Dear Parents and Carers

“By contrast, another word, ‘community’, when it is being used with some care, implies a sharing of strengths, and even a mutual fostering of individuality, in that the communing persons become more themselves, not less, by their cooperating as they do.”

‘Crowd and Community’, Bread for the Journey, Peter Steele SJ

On the weekend we will celebrate the great feast of Pentecost. Pentecost is the first recorded event of the Sacrament of Confirmation that we know of, and it is an example of Jesus’ perennial life-giving fidelity to us. It was also a time of transformation: it was when the disciples grew from being a crowd into what we would call a community. This has obvious resonance for us at Sts Peter and Paul, and not just because we will celebrate the feast of Pentecost. The resonance goes deeper than the weekend feast and it centres on the fact that every day, every week and indeed every year is a celebration of the fact that we are a community. It would be very sad if any school was better described as a crowd of people as opposed to a community of persons. Sts Peter and Paul has been a community since 1968, and it is a grace and a gift that we do not take for granted at school. We take seriously our vocation to work with our parents to help our children flourish into community builders and community contributors, using their gifts and talents for the greater good.

Enrolment Period

Catholic Education has extended the enrolment period for all Catholic schools in the Archdiocese and in that context, Sts Peter and Paul are holding an information evening tonight, at 6pm, via Zoom. The evening will be livestreamed through Facebook at the same time. The Leadership Team will be leading the evening and we hope to give prospective parents, and any interested current parents, a very good overview of the school. Kindergarten enrolments are tracking very well at the moment but we still have room to grow. My hope is that we will have two Kindergarten classes for 2021.

Teaching and Learning

With the return to some normality in school life, conversations in the school are focusing again on systemic educational initiatives. Yesterday Chris Higgins, who works for Catholic Education in the area of Maths, visited the school and met with Sean Rutledge and with me. We spoke about the Mathematical priorities of the school for 2020. Part of this includes a move across the school into a more inquiry-based approach for the teaching and learning of Maths. This entails, among other things, collaborative work with Leonie Anstey, a highly esteemed Maths consultant who works a great deal with schools. Leonie has been a school principal in Victoria and has taught in primary and secondary schools, as well as at universities. I have worked with Leonie in previous schools and she has also worked at Sts Peter and Paul. Leonie’s website can be found at http://elevatinglearning.com.au/

Religious Education – Conceptual Inquiry

Still on the theme of teaching and learning, yesterday in our staff meeting, led by Stephanie Burns, we discussed and deepened our understanding of conceptual inquiry in RE. Conceptual inquiry sits within a broader conversation that is happening with Catholic Education, and one that sees the archdiocese move towards the adoption of the Brisbane Curriculum in Religious Education.  https://curriculum.bne.catholic.edu.au/Curriculum/LearningArea?learningAreaName=Religious%20Education

The adoption of RE curriculum from Brisbane involves letting go ‘Treasures New and Old’, which has been the archdiocese’s curriculum document for many years. There is a recognition in RE that exploring concepts (e.g., ‘change’, ‘community’, ‘connectedness’, ‘Sacraments’) are the best way to approach and break open the deeper themes and understandings inherent in the curriculum. It also allows the RE curriculum to be integrated with other curriculum areas, such as history, and thereby allow for an even wider conceptual exploration. Growth and developments in curriculum and pedagogy are the lifeblood of teaching and learning in schools and like all professions, it is important for schools and educational systems to stay abreast of research and development.

Return to school

We are nearing the end of our second week of the full return of students to school. I hope your child has had a smooth transition. We have begun to notice that some children have had moments of difficulty in this area, and I am mindful of the difficulties of re-entry for us all – parents, staff and students. What might seem fairly straightforward – going back to normal – is not all straightforward for many of us. It is possible that latent trauma may be experienced by members of our community. I encourage all parents and families to be gentle and patient with themselves and with the community as a whole. Please let your child’s teacher know if you see any sign that your son or daughter is experiencing difficulty in returning to school. The social and emotional wellbeing of all people is paramount and there is no education without a settled and calm inner life. Please let me know directly if I or the school can be of any help or assistance to your family.

Have a good week with your children.

Best wishes

Cameron Johns

Principal

Sunday Gospel: Pentecost Sunday, Year A. John 20:19-23

The word Pentecost comes from the Greek for fiftieth day. Pentecost Sunday ends the season of Easter and comes as a Sabbath day after seven weeks of seven days. The feast of Pentecost celebrates the Holy Spirit coming upon the disciples and launching them on their mission of continuing the ministry of Jesus. The actual events of that first Pentecost are recorded in the book of Acts and is this week’s first reading. This Gospel is a reminder that Jesus had already instilled the disciples with the Spirit, but they did not appear to truly realise the significance of what He had done. It seems that they needed a more tangible experience to fully understand the significance of the event. The first reading from Acts records the very physical experience of the Spirit entering their core as a roaring wind before settling upon them as tongues of flame. There are frequent references in the Gospels to Jesus being ‘filled with the Spirit’. It is this Spirit with which He was filled that He breathed upon His disciples; it is that same Spirit that we receive in the Sacrament of Confirmation.

Religious Education Website - Transfiguration Parish

Although we are no longer Remote Learning, the “Parish of Transfiguration” website is still being updated weekly and features the Sunday Gospel of the coming week, as well as reflection questions, and other resources and ideas for families who want to grow in faith together. This week, the focus is on Pentecost. We hope the site will be engaging and enriching for the families in our communities of Holy Trinity and Saints Peter and Paul.

You will also find, on the website, information from our Parish, including the bulletin and Prayers of Intercession to share at home, as well as a video that Fr John has uploaded for our families. The Parish Youth Ministers, Maddie and Grace have added content to the site also, so I encourage you to take a look.

Below is a link to the site for this week.

http://parishoftransfiguration.weebly.com/week-5.html

Welcome back once again, God bless,

Stephanie Burns

Religious Education Coordinator

On Thursday, 21st of May, 16 students from across the school began participating in the Seasons for Growth Program. We began our small groups with some 'getting to know you' activities before starting the formal Seasons for Growth Program.

Why is the program called 'Seasons for Growth'?

Metaphors are often used to help explain our experience of life. By using the metaphor of the different seasons, it provides a concrete way of engaging with the abstract idea of change and loss. 

It allows students to understand that; no season lasts forever, each season is unique and important for growth, everyone experiences the seasons differently, people find different ways to adapt to changes within each season and that seasonal change is often silent, gradual and unseen.

The metaphor speaks of the 'ups and downs' of life, recognising both the struggle and the joy, the light and the dark, the loss and the gain.

Over the next 2 weeks, We will be exploring the season of Autumn, looking at the way that change is a part of life. Autumn delivers reminders that our world is constantly changing. It is a time of passage from the light and warmth of Summer to the dark and cold of Winter. Some grieve the loss of Summer, whilst others welcome the solitude of winter. Autumn isn't the beginning of the end of anything, only the beginning of a new beginning.

Please keep these students in your thoughts and prayers as we journey together.

Today we participated in National Simultaneous Storytime. Thousands of primary school children around Australia enjoyed listening to the story "Whitney and Britney Chicken Divas" at 11am this morning. The children enjoyed the funny story which highlighted that things aren't always what they seem.

Another exciting event which is due to start on June 9th, is our very first virtual book fair. You will be able to browse a fantastic selection of books and order online. Books will be delivered to the school at the completion of the fair and the children will bring their new books home.

More information to come.

During this time of readjustment choir will remain suspended.

We will assess the situation as things settle back into routine and aim to start back with our rehearsals ASAP.

Thank you for your understanding,

Alison Hackwill

NO CASH COUNTER SALES AT LUNCHTIME

Canteen will not be accepting cash during these current times.

Families can make contactless payment via Qkr!

 Purchase counter sale items (snacks & treats) for your child/children in a lunch order which will be delivered to them

or

you can purchase a “counter sales voucher” on Qkr! for your child/children to go to the canteen to collect something at lunchtime. 

Lauretta Raccosta,

Canteen

Lauretta.Raccosta@cg.catholic.edu.au

Healthy Kids, Healthy Bodies, Healthy Canteens

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

 Mrs R was so happy seeing all the children enjoying themselves chatting and sharing the same meal with their friends.

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 SZapp for the Winter Uniform price list.

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

Lauretta Raccosta

Uniform Shop

Lauretta.raccosta@cg.catholic.edu.au

Easy Pavlova

Ingredients

2 egg whites, at room temperature

1 1/2 c caster sugar

1tsp vinegar

1tsp cornflour

4tbs boiling water

1/2tsp vanilla essence

2c whipped cream

2c assorted fruit slices

Method

• No cash accepted on buses - please use MyWay
• Top up (and register) your MyWay card
• Use the rear door to enter and exit on buses
• Be aware that light rail vehicles have auto doors opening at all stops
• Where possible maintain physical distancing
• No front seat access on buses
• Always practice good hygiene