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TRANSCRIPT
ST PETER’S CATHOLIC PARISH PRIMARY SCHOOL
Friday 22nd March 2019 – Week 8
To the St Peter’s community,
This Sunday’s Gospel (Luke 13:6-9) the parable of the barren fig tree offers both
good news and bad news. The good news is that God is merciful and willing to
forgive. The bad news is that even God’s patient mercy has its limits. It’s better to
repent while we have the opportunity!
Repentance is not a commonly used word today but its basic meaning is to change. It means to stop going in a direction that can
be self-destructive, and to turn around and go another way - in a way that’s productive and even godly.
An unproductive fig tree in a vineyard is pretty much useless. If it hasn’t produced fruit for three years in a row, a remedy needs to
be applied. It isn’t that the tree is dead and incapable of producing. The tree hasn’t had the proper care and feeding and is just
there, marking time. It’s like a lot of people—alive and breathing, but not really going anywhere.
How about you? Do you understand your life? What is the purpose for you drawing breath, eating food and taking up space on this
planet? If you don’t know, or if your answer is unclear, then just consider for a brief moment that this unproductive fig tree could be
a symbol of your life… You are alive. You have a “place.” But are you producing fruit? Are you living as part of a bigger,
overarching purpose?
The vineyard owner’s solution to this unproductive fig tree was blunt: “Cut it down; why does it use up the ground?”.
This is a hard solution, and a final one. It shows us a truth about God. God is full of mercy and compassion. He is patient and
loving. But God is also a God of judgment, and Jesus is warning here that a time of final judgment will come. When linked to the
earlier statement “unless you repent,” we understand that there’s a way to avoid being “cut down” and considered of no value.
Don’t be discouraged! The remainder of the parable shows us the way out!
The keeper asks for one more year in which to work with the tree—to turn it around and make it useful and productive. There is
hope and every expectation that the wise and capable attention of the keeper will produce a new burst of productivity so that the
next harvest will see fruit on the tree.
God has a dual role as both keeper and owner of the vineyard. This shows us that God both owns us and gives us room to grow
spiritually, but He also expects us to produce “fruit”—the product of a life of good works of righteousness.
God wants to see fruit produced in our lives. St Paul explained that “… the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering,
kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.”. They are what can be produced by God through our lives when we
repent and believe the gospel, surrender ourselves to Him and allow our lives to be led by His Holy Spirit.
This parable of a barren fig tree is meant to teach us a vital truth. Repentance is necessary, and it is possible with God’s help. He is
patient and grants us time to change and bear fruit. Yet at the same time, none of us knows how much time we have left—so we’d
better get moving!
We Pray: God, you are like a great gardener who allows me to grow at my own pace. May I imitate your
patience and love with those around me. Give me the grace this Lent to bloom and grow, and give me the
patience to let others do the same. I give you praise, great gardener. Amen.
Have a wonderful weekend,
Kerry Miller Principal
ADMINISTRATION
Notices:
DATES TO REMEMBER
● April 3rd, 4th & 5th - Senior Camp
● Friday April 5th 1:00 pm - End of Term 1
● Tuesday April 23rd - Start of Term
● Thursday 2nd May - Student Led Learning
Conversations (appointment times to be booked)
Deborah Racina - Director of First Impressions [email protected]
EDUCATION IN FAITH
Enhancing Catholic School Identity Survey (ECSI) surveys
We invite all parents to complete the Enhancing Catholic School Identity Survey for 2019. All Catholic schools in
Victoria participate regularly in this survey. It provides valuable information to schools in regards to beliefs and attitudes
towards the Catholic identity of our school. Notes outlining the survey have been sent home to each family.
Please access the following website to complete the survey: http://www.schoolidentity.net/ The school entry code is V36j25
Project Compassion- Week 3 THE STORY OF PETER FROM SOLOMON ISLANDS- 100% Dignity
Sixteen-year-old Peter goes to a boarding school in the Solomon Islands which has experienced water shortages for
60 years. Previously students would have to walk kilometres each day in search of clean water. This was particularly
challenging for Peter who is living with a disability. Peter’s mother left the family when he was little and has since
passed away. His father decided to move from northern Malaita to Honiara, to better provide for his family. He
arranged for Peter to stay with his aunt, then attend Aligegeo Secondary School. Groundwater sources at the school
have dried up and rainfall is unpredictable. Water in surrounding wells often made students sick or gave them
rashes. Caritas Australia, and partners Caritas Solomon Islands (CASI) and the Solomon Islands Government Rural
Water Sanitation and Hygiene division (RWASH), have teamed up with the school to tackle the problem. CASI
provided a 90 kilo-litre water tank, electric pump and technical advice, while the Malaita Provincial Government
contributed labour. Staff and students took part in training, dug trenches and
are helping with a water management plan. The school now has a safe, reliable water
system, servicing around 1,000 people.
“Now we can stay at school to wash and not interrupt our official class time,”
Peter hopes to focus on his education and to help others in future by working for an aid
and development agency himself. However much more needs to be done to improve
access to reliable water and sanitation in the Solomon Islands.
LEARNING & TEACHING
NAPLAN Online
This year our students in Years 3 and 5 will sit the NAPLAN online tests in
May.
NAPLAN assesses the key areas of literacy and numeracy. It provides parents
and educators with a snapshot of how students are progressing – individually, as part of their
school community, and against national standards that have been agreed upon by all state
and territory governments.
As a school we began preparing for NAPLAN online testing last year with professional learning for staff and trial tests for students
so they can become familiar with the new format.
Next Thursday 28 March, Year 3 and 5 students will participate in another practice NAPLAN online test. Parents of Year 3 and 5
students have received an information brochure outlining important aspects of NAPLAN testing online.
Teachers will further support students with practice sessions in April so that they are familiar with the new process in readiness for
the actual May testing.
WHAT’S HAPPENING IN…..... In STEAM this week, the Prep and Junior students identified their strengths and discussed how these can help when they are
working with others in a group. The Learning Intentions that have been focussed on in Circle Time have been to listen to other
people’s ideas and participate in group tasks and respond to questions.
During Maker’s Time, the students have been encouraged to ask questions, share their thinking with others and find different ways
to solve problems. As part of the LAUNCH cycle of Design Thinking (see below), the students made scientific predictions about
whether a selection of objects would float or sink on water. They then tested these predictions and recorded their observations.
This information that has been gathered will help in raising questions about materials and how they might be used or put together
in a design to solve a specific problem over the coming weeks.
Prep and Junior News
Last week the Preps and Juniors went on their first excursion for the year. We have been learning about rainbow food and our
body. The children walked over to Epping plaza. We went in three groups spreading out across the centre in Coles, Woolworths
and the green grocer in the market area. Many children were given a free piece of fruit which they thoroughly enjoyed. We
purchased fruit to take back to school with us. Thanks to our extra friends who came along on the day and had storage area on
prams to help. When we returned to school we cut up the fruit and made fruit kebabs. There was so much fruit children had thirds
some even sixths!
Middles Inquiry Learning- SES Incursion
On Wednesday we had Sebastian from the SES come in to talk to us about how this organisation supports people in our
community. This links to our Faith Life Inquiry unit where we are exploring how we can connect and interact with others at school,
home and in the community.
Julie Percy - Director of Learning & Teaching [email protected]
SCHOOL COMMUNITY
Whittlesea Community Festival
On Sunday 17th March 2019 some of our senior STEAM students artwork
was on display at the City of Whittlesea Community Festival. The festival
theme is Many Voices, One Country. It was a sensational free community event which
showcased so many talents.
Emma Canning - Director of School Community
STUDENT WELLBEING
National Day of Action Against Bullying
On Friday 15th March,we acknowledged the National Day of Action Against Bullying by participating in activities and
discussions. Below are a few reflections on what students took from the day.
On Monday, the Preps were engaged in an anti bullying video that addressed inclusiveness and promoted respect
among friendship groups. The video also demonstrated various emotions with matching facial expressions for the students to be
familiar with. The students were very interested in the video and learnt a great deal; below are some of the remarks from some
prep students...
Noah: I learnt that we need to always be nice and share with our friends.
Finley: I learnt that sometimes when you really love your toy and want it all for yourself, you still need to share and take turns of it
with others.
Zofia: I learnt how to be kind to everyone.
Lynh: I learnt that we need to share and that shows respect.
On Friday, the Senior students watched a video on what bullying looks like at school - including cyber bullying and excluding
others. Baylie noted that just because we look different on the outside, doesn’t mean we are different and that we don’t realise the
impact our words can have on others. It is never ok to bully! The group then went outside and played a game of scarecrow tiggy,
focusing on points and discussions from the video - being inclusive and encouraging others throughout the game.
School Production
Today I was lucky enough to be part of the auditions for our 2019 school production. It was such a proud moment to witness our
senior students displaying many dispositions as they auditioned in front of their peers.
We saw creativity through their voice and movement, adaptable when jumping up and auditioning when called on, coachable to
take on feedback by both the panel and their peers and most of all respectful of all in the space who were auditioning.
Congratulations to all we were very proud of you.
Casting will be announced next week.
Cybersafety
This week the children in yrs 3-6 were involved in a cybersafety session. This was a great opportunity to hear information around
being safe online and what games and apps are appropriate and not appropriate to use online. We encourage you to have the
conversation around what they talked about and learnt during the session.
Thank you to the parents who then came along to the parent session in the evening. This centred around firstly backing up with the
children what they had learnt during the day, looking at a family technology contract and then hearing some case studies around
real life scenarios that involve the use of technology for our children.
Thanks again to those who took the time to come and gain some information that will help them navigate technology with their
families.
Middles Celebrate Harmony Day!
On 21st March we celebrated Harmony Day. Harmony Day celebrates Australia’s cultural
diversity. It’s about inclusiveness, respect and a sense of belonging for everyone.
Harmony Day first started in 1999. Harmony Day is celebrated by wearing the colour orange.
Orange is a symbol of freedom and respect.
The Middle School Community Connectors action group created a liturgy and activities for each
level to share on Harmony Day. In the Middle School we made an orange paper chain. We
each made a link and wrote/drew things about our culture and/Harmony Day. At home, talk to your child about the activity they did
at school and about what Harmony Days means to you as a family.
Middle School Assembly
At assembly we celebrated the birthdays of Abigail
(March 19th), Chloe (March 20th), Ronan (March
21st), Max (March 22nd), Emilia (March 25th) and Seb
(March 30th). Happy birthday to you all.
Congratulations to our award winners this week -
Sonvi, Thomas and Dylan. Keep up the awesome
work.
Jackie Fleischmann - Director of Student Wellbeing