlRfn6rYQ

Go Noodle
https://www.gonoodle.com/
https://family.gonoodle.com/

I will keep looking for more physical things that your kids can do to keep moving while they’re at home.

Regional and ACT Sport
Please see this email below sent to us from Liz Yuen, who is the School Sport ACT Executive Officer.

Hello All,

As you are all aware the Federal Government declared that all non-essential organised gatherings of 500+ people should be cancelled/postponed and social distancing measures should be implemented in an effort to slow down the spread of COVID 19.

Some of you might have seen our FB post on Saturday anticipating the Education Directorate response. This came yesterday with the information that all school excursions, camps, sport, band etc. are to be cancelled from today. This means that no School Sport ACT Calendar events will be taking place until the restrictive measures are lifted, at this stage no one is certain of that date.

The Calendar is a very busy place and there will be no opportunity to postpone SSACT Term 1 events into Term 2 or 3. State Sporting/Community Organisations might try to postpone their events to a later date, (and we will) need to confirm with them directly (at the appropriate time.)

Regarding trials for state representative teams, we have been advised this morning that these, even though out of school time, are to be cancelled/postponed to keep in alignment with social distancing measures and not encouraging students from different schools to be in contact with each other.

On a national scale, the School Sport Australia Board are meeting today and should be able to advise shortly of the future of the National Championships as they are based on state selections that are currently not taking place. I will keep our community informed as information comes to hand.

If the circumstances change to where we can hold selection events we will keep you all fully informed e.g. Perhaps a one day swim time trial to select a state swimming team if the Champs goes ahead in August.

From us at school
Please know that we will keep you updated as soon as new information comes to us in relation to Sport. We thank you very much for your patience and understanding at this time.

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.

OPEN TUESDAY MORNINGS

8.30 – 9.30AM

 The Uniform Shop is a service for the parents and children.  We sells 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 app for the Summer / Winter Uniform price list.

Winter is almost here!  Get in early and beat the rush. 

Winter School Uniform now available on Qkr!

School Hat’s & Beanies 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 used second hand uniform to Mrs R in the canteen, Thank you.

Lauretta Raccosta

Uniform Shop Manager

Lauretta.raccosta@cg.catholic.edu.au

Need a break from all that's going on at the moment?

https://au.reachout.com/articles/10-ways-to-take-care-of-yourself-during-coronavirus