Sports Day: and the Winner is…
Congratulations to SELWYN on taking out Sports Day 2022!
House spirit was in full flight at the state-of-the-art Bridgestone Athletics Centre today as eager athletes dominated the track and field. As always, the novelty events were a hit, and the Year 12 costumes lived up to the hype with colour and creativity.
Well done to the girls, staff and parents on yet another fantastic Sports Day!
Winter Interhouse Goes Down to the Wire
Excitement reached fever pitch at our annual Winter Interhouse and the results went down to the wire!
House pride beamed throughout the carnival as the girls battled it out across Aussie Rules, Badminton, Netball and Soccer.
Well done to all players and student supporters who showed such terrific competitive spirit. For all the event recaps, head to the Sports News section.
House Shields:
Aussie Rules – Kennion
Badminton – Patteson
Netball – Kennion
Soccer – Kilburn
SACE Dancers CONNECT with Crowds
Congratulations to our SACE Dancers on their powerful performances this week of CONNECT, highlighting the central theme of connection through diverse styles of choreography.
The show explored the importance of human connection, particularly during a global pandemic, to environment, history, others and ourselves.
The Stage 2 Dancers, supported by Stage 1, dedicated much time and effort preparing for their performance assessment, and we commend them on their outstanding work.
Year 9 Arts Collab Night
Last week, the Year 9 Arts students presented an outstanding display of Dance, Drama, Music and Visual Arts to an enthusiastic audience in the Arts Centre.
The entertaining evening featured self-devised group pieces from the Drama and Dance students as well as solo instrumental items from Music students and a vibrant Visual Arts display in the foyer.
We congratulate all girls for their creativity and dedication to this collaborative project.
| Joni Combe Drama Teacher |
Kate Burnett Head of The Arts |
Disco Cabaret Evening – Next Friday!
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 our Junior Choir, Concert Choir, Just Jazz, In-Ta Jazz, Enchante, Chamber Choir, Concert Band, Senior Strings and Stage Band. In addition, our Artist in Residence David Goodwin will be on keys, Old Scholar Erin McKellar (Patteson 2013) will be a feature vocalist 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 refreshments and nibbles.
To book your tickets – click here
From Our Director of Teaching and Learning
As we welcome the start of spring, our School is abuzz with much activity amongst all year levels. Term 3 marks the beginning of preparations for the next coming academic year. Our Year 12 girls have engaged in conversations regarding SATAC applications for the tertiary enrolment process, and online exam readiness. Girls in Years 7 – 11 have had subject counselling and selected subjects for 2023 study. The girls’ selections then inform the construction of our 2023 School timetable, a process which is now well underway. Our Subject Expo held at the start of the term contributes to this process and gives our girls and families an opportunity to see and hear first-hand the options available both in subject areas as well as tertiary institution offerings. Choosing the right subjects that motivate and excite our girls is paramount in assisting them to discover new interests and advance their strengths, as well as preparing for life beyond school.
Year 8 and 9 girls have begun their exam preparation as well. The exams provide an opportunity not only to practise the skillset required for examination assessment, but the accompanying skills of organisation, punctuality, time management, resilience, self-awareness, and the importance of rest and reset time. Developing skills over the girls’ Middle School years helps them in preparation for their Senior School study and, importantly, helps to minimise the stress or worry many girls feel in relation to exams. I know the girls will approach this period with the planning and revision it requires. Already through my short time as a member of this community, I have been thoroughly impressed by the attitudes and work ethic demonstrated by the girls. They exemplify what it means to be principled, knowledgeable and balanced learners. These attributes will assist each and every girl to achieve their best in their studies and help their holistic growth.
Kate Morgante
Director of Teaching and Learning
Another String to Violin Virtuoso’s Bow
We are thrilled to hear that Old Scholar Sophie Rowell (Kilburn 1992) has been announced as the Artistic Director of the Melbourne Chamber Orchestra (MCO) from 2023.
Sophie is one of Australia’s most respected and recognisable violinists and is the current Concertmaster of the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra. She is well known to national audiences for founding the Tankstream Quartet, later appointed to the Australian String Quartet, as well as winning the ABC Young Performer’s Award in 2000. She is in high demand as a teacher, and her ongoing role at the Australian National Academy of Music also aligns perfectly with MCO’s long-standing commitment to emerging musicians.
Sophie says, ‘I am extremely honoured to have been given the opportunity to lead the Melbourne Chamber Orchestra as its Artistic Director from 2023 and hope to build on the legacy of performance excellence that my wonderful predecessor William Hennessy has left for us. I see a future of exciting possibilities that only an orchestra with the flexibility and commitment of MCO can achieve and I can’t wait to get started sharing my artistic vision with you all. Thank you to my dear colleagues at the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra for their support and encouragement as I begin the next chapter in my musical life.’
We have been delighted to welcome Sophie to Saints Girls to collaborate, teach and inspire our Music students when she visits Adelaide, and our vocal ensemble Esperanza were fortunate to catch up with her at the recent Musica Viva ‘Strike a Chord’ National Chamber Music championship in Melbourne.
Well done to yet another Saints Girl who’s making her mark on this world!
Culture and Collaboration with Aboriginal Artist in Residence
This term, we were fortunate to host Scott Rathman as our Aboriginal Artist in Residence as we worked towards a refresh of the mural on the OSHC building. Our Reconciliation Action Plan ambassadors, Year 6 Art Leaders and a selection of Year 11 artists workshopped ideas and symbols with Scott to form the design of the new mural. The symbols and patterns chosen represent what School life means to the students: a place of growth and self-development, connectedness through a strong community and important relationships that will shape the people they will become.
Scott is an Arrernte descendant who has lived most of his life on Kaurna land. The rich design in his works is a tribute to his grandmother who was a member of the Stolen Generation and overcame so much in her life to be an amazing role model. His curiosity to explore and understand his cultural background is the passion that drives him to continue to look at new ways to combine the traditions of his heritage with designs of the present day.
Scott enjoys creating artworks in public places to remind people that Aboriginal culture is still as important today as it has always been. We love the unique design that represents the past, present and future through Scott’s contemporary creative design and expression.
Sarah Casson
Art Teacher
Guitar Ensemble Enthrals Young Fans
On Thursday morning, the Guitar Ensemble performed for the ELC students and staff.
They started with a lilting traditional folk song and the well-known ‘Amazing Grace’. Later in the set, the ensemble had the children clapping and moving to a funky Jamaican tune, and bopping to the hit song ‘Happy’ made popular by Pharrell Williams.
The students were excited to see five guitars performing together and enjoyed looking at the instruments up close. The members of the ensemble, ranging from Years 9 – 11, also had a lovely time interacting with their young and enthusiastic audience!
Robyn Habel
Music Teacher
Year 5 Production: Set Sail for Our Must-Sea Show!
Our wonderful Year 5 Production is fast approaching, with just three weeks to go. The girls have been preparing to take the audience on this adventure for the past two terms, and are excited to thrill you with singing, dancing and joyful merriment in this wonderful Gilbert and Sullivan operetta.
You can be assured of a fun time as we celebrate beautiful maidens, bumbling policemen and not-so menacing pirates! Please come along and support the Year 5 students!
The performances will be held on Thursday 29 and Friday 30 September at 1.15pm and 7pm.
Tickets now available via TryBooking – click here
Shelley Hampton
Year 5 Teacher
Now Casting: THE WIZARD OF OZ
SHANE DAVIDSON PRESENTS is holding auditions for THE WIZARD OF OZ The Musical. Ages 8+.
Join Dorothy, the brainless Scarecrow, the heartless Tinman and the cowardly Lion as they sing and dance their way down the Yellow Brick Road to the Emerald City to meet the Wizard of Oz.
Auditions: Saturday 17 September 2022 (Drama Room, St Peter’s Girls’ School)
Season: 19 and 20 November 2022 (Holden Street Theatre)
For further information, please email shanedavidson@internode.on.net
Pelican Productions Music Theatre Camp
Each year in January, many of our Music girls head off to Pelican Productions to participate in the annual Music Theatre Day Camp. This is a wonderful experience for students who have a passion for music theatre and a chance to connect and make friendships with others.
Students perform a series of songs from various musicals with full staging, lighting and costumes, culminating in performances at Michael Murray Centre for Performing Arts, Westminster School.
Students have the option of participating in the Spotlight program which runs over six days (Monday 9 January – Saturday 14 January) or the full Music Theatre Camp over two weeks (Monday 9 January with performances on 20, 21 and 22 January).
For more information – click here
Sari Noble
Music Teacher
Out of the Blue Arts Journal – Enter Now
To celebrate the many talented individuals within our School community, the annual Out of the Blue Arts Journal is back on for 2022!
We are inviting all students from ELC – Year 12, Old Scholars and staff to submit their artistic creations for this year’s journal. These submissions can be made individually or collaboratively. The journal features a wide variety of art including photographs, drawings, paintings, poetry, cakes, dances, song lyrics and tapestry. If you think of anything else, feel free to email us.
For any media items such as music or dance, a still graphic of the work with a relevant QR code will be used. Any music or media must be owned by the artist or should use royalty-free music. In order to represent our whole community, your submissions can also be in any language (provided it is submitted alongside an English translation).
Our journal was a huge success last year, featuring over 175 submissions and selling over 180 copies. A celebration launch will be held in the School Chapel on Thursday 3 November.
The closing date for all entries is Friday 7 October (the first week of the school holidays). We are thankful for all entries, but due to the number of submissions that we receive, only our successful applicants will be notified. Your submissions can either be emailed to the Out of the Blue email or placed in the Out of the Blue boxes in classrooms (for Junior School students) or in the Library (for Middle and Senior School students).
The Out of the Blue Arts Journal Committee is looking forward to seeing all of your amazing pieces and celebrating the artists in our community!
Nathara Perera
Arts Journal Student Committee
Old Scholar Musical in Stonyfell Spotlight
Earlier this year, Old Scholar Erin McKellar (Patteson 2013) premiered her very own musical, A Box of Memories at the Adelaide Fringe. The award-winning show is now returning under the direction of international director Narelle Yeo, presented at St Peter’s Girls’ School Arts Centre.
Co-written with her father Duncan and with music composed entirely by Erin, this intimate show features an all-Adelaide line up that presents perspectives on what it means to live with dementia, from diagnosis through to the end-of-life. During a series of vignettes, it follows the story of Lizzy, a woman in her 70s, experiencing changes in memory and at the beginning of a life-impacting diagnostic experience.
The Friends of The Arts will be supporting the event selling refreshments.
Venue: St Peter’s Girls’ School Arts Centre
Dates: Sunday 18 September 7.30pm
Tickets: $45 via TryBooking – click here
Scholastic Book Club
One of the best gifts any parent can give a child is the love of books and the benefits of
independent reading for fun. Children who read at home, or are read to, have a head start
on reading success in school.
Place your Issue 5 order online via the Scholastic Australia LOOP website to select some great books for as little as $3.
Road Safety Alert
The School has received reports of concerning driver behaviour on Hallett Road. This includes holding up traffic while waiting for cars to leave in order to park near the ELC, performing risky u-turns and parking in bus zones.
As our staff have no jurisdiction over public roads, the School will be asking the police to conduct regular patrols at peak times.
We implore all of our community members to support road safety and show courtesy to others.
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
Summer Uniform Appointments
A reminder that we are commencing Summer Uniform Fittings, and to streamline the process, we have introduced an online booking system. It shows our available time slots from August through to October. Middle and Senior School students are welcome to visit 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.
During the school holidays, the School Shop will be open on Friday 14 October from 9am to 4pm.
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 will not be attending school/ELC due to illness or otherwise, please notify the School via one of the following methods and include the name of the ELC Room, Class or Home Group.
If emailing, feel free to ‘CC’ the teacher of the Room/Class/Home Group as well.
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
It would be appreciated if notifications could be made prior to 9am.
Sports News
WINTER INTERHOUSE
Our Winter sport season has now come to an end for students in Years 7 – 12, culminating in Winter Interhouse. This year’s carnival goes down as one of the closest ever, with 3 of the 4 events seeing equal 1st place on points, and Shield winners only concluded on count backs.
SOCCER
First to take place was Soccer on Wednesday. A young and talented Kilburn team took out victory with 3 wins from 3, and a total 11 goals scored.
1st – Kilburn (9 points)
2nd – Selwyn (6 points)
3rd – Kennion (3 points)
4th – Patteson (0 points)
AUSSIE RULES
Next up was Aussie Rules and an extremely close competition! Kennion and Patteson led the way, with Daisy Kennett, Mathilda Thomas and Sophie Edwardes putting in strong performances for Patteson. Following a draw in the Kennion v Patteson game, the competition went down to the final match, Kennion v Selwyn, with Kennion needing to win by more than 20 points. Step up Sophie Ricciuto, ably assisted by her fellow Kennionites. Sophie dominated with 4 goals in the final game to take Kennion’s score difference to +42, 4 ahead of Patteson on +38.
1st – Kennion (7 points, +42 SD)
2nd – Patteson (7 points, +38 SD)
3rd – Kilburn (3 points)
4th – Selwyn (0 points)
NETBALL
Our Netball teams competed in Winter Interhouse on Saturday, and what a display of talent, competitiveness and School spirit we saw!
Due to the large numbers in the Netball program, Netball Interhouse has a Middle School and Senior School division, with all teams playing 3 rounds of matches against the other Houses. The results from both divisions are added together to determine the overall winner.
In my 7 years at the School, this was by far the closest competition we’ve had. Going into the last round, three of the four Houses were in a position to take out the Shield. In the end, final ladder positions were determined by goal difference with Kennion coming out on top by 4 goals!
Thank you to all those who participated and supported the teams, as well as my wonderful coaching and umpiring group who assisted to ensure the games ran smoothly. – Alice Johnswood (Netball Director)
1st – Kennion (14 points, +16 SD)
2nd – Kilburn (14 points, +12 SD)
3rd – Patterson (12 points)
4th – Selwyn (8 points)
BADMINTON
Our Badminton competition was a close affair, particularly between Patteson and Selwyn, with number 1 seed Yang Yang Gu playing solo for Selwyn in doubles format, and winning her 3 matches. Following a tight battle and a 2 – 2 draw in the Patteson v Selwyn game, both Patteson and Selwyn finished on 8 points. The competition then went back to games won, with Patteson crowned overall champions after claiming victory in 10 games in comparison to Selwyn’s 8.
1st – Patteson (8 points, 10 games)
2nd – Selwyn (8 points, 8 games)
3rd – Kilburn (5 points)
4th – Kennion (3 points)
SAPSASA ATHLETICS
On Friday 2 September, the following students represented Saints Girls at SAPSASA Athletics: Eleanor Bartter, Lauren Disney, Victoria Hii, Ruby Kelly, Ella King, Gabriella Noskovic, Matilda Purvis, Bonnie Qu, Milli Richardson, Emily Robinson, Lucille Trengove, Mika Valmorbida, Sophie Wiggins, Jess Woods.
The girls all performed admirably, with highlights including a dead heat in the 100m U12 final between Lauren Disney and Lucille Trengove, and Relay wins for both our U11 and U12 teams.
Congratulations to Lucille Trengove (100m and Long Jump) Lauren Disney (200m), Jess Woods (High Jump) and Eleanor Bartter (Discus) who have qualified to represent East Adelaide.