Issue no. 37

From Our Head of Junior School

School is a particularly busy place at the moment. It’s the time of the year where we have one foot in this year and the other in next. Junior School students have been busy finishing off learning assessments, getting ready for celebrations that mark the end of another school year, welcoming new 2023 friends for their Visit Day and feeling a mix of emotions about ends and beginnings as the sun finally shines in readiness for the summer break.

Last Friday morning, we enjoyed a delightful beginning to the festive season as our Reception students shared their Christmas Assembly with their families. Songs had been practised, scripts learned and movements rehearsed. Their performances belied their age, and left us with smiles on our faces and joy in our hearts.

Our ELC families came together on Friday evening for a lovely celebration of the end of the year. The children performed songs they had been learning this term, and families enjoyed picnics and the opportunity to be together.

We welcomed many new students on Tuesday for our Orientation and Step Up Day, and this provided everyone an opportunity to start getting to know the girls who will be joining us next year, and to begin contemplating the year ahead. Our new Receptions enjoyed their final Transition Visit, and the Welcome to Middle School evening yesterday was a great opportunity for current and new families to become acquainted.

Following yesterday’s wonderful Year 9 Graduation, the Year 6 Graduation today saw students marking the end of their time in Junior School, and the transition to the next stage of their schooling. It was wonderful to reflect on their growth and development since starting at Saints Girls. Following the Graduation, the girls shared their Exhibition with their families. Year 6 students have worked industriously over recent weeks preparing their Exhibition work which showcases skills and attributes they have developed during their time in the Junior School. Using the 17 Sustainable Development Goals as a provocation, they have thoughtfully considered an issue of concern for the healthy development of our community or planet. Year 6 students from PAC visited earlier in the week to learn from the girls’ projects and to provide an audience for our students to practise giving explanations of their learning.

Our Year 1 and 2 students are busily rehearsing their Nativity, which they will present next week. This is always such a special time and we are looking forward to coming together to share the story of Christmas as told by some of our youngest students. We also have the ELC Hat Ceremony, Carols in the Cathedral and Presentation Night to look forward to, all of which are true markers of the end of another school year.

So, an ‘event-full’ but joyous time at Stonyfell currently, where we regularly reflect on the good fortune we have to work and learn in our wonderful, busy School.

Suzanne Haddy
Head of Junior School

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Congratulations Year 9 Graduates!

Congratulations to our Year 9 girls on their Graduation, marking their transition from Middle to Senior School.

This event is a chance for parents, staff and fellow students to celebrate the achievements of every Year 9 throughout their Middle School journey. The audience was entertained by excellent musical performances from In-Ta Jazz, as well as a captivating flute solo by Year 9 student Jerrie Wu.

A special video was also played during the ceremony, featuring some of the highlights of Year 9 in 2022.

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Dancers Dazzle at Choreography Evening

Congratulations to our Year 9 and Stage 1 Dancers who performed to a captivated crowd in the Arts Centre this week for their Year 9/10 Dance Choreography Evening.

In their final performance for 2022, they presented their own group choreography using the dance skills learnt throughout their course. The focus was to communicate important, relevant themes to the audience in order to make them feel or think about something; after all, this is what The Arts are all about.

I was so proud of what the girls achieved in just six weeks. Their creativity, passion, maturity, teamwork and confidence were all on display on stage. Well done girls!

Kate Burnett
Head of The Arts

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Reception Christmas Assembly Highlights

Last Friday, our Reception girls brought festive cheer and lit up the Arts Centre stage at their Christmas Assembly.

Check out the highlights video.

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ELC End of Year Celebration

Our wonderful ELC community gathered on Chiverton Lawns last Friday to celebrate the end of another fantastic year. It was a beautiful evening with picnic rugs, delicious food and the joyful sound of children singing festive songs.

A big thank you to all of our ELC families who attended this special community event.

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Season’s Feastings from Food & Hospitality

As part of our final assessment for Food and Hospitality this year, our class came together to produce Christmas hampers for our loved ones. These consisted of traditional kourabiethes, gingerbread, Christmas tea and many other treats.

The task was a great opportunity to participate in different aspects including planning, designing, cooking and baking to ultimately create a final product. We are all delighted with the outcome and are excited to work on similar projects next year.

Stella Rasheed
Year 11 student

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Gift of Music for Gracious Groom

Congratulations to David Goodwin, our Artist in Residence and accompanist extraordinaire, who is getting married tomorrow! As a little gift and a way to celebrate this special event, our vocal ensemble Enchante put a twist on ‘Here Comes the Bride’, performing it as a surprise for Dave live on Tuesday morning.

Behind the scenes, the girls also very swiftly put together a recording of their unique rendition for the rest of our community to enjoy. Special thanks to Garth Coulter who helped us with our secret mission in recording the audio and assisting with the use of the green screen in our Media Hub. Another special thanks to Enchante who managed to learn this extremely difficult few bars in record time.

Best wishes Dave!

Sari Noble
Music Teacher

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Podium Finish for Ethics Olympians

Congratulations to two teams of our Middle School girls who placed 2nd and 3rd in last Friday’s State Ethics Olympiad! This competition has become increasingly popular, with a total of 15 teams from all over SA and NT. It consists of three rounds judged by members of the Australian Philosophy community including our own Old Scholar, Holly Wallman-Craddock (Selwyn 2021).

The girls have been training for this event over the past few months, meeting before school and during lunchtimes to explore some of the ethical issues that were presented by the competition committee. Looking at stimuli such as ‘Jaws’ and ‘Coach Carter’, they had to unpack ethical problems such as, ‘Is it important for friends to help one another even when it is hard?’, and, ‘Is following orders an excuse for doing the wrong thing?’ Finding the best solution was challenging and took a lot of critical, creative and collaborative thinking. Unlike debating, Ethics demands that the girls look at all angles, even those they might not agree with, to gain a deeper understanding of the issue.

As a result of their success, one of the teams will compete at the National Ethics Olympiad in February. A big thanks to Jessica Zhang and Maddy Liddy who coached these girls, providing excellent motivation and tutoring. And a special mention to Chelsea Francis and Olive Dawson who are both in Year 6, but competed in the Middle School team. Good luck girls!

Becca Burton-Howard
EDGE Coordinator

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Dragon Boat Racers Make a Splash

Last month, Year 7 and 8 Background Chinese students went on an excursion to West Lakes and tried out dragon boat racing. We were joined by students from St Peter’s College and Pulteney Grammar. For many of us, it was our first time dragon boating.

We split into groups with students from the other schools, giving us the chance to socialise and make friends. While on the water, we learnt how to gain speed and work as a team whilst having fun splashing each other! Once we started to race, it was quite intense as everyone was shouting so it was hard to concentrate, but in the end, everyone was able to focus on their rhythm and timing. Another group won because they were shouting numbers to keep them in the right rhythm.

When we finished, we went to a Chinese restaurant in Chinatown, ordering delicious noodles, Chinese porridge and rice. We were also able to treat ourselves with bubble tea which we loved very much. By the time we came back and finally sat down, our bodies all started to ache from the dragon boating. Altogether, it was such a fun day. We all learnt so much and we really wish we can do something like that again! – Jana Song (Year 7 student)

The trip was a great experience and we were put with people from other schools which made it interesting. We got to learn a lot about the dragon boats. We had to work together really carefully and stay in time to make sure we didn’t capsize. Afterwards, we went to Chinatown and got some really yummy food and bubble tea. – Chen Chen Han (Year 7 student)

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Happy Campers Hit the Harbor

Last week, the Year 3 girls spent an adventurous three days in Victor Harbor, staying at beautiful Adare House.

The focus of the camp was on teamwork, personal challenge and friendship. There were smiles for miles as we enjoyed a ride on the horse-drawn cart across the Granite Island Causeway, an exhilarating boat trip through the waves to see dolphins and seals, twilight mini golf and a visit to Urimbirra Wildlife Park. Working in tribes, the girls also competed in Survivor-style challenges and beach games, testing their resilience, collaboration and problem-solving.

We returned from camp happy, tired and full of wonderful memories and new friendships.

Monique McLeay and Sarah Mulraney
Year 3 Teachers

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Middle and Senior School Textbook Reminder

Booklists for 2023 were released online by Box of Books (for Years 7 – 12) on Wednesday 16 November for parents/guardians to complete and submit by Friday 9 December.

Ordering before the due date ensures your daughter’s order is prioritised for delivery prior to the commencement of the 2023 school year.

Steps in ordering textbooks:

1. Visit Box of Books Shop to log in to your existing parent/guardian account or create a new account if it is your first purchase.
2. Add each student, including school email as well as nominating the school and year group.
3. Select the items you wish to purchase from the booklist shown.
4. Use the checkout to organise postage direct to your nominated address and complete payment.

If you have any problems accessing booklists, please phone the Box of Books Customer Support Line: 1800 326 657

For all Middle and Senior School curriculum-based enquiries, please contact the relevant staff member.

Lisa Hollis
Head of Library and Information Services

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Carols in the Cathedral – Next Week

St Peter’s Cathedral, North Adelaide
Tuesday 6 December
Students to arrive at 6.30pm (unless advised otherwise by the Music Department)
Doors open at 6.45pm, event commences at 7pm and concludes at 9pm

Carols in the Cathedral is a compulsory event for students in Years 5 – 12

Illustration by Isabella Ding (Year 9 student)

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Presentation Night – Next Week

Adelaide Town Hall
Friday 9 December
Students to arrive at 6.30pm (unless advised otherwise by the Music Department)
Doors open at 6.45pm, event commences at 7pm

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Friends of Rowing – Christmas Dinner

 

Sunday 11 December
Lakeside Function Room, Lakes Resort Hotel
141 Brebner Drive, West Lakes
5pm arrival for 6pm start

The Friends of Rowing invite the Saints Rowing community to attend our ‘Christmas Dinner’ on Sunday 11 December, from 5 – 8.30pm at the Lakes Resort Hotel. Traditionally, this is held in Renmark as part of the Riverland Regatta, but with the relocation of that event to the Port Adelaide River, so too has this function been relocated.

The Christmas Dinner is an opportunity for the Rowing community to socialise and celebrate the end of the year. The event will include a two-course meal, with grazing platters on arrival. Beverages and refreshments will be available for purchase.

Tickets can be purchased via TryBooking: click here

Ticket sales close 5pm Monday 5 December

Brynley Millward
Director of Rowing

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Friends of Rowing – Wine Fundraiser

Support the development of the Rowing Program at St Peter’s Girls’ School by purchasing from a fantastic selection of wines:

• Lambert Estate – Barossa Valley
• The Lane – Adelaide Hills
• Bird in Hand – Adelaide Hills
• d’Arenberg – McLaren Vale

Vintages are subject to change. In the event of wines being in short supply, we will contact you. Prices are only available for this fundraiser. Each wine can only be ordered by minimum purchase. Prices are inclusive of GST.

Purchases can be made via TryBooking – click here

The campaign runs until 11 December 2022 (no orders after this date can be accepted). Orders to be collected on Sunday 18 December from 11am – 3pm at St Peter’s Girls’ School. Wine can be collected after Sunday 18 December by prior arrangement; please contact Fiona McGregor, Community Relations – Events Officer via 8334 2225 or fmcgregor@stpetersgirls.sa.edu.au

Liquor Licence: #203237

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Professional School Photo Offers

Offer 1 – $88 digital package (unlimited number of photos)
To view the photos, visit events.focusschoolportraits.com/gallery/18679717/
Select Gallery
To access, use the password: SaintsGirls
Email Mark at orders@focusschoolportraits.com.au, quoting the photo numbers and event. He will be in contact with you to finalise the order.

Offer 2 – $27 per printed photo
The Special Groups offer includes photos of House Captains, Generations, Originals, Year 12 cohort and the Year 12 image from the Chiverton Balcony
Visit www.focusschoolportraits.com
Select School Portraits
Enter access key: 7XE7K6YB

If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact Mark via orders@focusschoolportraits.com.au or 8389 9002.

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Junior School Vacation Care – Book Now

Our next awesome instalment of Junior School Vacation Care is almost here. We have some great activities guaranteed to keep the children entertained through the break. With an array of excursions and on-site adventures, there is plenty of fun to be had.

December 2022 / January 2023 Vacation Care Program

Places are limited, so secure your booking now – click here

Please make your booking requests via the link above by 2pm Friday 2 December, as each booking made after this time will incur an additional $5 fee.

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Health Notifications

The School has been notified of a case of chickenpox (varicella) and a case of school sores (impetigo).

Chickenpox (Varicella)

Common signs and symptoms include a slight fever, fatigue, stomach ache, and itchy and blistered rash or spots.

Symptoms usually appear 14 to 16 days after exposure. If your child is diagnosed, they must be excluded from school or ELC during the contagious period which lasts until all blisters have crusted over.

For more information, click here.

School Sores (Impetigo)

School sores are a superficial skin infection caused by Staphylococcus or Streptococcus bacteria, or sometimes both. They are most common in children. The bacteria can easily spread to other parts of the infected person’s body or to other people directly by contact with sores or indirectly by contact with contaminated clothes.

School sores appear as flat, yellow, crusty or moist patches on the skin, usually on exposed parts of the body such as the face and legs. They are extremely infectious while there is discharge from the sores. If your child is diagnosed, they must be excluded from school or ELC until appropriate treatment has commenced. Any sores on exposed surfaces should be completely covered with a dressing.

For more information, click here.

As always, if your child is unwell, they should remain home until they have recovered, irrespective of the illness.

If your child will not be attending school/ELC due to illness, please notify the School via one of the methods listed in the absences article.

Lara Waltham and Sarah Wilkinson
School Registered Nurses

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COVID-19 Information

As you may be aware, a number of COVID-19 requirements have been lifted including mandatory isolation for those who test positive. Notwithstanding this, SA Health encourages anyone who is ill to stay home until the symptoms have cleared (usually five to seven days).

As there is no longer a set COVID isolation period, you must notify the School each day your child will be absent, or provide the expected period of absence.

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School Medical Information Reminder

It is imperative that all medical information, including immunisations, is up to date on the School’s myLink parent portal.

Please follow this pathway to check and/or update details: myLink > Community Portal > My Details > select child name

If you have any questions, please email healthcentre@stpetersgirls.sa.edu.au

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Road Safety Alert

The School has received reports of concerning driver behaviour on Hallett Road. This includes holding up traffic while waiting for cars to leave in order to park near the ELC, performing risky u-turns and parking in bus zones.

As our staff have no jurisdiction over public roads, the School will be asking the police to conduct regular patrols at peak times.

We implore all of our community members to support road safety and show courtesy to others.

Issue no. 36

From Our Acting Head of Middle School

There have been a number of amazing events and programs which have occurred this year. Our Year 9s dazzled on the stage during the Arts Performances, our musicians boogied the night away with their Cabaret Disco Evening, our Year 7 and 8 entrepreneurs showcased their business skills and ideas by setting up shop in our Gym, and various other year levels have participated in co-ed days. But it doesn’t end there. In the next fortnight, we have the Futures Expo, and a crowd favourite, ‘Carols in the Cathedral’. None of these events could be as successful as they are without our girls pushing themselves outside their comfort zone, moving away from the tried and true and taking risks.

It is part of everyday life here at Saints that we challenge our girls to take risks, to push beyond what they think is possible and to realise their true potential. But taking risks is not just about challenging yourself in the classroom. It is about signing up to a sport you’ve never done before because it looks like fun, it’s going along to choir despite not being the best singer, but you love singing. A large part of taking risks is about doing what’s right, not what’s easy.

As parents, it is important that we model this quality for our girls too. Regardless of which Sub-School your daughter is in, there are many opportunities for us to demonstrate that it is not only okay to push beyond what is comfortable but that it is beneficial. None of us would be in the positions we are today without putting ourselves in uncomfortable situations such as exams, job interviews, performances or competitions to mention a few. Progression and self-development require us to take risks. It is a skill which can be developed and refined over time when we are encouraged to do so in a safe environment. This is an environment which we provide at Saints Girls. Had I never taken the risk of emigrating, without securing employment, with a two year old in tow, I would never have had the opportunities to grow and develop as I have here at Saints. I would never have had the chance to share in the journey of so many inspirational young women. I am so proud to have the opportunity to work every day with an incredible group of staff who challenge me to better myself and refine my skills, but also a wonderful group of girls who challenge my thinking on a daily basis and who inspire me to be the best I can be; for them.

Moving through the next fortnight and into the holiday period, I ask our families to start conversations around the risks you take, the challenges you have experienced, and how taking risks and making mistakes have shaped your success. Then challenge your girls to do the same.

‘Unless you try to do something beyond what you have already mastered, you will never grow.’ – Ralph Waldo Emerson

Samantha O’Brien
Acting Head of Middle School

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Introducing Our New ELC Leadership

To our wonderful ELC community,

It is my great pleasure to announce the appointment of our new St Peter’s Girls’ ELC Director, Liz Schembri.

Liz is a highly-skilled teacher, successful leader and advocate for early childhood education. Her career includes teaching appointments at St Andrew’s School, Emmaus Christian College and Holy Family Catholic School here in South Australia, in addition to spending 10 years at the Beijing City International School where she trained in the International Baccalaureate Primary Years Programme (IB PYP) and was involved in the development of the school’s new Early Childhood Centre.

Upon her return to Australia, Liz spent two years teaching at St Francis de Sales College at Mount Barker before leading the team as a Professional Pedagogy Coach, mentoring and working alongside staff to implement inquiry learning into classroom practice. She then led the building and development of the new Alive Catholic Early Learning Centre and was appointed as the Head of Early Learning, Alive (Mount Barker).

Liz has a diverse range of experiences as a leader and educator across early learning to Year 7 with roles such as Professional Pedagogy Coach (R – 6), Years 3 – 6 Leader and Literacy Coordinator. She brings an incredible dedication and skillset to the role of ELC Director, and a strong belief in the important relationship between indoor and outdoor learning experiences and the way these lend themselves to inquiry and nature play, based on the Reggio Emilia approach. She has a passion for developing quality future-focused education programs for our youngest learners and recognises the importance of each child’s unique learning journey.

Liz says, ‘My experiences have helped me to develop a deep understanding of current methodologies and practices in education and what a learner needs to be successful now and into the future. In the early years of development, it is crucial that we understand and implement a holistic program planned with purpose and intent that honours a child’s need for connection and belonging, and nurtures and builds on their natural curiosity and capacity to learn.’

I am equally delighted to announce Sera Boccaccio (Selwyn 2013) has accepted the position of ELC Manager. Sera has been a part of our community since she was 10 years old, coming down to the ELC to volunteer while she was a student at St Peter’s Girls’ School. Over the years, she developed a passion for working with young children and consequently chose this area as a career pathway, first studying a Certificate III in Children Services and then completing a Diploma in Early Childhood and Care. Sera has been a pivotal part of our ELC team since 2014, and we are extremely honoured to have such a passionate and experienced Old Scholar to help guide and support our ELC team.

Whilst we look forward to the wonderful work Liz and Sera will perform within our ELC community, we also take the time to thank Henrietta Balnaves and Caterina Pennestri for their immense contributions to our ELC this year as ELC Manager and ELC Educational Leader respectively. They have been dedicated mentors to the rest of the ELC team, constantly striving for educational excellence, best practice and teamwork of the highest calibre. Under their guidance, the children’s learning has continued to be of an incredible standard as demonstrated in our fantastic ELC News videos and articles, and we thank them for this as they prepare for a detailed handover with Liz and Sera. We will continue to enjoy Caterina’s educational expertise as she returns to her role of ELC Atelierista. Henrietta will spend Term 1 working alongside Liz before embarking upon a new adventure for the remainder of next year.

We congratulate Liz and Sera on their appointments, and look forward to introducing Liz to our amazing community in the near future.

Suzanne Haddy
Head of Junior School

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Year 8s Deliver Wondrous Production

Last night’s Year 8 Production The Real Story of Alice in Wonderland was a true showcase of student talents in Drama, Dance, Music and Visual Arts. The audience was taken on a magical journey of Alice in Wonderland twice, interweaving between Lewis Carroll’s sweet Alice and a much more argumentative, sulky and rude teenage version.

With the girls devising the choreography, selecting the songs, directing the scenes, and organising the costumes and sets, this really was a celebration of collaboration and creativity! Giving the students this opportunity is a highlight of my year, as they perform and work behind the scenes over a short period of time to make amazing things happen. They should feel very empowered to have their own ideas up on the stage!

A huge thank you to the dedicated Arts team – it wouldn’t be possible without your support and positivity. And congratulations to the Year 8 students!

Kate Burnett
Head of The Arts

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High Drama for Year 9 Performers

Our Year 9 Drama students presented The Audition in matinee performances this week.

The one-act play is set in a high school with characters auditioning for roles in A Chorus Line. Audiences were treated to a frazzled stage manager, students who wouldn’t sing, ones who wouldn’t stop dancing and egos to boot.

There was drama, comedy and so much talent on display. Well done to all involved!

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Year 9/10 Dance Choreography Evening – Next Week

6pm, Monday 28 November (Week 7)
Arts Centre, St Peter’s Girls’ School
Free Admission

During this term, the Year 9 and Year 10 Dancers have been deepening their understanding of the choreographic process by using research to generate movement concepts. They have creatively explored a number of themes and experimented with how to communicate these ideas with audiences.

Student-devised work, supported by their teacher, enables meaningful opportunity for collaboration, communication and problem-solving. Creative possibilities are endless!

Most importantly, the dancers are all very proud of their work and look forward to sharing this at our Year 9/10 Choreography Evening where Year 9 Dancers present Raising Awareness and our Stage 1 Dancers present Trapped. Please come along and support our talented dancers. Free admission and no booking necessary.

Kate Burnett
Head of The Arts

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Receptions Sparkle for Christmas Assembly

Congratulations to our Reception girls who welcomed in the festive season by lighting up the stage at their Christmas Assembly this morning!

Well done to all students and teachers involved, this sweet tradition is always an end of year highlight.

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Magical Moments at Christmas Pageant

For one lucky girl, this year’s Christmas Pageant was extra special. Year 1 student Sofia La Vista was chosen to be a fairy on the Stardust Castle float. It was a very exciting experience for her, and she was the envy of many children in her class as well as those watching the pageant. Sofia shares:

‘I had to get up really early so I was a little tired but I felt happy and special being a fairy on the Stardust Castle float. The best part was when I saw my dad and cousins in the crowd when I went past!’

Liz Sandercock
Year 1 Teacher

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R to 3 Sports Morning Highlights

Our R to 3 girls are still jumping for joy following their Sports Morning last Friday.

They participated in a variety of events including relay games, running races and long jump.

Check out our vibrant video highlights!

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Rocking Adventures for Year 4

This term, the Year 4 students have been learning about how the Earth’s surface can change. They have been focusing on the three different types of rocks that make up the rock cycle, and how the processes of weathering and erosion impact on the way rocks are formed. To enrich our understanding of the concepts of form, function and causation, we visited the South Australian Museum and Morialta Conservation Park.

Whilst at the Museum, we marvelled at the variety of minerals on display in the Minerals Gallery. This sparked the interest of many to learn more about how minerals are formed and what minerals are used for. We worked in groups to investigate Ediacaran and Cambrian fossils (fossils which are over 500 million years old), and explored the Australian Polar Collection, learning about the work of famous South Australian explorer and geologist, Sir Douglas Mawson.

Continuing to advance our understanding about how the world works, we walked to Morialta Falls, collecting evidence of the different types of erosion and weathering on the cliffs and the valley floor. We were delighted to see the Second Falls flowing in its full glory! As a special treat, we played at the Morialta Mukanthi Nature Playground before travelling back to school.

Both excursions gave us a deeper understanding of geology and the processes that shape our world. We thank our parent helpers for assisting on these days.

Olivia Coulter and Rebecca Riley
Year 4 Teachers

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Taste of Culture on Chinese Outing

Earlier this term, the Year 10 Chinese class and Year 11 IB Chinese class went on an excursion to visit Chinatown, the Museum of Discovery and the Chef Dong Chinese Restaurant.

We began the day with a scavenger hunt in Chinatown where we had the task of finding stores from as many different cultures as we could to explore the multiculturalism of Adelaide city. We found businesses with origins such as Italy, Japan, Mexico, China, France and so many more.

Next, we departed for the Museum of Discovery on the tram. Once there, we were led on a guided tour by our fellow Background Chinese classmates. They took turns to talk us through interactive activities from ancient artworks to modern technologies in Chinese.

To conclude this excursion, we headed to Chef Dong for lunch where two of our classmates ordered a range of traditional food in Chinese for us including Peking duck wraps, fried rice and dumplings.

During this excursion, we were not only given numerous opportunities to practise our oral Chinese, we also learned so much about Chinese culture. Thank you to our teacher Liu Laoshi for organising this trip and Wang Laoshi for coming along with us.

Jessica Zhang
Year 10 Chinese student

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Month of Movember for Fundraising Saints

From humble beginnings in Australia in 2003, the ‘Movember’ movement has grown to be a truly global one, inspiring support from over six million Mo Bros and Mo Sisters around the world. An official charity, all funds raised go towards a range of men’s health support services and initiatives. A dedicated band of Saints’ staff have once again accepted the challenge of carrying the cause of men’s health on their top lip for the month of November.

You may have seen these brave souls around the campus, so please take the time to have a chat with them about their individual reasons for participating in Movember this year if you get the chance.

Taken from the Movember website:
‘Men’s health is in crisis. Men are dying on average 5 years earlier than women, and for largely preventable reasons. Movember is uniquely placed to address this crisis on a global scale. We fund ground-breaking projects all over the world, engaging men where they are to understand what works best and accelerate change.’

Please get behind the Saints’ Movember team via this link as we raise funds to better support men’s health: Movember.com

Craig Byrne
Head of Science

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Old Scholar’s Breaking News

Congratulations to Old Scholar Isabel McMillan (Selwyn 2016) who recently attended her first SA Press Club Awards as a finalist for Young Journalist of the Year.

Isabel completed a double degree in Journalism and Law and currently writes for News Corp Australia, with her work published in The Advertiser’s news section, SA Weekend and more.

Pictured with The Advertiser’s Chief Court Reporter Sean Fewster, Isabel has a keen interest in the legal system, in particular the court process and its impact on victims of crime.

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Middle and Senior School Textbook Reminder

Booklists for 2023 were released online by Box of Books (for Years 7 – 12) on Wednesday 16 November for parents/guardians to complete and submit by Friday 9 December.

Ordering before the due date ensures your daughter’s order is prioritised for delivery prior to the commencement of the 2023 school year.

Steps in ordering textbooks:

1. Visit Box of Books Shop to log in to your existing parent/guardian account or create a new account if it is your first purchase.
2. Add each student, including school email as well as nominating the school and year group.
3. Select the items you wish to purchase from the booklist shown.
4. Use the checkout to organise postage direct to your nominated address and complete payment.

If you have any problems accessing booklists, please phone the Box of Books Customer Support Line: 1800 326 657

For all Middle and Senior School curriculum-based enquiries, please contact the relevant staff member.

Lisa Hollis
Head of Library and Information Services

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Generous Soles at Athlete’s Foot Burnside

We are pleased to announce that Director of The Athlete’s Foot Burnside, Byron Davis, recently presented 2023 Prefects Emma Pool (SRC Prefect) and Annie Warrick (Sports Prefect) with a cheque of $1825 for the School. We warmly thank Byron for his ongoing support.

This fantastic community initiative will see The Athlete’s Foot Burnside donate over $20,000 back to local schools this year.

All members of our community are invited to support The Athlete’s Foot Burnside with this ongoing promotion. When purchasing shoes in store, please let the staff know that you are from St Peter’s Girls and $5 from every pair of shoes purchased will be donated back to the School.

Jess Geraghty
Director of Enrolments, Marketing and Advancement

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Treasure Box Donation Drive

This term, the Year 10 Kilburn cohort is hosting a donation drive for our new House Charity, Treasure Boxes. This South Australian not-for-profit organisation provides vital essentials to babies, children and teenagers living in disadvantage in our community.

We are launching a campaign to help this charity to provide further support this holiday season. It will run in Week 6 and Week 7, and there will be a collection bin in the Middle School where donations can be placed. Treasure Boxes has provided a list of sought-after items:

•TOILETRY BAG •TOOTH BRUSH AND PASTE •DENTAL FLOSS •SHAMPOO AND CONDITIONER •SHOWER GEL/SOAP •TISSUE PACK •HAIR BRUSH/ACCESSORIES •SUNSCREEN •HAND SANITISER •SOCKS AND UNDERWEAR •LUNCH BOX AND DRINK BOTTLE •PENCIL CASE

•PENCILS •TEXTAS/GEL PENS •HIGHLIGHTERS •COLOURING BOOK •NOTEBOOK •SKETCH PAD •STRESS BALL/FIDGET TOY •CRAFT ACTIVITY •PUZZLE •BOARD GAME •SPORTS BALL •BOOK

We encourage everyone to bring in at least one item from this list so that we can make a difference in the lives of those less fortunate in our community this Christmas.

Alysa Trinh
Year 10 student

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Carols in the Cathedral

St Peter’s Cathedral, North Adelaide
Tuesday 6 December
Students to arrive at 6.30pm unless advised otherwise by Music Department
Doors open at 6.45pm, event commences at 7pm and concludes at 9pm

Carols in the Cathedral is a compulsory event for students in Years 5 – 12

Illustration by Isabella Ding (Year 9 student)

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Presentation Night

Adelaide Town Hall
Friday 9 December
Students to arrive at 6.30pm (unless advised otherwise by the Music Department)
Doors open at 6.45pm, event commences at 7pm

Presentation Night is a compulsory event for students in Years 7 – 12

Further details including ticket information will be communicated to families shortly.

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Friends of Rowing – Christmas Dinner

 

Sunday 11 December
Lakeside Function Room, Lakes Resort Hotel
141 Brebner Drive, West Lakes
5pm arrival for 6pm start

The Friends of Rowing invite the Saints Rowing community to attend our ‘Christmas Dinner’ on Sunday 11 December, from 5 – 8.30pm at the Lakes Resort Hotel. Traditionally, this is held in Renmark as part of the Riverland Regatta, but with the relocation of that event to the Port Adelaide River, so too has this function been relocated.

The Christmas Dinner is an opportunity for the Rowing community to socialise and celebrate the end of the year. The event will include a two-course meal, with grazing platters on arrival. Beverages and refreshments will be available for purchase.

Tickets can be purchased via TryBooking: click here

Ticket sales close 5pm Monday 5 December

Brynley Millward
Director of Rowing

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Friends of Rowing – Wine Fundraiser

Support the development of the Rowing Program at St Peter’s Girls’ School by purchasing from a fantastic selection of wines:

• Lambert Estate – Barossa Valley
• The Lane – Adelaide Hills
• Bird in Hand – Adelaide Hills
• d’Arenberg – McLaren Vale

Vintages are subject to change. In the event of wines being in short supply, we will contact you. Prices are only available for this fundraiser. Each wine can only be ordered by minimum purchase. Prices are inclusive of GST.

Purchases can be made via TryBooking – click here

The campaign runs until 11 December 2022 (no orders after this date can be accepted). Orders to be collected on Sunday 18 December from 11am – 3pm at St Peter’s Girls’ School. Wine can be collected after Sunday 18 December by prior arrangement; please contact Fiona McGregor, Community Relations – Events Officer via 8334 2225 or fmcgregor@stpetersgirls.sa.edu.au

Liquor Licence: #203237

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SLIC Reviews – New Edition Out Now!

The final issue for 2022 of the Student Libraries Initiatives Club’s Magazine is now available: SLIC reViews Issue 4.

In this edition, the girls are excited to share their favourite romance books. Last month, Adam Silvera, author of smash hit They Both Die at the End, released a prequel, The First to Die at the End. This story celebrates the lasting impact that people have on each other and proves that life is always worth living to the fullest.

These books and many more are available in the Library and on the Wheelers for Schools website.

Start reading SLIC reViews now – click here

Kate McBride
Library and Information Services

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Professional School Photo Offers

Offer 1 – $88 digital package (unlimited number of photos)
To view the photos, visit events.focusschoolportraits.com/gallery/18679717/
Select Gallery
To access, use the password: SaintsGirls
Email Mark at orders@focusschoolportraits.com.au, quoting the photo numbers and event. He will be in contact with you to finalise the order.

Offer 2 – $27 per printed photo
The Special Groups offer includes photos of House Captains, Generations, Originals, Year 12 cohort and the Year 12 image from the Chiverton Balcony
Visit www.focusschoolportraits.com
Select School Portraits
Enter access key: 7XE7K6YB

If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact Mark via orders@focusschoolportraits.com.au or 8389 9002.

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Junior School Vacation Care – Book Now

Our next awesome instalment of Junior School Vacation Care is almost here. We have some great activities guaranteed to keep the children entertained through the break. With an array of excursions and on-site adventures, there is plenty of fun to be had.

December 2022 / January 2023 Vacation Care Program

Places are limited, so secure your booking now – click here

Please make your booking requests via the link above by 2pm Friday 2 December, as each booking made after this time will incur an additional $5 fee.

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COVID-19 Information

As you may be aware, a number of COVID-19 requirements have been lifted including mandatory isolation for those who test positive. Notwithstanding this, SA Health encourages anyone who is ill to stay home until the symptoms have cleared (usually five to seven days).

As there is no longer a set COVID isolation period, you must notify the School each day your child will be absent, or provide the expected period of absence.

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School Medical Information Reminder

It is imperative that all medical information, including immunisations, is up to date on the School’s myLink parent portal.

Please follow this pathway to check and/or update details: myLink > Community Portal > My Details > select child name

If you have any questions, please email healthcentre@stpetersgirls.sa.edu.au

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Road Safety Alert

The School has received reports of concerning driver behaviour on Hallett Road. This includes holding up traffic while waiting for cars to leave in order to park near the ELC, performing risky u-turns and parking in bus zones.

As our staff have no jurisdiction over public roads, the School will be asking the police to conduct regular patrols at peak times.

We implore all of our community members to support road safety and show courtesy to others.

Issue no. 35

From Our Director of Teaching and Learning

I’ve had the privilege to present to our Year 11 girls over the past two weeks around topics both in support of their learning as well as their wellbeing. As they prepare for final assessments and exams, we discussed the importance of organisation to identify their commitments and plan their revision time effectively. We explored the personal challenges that can emerge through their academic journey and the role that positive intrinsic resilience plays in supporting the girls through these times.

Resilience is an individual’s capacity to be able to respond to change. It covers not only the ability to be able to persist and to bounce back after challenges or setbacks, it is also the ability to learn from and respond positively to a whole range of changes.

The research is clear: the more positive emotion you experience, the more resilient you will be. For that reason, the girls and I explored three key pillars that have been proven to cultivate positive emotion, one of which is gratitude. Through the explicit teaching of positive emotion strategies, we can help our girls become more resilient and happier for the benefit of their learning and personal life.

The girls engaged in a gratitude reflection where they responded to questions including what are three things that went well for me today, who am I most grateful for today and why, and what am I most looking forward to about tomorrow.

Such journaling can help rewire our brains to start scanning the world for the positive. Research has shown that through continued engagement of sharing and documenting gratitude, individuals are less likely to get sick, have higher energy levels, feel happier, more enthusiastic, more determined, have better quality of sleep, and exhibit lower levels of depression and anxiety.

These benefits are all highly advantageous for our girls’ learning and wellbeing. Sharing gratitude is equally powerful in eliciting positive emotion in both the sender and the receiver.

As a take away, I encourage all of you tonight to ask at the dinner table, what/who are you most grateful for today? Tomorrow, send an email to a co-worker or friend telling them that you are grateful for them and see the positive emotion it can empower.

Kate Morgante
Director of Teaching and Learning

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Good Sports Rally at R to 3 Sports Morning

Today’s R to 3 Sports Morning was the perfect crescendo to our celebration of PE Week. The excitement levels are always high as the girls showcase what they have been learning throughout the year to staff and families.

The focus of the event is on fun and participation. In this age group, building positive experiences of being physically active helps foster a love for PE and sport, one that we hope will last for their entire lives. The girls participate in a host of games, each harnessing a different FUNdamental movement skill. They compete in their Houses to develop teamwork while also fostering healthy competitiveness.

Alastair Eglinton
PE Teacher

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Selwyn Makes a Splash at Junior Swimming Carnival

After being postponed due to the wet weather on Monday, our Year 2/3 Swimming Carnival was bathed in sunshine yesterday as our eager athletes hit the School Pool. As always, the girls displayed teamwork and participation competing in a range of races including Freestyle and Backstroke.

This smaller-scale carnival is a fantastic chance for our younger girls to get a taste of House rivalry and competitive swimming before they join in the Years 4 -12 Swimming Carnival. House pride certainly was in full flight as Patteson pooled their voices to win the Spirit Cup. At the conclusion of the event, with all the results tallied, the winner was announced: SELWYN!

Well done to all girls and staff on another brilliant School sporting event!

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Girls Have a Ball in PE Week

PE Week was a great success! Each lunchtime, many girls took part in a variety of activities including R – 3 skipping, dodgeball, obstacle course, Staff v Student Lacrosse (results in Sports News), rock-paper-scissors chasey and classic catches!

PE Week is an important opportunity to promote physical education, so it was fantastic to see the girls giving the activities a go whilst also getting some exercise in. Yesterday, we also held the Year 2/3 Swimming Carnival where the girls were able to display their skills in the School Pool, and PE Week finished on a high with today’s R – 3 Sports Morning.

Annie Warrick
2023 Sports Prefect

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Noteworthy Honour for Noble Music Teacher

When reflecting upon a career of 32 years, 21 of which I have spent at Saints Girls, it really has been a privilege to bring music into the lives of many young people. After all these years, I still remain a passionate advocator of music as a means of fostering creativity, self-expression, confidence and self-esteem.

Many of my students have gone on to become professional musicians, songwriters and music educators, but when I look back, I find myself thinking of the ones who have grown in different ways; for example, the shy introverted student who works their way up from the training choirs, continually and nervously auditioning each year, developing true resilience after setbacks, before eventually making it into Chamber Choir, Enchante or Esperanza. To watch some of these students then learn to express themselves through their music, to develop confidence in their ability to communicate, and to bring joy to others through their music…that is what I think about.

Teaching is not for the faint-hearted. It is a challenging and sometimes all-consuming career, so it is wonderful when teachers are acknowledged for their work; be it by a lovely little post-it note left by a student, a beautifully written student card, a student leaving an iced latte on my desk to get me through the day (you know who you are!) or a thoughtful email by a parent. ln the public sphere, I have also been very lucky, in 2018 receiving the Association of Heads of Music in Non Government Schools (AHOMINGS) ‘Long and Noteworthy Service’ award, and in 2019 receiving the Australian Society for Music Education (ASME) ‘Music – Educating for Life’ award.

Last Friday, I had the honour of attending another AHOMINGS ceremony where I received an award for ‘Significant Service to the Music Profession’, largely related to my work in the choral field. While these awards are a wonderful recognition of the work I have done within Music Education and in the choral arena, I will continue to look back on what is most important to me, that at some stage, somehow, and for someone…I’ve made a difference.

Sari Noble
Music Teacher

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Guest Artist a Brass Act

Music students were fortunate to enjoy a visit last week from our Guest Artist Jordan Murray who has established a career in many diverse areas of the music industry. Primarily known as a trombonist, Jordan has also developed a reputation as a composer and arranger. His next big career move is to fill the shoes of James Morrison as the next Music Director of Generations in Jazz.

The girls shared:

‘Dr Jordan Murray’s workshop with Stage Band and Little Big Band was extremely insightful and educational. His extensive knowledge on jazz rhythms and stylistic techniques will definitely assist the girls in their musical journeys both independently and together in ensembles.’ – Matilda Chu (Lead Trombone Stage Band, 2023 Band Captain)

‘Working under the direction of Jordan Murray was inspirational. Through our 1.5 hour rehearsal, we learnt all about jazz swing styles and techniques, and I made sure to soak up as much of the information as I could to then apply to my playing. I am so grateful we could have this rehearsal with Jordan as it brought the best out of Stage Band.’
– Lauren Parker (Bass Player Stage Band)

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Being Brave, Making Change

Our Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) Ambassadors recently presented proposals to the School’s Senior Leadership Team, seeking support for the actions they as Ambassadors for reconciliation consider important.

Iszabella Lochowiak shared a proposal which asked, ‘To change the Acknowledgment to further recognise and respect the Kaurna people and their land. As a sign of respect, to adopt an Acknowledgement that the whole School could use, from our youngest students in the ELC to our Year 12s, by reciting words in Kaurna before the English words. This acknowledges their language was spoken on this land for thousands of years before Australia was colonised.’ Her proposal means that, in 2023, ‘A simple Acknowledgement in both Kaurna and English will be shared at every Assembly and major meeting. Doing this publicly shares the native language and the spiritual connection with Kaurna land.’

Shields with the new Acknowledgment will be located around the School and the short phrase ‘Respectfully teaching and learning on Kaurna land’ will be attached to School email signature for both staff and students as a sign of our commitment to reconciliation.

Ambassadors Alexandra Nguyen and Olivia Park proposed placing new flagpoles at a highly visible location within the School so that the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander flags could fly daily with the Australian flag. Olivia stated, ‘Alexandra and I were thinking about this action and the perfect location for the flags to be placed. We wanted the location to be a main entrance that would be visible to all members of the School community, pedestrians and drivers.’ Alex went on to explain, ‘We proposed the action of flying these three flags at a prominent location and chose the front of the Science Centre.’

The girls concluded, ‘We must remember that small steps like these lead the way to change and reconciliation.’ These examples of student empowerment show our girls as change agents and highlight how student actions can lead to truly positive outcomes.

Lisa Hollis
RAP Coordinator

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Mesmerising Year 10 Drama Production

Congratulations to the Year 10 Drama students who this week performed the thought-provoking play, Property Rites.

Written by Alan Haehnel, it follows the story of Kyle Macmanus who has invested millions in a high-tech work of art: 14 human-figure sculptures programmed to perform thousands of movements, monologues, dialogues and more. But just when Kyle is about to sell the sculpture, it malfunctions; the figures are alive!

Interwoven with stylised movement and chorus work, our sci-fi-esque production explored concepts of ownership, identity and wanting to ‘break free’. The Year 10 girls embraced this challenging piece with great focus and maturity, resulting in a compelling and powerful performance. Well done girls!

Joni Combe
Drama Teacher

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Year 9/10 Dance Choreography Evening

6pm, Monday 28 November (Week 7)
Arts Centre, St Peter’s Girls’ School
Free Admission

During this term, the Year 9 and Year 10 Dancers have been deepening their understanding of the choreographic process by using research to generate movement concepts. They have creatively explored a number of themes and experimented with how to communicate these ideas with audiences.

Student-devised work, supported by their teacher, enables meaningful opportunity for collaboration, communication and problem-solving. Creative possibilities are endless!

Most importantly, the dancers are all very proud of their work and look forward to sharing this at our Year 9/10 Choreography Evening where Year 9 Dancers present Raising Awareness and our Stage 1 Dancers present Trapped. Please come along and support our talented dancers. Free admission and no booking necessary.

Kate Burnett
Head of The Arts

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Year 8 Production – Next Week!

7pm, Thursday 24 November (Week 6)
Arts Centre, St Peter’s Girls’ School
Free Admission

The Saints Girls’ community is invited to attend the upcoming Year 8 Production The Real Story of Alice in Wonderland showcasing students’ talents in Drama, Dance, Music and Visual Arts.

With the girls self devising the choreography, selecting the songs, directing the scenes and organising the costumes and sets, this really is a celebration of collaboration and creativity!

Kate Burnett
Head of The Arts

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Year 11s Scale New Heights on Retreat

The Year 11 Retreat to Glenhaven Park Camp Site was an adventurous experience in which everyone was encouraged to challenge their thinking and push past physical and mental barriers.

I particularly enjoyed fun activities such as the Tower Challenge and Initiatives as they challenged the Home Groups to think strategically and collaboratively. Additionally, the high ropes were a fun and exhilarating activity that allowed me to develop skills such as confidence when climbing and jumping off a 12m pole blindfolded!

It was a terrific experience that the Year 11 girls will no doubt be discussing in the years to come!

Emma Pool
Year 11 student

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Building Bonds on Year 7 Co-Ed Day

Our Year 7 students recently took part in a Healthy and Respectful Relationships Co-Educational Day with St Peter’s College and Walford Anglican School for Girls.

It provided a wonderful opportunity for the girls and boys to work together and problem-solve scenarios throughout the day. They engaged in a range of fun activities and classes run by teachers and counsellors from across the three schools, including a gym circuit, quizzes, sports, drama, code breaking, engineering challenges and much more.

Thank you to Saints Boys for hosting this fantastic day and well done to all involved!

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Friends of Ferguson Park Return to Their Roots

This year marks the 40th anniversary of the Friends of Ferguson Conservation Park (FFCP), the first nature-based Friends of Parks SA group.

On Sunday, members of the School’s Environment Club attended the Celebration Afternoon Tea held on the Chapel Path Lawns, where the girls were recognised for their commitment and contributions to Ferguson Park. This year, Environment Club members have recorded photos to show the growth of areas over time, and participated in weeding.

FFCP President Dr Geoffrey Bishop spoke about the group’s history and paid tribute to two important figures in the story of the park. The first was Alice Effie Ferguson whose family lived at Chiverton from 1896. Before her death in 1949, Miss Ferguson bequeathed 8 hectares of the property to the people of South Australia as a nature reserve. The balance of the property included the lovely homestead that became the site of St Peter’s Collegiate Girls’ School when the School relocated from North Adelaide in 1957.

The School has had involvement with the group since 1984, working with FFCP for 37 of its 40 years. The students’ first initiative was a Jubilee 150 project called ‘A Child’s Eye View of Ferguson Park’ that was coordinated by teacher Anne Harrington. FFCP’s logo was designed by Year 10 student Ilze Tomanis (Patteson 1990) and adopted in February 1989; it features the park’s iconic Native Pine.

Dr Bishop said, ‘The School’s involvement has since expanded into a variety of projects. It has been a valuable association and we enjoy working with Anna and the Environment Club girls. The park is both a valuable biodiversity reserve and a teaching and learning resource.’

Well done girls!

Dr Geoffrey Bishop FFCP President

Anna Stefopoulos Environment Club Facilitator

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Year 9s Forage in Food Forest

Last week, the Year 9 Geography class visited the Gawler Food Forest and met with the farm’s developers, Graham and Annemarie Brookman. They learnt about the different techniques Graham and Annemarie use to produce organic food that they sell at the weekly Adelaide Farmers’ Market at the Adelaide Showground.

The students explored the farm property, which consists of 15 hectares growing over 160 varieties of fruit, nuts, grains and vegetables. The girls really enjoyed the pistachios, the best they have ever tasted!

Students were also able to add to their learnings by investigating methods used to help improve food security, one such being permaculture. Graham explained, ‘Permaculture is a creative design process based on whole-systems thinking informed by ethics and design principles that feature on this site (Permaculture Principles, 2022).’ Graham demonstrated how the farm has adopted permaculture principles, from water filtering systems and water saving devices to compostable toilets and water storage, and that they try to use natural methods to get rid of pests including a number of geese which do this efficiently.

The girls asked intelligent and thoughtful questions and will use the information gained from this first-hand experience to write reports on what methods support food security.

Anna Stefopoulos
Geography Teacher

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Global Crusaders Team Up for EDGE Day

Each year, we hold an EDGE Day and present a group of students with a real life problem to solve. In previous years, we have looked at the issues facing animals native to Australia, space junk and escaping Adelaide Gaol. This year, the students were tasked with finding a multi-faceted solution to natural disasters using ideation and design thinking techniques. They worked in mixed-age teams from Reception to Year 10.

Girls were fortunate to participate in workshops led by the University of Adelaide and our Scientist in Residence Sophie Dolling, culminating in a presentation. In addition to our regular EDGE provision, this event provides an exciting chance for students to learn from experts, mix across Sub-Schools and for the older girls to have the opportunity to lead.

‘I enjoyed the EDGE Day because I got a giant Freddo Frog as my team won the best ideas for natural disasters. We did a presentation to show how drones and bunkers could be used. I enjoyed working with the big girls and sharing creative ideas.’ – Kate (Year 1 student)

‘My favourite part was learning about volcanoes and making all the things for our solutions. I really liked making an earthquake-proof building and using the wobble table to see if it would stay together. I also liked inventing things that could help save people from natural disasters. It was a bit scary at the start, but once we got to know each other, it was fun.’ – Samaira (Year 3 student)

‘The day involved many skills such as communication and thinking. Our ultimate task was to find a possible solution for what to do when a natural disaster such as an earthquake, flood, tsunami or bushfire strikes. This day was delightful and one of my highlights of the year.’ – Caitlyn (Year 6 student)

‘We were presented with the wonderful opportunity to work with girls from across Sub-Schools.I found myself enjoying the activities and getting to know the girls in my group, making this day an unforgettable one. This experience helped me develop many skills such as teamwork, patience and leadership whilst allowing us to make friends throughout the School along the way.’ – Elaine (Year 8 student)

‘I enjoyed exploring numerous extended learning topics alongside students from other year levels. EDGE Day has taught me how to think both critically and creatively and to work in a team to achieve a desired outcome, skills I am sure I will take with me well past my EDGE Program years. I have also had the opportunity to lead in EDGE Day activities, encouraging everyone to be bold in their ideas and to collaborate using different strengths to the team’s advantage.’ – Emily (Year 10 student)

‘My journey in the EDGE Program has been an experience like no other. It has provided me with the opportunity to be enriched, extended and accelerated to complement my mainstream classes. I have absolutely loved being in a learning environment that is both engaging and challenging. I particularly enjoy EDGE Days as they present me with opportunities to build relationships with younger girls and hone my critical thinking, time management and problem-solving skills.’ – Jess (Year 10 student)

Becca Burton-Howard
EDGE Coordinator

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Safety Drive for Young Road Users

Last Wednesday, Year 11 students took part in the South Australia Metropolitan Fire Service (MFS) Road Awareness Program (RAP) in the Arts Centre. It is aimed at keeping our students safe on the roads with an honest and straightforward concentration and common-sense message.

Dave, a firefighter from the MFS, spoke to our students about:
• Good attitudes, smart decision-making and safe behaviours
• The dangers of excessive speed, distractions and driving under the influence
• Being a responsible passenger and pedestrian
• Becoming a responsible driver
• First-hand experience of the trauma suffered by all parties involved in both fatal and non-fatal road crashes

Statistics show that road crashes are one of the major causes of death and serious injury for 16 – 24 years olds in South Australia, and the presentation was designed to be a hard-hitting and realistic insight into road trauma.

After the presentation, the girls completed some evaluation questions to identify changes in attitude that can lead to changes in behaviour as road users. They were asked to nominate what type of driver/road user they were prior to the RAP presentation, then indicate the type of driver/road user they intend to be moving forward after the presentation. I can report that, initially, while most girls indicated they were responsible drivers, there were some who did not fully identify as such. However, in response to the question, ‘Following the program, will you adopt safer road behaviours?’, the girls responded affirmatively.

The presentation had an enormous positive impact, equipping our Year 11s with an understanding of how their choices can affect others and how they can support each other to make better decisions.

Karen Alderson
SACE Coordinator/Careers Advisor

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Treasure Box Donation Drive

This term, the Year 10 Kilburn cohort is hosting a donation drive for our new House Charity, Treasure Boxes. This South Australian not-for-profit organisation provides vital essentials to babies, children and teenagers living in disadvantage in our community.

We are launching a campaign to help this charity to provide further support this holiday season. It will run in Week 6 and Week 7, and there will be a collection bin in the Middle School where donations can be placed. Treasure Boxes has provided a list of sought-after items:

•TOILETRY BAG •TOOTH BRUSH AND PASTE •DENTAL FLOSS •SHAMPOO AND CONDITIONER •SHOWER GEL/SOAP •TISSUE PACK •HAIR BRUSH/ACCESSORIES •SUNSCREEN •HAND SANITISER •SOCKS AND UNDERWEAR •LUNCH BOX AND DRINK BOTTLE •PENCIL CASE

•PENCILS •TEXTAS/GEL PENS •HIGHLIGHTERS •COLOURING BOOK •NOTEBOOK •SKETCH PAD •STRESS BALL/FIDGET TOY •CRAFT ACTIVITY •PUZZLE •BOARD GAME •SPORTS BALL •BOOK

We encourage everyone to bring in at least one item from this list so that we can make a difference in the lives of those less fortunate in our community this Christmas.

Alysa Trinh
Year 10 student

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Carols in the Cathedral

St Peter’s Cathedral, North Adelaide
Tuesday 6 December
Students to arrive at 6.30pm
Doors open at 6.45pm, event commences at 7pm

Carols in the Cathedral is a compulsory event for students in Years 5 – 12

Illustration by Isabella Ding (Year 9 student)

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Presentation Night

Adelaide Town Hall
Friday 9 December
Students to arrive at 6.30pm (unless advised otherwise by the Music Department)
Doors open at 6.45pm, event commences at 7pm

Presentation Night is a compulsory event for students in Years 7 – 12

Further details including ticket information will be communicated to families shortly.

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SLIC Reviews – New Edition Out Now!

The final issue for 2022 of the Student Libraries Initiatives Club’s Magazine is now available: SLIC reViews Issue 4.

In this edition, the girls are excited to share their favourite romance books. Last month, Adam Silvera, author of smash hit They Both Die at the End, released a prequel, The First to Die at the End. This story celebrates the lasting impact that people have on each other and proves that life is always worth living to the fullest.

These books and many more are available in the Library and on the Wheelers for Schools website.

Start reading SLIC reViews now – click here

Kate McBride
Library and Information Services

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Scholastic Book Club

End-of-year deals in Issue 8 Book Club

Last chance to stock up on some fabulous books including The Speedy Sloth (National Simultaneous Storytime Book for 2023) by Rebecca Young and illustrated by Heath McKenzie. Celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Diary of a Wombat with Diary of a Rescued Wombat: The Untold Story by Jackie French and Bruce Whatley. The (almost) true tale of one small wombat who learnt how to train her humans, inspiring the internationally best-selling picture book.

Place your Issue 8 order online via the Scholastic Australia LOOP website and enter the promo code LOOPDEALS to get your discount:

$15 off when you spend $80 and over
$10 off when you spend $50 – $79
$5 off when you spend $30 – $49
$3 off when you spend $20 – $29

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Friends of Rowing – Wine Fundraiser

Support the development of the Rowing Program at St Peter’s Girls’ School by purchasing from a fantastic selection of wines:

• Lambert Estate – Barossa Valley
• The Lane – Adelaide Hills
• Bird in Hand – Adelaide Hills
• d’Arenberg – McLaren Vale

Vintages are subject to change. In the event of wines being in short supply, we will contact you. Prices are only available for this fundraiser. Each wine can only be ordered by minimum purchase. Prices are inclusive of GST.

Purchases can be made via TryBooking – click here

The campaign runs until 11 December 2022 (no orders after this date can be accepted). Orders to be collected on Sunday 18 December from 11am – 3pm at St Peter’s Girls’ School. Wine can be collected after Sunday 18 December by prior arrangement; please contact Fiona McGregor, Community Relations – Events Officer via 8334 2225 or fmcgregor@stpetersgirls.sa.edu.au

Liquor Licence: #203237

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Professional School Photo Offers

Offer 1 – $88 digital package (unlimited number of photos)
To view the photos, visit events.focusschoolportraits.com/gallery/18679717/
Select Gallery
To access, use the password: SaintsGirls
Email Mark at orders@focusschoolportraits.com.au, quoting the photo numbers and event. He will be in contact with you to finalise the order.

Offer 2 – $27 per printed photo
The Special Groups offer includes photos of House Captains, Generations, Originals, Year 12 cohort and the Year 12 image from the Chiverton Balcony
Visit www.focusschoolportraits.com
Select School Portraits
Enter access key: 7XE7K6YB

If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact Mark via orders@focusschoolportraits.com.au or 8389 9002.

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Junior School Vacation Care – Book Now

Our next awesome instalment of Junior School Vacation Care is almost here. We have some great activities guaranteed to keep the children entertained through the break. With an array of excursions and on-site adventures, there is plenty of fun to be had.

December 2022 / January 2023 Vacation Care Program

Places are limited, so secure your booking now – click here

Please make your booking requests via the link above by 2pm Friday 2 December, as each booking made after this time will incur an additional $5 fee.

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COVID-19 Information

As you may be aware, a number of COVID-19 requirements have been lifted including mandatory isolation for those who test positive. Notwithstanding this, SA Health encourages anyone who is ill to stay home until the symptoms have cleared (usually five to seven days).

As there is no longer a set COVID isolation period, you must notify the School each day your child will be absent, or provide the expected period of absence.

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School Medical Information Reminder

It is imperative that all medical information, including immunisations, is up to date on the School’s myLink parent portal.

Please follow this pathway to check and/or update details: myLink > Community Portal > My Details > select child name

If you have any questions, please email healthcentre@stpetersgirls.sa.edu.au

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Road Safety Alert

The School has received reports of concerning driver behaviour on Hallett Road. This includes holding up traffic while waiting for cars to leave in order to park near the ELC, performing risky u-turns and parking in bus zones.

As our staff have no jurisdiction over public roads, the School will be asking the police to conduct regular patrols at peak times.

We implore all of our community members to support road safety and show courtesy to others.

Issue no. 34

From Our Head of Junior School

Our Reception to Year 3 students were blessed with sunshine and warm weather this week as they learned water awareness and safety skills and gained further confidence in the pool. These lessons have also served as preparation for the Year 2 and 3 students, who will enjoy a mini swimming carnival on Monday.

Between swimming lessons this week and next week’s ACHPER, SA (Australian Council for Health, Physical Education and Recreation, South Australia) PE Week, it is timely to reflect on the importance of physical activity and sports for young children.

It’s common knowledge that participation in physical activity is good for our physical health. However, the benefits for children involved in sports with respect to long-term social and emotional wellbeing, school performance, and the development of traits for successful adulthood should not be underestimated.

From a physical perspective, regular exercise and involvement in sports develops children’s motor skills and coordination, builds strong bones and muscles, improves cardiovascular fitness, increases flexibility and promotes healthy posture. It can also improve sleep patterns and reduce stress and anxiety, while laying strong foundations for living a healthy lifestyle in the future. Regular participation in physical activity frequently correlates with a reduction in sedentary lifestyle behaviours including, lengthy time on digital screens, and therefore reduces the corresponding detrimental health outcomes of these lifestyle patterns.

Children’s cognitive development is positively impacted through involvement in physical activities and sports, particularly as part of a group or team, with outcomes such as improved concentration, memory and problem-solving skills.

From a social and emotional perspective, through working closely with others to play a sport, children develop an understanding and appreciation of differences, the ability to listen to and act on direction, the importance of working both individually and collaboratively towards a goal, how to lead and how to follow. They have opportunities to set personal goals, develop patience, practise determination and perseverance, develop the ability to overcome setbacks, and learn how to win with humility and lose with grace. Children who regularly play sports tend to develop more healthy self-esteem and self-confidence than those who don’t.

Being physically active, particularly in a group, enables children to develop character traits they will use throughout everyday life, well into adulthood. We encourage students to be actively involved in PE and the Sports Program at our School, as well as to enjoy plenty of physical activity on weekends and during holidays, with family and friends.

There will be a variety of PE Week activities offered during lunchtimes next week, which will culminate for our younger students with the Reception to Year 3 Sports Morning on Friday. We look forward to a physically active week.

Suzanne Haddy
Head of Junior School

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Remembrance Day at St Peter’s Girls

Students and staff gathered outside the Arts Centre this afternoon for a moving service to mark Remembrance Day.

Prayer, poetry and music were shared before wreath laying, the Ode of Remembrance and the Last Post, leading into a minute’s silence.

The School service is always a touching tradition to reflect upon the sacrifices so many have made.

Lest we forget.

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The Joy of Storytelling in Our ELC

Our Early Learners’ Centre is abuzz with the joy of storytelling. It is the earliest form of literacy for our youngest students, preparing the foundations for future reading and writing skills and other vital learning.

Through storytelling, children create a sense of wonder as they use their imagination. They are developing their listening and communication skills, enhancing their vocabulary, and making important links between the written and spoken word.

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State of The Arts Journal Launch

Last Thursday saw the celebration and launch of the third volume of the Out of the Blue Arts Journal.

This volume proved to be the largest yet with over 80 pages jam-packed with arts from across our community including students of all ages, Old Scholars and staff. Works covered a variety of genres from dance and baking to photography, art and poetry.

This student-led initiative provides our girls with a forum to share their passions, give voice to their protests and celebrate the wider world of The Arts. As part of the Out of the Blue Committee, students are responsible for all aspects of the journal including selection of artwork, the overall design process, meeting and communicating with printers, and planning the launch event.

At this year’s launch in the Chapel, it was inspiring to hear Old Scholar Katherine Schultz (Kilburn 2011) talk about her career in and passion for The Arts through photography.

Out of the Blue provides a learning opportunity for our girls that is challenging, creative and rewarding. Thank you to all the students involved, everyone who made a submission, and to Ms Riley and Mrs Smerdon for their support over the past two terms.

Becca Burton-Howard
Out of the Blue Coordinator

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Year 11 Production Showered in Praise

On Tuesday evening in the Arts Centre, the Stage 1 Drama class performed the farce-style comedy The Wedding Downpour by Bradley Hayward. Set in 1960s London, the story follows the character Diana who attempts to organise a wedding shower, but her husband Edward’s antics get in her way. Disaster strikes and Edward is stuck hosting the wedding shower by himself, dealing with some interesting guests.

In our class, each girl performed on stage as well as having creative off-stage roles such as assistant directing, lighting design and marketing. The production incorporated all elements of a comedic farce including stereotyped characters, physical comedy, miscommunications and escalating chaos. The class thoroughly enjoyed working out of their comfort zones to portray outrageous characters with distinct mannerisms.

Congratulations to all involved. It was a performance that won’t be forgotten by the audience of parents and other community members!

Zara Blight
Year 11 student

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Year 10 Drama Production – Next Week

7pm, Tuesday 15 November (Week 5)
Arts Centre, St Peter’s Girls’ School
Free Admission

The Year 10 Drama students are proud to present Property Rites by Alan Haehnel.

The story follows Kyle Macmanus who has invested millions in a high-tech work of art: 14 human-figure sculptures programmed to perform thousands of movements, monologues, dialogues and more. But just when Kyle is about to sell the sculpture, it malfunctions; the figures are alive. As each one struggles to achieve autonomy, they begin a fatal race against their desperate owner’s destructive plan.

Interwoven with movement, chorus work and music, Property Rites is a thought-provoking piece of theatre that explores the concept of ownership, identity and wanting to ‘break free’.  Please come along and support our Drama students – we would love to see you there.

Joni Combe
Drama Teacher

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Year 8 Production – The Real Story of Alice in Wonderland

7pm, Thursday 24 November (Week 6)
Arts Centre, St Peter’s Girls’ School
Free Admission

The Saints Girls’ community is invited to attend the upcoming Year 8 Production The Real Story of Alice in Wonderland showcasing students’ talents in Drama, Dance, Music and Visual Arts.

With the girls self devising the choreography, selecting the songs, directing the scenes and organising the costumes and sets, this really is a celebration of collaboration and creativity!

Kate Burnett
Head of The Arts

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Equestrian Saint Rides into Record Books

Last month, my dad and I headed to Victoria for the Australian Jumping Championships. I had been preparing for this competition all year with the goal to come in the top 3 with one of my horses.

In 2021, I came 2nd on my horse BP Koraleigh, so I really wanted to match or beat that. The horse I was fortunate to win the title on, Licaviv, had previously been ridden by Olympian Vicki Roycroft. I had tried her in Sydney three weeks before the competition and we decided to purchase her as we got along very well. We were able to put her entries in, and within a week, I had my first ride on her competing in the Arilla Cup warm-up show where I came home with a 2nd on Licaviv and 3rd on BP Koraleigh in the Children’s Championship (14 yrs and under).

In the main show, the Australian Jumping Championships, there are two qualification rounds and then a final. Over the two rounds, I came 2nd and 4th on Licaviv and had two 3rd places on BP Koraleigh. Going into the final, I was in equal 2nd place with both horses. In the first round of the final, I unfortunately had a few rails on BP Koraleigh, dropping me to 5th place. If I went clear on Licaviv, I would keep my position in 2nd, and if the competitor in 1st place had a rail, I would overtake him and go into the lead. Luck was on my side and he dropped a rail. Although, I still had to do one more round and go clear again. This time, the course was shortened and if I dropped a rail it would then depend on time. If I went clear, the title would be mine. Luckily for me, all went to plan and we were crowned the Australian Children Champions and 7th overall on BP Koraleigh, leaving me with two horses in the top 10 in Australia.

The feeling as I went through the finish flags was surreal. I am so grateful to be given the opportunity to own and ride such incredible horses, and would not be able to do it without the support of my parents and everyone else around me.

Imogen Lindh
Year 9 student

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Weather No Damper for Year 5 Campers

Last week, our Year 5 campers visited Robe and Mount Gambier, staying at Tarooki Campsite for three nights and exploring the breathtakingly beautiful Umpherston Sinkhole, the Blue Lake and Tantanoola Caves. Although the weather was fairly cold and wet, everyone embraced camp with enthusiasm.

The girls participated in many other activities including an evening meal at Fasta Pasta in Mount Gambier.  The teachers were proud of the independence and resilience of all of the girls. New friendships were made and girls stepped out of their comfort zones to try new experiences.

Congratulations to all on a fantastic four days.

Shane Davidson
Year 5 Teacher

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Year 1s Rule the School at Stayback

The excitement from the Year 1s was palpable last Friday! The reason for this? It was our Stayback!

After school, the girls changed into casual clothes and had an afternoon snack of fresh fruit. Following a group photo and a brief session on the playground, it was time to head to the Arts Centre for the first surprise: a dance workshop with Bec from Footsteps Dance Company. The girls thoroughly enjoyed it which was obvious by the enthusiastic way they joined in.

The dance workshop passed too quickly, but it was time for a pizza dinner followed by ice cream cups. A trip to neighbouring Bell Yet playground was followed by a treasure hunt on Chiverton Lawns to find bubble blowers and bouncy balls. All too soon, it was 7pm and the parents had arrived to collect their happily tired daughters.

Liz Sandercock Year 1 Teacher

Michelle Liddy Year 1 Teacher

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French Quiz Night – We Say Oui!

Last Wednesday, a group of Year 9 French students represented our School at the annual South Australian French Teachers’ Association (SAFTA) French Quiz Night hosted by Walford Anglican School for Girls. Students from across the Adelaide region attended the event, and it was truly wonderful to see our students connect with the wider Francophile community. Thank you to Jiana, Linna, Olivia, Alex, Mollie and Scarlett for your enthusiasm on the night, cétait super!

The girls shared:

‘It was a great opportunity for all of us to collaborate and learn more about French culture in a competitive and exciting environment. Although we didn’t win, we had a lot of fun and enjoyed the many French snacks that were provided.’

Celia Zamel
French Teacher

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Treasure Box Donation Drive

This term, the Year 10 Kilburn cohort is hosting a donation drive for our new House Charity, Treasure Boxes. This South Australian not-for-profit organisation provides vital essentials to babies, children and teenagers living in disadvantage in our community.

We are launching a campaign to help this charity to provide further support this holiday season. It will run in Week 6 and Week 7, and there will be a collection bin in the Middle School where donations can be placed. Treasure Boxes has provided a list of sought-after items:

•TOILETRY BAG •TOOTH BRUSH AND PASTE •DENTAL FLOSS •SHAMPOO AND CONDITIONER •SHOWER GEL/SOAP •TISSUE PACK •HAIR BRUSH/ACCESSORIES •SUNSCREEN •HAND SANITISER •SOCKS AND UNDERWEAR •LUNCH BOX AND DRINK BOTTLE •PENCIL CASE

•PENCILS •TEXTAS/GEL PENS •HIGHLIGHTERS •COLOURING BOOK •NOTEBOOK •SKETCH PAD •STRESS BALL/FIDGET TOY •CRAFT ACTIVITY •PUZZLE •BOARD GAME •SPORTS BALL •BOOK

We encourage everyone to bring in at least one item from this list so that we can make a difference in the lives of those less fortunate in our community this Christmas.

Alysa Trinh
Year 10 student

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Upcoming Events

 

Carols in the Cathedral
St Peter’s Cathedral
Tuesday 6 December
Students to arrive at 6.30pm
Doors open at 7pm
Carols in the Cathedral is a compulsory event for students in Years 5 – 12.

Presentation Night
Adelaide Town Hall
Friday 9 December
Students arrive to at 6.30pm (unless advised otherwise by the Music Department)
Doors open at 7pm
Presentation Night is a compulsory event for students in Years 7 – 12.
Further details including ticket information will be communicated to families shortly.

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Friends of Rowing – Wine Fundraiser

Support the development of the Rowing Program at St Peter’s Girls’ School by purchasing from a fantastic selection of wines:

• Lambert Estate – Barossa Valley
• The Lane – Adelaide Hills
• Bird in Hand – Adelaide Hills
• d’Arenberg – McLaren Vale

Vintages are subject to change. In the event of wines being in short supply, we will contact you. Prices are only available for this fundraiser. Each wine can only be ordered by minimum purchase. Prices are inclusive of GST.

Purchases can be made via TryBooking – click here

The campaign runs until 11 December 2022 (no orders after this date can be accepted). Orders to be collected on Sunday 18 December from 11am – 3pm at St Peter’s Girls’ School. Wine can be collected after Sunday 18 December by prior arrangement; please contact Fiona McGregor, Community Relations – Events Officer via 8334 2225 or fmcgregor@stpetersgirls.sa.edu.au

Liquor Licence: #203237

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Professional School Photo Offers

Offer 1 – $88 digital package (unlimited number of photos)
To view the photos, visit events.focusschoolportraits.com/gallery/18679717/
Select Gallery
To access, use the password: SaintsGirls
Email Mark at orders@focusschoolportraits.com.au, quoting the photo numbers and event. He will be in contact with you to finalise the order.

Offer 2 – $27 per printed photo
The Special Groups offer includes photos of House Captains, Generations, Originals, Year 12 cohort and the Year 12 image from the Chiverton Balcony
Visit www.focusschoolportraits.com
Select School Portraits
Enter access key: 7XE7K6YB

If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact Mark via orders@focusschoolportraits.com.au or 8389 9002.

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COVID-19 Information

As you may be aware, a number of COVID-19 requirements have been lifted including mandatory isolation for those who test positive. Notwithstanding this, SA Health encourages anyone who is ill to stay home until the symptoms have cleared (usually five to seven days).

As there is no longer a set COVID isolation period, you must notify the School each day your child will be absent, or provide the expected period of absence.

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Health Notification

The School has been notified of a case of rhinovirus and a case of human metapneumovirus.

Both are common respiratory viruses which are spread when an infected person talks, coughs or sneezes small droplets containing infectious agents into the air. The viruses are also spread by direct contact with a sick person or indirect contact with hands, tissues or other articles soiled by nose and throat discharges.

Most respiratory viruses cause cold-like symptoms or flu-like illnesses. Common signs and symptoms include fever, cough, runny nose, sneezing, sore throat, headache, muscle aches, fatigue and malaise (feeling unwell).

For more information, click here

As always, if your child is unwell, they should remain home until they have recovered, irrespective of the illness.

If your child will not be attending school/ELC due to illness, please notify the School via one of the methods listed in the absences article.

Lara Waltham and Sarah Wilkinson
School Registered Nurses

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School Medical Information Reminder

It is imperative that all medical information, including immunisations, is up to date on the School’s myLink parent portal.

Please follow this pathway to check and/or update details: myLink > Community Portal > My Details > select child name

If you have any questions, please email healthcentre@stpetersgirls.sa.edu.au

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Road Safety Alert

The School has received reports of concerning driver behaviour on Hallett Road. This includes holding up traffic while waiting for cars to leave in order to park near the ELC, performing risky u-turns and parking in bus zones.

As our staff have no jurisdiction over public roads, the School will be asking the police to conduct regular patrols at peak times.

We implore all of our community members to support road safety and show courtesy to others.