ST PETER’S CATHOLIC PARISH PRIMARY SCHOOL Thursday 17th September 2015 – Week 10 To the St Peter’s community, In this week’s Gospel, Jesus’ disciples are competing to be the best. Stop comparing yourself to others, Jesus tells them. Look inside yourself, get to know your special talents and use them for the least in our society. When Jesus teaches his disciples about the suffering ahead, they don’t understand but find themselves too afraid to ask questions. They resort to familiar territory – petty conversations about status and accomplishments – the world of who is better and who is best, the place where status matters and all else becomes invisible. When Jesus and his company reach Capernaum, he sits down alone with the twelve to talk about their arguing. Jesus turns this moment of false pride inside out. The resulting lesson gives us an image of the human condition that challenges all our assumptions. A child is the focus of the lesson. To our modern eyes a child can make this seem a sentimental, greetingcard moment. However, bible scholars warn us away from importing our modern notions of childhood into the gospel landscape. In the ancient world children were invisible, non-people of little consequence. Jesus taking a child in his arms must have shocked the boasting, arguing disciples. Jesus tells them that they must invert their basic beliefs about first and last. They must abandon the usual benchmarks of accomplishment and acclaim. In Jesus’ company the invisible become visible, servants are first, and those with higher status fade into the background. Harsh territory. Unexpected blessings. Competition can spur us on, but it also can tear us up inside. Why can’t I look like her? Why can’t I score tries like him? I know many young people that tear themselves down because they constantly focus on how they don’t measure up to others? We need to stop comparing ourselves with others and start loving ourselves for who we are – like God loves us. According to Jesus your value doesn’t come from appearance or popularity or how well you compete. It comes from God. And if you really want to feel great, go out into the world and show the people who are not valued just how valuable they are. Is your talent making kids laugh? Develop it. Are you good at listening and offering comfort? Do that more often. Maybe you like building things. Give your time to help build something for someone who lives on the margins. We Pray: Blessed are you, Lord, God of all creation, for having made us all different. What I don’t know about you I need to learn from others because they reflect your image and likeness in a different way. I ask you to lead me to seek to understand the many people of good will who are different from me. Blessed are you, Lord, God of all creation. I am grateful for all that is good in my life. I know that you look on me with tender love, and invite me to assess and renew my attitude and direction in life. Be with me in my determination to live in a positive way. Amen. This week our children shared their learning journey during the learning conversations and I’m sure that many of you would have felt so proud of their great achievements. Congratulations everyone on a great term of learning! Have a wonderful break and keep safe,

Kerry Miller Principal

A message from the parish to all St Peter’s families: Please be advised the parish will be sending letters to all school families early in term 4 relating to 2015 parish contribution. Please make meeting this financial commitment to our Parish a high priority; our Parish is only able to offer its many supports and services to our community through these contributions.

MARRIAGE ENCOUNTER WEEKEND Invest in your most precious asset......Your Marriage! Forget life’s tensions and interruptions and rekindle the closeness, intimacy, love and romance that brought you together. Recharge your relationship batteries and explore the precious nature of your marriage, allowing you both to share your feelings, hopes and dreams with each other in ways that normal, daily living tends to inhibit. There is no group sharing. Couples and a priest present the weekend. It is based around Catholic values but couples of all faiths are welcome. Melbourne weekend dates: 23-25 Oct (last one for 2015), 8-10 April, 17-19 June, 19-21 Aug, 11-13 Nov in 2016 Starts 7pm on Friday. Ends 5pm Sunday. Accommodation and all meals provided. Information/Bookings: PH: Marianne & Marcel (03) 9733 0997 Email: [email protected] Website:www.wwme.org.au

EDUCATION IN FAITH Reconciliation – Maurie and Martin visited the Year 3 students on Tuesday. The students were asked a few questions and two of the questions are below followed by some of the student’s answers: Who is the most important person in the Sacrament of Reconciliation? “God! Because he forgives us!” Why do we relate a bow and arrow with reconciliation? “When you hit the centre you hit the mark and at other times you is the mark.” “We talk about hitting the mark and missing the mark in life when we're making decisions.” During this visit some of us got to have a go at archery, we met the Reconciliation mascot and even did some real life maths!

Sacrament of Reconciliation: Tuesday October 13th  3MR will be at 6 pm & 3SR will be at 7:30 pm. Thursday October 15th  3SB will be at 6 pm & the Parish Based Sacrament Students will be at 7:30 pm. Praying Together as a family: Prayer paper chain: Give each member of the group a strip of paper and encourage them to write a one-line thank you prayer. Fasten all the strips together to make a festive paper chain that you can hang. If you have a small group you might want to give each person two or three strips of paper or add to the chain day by day, week by week. Planting a Seed: It came up, grew, and produced a good crop.(Mark 4:8) In order to grow to be strong and healthy, seeds need good soil, feeding and watering. In the same way we need comfort and love in order to develop into the people God made us to be. As we plant seeds we pray that we will have all we need to grow: - Take one of the seeds in your hand, look at it and think of people you are close to - Put some soil in a cup and place your seed deep inside it. Hold the cup with the seed in it and ask God to help you and any children you know to grow into the people he wants us all to be. Care for these seeds over the holidays documenting their growth and change. Send some selfies of you and your family to the email address below showing us how you pray together! Emily de Kort. Director of Faith and Mission [email protected] ECSI Surveys – Congratulations to the Amato family of PSM! The Amato family’s name was drawn out as the lucky winners of the Reading Cinemas Family Pass for completing the Enhancing Catholic School Identity survey. Congratulations and we hope you get to enjoy a movie during the holidays! Reminders:  End of Term Friday 18th September 3:25pm  Term 4 commences Monday 5th October  Staff planning Friday 9th October - Pupil Free Day  Alpha Dental Van follow up visit Monday 12th & Tuesday 13th October  Year 6 Graduation photos to be taken on Wednesday 14th October

Science Incursions Over the past week Year 5 and 6 students have been involved in Science incursions, based on Natural Disasters and Earth and Space. The incursions were run by ‘Hands on Science’. Both year levels participated in many practical activities designed to help them understand why and how natural disasters happen. The Year 5 students also investigated Earth in Space, looking at the Earth’s rotation, orbiting planets, the atmosphere, the seasons and how rockets move. Alison Hall Science Leader

PE News We have had a busy few weeks of sport at St. Peters. Two weeks ago our year 5/6 football team won the Whittleseas Cup Grand Final. After being behind early in the 1st half, they clawed their way back to come away with a great win. They qualifed for the Regional Final of the LGA cup which they competed in on Thursday. Last Thursday the year 5/6 boys and girls basketball teams played in the Whittlesea division basketball finals. Both teams won their semi-finals. The boys narrowly won their grand final by 2 points and the girls lost theirs in a close game. The boys will go onto the next stage and both team will compete in the regional Hoop Time on November 4th. Well done to both teams! On Tuesday 15th year 4-6 students competed in the Whittlesea/Woodlands athletics carnival at Meadowglen. MJ Almazan (year 6) came first in the 200 metres and Nicholas Younes (year 6) and Lisa -Marie Di Berardino (year 5) came second in the 1500 metres. All three will now compete in the Northern Regional athletics next term. A big congratulation to them and all the students who competed on Tuesday! Finally, the St. Peters Athletics Carnival for 2015 will be held at Meadowglen athletics track on Wednesday November 25th. Have a great holiday everyone. Mr Kenez PE Co-ordinator

St Peter’s Parents & Friends’ Association HELP NEEDED TO PAINT MINIONS OUR MINIONS TYRES NEED YOUR HELP…….. We have 10 minions tyres that need painting and we are asking for extra hands to help us with it. The tyres have been kindly donated by the Herbert Family (IDS & PrepSM), now it is time to dress them. If you are available to help on a Saturday in morning for a few hours, please contact Jenny Balzan. ENTERTAINMENT BOOKS New editions of the Entertainment Book are available to order from the office. You can choose from the hardcopy version or the online app. Both options are full of fantastic savings and special offers, including many local venues. A sample copy is available to look at in the office foyer. GENERAL MEETING Our next meeting will be held on 14th October at 7.30pm in the staff room. The position of Assistant Secretary is still vacant. If you would like more information, please attend our next meeting. FOOTY DAY A big thank you to Terry and all who helped on the day.

Wishing you all a relaxing and safe holiday, See you in Term 4! Thank you for your continuing support. St Peters’ Parents’ & Friends Association Committee.

SEASONS PROGRAM 2015 Seasons is a support program for children who are experiencing grief and loss in their lives. This loss may be the result of death, divorce or separation in the immediate family. The program is coordinated at St Peters School and we are looking to run the program for 4 weeks next term. We would be starting the week of the 13th October, 2015. The sessions run after school on a Monday for 40 minutes from 3.30-4.10pm and Silvana Sgarlata is the facilitator. Children will need to be picked up from the school at 4.10PM on that afternoon. The program runs the same every year so it is not usual for the children to be in it again once they have completed it. If you would like more information please call the school. Please fill in the slip attached and return to the school by Friday 9th October, 2015 Thank you, Jackie Fleischmann Wellbeing Leader

SEASONS PROGRAM 2015 Name of child/children _____________________________ _____________________________ _____________________________ _____________________________ Reason for attending Seasons ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Signed ___________________________________________

Thank you for your continuing support. 2015 INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC

Dear Parents, Instrumental music lessons will continue in Term 4. If you wish your child to commence music lessons please follow the enrolment instructions detailed below. Why learn a musical instrument? With so many different instruments to choose from, learning a musical instrument is fun and enjoyable, and more importantly it can significantly improve the development of social, emotional and academic abilities. Here are just some of the benefits of learning a musical instrument:  Promotes time management and organisational skills  Increases memory capacity  Enhances coordination  Improves Mathematical ability and language performance  Improves reading and comprehension skills  Promotes resilience and perseverance  Improves your concentration and listening skills  Provides a sense of achievement  Promotes social skills Lessons Lessons may be taken individually or shared and are of thirty minutes duration. Lessons will rotate weekly so that there are minimal disruptions to the student’s scheduled class time. Instruments The instrumental music lessons that will be offered are: Guitar, Keyboard, Piano Accordion, Violin, Flute, Clarinet, Saxophone, Trumpet, Trombone, Drums. Musical instruments may also subsequently be purchased at a special discounted school rate and payment instalments can be arranged for this. Enrolment To enrol in the Instrumental Music Program, parents should complete an ‘Instrumental Music Enrolment Form’, sign a copy of the ‘Terms and Conditions’ and hand this in to the School Office. An invoice will be emailed the first week of term and payment is STRICTLY due within 14 days. Parents will also be notified of the scheduled time and day of the instrumental lesson. Students of families who have arrears with their current school fees are not permitted to participate in the Instrumental Music Program. TERMS AND CONDITIONS FORM 2015  The cost of Instrumental Music Lessons at St Peter’s School Epping is less than the minimum fee recommended by the Victorian Music Teachers’ Association (VMTA). For 2015 the fees are:  $30.00 (Per Private Lesson) or $20.00 (Per Group Lesson)  Fees are invoiced on a per term basis and are payable in advance. Invoices are sent out in week one of each term. Payment can be made via internet transfer, Cash or cheque and can be left at the School Office.  All students enrolled in St Peter’s School Instrumental Music Program are committed to a full term of weekly lessons. If a student wishes to discontinue lessons, then written notice, e-mailed to [email protected] is required two weeks prior to the end of the school term.  If written notice of cancellation is not presented, the Music Coordinator will presume students will continue learning for a FULL YEAR under the same agreement as outlined in the terms and conditions.  In the event that the Instrumental Instructor is absent for a scheduled lesson then this lesson will be rescheduled and students will be notified of the time and date of the rescheduled lesson.  If a student is going to be absent from school due to a SCHOOL APPROVED ACTIVITY, it is the responsibility of the student’s parents to inform the Instrumental Music Instructor.  When possible, the Instrumental Music Instructor will endeavour to reschedule the lesson at another time providing 48 hours’ notice is sent to [email protected]  In the event that a student is absent due to illness on the day of a lesson, the lesson will still be payable. Please email [email protected] with any questions you may have.

Parent to complete: I have read and agree to the Terms and Conditions as outlined above. Parent Surname ________________________________Parent First Name_________________________ Signature of parent/guardian _________________________________ Date ________________________ 2015 INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC - ENROLMENT FORM STUDENT DETAILS Year/Class in 2015: ______________ Surname: ____________________________First Name: _________________________ Parent name for fees: _________________________________________________ Tel Home: _____________________ Parent mobile: _______________________ Parent E-mail: _______________________________________________________ Instrument Choice: _________________________________________________ LESSON CATEGORY (Please Tick) Individual

Group

Student to complete I wish to enrol in the Instrumental Music Program at St Peter’s School. I agree to:  Practise daily  Attend all lessons  Complete all homework Signature of student: __________________________________ Date: __________________________ Parent to complete I would like to enrol my son/daughter to learn the above instrument. I have read the current information sheet and agree to the terms and conditions as outlined. Parent Surname: _____________________________ Parent First Name: __________________________ Signature of parent/guardian: __________________________ Date: _______________________________

PLEASE RETURN COMPLETED FORMS TO THE SCHOOL OFFICE