HARMONY DAY

On Thursday for Harmony Day, we almost needed our sunglasses with the beautiful brightness of all shades of orange! It was wonderful to see our students and staff engaged in the spirit of the day by representing the colour and cultural attire that raises awareness of what Harmony Day is about. We always teach students and encourage their understanding that we are all of equal importance and dignity in the eyes of God, from any part of the world. As a Catholic school and also part of our Australian culture, we appreciate and celebrate the backgrounds of all people and strive to live each day with respect for all people we are in contact with.

ANTI-VAPING RESOURCE FOR PARENTS

None of us as parents and educators want any harm to come to our children, but we are aware that there are dangers out there for them, made more accessible often by factors outside of our control. St Peter’s is not actively teaching about or referencing vaping in our setting, but it has been a concern among secondary schools for some time. This can lead to younger children becoming aware of what it is. We are committed to supporting parents and carers through sharing resources as they come to us for your use if you feel you need them. Attached is one such resource, designed for Primary school aged students as required. 

Understanding Vaping - Good Choices, Healthy Futures 

MISSION

Next week is Holy Week, the week before Easter Sunday. It commemorates the events leading up to Jesus' crucifixion and resurrection. Holy Week begins on Palm Sunday when we remember Jesus' triumphant entry into Jerusalem where the crowds greeted him by waving palm branches and shouting, "Hosanna!" On Holy Thursday, we commemorate the Last Supper, which Jesus shared with his disciples on the night before his crucifixion. During this meal, Jesus instituted the sacrament of the Eucharist and washed the feet of his disciples as a symbol of humility and service. Good Friday is a day of solemnity on which we remember the crucifixion of Jesus. It is a day of fasting, penance, and reflection for Christians worldwide. 

This week, the Year 6 Faith and Social Justice leaders helped Mrs Cameron make some crosses from palms for use at Palm Sunday Mass.

All are invited to come along to a Palm Sunday service at St Agnes’ Church at either 7.30am, 9.00am or 5.00pm on Sunday.

ST FRANCIS OF ASSISI MASS

Each week, a class and their teacher attend St Francis of Assisi Chapel to celebrate Sunday Mass with the parishioners. This week, it was Year 5 Blue’s turn. 

We appreciate the warm welcome offered to us by the parishioners at St Francis of Assisi Chapel, and value the intergenerational relationships emerging between the young and senior members of our parish, showing our students that they are part of a special community that extends beyond the walls of our school. 

YEAR 1 CELEBRATION OF THE WORD

Today Fr Prodencio and some friends and family members joined us for our Year 1 Celebration of the Word. We listened to some Bible readings about showing kindness and compassion and came up with some examples of being kind and compassionate in our lives at home, school and in the community. Thank you Fr Prodencio and all our family and friends who were able to join us. 

CATHOLIC EDUCATION WEEK - MONDAY 8TH APRIL

SAVE THE DATE....

As part of the celebrations children will receive an iced cupcake.

There will be an allergy friendly option available which is (vegan, gluten, egg, dairy and nut free). Please email your child’s teacher if this option is unsuitable for your child’s dietary requirements and send in an alternative treat.

LEARNING

ATTENDANCE

BEING AT SCHOOL REGULARLY HELPS CHILDREN DEVELOP POSITIVE FRIENDSHIPS

School attendance is not only about academic growth but also social and emotional development. Here are several ways in which consistent attendance contributes to the formation of meaningful and supportive peer relationships:

• Shared Experiences. Regular attendance allows children to share common experiences with their peers. Being present in class provides opportunities for shared learning, activities, and interactions, fostering a sense of camaraderie.
• Consistent Social Interaction. Attending school every day provides consistent opportunities for social interaction with classmates. Regular face-to-face interactions contribute to the development of communication skills, empathy, and a sense of belonging.
• Building Trust and Reliability. Being present on a regular basis helps children build trust and reliability within their peer group. Dependable attendance creates a sense of predictability, and peers can rely on each other for mutual support and collaboration.

SHOW CASING OUR FABULOUS YEAR 3

Year 3 has had an exciting and busy start to 2024 with the introduction of the new NSW English and Mathematics Syllabus. The NSW education system is reforming the curriculum which will be taught in all classrooms from Kindergarten to Year 12. The new curriculum, as a result of the NSW Curriculum Reform, will give students more time to focus on key learning areas so that they can acquire a deeper understanding of central concepts. It will ensure students develop strong foundations for learning, life and work in a complex and fast-changing world. The children have also completed their NAPLAN assessments over the last two weeks and we are so proud of how well they rose to the challenge and gave the exams their best effort.

Below are some samples of the children’s narrative paragraphs that reflect the syllabus’ new direction.

This time is also important in our Church.  The events of Holy Week recount the 'passion narratives' in the New Testament Gospels that relate to the suffering, death and burial of Jesus Christ. Thus, Holy Week marks the last week of the Christian season of Lent – the week leading up to Easter.

Year 3 has made some beautiful Last Supper Art.

Please enjoy viewing the children’s beautiful Marine Art.

Finally, the children particularly enjoyed their excursion on Wednesday this week to Newman Senior Technical College and Flynns Beach.

The Marine Biology Centre at Newman College is world-class. They breed their own krill, clownfish and have fossils from some of the most ancient sea creatures, including the Megladon. The students got to hold and examine the skeleton jaws of bull sharks, great whites and whale sharks. They learnt about how long different pieces of rubbish found in the ocean take to break down and enjoyed seeing the poisonous lionfish. At Flynns Beach, the students enjoyed a picnic lunch and a sandcastle-building competition with some tough cross-country training on the sand. Here are some thoughts of the day!

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