Dear Parents and Carers

‘Bless more and curse less!’

Ronald Rolheiser, ’10 Commandments for Mature Living’

In a sense, Rolheiser’s commandment here touches upon one of his earlier reflections, concerning gratitude. Specifically, in this example, he writes about the importance of maturity reflecting an ability to bless others, especially those who come after us, in their youth, their energies, their vitality – and not being threatened by other’s gifts. Rolheiser writes, ‘We are mature when we define ourselves by what we are for rather than by what we are against’. Our age encourages a certain type of cynicism and if we always stay in that space, it can breakdown our relationships, hurt others, and ultimately distant us from all that is good. He writes, “When we act petty, we get to feel petty. When we act like God, we get to feel like God – and God is never depressed.”

Confirmation

Last night we celebrated the first quarter of our Year 6 students making their Confirmation. We are celebrating the Sacrament with our parish school partner, Holy Trinity at Curtin. Monsignor John Woods led the Sacrament and did so beautifully. In the eyes of the Church, this is the students’ Pentecost, and no less significant than when the Holy Spirit first visited the disciples, as the Scripture accounts describe the experience. We wish all of our students well who are receiving the Sacraments this week: Archie, Marcus, Pia, Xavier, Finley, Emily Ba and Santina. Next week we have two more Confirmation Masses. My thanks to Fr John and our Parish Secretary for their great support; our Year 6 teachers: Paul Jenkins, Melissa Neit, Emma D’Ambrosio and Katie Birch; and my thanks too, to our REC, Stephanie Burns, for her great support of the students and teachers. To all our parents I also extend our thanks, as you are the children’s first educators in faith and it is on your shoulders we stand. Thank you.

Tournament of the minds

Last week, our children from Grades 3-6 who participated in Tournament of Minds filmed their solution and creative performance. TOM provides the students with a great problem conundrum, and the opportunity to present a solution creatively and with the use of technology. Katie Birch has done an excellent job in supporting the children in their work and in their growth as problem solvers. The Tournament also provides the children with a great opportunity to collaborate together: it is a genuine team event.

https://www.tom.edu.au/

Maths Olympiad

Today, our children in Years 5 and 6, as well as some children in Year 4 are sitting the final Maths Olympiad for 2020. The Maths Olympiad has been running for many years and is a voluntary competition for schools. The students compete against themselves and the aim is to teach reasoning skills in mathematics.

https://www.apsmo.edu.au/main/apsmo_home_cm.php

I wish all our students the best and my thanks to Sean Rutledge for coordinating the competition and to all teachers for their support.

Science Day

This Friday, we are having our Science Day, coordinated by Paul Jenkins. Paul has written in previous newsletters about the day and it will be a great day for the children. It is being led by our Year 6 students, which provides them with an excellent leadership opportunity, and all children are invited to come dressed as a scientist. It promises to be a great day. My thanks to Paul for coordinating the day.

Have a wonderful day with your children.

Best wishes

Cameron Johns

Sunday Gospel: Twenty-fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Matthew 20:1-6

On a first reading of this Gospel story, the reader is probably struck by the unfairness of the situation. The landowner has employed day labourers at different times throughout the day to work in his vineyard. However, come the end of the day, the landowner pays all the day labourers the same amount. Not surprisingly, the labourers employed at daybreak to work the whole day are upset that those who have only worked the last hour of the day are paid the same amount. The landowner reminds them that he is paying them what they agreed at the start of the day, and yet the reader is left uncomfortable about the whole arrangement.

Of course, this is the purpose of Jesus’ story! The key to the story is in the introduction. Most of the kingdom parables told by Jesus begin with a formulaic statement, ‘The kingdom is like …’ and this one is no different. What follows is almost always a description of an everyday event that is turned on it's head. In all of the kingdom parables recorded in the Gospels, Jesus describes a world order in which people respond in unexpected and sometimes confusing ways. His message is that the kingdom, or reign, of God turns expectations upside down. In the kingdom, people who are treated badly in this world are held in great esteem; the balance of power is turned upside down; and the usual order of things is challenged. The landowner’s final comment in the parable, ‘the last will be first, and the first, last’, is a perfect example of the challenging nature of Jesus’ kingdom parables. In the kingdom, those who hold themselves to be first in this world will be brought down, and those who are treated as least in this world will be exalted.

(Gospel Reflection by Greg Sunter)

Sacrament of Confirmation

Last night, we celebrated the first of our four Confirmation Masses at Holy Trinity, Curtin. It was a beautiful Mass, celebrated by Father John Woods, and although it was quite different to Confirmations held previously, all who attended agreed it was a truly moving celebration of the faith these five young people have. Tonight we will celebrate with two more candidates from our school at 6pm.

Three other Confirmation Masses have been scheduled, and will take place over the next week. Thank you to all of the parents for the wonderful job they did preparing their children during the Home Groups program.

God bless,

Stephanie Burns

Religious Education Coordinator

FOUND

A significant, special looking ring has been found at the school.

If you have lost one, and can describe it, please see Mrs Collis in the front office.

Principal's Awards: Anna S, 3/4B; Cooper L 3/4B

Canteen Awards: Eleanor M, 1M; Edie R, 3/4B

Learning Support Awards: Ned S; Lucy B; Mrs Drabsch

https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1Ur7nfvQo1ZfeOYIZzBt47FGKoZUn7gWrbNxPV11nwAo/edit?usp=sharing 

What is Youth Ministry? Youth Ministry is an engaging way for young people to come together and share the word of the Lord with other young people.

On Literacy Day the students in 1W, 3/4W and Year 5 created some fantastic book displays to promote the Book Week short listed picture books.

1W-‘My Friend Fred’ by Francis Watts

3/4W-‘Three’ by Stephen Michael King

Year 5- ‘The Good Son’ by Pierre-Jacques Ober

Thank you to all of those families that have SENT IN MATERIALS FOR OUR Science Day coming up in Week Nine. We now have enough materials to do the activities that are planned. There is no longer any need for more materials. Thank you for your generosity.

Paul Jenkins

Will, Emily and Pia (5/6) argued for the affirmative in today's debate against Holy Family. The topic was  'Canberra doesn't need a tram network' and both teams put forward strong arguments to support their position. Congratulations to the Sts Peter & Paul team for the win!

Whole School Charity Fete

Last term as an important part of our Religious Education Program called “Jesus in the Gospels” the students of Years Five and Six planned activities for a School Charity Fete. This is a fund-raising activity to raise money for members of our community, and the world, who need our help.

It is a way for Stage Three to demonstrate their organisational skills as well as their leadership skills. It is also a valuable opportunity for the rest of the school to see their skills demonstrated in a practical way. It is a great deal of fun for all concerned (which we need during the current Covid 19 uncertainty).

The whole school will be able to participate in a variety of fun activities including soccer skills, face painting, guessing games and duct taping Mr Gubler to the wall.

The Charity Fete will take place on Thursday 24 September (Week 10). Some of the activities have prizes for participating.

Two of the activities are a bookstall and a toy stall. We need your help to make these activities a success. Here is a chance to clean out your child’s cupboard and send in any unwanted books and toys to our Charity Fete. If you are able to donate toys and books, please send them to the Year 5/6 classrooms before Thursday 24 September.

If you have any questions or concerns, please let the Stage Three teachers know. We are looking forward to a great fun-filled Charity Day!

Please Note: Due to Covid19, we cannot use coins. Please purchase vouchers on Qkr! Vouchers come in the denominations of $1, $2, $3, $4 and $5.  You can purchase multiple vouchers for your child if you wish. The majority of activities on the day will cost 10 or 20 cents per go.

The students will receive an envelope with paper coins that they can use to participate in the activities on the day. Orders for vouchers close at 3pm Monday 21^st September.

Saints Peter and Paul Cross Country Carnival Friday 25^th September

Saints Peter and Paul Cross Country Carnival will be taking place on the school grounds next Friday 25^th September. Unfortunately, due to current restrictions in place, we will be unable to have any parents in attendance. But don’t worry, we’ll be taking lots of photos and getting them onto Facebook. I will be heading out around the school today to work out where the ‘course’ is going to be and to the best of my ability, I will ensure that the distances are as accurate as possible.

5, 6 and 7 years shorter lap

8 years 1000m

9 years 1500m

10 years 2000m

11 and 12 years 3000m

We will be having a couple of runs with our grades/stages at school before next Friday to ensure that all students know where the new course is going to be. Feel free to encourage your child/ren to get out there around your home and get a bit of practise in before the day.

Mrs R is having a special Cross Country Carnival Day lunch. If you would like your child to have this lunch, please see Qkr (See separate newsletter article for special cross country menu and get your orders in quickly so Mrs R knows how much food to to order and prepare!)

We are encouraging all students to wear their house colour shirt with their sport uniform next Friday. Mrs R has house colour shirts for sale (Red, Yellow, Blue and Green) through the uniform shop if you are unable to find one for your child at home.

Please don’t hesitate to get in touch if you have any questions about our cross country carnival. mary.desmet@cg.catholic.edu.au It’s going to be a great way to end the term and hopefully the weather will be kind to us.

Hockey Clinics on Thursdays

We are halfway through our Hockey Clinics and the kids are having a great time learning some new skills. Thank you to Hockey ACT for providing our students with this sporting experience.

NRL Touch Football ACT Years 3/4 Clinics

All students who unfortunately missed out on attending the Touch Football gala day earlier in the term have been lucky enough to participate in 3 clinics with NRL Touch Football ACT. They have been having a great time up on the oval each Monday and are going to get to put the skills they have been refining into practise in a game next week. A huge thank you to NRL Touch Football ACT for offering these free clinics to our school.

 Families can make contactless payment via Qkr!

Purchase over-the-counter sale items (snacks & treats) for your child/children in a lunch order via Qkr!

or

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

Do you want to win a $2 voucher to spend in the canteen? Simply purchase fresh or frozen fruit from the canteen and be in the weekly draw to WIN!!!

Fruit incentive ticket WINNER for last week was Kiera S, 1M.  Congratulations Kiera, you have won a $2.00 voucher, to spend at the canteen. Please see Mrs R at the canteen to collect your voucher.

Canteen roster - Week 10, Term 3

Time	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday
9-11 am	Lulu K	Dannielle M	Sarah C

Qkr! TIP

Is your child sick and not going to school - and you have placed a lunch order on Qkr!? 

You have till 8.45am that morning to cancel the lunch order - instructions on how to cancel lunch orders are below.

Lauretta Raccosta,

Canteen

Lauretta.Raccosta@cg.catholic.edu.au

Healthy Kids, Healthy Bodies, Healthy Canteens

Friday 25 September

 Are you having a lunch order on cross country day?  Well, a set menu has been designed just for you for that day only!

Cost $6.00

 Menu: sausage roll or party pies (2) or chicken schnitzel or 2 mini quiche (GF)  or cheese & spinach roll (v) or salad box (v) or fried rice (gf) or vegetarian slice (gf)

with a bottle of water, a pkt of chips and a bag of lollies. 

Orders can be made via Qkr! 

FOR CATERING PURPOSES, place an order now! 

Please note the above set menu is the only food available for students on that day. 

Canteen will be open for counter sales at lunchtime using daily canteen vouchers only.

Thank you, Lauretta Raccosta, Canteen 

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

Healthy Kids, Healthy Bodies, Healthy Canteens

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 Summer Uniform price list.

Spring is here!  Get in early and beat the rush. 

Summer School Uniform now available on Qkr!

UNIFORM SHOP BOOKINGS

With the need for physical distancing amongst adults DUE TO COVID19, the Uniform Shop will be appointment only on Tuesday mornings for Summer Uniform purchases over the next coming weeks. Please click on the link below to book your time slot.

https://stpandp.schoolzineplus.com/UniformShop

 A reminder that items order through QKR! will be delivered to your child’s classroom to be sent home.

 Now selling HOUSE COLOUR T-SHIRTS. 

Cost $10.

 Are you having trouble finding a plain t-shirt?

We sell plain house colour t-shirts ready for the Cross Country. 

With 100% breathable soft cotton and UPF rated sun protection for year round.

Sizes range from 4-16.  Now available on Qkr!

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 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

Lauretta.raccosta@cg.catholic.edu.au

ANZAC BISCUITS

Ingredients

1 cup rolled oats

1 cup plain flour

2/3 cup brown sugar

2/3 cup coconut

125 g butter

2 Tbs golden syrup

2 Tbs water

1 tsp bicarb soda

Method

Preheat oven to 180 degrees and line two trays with baking paper.

Mix oats, flour, brown sugar and coconut in medium bowl.

Place the butter, golden syrup and water in a saucepan over medium heat and stir until melted.

Add the bicarb soda and remove from the heat.

Mix dry and wet ingredients together, then shape the mixture into small balls, place on the prepared trays and press down lightly.

Bake biscuits for 10 minutes or until golden.