Dear Parents and Carers

“Our challenge, not just through the week ahead, but through the long week of our lives, is to continue to live by the faith and hope that Jesus Christ, mortal and divine, is the vindicator of life.”

Peter Steele SJ, Bread for the Journey

This coming Sunday is Palm Sunday, a day that celebrates Jesus’ triumphant entry into Jerusalem, only to be crucified a week later. Palm Sunday, like all of Lent, is an invitation to journey with Jesus. We are challenged, as Jesus, to live with generosity, compassion and love, knowing that bitter experience does not have to have the last word. When we experience some of life’s harsher moments, the temptation is to think that these moments are the defining aspects of our lives. It is then that Jesus' steadfast love for us, even on the Cross, points us to a greater reality.

Reconciliation

Fittingly during this Easter season, the Year 3 students are nearing the end of their Reconciliation program. Last Friday they enjoyed a very successful Retreat Day and this weekend the first of our students make their First Reconciliation. My thanks to the Year 3/4 teachers: Anna Kain, Katie Birch, Amanda de Jongh, Luke Gubler and Mary Portolesi, for all of their hard work and dedication. My thanks too to Fron Garrett-Rumba, our excellent acting REC, for all of her work and coordination; and to Fr John Woods and the Parish of the Transfiguration, for their great support and encouragement.

Year 6 Leadership Course

Our Year 6 students have a number of opportunities over the course of the year to grow as leaders. This Friday, the Year 6 students are undertaking a Leadership Day with BFirm, which will involve a number of physical challenges and group work activities. Each term the students will have the opportunity to do the BFirm course. It is a very good opportunity. My thanks to Paul Jenkins and Sarah Kennelly for coordinating the school’s involvement.

https://bfirm.com.au/

Easter Liturgies

Next week our Easter Liturgies begin with the Year 1 students leading us in a retelling of Palm Sunday on Tuesday, Years 3/4 retelling the Last Supper on Wednesday and 5/6 retelling Good Friday on Holy Thursday (the last day of the school term). Our Kindergarten students will enact the good news of the Resurrection on the first day back at school in Term 2. My thanks to all teachers and staff, and to Fron Garrett-Rumba (acting REC), for their support of the school and the sharing of our faith.

Enrolment Period

The enrolment period for all Catholic Schools is fast approaching. Our first Open Day is being held next Tuesday, March 30, from 9 am – 11 am.

Other Open Day dates are:

• Wednesday 21/4 (week 1)
• Tuesday 27/4 (week 2)
• Wednesday 5/5 (week 3)
• Monday 10/5 (week 4)

The times for all Open Days are 9 am – 11 am. The date for the Information Evening is Tuesday, 27/4 (week 2), at 6  pm. I encourage any interested parents to attend.

Pupil Free Day

A reminder that the first day of Term 2 is a Pupil Free day. All Catholic schools in the Archdiocese have a pupil free day at the beginning of Term 2 to undergo some professional development in the educational initiative known as ‘Catalyst’, which is being run by the Catholic Education office. The first day back for students is Tuesday April 20. I thank all parents for their support.

Compass- Parent Portal

The launch of the Parent Portal is imminent. Thanks to all parents who have verified their email addresses for use in Compass. These were sent home with your child in recent weeks. We will be looking to go live with the Portal next term and have a period to phase out SZapp as our absence notes documentation tool and main communication app. Information regarding a timeline will be available in next week’s newsletter. A live demonstration was given to the Community Council last night; please see any of the council members for more information. Attached are some ScreenShots of what the Portal will look like as a parent on a Desktop and Mobile device. 

NAPLAN testing will take place early in Term 2 from 11^th-20^th May. This week students in Years 3 & 5 will complete a practice and familiarisation test. If you are concerned about your child’s participation/exemption/withdrawal or the adjustments that can be offered, please discuss these concerns with your child’s teacher ASAP.

Have a wonderful week with your families.

Cameron Johns

Principal

To select a time for the Sacrament of Reconciliation, please click here https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1XcnHIlxIDgEkLbdrFd_SM6tn1kFM-1nzc6ExsdPitMk/edit?usp=sharing and choose a time convenient to you.

 Gospel Reflection- Palm Sunday

Mk 14:1-15:47

Palm Sunday is the final Sunday of Lent, the beginning of Holy Week, and commemorates the triumphant arrival of Christ in Jerusalem, days before he was crucified. The Gospel reading on Palm Sunday is passion narrative. The Passion narrative is very aptly named. The emotion and power of this story is nothing short of passionate. The Gospel writer’s style of fast paced, unadorned factual narrative is a very effective way of helping the reader/listener to engage in the story. It is, after all, the first half of the most important Christian story – finished off by the resurrection that is celebrated on Easter Sunday. It is easy to see why this stark, narrative style was embellished and expanded upon by the later Gospel writers and yet it is perhaps the more passionate for its conciseness. 

From Greg Sunter

Vinnies Knock On Effect

Vinnies changes lives every day, but they need our help. During the month of March, Vinnies is running the Knock On Effect campaign to highlight the knock on effects that donations, fundraising and raising awareness can have. With over 2 million people living below the poverty line in Australia, including over half a million children, your contribution allows the St Vincent de Paul Society to provide more than immediate help, it provides something much more valuable - the opportunity of a better life. Please join us in supporting those who need a hand up in challenging times.

28^th March  – Palm Sunday Year B

https://www.prayingwithchildren.org/p41fsd497.html

Blessings,

Fron Garrett

Religious Education Coordinator (Acting)

DATES TO REMEMBER

HAPPY BIRTHDAY

to those students celebrating their birthday this week.

Isabella T

Lachlan A

Emma I

Roxie M

The School Community Council is looking at organising a few events for Term 2. Keep an eye out for the school disco in early Term 2 and a parents' trivia night in the middle of Term 2.

Well, first term is almost done so Happy Easter to everyone and enjoy another well-deserved break.

Cheers

Thomas

Chair, School Community Council

With the exception of a couple of back orders all students who ordered book club should finally have their orders! Thank you for your patience! Hopefully it will be smooth sailing from here. 

Just a reminder to please return any overdue library books as this helps with end of term Library sorting and processing. 

This week the classes have been reading Mem Fox’s I’m Australian Too as a lead in discussion for Harmony Day. 

Mem Fox is a wonderful Australian author and she has a fantastic website for students, parents and teachers. https://memfox.com/

Please contact amanda.basedow@cg.catholic.edu.au if you have any questions regarding the Library or borrowing. 

Keep reading!

Mrs Basedow

Kitchen Garden/Curriculum

We continue to have lots of fun in the kitchen and in class learning about health, maths and geography. Year 2 have been learning about health and geography and Kinder have started their time in the kitchen by learning about maths.

Year 2 are looking at the different health messages that we see about eating a balanced diet. They are also coming up with their own health messages in the classroom. Cooking in the kitchen continues to emphasise this learning and builds new skills.

Year 1 are practicing their counting from 1-20 while starting to learn what being in our kitchen and garden is all about.

Garden Club

We are in the middle of a few projects at the moment. One being something to do with Mums in May. We are planting special gifts for our beautiful Mums and Grandmas for our students to give for a small donation. Watch this space for more information.

If you would like any information on what’s happening in Garden Club email katherine.birch@cg.catholic.edu.au.

The Garden Club

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.

Week 9 Canteen Roster

Thank you helpers; your assistance is very much appreciated!

Please contact me if you are unable to make your shift, Thank you.

Are you able to help out in the canteen?

 If you have any spare time and would like to help out in the canteen, PLEASE feel free to contact me through email at lauretta.raccosta@cg.catholic.edu.au

Term 2 canteen roster available now

Click on the link below to add your selected time to the roster.

Please ensure you have your WWVP card.

https://stpandp.schoolzineplus.com/CanteenRosterTerm2

Lauretta Raccosta,

Canteen

Lauretta.Raccosta@cg.catholic.au

Wednesday only!

31 March

Pre - Order our special Easter treat for $2.50 containing a fruitless hot cross bun and an Easter egg!

Available now on Qkr!

Orders close this Friday at 9am

DON’T MISS OUT!

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.

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

Winter School Uniform now available on Qkr!

 Winter Tunic stocks are low at the uniform shop. Despite an order being placed early February, we’ve been advised that the Winter Tunics will not arrive till late May.  For this reason, we are asking that only 1 Tunic per child be purchased till stock arrives.

 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

Kitchen and Canteen Ingredient Drive

Mrs Moore and Mrs R send out a HUGE THANK YOU to everyone who helped stock up our pantry for 2021!

These donations will help us bring more goodies to the Kitchen and Canteen Menu.

We were overwhelmed with the number of items that were brought into the school. 

With an average participation from the school of 114%, Mrs Moore & Mrs R wants to treat the WHOLE school with a Zooper Dooper on the last day of the term.

It was very close, but we do have a class winner….

3/4W, you will have a pizza party on us, on the last day of the term at lunchtime.  ENJOY!!!

 
3/4W with 136% class participation

2W & 3/4M with 130% class participation

3/4B with 126% class participation

2M with 123% class participation

5M with 120% class participation

KW with 115% class participation

6W with 114% class participation

KM with 109% class participation

1M, 1W, 5W & 6M with 95% class participation

 

THANK YOU VERY MUCH!

Mrs Moore & Mrs R

POTATO AND LEEK SOUP

Ingredients

4 Tbs butter

4 leeks, chopped

2 onions, chopped

6 large potatoes, peeled and sliced

6 cups chicken stock

3 cups cream

1/2 tsp pepper

1 tsp salt

6 Tbs  chives, chopped

Method

Melt butter in a large frypan and fry the leeks and onions gently for 5 minutes.

Add the potatoes and stock and simmer gently for approximately 30 minutes.

Puree the mixture with a stick blender or similar, then add the cream and stir.

Season with salt and pepper and top with the chopped chives.

Serve hot with a fresh crusty bread roll.

The National Arboretum has many activities to participate in. Follow the link to discover what's happening in the next few weeks, including durig the school holidays.

https://www.nationalarboretum.act.gov.au/visit/whats-on

Please see the attached PDF for information on 'Holiday Happenings'.

School Sport ACT (SSACT)

Please follow this link www.schoolsportact.org.au to access all information related to School Sport ACT. The current primary school sporting calendar can be found on this page. Please ensure that you visit this page regularly as dates sometimes change due to unforeseen circumstances.

SSACT Trials

The process for registering your child for an ACT sport trial can be found below. If you need any assistance registering your child, don’t hesitate to get in touch and we will hopefully be able to help you out. If you find that there are any steps missing within this process, please let me know at your earliest convenience.

SSACT Registration Process

School Sport ACT now collects all registration information online – this is to prevent the movement to and fro of a paper note and have all information readily available to officials prior to the trial. As this process incurs a fee for data storage, system maintenance and admin, a small fee payment via credit card will be required.

How to register a Student with School Sport ACT.

1. Go to the School Sport ACT website schoolsportact.org.au
2. Go to Register (top right corner of the homepage) and create an account.
3. After completion, check your registered email to verify your account. (Always check your spam folder in case you didn't immediately receive the verification email).
4. After verifying your account, Log In (top right hand corner of the homepage) using your registered email and password.
5. You’ll be presented with your Parent Dashboard. From there you can start the process of registering a Student into a Trial.
6. Click the green Add Student
7. Complete all of the information required for your Student (e.g. Medical Details, Sport, Playing History, Preferred Position, School etc.) and save the information. (If your child is already in the system, please ensure that your child’s school is up to date in your profile.)
8. Click on the trial information box and then click on the register to trial link.
9. Make the small credit card payment. After payment your Principal/School Approver will receive an email for their approval to trial.

You will be able to see the process has been complete back in My Profile – once your Principal/School Approver has completed the approval process your child’s information will be collated onto a list for the Team Manager and Coach prior to trial.

Vinnies changes lives every day, but they need our help 

During the month of March Vinnies is running the Knock On Effect campaign to highlight the knock on effects that donations, fundraising and raising awareness can have. 

With over 2 million people living below the poverty line in Australia, including over half a million children, your contribution allows the St Vincent de Paul Society to provide more than immediate help, it provides something much more valuable - the opportunity of a better life. 

 Please join us in supporting those who need a hand up in challenging times.