Issue no. 13
From Our Deputy Principal / Head of Middle School
Last Friday, I was delighted to speak with students in Years 7 – 11 about our new student Leadership Program: Leadership Matters.
It’s named after Muriel Matters who was studying at university in Adelaide when our School was founded in 1894, the same year women in South Australia gained the right to vote. Muriel went on to campaign courageously for female suffrage in the UK. Her clear vision and determination to take action about something she believed in passionately, developing a variety of skills along the way, and showing perseverance, determination and being able to act with agility in a changing environment, make her a fabulous catalyst for thought about contemporary female leadership.
The program is based on research from academic papers on student leadership from around the world, as well as an audit of best practice from national and international schools. We arranged the program into four domains:
Self-Leadership: where students will look at the role that understanding emotions, self-regulation, personal values, motivation, strengths, weaknesses and personal wellbeing all play in our ability to lead successfully.
Fostering Positive Relationships: in this domain, students will look at the way that empathy, trust, inclusiveness, conflict resolution, collaboration, and the ability to motivate and empower others all combine to help build great teams.
Goal Achievement: where students will learn specific communication, problem-solving, agile thinking, time management and project management skills to enable them to bring their ideas and projects to fruition.
Taking the Lead – Taking Action: the practical component of the course, where students will be given carefully curated opportunities to experience and reflect upon leadership moments.
Underpinning the program is the firm belief that leadership skills and processes can be learnt by all students, and that everyone has the capacity to seek out and embrace ‘moments of leadership’, whether they hold a formal leadership role or not.
On Tuesday, we were excited to welcome back Old Scholar and former Deputy Head Prefect Thenu Herath (Patteson 2015) to talk to students in Years 5 – 12. Thenu is currently studying part-time the Juris Doctor course (graduate Law degree) at the University of Melbourne, whilst also being the CEO of the Oaktree Foundation. Oaktree is a youth-run international development agency. It believes that every young person should have an equitable chance to reach their potential, no matter where they are born. It exists to empower young people across the Asia-Pacific region to become agents of change and lead sustainable development in their communities.
Thenu’s talk was an excellent illustration of how young people can seize upon leadership moments to enact positive change. It also left all those present with a clear understanding of how young people can make a valid and measurable contribution to national and international issues, and a solid belief in the power and influence that young people can have if they act with integrity whilst utilising some learnable key leadership skills.
As the course develops across this year and beyond, I look forward to sharing some of the leadership learning and experiences that the girls are involved with as they develop their skills across the four domains of leadership.
For more information on Muriel Matters – click here
Richard Lisle
Deputy Principal/Head of Middle School
Welcome to Term 2 in Our ELC
Term 2 is off to a terrific start in our Early Learners’ Centre.
We’ve loved reconnecting with our families, and the autumn leaves have provided the perfect landscape for our term’s learning theme of ‘transformation’.
Senior Drama Production – Next Week!
The final countdown is on for this year’s Senior Drama Production, The Eyes of Her Beholder. The play involves a somewhat twisted re-telling of the story of Snow White, using six distinctive theatrical styles to share its familiar tale. Both humorous and thought-provoking, the play explores the nature of beauty, the horrors of betrayal and the power of familial love.
Don’t miss this original work, written, designed and performed completely in-house.
7pm, Wednesday 18 and Thursday 19 May
Arts Centre, St Peter’s Girls’ School
To book your tickets, click here
Check out a sneak peek from rehearsals below.
Michael Butler-Wills
Head of English/Drama Teacher
Year 5 Adventure Out of this World
The Year 5 students visited the Adelaide Planetarium last week as a part of their ‘How the world works’ unit of inquiry, with the central idea that ‘Advances in technology have enhanced our understanding of the Earth and its place in the solar system.’
The girls were fascinated by the view of the stars and planets above Adelaide’s sky as well as the incredible vision into the centre of a black hole. They were able to experience the constellations as we see them in the southern hemisphere and will now be finding many of these when looking at the night’s sky.
Kim Butler-Nixon, Shelley Hampton, Shane Davidson
Year 5 Teachers
Operatic Dream for Talented Performer
Congratulations to Year 8 student Eliza Brill Reed who performed in Benjamin Britten’s iconic opera, The Turn of the Screw, with the State Opera of South Australia. It traces the story of a young, inexperienced governess who is charged with the care of Flora (played by Eliza) and Miles, two orphaned children abandoned by their uncle at his grand country estate.
The Arts Hub review stated, ‘Max and Eliza were faultless as Miles and Flora. Together they are on stage for most of the two-hour production and are exceptionally good, in both their operatic singing and their stagecraft.’
This was an amazing opportunity for Eliza as she branches out into professional musical theatre.
Sari Noble
Music Teacher
Photo credit: Soda Street Productions
Saints Girls Represent in Rowing
Well done to Year 11 student Georgina Wakeham who was selected to represent South Australia in the Women’s Pathway 8+ during the school holidays. The Pathway 8+ is a State representative development crew for U19 athletes still at school which races alongside the 2022 Australian U19, U21, and U23 Rowing Team Selection Trials. This provides these athletes with not only the chance to represent their state and compete, but also to observe the best athletes in the country as they strive for National team selection.
Georgina was joined at trials by Old Scholars Sophie Barr (Kilburn 2021) and Amy Carrodus (Selwyn 2019) who were invited to trial for the U21 and U23 Australian Rowing Teams based on their results at the recent 2022 Australian Rowing Championships.
Congratulations to Georgina, Sophie and Amy for their success in being selected/invited to compete at selection trials. It is great to see current students and Old Scholars continuing to strive and excel in Rowing.
Brynley Millward
Director of Rowing
IB EXPO 2022 – Next Tuesday
Tuesday 17 May 5.30 – 7pm
Would you like to learn about the IB Diploma Programme? In Years 11 and 12, students can undertake the excellent and world-renowned IB Diploma. Before they do, it is helpful to understand the structure of the programme, its courses and assessments, so your daughter can choose the pathway/courses that best suit.
We particularly encourage parents from Years 8 – 10 to attend the IB EXPO which will be held next Tuesday 17 May, 5.30 – 7pm, in the Chapel and Middle School. As well as our Year 8 – 10 parents and their daughters, all members of our community and the public are also welcome.
Our IB Diploma Coordinator Carolyn Farr will present the structure of the Diploma, including differences with SACE and how universities recognise IB Diploma achievement. An excellent way to understand the benefits and experiences that the IB Diploma offers is to speak with our graduates. There will also be students who are currently undertaking their Diploma to talk to. IB teachers will be present to share their enthusiasm for the Diploma and perspectives from a subject specialist point-of-view.
5.30 – 6.15pm
Carolyn Farr, IB Diploma Coordinator: What is the IB Diploma? (Chapel)
6.15 – 7pm
Parents and students can chat with current IB students, IB teachers and IB graduates. (Middle School)
Year 9 and 10 students will also have information sessions during the school day this term; however, the IB EXPO experience is a great way to hear from different people all at the same event.
Please do contact me if you have any questions. I look forward to seeing you and sharing my passion for this programme.
Carolyn Farr
IB Diploma Coordinator
Piano Eisteddfod – Coming Soon!
On Thursday 16 June in Week 7 of Term 2, the Arts Department will hold St Peter’s Girls’ Piano Eisteddfod. It is open to all Junior and Middle School students who play piano. Parents are welcome to attend, and the time of each student’s performance will be communicated to families.
Girls will have the opportunity to perform a piece to a panel of judges, who will critique their performance based on accuracy, technique and musicality for their specific music level. This is a great opportunity for girls to perform in a supportive environment and receive some valuable feedback.
Girls are asked to play one piece that best displays their musicality and technical ability at their own musical level. There will be no minimum or maximum time limit. While the Eisteddfod provides our top piano players with a platform to perform, the aim is to give performers of all levels the opportunity to participate.
A Piano Recital will be held at 6pm on Thursday 23 June. Students will be chosen from the Eisteddfod performers who show confidence and a high level of musicianship. Selected recital students will be notified by the beginning of Week 8.
If your daughter would like to be involved, please fill out and return the Piano Eisteddfod consent form by Friday June 3. Girls can collect the form from the Arts Office or you can download it via the link below. Students will later receive their time slot to perform in the Eisteddfod.
Download the Piano Eisteddfod Consent Form
Sari Noble
Acting Director of Music
Starry Night Gala Ball
Saturday 18 June
Saints Girls is over the moon about our Starry Night Gala Ball to celebrate and support our fundraising efforts for a new Gym, including our ‘Saints Girls All-Stars’.
Don’t miss out on this amazing evening with our Saints Girls’ community.
7pm, Saturday 18 June
Adelaide Convention Centre
Tickets: $200 per person
Includes three-course meal, beverages and live entertainment
To book your tickets, CLICK HERE
Star Struck Major Lottery
As momentum builds for our Gym fundraising campaign featuring our ‘Saints Girls All-Stars’, we are thrilled to share our Star Struck Major Lottery.
Ticket sales are now open, 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
COVID-19 Information
SA Health has advised that asymptomatic COVID-19 close contacts no longer need to quarantine. Therefore, asymptomatic children and students can attend school or ELC despite being a close contact, provided they undertake 5 RATs over the subsequent 7 days and receive negative results.
Please also be reminded of these vital requirements:
Should your child develop any symptoms, even mild ones, they must not attend school or ELC and should be tested for COVID-19. They require a PCR test with receipt of a negative result and resolution of symptoms before return to school/ELC can be considered. Students who have previously tested positive and have completed isolation in the past 12 weeks do not need to undertake testing.
If your child tests positive to COVID-19, notify us immediately. Please also advise the type of test (RAT/PCR), the date your child’s test was taken and the date symptoms started (if no symptoms, note ‘asymptomatic’).
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 need to notify us over the phone, please call the Front Office on 8334 2200.
Please note that if your child is too sick to attend school, they are therefore also too sick to be working remotely from home.
School Medical Information Reminder
It is imperative that all medical information, including immunisations, is up to date on the School’s myLink parent portal.
Please follow this pathway to check and/or update details: myLink > Community Portal > My Details > select child name
If you have any questions, please email healthcentre@stpetersgirls.sa.edu.au
School Shop Notices
Opening Hours
Monday to Friday: 8am – 4pm
(closed for lunch 12 – 12.30pm)
Winter Uniform Requirements
Year 4 Students
The pinafore is replaced by a skirt of the same fabric, so if the pinafore still fits, the bib can simply be removed. The grandpa shirt is replaced by a collared shirt and tie, and the junior blazer (cardigan) is no longer worn and is replaced by a navy blue jumper and a wool blazer.
Year 10 & 12 Students
Year 10 students move into our pale blue seniors jumper.
Year 12 students move into our white Year 12 jumper. We also have a matching white scarf available for $30, however this is not a compulsory item.
General Absences from School
If your child is going to be absent, late to school or leave early, please use one of the following methods to notify the School, providing the student name, Class/Home Group and reason:
Text: 0428 601 957
Email: attendance@stpetersgirls.sa.edu.au
Phone: 8334 2200
Feel free to include the Class/Home Group Teacher when emailing. It would be appreciated if notifications could be made prior to 9am.
Sports News
WINTER SPORT
It has been fantastic to begin our Winter Sport season. We have seen Junior games start this week, with both Netball and Hockey matches underway, whilst Year 7 – 12 games will commence in Week 4. Our Middle and Senior School girls are currently partaking in trials, and teams will be finalised next week.
LACROSSE
The U11s had their first game on Saturday 7 May, and they went out and smashed it! They all played hard and worked well together. They ended up taking victory against Eagles with a final score of 6 – 2. Our two goalkeepers were Matilda Purvis and Mimi Birmingham and they both did an amazing job, making some fantastic saves. Our goal scorers were Maddie Romeo (1), Willow Chong (1), Violet Tulloch (2) and Christie Psaromatis (1). Great game girls, well played! – Dani Cox (Lacrosse Captain)
SAPSASA CROSS COUNTRY
Last Friday, a group of our Junior School students represented Saints Girls at the SAPSASA Cross Country. They completed a 2km or 3km course (depending on age group) around Foxfield Oval in Athelstone, competing against students from across the East Adelaide district. It was wonderful to see the compassion modelled by our more experienced students in supporting those new to the competition, and to see the courage shown by all of our girls in representing the School.
Congratulations to the following students who achieved Top 10 placings in their age group:
Audrey Fox – 3rd (12yo)
Lois Burton-Howard – 8th (12yo)
Emily Robinson – 4th (11yo)
Ella King – 9th (11yo)
Milly Richardson – 3rd (10yo)
Based on these results, Audrey, Emily and Milly have been selected to represent East Adelaide at Oakbank. Well done to all of our students on their efforts, and good luck to Audrey, Emily and Milly for the next race!