WORLD TEACHERS DAY

Today, Friday 25th October, we celebrate World Teachers Day, acknowledging our teachers' skilled work in educating, inspiring and supporting our young people. We had morning tea together to share in our love of leading and learning for our students. This year’s theme is “Hats off to teachers”, and for a little bit of fun, we would love anyone who wants to celebrate with us, to take a selfie over the weekend to go with the theme, and send it in to us to put into next week’s newsletter!  (add image - Hats off to teachers)

PLANNING FOR 2025

During this term, a number of school planning processes take place for 2025. One of these is setting up class groups, with teachers and leaders working through a series of steps to construct the best groupings for each grade.

If you have important information about your child/ren that their current teachers and leaders need to be aware of in the process:

• This is required to be submitted in writing to the school email address - pmacp@lism.catholic.edu.au.
• This should be labelled “Class consideration: attention to The Principal”, so it is easily located in the email list. 
• This must be submitted by Monday 4th November. 

Please note the following:

• Information given after the due date will not be considered. 
• Disrespectful language regarding teachers or children will not be accepted.
• Requests for wanting particular teachers is not a valid reason for sharing of information. 

• • • However, consideration for particular need-based reasons will be considered. This is at the discretion of the teachers and leaders.
• Requests for a list of children you would like your child to be with or not be with is not a valid reason for sharing of information.
• However, important information about valid concerns for particular situations will be considered dependent on concrete evidence or reasons.
• Consideration will be given to important information shared, but decisions will be made by teachers and leaders in the best interests of all.
• Teachers and leaders will consider appropriate social, academic and other needs to balance class groupings, based on their knowledge and experience of the children in their care.
• Classes are constructed for the best environment for learning, which may mean children are in a class with some but not necessarily all of their friends. It is important to understand and support your child in knowing that this is not a negative outcome, that they will learn to work with a variety of people and build quality learning skills. They will also still see other friends in activities across the year and can share lunch breaks with them.

RESPECTFUL REQUEST FOR CARE OF OUR ENVIRONMENT

It has been shared with us from MacKillop College, that children are running in the gully between our two schools in the afternoons, which we have previously asked not to happen for safety reasons. In doing so, they are running through bushes that have been planted there which damages them and stops them from growing. Please help us to keep children safe and respect for property by being with your children and ensuring they are not in areas they shouldn’t be. 

ENCOUNTER YOUTH: TONIGHT !!

FRIDAY - 5.30PM TO 7.30PM @ THE YOUTH HUB

Have you ever trained for a race? It requires a lot of sacrifice. How do you know if the sacrifices were worth it? You only know whether the sacrifices were with it when you cross the finish line. Our life is a race and we’re going to be talking about the sacrifices we’re making to make sure we’re stoked when we cross the finish line. Don’t forget that Year 6’s are welcome to join us for the whole Term!

• Tonight, Friday 25th October
• 5:30pm -7:30pm @ the Youth Hub
• $5.00 for Dinner

SOCTOBER - CRAZY SOCK DAY

Today, the St Peter’s community supported Catholic Missions Month, Socktober, which engages Australian students to make a difference by raising awareness and critical funds for mission programs supporting children from disadvantaged and vulnerable backgrounds in many countries around the world. In 2024, Socktober is raising funds for programs like the Don Bosco Caring Center in Mongolia, a safe home for children who have been abandoned, are homeless, or are fleeing desperate situations. The money raised today will help the Caring Centre provide the children nutritious meals, purchase essential school supplies, and provide warm winter clothing for the cold Mongolian winters!

ST PETER'S HOSPITALITY MASS

A huge thank you to all the St Peter’s families and staff who were able to join us for Mass last Sunday! The choir sang beautifully, lifting the roof when they rejoined the band after Children’s Liturgy of the Word. Following Mass, we enjoyed a beautiful supper and sausage sizzle dinner! Thank you, Simon Thomas and Anthony Grasso, for cooking 300 sausages!

JONAH AND THE WHALE

In Religious Education, Kindergarten has been learning about the Bible story Jonah and the Whale. The story is about reconciliation, forgiveness, and grace. Jonah initially disobeys God's command to go to the wicked city of Nineveh and prophesy, causing him to be swallowed up by the whale as punishment. Once Jonah is freed from the whale’s belly, he realises his mistake and promises to listen to God. 

Kyah, Taylor and Rose had lots of fun illustrating and re-telling the story of Jonah and the Whale!

PARENT CUPPA & CHAT + LET'S TALK ABOUT ....

THURSDAY 31ST OCTOBER

8.45AM TO 9.15AM

The first chat topic is about God, Faith and the Church, and will be facilitated by our Assistant Principal, Rebecca Cameron. Please bring along a favourite family photo (on your phone is okay). Come along to hear Rebecca’s journey and bring along any questions you may have. RSVP to amanda.thomas@lism.catholic.edu.au. 

YEAR 6 CPR TRAINING

Last Wednesday, Cameron McFarlane from the NSW CPR Program instructed Year 6 students in vital lifesaving training. They worked together in small groups to perform CPR and emergency response skills. All students were active and enthusiastic participants during the activities and drills. Thank you Cameron for visiting us and teaching us such an important skill!

YEAR 3

Year 3 has been learning about the different ways that we can pray. This week they explored using the Mandala Art Technique. The mandala pattern is used across most religious traditions. It represents wholeness, holiness and all things encompassed by God. In various spiritual traditions, the mandala is used as an object for focusing attention as an aid to meditation.