Families have an important part to play in keeping children safe around roads.

• Never drop off or meet your child on the opposite side of the road to the bus stop or call them across the road. Always drop them off or meet them on the same side of the road as the bus stop.
• Remind your children to always wait until the bus has gone before choosing a safe place to cross the road

Talk to your children about Stop! Look! Listen! Think! every time they cross the road:

•  Stop one step back from the kerb
•  Look continuously both ways
•  Listen for the sounds of approaching traffic
•  Think whether it is safe to cross and keep checking until safely across.

Thanks to all those who could make it to the Welcome BBQ. It was lovely opportunity to meet your child’s teacher and mix as a community. Formal parent/teacher interviews will be held on 3 & 4 April at the end of term 1. Further details about how to book your time through Compass will be sent out in a couple of weeks. If you need to talk to your child’s teacher before then please email them to make an appointment.

P & F Meeting

We had a wonderful roll-up for our 1^st meeting of the year! At the meeting we talked about how the P&F committee's role in the school is to fundraise and to build our ‘community’. This means that not all the functions are money making events, however the P&F did discuss what the fund-raising goals would be in 2023. These goals will be taken by the P&F representative to the School Community Council to ensure that they align with overall school plans. The P&F are hoping to replace the softfall under each set of equipment as a major fund-raising project, while also hoping to use the school’s walkathon fundraiser to upgrade Computers and Ipads in the school. Events this year will include school discos, a family movie night, our annual pie drive, art show, raffles and of course our adults only social event 'Nibbles on Knox'. Please keep your eyes out for notification of events that you can support. Our first event this year is the school disco on Friday 3^rd March. We will also be holding a working bee on this evening so please contact the office if you can assist.

Thank you to all our families who attended the opening School's Mass on Tuesday 14^th of February. It was lovely to be able to celebrate as a whole school again as we return to normality after COVID. Our leaders had their badges blessed and Mini Vinnie students all received their badges at this Mass. Ash Wednesday is next week, Wednesday 22^nd of February, and students from Years 3-6 will be attending Mass at the cathedral at 10am. Families are most welcome to join us for the beginning of the Lenten season. Students in Kindergarten, Year 1 & 2, will have a small session in the Chapel in the afternoon to discuss the importance of Ash Wednesday. 

For Shrove Tuesday all families are invited to join us for our traditional pancake breakfast on Tuesday 21^st February. Pancakes are available to purchase from our Mini Vinnie team 8.30 am-9.10am for $1 per pancake. All funds raised from the morning will be donated to Caritas. Students are limited to purchasing one pancake at a time but are welcome to come back for seconds. Please send correct change where possible.

Our Year 6 students will be attending a Journey with Jesus Youth Ministry day at Trinity Catholic College, Friday the 10^th of March. After this, we will start up our school Youth Ministry team again. We are very excited about coming into classrooms and working with students on their Faith formation through meditation and prayer. 

SACRAMENTAL DATES 2023

 SPP Rugby Union & Rugby League Yrs 3 - 6

A note went home this week to gauge the standard and interest of our school Rugby Union and League players, so that we can plan accordingly with the carnivals we enter this year. 

Please remember to complete and return the form by tomorrow Friday 17th February, especially if your child is interested in the tackle competition.

If you missed the note, please contact the school.

2023 SPORT TRIALS

Information and registration for individual trials is through the following website >> https://www.sport.cg.catholic.edu.au/

The dates of the trials will be publicised on the webpage and the Archdiocese of Canberra and Goulburn FaceBook Page. 

These trials are for Yr 5 & 6 students or outstanding Yr 4 students.

Did you know children consume around a THIRD of their daily food intake at school? Lunchbox food plays a crucial role towards childrens ability to concentrate, learn and play. Our quick link fact sheets provide plenty of tips and guidance on healthy lunchboxes that will ensure your children are well nourished and in tip top shape for learning whilst at school.

Follow the link to register - PLAY FOOTBALL

In Stage 3 we have been adapting and applying our movement skills in a variety of physical activity contexts including T-ball, Rugby League, Volleyball and modified games.

During these team games, we are developing our interpersonal skills to interact respectfully with others in our Stage to promote inclusion and build connections.

Hello from the School Counsellor... and important information about how to access School Counselling

Hi and welcome back to 2023. My name is Madi and I have been a part of the Catholiccare Student and Family Counselling team since 2022.

I am a Social Worker with a passion for working with children, young people and their families. Prior to this role, I worked in Central West NSW in acute mental health.

In my school counselling work - I provide short term client-centred support to children and their families drawing from Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), strengths-based, mindfulness and trauma informed approaches in a developmental context. For more complex issues I provide referrals to additional services. I am available at Ss Peter and Paul’s every Monday.

How to make an appointment

If your child was seen by the School Counsellor last year and you would like them to receive support in 2023, we require you to complete a new counselling registration form. New referrals will also require you to complete the counselling registration form. Questions or requests can be directed to the office, your child’s class teacher or School Counsellor (madelyn.burns@catholiccare.cg.org.au).

Referral Link: https://catholiccare.force.com/housing/s/school-referral-form

Parent consent for counselling continues to be required for all primary school students and will be sought and provided via email or phone call. Where parents are separated, we require the consent of both parents. Once the referral has been received by myself - School Counsellor - I will make contact with parents on my next day at Ss Peter and Paul’s to further discuss the referral.

More about School counselling/how to access school counselling at Ss Peter and Paul’s

As part of the pastoral care program for students at Ss Peter and Paul’s, students have access to a Student and Family Counselling service provided by CatholicCare Canberra & Goulburn (CCG). CCG are contracted by the CEO to provide a counselling service to students and their families on site. There is no fee to access this service. The service offers short term counselling support (roughly up to six sessions per referral issue) to children and their families – the counsellor can also provide referrals for more complex issues requiring intensive or long term therapy/support.

The role of the counsellor is to focus on the emotional, social and educational well-being of the students. Counsellors welcome contact with students having difficulty with some part of their life, the problem does not have to be a big one. It is better to seek help sooner rather than later. Some typical concerns that counsellors work with include: anger, anxiety, behavioural problems, low mood, family changes/separation, grief and loss, learning and educational challenges, parenting challenges, peer and other social relationships, school avoidance, stress and study skills. As well as individual sessions with students, counsellors can run groups, consult with parents and teachers and make referrals to other services and supports.

Student and Family Counsellors subscribe to a set of professional ethics that include duty of care and respect for the individual rights to privacy and confidentiality. The counsellors’ obligation is to ensure the safety, wellbeing and confidentiality of the student they are working with. All counsellors are mandated to report any disclosure or sign of abuse (including self-harm) or neglect to Child Protection Services. Outside of our mandated requirements, all counselling sessions are confidential and the details will not be discussed with other parties unless consent is given by the client.