Issue no. 7
From Our Deputy Principal /
Head of Senior School
There is a certain energy or buzz around the School at the moment. ‘What’s driving that?’, you might ask…Choral Night!
With rehearsals in full swing, there isn’t a day that goes by without some mention of the event. Houses are gathering, practising their songs and hymns. Bands are rehearsing throughout the School, it’s a common sight to see keyboards, drum kits and guitars in classrooms, the Gym or Chapel, ready for the girls as they work to perfect their craft.
It would be easy on the night to sit back and enjoy the performances without giving much thought to the journey it took to get there. In each House right now, students are working together, listening, compromising, leading and following. The skills our girls develop when preparing for events such as this are invaluable. To be able to work with a variety of people towards a common goal places them in great stead as they continue through their schooling journey preparing for life beyond Saints Girls.
Yet another example of teamwork in our School will be tomorrow as our rowers compete in Head of the River. The competition is the culmination of months of hard work, practice and training. It is the reason why the girls, their coaches (and families!) have woken early and made the trip to West Lakes each week. Rowing needs synergy – every girl in that boat must come together with her peers. To work as a team in rowing with complete synergy means to generate a larger total force; a force greater than any individual would be capable of producing if she were working on her own. This is the wonderful thing about teamwork – when our community comes together, we are capable of producing so much more than when just working on our own.
Lauren Sutton
Deputy Principal/Head of Senior School
Head of the River – Go Saints Girls!
We take this opportunity to wish Saints Girls and their coaches all the very best for Head of the River tomorrow.
We know they will be excellent ambassadors for our School and look forward to celebrating their season with family and friends.
Videography: Bailey Lock
Choral Night – Next Week!
There’s less than a week to go until Choral Night 2022!
To get into the groove, have a listen to song highlights from 2021, and secure your tickets now: CLICK HERE
One of the most anticipated events on the Saints Girls’ calendar, this year’s event carries the theme ‘Power Ballads’.
We look forward to the festivities at Influencers Church in Paradise from 7pm next Thursday 24 March, and can’t wait to see what our girls have in store!
Community Unity at Drinks on the Lawns
It was a beautiful night last Thursday for our annual Drinks on the Lawns soirée. Despite this event being held a little later than usual this year, it was fantastic to be able to celebrate as a community.
Drinks on the Lawns is always a great time for our families to meet and catch up with other school families, and chat with our teachers in a relaxed setting.
We officially launched our 2022 Star Struck Major Lottery, with attendees given the opportunity to take a look at a sparkling new Toyota Yaris thanks to parent Ben Goldsmith and Northpoint Toyota.
Special shoutouts to our Property Services staff for serving beverages and to our Prefects who served delicious home-made pizzas to our guests.
Thank you to everyone who attended.
Melissa Westgate
Foundation Manager
Author Inspires New Chapter for Young Writers
This term, our Year 4 girls have enjoyed reading the Sebastian Sparrow series, written by Carol Griffiths. They were delighted to hear the news that Carol was coming to their Library lesson last Friday to run a very special author workshop.
Sebastian Sparrow was inspired by a clever sparrow Carol watched at a market while holidaying in Hong Kong. Her creativity was sparked and ideas started to form, but she didn’t created the series until many years later.
Carol’s stories are aimed to be educational and fun. The students enjoyed hearing readings from her and pinpointing the educational and fun parts. Carol spoke about the importance of finding your purpose as a writer, and the girls were able to share why they enjoy writing. The workshop finished with question time and the students were interested in finding out more about how and where Carol writes.
It was a wonderful way to finish the week and I think many of the students flew into the weekend with an inspiration to write! We all have our fingers crossed that Carol will release the next book in the series soon.
Zoe West
Year 4 Teacher
Peak Performance for APEX Girls in 2022
My name is Lucy and I am a Year 11 student here at Saints Girls. I have been given the privilege of being our School’s very first Captain of APEX, which stands for Advanced Projects for Education eXcellence. SaintsTV is a well-known branch of APEX where episodes are produced that inform and entertain the School community. Head of SaintsTV Astrid Teague has most recently been organising the latest episode, with exciting new presenters and segments to follow.
Another exciting aspect of APEX is our engineering program led by Head of Engineering Georgina Wakeham and Vice Head of Engineering Eliza Monaghan who drive new design projects alongside many other members of APEX. There’s also the popular APEX offering eSports. Led by Mya Ng, this program includes The FUSE Cup – International School Esports Competition where students work in teams of four to play in and hopefully win an eSports tournament.
Furthermore, Space in Schools is organised by teacher Mr Irvine and is a program where critical thinking and resourcefulness is crucial to success and is a great way to start a future career in the space industry. Then there’s the photography work involved in APEX which allows the girls to learn and utilise their photography skills at different school functions, further developing their experience in this field.
This year, APEX has expanded to over 65 members, each able to move from one branch to another once a project is completed. Our teams are led by separate department heads who organise, create opportunities and budget alongside Communications Officer and Treasurer Mary Stavrou. The APEX girls and I are all passionate about creating a safe and educational environment for students who want to expand their horizons in advanced and futuristic projects.
Lucy Schirripa
APEX Captain
Saints Café Full of Beans Once More
Saints Café is back in 2022! The team of Year 10 students are working on a rotating roster with the girls learning to pour and serve coffees as well as other beverages. This year, we will be open bright and early Tuesday and Thursday mornings from 7.30 to 8.15am on the Food Tech Deck, with coffees starting from $3.50.
Saints Café gives the girls a small taste of the hospitality industry and is a great opportunity for them to develop skills they can carry into casual or part-time work. Each shift, the girls are required to set up the café, manage the orders and finance, and most importantly, make coffees on our brand new coffee machine.
Please support the girls this term and get your morning coffee fix. We have a range of milks including dairy, soy, almond and lactose-free.
Clare Gaskell
Science Teacher/Head of Selwyn House
Face the Waste on Global Recycling Day
Every year on 18 March, Global Recycling Day is held to raise awareness regarding the global issue of recycling. Launched in October 2018 by the Global Recycling Foundation, this event has a different theme each year. This year’s is ‘Recycling Fraternity’, focusing on those who put themselves on the front lines of garbage and recycling collection during various COVID-19 lockdowns.
Recycling is an important component of the circular economy as it helps to protect our natural resources. It saves about 700 million tonnes of CO2 emissions per year, with this figure expected to rise to 1 billion tonnes by 2030. Recycling is undoubtedly on the front lines of the battle to safeguard our planet and humanity’s future.
At home, everyone can make a difference on Global Recycling Day, and every day, by doing any of the following:
• Reusing and recycling your waste for art projects
• Recycling newspapers, plastic water bottles, soda cans, cereal boxes and milk cartons
• Enlightening others about their waste’s impacts and getting them involved
At school, we have the Dragon Bin recycling program to collect recyclables from students and staff. The House that collects the most recycled items at the end of the year wins the Environment Shield, and points are allocated towards the big prize which is winning the overall annual House Shield. This is a great opportunity for everyone to play their role in preserving the environment.
Jessica Zhang
Environment Club
Outstanding Old Scholars Going Global
Congratulations to Old Scholar and former Deputy Head Prefect Thenu Herath (Patteson 2015) who, on International Women’s Day, was named as a finalist in the 2022 Young Women to Watch in International Affairs.
Thenu is the CEO of Oaktree, a non-profit that supports young people in the Asia-Pacific region to lead sustainable development initiatives in their communities. Recently, her team has pioneered a new approach to international development that focuses on solidarity, decolonisation and collaboration. In 2021, Thenu was invited to share this approach at the Australian Council for International Development’s Annual Conference, alongside representatives from DFAT and other leading development NGOs. She has previously worked with World Vision, Teach for Australia and was the first female host of the Australian Institute of International Affairs Dyason House Podcast.
Alongside her role at Oaktree, Thenu is also a Global Shaper at the World Economic Forum and a co-author of Australia’s first youth national security strategy. Thenu holds a Bachelor’s degree in Politics and International Studies and continues to inspire young women whilst completing her Juris Doctor at the University of Melbourne.
Mixed Beats at Lunchtime Music Concert
Join us in the Arts Centre for our first Lunchtime Concert of 2022 on Tuesday 29 March. Our Musician in Residence David Goodwin will be showcasing his talent, providing guests with a mix of jazz, contemporary and classical piano music accompanied by rhythm section. The concert will be held from 1 to 1.40pm. All students are encouraged to attend, especially those who play piano.
Sally Rounsevell
Director of Music
Starry Night Gala Ball – Secure Your Seats Now!
Saturday 18 June
Saints Girls is over the moon to announce the 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 launch 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
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.
Please note that if your child is too sick to attend school, they are therefore also too sick to be working remotely from home.
QR CODE UPDATE
SA Health has advised that COVID-Safe QR code check-in is no longer required at children’s centres, preschools and schools. However, parent movements on campus are still limited at this time, and those with formal appointments at the School should continue to perform the routine visitor sign in/out at Front Office.
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.
Opportunity to Join Our Board of Governors
To help lift Saints Girls to even greater heights, an opportunity has arisen for two new members to join the School’s highly experienced, voluntary Board of Governors. The Board is committed to diversity in every respect and welcomes expressions of interest from recent Old Scholars, and both younger and accomplished professionals within and outside the School’s broader community.
In pursuit of an appropriately balanced skills matrix, particular experience in the building, property and construction domains would be ideal. Applications are also strongly encouraged from individuals from a wide range of other professional disciplines appropriate to the School’s strategic direction. High levels of commercial and political acumen complemented by exceptional leadership, communication, negotiation, governance and stakeholder management capacity are all essential qualities. An authentic passion for, and true commitment to, contemporary education will be critical. AICD qualifications will be highly regarded but are not essential. Responsibilities will involve membership of the full Board and at least one sub-committee.
This is an exciting opportunity to make a valuable contribution in supporting girls to become the leaders of tomorrow.
For further information about St Peter’s Girls’ School, visit www.stpetersgirls.sa.edu.au
Please visit www.henderconsulting.com.au to apply.
2022 School Immunisation Program
1st Visit Reminder for Parents of Year 8 and 10 Students – Wednesday 30 March
The information below is provided by Eastern Health Authority
Year 8
• 1st dose human papillomavirus vaccine, Gardasil®9
• diphtheria, tetanus, whooping cough vaccine, Boostrix®
Year 10
• 1st dose meningococcal B vaccine, Bexsero®
• meningococcal ACWY vaccine, Nimenrix®
Eastern Health Authority will soon be visiting the School to commence the above vaccinations for those students with parent/guardian consent.
Immunisation consent packs were given out at the beginning of the school year with information about the vaccines on offer. It is important that you have read the information supplied in the packs before you give consent for your child to be vaccinated at school. If you did not receive an Immunisation Consent Pack from your child, please ask at the school’s Front Office. All parents/legal guardians are to complete, sign and return the Consent Cards, even if you do not consent for the student to be vaccinated at school. Students aged 16 years and above can consent for themselves.
SA Health advises that students who may be receiving a COVID-19 vaccine have a minimum interval of 7 days between receiving a COVID-19 vaccine and any other vaccine. Therefore, if your child has either had a COVID-19 vaccination OR is booked for a COVID-19 vaccination 7 days prior or 7 days after our visit, school immunisations will need to be rescheduled.
Please notify EHA if:
• Your child has already started the above program with another provider
• You wish to withdraw your consent
• Your child’s medical condition has changed
• Your child is due to have or has had a COVID-19 vaccine in the previous/next 7 days from the date of scheduled school vaccinations
Tips for the day of immunisation:
• Encourage your child to have a good breakfast and recess on the morning of immunisations
• Wear sports uniforms to aid easy access to the upper arm and avoid unnecessarily exposing yourself if clothing needs to be removed/undone
• Encourage your child to keep their arms moving and drink plenty of water throughout the day
If you have any questions about the program, please directly contact Eastern Health Authority on 8132 3600 or email eha@eha.sa.gov.au
Remember: It is your responsibility to notify EHA of any changes or information, particularly in relation to your child’s medical condition, on the day of immunisation or prior. A signed and dated note in your child’s diary from a parent or guardian presented on the day is acceptable.
School Immunisation Program records may be required for future employment or travel.
Car Park Reminders
Unless special circumstances apply, parents of girls in Years 2 to 12 should not enter the car park to collect their daughters before 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.
Furthermore, 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 also adhere to the 10kmh speed limit and refrain from turning right into or out of the car park during peak times as this causes further congestion.
Thank you for your cooperation.
Saints Sport Support Group New Merchandise
The Saints Sport Support Group is delighted to announce our new merchandise range for the 2022 school year. In addition to our House merchandise, we now have the following items available for purchase:
- White and navy supporter hats for parents and friends
- ‘Play like a Saints Girl’ sport keyrings (Tennis, Swimming, Football, Volleyball, Hockey and Athletics designs available)
To get your hands on these fabulous new items, and to order House merchandise for Swimming Carnival, click here
Thank you so much for your support.
Katie Lucas
Saints Sport Support Group President
Swimming Carnival – New Date
Swimming Carnival – New Date: Tuesday 5 April (Week 10), Adelaide Aquatic Centre
We are hoping that the new date may be met with reduced restrictions and a greater chance of parents being able to attend. As always, we will be guided by the latest SA Health advice and will communicate any further changes as well as logistical details closer to the date.
Be Involved in ‘Our Saints’ Community
Would you like your daughter’s Grandmother, Grandfather, Aunts and/or Uncles to receive our biannual Saints Alive magazine and our weekly eNews updates? Sign up for the free ‘Our Saints’ membership for Grandparents, other treasured family members and friends.
For more information and to join this unique group, please click here and email the completed form to Foundation Manager Melissa Westgate via mwestgate@stpetersgirls.sa.edu.au.
Monday to Friday: 8am – 4pm
(closed for lunch 12 – 12.30pm)
Winter Uniform Appointments
A reminder that we are starting Winter Uniform Fittings, and to streamline the process, we have introduced a new online booking system. It shows our available time slots from March through to April. Middle and Senior School students are welcome to come in during their recess or lunch breaks.
Click here to access the calendar and select the time that best suits you (please include your daughter’s name).
Appointment times are filling fast, so your prompt attention is appreciated.
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
BASKETBALL
Senior A: Saints (12) v Seymour (69)
Senior B: Saints (10) v Seymour (63)
Middle A: Saints (36) v Seymour (54)
Middle B: Saints (16) v Seymour (61)
WATER POLO
Open A: Bye
Open B: Saints (6) v Mercedes A (0)
Open C: Saints (15) v Mercedes B (3)
Middle A: Saints (5) v Wilderness (13)
Middle B: Bye
STUDENT SUCCESS
SA State Age Swimming Championships
The SA State Age Swimming Championships were held over the March long weekend, with a large cohort of Saints Girls representing their clubs at the event. It was an especially exciting weekend for the following girls who all qualified for the National Championships: Summer Bament, Alice Braithwaite, Emma Everitt, Poppy Marshall, Alyssa Tran and Isabelle Tran. Congratulations to all swimmers on their results:
Summer Bament:
3rd – Medley Relay (12-16yo)
1st – 100m Breaststroke
1st – 50m Breaststroke
1st – 200m Breaststroke
3rd – 200m Individual Medley
Alice Braithwaite:
8th – 50m Backstroke (15yo)
4th – 200m Freestyle (15yo)
4th – 400m Freestyle (14-15yo)
3rd – 200m Backstroke (14-15yo)
5th – 200m Individual Medley (15yo)
2nd – 100m Backstroke (15yo)
Emma Everitt:
3rd – 400m Individual Medley
2nd – 100m Butterfly (14yo)
1st – 200m Freestyle (14yo)
5th – 50m Butterfly (14yo)
2nd – 200m Butterfly (14yo)
2nd – 200m Individual Medley (14yo)
3rd – 400m Freestyle
3rd – 200m Freestyle Relay
2nd – 800m Free (14-15yo)
2nd – 200m Medley Relay (10-14yo)
3rd – 400m Individual Medley (14-15yo)
Poppy Marshall:
1st – 50m Breaststroke (16yo)
1st – 100m Breaststroke (16yo)
1st – 200m Medley Relay (14-18yo)
2nd – 200m Breaststroke (16-18yo)
3rd – 200m Individual Medley (16yo)
Alyssa Tran:
5th – 200m Breaststroke (14-15yo)
7th – 50m Backstroke (14yo)
6th – 100m Butterfly (14yo)
7th – 200m Freestyle (14yo)
4th – 50m Butterfly
2nd – 100m Breaststroke
4th – 100m Freestyle
2nd – 50m Breaststroke
5th – 50m Freestyle
5th – 200m Individual Medley
4th – 100m Backstroke
Isabelle Tran:
2nd – 50m Backstroke (15yo)
4th – 100m Butterfly (15yo)
8th – 200m Freestyle
1st – 50m Butterfly
3rd – 100m Freestyle
5th – 50m Freestyle
3rd – 100m Backstroke
Ayla Blaskett:
10th – 50m Breaststroke (15yo)
Elysia Scarr:
3rd – 50m Backstroke (14yo)
3rd – 50m Butterfly (14yo)
3rd – 100m Backstroke (14yo)
4th – 100m Butterfly (14yo)
6th – 200m Individual Medley (14yo)
18th – 400m Freestyle (14-15yo)
10th – 200m Backstroke (14-15yo)
Emily Tolladay:
6th – 50m Backstroke (14yo)
7th – 100m Breaststroke
6th – 50m Freestyle
8th – 100m Freestyle
Emily Whittaker:
4th – 200m Breaststroke (16-18yo)
3rd – 100m Breaststroke (16yo)
2nd – 50m Breaststroke (16yo)
SAPSASA Swimming
Congratulations to our Year 4 to 6 swimmers who represented Saints Girls at SAPSASA Swimming. A breakdown of results and students who qualified to represent East Adelaide will be provided in next week’s eNews.
