Dear Parents and Carers

"If I could make you all a gift this Christmas, it would be that you should realise that we are all freer than we suppose. We are more free to be growing persons…than most people have told us…we do not have to be diminished by the mean-spiritedness of others. Slavery may be contagious, but so is liberty. The path to both ways forks open in our hearts.”

Peter Steele SJ, Bread for the Journey

Last Sunday we began the Season of Advent, that period of waiting for the birth of Christ into our lives. The quote above comes from a homily by the late Peter Steele. His point is that the coming of Jesus into the lives of his disciples, and into the lives of countless people over the centuries, has meant that doors have been opened in people’s lives and their lives are bigger for it. Sts Peter and Paul would not be here, were it not the case. My hope is that this Christmas, a fuller experience of the freedom of Christ is ours to experience.

Parent-Teacher Interviews

This week, we have held parent-teacher interviews over 3 days. We have had many parents take up the opportunity to meet their child’s teacher/s and I would like to thank all parents for their support of the meetings. They have provided important opportunities for teachers and parents to discuss each child’s progress and set goals for the future. My thanks to Sean Rutledge for coordinating the days and to all teachers for their support.

Step-Up Day and Class Lists

Next Tuesday, the children are having ‘Step-Up’ Day, which sees them meet next year’s teacher. The children will have some time with their 2021 teacher, as well as the children who will make up their 2021 class, and they will bring home a small booklet that afternoon which includes a class list for 2021. Next year’s Kindergarten class lists will also be sent home.

Kinder Nativity

Next week, our beautiful Kindergarten students will be performing the story of the birth of Jesus for the whole school and in two different performances, for the parents and grandparents of our Kindergarten students. It is wonderful that things are slowly returning to normal and that we are beginning to be able to have parents back in the building for performances such as the Kinder Nativity. Unfortunately, some restrictions remain, and we are only able to have Kindergarten parents in the building for the performances.

Christmas Picnic

Next Friday, all families are invited to a Christmas picnic on the school grounds, on Friday December 11. Families are invited to share some Christmas cheer and have an opportunity to meet other families in the spirit of a family Christmas gathering. Families are invited to bring a picnic dinner. The evening begins at 5.30 p.m.

Have a wonderful week with your families.

Best wishes

Cameron Johns

Principal

Sunday Gospel: Second Sunday of Advent, Year B

This week’s Gospel captures beautifully the spirit of preparation and waiting that characterises the liturgical season of Advent. John the Baptist is portrayed as fulfilling the prophecies of Isaiah and others as the one who comes before the Lord preparing the way. He is a messenger, sent by God to ‘do the groundwork’ preparing the people for the coming of the Christ. Although this passage is used during Advent as preparation for the celebration of the birth of Jesus, we know that John was a contemporary (indeed cousin) of Jesus and the time of preparation was immediately prior to Jesus’ public ministry.

John appeared in the wilderness, proclaiming a baptism for forgiveness of sins. It may seem odd to think of going to the wilderness to try to influence people. Today we might think that the city centre or street corner might be the better venue to preach something. What is it about the wilderness? Reference is made to the wilderness several times in scripture. It is used as a place of preparation and encounter with God. The wilderness referred to was a vast expanse of emptiness on the eastern side of the Jordan River. It was not uncommon for wandering preachers like John and Jesus to go out into the wilderness as a way of making a break from their previous life and getting themselves ready in body and spirit to begin their ministry. The wilderness to the east of the Jordan was also the place in which many of the rebels based themselves. There was a sense that challenge and unrest came out of the wilderness. In many ways that is what Jesus – heralded by John – brought out of the wilderness as well.

(Gospel Reflection by Greg Sunter)

Sacrament of First Eucharist

Congratulations to the three Sts Peter and Paul children who received their First Eucharist over the weekend, the parish and school community are very proud of you as you take this important step in your faith journey, girls!

St Vincent de Paul Christmas Appeal

As mentioned last week, and in the attached note, students and staff at Sts Peter and Paul are asked to donate at least one item each towards the 2020 St Vincent de Paul Christmas Appeal.  These items will be combined to fill hampers for families in the Canberra region.  

Each class has been allocated a food type to put in a collection area in each classroom.

These donations will be presented to a St Vincent de Paul representative at Friday morning assembly in Week 10 (18th December).

Thank you so much for your support of this important fundraiser for the local community.

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 final date for Term 4.

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 

Year Two have been honing their writng skills and their Writing Wall is looking fab!

It's that time of year! Borrowing in the library has now finished.

Please return all library books.  

Last week, the library received a donation of books from the Lions Club as part of their 123 Read free children's book project.

Today 3/4B planted their broad beans in one of our garden beds. They have been growing them as part of their science unit on life cycles.

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 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 9, Term 4

    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

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

Mrs R was so happy seeing all the children enjoying Sushi for our last special lunch day. 

Thank you Eleen for your help today, you made the day run a lot smoother.  Your help was very much appreciated!

During Canteen Week we ran a colouring-in competition and a creative food competition plus guess how many forks in the container.

The winners receive a free junior meal deal of their choice.  Canteen volunteers have selected the winners.

Colouring in: Portia R, KW.  

Food Creation: Naisha S, KW.

Guessing Comp: Sabine F, 3/4Y ;

Sabine guessed the correct amount of forks of 85

Please see Mrs R first thing any morning at the canteen to receive your free junior meal deal before the year is through.

Thank you to everyone who entered the competitions and took part of Canteen Week Celebrations.

You be will able to find all your pictures hanging up in the canteen.

It was a very hard decision choosing a winner - All the entries were just

beautiful however we do have a couple of runners up

Charlie G, 1W & Claire H, 2M

Tara W, 3/4Y & Stella H 3/4M

Please see Mrs R for a canteen voucher to use at the canteen

Winners

    Portia R                                Naisha S            

Runners up

    Charlie G               Claire H                       Tara W                       Stella H

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

CHERRY CRUMBLE SHORTCAKE

Ingredients

150 gr butter, softened

2/3 cups pure icing sugar

1 3/4 cups plain flour

1 tsp cinnamon

Pinch salt

1/2 cups ground walnuts

300 gr frozen cherries

Method

Preheat oven to 180 degrees and line a slice pan with baking paper, overhanging the rim of the pan.

Beat butter and sugar in a electirc mixer until light and fluffy.

Add flour, cinnamon and salt in a separate bowl and add the butter mixture.

Add walnuts and stir gently until mixture is crumbly.

Reserve 1 cup of the crumble mixture and presss remaining mixture into the base of prepared pan. Top with cherries and scatter remaining mixture over.

Bake for 35 minutes until golden and cut into squares to serve.

Have you been up Telstra Tower! It is visible from many locations around Canberra and is one of Canberra’s most popular attractions. The working telecommunication tower rises 195 metres above the summit of Black Mountain and has the city’s highest cafe. At the top you can see stunning 360-degree views over the city and surrounding areas and spot most of Canberra’s iconic buildings from the observation deck and outdoor viewing platforms.

There are also walking tracks around the mountain if that's your thing.

Well the end of the year is almost here and what a year it has been. On behalf of the council I would like to thank the teachers, parents and especially the kids for all the hard work that has gone into making this year a successful one despite the obstacles the world has thrown at us. I would also like to thank Lorraine Newnham, Phil Kimpton and Alana Scheiffers for their contribution over the years to school council. Lorraine, Phil and Alana will be leaving the school council at the end of this year. With that in mind if there are any parent(s) who wish to join the school council for 2021, or would like to know more about what the school council does, please email me (thomasmmulligan@gmail.com).

Have a safe and merry Christmas and enjoy a well earned break.

Regards

Thomas

A reminder to the parents of Kindergarten students that Canberra Health Services is offering a targeted kindergarten health check concentrating on vision and hearing. Uptake of the appointments is now slowing down. These health checks are performed  in clinics at the City Health Centre Mondays and Fridays until Monday the 14^th of December.  An appointment can be made by phoning the Central Intake Line on 51249977.

Kind Regards,

Judy Wilson

Kindergarten Health Check Co Ordinator

Phone 51241678

School Health Team

School Immunisation|Kindergarten Health Check

Division of Women, Youth & Children Community Health Programs|ACT Health

1 Moore St Canberra ACT | GP Box 825 Canberra ACT 2601 |www.health.act.gov.au

January School Holiday Program

 SCNA is committed to:

• The development of our members through fostering, encouragement, good sportsmanship, and respect in all areas of netball
• To be the leading sporting association providing opportunities for our members to access netball and positive sporting values
• Positively impact our community by delivering diverse sporting opportunities to enable individuals to achieve their personal best

In January 2021 SCNA will me running a 3-day school holiday program, see below.

The Program Description

The SCNA Netball School Camp is available to Young People between the ages of 7 to 15 and of all standards, fitness/skill levels and capabilities.

The program even though structured, and skill based will aim to maximise enjoyment

 The Program will include:

• Coaching from 9am to 3pm Monday to Wednesday January 18-20
• All areas of netball – movement, ball skill, drills, positional activities, skill refinement
• Fun games with some modified match play
• Coaching by some of the ACT’s National and State League players

Price:      Early-bird   $240 (by December 22);  Standard   $280

Location:   SCNA Courts

         Makin Place Deakin

Date:     Monday 18 to Wednesday 20 January 2021

Time:     9am to 3pm

To register please follow the link below or go to the SCNA website

 https://forms.gle/LTvmzdjggGoBoTGC7

Football Star Academy is offering a Holiday Camp Program. Follow the link for further information

https://forms.gle/9YkXKcaoizY6czLPA