Back to top

---

Tech Triumphs: Girls in Tech Day Ignites Passion and Curiosity

On Thursday 29 February, St Peter’s Girls’ School hummed with excitement as The Girls in Tech event commenced. A day for Year 5 and 6 girls, unfolded into a day of discovery and innovation that will be etched in the minds of our young learners for years to come. It began with a warm welcome from Ms Taylor, Head of Junior School, who set the stage for a day of technological marvels, further amplified by Mya, our APEX Captain, with an AI-powered video and a robotic dog that charmed the audience with its antics.

The spotlight shifted to Dr. Sarah Cannard, our keynote speaker, who is a Senior Space Engineer. She captivated the audience by talking about her lead work overseeing The Roo-ver – Australia’s pioneering Lunar Rover. Her address was inspirational and demonstrated where passion and perseverance can take you in the world of STEM.

Our School proudly hosted over 150 eager Year 5 and 6 students from local schools, including Burnside, East Marden, Magill, Marryatville, Stradbroke, St Raphael’s, and St Andrews. These young minds were immersed in a dynamic range of workshops that revealed the vast possibilities of technology. The Innovation Hub buzzed with activity, and ten organisations showcased their contributions to the tech world through individual workshops.

From the thrill of virtual reality experiences brought by interstate company Mindflight7 to the creative process of designing coding bracelets with BAE Engineering, the girls dove headfirst into modern technology. They empathised with real-world challenges in the University of Adelaide’s workshop and used Sphero robots to navigate the intricacies of automation in mining.

In the spirit of hands-on learning, our Makerspace became a playground of ingenuity where even biscuits and hot dogs were transformed under the precision of a laser cutter. The girls not only saw technology in action, but also tasted the fruits of their culinary labours in a food technology workshop by TAFE SA. Communication technology was demonstrated with an engaging podcast using the Poddiy system by APEX student Eva C, who interviewed Mr. Coulter.

Our APEX volunteers stood as exemplary mentors hosting drone and e-sports workshops, and our Year 6 Leaders guided the groups to their workshops and ensured the activities stayed on schedule. The day was a testament to the power of community and collaboration in fostering a passion for technology. We’re also thrilled to announce that Girls in Tech will be featured in Cosmos Magazine, published by The Royal Institute of Australia, bringing global recognition to an event celebrating the magic of technology and learning.

To all the girls who explored and learned with us, your enthusiasm and engagement were the true catalysts of the day’s success. You are the creators of tomorrow, and your journey into the world of STEM has just begun. Thank you for sharing this day with us and letting us be a part of your story. The future is bright, and it’s yours to shape.

Melissa O’Loughlin
STEM Innovation Leader

Back to top

---

Swimming Carnival 2024 Results

McGill Shield
1st Kilburn (3665), 2nd Selwyn (3434), 3rd Kennion (3118), 4th Patteson (2800)

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

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

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

Year 4 Aggregate Cup
1st Claire Lucas (Patteson)
2nd Mia O’Brien (Kilburn)
3rd Emma Humzy-Hancock (Kennion)

Year 5 Aggregate Cup
1st Emily Wang (Patteson)
2nd Penny Coulter (Kennion)
3rd Lucy Dougherty (Kennion)

Year 6 Aggregate Cup
1st Emma Gu (Kilburn)
2nd Amelia Birmingham (Selwyn)
2nd Hannah Woo (Patteson)

Year 7 Aggregate Cup
1st Kayla Medefindt (Kilburn)
2nd Natalia Quinn (Patteson)
2nd Emily Robinson (Kilburn)

Year 8 Aggregate Cup
1st Chloe Sturt (Kilburn)
2nd Meg Paul (Patteson)
2nd Milla Everitt (Kennion)

Year 9 Aggregate Cup
1st Ella Pearce (Selwyn)
2nd Lauren Fuller (Patteson)
3rd Annabelle Birdsey (Kilburn)

Year 10 Aggregate Cup
1st Holly Robinson (Kilburn)
2nd Genevieve Braithwaite (Kilburn)
3rd Chloe Richardson (Kennion)

Year 11 Aggregate Cup
1st Elysia Scarr (Selwyn)
2nd Alyssa Tran (Kilburn)
3rd Emma Everitt (Kennion)

Year 12 Aggregate Cup
1st Alice Braithwaite (Kennion)
2nd Daisy Braithwaite (Kennion)
3rd Ayla Blaskett (Kilburn)

Junior Champion Swimmer
Emily Wang (Year 5 Patteson)

Middle Champion Swimmer
Ella Pearce (Year 9 Selwyn)

Senior Champion Swimmer
Alice Braithwaite (Year 12 Kennion)

Junior 100m IM
Emily Wang (Year 5 Patterson)
Emma Gu (Year 6 Kilburn)
Hannah Wu (Year 6 Patteson)

Middle 200m IM
Ella Pearce (Year 9 Selwyn)
Chloe Sturt (Year 8 Kilburn)
Meg Paul (Year 8 Patteson)

Senior 200m IM
Elysia Scarr (Year 11 Selwyn)
Alice Braithwaite (Year 12 Kennion)
Emma Everitt (Year 11 Kennion)

Back to top

---

Friendship Ninjas Show Kindness and Courage

On Friday 23 February, our Reception to Year 3 girls celebrated Friendship Day, which had our girls buzzing with excitement. The URSTRONG program is a focus in the Junior School in Term 1, as part of our #EmpowHER program.

The girls participated in special activities to commemorate the URSTRONG program and showcase their friendship skills. The girls loved the treasure hunt around the school, crafting friendship flowers, creating friendship ninja headbands, and sharing in the amazing dance! The kindness, care, and courage the girls demonstrated throughout the day was truly wonderful!

Back to top

---

URSTRONG Parent Membership

 

 

We are proud that our Junior School is a ‘URSTRONG’ School’. This whole School friendship strategy connects our students, teachers, and parents with a common language around friendships.

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

We are also pleased to partner with the URSTRONG organisation to offer a ‘Language of Friendship’ parent and child online workshop on Tuesday 19 March at 6pm. This session will teach you and your children the skills and language to foster healthy, feel-good friendships. To register, click here.

Helen Smith
Deputy Head of Junior School

Back to top

---

ELC Community Connect at Annual Picnic

Last Friday, the ELC held their Twilight Family Picnic on the picturesque Chiverton Lawns. There was a lot of anticipation from the children in the lead up to the evening; they were all very excited to bring their families to this special gathering. The formal part of the evening started with our Pathway children sharing the ELC Acknowledgement of Country. It was a proud moment to see the Pathway children so confident and passionate when sharing their respect for the Traditional Owners of the land and the enduring connection of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples to Country.

As the sun dipped below the horizon, families immersed themselves in the magic of the moment, setting aside the hustle and bustle of the week to forge meaningful connections, swap stories, and create cherished memories together. Cultivating community is at the heart of St Peter’s Girls’ ELC, and we are looking forward to many more opportunities to gather like this throughout 2024.

Liz Schembri
Director of Early Learners’ Centre

Back to top

---

ELC – News from Learning Community 1

Cognitive Thinking Skills

At St Peter’s Girls’ ELC, we believe cognitive thinking is an essential life skill and it is of huge importance in our daily programming in LC1. Cognitive thinking is the development of knowledge and exploration; it is also an acquired skill of problem solving and figuring things out. When children play with others or individually, their cognitive skills such as thinking and rational thought, short and long-term memory, attention span and the stages of working memory are all being established.

True play harnesses many opportunities for children to grow rapidly in their cognitive thinking through problem solving, social connections and the power of imagination through the exploration of creativity. We also know that by developing these skills through play, cognitive thinking will enhance children’s mastery of academic knowledge and build motivation to learn later in life as adults. In other words, they need to be masters of play for all these cognitive functions to develop effectively.

This term, through the lens of our unit of inquiry, A new environment can inspire curiosities, we are delving right into cognitive thought and challenging children’s ability to grasp new concepts through the hundred languages. Here, children can harness their imagination to create new understandings and make new social contexts with others, while we observe the many changes within the ELC.

We are looking forward to unpacking more on our inquiry journey of curiosity of change through the lens of a creative mind as the year unfolds!

Back to top

---

ELC – News from Learning Community 2

The evolution of our inquiry: Educators’ gaze verses and the child’s gaze

This term, our central idea has been ‘A new environment can inspire curiosities’.

At the beginning of the term, we naturally felt that the children in the Erindale room would focus on the current building works. This space has been a hive of activity as you can imagine, and we thought the busyness of the build would grab their attention. We have spent time discussing possible inquiry experiences and prefiguring where we could take this investigation. We began introducing this concept during our group times; however, as it happens a lot of the time when you are teaching young children, their attention was elsewhere.

The children have been drawn to the outdoor spaces with their attention placed firmly in the sandpit area. This space was constructed several years ago with children at the heart of the design. They can easily access and use water in their play and this space is such an import opportunity for sensory, imaginative, and messy play to occur. The element of the large, coloured rocks is a direct link to the Dreamtime Story of the Rainbow Serpent. This connection has now fuelled our learning and the children have been exploring the story of the Rainbow Serpent. Rather than directing our learning in an unauthentic way, we have and will always continue to observe, listen and respond to the focus of our children. We can see the deep literacy opportunities this inquiry has, and the children have been given the opportunity to listen to the story in many ways and have been encouraged to retell the story themselves through many creative outlets. This reflection of our learning has so far reminded us of what it means to listen and value the gaze of the child and to trust the direction that it led us in.

Back to top

---

Choral Night 2024 – Save the Date!

Choral Night is one of the most anticipated events on the Saints Girls’ calendar, and this year’s spectacle carries the theme ‘Love’.

Save the Date – Thursday 21 March (Week 8)

Bookings will open on Friday 8 March, 4 tickets per family, further details to follow.

We look forward to the festivities and can’t wait to see what our girls have in store!

Back to top

---

Bake Sale Fundraiser

Next Friday 8 March is International Women’s Day. International Women’s Day is a globally celebrated day that honours the achievements of women and raises awareness for equality. To highlight the importance of this day, the Prefect team will be hosting a bake sale on the food tech deck at recess time. Cupcakes will be $2 each.

The money raised will be donated to Catherine House, a special place that supports women experiencing homelessness in South Australia.

The stall will be cash only so make sure you bring your gold coins and come along and support this very important cause.

Daisy Kennett
Head Prefect

Sophie Ricciuto
Deputy Head Prefect

Back to top

---

Head of the River Dinner 2024

 

The Friends of Rowing invite rowers, family and friends to celebrate the efforts, improvements and achievements of our St Peter’s Girls’ rowers throughout the 2023/24 season.

The annual Head of the River Dinner will be held at the Kent Town Hotel. The evening will feature speeches from students and coaches about the season that has been and will conclude with awards being presented. The dinner includes a two-course menu. Soft drinks and other refreshments will be available for purchase from the bar throughout the event.

Saturday 16 March, 6pm arrival for a 6.30pm start.
Kent Town Hotel (76 Rundle St, Kent Town SA 5067)

Tickets – $80 per person
Click here to purchase tickets.

Ticket sales close at 5pm, Monday 4 March

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

Brynley Millward
Director of Rowing

Back to top

---

Shakespeare on the Lawn – Save the Date

Year 10 Arts students present to you Shakespeare on the Lawn, A Midsummer Night’s Dream.

Save the Date: Friday 5 April from 5.30pm

Drinks and food available to pre-order.

Families and friends welcome, more details to come.

Back to top

---

Dogs at our School

To ensure a safe and comfortable environment for all members of our community, we request you to keep your furry friends on a lead at all times. Furthermore, some of our students are fearful of dogs for a broad range of reasons and can become overwhelmed when they see a group of people and their dogs congregating together in the pick-up zone. We want each of our students to feel at ease and safe as they enter and exit our school grounds and ask you not to cluster together with your dogs. Through your conscious consideration of one another, our School will continue to be an inclusive environment for everyone.

Thank you for your understanding and cooperation.

Back to top

---

Parent Representative in the ELC

Would you like to be a part of shaping our vibrant ELC community? We are looking for Parent Representatives for each room and would love to hear from you.

As a parent representative you will:

• Be a contact point for parents who have children in the same room as your child, foster a warm and inclusive atmosphere, and welcome new families.
• Assist with and promote events and, if you are keen, organise an event/activity for the families from your child’s room. Our Communications and Community Relations teams can assist you with promotion, logistics etc.
• Keep up to date with the School’s building projects and current events to stimulate positive and engaging discussions within our community.
• Attend meetings twice a term. If there is more than one representative for your class, this can be rotated.

We are excited about working closely with our ELC representatives and building a strong, connected community. If you are interested, please speak to your child’s teacher. We will have an information session featuring our Director, Liz Schembri and Fiona McGregor, our dynamic Community Relations and Events Officer. We look forward to hearing from you.

Back to top

---

Generations Breakfast and 130 Photo

We would like to invite our Old Scholar mothers and grandmothers, along with their children to participate in our Generations Breakfast and 130 Photograph event.

To acknowledge the Old Scholars’ connection and highlight the importance of generations in the School’s rich history, we will be capturing a moment in time with a group photograph of our current students with their Old Scholar mothers and/or grandmothers.

Please join us for breakfast on Chiverton Lawns, Thursday 7 March at 8am prior to the photograph with your child.

Our guest speaker Fiona Dorman (nee Khor, Patteson 1996), President of the National Council of Women SA, will also join us as we celebrate International Women’s Day.

*Attending students will commence the School Day in Lesson 2.

Please RSVP here by Friday 1 March 2024.

Back to top

---

Shane Davidson Presents – Hairspray Jr

Good morning, Baltimore! It’s 1962, and spunky plus-size teen Tracy Turnblad has one big dream: to dance on the popular Corny Collins Show. With a cast of 50, over 200 costumes and sing-along songs such as Mama I’m a Big Girl Now, Timeless to Me, and You Can’t Stop the Beat, this show will delight the young and young at heart.

Saturday 9 and Sunday 10 March
Jeffreys Linn Arts Centre, St Peter’s Girls’ School

Click here to Book.

Back to top

---

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

Back to top

---

Absences from School

If your child will be absent from school/ELC or is arriving late or leaving early, please notify the School via one of the following methods:

Text: 0428 601 957
Email: attendance@stpetersgirls.sa.edu.au
Phone: 8334 2200

Please ensure to include your child’s name, the name of the ELC Room, Class or Home Group and the reason for the absence i.e. illness/appointment/family/sport etc.

If notifying via email, feel free to ‘cc’ the teacher of the Room/Class/Home Group as well.

It would be appreciated if notification is received prior to 9am.

Back to top

---

Sports News

Sport Results

Wednesday 21 February – Tuesday 27 February

BASKETBALL

Middle A: Cancelled

Middle C: Saints (38) v Pembroke Middle C Blue (3)

Middle D Blue: Bye

Middle D White: Bye

Senior B: Cancelled

Senior D: Cancelled

CRICKET

Year 3/4 Blue: Cancelled

Year 5/6 White: Cancelled

Senior A: Saints (1/107) v Seymour Senior A (6/49)
Best Player: Phoebe Lucas 28*(20) and 2/7
Super Woman: Winnie Vartuli played her first A game on late notice. Made 13*(12) and embraced the opportunity with a great attitude.

Senior B Blue: Saints (5/76) v Scotch Senior B (4/74)

Senior B White: Saints (4/83) v Walford Senior B (4/46)
Best Player – Charlotte Dodd top scorer in the batting with 20 (13) and bowled two incredibly tight overs conceding 0/2. Her bowling has improved significantly, bowling good lengths with genuine pace and bounce.
Super Woman – Ania Choi has continued to improve her bowling, fielding and especially her batting, which was on display with a beautiful pull shot that ran to the boundary!

TENNIS

Intermediate Blue: Saints (4/13) v Saints Intermediate Silver (1/7)

Intermediate Navy: Saints (3/8) v Intermediate White (4/11)

 Beginner White: Saints (4/18) v Seymour Beginner Blue (2/11)

Senior Division 1.2: Saints (32) v Scotch 1 Navy (39)

Senior 3.3: Saints (33) v Scotch Navy 3 (35)
Best Player: Sylvie Flavel
Superwoman: Luna Dou

Senior 4.3: Saints (9/9/36) v Scotch 4 (0/0/1)

Senior Open A: Saints (21) v Wilderness (49)

TOUCH FOOTBALL

Middle A: Saints (3) v St Michael’s 1 (2)
Best Player – Kay
Superwoman – Maisie

Middle B: Saints (1) v St Michael’s 2 (7)

Senior B: Saints (0) v Seymour 3 (2)

VOLLEYBALL

Year 4-6 Blue: Saints (1/36) v Seymour 5/6 Green (1/31)
Best Player – Michelle Zurauskas served really well this week and when she was in setter position, she went for the ball, setting the ball high over the net.
Superwoman – Emily Oakes when she served, had good height and depth and often aced the other team.

Year 4-6 White: Saints (2/43) v Seymour 5/6 Purple (0/22)

Senior A: Saints (1/53) v Wilderness Senior A (2/63)
Best Player – Alannah Godfrey as consistently good setting and game play for the whole match.
Superwoman – Claudia Pearce – attended to support the team while injured.

Senior B: Saints (3/65) v Wilderness Senior B (0/46)
Best Player: Labrini Psaltis was consistent in all positions today, great serving and setting!
Super Woman: Ruby Adams played really well, put in effort throughout the game and showed great understanding by consistently helping to get three hits before putting the ball over the net. She had a few great servings runs as well!

Senior C: Saints (1/60) v Concordia Senior C3 (2/75)
Best Player: Christy
Super Woman: Ruby

Senior D: Saints (0/35) v 3/75)

Middle A: Saints (3/75) v Concordia (0/45)

Middle B: Saints (0/46) v Immanuel Middle B4 (3/75)

Middle C Blue: Saints (2/70) v Immanuel Middle C4 (1/59)

Middle C White: Saints (2/75) v Concordia Middle C3 (1/68)

Middle D Blue: Saints (1/54) v Concordia Middle C6 (2/66)
Best Player: Mel
Super Woman: Irrysa

Middle D White: Saints (0/36) v Immanuel Middle C3 (3/75)

WATER POLO

Senior B: Saints (8) v Seymour Senior A (8)

Senior C: Saints (8) v Sacred Heart 2 (1)

Middle A: Saints (0) v Loreto (15) 

---

Sport SA Swimming Carnival

Our swimmers made the trek to the SA Aquatic Centre on Tuesday 27 February to compete against 9 other girls’ schools in the Sport SA Swimming Carnival.

Students were selected to compete based on the results from the School Carnival last week.

The girls did a fantastic job, placing third despite competing without an Under 13 category!

Saints Girls now turn their sights to the SAPSASA Swimming Carnival next week.

---

Saints Success at Rowing Regatta

Congratulations to our Saints Girls Rowers who competed at the School Premiership Series #3 Regatta at the weekend. Our Year 8 B and C crews both won their divisions, and our Year 9 A, B and C crews placed 2nd, 3rd, and 3rd respectively. The 2024 SA Schools’ Head of the River is on Saturday 16 March – Save the Date! Come along to West Lakes and support our rowers. We look forward to seeing what our crews can achieve!

---

Winter Sport Nominations Closing Soon!

 

Don’t forget to get your Winter sports nominations in!

All Winter sport nominations will be done via Clipboard. Please click here for instructions on how to navigate Clipboard for your daughter. Nominations close on Sunday 3 March.

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to reach out.

Alice Johnswood
Director of Sport

Back to top

Back to top

---

Swimming Carnival 2024

And the winner is… KILBURN!

Swimming Carnival 2024 blasted off the blocks today, House spirit was on full display as girls in Years 4 – 12 went stroke-for-stroke at the Adelaide Aquatic Centre.

Team spirit, competition, determination and participation featured throughout the day, with impressive performances in the races and fun in the novelty events, including the annual crowd favourite, the Crocodile Relay!

House chants were at maximum volume and the Year 12 costumes impressed, it was terrific to see House pride shine with the girls cheering on teammates from the stands.

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

Back to top

---

Governor of South Australia Visits Saints

On Tuesday we were lucky enough to be visited by Her Excellency the Honourable Frances Adamson AC, Governor of South Australia. While engaging in an insightful address and a Q & A assembly with her Excellency both Sophie and I gained a deeper understanding of the attributes required to be a successful and influential leader.

One thing that resonated with us was Her Excellency’s advocation for following your own path. While speaking about life after school Her Excellency made the point, that deciding on what to do post school can be difficult, but it shouldn’t cause stress. Her Excellency expressed how you are most likely going to change your mind many times over the years and that’s exactly how you find the perfect balance between what you are passionate about and what you excel at.

Another key piece of advice that Sophie and I took away from Her Excellency is the importance of speaking your mind. Whilst being respectful of others is important, being firm with your values and beliefs is the key to being a respectable leader and admirable member of society.

Both Sophie and I are so grateful to have had the opportunity to learn from such an inspirational and influential woman.

Daisy Kennett
Head Prefect

Back to top

---

Introducing Our New Robot Dog

There was much excitement at assembly on Monday when the girls were introduced to our newest team member, the Go2 Quadruped Robot.

This robot dog is capable of walking, running and dancing, amongst other commands and can be fully programmed or voice activated. Students will be able to work with the latest and upcoming technology, learning to code, problem-solve and create solutions for various units of schoolwork. It uses light detection technology and AI functionality and can be utilised by all students from ELC through to Year 12.

We are looking forward to seeing all the possibilities with this new bionic creature.

Back to top

---

Exploring Lifecycles through Hatchlings

 

 

Last Monday, the Year 2 classrooms buzzed with anticipation as three adorable chicks and a dozen eggs made their debut for our captivating exploration into lifecycles. Throughout the past two weeks, the students diligently conducted scientific inquiries, closely observing the chicks’ growth and development from hatching to maturity.

The hatching process has been absolutely fascinating, and we’ve had some amazing observations to share:

• ‘The incubator needs to be nice and warm for the eggs to be able to hatch.’
• ‘When the chickens hatch, it can take a little while because they need lots of rest to be able to open up the egg.’
• ‘Some eggs hatch quickly, other eggs take a lot of time, and some eggs explode!’
• ‘Chickens aren’t fluffy when they are born, they actually come out wet and it takes time for them to be fluffy.’

Having these delightful chicks around has made our learning experience even more special. It’s amazing how much we’ve discovered about lifecycles just by watching them grow right before our eyes!

Emma Warren and Alana Lesiw 
Year 2 Teachers

Back to top

---

Morning Tea for Ovarian Cancer Awareness

On Thursday 16 February Alysa Trinh, Emily McCorley and I went to the Health and Medical Sciences building on North Terrace to attend Senator Simon Birmingham’s annual morning tea to raise awareness for ovarian cancer.

We were shocked to learn that only 15% of women with ovarian cancer survive beyond five years after diagnosis. Despite significant research, there is still no early detection test for ovarian cancer. This is a major problem as it means when women find out they have ovarian cancer, it is already at an advanced stage.

The speakers discussed many current projects and research on ovarian cancer, including CAR T Cell Research. After the presentation, students were given a tour of The University of Adelaide’s state-of-the-art simulator facility. We were introduced to various pieces of advanced technology for medical and allied health education. The Centre had some shockingly realistic practice mannequins which were made from silicone, they were extremely lifelike, some of them even blinked and moved. Simulation technicians mentioned that they use actors to simulate real life situations for practice.

Overall, it was an incredibly educational and enlightening experience.

Scarlett Riley-Male
Year 12 Student

Back to top

---

Creepy Crawly Experience for Year 1s

 

Last week, the Year 1s delved into the theme of ‘Sharing the Planet’ with an exciting visit from ‘Bugs n Slugs’, focusing on invertebrates. Kris and James from the program orchestrated hands-on experiences, allowing students to interact closely with safe invertebrates while observing potentially harmful ones from a safe distance.

The students grasped the concept of invertebrates and learned how to categorise them into different groups. Engaging in an information session, they ignited their curiosity as inquirers and honed their research skills, embarking on a journey to explore the scientific realm around them.

This inquiry promises to be both informative and captivating as students continue to nurture their wonder and explore various aspects of invertebrates. To continue to build enthusiasm of this highly engaging inquiry, we are delighted to be growing and taking care of stick insects and caterpillars of a monarch butterfly, where students will develop their knowledge and understanding of their life cycles through real life experiences.

Meg Jordan and Liz Sandercock
Year 1 Teachers

Back to top

---

Head of the River Dinner 2024

 

The Friends of Rowing invite rowers, family and friends to celebrate the efforts, improvements and achievements of our St Peter’s Girls’ rowers throughout the 2023/24 season.

The annual Head of the River Dinner will be held at the Kent Town Hotel. The evening will feature speeches from students and coaches about the season that has been and will conclude with awards being presented. The dinner includes a two-course menu. Soft drinks and other refreshments will be available for purchase from the bar throughout the event.

Saturday 16 March, 6pm arrival for 6.30pm start.
Kent Town Hotel (76 Rundle St, Kent Town SA 5067)

Tickets – $80 per person
Click here to purchase tickets.

Ticket sales close at 5pm, Monday 4 March

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

Brynley Millward
Director of Rowing

Back to top

---

Countdown to Innovation: Girls in Tech Trailblazers

 

Mark your calendars for an exciting event next Thursday 29 February, as St Peter’s Girls School proudly hosts Girls in Tech Day. Now in its sixth successful year, this day is more than a gathering; it’s a transformative event where our Year 5 and 6 girls engage with technology in workshops and visit exhibitors in our Innovation Hub.

By aligning with Australia’s positive trends in STEM, this event shines as an engaging moment of change, fostering confidence and curiosity among our future female leaders. Girls in Tech is a day brimming with interactive experiences, from coding and career workshops to hands-on activities like drone operations and crafting coding bracelets. Our Innovation Hub will be filled with the latest technologies, featuring quadruped surveillance robots and immersive virtual reality experiences, thanks to our partners, including Saab, JB Hi-Fi, Compnow, and OzGrav.

This community event is a vibrant way we celebrate proactive engagement and empowerment, offering young girls a dynamic platform to explore the intersections of learning, growth, and inspiration in technology.

It’s a unique community event as well. We have Year 5 and 6 girls from several schools diving into the vibrant world of technology and envisioning themselves in flourishing STEM careers. It’s a day of proactive engagement and empowerment, offering young girls a dynamic platform to explore technology’s intersections of learning, growth, and inspiration. Look out for photos in next week’s enews!

Melissa O’Loughlin
STEM Innovation Leader

Back to top

---

Shakespeare on the Lawn – Save the Date

Year 10 Arts students present to you Shakespeare on the Lawn, A Midsummer Night’s Dream.

Save the Date: Friday 5 April from 5.30pm

Drinks and food available to pre-order.

Families and friends welcome, more details to come.

Back to top

---

A Night on the Green

Don’t miss this year’s Dads Night Out for some barefoot bowling. Come along for a fun night – bring a mate, meet the other fathers at St Peter’s Girls!

Date: Friday 1 March 2024
Time: 6.30pm onwards
Venue: Tranmere Bowling Club, 1 Kings Grove, Tranmere
Tickets: $40 via https://www.trybooking.com/COKYT (Includes entry, bowling fees and a hamburger)

Bookings close Tuesday 27 February at 5pm Drinks and Lucky Squares can be purchased on the night.

Enquiries: Fiona McGregor fmcgregor@stpetersgirls.sa.edu.au

Supported by the Friends of Sport

Back to top

---

ELC Coffee Van

 

ELC families are invited to enjoy a coffee and hot cross bun to celebrate a successful first term.

Thursday 28 March from 7.30am, Chiverton Lawns

We can’t wait to see you there!

Back to top

---

Generations Breakfast and 130 Photo

We would like to invite our Old Scholar mothers and grandmothers, along with their children to participate in our Generations Breakfast and 130 Photograph event.

To acknowledge the Old Scholars’ connection and highlight the importance of generations in the School’s rich history, we will be capturing a moment in time with a group photograph of our current students with their Old Scholar mothers and/or grandmothers.

Please join us for breakfast on Chiverton Lawns, Thursday 7 March at 8am prior to the photograph with your child.

Our guest speaker Fiona Dorman (nee Khor, Patteson 1996), President of the National Council of Women SA, will also join us as we celebrate International Women’s Day.

*Attending students will commence the School Day in Lesson 2.

Please RSVP here by Friday 1 March 2024

Back to top

---

Old Scholar Issy gets into WAPAA

Congratulations to Old Scholar Isabella Lowry (Kilburn 2023) on receiving a position at the prestigious Western Australia Performing Arts Academy (WAPAA).

We asked Issy a few questions:

What is the name of the course you got into?
Diploma of Professional Dance (Elite Performance).

When did you start dancing?
When I was 3 years old.

Why do you choose to dance?
I choose to dance because it allows me to let go and not worry about other things happening in my life, I can channel emotions like stress and sadness into my dancing. I can also be very creative with dance.

What other skills and opportunities has dance provided you with so far?
Dance has helped me become more resilient, confident, and creative.

What is your dream role to perform and with what company?
Right now, there isn’t one particular role I want to play, but my ultimate goal is to get a contract with a professional dance company in 2027 after I graduate from WAAPA. My dream dance company is the Australian Ballet or ABT in America. If I had to choose just one ballet it would be Swan Lake, that has always been my dream!

What are you most excited about for 2024?
I am so excited to move out of home and experience a different city that is bigger than Adelaide, living out of home will force me to grow my independence as a person. I am also excited to be in a place where everyone has the same goal and we get to dance full-time, five days a week, which will enable me to improve my dancing to achieve my goals too.

What an amazing achievement! Enjoy this opportunity Issy, we wish you the very best and can’t wait to see you achieve your dreams.

Back to top

---

Music Student Success

Congratulations to Year 6 student Nishka Juneja who scored a high distinction in her AMEB exam. (Australian Music Examination Board)

If your daughter completes an exam this year and you would like us to celebrate her achievements, please send an email to comms@stpetersgirls.sa.edu.au with the grade and results.

Back to top

---

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

Back to top

---

Absences from School

If your child will be absent from school/ELC or is arriving late or leaving early, please notify the School via one of the following methods:

Text: 0428 601 957
Email: attendance@stpetersgirls.sa.edu.au
Phone: 8334 2200

Please ensure to include your child’s name, the name of the ELC Room, Class or Home Group and the reason for the absence i.e. illness/appointment/family/sport etc

If notifying via email, feel free to ‘cc’ the teacher of the Room/Class/Home Group as well.

It would be appreciated if notification is received prior to 9am.

Back to top

---

Sports News

Sport Results

Wednesday 14 February – Tuesday 20 February

BASKETBALL

Senior B: Saints (43) v Scotch Senior B (14)

Senior C: Saints (18) v Westminster Senior C1 (15)

Senior D: Saints (3) v Immanuel Senior C1 (26)

Middle A: Saints (26) v Westminster Middle A (66)

Middle B: bye

Middle C: Saints (12) v Immanuel Middle C2 (16)

Middle D Blue: Saints (8) v Immanuel Middle C1 (28)

Middle D White: Saints (5) v Concordia Middle C2 (46)
Best Player: Angela scored all of our 7 points and defended with such great effort all game!
Super woman: Joshitaa had a great first ever game of basketball. Her effort was huge all game and she showed great potential in her dribbling and shooting skills.
Great spirit from the girls in a tough loss, we improved each quarter and really got into the game by the end.

CRICKET

Senior A: Saints (3/66) v Scotch Senior A (5/84)
Best Player: Amelia Lucas – 26* (17)
Super Woman: Phoebe Lucas – great energy in the field including 2 direct hits 1 from the boundary resulting in a run out.

Senior B White: Saints (0/96) v Scotch Senior B (3/51)
Best Player: impossible to separate Milly Sheridan (scored 20* (16) and took 2/3 (2)) and Sophie Ricciuto (scored 19* (14) and took 1/5 (2)). Opened the batting together, positive and clear calling singles, always looking to rotate the strike. Together they were once again instrumental in setting up the win.
Super Woman: Amy Dillon once again took an outstanding catch; keeping wicket a top edge bobbled up and Amy had to cover roughly 10m to take the catch, which she took at full stretch. Another amazing effort!

5/6 White: Saints (10/62) v Wilderness 5/6 White (8/73)

TENNIS

Senior Open A: Saints (19) v Pembroke Premier League (48)

Senior Division 1.2: Saints (46) v Seymour Division 1.3 (17)

Senior Division 3.3: Saints (9/5/38) v Seymour Division 3.2 (9/4/35)
Best Player: Sylvie Flavel – Great foot work and skills
Superwoman: Antra Docherty for being courageous and filling in for the team above this week.
The girls did a great job this weekend against Seymour and were able to come out on top! All girls played well and demonstrated persistence throughout their doubles and singles matches. Well done girls!

Experienced Blue: Saints (3/3/16) v Wilderness Intermediate Blue (3/3/15)

Intermediate Blue: Saints (1/1/7) v St Ignatius Blue (5/5/24)

Intermediate Navy: Saints (4/4/13) v Wilderness White (0/2/8)

Intermediate White: Saints (3/17) v Seymour Intermediate Blue (1/6)
Best Player: Victoria Teo
Superwoman: Kate Yin

Beginner Blue: Saints (2/8) v Seymour Beginner Purple (4/21)

Beginner White: Saints (3/8) v Seymour Beginner Green (1/6)

TOUCH FOOTBALL

Senior B: Saints (4) v St Dominic’s 1 (2)

Middle A: Saints (3) v Mercedes 1 (6)
Best Player: Eleanor Bartter. Great skills, reads the play well.
Superwoman: Wei Ning Khoo.  First time playing Touch and she gave it a red hot go and looked like she has been playing for years. Player voting.

Middle B: Saints (3) v Seymour 2 (6)

VOLLEYBALL

Year 4-6 Blue: Saints (1/51) v Seymour 5/6 Purple (1/50)
Best Player: Colette Palmieri
Superwoman: Zara Millhouse
Serving was great this week for the Blue team.

Year 4-6 Silver: Saints (3/75) v Seymour 5/6 Blue (0/47)
Best Player: Samaira listened to all the feedback, and it showed as she received the ball very well and her serves were incredible.
Superwoman: Penny kept the energy up throughout the whole game and cheered all her teammates on. She lifted the spirit on and off the court!

Senior A: Saints (1/61) v Seymour 5/6 White (2/73)
Best Player: Annabel Keough
Superwomen: Alannah Godfrey, Asha Eaton and Kiera See – Amazing effort by these 3 to make a competitive match with 4 players.
Both teams were carrying an affliction called ‘formal tan’ making a number of players unavailable on both teams. Saints played with only 4 players but being short 2 players did not stop them giving their all. Some really good rallies as serving and ball placement by both teams made it harder to set a strong attack and easy kills. The spirit of the game was enjoyed by both sides making it an enjoyable match to play and watch. Good to hear the formal affliction is short lived with everyone available back next week. Go Saints!!

Middle A: Saints (3/65) v Woodcroft Middle A (0/40)

Middle B: Saints (2/54) v Woodcroft Middle B (1/50)

Middle C Blue: Saints (1/54) v Immanuel Middle C1 (2/63)
Best Player: Nishka
Super Woman: Ruby

Middle C White: Saints (1/54) v Concordia Middle C5 (3/75)

Winter Sport Nominations Are Now Open

 

Even though Summer Sport is still in full swing, it is time to start thinking about what sports your daughter wants to participate in during Winter.

All Winter Sport Nominations will now be done via Clipboard. Please click here for instructions on how to navigate Clipboard for your daughter.

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to reach out.

Alice Johnswood
Director of Sport

Back to top

Back to top

---

IB Merit Winners Shine at Adelaide Town Hall

Last week the 2023 IB Diploma Merit winners from Adelaide Schools were celebrated at a ceremony at Town Hall.

Acknowledging excellence in one or more subjects, including overall distinction scores, Saints Girls’ were presented their Merit certificates by Her Excellency, the Honourable Frances Adamson AC. We are very proud of their achievements and excited for their coming year as the girls begin their tertiary study journey.

Photo (left to right): Ms Kate Fryer, Eleanor Humphrey, Madison Liddy, Ms Cherylyn Skewes, Genevieve Leong, Isabelle Tran, Jasreet Mavi, Ms Carolyn Farr

Back to top

---

Outstanding Results for Stage 2 Musicians

A huge shout out to our Year 12 Music Class of 2023 as 100% of these students achieved within the A Band!

Last year, 14 of our students undertook SACE Stage 2 Music across four different Music subjects including Music Studies, Music Explorations, Solo Performance and Ensemble Performance. Of these, 12 were awarded an A+, two A’s, and two students receiving Merits. What a truly outstanding achievement!

Each of these Music subjects require advanced levels of music literacy including highly rigorous analytical and theoretical study, as well as the ability to synthesize knowledge through creative projects such as music arrangements, composition and use of music technology.

We congratulate the Music class of 2023 on their commitment, drive and passion for their craft, culminating in these magnificent results.

Back to top

---

Year 9s Water Adventure at Aquatics Camp

Last week, the Year 9 cohort headed off to Murraylands Aquatic Centre at Murray Bridge for a two-day water adventure. On arrival everyone realised what a beautiful setting it was, with perfect weather for an amazing couple of days of aquatics challenges. Over the course of the two days, there were six different activities that took place. These activities included sailing, kayaking, stand up paddle boarding, boat handling, water skiing, and knee boarding.

Overall, camp was enjoyable, and we had a lot of fun. My favourite activity was knee boarding. The instructors were very helpful, especially when it came to facing our fears. This camp was a great experience. I was able to bond with my friends, home group and I’m grateful that I had the opportunity to participate in Aquatics Camp.

Sanvi
9KBU

Camp was fun and I enjoyed getting involved in different activities that I hadn’t tried before. I loved getting to have some time away from school with my friends and being able to get into the water so much. It was really great weather as it wasn’t too hot, or too cold and there was a slight wind for sailing which was nice. My favourite activity was knee boarding, we were pulled along behind a boat, while getting water splashed in our faces the whole time.

Annabelle B
9SAKN

As a new student at St Peter’s Girls, I had a wonderful experience at the Year 9 Aquatic Camp. There was a variety of activities to enjoy and try out. The teachers and staff were very welcoming and kind, ensuring a good time at camp. I was able to try many new things such as kneeboarding and water skiing (my personal favourite) while bonding with many of the attending students. I am very grateful to have had the opportunity to experience such a great camp.

Melek
9SAKN

During the aquatics camp the weather was sunny and there were no clouds in sight. All the year 9’s participated in water-based activities such as water skiing, kayaking, kneeboarding, and sailing. While many students were apprehensive about the camp, they tried new things and pushed themselves out of their comfort zones. Kneeboarding was a popular activity as it was fun and was a good challenge. The food supplied by the camp chef was delicious and the Thursday night dinner was a definite highlight. In the evenings we played games, talked, and took photos. Overall, we thoroughly enjoyed aquatics camp and came back home with memories we will never forget.

Jasmin Cetinkol
9SAKN

Back to top

---

Year 10s Reflect on Music Camp

 

Our 12th Music camp was another highly successful experience enjoyed by our top choir, string and band musicians. For the first time we stayed at Woodhouse Activity Centre in Piccadilly.  We are so lucky to be awarded this time by the School to focus on our music making, preparing us for the year and all the exciting music and School events that our music ensembles play at and support.

I really enjoyed getting to know the people in the concert band better and connecting with girls in other year levels. It was fun to get to know the other flutes during sectionals. I feel so much more confident playing in ensembles, we have all improved significantly, the quality of the music we created is a higher level.

The picturesque surroundings of Woodhouse were so beautiful, it was a great setting to be creative and work hard, despite the very hot weather. It was really enjoyable to create special bonds and connect with students of other year levels.

We focused on sight reading and improvisation and there was a supportive environment from the mentors and students. We had some wonderful special guests this year including pianist and vocalist Ciara Ferguson and strings specialist Julian Ferrareto. It was interesting to get a taste of what the life of a professional musician is like.

Camp is always a really enjoyable experience. The balance between working hard in rehearsals, playing great music and having time out to get to know girls in our year level as well as younger and older girls is such a highlight.

On behalf of all the music girls, we are sincerely grateful for all the opportunities and experiences that we were provided by our supportive, dedicated and hardworking music staff and mentors.

Year 10 Music Students

Back to top

---

Lunar New Year Celebrations

On Friday 9 February, the international community at St Peter’s Girls held a dumpling lunch to celebrate the Lunar New Year. Students from all different year levels were invited to feast on the delicious dumplings, whilst solving various riddles in both Mandarin and English as a Lunar New Year tradition.

Lunar New Year is a traditional East Asian holiday that celebrates the beginning of the year. It signifies welcoming new beginnings and leaving behind the bad and the old, a time to reflect on the past and move on to the future. Many people celebrate the Lunar New Year with fireworks, lion dances, red clothing and gifting red pocket envelopes for good luck. This year is the year of the Dragon, which symbolises power, nobility, honour and success. In Chinese culture, the Dragon is recognised as an extraordinary creature, unmatched in talent and excellence. Hopefully we can take many of these attributes into the new year by pushing ourselves to be our best, whether it be in academics, sport, or even just in everyday life.

Happy Lunar New Year!

Alysa Trinh
International Student Prefect

Back to top

---

ELC – News from Learning Community 2

A New Environment Can Inspire Curiosities

It has been so wonderful welcoming everyone back to the ELC over the past few weeks. Observing how children have adapted to change so effortlessly whilst maintaining enthusiasm towards their learning has been inspiring. This term, we are excited to use the building site and the changing environment around us as a provocation in our IB Unit of Inquiry. We acknowledge it may be a huge adjustment for our older children in Pathway Hallett and Pathway Ferguson temporarily using learning spaces such as the atelier and the mid-year reception room. What the teaching team has decided to do however, is turn this unique experience into a learning opportunity. Because of this, our central idea for this term’s unit of inquiry is ‘A new environment can inspire curiosities.’ The children have already begun participating in a range of learning opportunities such as:

• Mathematical sequencing provocations
• Drawing designs of their future learning space
• Making mathematical predictions
• Learning about mapping and architectural designs
• Recording daily observations of building progress
• Using literacy to convey a sense of belonging by making room signs

We are eager to continue using our environment as a source of inspiration to further develop our curiosity and noticing skills. We look forward to sharing what this learning looks like on the MyLink parent app.

Back to top

---

A Blooming Valentine’s Day at Saints

Valentine’s Day blossomed into a vibrant celebration of science and love! Our Scientist in Residence program, always keen to merge learning with fun, introduced our Junior School students to the wonders of plant biology during the Monday lunchtime session. It was a day of discovery, as our budding scientists explored how plants drink water using a method that was as eye-catching as it was educational. Each girl selected a white Carnation and submerged its stem in water tinted with food colouring. The girls also heard about a hypothesis and brainstormed what might happen next.

These colourful creations weren’t just for the girls to admire; they became heartfelt gifts. Students proudly presented their STEM-crafted blooms to special loved ones and staff across the School, spreading joy and a touch of scientific magic. The excitement was infectious. Plus, with a scan of the QR code attached to each flower’s label, recipients were able to see the girls’ journey through the experiment. It perfectly blended fun and science, encapsulating the spirit of innovation we cherish here at Saints Girls.

Lene Van Schalkwyk
Scientist in Residence

Melissa O’Loughlin
STEM Innovation Leader

Back to top

---

Churros Day! Celebrating Spanish Culture at Recess

On Thursday 15 February, Year 11 and 12 Spanish Ab Initio students gathered to celebrate a delicious tradition. Organised by Señor Giner, students shared churros with chocolate.

For those unfamiliar, churros are deep-fried dough pastries, typically dusted with sugar (and sometimes cinnamon) and served with a side of rich, warm chocolate dipping sauce. Originating from Spain, they have become a staple treat in Spanish-speaking countries around the world, and our Spanish students had the opportunity to indulge in this delightful delicacy.

As part of their language studies, students not only learn to communicate in Spanish but also explore the diverse traditions and customs of Spanish-speaking countries, and what better way to experience culture than through its cuisine? Through experiences like these, we broaden our horizons, gain appreciation for diverse traditions, and foster connections that transcend language barriers.

Joaquín Giner
Spanish Teacher

Back to top

---

Year 6 Student Leadership Service

Dear Year 6 Families,

The Head of Junior School, Ms Marika Taylor, warmly invites two guests per family to attend the Year 6 Student Leaders’ Badge Presentation and Leadership Service.

Tuesday 20 February, 12.15pm in the Chapel at St Peter’s Girls’ School

Following the service, Year 6 students and their guests are welcome to enjoy a light lunch on Chiverton Lawns.

Please click here to book.

Back to top

---

Swimming Carnival 2024

On Friday 23 February (Week 4), St Peter’s Girls’ School will be holding the annual Swimming Carnival for Years 4 to 12 at the Adelaide Aquatic Centre, North Adelaide. Students are expected to be at the Aquatic Centre no later than 8.30am, with the Carnival concluding by approximately 3.30pm. Parents and friends are welcome to attend to support the girls.

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

To assist other families, we are offering a special bus service to transport students from school to the Aquatic Centre and back. Buses will depart school at 7.45am and return by approximately 4.15pm. To register your daughter’s place on this bus service, please visit TryBooking before 9am, Monday 19 February.

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

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

To view the program of events – click here.

Just In time for Swimming Carnival!

St Peters Girls hooded towels now available at The School Shop. One size fits all, $35.

House Merchandise

Students have the opportunity to purchase House merchandise for Swimming Carnival. Orders must be received by 5pm Tuesday 20 February via TryBooking.

Items will be delivered to Junior School classrooms, older students will be asked to collect their order from Front Office on Thursday 22 February so they can bring them to Swimming Carnival on Friday.

Items available for purchase: House Bundle (hat, water bottle, 2 tattoos and wristband) – $26

All proceeds support the School via the Friends of Sport. Thank you for your support.

Click here to view and purchase the House merchandise.

Friends of Sport

Back to top

---

Generations Breakfast and Photo

We would like to invite our Old Scholar mothers and grandmothers, along with their children to participate in our Generations Breakfast and 130 Photograph event.

To acknowledge the Old Scholars’ connection and highlight the importance of generations in the School’s rich history, we will be capturing a moment in time with a group photograph of our current students with their Old Scholar mothers and/or grandmothers.

Please join us for breakfast on Chiverton Lawns, Thursday 7 March at 8am prior to the photograph with your child.

Our guest speaker Fiona Dorman (nee Khor, Patteson 1996), President of the National Council of Women SA, will also join us as we celebrate International Women’s Day.

*Attending students will commence the School Day in Lesson 2.

Please RSVP here by Friday 1 March 2024

Back to top

---

ELC Twilight Family Picnic

ELC families are invited to our ELC Twilight Family Picnic on Friday 23 February from 5pm to 7pm on Chiverton Lawns.

Families are encouraged to bring a picnic basket and rug for this family-friendly event. A sausage sizzle will be available on the night with pre-order required. Bookings for the sausage sizzle can be made via Trybooking. Please book by Monday 19 February, 5pm as there is a limited sausage sizzle. Please also note this is a cashless event.

We ask that families bring their own drinks, and that no glassware is used on the lawns as safety is one of our highest priorities.

The Twilight Family Picnic is an ELC community event and a wonderful opportunity to meet other families. We look forward to gathering as a community and spending this special time together.

Back to top

---

Junior School Parents – THRASS Information Evening

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

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

Tuesday 20 February, 6 – 7pm
Jeffreys Linn Arts Centre

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

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

Helen Smith
Deputy Head of Junior School

Back to top

---

OSA Paint and Sip Event

Please join us for our ‘Paint & Sip’ event Friday 23 February 2024.

The evening commences at 5.30pm with a two-hour painting session lead by artist Makaela Nolan. Tickets are $45 each and include wine, nibbles, all art supplies and a take-home canvas. Limited places available. Please click here to book.

We hope to see you there!

Back to top

---

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

Back to top

---

Absences from School

If your child will be absent from school/ELC or is arriving late or leaving early, please notify the School via one of the following methods:

Text: 0428 601 957
Email: attendance@stpetersgirls.sa.edu.au
Phone: 8334 2200

Please ensure to include your child’s name, the name of the ELC Room, Class or Home Group and the reason for the absence i.e. illness/appointment/family/sport etc

If notifying via email, feel free to ‘cc’ the teacher of the Room/Class/Home Group as well.

It would be appreciated if notification is received prior to 9am.

Back to top

---

Sports News

Sport Results

Wednesday 7 February – Tuesday 13 February

BASKETBALL

Senior B: Saints (61) v Pulteney Senior B (13)

Senior C: cancelled

Senior D: cancelled

Middle A: Saints (39) v Wilderness Middle A (45)

Middle B: cancelled

Middle C: cancelled

Middle D Blue: cancelled

Middle D White: cancelled

CRICKET

Senior A: Saints (6/31) v Pembroke Open A (5/93)
Best Player: Elodie (2 wickets and 6*)
Superwoman: Ella took 2 wickets and gave lots of encouragement in the field. Went into bat with a great attitude despite not batting in a game before.

Senior B: Saints (6/91) v Walford Senior A (3/95)

TENNIS

Senior Open A: cancelled

Senior Division 3.3: Saints (5/5/30) v Immanuel 3.2 (2/2/23)

VOLLEYBALL

Senior A: Saints (0/27) v Concordia A1 (3/75)

Senior B: Saints (1/51) v Immanuel Open B4 (2/73)

Senior C: Saints (2) v Pembroke Senior C (1)

Senior D: Saints (0) v Pembroke Senior D (3)

Middle A: Saints (0/75) v Concordia Middle A (3/49)

Middle B: Saints (0/40) v Concordia Middle B (3/75)

Middle C Blue: Saints (3/75) v Concordia Middle C3 (0/46)

Middle C White: Saints (1/57) v Concordia Middle C6 (2/72)

Middle D Blue: Saints (1/54) v Concordia Middle C4 (2/72)

Middle D White: Saints (1/65) v Concordia Middle C5 (2/63)

Back to top

Back to top

---

Academic Excellence Assembly

It was wonderful to celebrate some of our newest Old Scholars and current students for their outstanding achievements across SACE and IB in 2023 at our annual Academic Excellence Assembly.

Special thanks to our guest speaker, former Dux Bethany Cross (Patteson 2018), who presented an engaging speech as well as shared inspiring advice with our audience. ‘It’s ok not to have found what you want to do, as long as you’re looking. You won’t know what excites and interests you until you try. It is perfectly reasonable to try one thing, realise it’s wrong, turn around and try something else. I’ve found that people are generally willing to help, and it’s incredibly rewarding to realise you really like something you’ve just discovered.’

With a Bachelor of Science (majors in Genetics and Bioinformatics), Bethany is currently studying a Master of Philosophy in Molecular and Biomedical Science. She is interested in the fields of genomics and science communication and plans to further explore her research topic in the future.

Congratulations to all our award recipients, such an inspiring occasion for all present!

Back to top

---

ELC Joins our eNews

We’d like to extend a warm welcome to our ELC families to the St Peter’s Girls’ eNews. The eNews is a cherished platform of communication from our entire School community.  We are a one campus school, ELC – Year 12, and we are looking forward to sharing in the learnings and special moments from our ELC.

Back to top

---

Year 7 Parent Information Evening

The Year 7 Parent Information Evening will be held in Week 3, from 6.30pm to 7.30pm on Thursday 15 February.

Commencing in the Jeffreys Linn Arts Centre before relocating to Middle School classrooms.

If you are a current parent of a Year 7 student and you wish to attend this event, please send your RSVP via email to Jo Fraser jfraser@stpetersgirls.sa.edu.au.

I look forward to sharing this time with you and know that you will find it an informative and worthwhile evening.

Emma Smerdon
Head of Middle School

Back to top

---

ELC Learning and Teaching Evening

Dear ELC families,

We would like to invite you to our Learning and Teaching evening at the ELC.

This event will be held on Monday 12 February at 6.30pm. The evening will start with a gathering in the School Chapel to Meet the Director, find out more about the progress of the extension and upgrade of Learning Community 2 and hear about how St Peter’s Girls’ ELC nurtures each child’s learning and development so that they are able to thrive and reach their full potential. This will be followed by a unique opportunity to visit your child’s room to see the learning environment and hear from the teaching team about how we plan and implement our units of inquiry and gain a better understanding of the teaching and learning within our ELC context.

As this is a formal presentation, we recommend parents/guardians only attend this event.

Back to top

---

Junior School Parents – THRASS Information Evening

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

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

Tuesday 20 February, 6 – 7pm
Jeffreys Linn Arts Centre

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

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

Helen Smith
Deputy Head of Junior School

Back to top

---

Reminder: Drinks on the Lawns Tonight

Back to top

---

Year 6 Student Leadership Service

Dear Year 6 Families,

The Head of Junior School, Ms Marika Taylor, warmly invites two guests per family to attend the Year 6 Student Leaders’ Badge Presentation and Leadership Service.

Tuesday 20 February, 12.15pm in the Chapel at St Peter’s Girls’ School

Following the service, Year 6 students and their guests are welcome to enjoy a light lunch on Chiverton Lawns.

Please click here to book.

Back to top

---

Swimming Carnival 2024

On Friday 23 February (Week 4), St Peter’s Girls’ School will be holding the annual Swimming Carnival for Years 4 to 12 at the Adelaide Aquatic Centre, North Adelaide. Students are expected to be at the Aquatic Centre no later than 8.30am, with the Carnival concluding by approximately 3.30pm. Parents and friends are welcome to attend to support the girls.

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

To assist other families, we are offering a special bus service to transport students from school to the Aquatic Centre and back. Buses will depart school at 7.45am and return by approximately 4.15pm. To register your daughter’s place on this bus service, please visit TryBooking before 9am, Monday 19 February.

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

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

To view the program of events – click here.

Swimming Carnival House Merchandise

Students have the opportunity to purchase House merchandise for Swimming Carnival. Orders must be received by 5pm Tuesday 20 February via TryBooking.

Items will be delivered to Junior School classrooms, older students will be asked to collect their order from Front Office on Thursday 22 February so they can bring them to Swimming Carnival on Friday.

Items available for purchase: House Bundle (hat, water bottle, 2 tattoos and wristband) – $26

All proceeds support the School via the Friends of Sport. Thank you for your support.

Click here to view and purchase the House merchandise.

Friends of Sport

Back to top

---

Welcoming Our New Scientist in Residence: Lene van Schalkwyk

 

We are thrilled to introduce our newest Science Faculty member, Lene van Schalkwyk, who joins us as our Scientist in Residence. With an impressive background in research in Health and Medical Sciences and currently completing a PhD in Pharmacogenetics, Lene embodies a passion for scientific inquiry and discovery. Her presence at our school underscores our commitment to innovative STEM education and provides our students with an exciting and an invaluable opportunity to engage with real-world scientific research.

Lene’s role is pivotal in bringing science to life in our classrooms. The impact of a Scientist in Residence extends beyond the laboratory. Lene will play a crucial role in reshaping perceptions of scientists, particularly for our young girls. The presence of a female scientist in such a prominent role is instrumental in breaking down gender biases and expanding the image of what a scientist can be. By working alongside Lene, our students will see firsthand that scientists are diverse, relatable individuals who pursue fascinating and impactful work. This exposure is crucial in encouraging more girls to consider STEM fields, where they are traditionally underrepresented. We are confident that Lene’s influence will leave a lasting impression on our students, inspiring the next generation of innovative thinkers and leaders.

Welcome, Lene, to St Peter’s Girls School! We eagerly anticipate your vibrant ideas and experiences in our community.

A message from Lene
My name is Lene van Schalkwyk. I’m completing a PhD in Pharmacogenetics at the University of Adelaide, researching HIV in indigenous communities. I have a Bachelor of Science (majors in Genetics and Pharmacology) and an Honours degree in Health and Medical Sciences. I’ve worked as a tutor and practical demonstrator at the University for many years across fields such as medicine, health and medical sciences, and science.

My passion for science and for sharing science with others began in primary school during the Oliphant Science Awards. I hope to bring the joy of scientific discovery I experienced early in school to the students. What excites me about science is its application and integration with medicine through research, clinical trials, and diagnostic advancements to enhance our understanding and treatment of health and disease.

I believe that ongoing interdisciplinary collaboration ensures a dynamic relationship that fosters continual progress to benefit individuals and communities. I want to inspire scientific curiosity and a keen interest in STEM.

Back to top

---

ELC Twilight Family Picnic

ELC families are invited to our ELC Twilight Family Picnic on Friday 23 February from 5pm to 7pm on Chiverton Lawns.

Families are encouraged to bring a picnic basket and rug for this family-friendly event. A sausage sizzle will be available on the night with pre-order required. Bookings for the sausage sizzle can be made via Trybooking. Please book by Monday 19 February, 5pm as there is a limited sausage sizzle. Please also note this is a cashless event.

We ask that families bring their own drinks, and that no glassware is used on the lawns as safety is one of our highest priorities.

The Twilight Family Picnic is an ELC community event and a wonderful opportunity to meet other families. We look forward to gathering as a community and spending this special time together.

Back to top

---

Girls in Tech Day is Coming!

Get ready to experience the thrill of innovation because St Peter’s Girls School’s annual Girls in Tech Day is just three weeks away! On Thursday, February 29, from 9am to 2.30pm, we invite our Year 5 and 6 girls, in conjunction with several local schools, to a spectacular full-day event sure to spark their tech curiosity.

An exciting tech arena, including professional workshops and an Innovation Hub engage girls in a dynamic celebration of technology. Girls in Tech is now in its sixth year, and we know the girls will enjoy the fusion of activities on offer such as how to create your own podcast with Poddiy, laser cutting with Trotec and interactive robotics workshops. More information will follow in Week 4.

Our Girls in Tech Day is not just about gadgets and gizmos; it’s about connecting the girls to inspiring careers and real-world applications and igniting their imagination. Mark your calendars – and let’s countdown to a day of discovery and empowerment through technology at Saint Peter’s Girls School!

Melissa O’Loughlin
STEM Innovation Leader

Back to top

---

Pancake Breakfast Next Week

Next Tuesday is Shrove Tuesday, the day before the season of Lent begins. Lent is the season in the Christian Church that focuses our attention on the upcoming events of Easter. Lent is traditionally a time for fasting and prayer but before lent begins it is common to have a feast. This year will be holding a pancake breakfast for students in year 7-12 to mark the beginning of Lent.

We will be serving pancakes before school outside the Food Tech centre on Tuesday 13 February 8 – 8.30am.

Pancakes will be $3 for 1 or $5 for 2.
All proceeds going towards our house charities.

Hope Sanders-Wills
Chapel Prefect

Mr Bassett
School Chaplain

Back to top

---

Saints European Renaissance Tour

 

Our students joined with St Peter’s College to explore Renaissance Italy over the holidays. Tour highlights included guided tours in Venice of the Doge’s Palace, San Marco Basilica, the Venetian islands, bringing in the new year viewing iconic fireworks on private boats on the Grand Canal, a bike ride around the old city walls of Lucca, an Italian cooking course in Florence, guided exploration of iconic landmarks in Florence including the Santa Croce, Santa Maria Novella, San Lorenzo, Uffizi Gallery, and the Duomo Cathedral. We also participated in a service at St James’ Episcopal Church with our students reading the Gospel and Prayers.

The tour not only provided students with an opportunity to explore the rich cultural tapestry of the Renaissance but also fostered an appreciation for art, history, and architecture and an understanding of the complexities of High Renaissance Italian geopolitics. We also managed to help the Italian economy with our enthusiastic shopping excursions!

Thank you to the dedicated staff who organised the tour, especially Mr. Nicolas Smith and the students at St Peter’s College who helped make our trip memorable.

Lynne Spry
History and Legal Studies Teacher

Ann Li
Enrolments and International Student Manager & Chinese Teacher

Back to top

---

News from ELC Learning Community 1

A very warm welcome to Term 1 in Learning Community 1! Welcome to our new families who are about to embark on a new journey with us at St Peter’s Girls’ ELC, and welcome back to our families continuing with us in both the Bell Yett and Stonyfell Rooms. We begin the year in Learning Community 1 with an open mind and excitement for what the year ahead has in store for our community of learners.

As we embark on a new year together, the teaching team take time to reflect on what is important for our youngest citizens of St Peter’s Girls’ Early Learners’ Centre. The development of relationships and a feeling of connectedness are pivotal to a child’s sense of belonging and wellbeing. These underpin their ability to develop understandings, enhance knowledge and learn new skills.

With this in mind, our Central Idea for Term 1 is:
‘A new environment can inspire curiosities.’

Within the context of Learning Community 1, we will deeply explore this Central Idea, guided by the following lines of inquiry:

• Interactions with one another
• Discoveries of shared rituals and new learning environments
• Transformation of the ELC

Through these inquiries, our intention is for the children to develop a strong sense of belonging to our Learning Community, create connections with people, places and spaces, and to encourage children to embrace their curiosity as it sparks wonder, creativity and a desire to learn.

We are looking forward to a wonderful term ahead with you and your children.

Nell Tierney, Annabelle Redmond, Dot Kelly and Kathy McCabe
Learning Community 1 Teachers

Back to top

---

ELC Vacation Care Reflection

Over the December and January school holiday period, Learning Community 1 continued to immerse and explore the meaning of celebration. We reflected on how celebrations often serve as a cultural and personal narrative, reflecting traditions, values and milestones within a community or individual life.

The children expressed their Christmas wishes through letters to Santa, engaged in traditional festive activities such as cookie making, singing carols, decorating the Christmas tree, and we had a fun New Year’s Eve dance party.

The children shared stories of celebrating with families over the Christmas holiday break, meeting Santa, having a BBQ, big dinners, picnics, birthdays and going to the beach.

We revisited all the skills we acquired in 2023 and the children showcased their knowledge by confidently participating in activities and shared it with each other. We continued to celebrate the beautiful summer sun through water play, beach set up and dramatic play, and cooking food using the summer produce from our ELC garden.

Back to top

---

OSA Paint and Sip Event

Please join us for our ‘Paint & Sip’ event Friday 23 February 2024.

The evening commences at 5.30pm with a two-hour painting session lead by artist Makaela Nolan. Tickets are $45 each and include wine, nibbles, all art supplies and a take-home canvas. Limited places available. Please click here to book.

We hope to see you there!

Back to top

---

Diary apology

We would like to address a mistake that has been brought to our attention in the Middle and Senior School Diary.  An error was made in the Term 3 dates content. To rectify this, we will be collecting all diaries from the students at the end of Term 1. During the school holidays we will resolve the issue and have the diaries back to the students ready to commence Term 2.

Back to top

---

Tuck Shop Ordering – Flexischools

We have finalised our 2024 classes in Flexischools.

To simply change your child’s profile to their 2024 year and class: 

1. Open your Flexischools app and select ‘Profile’
2. Under ‘Students‘ select the relevant student
3. Update their ‘Year level‘ and ‘Class‘ and hit ‘Save‘

Don’t see your child’s class? Here’s what we suggest.

Back to top

---

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

Back to top

---

Absences from School

If your child will be absent from school/ELC or is arriving late or leaving early, please notify the School via one of the following methods:

Text: 0428 601 957
Email: attendance@stpetersgirls.sa.edu.au
Phone: 8334 2200

Please ensure to include your child’s name, the name of the ELC Room, Class or Home Group and the reason for the absence i.e. illness/appointment/family/sport etc

If notifying via email, feel free to ‘cc’ the teacher of the Room/Class/Home Group as well.

It would be appreciated if notification is received prior to 9am.

Back to top

---

Sports News

Sport Results

Wednesday 31 January – Tuesday 6 February

BASKETBALL

Senior C: Saints (37) v Seymour C1 (21)

Senior D: Saints (22) v Seymour C (8)

Middle D White: Cancelled

Middle D Blue: Saints (10) v Seymour Middle C (38)
Best Player: Serena Zhang, scored 6 out of our 10 points this week! She took some great shots over a very tall opposition.
Superwoman: Ivy Zhang, gave 110% effort every time she was on the court and was a voice of encouragement from the sideline all game!

Middle C: Saints (10) v Seymour Middle C (33)
Best Player: Evie Murphy showed a large amount of effort in defending a talented Seymour team and taking on their players in offence too.
Superwoman: Sandra Hennes (fill in) applied great pressure to their players. She was often the first player to run back in defence each time.

CRICKET

Senior A: Saints (1/107) v Pulteney Senior A (7/22)
Best Player: Phoebe Lucas. She provided a great fielding effort and smashed 29 off 13 balls including her first 6! Top score for our team.
Superwomen: Our entire team! Pulteney unfortunately were short on players and our girls stepped up like absolute champions and sub fielded for them to make sure a game could happen.

Senior B: Saints Blue (7/63) v Saints White (2/91)
Best Player: Winnie Vartuli, top scored with 29* (20) including three boundaries – smashing it!
Superwoman: Sylvie Flavel made wonderful partnerships at the crease, positive in looking for singles and calling clearly, kept the strike rotating.

TENNIS

Senior Open A: Saints (0/0/19) v Scotch Senior A (12/12/72)
Best Player: Sophie Wiggins had a strong performance in both doubles and singles. First time playing as our number 3, and she showed great promise.
Super Woman: Ayanna Roy as she led from the front as captain and helped to get the girls organised to play when there was a last minute coaching sub!

VOLLEYBALL

Senior A: Saints (2/56) v Westminster Senior A (1/53)
Best Player: Annabel Keough as she had amazing skills.
Superwoman: Alannah Godfrey for playing with consistency and directing court traffic to help the team.

Senior B: Bye

Senior C: Bye

Senior D: Bye

Middle A: Saints (1/60) v Westminster Middle A (2/61)
Best Player: Imogen had strong serving, good voice on and off court as well as reading the play.
Superwoman: Lucy as she came up as a fill in, having confidence to go for the ball, persistence when things weren’t going perfectly.

Middle B: Bye

Middle C Blue: Saints (2) v Seymour Middle C1 (1)

Middle C White: Saints (2) v Seymour Middle C2 (1)

Scarlett Smashes it at Nationals!

In December, Scarlett Drake attended Cheercon Nationals in Sydney at the International Convention Centre with her club South Coast Elite. She competed in two teams. Team Mini Gunz finished second overall and team Youth Ops took out first place and were crowned National Champions! Scarlett showed that hard work does pay off, she was awarded the Coaches Award and Spirit Award by her club for being the most coachable and high-spirited team member.

Well done Scarlett, such a great achievement!

Back to top