Issue no. 4

From Our Deputy Principal / Head of Middle School

We regularly talk to the girls about the importance of being able to be flexible in their thinking, to consider multiple possibilities, to be creative in their responses and resilient in the face of challenges. The uncertainty brought by the Omicron wave of COVID-19, coinciding as it has with the beginning of a new school year, and accompanied by a raft of health restrictions and advice, has certainly created an environment where those characteristics have come to the fore.

As teachers should, we aim to model what we espouse, and I’d like to think that our response to the fluid situation we are facing is evidence of that.

We would normally be delighting today in the vibrancy, energy, skill and passion that permeate every Swimming Carnival. Fortunately though, we were able to book the next available date at the Adelaide Aquatic Centre, and we look forward to seeing parents and students enjoying this great event on Tuesday 5 April (Week 10).

From Monday, we are very much looking forward to the resumption of a full program of co-curricular activities, including interschool sport. We know that the girls are very keen to return to competition, and the joint IGSSA representatives have worked hard to ensure that a full summer season will be possible in all sports concluding in Term 4.

The Outdoor Education aspect of the curriculum plays an important role in supporting our pastoral care and wellbeing program, and the Year 7 and 8 Camps are placed in Week 5 in Term 1 for specific reasons. Unfortunately, restrictions have not been relaxed sufficiently for the residential aspect of these camps to proceed next week. Considering many possibilities, our team, alongside our external provider, have been able to quickly plan a week of meaningful and challenging outdoor experiences which will become the curriculum for Year 7 and 8 students next week. Whilst we are all extremely disappointed not to be able to proceed as originally planned, we are hopeful that extended time away from school with Home Group Teachers involved in stimulating and exciting activities will still serve our goal of helping to build teamwork, closer supportive relationships and resilience in the face of challenge.

Finally, we are delighted that we are able to announce that Choral Night 2022 is coming! If you haven’t already done so, please mark Thursday 24 March in your diaries as a date not to miss. With restrictions on singing in choirs lifted, we are thrilled that from the start of Week 6, students will begin rehearsing for the big night. The theme of ‘Power Ballads’ for the House Song has been warmly received by the girls, and much work has already been done by Year 12 students on their dance routines, and by senior students in the arrangement of their House Hymn. Further details about purchasing tickets will be sent in the coming weeks, as will electronic permission requests.

So, despite such a challenging start to a school year, as usual, I’m grateful and buoyed by the supportive, flexible and pragmatic approach taken by staff, students and parents as we navigate a productive way forward together.

Richard Lisle
Deputy Principal/Head of Middle School

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Choral Night – Save the Date!

Thursday 24 March

Our girls are gearing up for Choral Night 2022, which will be held on Thursday 24 March at Influencers Church in Paradise.

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

Details regarding tickets will be provided soon. In the meantime, take a look back at highlights from last year:

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Move a Million Metres for Our New Gym

As you will be aware, we are currently in a major fundraising phase for the development of our new Gym. On Thursday 14 April, coinciding with Summer Interhouse, we will be hosting our inaugural Giving Day, which will provide our community with an opportunity to support this vital venture.

Leading up to Giving Day, we will run an initiative where students can get active and fundraise to help us reach our one million dollar fundraising goal. The group challenge is to collectively MOVE A MILLION METRES!

For Reception to Year 3, on Tuesday 5 April (Week 10), there will be an opportunity for students to participate in a Giant Obstacle Course.

Students in Years 4 – 12 will be tasked with designing their own Saints Girls All-Star Challenge, to be completed in Week 10 or 11. For students who are struggling for inspiration, our Sport Captains will be setting up a range of activities at lunchtimes to help them on their way.

Indeed, our Sport Captains are already leading the charge with this mammoth task, with Sport Prefect Charlie Fishlock planning to climb the height of Mount Everest on the stairs – that’s 901 flights of stairs – and the rest of our Sport Captains committing to collectively hit 20% of the total target and move 200,000m!

More information on this challenge and how to help us fundraise will be distributed to parents and students shortly. In the meantime, get talking with your friends, get excited and get committed to movement. Together, we’ve got this!

Tommy Peak
Director of Sport

For more inspiration, take a look at Saints Girls in action:

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Announcing Our Star Struck Major Lottery

As momentum builds for our Gym fundraising campaign featuring our ‘Saints Girls All-Stars’, we are thrilled to launch our Star Struck Major Lottery.

Ticket sales opened today, so get in quick!

First Prize: Toyota Yaris Ascent Sport from Northpoint Toyota (valued at $27,811)
+ a personalised car park at St Peter’s Girls’ School from 1 January 2023 to 31 December 2023.

This stunning new car could belong to you or someone in your family! Spread the word and feel free to share this opportunity with your friends and relatives.

To buy your tickets: CLICK HERE

Lottery Licence No: M14175

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The Art of Welcome in Our ELC

In the ELC, we have started Term 1 by discussing what it means to feel welcomed and how we can welcome others. This aligns with our current Central Idea that ‘A welcoming community can strengthen connections’.

The children have been delving into these questions through a range of planned experiences including drawing greetings, exploring language, storytelling and role play.

Watch our video to see how we welcome in the ELC.

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Girls Be Sharp in Year 1 Music Class

Our Year 1 students have embraced the new school year by sharpening their music skills with the welcoming call and response song ‘Hey Everybody’.

The girls are developing their aural acuity, building confidence in singing, recognising and clapping rhythm, and discerning the difference between a steady beat and rhythm. We also discussed the influences of Indigenous instrumentation within the song.

We look forward to continuing our music journey together!

Sally Rounsevell
Director of Music

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Important COVID-19 Notice

To help protect the health of our families, staff and the wider community, we must all work together to minimise the risk of COVID-19 transmission. Please be reminded of the following:

Children are to be kept home if they are unwell, even mildly.

If your child tests positive to COVID-19, notify us immediately. Please also provide the date your child’s test was taken and the date symptoms started (if no symptoms, note ‘asymptomatic’).

Where possible, to help limit the amount of telephone traffic, please notify us via email or text:

Email:  attendance@stpetersgirls.sa.edu.au
Text:  0428 601 957 (save to phone contacts as SPGS)

If you do need to notify us over the phone, please call the Front Office on 8334 2200.

If there are COVID cases within the school setting, parents of classroom contacts will be notified, and these children can continue to attend school provided they have no symptoms.

FRONT OFFICE DROP-OFFS

With current restrictions on parents entering the School grounds and to assist our staff, please ensure your daughter has all of the items she needs for the day to reduce the amount of items being dropped off at the Front Office.

We thank all of our families for your continued support and cooperation.