From Our Director of Teaching and Learning
I have always believed that the purpose of education is to help nurture and shape thriving young people, adept learners, and leaders for our ever-changing and challenging world. All students are capable of success when their personal and learning needs are supported. Such support facilitates both academic success and holistic development in preparation for their post-school journey.
As an educational leader, these beliefs have always informed my work and continue to shape what I want to achieve as a new member of the St Peter’s Girls’ community. As educators, it is our responsibility to know your daughters well, tailor our teaching to their needs and help build their resilience to support their success.
In my first weeks, I have been overwhelmed by the spirit of the Saints Girls’ community. Staff, students and families have been incredibly welcoming and have offered their unwavering support. Joining this community, I see the incredible opportunities available to your daughters that allow them to experience deep and diverse learning, and to be able to discover and follow their passions in and outside of the classroom.
Through my leadership, I will support our girls to challenge themselves by approaching their academic studies and personal ventures courageously. I will promote that our teaching and learning programs foster critical and creative thinking to ensure our girls are future-ready and make the absolute most of their time here. Our girls will live with compassion in their hearts and be stewards of empathy and service for this world.
It is evident to me how special a place Saints Girls is. I have loved learning about our history, but more so learning about all that we offer, learning about all the amazing educators in the girls’ classrooms and how staff go above and beyond to support them every day. Experiencing Choral Night exemplified the essence of Saints Girls. We are a school that supports and empowers young women to find their voice and have the confidence to value their absolute worth.
I look forward to working with you all in partnership, supporting your daughters and advocating for their voice to ensure that their schooling journey truly shapes them into the women, lifelong learners and leaders they are to become.
Kate Morgante
Director of Teaching and Learning
STEM Careers Evening – Next Tuesday
Tuesday 16 August
5.30 – 7.30pm
Arts Centre
Parents and students are invited to this special opportunity to hear from dynamic women in STEM careers on Tuesday night. For catering purposes, please book via the button below, and please note that face masks are strongly recommended for attendees.
BOOK NOW – CLICK HERE
This week, we feature another one of our fabulous speakers, Amy Brooks-Birve. Amy is a recent graduate of a Bachelor of Mathematical and Computer Sciences and a Bachelor of Finance. She currently works as an Application Development Analyst and Consultant at Accenture within Cloud Computing. Amy has two years of experience working in Financial Advice, and also worked for the University of Adelaide as a STEM Ambassador for the STEM Academy. Outside of work, Amy plays in the SANFLW for Sturt Football Club.
Our other speakers are Old Scholar Amy Seppelt (Kilburn 2001) who is the Lead Senior Fire Safety Engineer for the South Australian Metropolitan Fire Service and Ashleigh Geiger who is undertaking a PhD in the SAHMRI Gene Editing program targeting genetic eye disease. The event will be hosted by the School’s Scientist in Residence Sophie Dolling, a PhD student in Marine Biology and Chemistry studying plastic pollution in seafood. University of Adelaide Student Recruitment Officer Tia Milohis will also be on hand to answer questions about STEM degrees.
Studying Medicine Information Session – Next Wednesday
Wednesday 17 August
4.30 – 5.30pm
The Arts Centre
Many students express an interest in studying Medicine. In this information session, we will have a Student Recruitment Officer from the University of Adelaide speaking about admission into Medicine-related courses, covering the following topics:
- UCAT
- Interview
- ATAR
- Alternative pathways
- IB/SACE
Face masks are strongly recommended for attendees.
Junior School Parents – THRASS Information Evening
Tuesday 23 August
6 – 7 pm
Arts Centre
At Saints Girls, we harness a Linguistic Inquiry approach to the teaching and learning of spelling and vocabulary. This includes integrating the skills and tools of THRASS: Teaching Handwriting, Reading and Spelling Skills.
We warmly invite Junior School parents to enjoy an engaging presentation about the THRASS chart, and the THRASS approach more generally, at our THRASS Information Evening from 6 – 7pm on Tuesday 23 August in the Arts Centre.
A brief summary of THRASS can be found in our Junior School Literacy and Numeracy overview – click here. Detailed information is available on the THRASS website – click here. We look forward to sharing our THRASS approach in person on Tuesday 23 August. Face masks are strongly recommended for attendees.
Suzanne Haddy
Head of Junior School
Book Week – Coming Soon!
Book Week Dress Up Day is on Friday 26 August (Week 5). This year’s theme is ‘Dreaming with eyes open…’
Junior School students may dress up as a book character or a character that fits the theme. They will parade in their costumes from 8.35am along the pathway to the Chapel, and families are welcome to come and watch. The students will be involved in an Assembly following the parade, which will have capacity for students only.
Helen Smith
Deputy Head of Junior School
New Chapter for Love of Literacy in ELC
At St Peter’s Girls’ Early Learners’ Centre, literacy is embedded in all that we do. We understand active play is the vehicle that helps young children’s brains build early communication skills, which mature and develop into formal reading and writing skills later in their schooling years.
Book-making is just one technique we have been using, allowing children to express their thoughts in a creative and fun way. Even if they are yet to master the skill of letter formation, book-making empowers children to feel they are competent storytellers and writers.
Eisteddfod Vocalists in Fine Voice
Last Friday, Esperanza and sub-groups of Just Jazz and In-Ta Jazz hit the road to compete in the Balaklava Eisteddfod, taking out top honours at this two-day Performing Arts festival. Schools from all over the metropolitan area attended the event which fosters collegiality between schools and the opportunity to share music with each other.
As only nine vocalists were able to compete in each choral group, risk-taking was high on the agenda! Congratulations to Esperanza who placed 1st in the hotly-contested Senior Division. Singing a traditional piece with an extremely high difficulty level and including an 8-part harmony, the adjudicator commended the group as a ‘particularly outstanding choir’.
This competition was a first for Just Jazz who, much to their delight, came 1st in the Junior Division with the adjudicator stating, ‘A very exciting rendition of this toe-tapping item with beautifully balanced voices.’
In-Ta Jazz also put in an outstanding performance and presented themselves with great confidence, placing 2nd in the Intermediate Division.
Congratulations to all students who participated in this event!
Sari Noble
Music Teacher
Disco Cabaret Evening – Save the Date
Friday 16 September
7pm
Arts Centre
It’ll be a case of Friday Night Fever at our upcoming Cabaret, with disco the theme this year. The evening will feature all of our choirs, plus our Concert and Stage Bands and Senior String ensemble. In addition, our Artist in Residence David Goodwin will be on keys and we’ll even have a dance floor for attendees to strut their stuff!
Tables of 8 will be available as well as regular auditorium seating, with tickets $10 for adults and $5 for children. The Friends of The Arts will be supporting the event selling drinks and nibbles. Booking details will be provided soon.
Year 9 Arts Collab Night – Save the Date
Save the date for our Year 9 Arts Collaboration Night on Thursday 1 September (Week 6), showcasing students’ talents in Dance and Drama, Music and Visual Arts. Booking details will be advised in next week’s eNews.
Kate Burnett
Head of The Arts
Princes Rock On Parade – Tonight!
Come along and support our Saints Rock Band this evening at Norwood Hotel from 7pm (doors open at 6.30pm). The girls are excitedly gearing up for this interschool gig playing alongside bands from Prince Alfred College, Wilderness School and Seymour College. Entry is $5 at the door, cash only. The Saints Rock Band would love your support.
Norwood Hotel
Osmond Terrace Function Centre
97 The Parade, Norwood
Robyn Habel
Music Teacher
Linguistics Girls Talk of the Town
Our students have done Saints Girls proud in the second South Australian Computational and Linguistics Olympiad (SACLO), once again delivering exceptional results.
SACLO was designed as a South Australian version of the national competition, which is held in Term 1 each year. Thirty one teams from six schools had to decode languages they had most likely not encountered such as Swahili, Esperanto and dialects from Vanuatu and Micronesia, to work out the rules of the language and then translate some words, phrases and sentences from English back into the other language.
Following on from lats year’s success in winning the inaugural competition, Saints Girls claimed 1st and 3rd places in the Senior (Years 10 – 12) section, and 2nd and 3rd places in the Junior (Years 7 – 9) section – an impressive two-thirds of the places on offer.
This was our fourth consecutive Linguistics Olympiad in which we have had teams take out a place. We look forward to the continuing success of Saints Girls in this exciting collaborative activity.
Cindy Pitkin
Head of Languages
Year 2 Explorers Step Back in Time
Visiting the School Museum last Monday was like stepping back in time for the Year 2 students who were able to immerse themselves in the rich history of Saints Girls. Our current unit of inquiry, ‘Where we are in Place and Time’, is the ideal opportunity to investigate the past and understand how life has changed.
Mrs Anne Daniell presented an array of historic photographs showing how the School site has changed in location and over time. The girls have conducted a photographic tour of the School grounds to capture changes over the years of our significant and beautiful buildings. Comparing classroom objects from the past to present day items such as writing implements, desks, chairs and even readers was eye-opening, and the girls were captivated by the way some things change enormously and others stay the same.
The girls can now use their knowledge of the past to better understand the present and imagine the future as they create images of what our School site may look like in generations to come.
Kathryn Clark and Rebecca Greenhalgh
Year 2 Teachers
Moving Art Project One for the Ages
Congratulations to talented artist Misha Yagnik on her outstanding art piece titled ‘Cecil Ireland’ which she entered into the Centenarian Portrait Project for Teens.
Misha shares:
‘The project involved 100 teenagers painting 100 centenarians in an attempt to strengthen intergenerational bonds and create connections throughout our community. I was inspired to take on the project with the support of Ms Mansfield and my family. I was given the opportunity to meet Cecil Ireland, a kind-hearted man who had recently celebrated his 100th birthday. During our time together, I learnt about Cecil’s family history, his life stories and exciting adventures (all whilst nibbling on apricot chocolates of course).
He inspired me to embrace the life I am given and make the most of all situations. The project has opened my eyes to the wisdom of the elderly and the simple joys found in the mundane. My painting was inspired by the most influential things in Cecil’s life such as his brown leather chair, interest in genealogy and his late wife, Kathleen. After meeting Cecil, I have become more aware of the positives of ageing as well as the importance of removing the negative stigma surrounding getting older.
The Centenarian Project taught me The Arts have a way of bridging all differences in society, connecting us all through a language not of words but instead of creativity and emotion. They have a way of conveying raw human feelings without saying a single thing. Human identity is founded in the way we communicate and express ourselves to others. The Arts provide us with a creative outlet which influences who we are as well as others around us.’
Misha’s artwork will be featured in this year’s School Arts Journal, Out Of The Blue. The Journal is a great opportunity to share artwork, writing, music, dance or other creative pieces and be published. It explores connections in our wider School community, creating a beautiful final collaborative book celebrating the best of Saints’ Arts.
If you are interested in submitting a piece, please email outoftheblue@stpetersgirls.sa.edu.au. Work will be selected and entrants notified if they are successful in gaining publication. Please ensure your name, year level and Class Teacher/Home Group are listed. This opportunity is open to all students, as well as Old Scholars, past staff and current staff. Entries close Friday 7 October.
Becca Burton-Howard
Gifted and Talented Teacher
Out of the Blue Arts Journal – Front Cover Design
The Arts Journal Student Committee is calling all talented artists to create a drawing to potentially feature on the front cover of our next Out of the Blue Arts Journal! Each year, Out of the Blue showcases artwork, music and poetry from across our School community.
Open to all year levels, entries for the cover are required to be line drawings, preferably an electronic drawing, but hard copies can also be scanned and sent in. Only one submission will be chosen, with entries closing on Friday 26 August (Week 5).
Please email your entry to the Out of the Blue email along with your name, year level and Class Teacher/Home Group.
Nathara Perera
Arts Journal Student Committee
Kennion House Charity Day
On Friday 26 August (Week 5), the Kennion Year 10 Girls will be running a sausage sizzle to raise funds for our House Charity, KickStart for Kids. This South Australian organisation provides support for underprivileged children. Unfortunately, 1 in 10 kids does not eat food for a whole day per week. However, with your support, we can help change this!
We will be selling sausages for $2.50 with the option of onions (50c extra). Soft drinks will be $2. We will also have gluten-free and vegetarian options available at no additional cost.
Parents of girls from Reception to Year 2 can pre-order via the TryBooking link. Pre-orders close at 5pm on Tuesday 23 August. Students from Years 3 to 12 will be able to buy items directly from the stall on Chiverton Lawns. Please bring cash only.
Thank you for your support. We hope to see you at our House Charity stall in Week 5 – enjoy the sizzle!
Misha Yagnik
Year 10 student
A reminder that House Charity Day also doubles as a Casual Clothes Day for a gold coin donation to further support our fundraising.
Patteson House Charity Day
On Friday 26 August (Week 5), the Patteson Year 10 girls will be holding a bake sale to raise money for our House Charity, the Moore Street Drop-In Centre, which helps people experiencing homelessness. The centre provides food, clothing, pharmacy vouchers for vital medication, shoe vouchers, blankets and linen for those living in poverty.
We will be selling baked goods such as cupcakes, brownies and cookies. Prices range from 50c to $3.
Parents of girls from Reception to Year 2 can pre-order vanilla cupcakes (only bake option online) via the TryBooking link. Pre-orders close at 5pm on Tuesday 23 August. Students from Years 3 to 12 will be able to buy items directly from the stall next to the Arts Centre. Please bring cash only.
We appreciate all your support and hope to see you there!
Year 10 Patteson
A reminder that House Charity Day also doubles as a Casual Clothes Day for a gold coin donation to further support our fundraising.
Annual House Dinners
During Term 3, all Middle and Senior School girls have the opportunity to enjoy a night away from homework to get creative and colourful at the House Dinners.
The Year 11s have been working hard organising decorations, food and games for each event. We’re looking forward to seeing everyone’s creative costumes and enjoying a fun night with our Houses.
Visit the TryBooking links below to purchase your daughter(s) a ticket for the night as this is a compulsory event for all Year 7 – 12 students.
Patteson House Dinner
Theme: Colours
Students are encouraged to dress up in their year level’s selected colour to fit the theme. We look forward to seeing a kaleidoscope of creations and enjoying a colourful and fun night! – Georgina Wakeham
19 August (Week 4)
Book now: trybooking.com/CAAPF
Kilburn House Dinner
Theme: Time Travellers
Each year level is asked to dress up as a specific era of time. You can see these eras on the posters around the School, so make sure you keep an eye out! – Ruby Richards
26 August (Week 5)
Book now: trybooking.com/CAAOU
Kennion House Dinner
Theme: 2000s
2 September (Week 6)
Book now: trybooking.com/CAAPO
Car Park Protocols
It is important to remind families about our car park protocols, particularly during drop off and pick up.
If the car park is full and you are unable to enter, circle the block until it is clear to enter, find a park elsewhere or, where age-appropriate, meet your daughter in a surrounding street.
Please note that, unless special circumstances apply, parents of girls in Years 2 to 12 should not enter the car park to collect their daughters prior to 3.30pm. Parents of girls in Reception and Year 1 have exclusive use of the pick-up zone prior to this time for safety and traffic reasons.
Please also refrain from turning right into or out of the car park at peak times, and please do not queue in the car park’s lanes as this often prevents drivers who are legally parked from exiting.
We have also previously received complaints about cars being parked too close to or in front of driveways, or across from other vehicles in surrounding streets, making it extremely difficult for residents and other road users to navigate.
We ask all community members to please show consideration for others. Thank you for your cooperation.
School Shop Notices
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
Warm Up with Saints’ Scarves and Beanies
With the cooler weather, the School Shop has some branded winter warmers:
Saints Girls’ Supporter Scarf – perfect for staff, coaches and parents
Saints Girls’ Beanies – can be worn by students during their sport training sessions and warm ups, and also available for staff coaches and parents
To get your hands on these fabulous new items, please visit the School Shop.
Junior Rain Jackets
Keep dry for the rest of winter, with the School Shop’s End-of-Season Sale (while stocks last):
Dry & Cosy Polar Fleece-Lined Rain Jackets $25
Waterproof Rain Jackets $15
Kathmandu Offer for Saints Girls’ Community
From Friday 5 August to Sunday 14 August, Kathmandu’s Rundle Mall and Rundle Street stores will offer exclusive discounts (up to 70% off) for St Peter’s Girls’ students and staff.
This brochure must be displayed at the store for you to take advantage of the offer.
COVID-19 Information
Under SA Health protocols, asymptomatic children who are close contacts can attend school or ELC, provided they undertake 5 Rapid Antigen Tests over 7 days and receive negative results.
Please also be reminded of these general requirements:
Should your child develop any symptoms, even mild ones, they must not attend school or ELC and should be tested for COVID-19. Those with symptoms who test negative using a RAT must undertake a PCR test to confirm that result. Students who have previously tested positive and have completed isolation in the past 28 days 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, call the Front Office on 8334 2200.
If your child is too sick to attend school, they are therefore also too sick to be working remotely from home.
Please also note that SA Health strongly recommends face masks in schools when indoors for students across Years 3 to 12. The same advice applies for all adults, including visitors, except if it impedes the ability to teach or interact with children.
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 and Class/Home Group.
Please also provide a reason for the absence as the School requires this for government reporting purposes.
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
AUSSIE RULES
Open A: Saints (62) v Pulteney (0)
Last week, our team had our first win of the season, against Pulteney’s new team. Although they forfeited ahead of the game, our team was able to use the match as some great practice with a resounding win, keeping Pulteney scoreless.
As the Captain this year, I’ve been so pleased with the success of our Aussie Rules program in assembling a solid team of girls to face some tough sides in the Division 1 competition. The strong interest in footy this year meant that we were able to select our best players for a consistent and reliable team.
I feel so proud of the efforts of our team, especially when compared to our first years playing in the Middle School competition. We are assuredly stronger because of our experience playing together as a school group, and as more girls sign up for footy each year, there is a growing expectation of dedication to the game. Our win is a reflection of the progression of our School’s footy program, driven by true interest in the sport that I’m sure will continue into future years. – Emily Teague (Captain)
Middle A: Saints (19) v St Ignatius (0)
On Friday night, the Middle As played St Ignatius College at Payneham Football Club and took home a win. Over the season, the girls have been working hard to develop tactics and stronger footy skills in kicking, ball handling and tackling. We scored 3 goals and 1 behind, with defence so strong that St Ignatius was kept scoreless. Goalkickers were Izzy, Ruby and Olivia, and our point was scored by Grace. The girls have created a strong bond as a team which helped lead to this win. – Amelia Sutherland and Shea Forster
BADMINTON
Open A: Saints (6) v Immanuel (0)
Open B1: Saints (0) v Pembroke (6)
Open B2: Saints (6) v Immanuel (0)
Open C1: Saints (6) v Westminster (0)
Open C2: Saints (5) v Immanuel (1)
Open D1: Saints (6) v Westminster (0)
Open D2: Saints (6) v Immanuel (0)
Middle E: Saints (6) v Wilderness (0)
LACROSSE
U11 Saints (12) v Eagles Lacrosse Club (3)
The team had an epic win on Saturday! Our goalies were Sophia Baker, Maddie Romeo and Juliette Tang, each with some amazing saves and clears. Our goal scorers were Grace Marshall (2), Christie Psaromatis (2), Matilda Purvis (3), Maddie Romeo (2), Juliet Tang (1) and Violet Tulloch (2). The girls did an amazing job to have so many goals scored. Well done, great game! – Dani Cox (Captain)
NETBALL
Open A: Bye
Open B: Saints (45) v Pulteney (25)
Open C: Saints (69) v Pulteney (8)
Open D: Bye
Open E: Saints (5) v Scotch (55)
Year 9A: Bye
Year 9B: Bye
Year 8A: Bye
Year 8B: Bye
Year 7A: Saints (28) v Pulteney (13)
Year 7B: Saints (9) v Pulteney (13)
SOCCER
Premier League: Saints A (0) v Seymour (9)
Division 1: Saints B (0) v Wilderness (8)
Division 3: Saints C (2) v Wilderness (6)
STUDENT SUCCESS
Congratulations to Isabella Howie, Olivia Reynolds and Saskia Roberts who have been selected to represent the South Australian U15 team at the Water Polo National State Championships on the Gold Coast from 24 – 27 September.