Dear Parents and Carers

As we near the end of the 2020 school year, the teachers are busily preparing reports and our Parent/Teacher Interviews, which are held next week, over Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, with the late day being Tuesday. I urge all parents to book a time to see their child’s teacher. This semester the interviews will be face-to-face. Like the Semester 1 reports, there will be no written comments for this Semester’s reports (although all subject areas will receive and A – E grade, except Kindergarten, who have a 3-point scale system). In place of the written comments, we have scheduled interview timeslots that go for 15 minutes and provide parents with an opportunity to discuss, in depth, their child’s progress. Attached to this newsletter is the proforma that all teachers are using for the interviews. Parents can book a time to meet with their child’s teacher through this link: https://stpandp.schoolzineplus.com/Semester2PTInterview. 

My thanks to Sean Rutledge for coordinating the interviews and to all staff for their support and commitment. Reports will be sent home Friday week 9.

2021 Classes

Like reports, the school is in the process of preparing the classes for 2021. A number of factors are taken into account when compiling the classes: friend requests, behaviour concerns, ability levels, gender balance and the like. There are multiple drafts before the class lists are finalised, and I approve the final versions directly. All children are guaranteed at least one friend from their request list. Unfortunately, the school is not in a position where we can take individual teacher requests, as this sets a difficult precedent. All efforts are made to ensure that children have a teacher who is able to meet their learning needs.

Athletics Carnival

Last Friday, after two previous attempts that had to be called off due to wet weather, we were able to hold our Cross Country and Athletics carnival. It was a great day and the children thoroughly enjoyed themselves. In the end, however, there could be only one winning House for each carnival, Talara for the Cross Country and Iraga for the Athletics Carnival. My grateful thanks to Mary de Smet for doing such a wonderful job in organising the carnival and my thanks too to all staff for their excellent support.

Canteen Volunteers Dinner

Last week we celebrated Canteen Week and this Friday there is an opportunity for the school to thank the many great volunteers who help make our school and canteen such a happy place. Lauretta Raccosta does a wonderful job and assisting her in her work are many mums and dads whom we could not live without. The dinner is this Friday night at the lake, at Snappers on the Lake. All 2020 canteen volunteers are welcome to attend. My thanks to Lauretta for organising the evening. I look forward to seeing you there.

Staffing News

Finally, in staffing news, I would like to make the following announcements:

• Mr Luke Gubler has been successful in gaining a teaching position at Sts Peter and Paul next year
• Our new Music Teacher is Mrs Alisa Pearson
• Our new Teacher-Librarian is Mrs Amanda Basedow
• Our new Language (Spanish) teacher is Mrs Oriella de Johnson

I would like to congradulate Miss Bronte Dunn, who is commencing at Holy Family in 2021. Congratulations Bronte, we will miss you very much. Our loss is Gowrie's gain.

On behalf of the whole community, I welcome our new teachers and wish them the very best for the years to come.

Have a wonderful week with your families.

Best wishes

Cameron Johns

Principal

Sunday Gospel: First Sunday of Advent, Year B

Stay awake! With these words, Jesus cautions his disciples to be constantly vigilant and to be alert to the return of the Lord. It is a very fitting way to begin the season of Advent. Advent has traditionally been observed as a time of preparation and waiting. It culminates in the Christmas season and so the waiting and preparation is related to the celebration of the coming of Christ into the world.

Perhaps the time of preparation this Advent is also a call to stay awake and stay alert in faith. One of the great challenges to faith today is the complacency that has taken hold of many in our society. When life is comfortable, the perceived need for faith appears to diminish. Many young people in our society cannot see the value of religious belief or religious practice. In a world of instant communication and instant ‘satisfaction’, the reflective and slow work of faith can seem too much effort for some people. The gospel call to stay awake in preparation for the coming of the Lord is a call to continue the work of bringing about the Kingdom of God.

Over the last three weeks, the gospel passages from Matthew 25 were reminders about continuing to prepare for the coming of the Kingdom. This week, with the beginning of Advent, it is the Gospel of Mark that also reminds us that we cannot take the Kingdom for granted and must remain vigilant in working to realise the Kingdom. This vigilance needs to be applied to nurturing our own faith life as well as making a difference in the lives of those around us and the needy in society. Rather than ‘Stay awake!’ maybe some of us need to be told, ‘Wake up!’ It is never too late to pay closer attention to faith and perhaps this Advent is an ideal time to do that.

(Gospel Reflection by Greg Sunter)

Sacrament of First Eucharist

Congratulations to the five Sts Peter and Paul children who received their First Eucharist over the weekend. It is wonderful to see this group (who was also a Home Group) share this special occasion together. Congratulations from the whole community of this important step in your faith journey, girls!

St Vincent de Paul Christmas Appeal

Please see note attached regarding the upcoming Christmas Appeal held by St Vincent de Paul.

Eucharist Mass Booking Link

A reminder that all parents can now select a time and day for their child to receive their First Eucharist, please use the link below:

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/146FLEi9zYXFb7-ORSpIEnyadSPXt4E8kAxxmC_2ORTM/edit?usp=sharing

Due to restrictions, only 4 children will be able to register for each Mass. Please remember to also list the number of family members/guests that will be attending (Maximum of 10).

Children’s Liturgy

Children’s Liturgy runs on the 2^nd and 4^th Sunday of each month during term time at 9:30 Mass at Curtin.

Below is the last date for Term 4. The session on the 13^th December will be run by our Youth Ministers, Maddie and Grace.

Sunday 13^th  December, 9:30 am at Holy Trinity Parish Centre

God bless, 

 Stephanie Burns

Religious Education Coordinator

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.

God bless 

Abby in 3/4B has been working very hard on her word sorts. Well done Abby, fabulous effort!

3/4 B have been performing random acts of kindness this week, as part of their 20 day Kindness Challenge. They have written beautiful letters to members of our school community to show their appreciation. These letters made my day. Thanks Arne, William and all of 3/4B.

Mrs Armstrong

Principal's Awards: The Youth Ministry Team - Adelaide T, 5/6W; Alex S, 5/6M; Ciara G, 5/6W; Eloise H, 5/6M; Emily B, 5/6W; Emily S, 5/6W;  Gill F, 5/6M; Josie M, 5/6W; Marcus A, 5/6M; Maya 5/6W; Mia M, 5/6W; Patrice C, 5/6M; Sarah M, 5/6M

Learning Support Awards: Jack M, 2M; Kostas, 3/4M; Ellie-Zozo, 2M

There are still overdue books that need to be returned to the library.

 As an incentive, Mrs Marsham is offering house points to students who return their overdue books.

CANTEEN IS CASHLESS

 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 incentiveticket WINNER for last week was Harper DeS, 1M.  Congratulations Harper, 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 8, Term 4

An extra pair of hands would be very much appreciated.   Thank you!

Qkr! TIP

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

You have until 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

Special Lunch Day

Wednesday 2 December

 WEDNESDAY 2 DECEMBER the school will be holding it’s LAST special lunch day for the year! 

Children will be able to order sushi rolls, drink and a treat for $7.00.

Orders available on Qkr! Now

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

ORDERS CLOSE 9AM THIS FRIDAY 27 NOVEMBER!

PLEASE NOTE:

DUE TO NUMBERS THAT NEED TO BE GIVEN TO MR SUSHI, NO LATE ORDERS WILL BE ACCEPTED.

Gulten Free & Vegetarian options are available.

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

Thank you to everyone who helped us celebrate CANTEEN WEEK last week.  We hope you enjoyed your surprise in your lunch order, and some new items on the canteen menu - fairy bread, cocktail franks, hash browns and party pies along with the fun games of guessing how many forks in the container.

 You still have until THIS Friday (27 November) to hand in your colouring-in or drawing/take a photo competition to the canteen. 

By being part of the activities, there are individual student prizes.  Here is a reminder:

For the younger students – (Kindy, Years 1 & 2) there is a colouring-in competition.

Printouts can be found at the Canteen.   Return your colouring-in to Mrs R at the canteen for the winner to be selected.

For all students - there is a creative fruit/vegetable competition.

Draw, make or take a photo of your most creative way to eat a fruit or vegetable.  Bring or email your creation to Mrs R at the canteen for the winner to be selected.

                              Competition closing date is 27 November. The school winners will be selected by canteen volunteers. 

The winning students will receive a free junior meal deal of their choice.

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.

NEW TO THE SCHOOL? PURCHASE A STARTER PACK ON QKR!

 Step 1: Download the app Qkr!

Step 2: Register - follow the steps

Step 3: Find our school - Sts Peter & Paul Primary School

Step 4: Register your child/ren - select “new enrolments”

Step 5: Purchase a starter pack for pick up at the front office between school hours.

Orders can be placed via Qkr! Order on a 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.

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

STAINED GLASS WINDOW BISCUITS

Ingredients

125 g butter

2/3 cups icing sugar

1 tsp vanilla essence

2 cups plain flour

1 tbs sugar

1 egg, plus 1 egg white, lightly whisked

10 fruit drops (or similar hard candies)

Method

Preheat oven to 180 degrees, line 2 trays with baking paper and set aside.

Beat butter and icing sugar together in a large bowl until creamy. Beat in tbe vanilla and egg, then mix in the flour and gather the dough into a ball.

Place dough on a floured bench and roll out with a floured rolling pin.

Cut shapes out of the dough uising a cookie cutter and place these on the prepared trays. Continue with remaining dough by piling scraps together and rolling out again.

Cut a small hole in the centre of each biscuit, then brush with the extra egg white and sprinkke with sugar. Bake biscuits for 5 minutes and remove from oven.

Meanwhile unwrap the lollies and place in a zip-lock bag. Wrap in a tea towel and crush with a rolling pin.

Place a teaspoon of the crushed lollies in the centre hole of each biscuit snd retuirn to the oven for another 5 minutes.

Cool for 15 minutes before touching as the melted lollies will be hot.

The recipe is on page 147 of our 50th Anniversary Cookbook.

The cookbook, full of recipes from either Mrs Robyn Moore (fab cooking teacher) or donated by our school community, can be purchased for only $20 via Qkr! or eftpos (No cash please). Books can be collected from the front office. It would make a great Christmas present.