I write this, my final eNews article, with such fondness and gratitude for all the great things that make Saints Girls the school that it is.

I will miss the cyclic nature of the school year, and the way that the final weeks bring so much joy amidst a rather silly amount of busyness, with the Reception Christmas Assembly and the Year 1 and 2 Nativity where the girls brought festive cheer and lit up the stage, then the Year 6 and 9 Graduations, along with numerous other events, before the ultimate celebrations, Carols in the Cathedral and Presentation Night. These events mark another year of learning, another year of growth and development, another year of thousands of conversations with students, parents and teachers, thousands of decisions, and tens of thousands of emails! They are also an opportunity to reflect on the year that has been. This time around, for me, I reflect more broadly on some of those things that I will remember most about my time at Saints Girls.

I will miss my daily ‘good morning’ catch-ups with students and parents at the car park – one of my favourite parts of my day. I love the enthusiasm that the girls bring to each new day of learning, and I marvel at the independence and courage our Reception students build so quickly, as they tell us, ‘No, I want to go in by myself’ rather than with a prefect. I feel privileged to have witnessed the progress of our compassionate, kind and generous Year 12’s, who were Junior School students not so long ago.

I am incredibly grateful for the Junior School teaching team; a highly dedicated group of educators who always have the students’ best interests at heart, and who have come with me on an ongoing journey of professional development and improvement across all facets of teaching, learning and wellbeing. We introduced 1:1 iPad technology, expanded coding and robotics; launched the Mind Lab hands-on games curriculum; brought in VCOP and The Big Write, THRASS and Linguistic Inquiry to enhance our literacy programs; embarked on an ongoing Mathematics improvement project; created our #EmpowHer Wellbeing program and introduced URStrong. We completely refurbished the Main Building Junior School Corridor classrooms and expanded into the Sarah Wing. In the middle of all this, the interruptions of a global pandemic required immediate development of skills for teaching online, and our teachers were steadfast throughout.

I thank the ELC team for their willingness to share with me their extensive knowledge of early childhood education and skilfully, knowledgably, and compassionately connecting with and guiding our youngest Saints Girls’ children and their families every day. The strong transition we create between ELC and Reception is a hallmark of Saints Girls and provides an incredibly smooth start to school.

I will miss our amazing non-teaching staff, and they all deserve a very special mention. It’s this team that keeps the cogs of our school turning smoothly and supports everything that happens in classrooms and beyond.

Out of everything that I will miss, I will miss the girls the most. They are what bring me to school each day and drive me to want to constantly improve. I wish every one of them well for their future and know that the world will be a better place with St Peter’s Girls’ Old Scholars making decisions that will shape our community, country and world. I will be watching out for the footprints of this generation of Saints Girls in years to come.

Suzanne Haddy
Head of Junior School

Year 1 and 2 Nativity

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Congratulations to our Year 9 Graduates!

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

This event is a chance for parents, staff and fellow students to celebrate the achievements of every Year 9 throughout their Middle School journey. The audience was entertained by excellent musical performances from In-Ta Jazz and the Percussion Ensemble which included Year 9 students Sophie Blight, Eliza Brill Reed, Abigail Hawkes, Octavia Parkinson, Aurelia Pyne, Eve Riley-Male, Kiera See and Adjoa Yawson, and a captivating solo by Eliza Brill Reed.

A special video was also played during the ceremony, featuring some of the highlights of Year 9 in 2023.

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Year 8 Performance Project ‘Ella Enchanted’

At the end of last term the Year 8 cohort came together to watch ‘The Making of the Lion King’ and identified the different roles and jobs involved in putting on a production. As a teaching team, we introduced the teaching and learning approach Project Based Learning (PBL) to the students. This aims to give students the autonomy and independence to make creative decisions, lead their own learning, manage their time and have their own ideas brought to life on stage. Such rich learning was gained throughout this process, wherein students became directors, choreographers, set designers, costume managers, musicians and technical assistants. All the creative choices for this production, which was put together in just 6 weeks, were the students’, it was so inspiring to watch them grow in confidence and become leaders and collaborators. The end result of the production Ella Enchanted was so entertaining, the students were buzzing afterwards, especially as this experience had been their own creation. Many thanks to Joni Combe, Robyn Habel, Kirsten Mansfield and Scott Lorien for supporting the students to produce such exciting work!

Kate Burnett
Head of The Arts

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Fun and Games at Friendship Day

 

 

Last Thursday, the Year 2 and 3 girls participated in a Friendship Day with the Year 3 boys from St Peter’s College. This was an opportunity for the students to reconnect and establish new friendships. The students participated in a series of four activities which allowed them to further develop their communication, collaboration, and problem-solving skills. The activities included a scavenger hunt, Mind Lab games, Scattegories and a STEM challenge.

Despite the unpredictable weather, the students had an enjoyable time getting to know one another and spending the day in each other’s company. The girls are to be commended on their efforts as hosts, warmly welcoming our visitors, ensuring they were able to navigate their way around the school. We look forward to fostering the connection between our school and St Peter’s College in the future.

Alana Lesiw, Rebecca Greenhalgh, Jodie Heath & Sarah Mulraney
Year 2 & 3 Teachers

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Divas and Drama in the Year 9 Production

Hats off to the Year 9 Drama students who performed ‘The Rehearsal’ in Week 6 and 7. This entertaining play centred around a young teacher trying to pull off a production of Guys and Dolls. He quickly discovered that putting a musical together is not easy, especially with a megalomaniacal stage manager, a lead who’s convinced that Wicked is a much better show, and an actor who insists she is clinically incapable of following directions! The girls embraced the humour of the play with great focus and dedication, resulting in two very entertaining performances. Well done, girls!

Joni Combe
Drama Teacher

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Prize Winning Chinese Singing

This term six of our students participated in the 2023 Chinese Singing Competition organised by the Australia-China Cultural Promotion Association. The girls walked away with third prize which is an acknowledgement of their exceptional talent and unwavering dedication. Lily Croser-Barlow, Carissa Lush, Molly Liu, Emily Robinson, Jana Song, and Mika Valmorbida left the audience spellbound with their captivating renditions of the ancient poetic song, ‘Bidding Farewell.’ Their performance, blending vocals and instruments effortlessly, deeply resonated, fostering a genuine appreciation for Chinese culture, language and music.

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Carols in the Cathedral – Next Week!

St Peter’s Cathedral, North Adelaide
Tuesday 7 December
Students to arrive at 6.30pm (Musicians arrive at 6.15pm)
Doors open at 6.45pm, event commences at 7pm and concludes at 9pm

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

Illustration by Leila Buttigonol (Year 7 Student)

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Presentation Night 2023

Thursday 9 December
Venue: Adelaide Convention Centre, Halls CD on the right as you enter the main entrance from North Terrace
Students to arrive at 6.30pm (Music Students to arrive at 6.15pm).
Doors open at 6.45pm, event commences at 7pm
Parking is available in the Adelaide Convention Centre carpark on North Terrace

Presentation Night is an event that allows us to reflect on some of the highlights of the year, celebrate the achievements of our students and provide a final opportunity to bid farewell to our Year 12 graduates.

All Middle and Senior School students are required to attend. Students are to be in full summer uniform (blazer not required) and must arrive at the Adelaide Convention Centre by 6:30pm. The event will conclude at approximately 9:15pm.

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Vacation Care Bookings Open Now

With the School Holidays just around the corner why not take a look at our Vacation Care program and join in on one of the many exciting adventures planned to keep the children entertained.

Click here to book, places are limited so get in quick!

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Shane Davidson Presents – Hairspray Jr

Good morning, Baltimore! It’s 1962, and sassy teen Tracy Turnblad has one big dream – to dance on the popular Corny Collins Show. Based on the famous movie this show is open to children aged 8-16 years. Auditions are this Sunday 3 December in the Jeffreys Linn Arts Centre.

For further information please email.

Season 8-10 March 2024.

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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

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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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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).
• 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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Sports News

Sport Results

Wednesday 22 November – Tuesday 28 November

AFL

Year 4-6 Blue: Saints (17) v Loreto Blue (35)
Best Player: Anisha Pahuja
Superwoman: Mikayla Rundle

Year 3-4 White: Saints (0) v Loreto (0)
Best Player: Clementine Christo
Superwoman: Ella Zappia

BASKETBALL

Open A: Bye

Middle A: Saints (28) v Scotch Middle A (20)
Best Player: Wei Ning Khoo
Superwomen: Charlotte Dodd

Middle B: Saints (16) v Scotch Middle B (0)
Best Player: Gracie Calvert
Superwoman: Vienna Howes

WATER POLO

Open A: Bye

Open B: Bye

Middle A: Saints (10) v Loreto (5)
Best Players: Abbie Tulloch
Superwoman: Holly Robinson

CRICKET

Senior A: Cancelled

Senior B Blue: Cancelled

Senior B White: Cancelled

Year 3-6 Internal: Internal

TENNIS

Intermediate Blue: Saints (2/15) v Wilderness White (4/21))
Best player: Victoria Teo
Superwoman: Amelia Bartter

Senior Division 2: Saints (26) v Pulteney Grammar School Div 2 (39)

Senior Division 4.1: Internal game

Senior Division 4.2: Cancelled

Senior Division 4.4: Internal game

VOLLEYBALL

Senior A: Bye

Senior B: Bye

Senior C: Bye

Middle A: Saints (3/65) v Pembroke Middle B (0/43)
Best player: Vi Anh (Angelina) Tran
Superwomen: All players as they were asked to challenge themselves and they all stepped up.

Middle B: Saints (3/71) v Woodcroft Middle B1 (0/64)
Best player: Madeleine Battye as she brought a lot of voice to the game and help the team come back from being down multiple points.
Superwoman: Xizhen (Anny) Zhang for playing a great game, and great improvement.

Middle C: Saints (1/64) v Concordia Middle C4 (2/68)

TOUCH FOOTBALL

Middle B: Saints (1) v St Dominic’s (1)
Best player: Kaylisiah Jang for scoring her try.
Superwomen: All girls for showing their improvement by drawing against the team that we started the season with a 7-0 loss against, super proud of all efforts and wish everyone the best for upcoming trails.

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One and All Sailing

In the first week of holidays, I was fortunate enough to sail the seas in the One and All sailing ship. It was a week-long youth leadership program. There were 20 trainees, aged between 14 and 17 and we were all placed into watch groups. I was fortunate to be elected as team leader for my watch. As a watch, we worked together to maintain and operate the tall ship whilst facing many challenges. The highlight of the voyage was climbing to the top of the ship and experiencing many beautiful sunrises and sunsets. It was a great experience and one which I will never forget.

Elodie de Wit
Year 9 Student

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South Australian Water Polo Representatives

In September, Alice Braithwaite, Daisy Braithwaite, and Claudia Pearce flew to Canberra to compete in the Under 18 South Australian State Water Polo team. Isabella Howie and Olivia Reynolds also showcased their skills in the Under 15 South Australian State Water Polo team. The girls share their experiences in an interview with Claudia Pearce:

What was your highlight of the tournament?
Isabella: My highlight of the tournament was the game against Tasmania. Throughout the game we had some good opportunities, which resulted in some great shots. It was a fast-paced game which meant we were always working hard.

Daisy: My highlight of the tournament was the close game against Victoria. We held a constant lead until the last two quarters where four of our players got kicked out (rolled) for the rest of the game, leaving us with no subs. This was an extremely tough game as it challenged everyone’s fitness and mentality, however we continued to play hard, coming away with a close loss.

Alice: My number one highlight of the trip was when I scored my first goal of the tournament in the second match. Everyone in my team was extremely encouraging and congratulated me.

What challenged you the most during the tournament and how did you overcome this?
Isabella: We did not win our first few games which was really disappointing as we all worked incredibly hard. However, our coach provided us with both individual and team feedback. He is so passionate about the sport and didn’t give up on us which brought the team together and helped us improve our game.

Daisy: Something that challenged me the most during the tournament was the ability to keep going after we had lost a game or weren’t playing as well. A lot of the tournament was a mental game that required so much teamwork and encouragement to continue pushing each other even when things weren’t looking our way. The team and I were able to overcome this by encouraging everyone in our prior and post-game team chat to continue fighting and staying positive.

Alice: Over the course of the tournament, I had a shoulder injury, so I was relying on my teammates to switch positions or sub in for me to give ourselves the best opportunity to win. Even though I was disappointed that I was coming off due to my injury, my team supported me and allowed me to see the importance in resting for a more important game.

Which state did you enjoy playing against the most and why?
Isabella: I enjoyed playing against the NSW teams. Although we didn’t win against them, there was a lot to learn from their playing style, as well as learning to give 100% effort all the time.

 

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Saints Soccer Girls Compete in the SINGACUP

From the 4 to 11 November, Natalia DiMauro, Aurelia Weidenbach, Lauren Disney and Audrey Fox competed in the SINGACUP which was held in Singapore. The SINGACUP is an international youth soccer tournament where the girls represented either the South Australia Metro Team or the South Australia Regional Team.

The girls found it a wonderful experience and were very excited to share it in their interview.

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When speaking with prospective new families on school tours, or simply having a conversation with friends and family outside of work, I am often asked ‘why should we pick an all girls education?’ To those outside of our ‘world’, we can easily and proudly list off a range of reasons and justifications as to why we believe an all girls educational setting is the best. However, it’s not something that is always spoken about in our daily interactions and practice while at work. Our norm is all girls, and we know it’s important but sometimes forget the reasons why.

The International Coalition of Girls Schools, to which Saints belongs, states that ‘a school for girls is better than a school with girls’. Every opportunity, learning environment, leadership position, sports team, music solo and lead role in a play is designed for and held by a girl. Girls aren’t locked into one area, instead they are encouraged to be active, to enjoy STEM, to take a stand for social injustice, to be creative and passionate, to lead and to take risks. Saints Girls are the perfect example of this. I can recall countless students who have excelled in physics or specialist maths while also being accomplished musicians or athletes. They have taken on leadership opportunities, striving to help those in our community who aren’t as fortunate. An all girls educational experience enables students to be well rounded individuals, who believe they are capable of doing and being anything they want. Research has shown that graduates of girls schools when compared to their co-ed counterparts are six times more likely to consider majoring in math, science, and technology and three times more likely to consider engineering. A key reason for this is role modelling. When younger students see older students taking part in science and high level maths, they believe that they can also take part and be successful in previously male dominated fields. This peer-to-peer role modelling fuels a student’s belief in their own capabilities. It’s not just in maths and science that this is evident but across all facets of school life. An all girls school means that every student is a role model for others.

An all girls setting such as Saints provides a place for academic growth and excellence, a place where girls are free from gender stereotyping and are instead empowered and encouraged to become bold leaders who are confident to stand up for themselves and to voice their opinions. Who wouldn’t want to be part of that!

Lauren Sutton
Deputy Principal and Head of Senior School

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St Peter’s Girls Maths at Home

Over the past few years, up levelling the learning and teaching of literacy and numeracy has been a significant focus for Junior School teachers. They have been involved in many hours of professional learning, working with local and national experts, honing their skills, deepening their knowledge and understanding of English and Mathematics as subject areas, and reflecting on and refining their pedagogical practice. Alongside whole staff learning, some of our teachers have played a lead role in supporting specific aspects of this work. In Mathematics, Meg Jordan has worked with teachers on an assessment process to help identify students’ misconceptions in the ‘big ideas’ of number; these being ‘Trusting the Count’, ‘Place Value’, ‘Multiplicative Thinking’ and ‘Partitioning’. It’s absolutely crucial that children gain a deep understanding of each big idea and are confident in applying their understanding in multiple ways, before working with the next. This year, Zoe West and Michael Monda have extended this work by creating a fabulous new resource for families to use to enrich our students’ understanding of these four big ideas. With the help of some of our girls, a series of videos has been created demonstrating quick, fun and engaging games to play at home. Using just dice, counters, ‘school friendly’ playing cards, occasionally a 1-100 chart, and with options for reducing or extending the difficulty, the games are easy to learn and help to build the vital foundational skills and understandings of the big ideas. The games can be accessed via QR codes, and each can be played in five minutes or less. This week, Junior School teachers packed close to 350 ‘St Peter’s Girls’ Maths at Home’ packs, containing everything you will need to play these games at home, including the QR codes linking you to the demonstration videos. The packs will be officially launched and provided to all Reception to Year 6 families at the Meet the Teacher evening in February next year. Just as reading skills only improve with frequent practice, numeracy skills need the same attention. We are very proud and excited to be able to share this work with you and we hope that you and your daughters find the packs useful.

Suzanne Haddy
Head of Junior School

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Excitement and Team Spirit at R to 3 Sports Morning

Last Friday our Reception to Year 3 students took part in the Sports Morning. The girls were excited to showcase the Fundamental Movement Skills they’ve been mastering throughout the year. Amidst the joy and cheers, our students demonstrated exceptional team spirit and camaraderie. The oval was packed full of smiles and laughter, with the girls enjoying exactly what sport should be about.

The Year 6 Leaders not only facilitated the day, but also contributed to the design of the games. This gave the Year 6 girls an extra sense of ownership for the day, one that they relished as they enabled the day to be a great success.

Thank you to all the parents who attended and cheered on our young athletes. Your encouragement and presence added to the atmosphere, making the event even more special. A big thank you also goes to the class teachers and supporters who managed their girls, kept their spirits high and led by example in what it means to participate in such a day.

As we celebrate the active participation and team spirit displayed by our young stars, we eagerly anticipate more opportunities to come together and witness the growth and achievements within our School community.

Alastair Eglinton
PE Teacher

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Year 12 Arts Exhibition

On Thursday 9 November, the Year 12 Visual Arts Exhibition was held in the Elizabeth Pike Art Studio. This exhibition celebrated the artistic achievements of the graduating 2023 Visual Art students. The Year 12 Visual Arts Exhibition provided other students and their families the opportunity to see the artistic talent we have at Saints Girls. The exhibition included their final piece and practitioner’s statement positioned next to each work, which gave context to the works on display. The diversity of ideas and concepts reflected in the exhibition demonstrated a wide range of individual interests with students all creating authentic pieces, rich in meaning and personal significance.

Kirsten Mansfield
Visual Arts Teacher

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Athlete’s Foot Burnside – Putting Our Best Foot Forward

This week the Director of The Athlete’s Foot Burnside, Byron Davis, presented 2024 Prefects Daisy Kennett (Head Prefect) and Amelia Lucas (Sports Prefect) with a cheque for $1,370 for the School. We warmly thank Byron for his ongoing support.

This fantastic community initiative will see The Athlete’s Foot Burnside donate over $15,000 back to local schools this year.

Another worthy initiative is the sports shoe recycling program.  See the attached flyer for information on how to participate in this program.  When buying your new sports shoes, take the old ones back to Athletes Food for recycling – these are used to manufacture new products such as gym mats, floors and playgrounds.

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

Fiona McGregor
Events and Community Relations

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Animals and Adventure at Year 3 Camp

In week 4 the Year 3 students spent three fun-filled days on camp at Adare in Victor Harbor. The trip kicked off with a Horse Drawn Tram ride to Granite Island, with a chance to climb the boardwalk and soak in the views, getting our bearings of the surrounding area. Clydesdale and Isabel were a crowd favourite, safely guiding us back to the mainland in time for some beach games.

The next day we had team-building activities which included water courses, guided blindfolded rope challenges, an amazing race and dominoes. It was wonderful to see how each tribe progressed and strengthened their skills, problem-solving and strategising to ensure their tribe was victorious!

On the last day, we visited the Urimbirra Wildlife Park where we were given the opportunity to pat a koala and explore the areas where wombats, crocodiles, emus, dingoes and lizards were housed. We even got to hand feed kangaroos, including a joey in a pouch.

We returned to School a little bit tired, a bit more grateful and a smidgin taller. The girls demonstrated joy, resilience, friendship, persistence and organisational skills in spades. They should be very proud of themselves and how they conducted themselves throughout.

Jodie Heath & Sarah Mulraney
Year 3 Teachers

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Cultural Experience in Chinatown

On Wednesday 15 November, the Year 9 Chinese students headed off to Chinatown in the city centre to apply their Chinese language skills in real-life scenarios. Each student used their knowledge to order bubble tea in Chinese from their store of choice. Afterwards, we went to the central market, where we participated in a scavenger hunt and discovered a wide variety of items from different cultures. Overall, it was an eye-opening experience in which everyone had lots of fun whilst also applying the skills we acquired throughout the year.

Eliza Brill Reed and Madeleine Battye
Year 9 Students

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Friends of Rowing Riverland Dinner

 

The Friends of Rowing invite the Saints Rowing community to attend our Riverland Dinner on Saturday 9 December, from 6.30pm at Eleni’s Restaurant, Mallee Estate.

As part of the Riverland Regatta, it is traditional for the Friends of Rowing to arrange a social event. The Riverland Dinner is an opportunity for the Rowing community to socialise and celebrate the end of the year.

The event will feature a banquet-style meal, including lamb and chicken souvlaki, spanakopita, chips, and Greek salad. Children’s meals are also available to be pre-ordered for children 12 and under. Drinks and refreshments will be available to purchase at the venue.

Saturday 9 December, 6.30pm arrival for 7pm start
Eleni’s Restaurant, Mallee Estate
20055 Renmark Ave, Renmark

Tickets can be purchased here.  Ticket sales close 5.00pm Sunday 3 December

Brynley Millward
Director of Rowing

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Vacation Care Bookings Open Now

With the School Holidays just around the corner why not take a look at our Vacation Care program and join in on one of the many exciting adventures planned to keep the children entertained.

Click here to book, places are limited so get in quick!

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Immunisation Program 2023

As the school year ends, we would like to send a reminder to all parents/legal guardians of students in Year 7,8 and 10 to catch up on any vaccines their children may have missed throughout 2023.

The 2023 School Immunisation Program consists of the following vaccines:
Year 7 and 8 – a single dose of Gardasil vaccine (human papilloma virus)
Year 7 and 8 – a single dose of Boostrix vaccine (diphtheria, tetanus, whooping cough)
Year 10 – a 2 dose course of Bexsero (meningococcal B)
Year 10 – a single dose of Nimenrix (meningococcal ACWY)

Most students would have completed the program this year through our school visits but due to absenteeism/illness, there may be outstanding vaccines for some students.
If you would like to follow up on any missed vaccinations for your children, click here to please make an appointment or you may contact us at Eastern Health Authority on 81323600

Rebecca Haysman
Senior Nurse/School Immunisation Coordinator

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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

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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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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).
• 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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Sports News

Sport Results

Wednesday 15 November – Tuesday 21 November

AFL

Year 4-6 Blue: Saints (66) v Year 5/6 Walford White (0)
Best Player: Mikayla Rundle
Superwoman: Violet Tulloch

Year 3-4 White: Bye

BASKETBALL

Open A: Saints (32) v Walford Senior B (39)

Middle A: Saints (32) v Westminster Middle A (35)

Middle B: Saints (22) v Westminster Middle B (18)

Middle C: Saints (12) v Immanuel Middle C2 (33)
Best player: Imogen Wallace as she scored several baskets, rebounded well, got lots of intercepts and was great in offensive transition.
Superwomen: Eva Murphy for her great work in defence, getting lots of deflections, steals, fantastic passing and dribbling up the court throughout the game. Rishita Raghav, scored several baskets, rebounded well and played hard even after she had rolled her ankle.

Middle D: Saints (44) v Wilderness Middle White (2)
Best Player: Sindy Song as she scored the team’s two points of foul shots, gave 110% the whole game, used her strong dribbling skills to carry the ball down the court throughout the game even under pressure.
Superwoman: Christina Zhu as she made some great passes to her teammates to great scoring opportunities and for her consistent effort throughout the game.

WATER POLO

Open A: Saints (15) v Seymour Senior A (4)

Open B: Bye

Middle A: Saints (4) v St Ignatius (6)
Best Player: Grace Marschall. Grace was incredible in goals, she saved so many shots, even several one-on-one contests.
Superwoman: Ruby Marschall. Ruby was our Superwoman, swimming hard in attack and shooting strongly, but also transitioning into defence and swimming back straight away.

CRICKET

Senior B White: Saints (85/3 (12)) v Seymour Senior B (65/8(12))

Year 3-6 Internal: Cancelled

TENNIS

Senior Open A: Saints (1/18) v Pembroke Premier League (8/51)

Experienced: Bye

Senior Division 2: Saints (53) v Wilderness White (22)

Senior Division 4.1: Saints (9/9/54) v Wilderness Div 4 White (0/0/7)
Coach’s comment: Our opponents only had three players so only three matches were played. Luna won both her games, but I would like to nominate Vivian for superwoman. She did not have her contact lenses, but she fought hard and hit the yellow blur (her words) to victory. I would also like to thank Sanvi for coming out again and with the permission of Eva and Matt I would like to bring her into the 4.1 team.

Senior Division 4.2: Cancelled

Senior Division 4.4: Internal game

VOLLEYBALL

Senior A: Saints (3/75) v Walford Senior B (0/37)

Senior B: Bye

Senior C: Saints (0) v Concordia Senior C4 (3)
Best player: Amelia Sutherland, excellent pressure in the net, served and passed well.
Superwoman: Sophie Upton as she cheered everyone on.

Middle A: Saints (2/64) v Woodcroft Middle B1 (1/53)
Best player: Naomi Meng
Superwoman: Valerie Ng, for coming out of her comfort zone and showing enthusiasm and support for teammates

Middle B: Saints (1/47) v Woodcroft Middle B2 (2/74)
Best player: Chiara Ranasinghe as she was calm and collected, executing her skills with great accuracy and consistency.
Superwoman: Xizhen (Anny) Zhang. Being the youngest in the team it took a bit of time for her to settle in, however, she found her voice this game and confidence, allowing her to get around her teammates and execute skills (serving in particular) with greater consistency.

Middle C: Saints (3/75) v Woodcroft Middle C1 (0/53)
Best player: Olivia Lu
Superwoman: Jasmin Cetinkol

Middle D: Bye

TOUCH FOOTBALL

Middle A: Saints (3) v Mercedes (2)
Best player: Eliza Brill Reed – Eliza’s game improves every week. She was instrumental in our defence today. Abbey Phillips – a key player who puts in 100% every week. Abbey demonstrates great positive communication both on and off the field.
Superwoman: Kaylisiah Jang filled in for the A’s and scored a try late in the second half of the game. Maisy Ion works really hard every week at trainings and game day. Her skills are really building and proving her worth in the team.

Middle B: Saints (4) v St Dominic’s (4)
Best player: Ivy Pratt
Superwoman: Sandithi Pussellage for scoring her first Try!

Open B: Saints (1) v Pembroke Open A (4)
Best player: Chloe Richardson
Superwoman: Anna Russell

Open C: Bye

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An Interview with Mathilda Thomas

In September, Year 11 student Matilda Thomas travelled to the Gold Coast to participate in the Touch Football National Youth Championships, she played for the U18 Girls South Australia Heat Team.

Mathilda gained a lot of experience from the trip and feels it has made her a better player. She faced challenges including playing against girls who are two years older than her and who have been playing since they were very young, but she used resilience and positivity to shine through the harder games. Unfortunately, she was carrying an injury throughout the tournament which made it painful to play each game, but she dug deep and was determined to continue even when the going was hard.

Communication and positive talk from teammates helped her keep a positive mindset during the competition, she said ‘if someone was ever having a bad game or felt down, others in the team would ensure they felt supported so they could continue to reach their best.’ She also highlighted how support from coaches was really beneficial in maintaining a positive mindset.

Mathilda thoroughly enjoyed playing interstate teams including the reigning National Champions. ‘The best thing about Nationals was all the people you meet and the memories you make. Going away with a bunch of girls on such a trip helps you make strong friendships, and the experience of both playing as a team and then having downtime where you do heaps of bonding, makes it all so much fun.’ She loved that they all got to play the game they love while making long-lasting friendships.

Mathilda aims to use her experience at Nationals to create a closer Touch Football community at Saints this summer by encouraging everyone to work together and support each other through the ups and downs.

Emily Ketteridge
Touch Football Captain

 

PE Week Wrap Up

 

 

Monday – Ninja Warrior
The Ninja Warrior course was set up in the school gym for the Junior School girls to participate in. To begin, the girls used their balance to walk across a bench and then zig zagged through four cones, touching each one as they went. Next, they progressed to the rope swing, where they used their upper body strength to hold themselves up as they swung across holding onto the rope.

From here, they ran through a line of cones, changing directions each time so they didn’t knock them over. The bean bag section was next where the girls used their aim to throw bean bags into a variety of hula hoops. This progressed onto attempting to shoot a basketball in the hoop. Next, they were given a tennis ball and had to hit the targets on the wall 15 times before sprinting to the finish line!

This activity was very popular amongst the girls as they were able to successfully complete each task whilst having fun with their friends.

Tuesday – Staff vs Students Basketball
The staff vs student basketball game that was a very engaging and exciting competition between the two teams. The staff team, led by Ms Perkas, got off to a very strong start and dominated throughout the court with star-player Mr Durant scoring several spectacular three pointers from all over the court!

The Open A team, led by our own basketball captain Ashlyn May, put up a very strong fight as well. Adding to the atmosphere was a very exciting half-court shot competition during the half time break that many students attempted but only one person could score it, Mr Durant!

While the staff took home the win convincingly, the students still put in a great effort and all speculators loved the game.

Wednesday – Dodgeball
Our Middle and Senior School girls took to the court in a very competitive dodgeball game. Girls were ducking and diving to try to avoid the flying balls from the opposition. A few staff joined in as well and fired some rockets at the students, and they happily returned the favour! Not sure we’ll be winning any dodgeball championships any time soon, but it was a great way for the girls and staff to interact and have some fun.

Thursday – Staff vs Students Touch Football
The Open A team played a tough Touch Footy match against the Staff. The game was great fun to watch and even better to play in. The teams both brought amazing skills and fitness to the game and it was so much fun to play against the staff. Although the score came very close until the last quarter at 3-3, the students managed to get one more try and bring home the win. Both teams set up some really good sets of six touches and even managed to score trys off some of them. It was great to see both teams continuously encouraging each other even though the subs were limited on both sides. Thank you to all the staff that participated and congratulations to the student team!

Friday – Classis Catches
Classic Catches was held on the oval for Junior, Middle and Senior School girls. Sports captains and teachers used tennis rackets to hit tennis balls high into the air, while girls from all year levels came and tried their best to catch one of the many balls.

In return for their efforts, girls were rewarded with a Zooper-Dooper, perfect for the sunny day! The girls loved the competitiveness, and having to run and react quickly to wherever the ball was hit to. It was great to see girls from older year levels helping younger girls improving their catching skills and showing them how to use the tennis rackets to hit the balls. Classic Catches was a fun and exciting end to a great PE week!

Lara Maione, Daisy Braithwaite, Sophie Edwardes & Mathilda Thomas
Sports Captains

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Junior School students are excited for the much-awaited new playground that will be constructed over the summer holiday period at the end of this year. During the consultation phase, students provided lengthy wish lists of the types of equipment they like to play on and the ways they like to engage in play. Consideration of our School environment and the beautiful natural reserves that surround us, led to the final design by Climbing Tree, and the use of natural materials will be a significant feature. It will include several different play zones with plenty of options for both active and passive play, as well as nooks that can double as outdoor learning spaces.

Play is essential for the development of the whole child. From a physical perspective, gross motor skills are developed through opportunities to run, climb, jump, hang, crawl, push and pull. Core strength, which is essential for sitting and classroom learning, is enhanced through climbing, stretching and reaching. Balance and coordination are developed through moving on uneven surfaces, negotiating ladders and moving across wobbly ropes.

Lessons learned at home and in class in relation to interacting with others are trialled and practised on the playground, where children need to take turns, share space and equipment, and respect others’ opinions. Social, emotional, and self-management skills are integral to successful play, as children problem-solve and negotiate, invent games, and involve each other in imaginary scenarios. Language and self-confidence improve through opportunities for non-structured, self-driven and creative playtime activities.

Well-designed playgrounds play a crucial role in learning, and our new playground and surrounding play areas will be both highly functional and aesthetically pleasing. The girls will be thrilled to see and experience the results of their design input when they arrive back at school in Term 1 next year.

Suzanne Haddy 
Head of Junior School 

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Introducing the Jeffreys Linn Arts Centre

Last week marked a historic moment in the life of our beloved School. We celebrated the renaming of our Arts Centre, while also honouring the legacy of our institution, embracing its future and paying tribute to two extraordinary individuals who have played a pivotal role in shaping our educational community – Jane Jeffreys ( Kennion 1972) and Bruce Linn.

The Arts Centre has been the cornerstone of our School, providing a space for creativity, expression and many outstanding productions from our students.  We have seen the development of remarkable musical talent through our exceptional School orchestras, our singing groups such as Enchante, and musical productions, some of which have been publicly acclaimed.  Of equal importance, the Arts Centre has been a space for the coming together of our community.

Jane Jeffreys and Bruce Linn have played pivotal roles in projects central to the transformation of St Peter’s Girls’ School becoming an outstanding primary and secondary educational institution for Girls, for generations to come.

Their linkages with the School, directly and through their families, traverse many decades.  However, it is particularly their leadership roles that we celebrate.

Jane served on the Board of Governors from May 1996 to May 2010.  She initiated the drive which raised $1.5 million towards the funding of the Performing Arts Centre; a drive which Bruce was able to implement with enormous commitment and success.

Jane was instrumental in recruiting Bruce Linn to the Board of Governors on which he served from March 2002 to May 2015. Bruce led the Board’s development of the Masterplan to bring about the campus transformation and facilitate record enrolments that have resulted in the creation of the School we now all enjoy. Bruce also donated his time to rewriting and modernising the Constitution along with valuable direction to the Board’s Governance.

Both Jane and Bruce have served on all our sub-committees and have been active Board Members with decades of involvement in the School. They have both been generous donors financially, with their time and most importantly, their knowledge and passion.

Their efforts have not only led the way in the development of our School facilities, but also in the enrichment of our School community. In naming the Arts Centre in their honour, we thank them for these sustaining contributions.

Our School has a rich history, one that is filled with the accomplishments of our students, educators and the countless individuals who have supported us over the years. It is this legacy that we honour by naming the Jeffreys Linn Arts Centre.

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Kennion Make a Splash at Junior Swimming Carnival

On Monday, some of our younger students dove headfirst into the excitement of the Year 2-3 Swimming Carnival. The girls capped off their swimming block by showcasing their swim strokes, skills, and determination. The school pool was buzzing with excitement, both from students and parents in a fantastic display of House Spirit and support for their fellow teammate.

Congratulations to all the girls who participated, and in particular Kennion who emerged as the champions of the day.

A big thank you to the parents who joined us, adding to the atmosphere and excitement. The girls always really appreciate your support and the opportunity to showcase their learning. A special thanks to the Year 6 Leaders, as well as teachers and staff who assisted to make the event run smoothly.

Alastair Eglinton
PE Teacher

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Dance and Drama Double Bill Delights

On Wednesday 15 November, the Year 10 Drama class performed Little Girls Alone in the Woods, a story about feminism and standing up for what you believe in. We faced many challenges during the process of putting our show together causing us to learn how to adjust, adapt and improvise. Limited rehearsal time and pre-production complications provided tough challenges that we readily accepted. We learned how to become more confident on stage by embodying our characters and thinking like them during the whole production to help us act. The best part about performing was the relief when we lined up on stage and did our bows together. It was uplifting to hear the audience cheering for us after stepping up to a challenge.

Januri Wagaarachchi
Year 10 Student

Our dance performance of Mulan was a culmination of four weeks of dedicated collaboration and creative exploration. Rita and I, as a duo, aimed to challenge societal perceptions of gender roles through our improvisation strategies and original movement. Portraying Mulan’s dual identity, I embodied the struggles of women confined by traditional expectations, while Rita represented the strength and potential of women breaking free from these limitations. The process was challenging, involving meticulous choreography, music editing, and stage lighting design, but the journey was immensely enjoyable.  As Mulan, I found profound meaning in transcending stereotypes, illustrating that woman, too, possess great power and the ability to honour their families through individual achievements. This performance encapsulates the transformative power of breaking free from societal constraints and embracing one’s true capabilities.

Elena Liu
Year 10 Student

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Science and Sustainability at Annual EDGE Day

EDGE Day on Tuesday 14 November was a launchpad for our future leaders in science and sustainability. Over 70 eager students from Reception to Year 10 embarked on an educational adventure to the Waite Campus, the largest Agriculture Research Centre in the southern hemisphere. Our annual EDGE Day, dedicated to extending and enriching the brightest young minds, transcended beyond the traditional classroom setting to showcase innovative leaders and provide a unique university experience. The girls learnt about sustainable nutrition and food science – with an exhilarating twist of space exploration with Executive Officer Dr Lieke van der Hulst.

The girls delved into the fascinating concept of entomophagy – eating insects and learnt about the fascinating health benefits of duckweed as a sustainable food. Choosing foods made from these ingredients are healthier, more sustainable and better for space travel. After an exciting morning at the Waite Institute, which incorporated the cutting-edge Food Innovation laboratory for a sensory evaluation experience, the girls returned to school for a design sprint challenge. It was here that the true spirit of STEM came to life. They were tasked with a question that demanded creativity, critical thinking, and collaboration – essential skills for the STEM leaders of tomorrow. The energy was electric, the ideas groundbreaking, and the teamwork inspiring.

It’s not just about the science; it’s about the journey. Watching friendships form across year levels, witnessing confidence soar, and seeing the integration of Philosophy, STEM, Critical Literacy, and Design Thinking in action. These experiences ensure that our girls are not only prepared for the future but are actively shaping it.

Our EDGE Day is a testament to our commitment to nurturing the vast potential within each student, ensuring that every girl can reach for the stars – quite literally this time. We eagerly await the innovative solutions our girls will bring to their classrooms, our community, and the universe at large. As we continue to foster a love for learning and discovery, we celebrate the success of EDGE Day. It’s a clear reminder that at St Peter’s Girls, the sky’s not the limit; it’s just the beginning.

Melissa O’Loughlin
STEM Innovation Leader
Becca Burton-Howard
Gifted and Talented Teacher

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Year 8 Filmmakers Inspire Audiences

In a dazzling showcase of talent and creativity, our Year 8 students recently took centre stage at the School’s Short Film Festival. The event was a resounding success, celebrating the hard work, dedication, and accomplishments of these young filmmakers. With a total of six award categories and a multitude of exceptional short films, the evening was a testament to the students’ burgeoning talent and their commitment to learning the art of filmmaking.

The purpose of the short film unit was to teach our students essential project management skills through the filmmaking process. From writing and production to film and sound editing, these students took on the roles of producers, directors, editors, and sound designers, showcasing their capabilities in various aspects of project management.

The festival featured trailers for the nominated short films in each category, building anticipation for the winning entries. The announcement of the winners was met with excitement, and the audience had the privilege of watching the award-winning films in their entirety.

The festival featured six award categories, each celebrating different aspects of filmmaking:

• Best Film Editing: This award recognised students who excelled in the post-production process, expertly weaving together scenes to create compelling narratives. The winner in this category was OUT!
• Best Sound Editing: Students in this category were acknowledged for their adeptness in creating soundscapes that enriched the emotional experience of their films. The winner in this category was Rules.
• Best Production Design: This category celebrated students who showcased creativity in the visual elements of their films, including sets, costumes, and props. The winner in this category was Hey Angel.
• Best Original Screenplay: Exceptional storytelling was the focus here, honouring students who crafted engaging and imaginative scripts. The winner in this category was Driver’s License.
• Best Cinematography: Cinematic artistry took centre stage, recognising students who captured visually stunning scenes and transported audiences into their worlds. The winner in this category was Bullied.
• Best Picture: The grand finale of the evening, this award recognised the overall excellence of a short film, taking into account all aspects of filmmaking. The winner in this category was Real.

As the festival came to a close, the audience was left inspired by the creativity, dedication, and hard work of these young filmmakers. It was a night where project management skills were put into practice, storytelling took centre stage, and the importance of sound and visuals was celebrated.

The evening was a testament to the dedication of our students, as well as the support and guidance of their parents, guardians, teachers, and school staff. It showcased the limitless potential residing within our girls. We celebrate the remarkable achievements of our Year 8 students and look forward to witnessing their continued growth and success. The Year 8 Short Film Festival was not just a one-night event; it was a platform for inspiration and a testament to the power of storytelling and creativity. We thank everyone who attended and supported the festival and, more importantly, the students who brought their visions to life. The future of storytelling and filmmaking is indeed bright, and we can’t wait to see what these talented young individuals will create next.

The winning entries are available for the School community to watch – click here to view.

Kyle Martelle
Economics, Business & Humanities Teacher

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Academic Prizes for Junior Girls

The ICAS (International Competitions and Assessments for Schools) Mathematics and English Competitions are offered to all students in Years 3 to 6. Pleasingly, a large proportion of our students choose to sit these challenging papers, requiring them to stretch their capabilities and use their creativity, imagination and current knowledge in new contexts. We were thrilled to announce at a recent Assembly, that the highest possible awards were received by Lily Croser-Barlow (Year 6) and Amy Li (Year 5). Lily was awarded a medal for her achievements in the English paper and Amy received a medal for her achievements in Mathematics. Amy was also awarded ‘Best in School’ for her achievements in the Australian Mathematics Competition. We Congratulate Lily and Amy on their efforts and achievements.

Suzanne Haddy
Head of Junior School

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Year 11s Perform ‘Picture Day’

 

Based on interviews conducted with their peers, the Stage 1 Drama and IB Theatre students presented ‘Picture Day,’ a self-devised theatrical work that explored the various challenges faced by students today. The short vignette-style play used a variety of theatrical styles and influences such as Verbatim Theatre, physical theatre, monologue, naturalism, Epic Theatre and expressionism, framed by the concept of photographs. The piece included IB student Maddy Penley’s final Collaborative Project work which explored the impact of surface-level friendships and isolation from a friendship group. The students should be proud of their thought-provoking, original work of Theatre.

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Magic and Wonder at Year 8 Arts Night

The Saints Girls’ community is welcome to join us for the upcoming Year 8 Production ‘Ella Enchanted’, showcasing the students’ talents in Drama, Dance, Music and Visual Arts. The girls have taken the lead in creating choreography, selecting the songs, directing scenes, coordinating the costumes and sets, making this event a true celebration of collaboration and creativity!

No bookings required, come along on Friday 24 November at 7pm to see this spectacular show.

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Year 5 AMEB Awards

On Saturday 4 November, Year 5 girls, Dilini, Nour and Aarabi, were awarded AMEB Speech and Drama Certificates. Dilini achieved a Grade 3 high distinction, the only SA student to receive this award. Nour was awarded a Grade 3 high credit and Aarabi gained honours for Grade 2. Well done girls, you should be very proud of your efforts!

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Happy Christmas to You from Peter Combe and the Girls at St Peters

On Saturday 2 December, a group of talented dancers and singers from St Peter’s Girls will be performing in Peter Combe’s Christmas show at the Dunstan Playhouse. The event will showcase a live band and the Adelaide Youth Strings, bringing beloved tunes such as ‘Wash Yourself in Orange Juice’ and ‘Newspaper Mama’, along with Peter Combe’s festive songs and Christmas classics. This is a fantastic opportunity for our students to showcase their talents in one of Adelaide’s most prestigious theatres.

The shows are on Saturday 2 December at 1pm and 3pm. Tickets for the show can be purchased through the Adelaide Festival Centre website.

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Remembrance Day – St Peter’s Girls 2023

At the 11th hour on the 11th day in November 1918, the guns fell silent on the ‘War to End all Wars’, or as we know it today the First World War. At that time there was two members of my Paternal family serving in the Palestine Campaign, as part of the Australian Mounted Corps. They were Sergeant Patrick Malone, aged 38, and Trooper Ernest Malone (his son aged 16). Trooper Malone was only allowed to stay at ANZAC Cove, with his dad, as the Commanding Officer said, ‘if is his is as half as tough as his dad, I would take him every day”.

Both gents, 12 months before, where part of the ‘charge of Beersheba’. More astonishing was that they were both part of the ill-fated defence of ANZAC Cove, and saw action at the battle of the Nek, which was Australia’s worst military defeat of the ANZAC Campaign. Many other Battle Honours when earned during the 8-month campaign, and it had changed our country forever.

Our family has been fortunate / unfortunate enough to have only had one person die in war. This was my great uncle Private Louis David Robert Bruce, of the 2/24 Battalion (Rats of Tobruk). Louis wounded whilst attacking a machine gun post at the battle of El-Alamein, in current day Libya on the 10 Nov 1942, and died from these wounds on the 16 Nov 1942. Whilst many of our family (six straight generations, plus three uncles, five great uncles and many more) have served in various Wars and Peacekeeping missions ranging from World War One, World War Two, South Vietnam, Southern Rhodesia, Malaysia, East Timor, Solomon Island and Counter Terrorism, we fully believe in a free world, free from war, free from tyranny.

Whilst we stand and sit here today, we remember ALL of those who have served in our nations name and upheld our way of living. There are many who did not return from these battles and Wars, however; there were many that did. Out of the misery of war, the Australian term of mateship shone through. Organisations such as Legacy, the RSL and the Totally and Permanently Incapacitated (TPI) Veterans evolved out of this. My Organisation, the TPI, provides a service to the disabled veterans and advocate and lobby governments for improved rights and provisions of the veterans of which we have currently over 60,000 members nationally and just over 2300 in SA. We are, and will continue to be, a fully volunteer organisation, that is a Not-for-profit charity, to ensure we have a clear separation from governments and corporate Australia.

As it was stated after World War One, Mates look after Mates (which means brothers look after brothers; and SISTERS look AFTER SISTERS). After all we are one big family, that being AUSTRALIAN. Remember that we are ALL AUSTRALIAN.

These men and women who served and returned, carried the burden of their war for the rest of their lives. They saw things that no one should ever have to see, in the hope that their children and grandchildren would not have to or answer the call to arms for their country.

An interesting fact is that the Australian government created what was known then as the Repatriation Commission, which is now the Department of Veterans Affairs. It was through this Commission that Veterans of World War One built the largest ‘War Memorial’ in the world, so that their mates would never be forgotten. This memorial is the ‘Great Ocean Road’.

There will always be people in the world to stand up for those that cannot stand up for themselves. They all have a common theme, that being Compassion, Creativity, and Courage, which just happen to be the same values of this great School.

The only difference is that veterans had the morale compassion to stand and protect the ideals that they held dear, they had the morale creativity to invent and discover ways to help and protect those that they were there to protect as well as each other, and the moral courage to stand up for those that could not. However, with these morale values does come with some personal and family sacrifice, be it physical or mental, and all we ask in return is a simple thank you!

Finally, on days such as Remembrance and ANZAC Day we need to, as a community, ensure that we do remember all of those that did not return home, having died in battle, giving us the ultimate sacrifice, being the freedoms, we have, and enjoy today.

To my many brothers and sisters that are no longer with us, I say till we meet in Valhalla.

Lest we Forget.

Scott Jeffrey
State Secretary & National Vice President of the Totally and Permanently Incapacitated Veterans Association

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Footsteps and Fun at Year 1 Stayback!

 

Friday was filled with anticipation as the Year 1 girls prepared for their special evening, Stayback at School! This opportunity allowed the girls to develop independence and organisation as they managed their belongings and participated in some wonderful activities, especially after a big week of Swimming! They delighted in the ‘Footsteps’ dance session with Tawnee . The fruit platters were delicious as was the pizza! This year the girls loved participating in science activities, enjoyed making and decorating a kaleidoscope and investigating the beautiful patterns that can be made. We settled down to watch the well-loved movie ‘The Whale and the Snail’ after enjoying ice cream for dessert. Luckily it cooled down to enjoy a sunset play before heading home for a well-earned rest! It was an absolute delight to enjoy this special event with the girls.

Kathryn Clark and Liz Sandercock
Year 1 Teachers

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Year 9 Play – The Rehearsal

This term, the Year 9 Drama students have been preparing for their performance of ‘The Rehearsal’ by Don Zolidis.

The play centres around a young teacher who is trying to pull off a production of Guys and Dolls. He quickly discovers that putting a musical together is not easy, especially with a megalomaniacal stage manager, a lead who’s convinced that Wicked is a much better show, and an actor who insists she is clinically incapable of following directions. The play is a hilarious and poignant look behind the scenes of a drama production filled with — what else? — lots of drama!

The Year 9 Drama 01 class will present ‘The Rehearsal’ on Wednesday 22 November while the 09 Drama 02 class will perform on Monday 27 November. These lunchtime performances will commence at 1.10pm in the Jeffreys Linn Arts Centre and no tickets are required.

Come along and see our talented students in action!

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Vacation Care Bookings Open Now

With the School Holidays just around the corner why not take a look at our Vacation Care program and join in on one of the many exciting adventures planned to keep the children entertained.

Click here to book, places are limited so get in quick!

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Immunisation Program 2023

As the school year ends, we would like to send a reminder to all parents/legal guardians of students in Year 7, 8 and 10 to catch up on any vaccines their children may have missed throughout 2023.

The 2023 School Immunisation Program consists of the following vaccines:
Year 7 and 8 – a single dose of Gardasil vaccine (human papilloma virus)
Year 7 and 8 – a single dose of Boostrix vaccine (diphtheria, tetanus, whooping cough)
Year 10 – a 2 dose course of Bexsero (meningococcal B)
Year 10 – a single dose of Nimenrix (meningococcal ACWY)

Most students would have completed the program this year through our school visits, however due to absenteeism/illness, there may be outstanding vaccines for some students.

If you would like to follow up on any missed vaccinations for your children, click here to please make an appointment or you may contact us at Eastern Health Authority on 81323600

Rebecca Haysman
Senior Nurse/School Immunisation Coordinator

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Shane Davidson Presents – The Lion King JR

 

Join us in this magical spectacular production as we take to the Pridelands and join the circle of life with fantastic music, big dance routines and wonderful tunes such as ‘I Just Can’t Wait to be King’, ‘Can You Feel the Love Tonight’, ‘He Lives in You’ and ‘Hakuna Matata’.

With a wonderful cast, including 25 girls from Saints and a vibrant array of beautiful costumes, face paint and eye-catching headgear for all the characters, this show will entertain all ages.

The production will be held on November 25 & 26 at the St Peter’s Girls’ School Jeffreys Linn Arts Centre.

Tickets now on sale – click here to book.

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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

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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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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).
• 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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Sports News

Sport Results

Wednesday 8 November – Tuesday 14 November

AFL

Year 4-6 Blue: Bye
Year 3-4 White: Cancelled

BASKETBALL

Open A: Saints (43) v Scotch Open B (12)
Best Player: Phoebe Russell for her consistent effort in offence and defence. Always gives her all for the team.
Superwoman: Ashlyn May as she is always the loudest voice of encouragement to all the girls on the team. The umpire this week even commented, ‘I wish my team was this supportive when I played school basketball.’ Well done girls!

Middle A: Saints (72) v Scotch Middle A (36)
Best Player: Wei Ning Khoo
Superwoman: Zoe McArthur, for her excellent cuts into the key and rebounding

Middle B: Saints (38) v Scotch Middle B (6)
Best Player: Vienna Howes, for her great shooting
Superwoman: Lucy Tulloch, for her excellent rebounding.

Middle C: Saints (11) v Concordia Middle C3 (32)

Middle D: Saints (5) v Concordia Middle C2 (31)
Best Player: Ivy Zhang gave 110% the entire game. Chased down players in defence and helped out her teammates when their players dribbled past them.
Superwoman: Sandra Hennes took the job of defending the best opposition player. She did a great job staying with her and getting lots of rebounds.

WATER POLO

Open A: Bye

Open B: Saints (11) v Wilderness Senior B (4)
Best Players: Alyssa Tran
Superwoman: Zara Trim

Open B: Saints (6) v Seymour Senior A (14)
Best Players: Olivia Reynolds
Superwoman: Isabella Howie

Middle A: Saints (11) v Mercedes (6)

CRICKET

Senior A: Cancelled

Senior B Blue: Cancelled

Senior B White: Cancelled

Year 3-6 Internal: Cancelled

TENNIS

Senior Open A: Saints (8/58) v Wilderness Premier League (4/40)

Experienced: Cancelled

Intermediate Blue: Cancelled

Beginner Blue: Cancelled

Beginner White: Cancelled

Senior Division 2: Saints (44) v Wilderness Blue (30)
From Head Coach Eva Young: The girls had a win today and should be proud of their efforts and the spirit in which they played the game. Charlotte T has a very good tennis brain and strategy. Ziyu (Jerrie) Wu has great timing which translates to powerful groundstrokes for her age. Alice Morel is steady off both sides and is making good progress. What Youn (Kaylah) Park lacks in power she makes up for in heart and fighting spirit. Lilly Michelon has a solid game and is really keen to learn and improve. Alyssa Walpole also has a good base to build upon.
In my mind, they are all ready to rapidly accelerate their games if they want to keep going with their tennis, but they all need different things which makes it tricky from a training point of view. It was great to meet and talk to more parents, it has given me a better understanding of what they are looking for from the tennis program.

Senior Division 4.1: Cancelled

Senior Division 4.2: Cancelled

Senior Division 4.4: Internal game

VOLLEYBALL

Senior A: Saints (2/72) v Immanuel (1/45)
Best player: Claudia Pearce
Superwomen: Ella Ridge and Anna Venning for keeping composed and calm and getting long-serving runs

Senior B: Saints (1/58) v Immanuel Senior B3 (2/72)
Best player: Ella Warrick
Superwoman: Lydia Burrough for showing great effort and intent to keep the ball off the floor.

Senior C: Saints (0) v Concordia Senior C2 (3)
Best player: Izzy McCabe. She had improved her passing and setting which allowed us to set up some good plays.
Superwoman: Ruby Powell. She supported her teammates and was able to set up some good plays by directing everyone.

Middle A: Saints (2/58) v Concordia Middle B (1/58)
Best player: Vi Anh (Angelina) Tran
Superwoman: Lily Forby

Middle B: Saints (3/75) v Walford (0/49)
Best player: Ashmitha Ramesh had a very consistent performance on the court. Her confidence in skill allowed her to also be relaxed and take in coach’s advice to try new things during a game, these being blocking and overarm serving. Overall, a great game from Ashmitha.
Superwoman: Lyra Cox once again brining great attitude to the game and speaking out during a team break to encourage her team mates to bring more voice to the court (and then leading this as well).

Middle C: Saints (1/51) v Immanuel (2/54)
Best player: Jasmin Cetinkol
Superwoman: Christina Zhu

Middle D: Saints (0/58) v Immanuel (3/77)
Best player: Lucy Cree
Superwoman: Tongwen Huang

TOUCH FOOTBALL

Middle A: Saints (9) v Cabra Dominican College (0)
Best player: Eleanor Bartter and Lucille Trengove
Superwomen: Maisy Ion as she improves each week. She is engaged in the game, rucks the ball well and reads the play creating opportunities to score. Vienna Howes – a new player to the game, Vienna’s skills are consistently developing and gaining more confidence.
From coach Tracey Hunt: Our whole team showed great sportsmanship throughout the game. Cabra were short on players and our girls stepped in to fill their team. The referee commended the girls on their sportsmanship at the end of the game.

Middle B: Saints (1) v Seymour (7)
Best player: Kaylisiah Jang for scoring our try of the game.
Superwoman: Ivy Pratt for scoring her first try and taking on the role of captain seriously.  Emma Sayers was heard motivating the team on and off field and communicated efficiently to assist in working as a cohesive team.

Open A: Saints (3) v Pembroke (1)
Best player: Ava Field
Superwomen: Anna Russell, Alice Braithwaite, Lucy Mitchell, Lucy Lowry, Naomi Singh, Cleo Hart for implementing the defence they learnt in training into the game and stopped a try.

Open B: Bye

Open C: Saints (4) v St Dominic’s (1)
Best player: Olivia Reynolds
Superwoman: Aliya Trench

Year 7-9 State Badminton Winners!

On Friday 10 November, our Year 7-9 Badminton girls headed to Badminton SA to compete in the State final of the School Sport SA Year 7-9 Badminton Knockout Competition. The temperature was forecast to be in the high 30’s and with no air conditioning in the venue the girls were in for a hot day!

Our team comprised of Caitlyn Sam-Ling, Abbie An, Olivia Ng and Valerie Ng with Thanh Ngoc (Gemma) Phan also taking part in the teams’ semi-final matches. The team had comprehensive wins against Woodcroft College (8-0) and Unley High School (6-2). Our final matches were against Glenunga International High School, who had won both their fixtures earlier in the day. So, it all came down to this!

Our girls were exhausted, playing consecutive matches in the heat against the other teams who had brought extra players who rotated giving their players a rest. We were even after the singles matches, so the State title would be decided on the results of the final doubles matches of the day. Our girls dug deep and managed to hold off a fast-finishing Glenunga to win and be crowed State Champions!

The success of this competition is not only attributed to our girl’s skill, but also highlights their dedication throughout the badminton season with rigorous training and exceptional teamwork. Head Coach, Teoh Weixian said ‘The girls did really well and showed a positive spirit during this event. I am very proud of them.’

The girls wanted to send a heartfelt thank you to all the parents and coaches their commitment in coming out in support of the team in the extreme conditions. They couldn’t have done it without your support!

Well done girls!

Agnes Li
Badminton Captain

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It is with mixed emotions that I write my final eNews article for the St Peter’s Girls’ School community. After nearly 13 years as a staff member, Senior Leader, and 12 years as a parent, I officially become an ‘ex’ at 3.30pm next Friday.

During my time at the School, I have seen us grow in size, develop our beautiful campus and consolidate our position as a trusted and well-loved school. It offers families from a diverse background what, I believe, is the best single-sex educational experience in South Australia.

I’m immensely proud to have been associated with the School for so long, see it flourish and grow in reputation, whilst still remaining true to our core values and the ethos of our founding Sisters.

Finding a place to work that concurrently challenges, inspires, rewards and fulfils is rare, and I’m aware that I’ve been fortunate to have experienced just that at Saints. Whilst I know that my new role in Victoria will certainly have the potential to offer all those things, there is no doubt that a part of me will always be poorer for the absence of interaction with our students. Their energy, enthusiasm, good humour, warmth, determination, creativity, sense of respect and all-round positive outlook make our community an inspirational place to be. Most of all I will miss their grounded nature and have-a-go attitude that make our students such a joy to teach.

It has been a pleasure to work with such a dedicated, passionate and approachable group of staff in all areas of the school – their genuine team approach, commitment to excellence and shared sense of pride in the work we do has been inspiring.

Whilst I will have a chance to say farewell and ‘thank you’ to staff and students next week, I want to take this opportunity to thank the families that are such an important part of our community. Whether it’s been at AFL on a Friday evening, Netball on a Saturday, Soccer during the week or at Music concerts, Drama performances, Parent-Teacher interviews or at one of the many major events we put on each year, I have always enjoyed getting to know our families. Your enthusiasm, banter, concerns, questions and feedback has always been a welcome and enriching part of my role.

It is important to note as well, that my family also leaves the immediate Saints community next Friday.  Whilst my daughters Abbie and Maddy will always be Old Scholars, and have an exciting life ahead of them, we are extremely grateful for the support shown to them during their time here. Tasha and I, as parents, were made to feel welcome and included despite the occasional awkwardness of having the Head of Middle school round for dinner!

It would be remiss of me not to mention what is often a highlight of my day – the thirty minutes I spend on carpark duty with Prefects and other Senior Leaders. Instigated during Covid-19, it has become an amazing way to get to know more parents, our younger students, and their dogs. I shall miss my canine friends Bach, Bear, Coffee and numerous others who allow me a daily pat! I’ll also miss the friendly waves and morning conversations with parents and grandparents in the drop off zone. Seeing those younger students pass through the Middle School, and getting to know their parents better will be something I will not experience, but I know that they will be well looked after by Emma Smerdon and the Middle School team of staff.

So, as I enter my final week before becoming an ‘ex’, I do so with a sense of reflection and some sadness, as well as with excitement about the challenges ahead, but mostly with a sense of deep gratitude for being afforded the honour of helping to guide and support a decade of extraordinary young people, at what I believe to be a truly extraordinary school.

Richard Lisle
Deputy Principal & Head of Middle School

The end of Week 3 will mark one-third of the final term of 2023 as complete. Year 12 International Baccalaureate students have completed two weeks of exams and the SACE Students will begin their examinations in Week 4. For the rest of our girls, particularly those in the Middle and Senior years they too will soon turn their attention to final assignments and examinations as the year draws to a close.

When asked about the best way to approach study, my advice is very simple. Early planning is key, encouraging your daughter to prepare as early as possible will avoid panic for all when the exams commence. Preparation doesn’t mean they are beginning revision at the start of the term, instead we talk to the girls about collating notes, checking they have been present for topics, engaging with their teachers to check they have understood key concepts. Simple steps such as these remove the need for panic later when exam revision takes place. In addition to planning early, the girls are also encouraged to stick to their regular routine. By following their timetable or homework schedule they ensure each subject receives the same attention. It can be easy to favour the subjects we feel most comfortable with while ignoring those which challenge us. In addition to sticking to their established study routine, remaining active, social, exercising, eating well and sleeping are essential during exams and final assignments. If a student becomes fixated on study, removes themselves from social settings, or stays up well into the early morning to revise or to finish assessments we see a negative impact on results, engagement and enjoyment in learning.

I wish all students and their families well as they move into the final stages of the 2023 school year. Remember, prepare and plan early, stick to your routine and remain active and engaged.

Laurn Sutton
Deputy Principal & Head of Senior School