Issue no. 5

Girls in Tech 2023

Girls in Tech 2023 was bigger and better than ever with 250 students from local schools inspired by experts from dozens of STEM organisations.

This event aims to ignite a STEM spark in young girls, shining a light on career paths of the future.

Well done to all involved on another tech-tacular expo!

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From Our Head of Junior School

There are very few activities we enjoy these days that don’t rely on some type of technology. Even the humble Sunday picnic is an opportunity to get friendly with the internet, as I appreciated while sleuthing the clues for a ‘mystery picnic’ last weekend! At a personal level, we welcome getting around with an interactive map at our fingertips, translating foreign languages having no prior knowledge of the language, making quick work of mathematical calculations, and simultaneously seeing and hearing our absent friends and family, all with the help of our mobile phones.

However, we all know that the ever-evolving nature of technologies has far-reaching possibilities, way more significant than our day-to-day interactions with our mobile devices. Our students’ future will be in a world of continual technological advances. Many of our graduates will hopefully be at the forefront of developments that will shape our world and improve the lives of others.

Our annual Girls in Tech Expo introduces a broad array of digital technologies and STEM-related projects to students, enabling them to explore hands-on a range of innovations and digital applications. It’s important that our students see current issues as opportunities for innovation, and that they are encouraged to develop a creative outlook and a solution-focused mindset. Spending time with the creators and supporters of cutting-edge technologies is a valuable step towards this.

Exciting advances of the 2020s include things such as tiny, wearable medical data trackers, further development of green technologies, solving real-world issues through replication in virtual reality, advances in the biotech space, and data analytics in transportation, health and customer behaviour. It will be interesting to see what sparks our girls’ interest as they head towards their future careers. No doubt we will look back in 10 years’ time and be in awe of the next array of changes we have witnessed – we can only wonder at what our students’ involvement in those will be.

Suzanne Haddy
Head of Junior School

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Swimming Carnival 2023 – Full Results

McGill Shield
1st Selwyn (3370), 2nd Kilburn (3339), 3rd Kennion (3209), 4th Patteson (2915)

Junior
1st Patteson, 2nd Selwyn, 3rd Kennion, 4th Kilburn

Middle
1st Kilburn, 2nd Selwyn, 3rd Patteson, 4th Kennion

Senior
1st Kennion, 2nd Selwyn, 3rd Kilburn, 4th Patteson

Year 4 Aggregate Cup
Emily Wang (Patteson)
Lucy Dougherty (Kennion)
Amy Liau (Selwyn)

Year 5 Aggregate Cup
Mimi Birmingham (Selwyn)
Hannah Woo (Patteson)
Milli Richardson (Kennion)

Year 6 Aggregate Cup
Emily Robinson (Kilburn)
Natalia Quinn (Patteson)
Sasha Connor (Selwyn)

Year 7 Aggregate Cup
Chloe Sturt (Kilburn)
Meg Paul (Patteson)
Milla Everitt (Kennion)

Year 8 Aggregate Cup
Ella Pearce (Selwyn)
Ruby Marschall (Kilburn)
Isla Fahey (Selwyn)

Year 9 Aggregate Cup
Holly Robinson (Kilburn)
Genevieve Braithwaite (Kilburn)
Cleo Hart (Patteson)

Year 10 Aggregate Cup
Alyssa Tran (Kilburn)
Elysia Scarr (Selwyn)
Emma Everitt (Kennion)

Year 11 Aggregate Cup
Alice Braithwaite (Kennion)
Summer Bament (Patteson)
Ayla Blaskett (Kilburn)

Year 12 Aggregate Cup
Isabelle Tran (Kilburn)
Emily Whittaker (Patteson)
Poppy Marshall (Selwyn)

Junior Champion Swimmer
Emily Robinson (Year 6 Kilburn)

Middle Champion Swimmer
Ella Pearce (Year 8 Selwyn)

Senior Champion Swimmer
Alice Braithwaite (Year 11 Kennion)

Junior 100m IM
Natalia Quinn (Year 6 Patterson)
Emily Robinson (Year 6 Kilburn)
Juliette Tang (Year 6 Kilburn)

Middle 200m IM
Meg Paul (Year 7 Patterson)
Chloe Sturt (Year 7 Kilburn)
Ella Pearce (Year 8 Selwyn)

Senior 200m IM
Alice Braithwaite (Year 11 Kennion)
Alyssa Tran (Year 10 Kilburn)
Elysia Scarr (Year 10 Selwyn)

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Friendship Day for Strong Saints

Last Friday, students from Reception to Year 3 participated in our inaugural Friendship Day as part of our ‘URSTRONG’ program launch in Junior School. As the girls arrived in the morning, they were excited to see their teachers had transformed into Friendship Ninjas, which set the tone for a day full of excitement and energy!

The girls participated in various activities in their House teams including making sensory jars to assist with managing unpleasant feelings, creating kindness affirmation rocks to go in a small garden space for students to access during play times, designing ninja headbands, decorating their own ninja, rescuing ‘Fred the worm’ in a team-building STEM challenge and learning a fun ninja dance in the Arts Centre.

Adopting the skills taught in the URSTRONG program, the girls were able to put their ninja skills into practice during these activities by being super introducers when meeting new friends. At the end of the sessions, the girls were delighted to perform their dances on stage in front of their fellow students and teachers, and enjoyed some House-coloured jelly from our wonderful Tuck Shop staff.

Meg Jordan
Reception Teacher

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‘URSTRONG’ Friendship Program

We are proud that our Junior School has become a ‘URSTRONG School’ in 2023. This whole-School friendship strategy will connect students, teachers and parents with a common language around friendships.

Junior School parents are invited to take advantage of a free Parent Membership to access hundreds of resources. For more information – click here

We are also pleased to partner with the URSTRONG organisation to offer a ‘Language of Friendship’ parent and child online workshop on Wednesday 22 March at 6pm. This session will teach you and your children the skills and language to foster healthy, feel-good friendships. To register – click here

Helen Smith
Deputy Head of Junior School

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SLIC Award for Library Legends

Congratulations to our Student Libraries Initiatives Club (SLIC) on receiving the inaugural statewide Innovations in School Libraries Award from the School Library Association of South Australia (SLASA). Renowned author and friend of our School Phil Cummings presented the award, commending our SLIC girls on this special achievement.

A short video was created to highlight some of the many activities this co-curricular club engages in such as the Book Fair, promotion of the Premier’s Reading Challenge, and hosting and performing at the Book Week Assembly. During the SLASA meeting, our video was shared with those in attendance and was also streamed across Australia to people from other school libraries.

As part of this week’s Assembly, I presented the certificate to club members as we shared the achievement with the wider School community.

Annie Bui
Library Captain

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Parents Take Note at Music Information Evening

Last week, we hosted parents of Year 3 and 4 students at our Music Information Evening, where they became the learners.

Parent engagement is such an important component to ensuring success in the classroom. Much research has been completed in recent years, confirming what many Music Teachers already know: music enhances learning and supports confidence and wellbeing.

It was easy to see this occurring as our budding young musicians confidently passed on their newfound knowledge to their parents as part of our Years 3 and 4 Immersion Program. Every student learns a string instrument in Year 3 and a band instrument in Year 4 for three terms as part of the Junior School Music Curriculum. They develop skills not only in music-making but also in problem-solving, teamwork, communication, time management, empathy, resilience and literacy on their way to becoming fully-fledged members of our Music family.

We wish our Year 3 and 4 students and parents all the best as they continue their music journey.

Sally Rounsevell
Director of Music

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Culture and Cuisine in Japanese Garden

Our Year 12 IB Japanese class travelled to the Adelaide Himeji Garden in the city last week to immerse ourselves in Japanese culture. The excursion was a great chance for us to practise our Japanese conversation and learn about the importance of gardens in connecting Japanese culture to the environment.

Himeji is Adelaide’s sister city in Japan. The garden includes a beautiful main lake featuring turtles, lily pads and a water-viewing lantern, a teahouse and a sea of sand, aiming to incorporate the three main styles of Japanese gardens.

During our visit, we ate a Japanese-style lunch including obento, ramune (Japanese lemonade) and mochi for dessert! We immensely enjoyed spending our time in the relaxing atmosphere of the garden and learning more about how nature is connected to culture in Japan.

Madison Liddy and Ellie Humphrey
Year 12 students

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New Wave of Learning to Surf

This term, the Year 12 PE students have been taking part in surf sessions at Middleton Beach.

The girls are accessing GoPro, drone and phone footage to discuss how they see themselves as a learner and the impact of different coaching methodologies on their improvement.

Despite some difficult conditions, the girls displayed their typical courage to enjoy the experience and gain new insights.

Dan Searle
Heath & Physical Education Teacher

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Career Superwomen: Making Her Mark

A group of eager Year 10 and 11 students recently attended the launch of a new schools-based initiative called ‘Making Her Mark’. They listened to engaging stories of empowerment from women in non-traditional industries such as space robotics, civil engineering and carpentry.

‘We heard from a group of women about how they were inspired to follow their dreams to create the future they wanted to have, and learnt about their journeys from school all the way into their career, inspiring many of us with their achievements along the way.’ – Charlotte Lorenzen (Year 10 student)

One very interesting story was from Bailee, who achieved an excellent ATAR and commenced a double degree at university, but soon decided this was doing what others wanted and not what her passion was. So, she changed paths, and with her family’s support, enrolled in a carpentry certificate at TAFE. Bailee now owns her own carpentry business and absolutely loves her work. Being a woman in a male-dominated field, she often faces challenges, and when once told she should be at home in the kitchen, she replied, ‘I’ll build your kitchen, and you make me a sandwich!’ Our girls loved that line!

The overall messages were to:
• trust your ‘gut’ when making decisions about your future and not be swayed by
entrenched perceptions – don’t let low female representation guide your career choice
• find strength and support from other women in the industry
• choose subjects to spark your passion, and when spoilt for choice, you can’t make a
wrong decision, but you will need to make hard decisions!
• if you don’t have a network, create one
• be the change you want to see in your industry

Carolyn Farr
Careers Coordinator

Karen Alderson
Careers Counsellor

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Summer Interhouse Meal Deal – Order Now!

The Friends of Sport (FOS) will be cooking up a storm at Summer Interhouse on Thursday 6 April. We’re offering delicious cheeseburger Meal Deals and a sausage sizzle (vegetarian option available).

Pre-order your daughter’s cheeseburger Meal Deal before 5pm, Thursday 30 March via TryBooking – click here

Friends of Sport volunteers will hand-deliver the Reception – Year 2 lunches to their classrooms, and Years 3 – 12 will collect theirs from the FOS barbecue area.

There will also be cash and EFTPOS sales on the day for the sausage sizzle.

To get you into the Summer Interhouse spirit, branded keyrings, supporter hats, House hats, water bottles and wristbands can also be pre-ordered, or purchased on the day.

All proceeds raised by the Friends of Sport directly benefit our Saints Girls and their sporting endeavours.

Thank you so much for your kind support.

Friends of Sport

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School Photos – Next Week

Focus School Portraits will be at school next week from Monday 6 March – Wednesday 8 March to take our School Photos.

A special St Peter’s Girls’ Package has been designed for our families where each student will receive the following photos:

1 – 8″ x 10″ Individual Portrait
2 – 5″ x 7″ Individual Portraits
4 – 2.5″ x 3.5″ Individual Portraits
1 – 8″ x 10″ Class/Home Group Photo

There is no additional cost to families as this has been incorporated into your fees. Should you wish to purchase extra packs, photos or items such as key rings, mugs, jigsaws etc., you can visit www.focusschoolportraits.com to order these online.

Class/Home Group Teachers will be sent the schedule and will communicate photo times to students.

Sibling photos will be taken during lunch on Monday 6 March and Tuesday 7 March on Chiverton Lawns. Order forms for each family will be distributed to Class/Home Group Teachers.

If you have any queries, please contact me via fmcgregor@stpetersgirls.sa.edu.au

Fiona McGregor
Events Coordinator

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Old Scholar Occupational Therapist Seeking Study Participants

My name is Ellana Welsby and I am an Old Scholar of St Peter’s Girls’ School (Kilburn 2013). I’m an occupational therapist and am currently completing my PhD studies at the University of South Australia.

I have partnered with St Peter’s Girls’ School to be involved in the evaluation and testing of a new augmented reality intervention to help children learn and develop key motor skills they need to thrive in their everyday life.

I will be commencing testing this term and would love for your daughter to participate in this exciting opportunity if she is 7 to 12 years of age. All participants will receive an occupational therapy assessment summary of their motor skill performance.

For more information – click here

To sign up to this study, please click here to register your interest.

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Head of the River Dinner

 

The Friends of Rowing invite rowers, family and friends to celebrate the efforts, improvements and achievements of our St Peter’s Girls’ rowers throughout the 2022/23 season.

The annual Head of the River Dinner will be held at the Adelaide Pavilion. The evening will feature speeches from students and coaches about the season that has been, and will conclude with awards being presented. The dinner includes a three-course menu and drinks package.

Saturday 18 March
6pm arrival for 6.30pm start
Adelaide Pavilion (corner South Terrace and Peacock Road, Adelaide)

Tickets
Students – $85 per person
Adults – $95 per person
Purchase via TryBooking – click here

Ticket sales close at 5pm, Monday 6 March

Please note, all rowers are expected to attend this event.

Brynley Millward
Director of Rowing

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Dad’s Night on the Green

Friday 17 March
From 6.30pm
Tranmere Bowling Club
1 Kings Grove, Tranmere

Tickets: $40
Includes entry, bowling fees, hamburger and sausage sizzle
Drinks and lucky squares can be purchased on the evening

To book your ticket – click here

Bookings close Tuesday 14 March

Participants will be assembled into teams of four. Bring a mate and meet other Saints Girls’ Dads!

Supported by the Friends of Sport

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COVID-19 Information

Please find the latest guidance from SA Health:

• It is strongly recommended that students stay home if they have cold or flu-like
  symptoms, and test for COVID-19.
• Whether they receive a positive or negative result, they should stay home until symptoms subside (usually five to seven days).
• It is strongly recommended that parents/guardians inform the School if a student is a
  close contact. For further advice regarding close contacts, click here
• While face masks are no longer mandated, they are an important physical barrier to help stop the spread of COVID, particularly when indoors.

If your child tests positive to COVID-19, please inform the School. Please also notify the School each day of absence, or provide the expected period of absence.

You can notify us via one of the following methods. Please include the name of the ELC Room, Class or Home Group. If emailing, feel free to ‘CC’ the teacher of the Room/Class/Home Group as well.

Email: attendance@stpetersgirls.sa.edu.au

Text: 0428 601 957 (save to phone contacts as SPGS)

Phone: 8334 2200

For more SA Health information, click here

Please note that if your child is unwell, they should remain home until they have recovered, irrespective of the illness.

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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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Bushfire Action Plan

It is important to remind families about the School’s Bushfire Action Plan.

The policy was developed in consultation with the CFS, MFS, Department for Education and other stakeholders to ensure staff and students are prepared in the event of an emergency.

For more information, you can access our Bushfire Action Plan on the myLink parent portal by clicking the ‘School Documents’ menu item, followed by the ‘Whole School’ tab.

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Car Park Protocols

Burnside Council has advised it will be conducting routine street parking patrols to support the safety of all people within the vicinity of the School. For council parking information, please find an information brochure here.

A reminder about the School’s car park protocols:

If the car park is full and you are unable to enter, circle the block until it is clear to enter, find a park elsewhere or, where age-appropriate, meet your daughter in a surrounding street.

Please note that, unless special circumstances apply, parents of girls in Years 2 to 12 should not enter the car park to collect their daughters prior to 3.30pm. Parents of girls in Reception and Year 1 have exclusive use of the pick-up zone prior to this time for safety and traffic reasons.

Please also refrain from turning right into or out of the car park at peak times, and please do not queue in the car park’s lanes as this often prevents drivers who are legally parked from exiting.

We have also previously received complaints about cars being parked too close to or in front of driveways, or across from other vehicles in surrounding streets, making it extremely difficult for residents and other road users to navigate.

We ask all community members to show consideration for others. Thank you for your cooperation.

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School Shop Notices

School Shop Opening Hours

Monday to Friday: 8am – 4pm (closed for lunch 12 – 12.30pm)

Parents can also order items via our Online School Shop. This is now accessible via the Flexischools platform which also administers our Online Tuck Shop. To sign in or sign up to Flexischools, click here

New ELC Uniforms

Our new ELC uniforms are available to purchase in the School Shop.

This beautiful range is designed for the needs of our youngest community members, giving our ELC children a smart, cohesive look, and simplifying the routine of getting dressed in the morning.

We look forward to seeing the children proudly wear their new ELC attire.

Issue no. 4

Swimming Carnival 2023: And the Winner is…

Swimming Carnival 2023 exploded off the blocks today, with girls in Years 4 – 12 going stroke-for-stroke across the four Houses at the Adelaide Aquatic Centre.

As always, determination, team spirit and participation featured throughout the day, with impressive performances in the serious races and colourful entertainment in the novelty events, including the annual crowd favourite, the Crocodile Relay!

House spirit was in overdrive, the Year 12 costumes lived up to all the hype and it was terrific to see our girls cheering on from the stands.

By the end of proceedings with all results tallied, the 2023 overall champions were announced: SELWYN!

McGill Shield
Selwyn – 3370 points
Kilburn – 3339 points
Kennion – 3209 points
Patteson – 2915 points

Congratulations to all involved! Detailed results will appear in next week’s eNews.

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Commissioning of Our New Principal

It’s been a landmark chapter in our School’s history this week with the Commissioning of our new Principal Cherylyn Skewes.

Winter Uniform Appointments

A reminder that we are commencing Winter Uniform fittings, and to streamline the process, we operate an online booking system. It shows our available time slots from 6 March through to 6 April. Click here to access the calendar and select the time that best suits you (please include your daughter’s name).

Appointment times are filling fast, so your prompt attention is appreciated.

Middle and Senior School students are welcome to visit during their recess or lunch breaks.

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Absences from School

If your child will not be attending school/ELC due to illness or otherwise, please notify the School via one of the methods below.

Please include the name of the ELC Room, Class or Home Group, along with the reason for the absence as the School requires this for government reporting purposes.

If emailing, feel free to ‘CC’ the teacher of the Room/Class/Home Group as well.

Text: 0428 601 957

Email: attendance@stpetersgirls.sa.edu.au

Phone: 8334 2200

It would be appreciated if notifications could be made prior to 9am.

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Sports News

BASKETBALL

Open C: Saints (4) v Immanuel (50)
Middle C: Saints (4) v Concordia (59)

CRICKET

Open A: Saints (8/48) v Immanuel (10/29)
Open B1: Saints (4/56) v (2/41)
Year 3/4 White: Saints v Wilderness – cancelled
Year 3/4 Blue: Saints v Wilderness – cancelled

TENNIS

Open A: Saints (7) v Seymour (72)
Senior Div 2: Saints (42) v Pembroke (18)
Senior Div 4.1: Saints (17) v Pembroke (36)
Senior Div 4.2: Saints (23) v Pembroke (38)
Experienced: Saints (22) v Seymour (18)
Intermediate White: Saints (12) v Pulteney (27)
Beginner White: Saints (3) v Seymour (4)
Beginner Silver: Saints (3) v Scotch (1)

TOUCH FOOTBALL

Open A: Bye
Open B: Bye
Open C: Bye
Middle A: Saints (0) v Sacred Heart (7)
Middle B: Saints (2) v Cabra (3)
Middle C: Saints (9) v Marryatville (1)

VOLLEYBALL

Open A: Saints 0(38) v Woodcroft 3(75)
Open B: Bye
Open C: Bye
Open D: Bye
Middle A: Saints 1(66) v Woodcroft 2(72)
Middle B: Saints 2(58) v Woodcroft 1(56)
Middle C: Saints 3(75) v Woodcroft 0(40)
Middle D: Saints 0(41) v Woodcroft 3(75)

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Issue no. 3

From Our Deputy Principal /
Head of Senior School

When designing and implementing a wellbeing program for young people, there is a plethora of topics and themes that could be included. It is, in fact, difficult sometimes to decide what gets included and what gets left out. Likewise, when looking for guest speakers, there are numerous individuals, opportunities and organisations to choose from.

It is in these situations that our student wellbeing insights, data and feedback become such rich and useful tools. This information helps provide areas of focus as we plan for the best wellbeing offerings for our students.

We are fortunate this year to be welcoming back Paul Dillon who is the Director and founder of Drug and Alcohol Research and Training Australia (DARTA). He is passionate about ensuring that the community has access to accurate and up-to-date alcohol and drug information. Paul will present to the Year 10, 11 and 12 cohorts on Monday 6 March, sharing the latest information and statics regarding young people, drugs and alcohol. His presentations are always engaging, enlightening and provide practical proactive strategies to help our girls remain safe.

That same day, Paul will hold an information session open to parents across Years 5 – 12 on the use of e-cigarettes and vaping, including the potential harms. Practical advice will also be provided on how to talk to your daughters about vaping along with possible responses parents can use should their children attempt to challenge them in this space.

Parent Information Session (Years 5 – 12)
Monday 6 March
6.30 – 7.30pm
Arts Centre

RSVP by Monday 20 February via TryBooking – click here

In addition to Paul Dillon, we are also delighted that we can welcome Australian of the Year Taryn Brumfitt to Saints Girls later in 2023. Taryn will be speaking to students about body image, encouraging them to embrace their bodies and to celebrate diversity in shape, size, ethnicity and ability. With a busy schedule this year following the announcement of Australian of the Year, we are very fortunate to have Taryn join us and I look forward to sharing more information with you all closer to her visit.

Positive wellbeing outcomes for our students are best achieved when school and home work in partnership. We look forward to continuing to work closely with families as we strive to support and develop the wellbeing of all our students.

Lauren Sutton
Deputy Principal/Head of Senior School

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Swimming Carnival – Next Friday!

Next Friday 24 February, St Peter’s Girls’ School will be holding the annual Swimming Carnival for Years 4 to 12 at the Adelaide Aquatic Centre, North Adelaide. Students are expected to be at the Aquatic Centre no later than 8.30am, with the carnival concluding by approximately 3.30pm. Parents and friends are welcome to attend to support the girls.

Students who regularly travel to and from school on School buses will automatically be taken to the Adelaide Aquatic Centre in the morning and will be dropped home in the afternoon on their usual School bus.

To assist other families, we are offering a special bus service to transport students from school to the Aquatic Centre and back. Buses will depart school at 7.45am and return by approximately 4.15pm. To register your daughter’s place on this bus service, please visit TryBooking before 4pm, Monday 20 February.

All other students will need to be dropped off at the Aquatic Centre in the morning and picked up from there in the afternoon.

The carnival is to be treated like a normal school day; therefore, attendance is compulsory for the whole day. We encourage the girls to compete in a number of events, with their preferences being discussed in PE lessons and House meetings.

To view the program of events – click here

To access live results on the day – click here

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Flashback Friday: Swimming Carnival

With just one week to go until Swimming Carnival 2023, take a look back at some of the highlights from this epic Saints Girls’ event in recent years.

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Saints’ Dancers Take Centre Stage

2022 was an exciting year in the School’s Dance program, with the largest Stage 2 class yet! The quality of student choreography, skill development and performance was outstanding, with 100% of our dancers receiving results in the ‘A’ band.

Year 12 student Amelie Zachariah Henley approached the subject with determination and unwavering commitment. In an amazing first for Saints Girls, she was rewarded with a Merit in Dance. Amelie shares:

‘Having trained extensively in dance, I appreciated the opportunity to be able to study it in an academic setting, exploring not only the technicality but the creativity behind dance. Throughout Stage 1 and 2, the class was extremely lucky to see many professional shows, including ones by the Sydney Dance Company and the Australian Dance Theatre, with the focus being on critically analysing the creative works. Not only was this crucial in developing our analytical skills, it also assisted in formulating our own ideas to creatively portray a theme through movement.

We began the year planning our choreographic piece for which we were given the task to create a three-minute item following a theme or topical problem. For my piece, I explored the deep, conflicting emotions surrounding isolation and the way that the absence of love and human connection can affect individuals globally, drawing inspiration from the pandemic. As always, the creative process was challenging, in particular, trying to effectively portray my researched findings on the topic whilst keeping the choreography original and interesting.

I also thoroughly enjoyed preparing for our Stage 1 and 2 performance, with the central theme of CONNECT being explored through each piece. The show featured mainly jazz and contemporary dance and focused on the various ways in which individuals connect to different parts of themselves and the world.

I extend my gratitude to Mrs Burnett for her continuous support and infectious passion for teaching dance.’

Congratulations Amelie, you are very deserving of your incredible achievements.

Kate Burnett
Head of The Arts

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Regal Honour for Profound Pianist

Congratulations to talented pianist Samantha Li who performed at the Ruby Celebration of the Accompanists Guild of SA in front of guests including the Governor of South Australia, Her Excellency the Honourable Frances Adamson AC.

Samantha and Trinity College student James performed a four-minute rendition of the 3rd Movement of Horovitz Sonatina in A minor. They received many words of encouragement, with Her Excellency congratulating them and praising the guild for its work with our State’s young musicians. Samantha was also invited to the AMEB SA/NT Showcase concert as she received her LMUS Diploma Award with a Distinction for piano in December. She will be attending the AMEB Graduation Ceremony 2022 in April.

Sally Rounsevell
Director of Music

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PE Girls Ride Crest of a Wave

As part of the Year 12 PE course, the girls have been participating in a skill acquisition unit focusing on learning methods related to surfing.

Before we head to the beach for surf instruction, the girls have been harnessing VR goggles and mobile phones to simulate the experience of catching a wave. This method of training has been shown to influence sensorimotor capabilities, replicating environment and competition situations, which therefore fosters improved skill acquisition.

The girls enjoyed this experience and are now looking forward to moving from the virtual to real world in the coming weeks.

Dan Searle
Heath & Physical Education Teacher

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Aquatics Camp Makes a Splash

In Week 2, the Year 9 cohort was fortunate to attend a two-day Aquatics Camp at Willow Creek.

We began Day 1 by heading to Middleton and separating into our Home Groups for beach activities including surfing and aqueduct building. Surfing was a new experience for some, but everyone put in their best and by the end, many were able to stand up. It taught us to be resilient and keep trying. After the beach visit, we drove to camp, set up our tents and participated in more activities in our Home Groups.

Day 2 began by packing everything up and riding the bus to Encounter Lakes where we enjoyed kayaking and raft building. The kayaking was a bit windy but really fun, and some of us even walked the plank and jumped into the water.

This camp was an excellent experience and a great opportunity to get to know our new Home Groups.

Elodie de Wit and Hannah Dillon
Year 9 students

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Community Unity at Drinks on the Lawns

Last Friday, we held our parent Welcome Drinks on Chiverton Lawns. We were incredibly fortunate to have such beautiful weather for the event, and we couldn’t have asked for a better turnout. The energy and enthusiasm that you all brought made for a fantastic start to the school year.

We were thrilled to see both familiar and new faces, and it was a great opportunity to come together. Our Principal Cherylyn Skewes enjoyed meeting many of you for the first time and getting to know our community in such a wonderful social setting.

Thank you to everyone who was able to attend. We look forward to more opportunities to connect throughout the year.

Jess Geraghty
Director of Enrolments, Marketing and Advancement

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Community Groups at Saints Girls

One of the truly special things about St Peter’s Girls is our strong sense of community. We have a wonderful and valued group of people who volunteer to form our Community Groups.

We would love to welcome additional volunteers who would be able to contribute to our Community Groups and programs.

Friends of Sport
This group supports the sporting program throughout the year including House merchandise sales at various carnivals. They also provide sausage sizzles for students and parents at key events.

Friends of The Arts
This group supports The Arts program at St Peter’s Girls by facilitating beverage sales at various events, providing assistance for the Music Camp and organising social occasions.

Friends of Rowing
This group supports the Rowing Program by organising food and beverages at regattas and facilitating events on the Rowing calendar.

If you are interested in volunteering with these groups, please contact the Community Relations Office: Fiona McGregor – fmcgregor@stpetersgirls.sa.edu.au or Jesseca Geraghty – jgeraghty@stpetersgirls.sa.edu.au

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Cyber Security Checklist

The Australian Cyber Security Centre (ACSC) has released the Kids Cyber Security Checklist for parents and carers. It helps teach primary school-aged children basic steps to stay secure online. It is vital to instil cyber secure behaviours early, so children are equipped to identify and mitigate cyber threats.

To access the checklist and other resources – click here

Tracey Guyers
IT Manager

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‘URSTRONG’ Friendship Program

We are proud that our Junior School has become a ‘URSTRONG School’ in 2023. This whole-School friendship strategy will connect students, teachers and parents with a common language around friendships.

Junior School parents are invited to take advantage of a free Parent Membership to access hundreds of resources. For more information – click here

We are also pleased to partner with the URSTRONG organisation to offer a ‘Language of Friendship’ parent and child online workshop on Wednesday 22 March at 6pm. This session will teach you and your children the skills and language to foster healthy, feel-good friendships. To register – click here

Helen Smith
Deputy Head of Junior School

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Junior School Parents – THRASS Information Evening

In the Junior School, the Linguistic Inquiry approach to the teaching and learning of spelling and vocabulary includes integrating the skills and tools of THRASS (Teaching Handwriting, Reading and Spelling Skills).

Junior School parents are invited to enjoy an engaging presentation about the THRASS chart and the THRASS approach more widely during our THRASS Information Evening:

Tuesday 21 February
6 – 7pm
Arts Centre

If you have previously been to a THRASS Information Evening, you are very welcome to come along for a refresher. Parents of older girls may be interested to learn how a better understanding of the code of English can assist students to develop a broader range of spelling strategies as they progress through the year levels.

No registration is required. We look forward to seeing many of you there.

Helen Smith
Deputy Head of Junior School

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Old Scholar Occupational Therapist Seeking Study Participants

My name is Ellana Welsby and I am an Old Scholar of St Peter’s Girls’ School (Kilburn 2013). I’m an occupational therapist and am currently completing my PhD studies at the University of South Australia.

I have partnered with St Peter’s Girls’ School to be involved in the evaluation and testing of a new augmented reality intervention to help children learn and develop key motor skills they need to thrive in their everyday life.

I will be commencing testing this term and would love for your daughter to participate in this exciting opportunity if she is 7 to 12 years of age. All participants will receive an occupational therapy assessment summary of their motor skill performance.

For more information – click here

To sign up to this study, please click here to register your interest.

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Join Our Team of STAR Volunteers!

Our Learning Strategies’ volunteers are all enormously valued within the department and the broader School community. Our girls LOVE working with them, and the teachers are so appreciative of their generous donation of energy, expertise and enthusiasm.

Our volunteers work with our girls on areas such as literacy, anywhere between a couple of lessons a week through to a couple of days per week. They include parents, grandparents, Old Scholars, retired staff and university students.

To register your interest, please contact Aleasha Francis as soon as possible via afrancis@stpetersgirls.sa.edu.au

We will send you a volunteer information sheet to fill out and then invite you in for a chat. We will also provide training for some of our Junior School programs.

Learning Strategies’ Team

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Head of the River Dinner

 

The Friends of Rowing invite rowers, family and friends to celebrate the efforts, improvements and achievements of our St Peter’s Girls’ rowers throughout the 2022/23 season.

The annual Head of the River Dinner will be held at the Adelaide Pavilion. The evening will feature speeches from students and coaches about the season that has been, and will conclude with awards being presented. The dinner includes a three-course menu and drinks package.

Saturday 18 March
6pm arrival for 6.30pm start
Adelaide Pavilion (corner South Terrace and Peacock Road, Adelaide)

Tickets
Students – $85 per person
Adults – $95 per person
Purchase via TryBooking – click here

Ticket sales close at 5pm, Monday 6 March

Please note, all rowers are expected to attend this event.

Brynley Millward
Director of Rowing

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Free Bike Health Check – Burnside Council

Bring your bike along for a free safety check by expert technicians from Will Ride.

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COVID-19 Information

Please find the latest guidance from SA Health:

• It is strongly recommended that students stay home if they have cold or flu-like
  symptoms, and test for COVID-19.
• Whether they receive a positive or negative result, they should stay home until symptoms subside (usually five to seven days).
• It is strongly recommended that parents/guardians inform the School if a student is a
  close contact. For further advice regarding close contacts, click here
• While face masks are no longer mandated, they are an important physical barrier to help stop the spread of COVID, particularly when indoors.

If your child tests positive to COVID-19, please inform the School. Please also notify the School each day of absence, or provide the expected period of absence.

You can notify us via one of the following methods. Please include the name of the ELC Room, Class or Home Group. If emailing, feel free to ‘CC’ the teacher of the Room/Class/Home Group as well.

Email: attendance@stpetersgirls.sa.edu.au

Text: 0428 601 957 (save to phone contacts as SPGS)

Phone: 8334 2200

For more SA Health information, click here

Please note that if your child is unwell, they should remain home until they have recovered, irrespective of the illness.

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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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Bushfire Action Plan

It is important to remind families about the School’s Bushfire Action Plan.

The policy was developed in consultation with the CFS, MFS, Department for Education and other stakeholders to ensure staff and students are prepared in the event of an emergency.

For more information, you can access our Bushfire Action Plan on the myLink parent portal by clicking the ‘School Documents’ menu item, followed by the ‘Whole School’ tab.

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Car Park Protocols

Burnside Council has advised it will be conducting routine street parking patrols to support the safety of all people within the vicinity of the School. For council parking information, please find an information brochure here.

A reminder about the School’s car park protocols:

If the car park is full and you are unable to enter, circle the block until it is clear to enter, find a park elsewhere or, where age-appropriate, meet your daughter in a surrounding street.

Please note that, unless special circumstances apply, parents of girls in Years 2 to 12 should not enter the car park to collect their daughters prior to 3.30pm. Parents of girls in Reception and Year 1 have exclusive use of the pick-up zone prior to this time for safety and traffic reasons.

Please also refrain from turning right into or out of the car park at peak times, and please do not queue in the car park’s lanes as this often prevents drivers who are legally parked from exiting.

We have also previously received complaints about cars being parked too close to or in front of driveways, or across from other vehicles in surrounding streets, making it extremely difficult for residents and other road users to navigate.

We ask all community members to show consideration for others. Thank you for your cooperation.

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School Shop Notices

School Shop Opening Hours

Monday to Friday: 8am – 4pm (closed for lunch 12 – 12.30pm)

Parents can also order items via our Online School Shop

New ELC Uniforms

Our new ELC uniforms are available to purchase in the School Shop.

This beautiful new range is designed for the needs of our youngest community members, giving our ELC children a smart, cohesive look, and simplifying the routine of getting dressed in the morning.

We look forward to seeing the children proudly wear their new ELC attire.

Issue no. 2

From Our Deputy Principal / Head of Middle School

As we embark on a new academic journey, we understand that the start of the year is filled with a range of emotions for everyone.

For many, the beginning of the school year is a time of excitement and anticipation, with opportunities to reconnect with friends, make new connections with classmates and teachers, and build meaningful relationships. However, for some, it can be a time of anxiety and nervousness. Whether it’s the transition to a new class, teacher or school, it is natural for students to experience some level of uncertainty.

In the Middle School, we recognise the challenges that come with change, and we strive to create a supportive and inclusive environment that helps our students feel comfortable and confident. During the first term, we offer a range of activities and opportunities to help students build relationships, establish routines and develop a sense of belonging.

Some highlights of the first term include:

• Home Group activities to get to know classmates and teachers
• Years 4 – 12 Swimming Carnival which promotes House spirit
• Week-long camps for Years 7 and 8
• Choral Night – another excellent opportunity to feel at home within each student’s House

Throughout the term, students will also have opportunities for new learning experiences, to join clubs, play on teams and participate in group academic tasks. The School Musical, Matilda, will also provide a chance for students to showcase their talents and to meet like-minded peers.

I was delighted that the Year 9 girls were able to attend a slightly amended Aquatics Camp this week, and I thank all Home Group teachers and other attending staff for their efforts in planning and supervising this fantastic start to the cohort’s last year in Middle School.

My thanks also go to the Year 11 girls who recently returned from their exchange experience in the UK for sharing their experience later in this edition of eNews. Further exchange opportunities are planned for later in the year, and I look forward to sharing details in due course.

Richard Lisle
Deputy Principal/Head of Middle School

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Drinks on the Lawns – Tonight!

Parents are cordially invited to join us in celebrating the new school year by coming together as a community for an evening of socialising

Tonight, 6.30 – 9pm
Chiverton Lawns

A great opportunity to connect with other parents and staff including our new Principal Cherylyn Skewes

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Academic Excellence Assembly

It was wonderful to celebrate some of our newest Old Scholars and current students for their outstanding achievements across SACE and IB at our annual Academic Excellence Assembly. Dux of the School Chi Chi Zhao (Selwyn 2022) and Dux of IB Xingzi Zhang (Kilburn 2022) shared sage advice, so too our guest speaker, Old Scholar and former Dux Hannah Vine Hall (Kennion 2017).

With a Bachelor of Mechatronics Engineering and a Bachelor of Mathematics (double major in Applied Mathematics and Statistics), Hannah currently works as a tutor in Systems Engineering at the University of Adelaide and as a Space Communicator at the Australian Space Discovery Centre in Lot 14.

Such an inspiring occasion for all present!

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IB Diploma Merit Ceremony

On Monday, IB Diploma Merit winners Xingzi Zhang, Ruby Deakin, Grace Dwyer and Emily Teague were recognised during the IB Merit Ceremony at Adelaide Town Hall.

Students from all Diploma schools in Adelaide were in attendance, as was South Australia’s Governor, Her Excellency the Honourable Frances Adamson AC. Our girls were duly recognised for their terrific academic achievements and we wish them well as they embark on the next stage of their journey.

If you have any questions about the IB Diploma at Saints Girls, please email me via cfarr@stpetersgirls.sa.edu.au

Carolyn Farr
IB Diploma Coordinator

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High Notes for SACE Music Stars

We are proud to celebrate the phenomenal achievements of our 2022 Stage 2 Music Performance – Ensemble class, with every single member earning an A+. Even more remarkable, all seven students were in Year 11. Only 6 Merits were awarded statewide for this subject, 3 of which were given to our girls.

Congratulations to our outstanding A+ musicians Lauren Parker, Matilda Chu, Stella Rasheed and Zara Blight, and our Merit winners Chomilka Hattotuwa, Samantha Keough and Emma Pool.

A huge thank you to our Music Teachers Sari Noble and Sally Rounsevell for supporting these girls to achieve such amazing results, as well as fostering what has become a truly exceptional co-curricular Ensemble Program here at Saints Girls.

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Exchange of a Lifetime for Intrepid Saints

During the holidays, Madeleine Penley, Ruby Powell and I (Misha Yagnik) were fortunate to participate in an exchange at Sherborne Girls in England. We were given many opportunities to learn new things, make friends and indulge in the rich and sometimes hectic culture of a British boarding school! Here are a few highlights:

‘Through the exchange I had the opportunity to meet new people, see new places, iconic landmarks and experience a different schooling system. After the second week, we had an extended exeat, and I was lucky enough visit London with my exchange partner and her family where I saw many famous landmarks including London Bridge, London Eye, Big Ben, Buckingham Palace and the Government Chambers. We also went to different markets and shops, some of which we don’t have here in Australia such as Urban Outfitters. I was also fortunate to experience boarding life at a school where 80% of the students board. This was a really exciting change and a great experience which allowed me to see the differences between day schools and boarding schools. The exchange was such a fun experience with top highlights including seeing snow for the first time and catching a few West End shows.’ – Madeleine Penley (Year 11 student)

‘I was in the Reader Harris boarding house which values fun and community. It was a very unique experience as I have never boarded before, and I was fortunate to have a group of really nice girls in the house and in my classes. On exeat, we stayed in London and visited the London Dungeons, London Eye and lots of shops. At school, they had such a variety of extra-curricular activities such as Combined Cadet Force (CCF) which is where you learn how to be in the military. Maddy and I also joined Soccer (or Football), playing games and enjoying training on an English football pitch. It was an amazing experience in which I developed independence and a better sense of how things occur in other countries’ – Ruby Powell (Year 11 student)

My favourite memory of the exchange is exploring London with my exchange partner Grace. We navigated the Underground, visiting Camden Market and the iconic Paddington Station. I am grateful for the friends I made and the trips into Sherborne town where we bonded over antique stores and coffee. As a combined group with other exchange students from South Africa and Tasmania, we went on trips to Bath and Stonehenge. I was blown away by the cultural significance and beautiful architecture of Bath and marvelled at the impressive rings of rock at Stonehenge. The experience opened my eyes to a completely different culture, and I am so grateful that I participated.

The exchange was an incredible experience which we all greatly enjoyed and would highly recommend to any students in Year 10 who are thinking of applying this year.

Misha Yagnik
Year 11 student

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Welcome to 2023 in the ELC

It is my honour as Director of St Peter’s Girls’ Early Learners’ Centre to extend a warm welcome to our new and returning families. It’s been wonderful to see children entering their new learning spaces excited and eager to investigate, explore and connect with those around them. In my new role, I have had the opportunity to experience first-hand the atmosphere of warmth and inclusion that is present through interactions with staff and the careful planning that has gone into creating the learning environments.

It is a privilege to be a part of your child’s learning journey. I am thrilled to be working in partnership with you and our amazing staff across the School, and I look forward to nurturing our thriving community.

Liz Schembri
Director of Early Learning

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Cultural Feast at International Lunch

Today at lunchtime, our international students and their friends celebrated the new year together by enjoying some delicious dumplings and other treats in the Food Technology Centre. It was so great to see girls from various year levels come together during this event!

Riddles written in both English and Chinese were stuck around the walls of the centre, giving the girls the opportunity to win small prizes.

The event ran smoothly with the help of our student volunteers. I thank all them for showing their enthusiasm and spreading their joy throughout this event!

Genevieve Leong
International Student Prefect

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Dumpling Delight for Young Inquirers

As part of our inquiry into Chinese New Year, the girls in 1LSA were given an opportunity to make their own dumplings.

Sophie Zhao’s mother, father and grandmother hosted the cooking lesson. With great excitement, each girl rolled dough into a small circle shape then filled it with a chicken or vegetable mixture. It was important to pinch the edges firmly together. Once the dumplings were steamed, the girls had a feast! As a special treat, Annie made a ‘rabbit’ dumpling for each girl as well.

As part of our research, we discovered that the dumpling is made in the shape of an ingot which was an ancient Chinese coin. We also learnt that the festival is sometimes called the Spring Festival.

‘I learnt to squish the sides of the dumplings and I am thinking about eating the dumplings!’ – Harper

‘I am thinking about how yummy the dumplings were.’ – Suwani

The girls thoroughly enjoyed learning about Chinese culture through the dumpling experience.

Liz Sandercock
Year 1 Teacher

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‘URSTRONG’ Friendship Program

We are proud that our Junior School has become a ‘URSTRONG School’ in 2023. This whole-School friendship strategy will connect students, teachers and parents with a common language around friendships.

Junior School parents are invited to take advantage of a free Parent Membership to access hundreds of resources. For more information – click here

We are also pleased to partner with the URSTRONG organisation to offer a ‘Language of Friendship’ parent and child online workshop on Wednesday 22 March at 6pm. This session will teach you and your children the skills and language to foster healthy, feel-good friendships. To register – click here

Helen Smith
Deputy Head of Junior School

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Friendship Ninjas Kickstart ‘URSTRONG’ Initiative

The girls in 1KCL discovered their inner-ninja this week as they embarked on the first lesson of ‘Friendology’ in the newly-launched ‘URSTRONG’ friendship program. This Junior School initiative forms an important part of our School’s #EMPOWHER wellbeing program.

The Year 1 girls discovered that to be a good friend to others, we need to be kind to ourselves. The reflective drawings captured their ideas about taking care of ourselves by resting, going for a walk, patting a pet, reading a book and enjoying the outdoors. They loved making Friendship Ninja headbands to remind themselves of the message to ‘treat yourself like a best friend’.

Kathryn Clark
Year 1 Teacher

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Junior School Parents – THRASS Information Evening

In the Junior School, the Linguistic Inquiry approach to the teaching and learning of spelling and vocabulary includes integrating the skills and tools of THRASS (Teaching Handwriting, Reading and Spelling Skills).

Junior School parents are invited to enjoy an engaging presentation about the THRASS chart and the THRASS approach more widely during our THRASS Information Evening:

Tuesday 21 February
6 – 7pm
Arts Centre

If you have previously been to a THRASS Information Evening, you are very welcome to come along for a refresher. Parents of older girls may be interested to learn how a better understanding of the code of English can assist students to develop a broader range of spelling strategies as they progress through the year levels.

No registration is required. We look forward to seeing many of you there.

Helen Smith
Deputy Head of Junior School

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Old Scholar Occupational Therapist Seeking Study Participants

My name is Ellana Welsby and I am an Old Scholar of St Peter’s Girls’ School (Kilburn 2013). I’m an occupational therapist and am currently completing my PhD studies at the University of South Australia.

I have partnered with St Peter’s Girls’ School to be involved in the evaluation and testing of a new augmented reality intervention to help children learn and develop key motor skills they need to thrive in their everyday life.

I will be commencing testing this term and would love for your daughter to participate in this exciting opportunity if she is 7 to 12 years of age. All participants will receive an occupational therapy assessment summary of their motor skill performance.

For more information – click here

To sign up to this study, please click here to register your interest.

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Swimming Carnival 2023

On Friday 24 February (Week 4), St Peter’s Girls’ School will be holding the annual Swimming Carnival for Years 4 to 12 at the Adelaide Aquatic Centre, North Adelaide. Students are expected to be at the Aquatic Centre no later than 8.30am, with the Carnival concluding by approximately 3.30pm. Parents and friends are welcome to attend to support the girls.

Students who regularly travel to and from school on School buses will automatically be taken to the Adelaide Aquatic Centre in the morning and will be dropped home in the afternoon on their usual School bus.

To assist other families, we are offering a special bus service to transport students from school to the Aquatic Centre and back. Buses will depart school at 7.45am and return by approximately 4.15pm. To register your daughter’s place on this bus service, please visit TryBooking before 4pm, Monday 20 February.

All other students will need to be dropped off at the Aquatic Centre in the morning and picked up from there in the afternoon.

The carnival is to be treated like a normal school day; therefore, attendance is compulsory for the whole day. We encourage the girls to compete in a number of events, with their preferences being discussed in PE lessons and House meetings.

To view the program of events – click here

To access live results on the day – click here

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Community Groups at Saints Girls

One of the truly special things about St Peter’s Girls is our strong sense of community. We have a wonderful and valued group of people who volunteer to form our Community Groups.

We would love to welcome additional volunteers who would be able to contribute to our Community Groups and programs.

Friends of Sport
This group supports the sporting program throughout the year including House merchandise sales at various carnivals. They also provide sausage sizzles for students and parents at key events.

Friends of The Arts
This group supports The Arts program at St Peter’s Girls by facilitating beverage sales at various events, providing assistance for the Music Camp and organising social occasions.

Friends of Rowing
This group supports the Rowing Program by organising food and beverages at regattas and facilitating events on the Rowing calendar.

If you are interested in volunteering with these groups, please contact the Community Relations Office: Fiona McGregor – fmcgregor@stpetersgirls.sa.edu.au or Jesseca Geraghty – jgeraghty@stpetersgirls.sa.edu.au

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Join Our Team of STAR Volunteers!

Our Learning Strategies’ volunteers are all enormously valued within the department and the broader School community. Our girls LOVE working with them, and the teachers are so appreciative of their generous donation of energy, expertise and enthusiasm.

Our volunteers work with our girls on areas such as literacy, anywhere between a couple of lessons a week through to a couple of days per week. They include parents, grandparents, Old Scholars, retired staff and university students.

To register your interest, please contact Aleasha Francis as soon as possible via afrancis@stpetersgirls.sa.edu.au

We will send you a volunteer information sheet to fill out and then invite you in for a chat. We will also provide training for some of our Junior School programs.

Learning Strategies’ Team

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Head of the River Dinner

 

The Friends of Rowing invite rowers, family and friends to celebrate the efforts, improvements and achievements of our St Peter’s Girls’ rowers throughout the 2022/23 season.

The annual Head of the River Dinner will be held at the Adelaide Pavilion. The evening will feature speeches from students and coaches about the season that has been, and will conclude with awards being presented. The dinner includes a three-course menu and drinks package.

Saturday 18 March
6pm arrival for 6.30pm start
Adelaide Pavilion (corner South Terrace and Peacock Road, Adelaide)

Tickets
Students – $85 per person
Adults – $95 per person
Purchase via TryBooking – click here

Ticket sales close at 5pm, Monday 6 March

Please note, all rowers are expected to attend this event.

Brynley Millward
Director of Rowing

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Dad’s Night on the Green

Friday 17 March
From 6.30pm
Tranmere Bowling Club
1 Kings Grove, Tranmere

Tickets: $40
Includes entry, bowling fees, hamburger and sausage sizzle
Drinks and lucky squares can be purchased on the evening

To book your ticket – click here

Bookings close Tuesday 14 March

Participants will be assembled into teams of four. Bring a mate and meet other Saints Girls’ Dads!

Supported by the Friends of Sport

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Parent Information Session (Years 5 – 12)

As part of our wellbeing platform at St Peter’s Girls’ School, one our key roles is educating families about the challenges facing young people.

A topic that has risen to prominence in the wider community of late is the issue of vaping. Accordingly, we are pleased to offer parents across Years 5 to 12 the opportunity to attend an information session hosted by respected drug and alcohol education expert Paul Dillon. Paul is well known to our School, having spoken with parents and students on other important topics in the past.

This session will share up-to-date information on the use of e-cigarettes and vaping, including the potential harms. Practical advice will also be provided on how to talk to young people about vaping.

Monday 6 March
6.30 – 7.30pm
Arts Centre

RSVP by Monday 20 February via TryBooking – click here

We hope many of our parents can join us for this valuable information session.

Lauren Sutton
Deputy Principal/Head of Senior School

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Scholastic Book Club

Scholastic Book Club starts again this year, offering families a terrific way to purchase quality children’s books at a great price. This issue, Scholastic has special bonus offers to celebrate the 2023 school year:

Spend over $30, receive 1 free book
Spend over $50, receive 2 free books
Spend over $70, receive 3 free books

You can easily place your child’s order via the Scholastic Australia LOOP website or the LOOP app, which can be downloaded from the App Store or Google Play. Books will be delivered to class.

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Now Casting: Alice in Wonderland 

SHANE DAVIDSON PRESENTS is now casting for its upcoming show: Alice in Wonderland

Open to children aged 8 – 14 years

Shows: Friday 31 March and Saturday 1 April (Holden Street Theatre)

If your daughter is keen to participate or you would like more information, please email shanedavidson@internode.on.net

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Free Bike Health Check – Burnside Council

Bring your bike along for a free safety check by expert technicians from Will Ride.

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COVID-19 Information

Please find the latest guidance from SA Health:

• It is strongly recommended that students stay home if they have cold or flu-like
  symptoms, and test for COVID-19.
• Whether they receive a positive or negative result, they should stay home until symptoms subside (usually five to seven days).
• It is strongly recommended that parents/guardians inform the School if a student is a
  close contact. For further advice regarding close contacts, click here
• While face masks are no longer mandated, they are an important physical barrier to help stop the spread of COVID, particularly when indoors.

If your child tests positive to COVID-19, please inform the School. Please also notify the School each day of absence, or provide the expected period of absence.

You can notify us via one of the following methods. Please include the name of the ELC Room, Class or Home Group. If emailing, feel free to ‘CC’ the teacher of the Room/Class/Home Group as well.

Email: attendance@stpetersgirls.sa.edu.au

Text: 0428 601 957 (save to phone contacts as SPGS)

Phone: 8334 2200

For more SA Health information, click here

Please note that if your child is unwell, they should remain home until they have recovered, irrespective of the illness.

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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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Bushfire Action Plan

It is important to remind families about the School’s Bushfire Action Plan.

The policy was developed in consultation with the CFS, MFS, Department for Education and other stakeholders to ensure staff and students are prepared in the event of an emergency. As part of this plan, the School performed a drill on Wednesday.

For more information, you can access our Bushfire Action Plan on the myLink parent portal by clicking the ‘School Documents’ menu item, followed by the ‘Whole School’ tab.

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Car Park Protocols

Burnside Council has advised it will be conducting routine street parking patrols to support the safety of all people within the vicinity of the School. For council parking information, please find an information brochure here.

A reminder about the School’s car park protocols:

If the car park is full and you are unable to enter, circle the block until it is clear to enter, find a park elsewhere or, where age-appropriate, meet your daughter in a surrounding street.

Please note that, unless special circumstances apply, parents of girls in Years 2 to 12 should not enter the car park to collect their daughters prior to 3.30pm. Parents of girls in Reception and Year 1 have exclusive use of the pick-up zone prior to this time for safety and traffic reasons.

Please also refrain from turning right into or out of the car park at peak times, and please do not queue in the car park’s lanes as this often prevents drivers who are legally parked from exiting.

We have also previously received complaints about cars being parked too close to or in front of driveways, or across from other vehicles in surrounding streets, making it extremely difficult for residents and other road users to navigate.

We ask all community members to show consideration for others. Thank you for your cooperation.

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School Shop Notices

School Shop Opening Hours

Monday to Friday: 8am – 4pm (closed for lunch 12 – 12.30pm)

Parents can also order items via our Online School Shop

New ELC Uniforms

Our new ELC uniforms are available to purchase in the School Shop.

This beautiful new range is designed for the needs of our youngest community members, giving our ELC children a smart, cohesive look, and simplifying the routine of getting dressed in the morning.

We look forward to seeing the children proudly wear their new ELC attire.