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 office@stprepp.catholic.edu.au 

 

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 juliep@stprepp.catholic.edu.au

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

ecanning@stprepp.catholic.edu.au

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

jfleischmann@stprepp.catholic.edu.au