Issue no. 21
From Our Principal
Welcome back to Term 3! I can’t quite believe we are well and truly halfway through 2023, with so many exciting School milestones behind us and only more to come.
I have witnessed the wonderful spirit and energy of our community as we navigate our way through the year, with some key highlights from last term being Sports Day, experiencing the unified house-spirit and colourful costumes of our Year 12 students; the da Vinci Decathlon, a whirlwind three days of deep thinking, competition and incredible achievements from our Year 5/6, 7 and 9 teams; and of course, the highly-entertaining School Musical, Matilda, which showcased the brilliant talent and dedication of our students and Performing Arts staff. Another significant focus was our Mobile Phone Guidelines survey which resulted in an overwhelming response and provided valuable insight from parents and staff. Members of the the Senior Leadership Team and I want to thank you once again for your engagement with and thoughtful contributions to this survey.
In a diverse school community, we all have a part to play in educating our children on the benefits to our wellbeing of having time away from our mobile devices, at school and at home. While mobile phones and devices are now an inherent part of our lives, and we know they offer numerous advantages and opportunities, we also know they pose significant challenges.
In an article published by CNBC in May this year, United States Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy warned that widespread social media use among kids and teens poses a significant mental health risk that needs to be addressed immediately. As the lifestyle of children and teens has changed – less play, less time outside, more screen time and so on – higher anxiety levels and sleep problems are on the rise. The connection between lower levels of wellbeing and the use of mobile devices is often difficult for our students to understand, as they have never known life without the mobile phone.
Murthy concedes that ‘Social media can have both positive and negative effects on kids. At this time, we do not yet have enough evidence to determine if social media is sufficiently safe for children and adolescents. We must acknowledge the growing body of research about potential harms, increase our collective understanding of the risks associated with social media use, and urgently take action to create safe and healthy digital environments that minimize harm and safeguard children’s and adolescents’ mental health and well-being during critical stages of development.’ To read the full article click here.
After an intensive review and much consideration of the survey results, and in keeping our responsibility to deliver the best holistic education with what research is telling us at this point in time, I wish to inform you of the following changes that will be made to the existing Mobile Phone Guidelines:
• ELC – Year 6: guidelines are to remain unchanged. Students are not permitted to use mobile phones between 8.30am and 3.30pm and phones must be switched off and locked in the student’s locker. Smart watches are not to be worn unless internet connectivity is turned off between 8.30am and 3.30pm.
• Years 7 – 10: devices are to remain in a student’s locker throughout the day, with students permitted to access these for a short period at their lockers before moving out to recess and lunch breaks.
• Years 11 – 12: access to devices is permitted in locker rooms and in the Common Room for Yr 12 students.
• Year 12: in addition to the locker/common area, access to devices is also permitted within key study areas.
• The School yard is to be a device-free zone during School hours including recess and lunch breaks.
The outlined changes will be effected from the commencement of Term 4 this year, with the full set of guidelines available on our website before the end of Term 3.
We believe that the changes to the guidelines reflect the shared values and aspirations of our community as communicated with us through conversation and our recent survey. Your support of these changes, and your involvement in speaking with your daughter(s) about the use of devices during school hours is crucial to ensuring that the implementation of the new guidelines is smooth, effective and serves the best interests of our community. We look forward to our continued partnership with you as we seek to support your daughter’s growth socially, emotionally and academically.
As we embark on a new term filled with curiosity, growth and learning, I extend my well wishes to you all. May this term be a time of achievement, memorable experiences and meaningful connections. We have an exciting line up of events including Winter Interhouse, Junior School Book Week, the Year 5 Production and SACE Dance, along with Middle and Senior School camps, Sport and Music endeavours, our inaugural School trip to the APY Lands and Year 12 celebrations. I wish our Year 12s the very best in their preparations for final assessments and examinations and encourage every one of you to embrace the many opportunities that Term 3 has to offer.
Cherylyn Skewes
Principal
Year 12 Retreat Prefect Reflections
During the last two days of Term 2, the Year 12 cohort ended a busy term with a relaxing and memorable trip to the Stamford Grand in Glenelg. To start the retreat, the girls hiked up Mount Lofty which proved to be a challenging yet rewarding experience. It was great to see so many of the girls pushing themselves outside of their comfort zone and supporting each other throughout the journey.
Following this, we made our way to Glenelg where our Homegroup teachers led us in a series of activities preparing us for when we leave school. Mrs Manson presented an insightful travel guide, complete with advice, top travel destinations and stories of travel experiences. Next, Mr Byrne led us through a rejuvenating yoga class, where we learnt new poses and shared lots of laughs. To challenge our Homegroup’s teamwork, Mrs Smerdon hosted a game of Saints Girls ‘Survivor!’ From unscrambling words to filling up water buckets, our communication was put to the test.
With the help of our SACE and IB Coordinators, Mrs Alderson and Ms Farr, we were lucky enough to hear from a group of Saints Old Scholars; Lulu Tierney (Kilburn 2018), Alice Tyson (Kilburn 2018), Sophie Auricht (Selwyn 2018), Molly Ellis (Selwyn 2017) and Olivia Law (Patteson 2019) who spoke about their journeys since school and gave advice on managing Year 12. We were extremely thankful for their insights and related to their experiences from school, which made everyone feel more prepared for the final stages of Year 12.
During the evening, the staff and students came together for a delicious dinner and competitive quiz night. The following day, we welcomed back Karate instructor Mike who ran a self-defence class, providing us with essential skills. To finish, Ms Sutton and the Prefects held sessions focusing on reflection and gratitude, which was a great way to remind us how far we have come and the importance of maintaining perspective for the rest of the year. We are so grateful for this opportunity and would like to thank the staff for organising such an enjoyable getaway.
Ellie Humphrey and Georgina Wakeham
Year 12 students
Saints Strike Gold in Chemistry:
Teacher and Student RACI Competition
Something extraordinary is brewing in the St Peter’s Girls’ School Chemistry labs as Ms Hocking clinched a Gold award at the national RACI Titration Competition at the end of Term 2! Furthermore, Mrs Hier, our brilliant Laboratory Assistant, contributed significantly to the team’s overall staff performance. The competition, facilitated by Mrs Shackleford, saw two student teams showcasing their remarkable skills in the intricate chemistry technique.
Now, what exactly is titration, and why does it matter? A titration is a laboratory technique in chemistry where a solution of a known concentration, known as the titrant, is used to determine the concentration of an unknown solution, known as the analyte. In real-world analysis, titration is often used in industries like pharmaceuticals for precise measurements of drug concentrations, with companies using the technique in their drug development processes.
In this competition, each student performed an acid-base titration to uncover the unknown concentration of a weak acid. Sodium hydroxide served as their secret ingredient, and they aimed to strike a perfect equilibrium. The closest to achieve the actual concentration won!
We congratulate our students who displayed exemplary focus. From Team 1; Heidi Gong, Ayla Blaskett, Emily McCorley, and from Team 2; Emily Lai, Lynne Qi, and Jessica Zhang. This year marked our maiden voyage of the RACI Titration Competition. Sparked by Ms Hocking’s exceptional performance, our dedicated students have ignited a spark of scientific curiosity and competitive spirit that will undoubtedly continue to burn brightly. We are incredibly proud of our debut success, and we can’t wait to return next year, aiming for an even closer approximation in this intriguing balance of chemistry.
Melissa O’Loughlin – STEM Innovation Leader
Elizabeth Shackleford – Science Teacher
KickStart Spread Drive a Splendid Success
Towards the end of Term 2, our Year 6 ambassadors Elizabeth Layton and Brooke Sutherland worked in collaboration with Year 12 IB students Isabelle Tran and Maddie Harrex to organise a Junior School Spread Drive.
As a part of the IB subject Creativity, Activity and Service (CAS), the girls participate in Service Learning in order to better the community. For their initiative, they decided to work with the Junior School to support KickStart for Kids, a not-for-profit charity. They are a South Australian organisation that aims to create an equal chance for all children to succeed in life. Through contributions from the community, they run breakfast and lunch programs to provide meals for children who go to school hungry. Students are better able to focus, interact with others, and perform well in class when they have eaten nutritious meals.
Over Weeks 7 – 10, our Junior School students kindly donated a variety of spreads to the Drive, with outstanding results. Thank you to all the families and students who contributed.
If you would like to find out more information about KickStart or make further donations, visit their website.
Isabelle Tran
Year 12 student
Saints Take Service Learning to Fiji
During the July holidays, a group of Year 11 and 12 students spent 12 days in Fiji as part of the School’s Service Learning program. We spent most of the trip staying at the Barefoot Manta Resort on Drawaqa Island in the Yasawa Islands. This was a beautiful island covered in tropical plants and surrounded by clear waters, where we spent many hours snorkelling and participating in marine conservation activities. Throughout our stay, we got to know the amazing staff and marine biologists who made our trip so memorable. We enjoyed playing card games with the staff and listening to their beautiful singing. When we weren’t working, we participated in numerous activities that the island had to offer, such as kayaking, stand-up paddle boarding, volleyball and hermit crab racing.
During the first part of the program, we participated in marine conservation, where we learned about Manta rays, sharks and how we can protect our coral reefs. It was incredible to assist in a crown of thorns survey where we watched our instructors remove a crown of thorns from the reef. We also helped plant coral and new coconut trees on the island. A highlight for many girls was snorkelling with Manta rays and I am sure we will remember this incredible experience for years to come.
We spent 3 days volunteering at a local school, Ratu Apenisa Memorial School in Soso Village. Throughout our time at the school, we bonded with the children and made friendships that we will cherish forever. We spent time helping the students with English by practising reading and spelling with them, we were able to provide 1 on 1 feedback on their progress. We also helped prepare the rugby field by painting lines ready for an upcoming competition with surrounding schools. Prior to the trip, our Year 3 students wrote letters to the village students, which we exchanged to help establish a long-term relationship with the school. Whilst it was sad to say goodbye after such an amazing 3 days, we are all so grateful for the friendships and new experiences we had during our stay. This trip has been a highlight of our time at Saints, and we hope that we may be able to visit Fiji and Soso village again!
Ellie Humphrey, Sophie Dansie, Emily Whittaker and Tamsin Freeman
Year 12 students
Saints Girls Shoot for the Stars at State Netball
Congratulations to Ella Warrick and Mia Bennett on being selected to represent South Australia in the 15 and Under State Netball Team. The girls are heading off to Perth this weekend to compete at the School Sport Australia National Netball Championships. Matches will be live-streamed via the School Sport Australia website.
Click here to watch the girls in action, best of luck!
Aerobic Achievements at State Championships
During the holidays our aerobics teams competed in the SA State Championships with ‘The Jets’ placing 1st in the Secondary Pre-Choreographed Phase 2 category and ‘The Black Widows’ placing 2nd in the Secondary Pre-Choreographed Phase 1 category. Both teams have been invited to compete at Nationals on the Gold Coast in Term 3.
Well done also to our other teams ‘The Pink Ladies’, ‘The Dynamites’ and ’24 Carat’. You all represented Saints with fantastic coordination and effort!
Winter Interhouse – Week 3
Winter Interhouse will run during Week 3 (Monday 7 – Saturday 12 August).
All trainings and fixtures will continue AS NORMAL, unless the Interhouse match is at the same time as your regular training/match.
Teams are selected by the House Captains, with assistance from the Sports Captains. You don’t have to be competing for the School to participate in Winter Interhouse. This is open to ALL girls, we encourage everyone to get involved and support!
HOUSE CAPTAINS
Kennion Olivia Slivak
Kilburn Zara Blight
Patteson Georgina Wakeham
Selwyn Cartia Lanzoni
SPORTS CAPTAINS
AFL Chloe Porter
Badminton Yang Yang Gu
Hockey Bridgette Leach
Netball Willow Stewart-Rattray
Soccer Mary Stavrou
Girls not involved in playing are encouraged to come along and support their House and friends at the matches.
Volunteer at ‘Science Alive!’ with Crows STEM AFL
An amazing opportunity exists for students to work in collaboration with STEM AFL at ‘Science Alive!’ – the single largest, interactive, mobile science exhibition in Australia!
Science Alive!
5 & 6 August
Wayville Showgrounds
We still have spaces available for students to sign up and represent the School to showcase interactive STEM activities with the Crows STEM AFL unit.
No prior experience? No worries! On-the-day training will be provided to help students confidently demonstrate the activities such as the Reaction Time and Kicking Speed tests, using state-of-the-art technology.
Volunteering not only brings the excitement of hands-on learning, students will also get a free 2-game membership to selected Crows games, as well as free entry (1 student + 1 adult) to 2023 Science Alive!
Places are filling up fast so sign up and stand beside Lucy, Elodie, Laurie, Isabella, and many others to make science come alive. Morning or afternoon sessions available.
For further information and to sign up – please email me via moloughlin@stpetersgirls.sa.edu.au
Melissa O’Loughlin
STEM Innovation Leader
Out of the Blue Arts Journal – Entries Now Open
Submissions for the 2023 edition of our community Arts Journal, Out Of The Blue are now open!
Submissions can be emailed to outoftheblue@stpetersgirls.sa.edu.au or can be placed in the Out of the Blue boxes in classrooms (for Junior School students) or in the Library (for Middle and Senior School students). Please download a Cover Sheet and submit one with each entry. Entries are due no later than Friday 1 September (Week 6).
We are also looking for talented artists to create an artwork to feature on the front cover of the Journal. Only one submission is accepted per person. Entries close next Friday 4 August (Week 2), so get in quick! Please email your design to outoftheblue@stpetersgirls.sa.edu.au
Winter Music Concert – Tonight 7pm
Friday 28 July
7 – 9pm
Arts Centre, St Peter’s Girls’ School
This evening we are excited to present our Winter Music Concert, featuring many of our bands and small ensembles as well as Concert Choir, Bella Voce and In-Ta Jazz.
We will also be sharing the stage with special guests, Adelaide Wind Orchestra, in a collaboration with Concert Band and Brass Ensemble. We look forward to seeing you tonight!
Tickets still available – click here
*Please note there is no cost to attend the concert but if you would like to make a voluntary donation towards our fundraising efforts for the Japanese Language / Music Tour in 2024, it would be much appreciated. The tour is an opportunity for students in Chamber Choir, Senior Strings and IB Japanese to gain insight into cultural, language and historical elements of Japan. Music students will gain significant performance experience in front of a variety of audiences representing St Peter’s Girls’ School on an international stage.
Sally Rounsevell
Director of Music
Annual House Dinners
This term all Middle and Senior School girls have the opportunity to enjoy a night away from homework to get creative and colourful at our annual House Dinners.
The Year 11s have been working hard organising decorations, food and games for each event. We’re looking forward to seeing everyone’s creative costumes and enjoying a fun night with our Houses.
This is a compulsory event for all Year 7 – 12 students. Visit the TryBooking links below to book your daughter(s) a ticket for the night.
Kennion House Dinner – 4 August (Week 2)
Theme: TV Channels
This year for Kennion House Dinner each Year Level will be dressing up as characters from different TV channels. The Year Level channels can be found on the posters located around the school so keep an eye out. Can’t wait to see everyone there for a fun night!
Book now: trybooking.com/CJBAI
Bookings will close at 9am on Monday 31 July
Patteson House Dinner – 11 August (Week 3)
Theme: Music Genres
The Patteson House Dinner theme for 2023 is Music Genres! Each Year Level is encouraged to dress up and students can find their allocated music genres on the posters located around the Middle and Senior School. Can’t wait to see everyone’s creative costumes!
Book now: trybooking.com/CJBAJ
Bookings will close at 9am on Monday 7 August
Selwyn House Dinner – 18 August (Week 4)
Theme: Disco
Dress up in your glitziest disco outfit and get ready to hit the dance floor! It’s going to be a night of 70s music, great food, and lots of lights!
Book now: trybooking.com/CJBAK
Bookings will close at 9am on Monday 14 August
Kilburn House Dinner – 1 September (Week 6)
Theme: Disney
Everyone is encouraged to dress up as their favourite Disney character for the night. It can be anything from princesses, to villains, to your favourite characters from Disney channel. We look forward to seeing everyone at our Kilburn Disneyland!
Book now: trybooking.com/CJBAL
Bookings will close at 9am on Monday 28 August
Generations Photo Invitation –
Current Students
We warmly invite all students (ELC to Year 12) whose mother, grandmother and/or great grandmother is a St Peter’s Girls’ Old Scholar, to join in the annual ‘Generations Photo’ on Thursday 3 August at 1pm.
Students who wish to be in the photo should assemble on the Chapel Lawns next Thursday 3 August at 1pm in full winter uniform (blazer included).
Kidz Biz Growth and Development Education Evening
You are warmly invited to the Kidz Biz Growth and Development Education Evening on Tuesday 8 August, held in the Arts Centre, St Peter’s Girls’ School.
Kidz Biz Growth and Development Education is for both students and their parents. The sessions are designed to be fun, informative and easy to understand. They are highly interactive sessions, providing parents/guardians and students an introduction to basic personal growth and social development education. Traditionally known as the ‘Birds & the Bees’, these sessions will be presented in a manner that is not awkward or threatening, where students can learn about the human body and the amazing things it can do. The evening will be broken into two sessions for the following year groups, and the cost will be covered by the School.
Years 2 – 4
‘Where Did We Come From?’ – 6 – 6.50pm
• Myths about where babies come from
• Conception
• Fertilisation
• The nine month foetal development
• The birth process.
Years 5 & 6
‘What’s Happening To Me?’ – 7 – 7.50pm
• Puberty (physical and emotional)
• Body image and media influences
• Dealing with parents.
Kidz Biz Growth and Development Education is for both students and their parents and there is no requirement to book tickets. We hope to see many parents and students attend these sessions.
Helen Smith
Deputy Head of Junior School
Ladies’ Night Out
Date: Wednesday 20 September, Week 9
Venue: Regal Theatre, 275 Kensington Road, Kensington Park
Time: Foyer opens at 6.30pm (movie starts 7.30pm)
Movie: My Big Fat Greek Wedding 3
Cost: $25 per person
Raffle tickets: $5 for 1 ticket, $10 for 3 tickets
Grab your girlfriends, mothers and sisters and get ready for a fabulous night celebrating the power of family and laughter at our ‘Ladies’ Night Out’ with the highly anticipated My Big Fat Greek Wedding 3.
You’ll be welcomed onboard with a complimentary glass of bubbles and chocolate bar, ready to transport you to Greece with the hilarious Portokalos family as they embark on another antic-filled adventure.
Raffle tickets are available to purchase online with your tickets. Prizes include tickets to Choral Night 2024 and this year’s Carols in the Cathedral – waltz past the queues straight to your reserved seats with the VIP guests! We also have 4 x one month OSX Outdoor Group Fitness Training vouchers (each voucher is for one person and valued at $160 each) kindly donated by Susanna Parkinson (current Year 9 parent).
This wonderful community event is hosted by The Friends of The Arts group with all
proceeds going directly to support the many wonderful Arts programs Saints Girls enjoy.
Join us for an evening to remember.
To book tickets – click here
Child Care Subsidy
We wish to inform you that the Child Care Subsidy (CCS) will be increasing from July 10. This means that most families using early childhood education and care will receive an increase to their CCS. In addition, families who were previously not eligible for CCS may now be eligible.
If you currently receive CCS and would like to know more about these changes, please refer to the following fact sheet: Fact sheet – Do you already get Child Care Subsidy? – Department of Education, Australian Government
If you do not currently receive CCS and would like to know if you are eligible, please refer to the following fact sheet: Fact sheet – Are you eligible for help with child care fees? – Department of Education, Australian Government
For any queries with regards to these changes, please do not hesitate to contact me via selliott@stpetersgirls.sa.edu.au
Sarah Elliott
ELC Enrolments and Finance Officer
School Health Centre Notices
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
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.
School Shop Notice
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
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.