Issue no. 36

From the Head of Middle School

1:1 Program Information Session

It was encouraging to see so many parents at last week’s 1:1 Information Evening in the Arts Centre. Melissa Bray, eLearning Coordinator, delivered an informative talk that certainly gave parents plenty of practical advice on how to ensure that our students are engaging with the Internet in a safe, responsible and age-appropriate way, whilst also explaining the benefits of each device that the School has chosen for girls from Years 4-12. Nico Cronis, IT manager, then gave a detailed but straightforward summary of the devices available through the School Shop, and how best to connect them to the School’s network.

The School’s Teaching and Learning Committee has spent much time over the last year researching the capabilities of new devices on the market, as well as evaluating the current 1:1 program, which has now been in existence for three years. As a result, it was felt that the iPad was the correct production/consumption device for students up until the end of Year 7, whilst a laptop was considered to be the best fit for students in our late Middle and Senior years.

During the question and answer section of the evening, many questions were asked about the School’s approach to Cyber Safety and potential inappropriate use by students, as well as about our advice as to how to best parent in a digital age.

Amongst the many pieces of advice shared with parents were:

• All Internet-enabled devices (iPad, phone, iPod, Xbox) should be in a common area of the house during the night, NOT IN THE BEDROOM!
• Parental monitoring is vital – walk past and see what your child is doing, whom they are talking to and what sites they are on….be aware if their mood changes. This is NOT invading their privacy at all; it is parenting in the digital space
• Children Under 13 ARE NOT ALLOWED to register a Facebook, Instagram or SnapChat (and many more) account; nor are they allowed an iTunes or You Tube account
• Social Networking Profiles MUST BE SET TO PRIVATE. Use all the security settings available to make the site as safe as possible. Take the time to do it properly
• Whatever your children use, you should use as well. Set up accounts on the same sites to ensure that they are suitable and the interactions appropriate. Engage with them online. This also allows you to know how these applications work.

A summary of the most common FAQs can be found following this link tinyurl.com/spgs1to1deviceFAQs, as well as links to many excellent parenting resources provided by various Government and Non-Government agencies. As a school, we are committed to educating our students to be safe, responsible and respectful users of technology, and this is reflected in the Responsible Digital Citizenship Framework being developed by Melissa Bray and Monique Green, as well as the various sessions run during Pastoral Care sessions and Health lessons.

Our excellent IT department are available for individual support through much of the holidays, closing only between Friday 23 December and Tuesday 2 January.

Best wishes for a safe and relaxing holiday season.

Richard Lisle
Head of Middle School

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Master Plan Update

Bring out the hardhats and high-vis!

The wait is over! Our Middle School redevelopment is well and truly underway, with builders moving onsite on Monday 12 December. Next week will see preparations continue, including:

• reconfiguration of the bottom half of the boardwalk (disability access to the oval will be via the old library for the final week of term)
• shifting of shipping containers, which are being used for storage during the works
• relocation of the sandpit and swing
• relocation of disabled parking spaces to the Western end of the car park in front of Chiverton.

The next few months will be a time of transformation as our long-held vision for the Middle School comes to life. Be assured that works have been carefully planned to minimise impact on students.

Further updates will be provided as work progresses so watch this space! To view our Master Plan in detail, visit stpetersgirls.sa.edu.au/master-plan.

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Vacation Care for Junior School students

The next instalment of our Vacation Care program is coming up during school holidays and we’d like to extend a warm welcome to primary school aged children from the wider community to attend. Students are welcome to invite friends or siblings to share in the range of enriching activities for both girls and boys.

Junior School program – for children in Reception to Year 6

Come along and join in the fun at Vacation Care these holidays. From Human Foosball to an on-campus Pool Party or Crazy Hair Day, there is sure to be no shortage of fun. Our excursions include a tour to Adelaide Oval, Ice Skating, Pop Up Science Show and much more. Whatever the choice, children can enjoy a range of planned play and leisure activities, practise social skills and solve problems in a safe and relaxed atmosphere.

How it works:

Your child can attend as few or as many days as needed, for full or half days, to suit your schedule and commitments. Simply pre-book the days you would like your child to attend and enjoy Vacation Care at St Peter’s Girls.

Dates:

> Week 1: Monday 12 December to Friday 16 December
> Week 2: Monday 19 December to Friday 23 December
> Week 3: Monday 9 January to Friday 13 January
> Week 4: Monday 16 January to Friday 20 January
> Week 5: Monday 23 January to Friday 27 January. **Thursday 26 January is a Public Holiday**

Download the December/January Vacation Care Program for more details.

To book, visit stpetersgirls.sa.edu.au/vacationcare.

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Sporting Success for  2016!

2016 has proved to be one our most successful years both in numbers as well as placings.

With the appointment of Alice Johnswood as Director of Netball and Peter Krantis as Director of Soccer, these two sports have begun to develop strategic plans and pathways for students from Reception right through to Year 12. Along with Ben Flannagan continuing as Director of Rowing, this program also continues to grow, providing a Learn to Row program for Year 6 as well as in excess of 70 girls involved.

I wish to thank the PE faculty, our Directors, coordinators, supervisors, coaches and, mostly, every student who has represented the School this year. I hope that you have learned new skills, developed new friendships and created some lifelong memories. Thank you must also go to the parents of both the Sport Support Group and Friends of Rowing. The parents of both of these groups contribute throughout the year in a range of ways, and I personally wish to extend my thanks to them for their support of our sporting program.

Participation continues to grow, and in 2016 we fielded 122 teams across 20 different sports. That included 40 out of 60 Year 12 students, and we have acknowledged them with a Service to Sport medal. This compares to 2014 (108 teams) and 2015 (119 teams):

• Athletics – Under 13, Under 16 and overall IGSSA Champions
• Athletics – IGSSA Field event Shield Winner
• Athletics – SSSSA A2 Champions
• Swimming – Under 14, Under 15 and overall IGSSA Champions
• Lacrosse – Under 13 Minor Premiers
• Badminton – Open B Grade Shield Winners
• Softball – Open B Grade Shield Winners
• Volleyball – Middle A Premiers
• Water Polo – Open B and Year 7/8 Premiers
• Tennis – Open A Shield Winners
• Rowing – 9B Head of the River Champions

Added to this, we have had 9 teams make the State Finals in knockout, as well as success at the State Triathlon and Cross Country Championships.

Neil Fuller
Director of Sport

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Bus service bookings for 2017

Click here to view the bus service form for 2017. Please complete and return it to the School Shop or email to sburnett@stpetersgirls.sa.edu.au by Friday 9 December 2016 to confirm your daughter’s place on the bus for next year.

Costs and charging:

Bus use is invoiced each term on your daughter’s fees account. The charging options are:

Term Pass: $290 per term
Casual tickets: $6.50 per trip

A Term Pass covers all trips to and from School for the relevant term. If the Term Pass option is selected at the beginning of the year, it will apply for the full year unless the School is advised prior to the beginning of a new term that you wish to discontinue use of a Term Pass. This advice should be given to me on 8334 2228 or by email to sburnett@stpetersgirls.sa.edu.au.

The cost of the Term Pass will be invoiced at the beginning of the relevant term.
Bus drivers maintain a roll of students travelling on the bus, and where a student does not have a Term Pass the number of trips (one-way, to or from School) travelled in a term will be invoiced at the end of the term.

> Bus service form 2017

For further information, please contact me on 8334 2228 or email sburnett@stpetersgirls.sa.edu.au. For any bus route enquiries, contact Bus Coordinator, Peter Anderson, on 0411 705 395 or panderson@stpetersgirls.sa.edu.au.

Sue Burnett
School Shop Manager

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Mothers’ Club and Year 12 Sausage Sizzle

The Mothers’ Club and Year 12s invite all staff and students to join us for a sausage and a cupcake to celebrate the end of the school year.

This is a complimentary treat to say thank you for your support of Mothers’ Club, and an opportunity for a last farewell from the Class of 2016. We look forward to seeing you all on the last Friday of term, 9 December, at lunchtime on the Chiverton lawns.

Emma Robinson
President of Mothers’ Club

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Student success: Year 11 Student, Charlie Davies

Congratulations to Year 11 student, Charlie Davies, who has received three awards this
year for her study in Stage 1 Korean. One of these awards was presented by the Korean Community of SA at the annual Korean Food and Cultural Festival. On Tuesday night Charlie received the Principal’s Award for Outstanding Academic Achievement from the School of Languages. In the coming weeks Charlie will embark on a three week study tour of South Korea before she studies Korean at Stage 2 level next year. We look forward to hearing about her time in Korea and wish her continued success in 2017.

축하합니다  (chukhahamnida) Congratulations, Charlie.

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Welcome back Olympia Aldersey (Kennion ’11)

Last Thursday Saints Girls welcomed Old Scholar, Olympia Aldersey (Kennion ’11), as the guest presenter for the Middle and Senior School Sports Awards. The girls enjoyed hearing about Olympia’s Rio Olympic experience and future rowing plans. Congratulations to Sophie Terp (Kilburn ’14) who was awarded ‘Coach of the Year’.

Thank you to the many Old Scholars who coach a number of sports and teams at Saints Girls.

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The Magic of Matilda!

What a great way to start the Christmas holidays. This year celebrates 100 years of Roald Dahl and next week you can see one of his most loved stories, Matilda, adapted from the book in the form of a play. The story follows the genius of 5 year old Matilda, played by Isobel Burmester, and her love of reading, her desire to attend school and all of the adventures along the way. In this play Matilda attends Cruncheon Hall Primary, makes new friends in Lavender and Lilac, and falls in love with her lovely, new teacher, Jennifer Honey.

Friday 9 December at 7pm, then Saturday 10 December at 1pm, 4pm and 7pm
Arts Centre, St Peter’s Girls School
Adults $10, Children $5
Suitable for all ages.

Tickets can be purchased at the box office in the Arts Centre. Bookings are not necessary.

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Summer Holiday Activities

Don’t miss out! VACSWIM enrolments closing soon!

Registrations for SA Water’s summer school holiday VACSWIM program are closing fast and families are reminded to book now before it’s too late! More than 13,000 primary school aged children are expected to take part in the summer water safety program at more than 130 pool and beach locations this January. Described as the best value-for-money holiday program with enrolment starting at $30/child, VACSWIM provides children with the opportunity to develop skills and positive experiences in the areas of water safety, confidence and competence in the water, personal survival activities and basic aquatic emergency procedures. Enrolments close 19 December (which is very soon!). Don’t miss out; visit www.vacswimsa.com.au to register your child today!

Christmas Family Movie “Elf” @ Glenunga Hub

Please bring your own picnic blankets and low chairs.

Food stalls open at 7.30 pm. A free shuttle bus service will operate from 7.30 pm between the Burnside Council Civic Centre carpark and the Glenunga Hub, before and after the movie.

Friday 9 December 2016
Glenunga Hub, 70 Conyngham Street, Glenunga
Elf, rated G, at 8.30 pm

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Australian Airforce Cadets

The Australian Air Force Cadets (AAFC) is one of the most dynamic, effective and satisfying youth programs available anywhere in the world today, because it gives young people focus and helps set them up for life.

This is accomplished through a stunning range of activities that can include Cadets learning to fly gliders and powered aircraft solo in their mid-teens, firearms safety training conducted under military supervision, bush survival training, navigation, aeronautics, meteorology, radio communications and first aid, as well as interstate and international travel opportunities through the International Air Cadet Exchange program.

As part of their introduction to the AAFC, all Cadets are offered at least one opportunity to actually pilot an aircraft (with a flying instructor) in their first year of joining.

Studies and activities completed through the AAFC can be counted towards awards of the Duke of Edinburgh International Award Scheme.

Studies completed through the AAFC can also gain recognition towards the South Australian Certificate of Education (SACE).

If you would like more information please download this flyer.

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Presentation Night and final day arrangements

Final Day

Friday 9 December

Attendance at School finishes for Reception – Year 12 3.30pm Friday 9 December.

Presentation Night

Monday 12 December
Adelaide Town Hall
7pm start

• No attendance at School for any students
• Full School Uniform
• Musicians must arrive by 5.45pm
• All Middle School students should arrive by 6pm
• All Senior School Students should arrive by 6.15pm
• All other students should arrive by 6.30pm
• Guests should be seated by 6.45pm

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Year 6 Graduation

The annual Year 6 Graduation will be held on Wednesday 7 December.
Years 3-6 students will attend the ceremony, and all families are welcome to attend.

2pm, Wednesday 7 December
 Arts Centre, St Peter’s Girls’ School

To book, visit trybooking.com/NOIN.

Cassandra Moore and Vicki Hudson
Year 6 Teachers

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Year 9 Graduation

The annual Year 9 Graduation will be held on Thursday 8 December. Year 9 parents have been sent a formal invitation, and other Middle School families are also welcome to attend.

2.15pm, Thursday 8 December
Arts Centre, St Peter’s Girls’ School

Please RSVP at trybooking.com/NOIF.

We hope to see as many parents as possible join us for this special celebration.

Richard Lisle
Head of Middle School

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Sports News

Sports Nominations 2017

Nominations for sport Term 1, 2017, are now available to be submitted. Please ensure that you select the year that the students will be in next year! While training days have been provided, these are subject to change based on availability of coaches. This quick and easy process can be done by clicking on this link.

School Sport Australia 12 Year & under National Track & Field Championships

Congratulations to Molly Dwyer (Year 4) who won a Silver Medal in the 800m for 10 year olds. Molly ran a 9 second personal best to record 2min30sec. Portia Maerschel (Year 7) made the final of the 200m and finished 5th, also setting a new personal best time of 27.00 seconds.

Junior Teeball

Saints 20 defeated Wilderness 9
St Peter’s Girls had a well-deserved win. Highlights of the game were Willow’s three home runs and several catches and a triple play in the fourth innings. Everyone had an outstanding game, working well as a team! The improvement has been clearly visible throughout the season. Jasmine Ledgard and Lydia Smalls (Coaches)

Softball – Year 8/9 Knockout State Finals

Saints successfully defeated Unley and Brighton but lost a close game to Mount Gambier in the pool rounds. In the final Saints led early and applied a lot of pressure but eventually went down to Mount Gambier 4-7, finishing second overall.

Junior Tennis

Division 1 Blue – Saints 3-21 defeated Seymour Green 3-19
Singles: Maiya Jakupec 4-1, Fleur Maris 4-0, Willow Stewart-Rattray 1-4, Sophie Dansie 2-4

Division 1 White – Saints 6-28 defeated Seymour 0-7
Singles: Sienna Glazbrook 4-0, Mia Dodd 4-0, Emily Baldwinson 4-0, Tahlia Louca 4-0

Division 2 Blue – Saints 2- 17 defeated by Scotch 4-23
Singles: Georgia Langley 1-4, Adele Eaton 3-4, Charlotte Parker 0-4, Letitia Page-Thomson 4-3

Division 2 White – Saints 5-28 defeated St Andrews 1-17
Singles: Bridgette Leach 2-4, Pearl Richards 4-3, Alicia Toh 3-1, Sophie Abbott3-2

Division 3 – Saints 6-26 defeated St Andrews 0-6
Singles: Lucy Schrippa 4-0, Maddie Harrex 4-1, Adelaide Murphy 4-0, Ruby Kirwan 4-2

Junior Volleyball

Year 6 – Saints had a bye
Year 5 – Saints 0 defeated by Wilderness 3 (19-25, 16-25, 21-25)
Saints put in an excellent performance across all 3 sets and demonstrated how much they have improved. Considering it is their first term of playing matches, they have applied their skills and continue to try to use the skills they have learned.

Rowing

On Saturday Charlotte Sellers (Stroke), Imogen Parkinson (3 seat), Hannah Keough (2 seat) and Paris Robinson (bow) came first in their race. The girls rowed very well and with lots of power behind the boat, but the boat was very unbalanced due to the handles of the oars being at different heights. Charlotte Creek

Surfing

Congratulations to Imogen Elliott who won the SA round of the WAHU nationals at Middleton in horrendous conditions. By winning the U14 girls category, she has now been invited to attend a training camp at the AIS High Performance Centre in March next year, featuring the top ranked girls in her age. Imogen also took out the Woolworths top wave award of the Competition. Awesome job, Imogen. Neil Fuller (Director of Sport)

Softball – Year 6/7 Knockout

Saints put in another terrific display to win and proceed to the State finals with a convincing 17-4 win against Hendon Primary School. Once again Saints started well, scoring 6 runs to 1 in the first innings and then managing to maintain pressure by scoring runs and fielding very well. Good pitching by Kellie Bested and Amelia Pudney set the match up and Stephanie Smalls had an outstanding game as catcher. All the best in the final to all team members.

Tennis – Year 6/7 Knockout

The Year 6/7 Tennis team also progressed to the State finals with 4 sets to 2 win against Linden Park Primary School. Sienna Glazbrook, Mia Dodd, Violette Maris and Lily-Rose Spartalis won their respective doubles 6-4, with the singles results being Sienna 6-1, Violette 6-0, Mia 2-6 and Lily-Rose 2-6. Best wishes in the finals to all players.