Issue no. 20
From Our Principal
COVID-19 has disrupted education on an unprecedented scale. Last month, UNESCO estimated that school closures across 186 countries denied 1.3 billion students access to their classrooms. It has been an extraordinary social experiment 
to watch countries rapidly replace physical attendance at school with a virtual alternative. Whilst the effort to provide continuity in education across the world has been laudable, in the absence of any test runs, the success has been mixed. Thank you to those parents who took the time to complete our survey and provide overwhelmingly positive feedback on our short period of remote learning. In many countries, students have been learning online for months. It’s a reminder of just how lucky we were to deliver our curriculum virtually for a mere seven days.
In line with current government advice and assuming no change to that advice, many of the restrictions that we’ve had in place to ensure the safety and wellbeing of our students and staff will be eased from next term:
• We look forward to welcoming back the many volunteers who assist us with school programs. It is imperative that all volunteers sign in and out at Front Office when entering and leaving the School.
• Assemblies and Chapel Services have been streamed to classrooms throughout the term to avoid students gathering in large groups. Girls will attend Assemblies and Chapel in person from the start of next term.
• All intrastate excursions and camps planned for the remainder of the year will run as scheduled. Alternative arrangements have been made to replace those camps that were cancelled this semester. Individual year groups will receive details shortly.
• Inter-school sport matches will recommence next term. Neil Fuller will communicate draws when finalised along with IGSSA guidelines for spectators. We’re delighted that our Sports Day on Friday 4 September will go ahead as normal.
• House Dinners for girls in Years 7 – 12 will proceed as planned.
• As groups of up to 300 people are now allowed to gather if space permits, the Long Lunch on Sunday 20 September will be held with tables arranged to comply with any social distancing requirements that remain in place. Tickets will go on sale at the start of next term. And remember, there are only 200 available, so don’t miss out!
A number of requirements still remain in place:
• Students should remain at home if they are unwell.
• Physical greetings will continue to be discouraged.
• Parents must continue to physically distance, particularly at drop-off and pick-up. For this reason, we request that parents do not walk their daughters to or from their classrooms but continue to drop them off and meet them on the path next to the car park or at the Hallett Road entrance. Our Prefects are doing a wonderful job of greeting our youngest girls each morning and the strengthening of the bond between our Senior and Junior School girls has been one of the silver linings. Front Office and the Uniform Shop remain accessible. If you have organised to meet with a staff member, please sign in at Front Office and the staff member will come over and meet you.
• We will be allowing a period of time at the start of term during which parents of our new Mid-Year Reception girls can walk them to class.
• We look forward to welcoming audiences back to the Arts Centre. The Senior Drama Production Charm will be performed in Week 3 next term and the girls can’t wait to see a full house (compliant with social distancing guidelines of course!).
There are still many unknowns. It appears that international travel remains some time away. We will not begin organising any overseas trips until we have a definitive answer on when the borders will reopen. Please be mindful during the term break that re-entering South Australia from some states will trigger a mandatory 14 day isolation period if you return prior to 20 July. Plan those holiday dates carefully!
At this stage, we are assuming that our big end of year events – Celebration Day and Valedictory Dinner, the Year 6 and Year 9 Graduations, Carols in the Cathedral and Presentation Night (with a Choral Night twist) – will proceed as planned. Audience capacity will be subject to any remaining social distancing guidelines, but one hopes by that time, the restrictions will have ceased.
Thank you all for your ongoing support. Our girls and staff have been magnificent throughout this unprecedented period, but that should be no surprise – you would expect nothing less of Saints Girls.
Have a wonderful holiday and I look forward to welcoming the girls back on Tuesday 21 July.
Julia Shea
Principal
Empowering Guest Speaker at Year 12 Retreat
Our Class of 2020 camped out at School last night as part of their reimagined Year 12 Retreat.
One of the highlights was a presentation and Q&A session with AFLW Crows Co-Captain and dual-premiership player Chelsea Randall.
Have a listen to some of her inspirational messages for our girls around leadership, resilience and positive mindset:
Winter Interhouse Results
With the many changes we have faced this year, Winter Interhouse was spread out over a number of days, but this did not diminish the atmosphere generated by students and staff. Girls in Years 7 – 12 competed in a range of sports, while the Year 5 and 6 students also enjoyed some match time as they took park in the Junior School House Netball Carnival.
RESULTS
Aussie Rules
1st Kilburn, 2nd Selwyn, 3rd Kennion, 4th Patteson
Introduced in 2018, Kilburn dislodged Patteson as the only previous winner on the shield.
Badminton
1st Patteson, 2nd, Kilburn, 3rd Selwyn, 4th Kennion
Patteson’s victory was its first Badminton shield win since 2011.
Hockey
1st Patteson, 2nd Kilburn and Kennion (tied), 4th Selwyn
Patteson reclaimed the shield they won in 2018.
Netball
1st Kennion, 2nd Selwyn, 3rd Kilburn, 4th Patteson
In the closest competition, the winners were decided on the best margin of points with Kennion winning the shield they last claimed in 2016.
Soccer
1st Patteson, 2nd Kilburn, 3rd Kennion, 4th Selwyn
Patteson were victorious for the third time in four years.
Year 5/6 Netball
1st Kilburn, 2nd Selwyn, 3rd Kennion, 4th Patteson
Kilburn reclaimed the trophy won the last two years by Selwyn.
Piano Recital Hits Key Notes
Why do we play music? Because we love it! And when we play music, we must be sure to tell a story. Just some of the wise words that were passed on to our young musicians at our Piano Recital on Tuesday evening by our guest performer, world-renowned pianist, composer and conductor Kym Purling. A consummate performer based in New York and Paris, Kym not only entertained us with his spectacular playing but passed on some wonderful advice about music as well as handing down some positive and constructive feedback on our piano players’ performances.
Check out the School’s Facebook page for a quick snapshot. We look forward to sharing the full Piano Recital with the School community in the coming weeks.
Sally Rounsevell
Director of Music
Hats Off to Our Newest Saints Girls
This week, we celebrated one of the biggest days on the ELC calendar: the Hat Ceremony!
Our newest Saints Girls were thrilled to receive their ‘big school’ hat and bag from Head of Junior School Suzanne Haddy and the Year 12 Prefects before starting Mid-Year Reception next term.
The Hat Ceremony has become a treasured tradition at St Peter’s Girls as our community places great emphasis on the transition from ELC to school.
Young Dancers Step Out in Style
This week, the Reception and Year 1 students took to the stage to showcase their impressive dance moves and skills. RMK expressed their emotions playfully through colours, RAL dazzled as sparkly starfish with fantastic footwork, 1ML were cheeky dance monkeys with a great sense of rhythm, and 1LS showed off their super cool moves in ‘Greased Lightnin’.
Over the past semester, the girls have thoroughly enjoyed their weekly dance lessons with Kirsty Battersby. During these sessions, the girls have explored skills in drama and dance which have helped to increase their flexibility, coordination, spatial awareness and to develop their motor skills. An enormous thank you to Kirsty for her creativity and patience.
Year 6 Students Create Political Agenda
Through our Unit of Inquiry ‘How we organise ourselves’, the Year 6 students have been investigating our federal systems of government.
They were fortunate to have Christopher Pyne visit this week to answer questions about his time as a Member of Parliament. His wealth of experience and candour gave the girls many insights into the life of a federal politician and the intricacies of the House of Representatives.
Year 6 Teachers
Year 4 Learners Host Burnside Mayor
On Tuesday, the three Year 4 classes had a very special visitor. Anne Monceaux (nee Harrington, Kennion 1966), Mayor of Burnside, an Old Scholar and former staff member of Saints Girls, gave a presentation on her role as Mayor and the workings of Local Government. Anne spoke at length about the challenges of having enough money to cater for all the projects and obligations the council has to look after.
Now in her second term of office as Mayor, Anne works with many individuals and community groups to manage resources and plan for the future.
Anne also gave a historical perspective about the origins of Burnside Council and of her own journey, firstly as a student of St Peter’s Girls’ School and later as a Year 4 teacher, which the girls found particularly interesting.
Shane Davidson
Year 4 Teacher
Out of the Blue – Music Staff Interview
At Saints Girls, we’re so lucky to have such a talented and dedicated Music Department. In the lead-up to releasing the Out of the Blue Arts Journal, I recently interviewed Sally Rounsevell, Sari Noble and Robyn Habel on their relationship with music. I’ve been lucky to work with these three teachers both in Music lessons and co-curricular ensembles, and their passion for music has always shone through in their teaching. I hope that what they have to say will strike a chord with some of the School community in the same way that it has inspired me.
What first sparked your love for music? What is your musical background?
Mrs Noble
My love for music was first sparked by my piano teacher. She was quite unique in her time, in that she could play jazz piano, read chords, improvise and play by ear, but at the same time could just as easily rip out a piano concerto! I wanted to be like that! At uni, I completed a Bachelor of Education double Music Major specialising in Performance and Music Education. Although I was predominantly a classical pianist at that stage, I was approached to play for the ‘Adelaide Connection’ jazz choir which is where I got my grounding in jazz. This provided me the opportunity to play with many Australian jazz legends including James Morrison, Don Burrows, George Golla, Tommy Emmanuel and Bob Barnard.
Ms Habel
My love for music was sparked by my family home environment. My mother won piano competitions in her youth playing Rachmaninov, and my dad was/is a song writer for church events. There was always music in our house as I was growing up in the US; people playing instruments or vinyl records spinning on the record player. And creativity was very much encouraged in everything we did. At age 11, I wrote my first song with my guitar, and at age 15, I picked up my first bass guitar during a live jam at a party. That was it for me, it was then I knew I wanted to be a musician who played original music. I spent many years from then until now playing in rock bands and jazz bands, performing live and releasing original music. I also studied jazz at (what is now) the Elder Conservatorium, majoring in Double Bass.
Miss Rounsevell
I remember watching a solo flute performance when I was in primary school and I went home to my mum and said I wanted to learn the flute. That was around Year 6 and I studied the flute all the way through school and then at university. I still play semi-professionally as part of the Australian Army Band Adelaide. I was heavily involved in music at school, participating in all the school musicals, playing in all the bands and singing in all choirs I could. I was also a member of the Air Force Cadet Band as a teenager and that is how I moved into the Army Reserves after school.
What does music as an art form mean to you?
Ms Habel
Music is a form of expression and communication. It is one thing to express yourself with your music, but it is another to communicate something to others. When you can do both at the same time, when these two elements come together, that is where the real joy of music lies for me.
Miss Rounsevell
For me, music is all about connecting with others. My background is very much based in bands and choirs. I love working with other like-minded people to produce music for others to enjoy. It is very rewarding.
Mrs Noble
To me, music is an art form that allows people to feel as well as to express. It’s that universal language which is understood by all; something that brings people together and informs our own culture.
What do you like most about passing on your skills and knowledge of music to your students?
Miss Rounsevell
What I like most is that I hope they find being a musician as rewarding and as enjoyable as I do. Music is so good for the soul and for a person’s wellbeing. It is impossible to feel bad when you play music. Music can also give you so many opportunities. I have been overseas and played in half a dozen countries on music tours and camps and have met some of the most amazing and talented people through music.
Why do you think music and The Arts are important within a school environment?
Mrs Noble
Music and The Arts are so important in schools. Music, in particular, embodies so many skills which we use in everyday life. It encourages students to take risks in performance and creativity, to learn about teamwork in ensembles. It is a wonderful medium for self-expression and helps students develop a sense of self. In terms of practice, it teaches students that the more they put in, the more they get out, helping them to hone their organisational and self-management skills. We also know from current brain research the importance that music has on Literacy and Numeracy skills, particularly in the formative years.
When you listen to a piece of music for the first time, what is usually the first thing that you pay attention to?
Miss Rounsevell
I usually pay attention to the melody and the instrumentation. I never listen to lyrics! New music needs to be inventive and interesting if it is to grab my attention.
Ms Habel
I guess it is how it makes me feel. What emotion does it create in me. Then, if it has lyrics, I will listen to them. Then, I hone in on the hooks, that is, the catchy bits. Whether its Beethoven or Billie Eilish, there are catchy bits!
Mrs Noble
I have a bit of a love affair with complex harmonies, so this is usually the first thing I hear, then I listen for a catchy melody. The last thing I actually listen to is the lyrics.
Do you think that music and songwriting can tell a story?
Ms Habel
Yes they can. Music is a form of communication when done well. A song or piece of music can transport you and completely change your mood and thoughts in three minutes. It can communicate a story, an idea, a theme or a meaningful message. Throughout history, music has impacted our society, our culture, our world. Music has the power to change things!
Thanks again to Miss Rounsevell, Mrs Noble and Ms Habel for their time. Hopefully it will inspire our students’ inner musicians in time to submit their entries to outoftheblue@stpetersgirls.sa.edu.au before Week 5 of Term 3!
Victoria Thorp
Year 11 student
Flexible Contest for Aerobics Girls
The term ended with Aerobics participants competing in our first-ever School competition. This provided the girls with something to aim towards given the normal calendar had been interrupted. With girls teaming up in groups of two or three, they had flexibility in creating their own routine which was judged by their three coaches and myself as a guest.
While all teams should be commended and with the scores proving extremely close, it was the trio of Amelie Zacharia Henley, Zara Blight and Annie Warrick who claimed 1st place. Well done to all girls and we look forward to next term.
Neil Fuller
Director of Sport
Year 8 Foodies Enjoy Sweet Life
This week in Food Technology, our class had an amazing opportunity to make apple and currant muffins. It was a very enjoyable experience and the muffins turned out delicious. We wouldn’t have been able to have this experience without the wonderful Mrs Manson, who has been coming up with some great cooking ideas this semester. We look forward coming back next term and creating more amazing food.
Jasmine Segredos, Airlie McCabe, Daisy Braithwaite and Poppy Oswald
Year 8 students
Strings On the Record
On Monday afternoon in the Arts Centre, the St Peter’s Girls’ Senior Strings, Intermediate Strings and Developmental Strings had a wonderful experience recording some pieces they have been learning this year.
The first ensemble to record their pieces was the Intermediate Strings. This group is comprised of 14 girls across Years 3 to 9 who rehearse Tuesday mornings at 7.30am during term time.
Intermediate Strings recorded ‘Humoresque’ by Antonin Dvorak. The solo part of this piece is performed by Emily Kim (Year 4), who is the leader of Intermediate Strings. The second piece recorded was ‘Little Blue Train’ by Stefan Karlpiniek.
The next group to record was Developmental Strings. This ensemble features 20 girls across Years 3 to 7. They practise at lunchtime on Wednesdays. The pieces recorded were ‘Yellow SunDragon’ by Adelaide composer and cellist Hilary Kleinig. The girls really loved the actions and different sounds incorporated in this piece. They also recorded ‘Fiddles Out West’ by Mark West.
The Senior String ensemble is our largest and most senior ensemble and is comprised of 27 students ranging from Years 4 to 12. This ensemble rehearses on a Monday afternoon and is led by Angel Li, a Year 9 scholarship student.
The ensemble recorded the pieces ‘Palladio’ by Jarl Jenkins, featuring violin solos by Angel, Faye Ma (Year 12) and Caitlin Middelberg (Year 10), and also ‘Two South American Tangos – El Choclo and La Camparsita’. The composer of this work is A G Villaldo. This piece also features a violin solo by Angel.
The video recording made on Monday afternoon will be available to view early next term.
Natalie Maegraith
Strings Coordinator
Charm – Senior Drama Production
Eager to get out and see a show? Well, do we have a treat for you! This year’s Senior Drama Production, Charm, is a riotous deconstruction of fairytales with wild characters, plot twists, a (slightly serious) message and a few songs thrown in to boot!
For each of the evening performances on 5, 6 and 7 August at 7pm, we are able to release 200 general admission tickets – so get in fast if you want to secure seats. It will not be a happy ending for you if you miss out! Go to www.trybooking.com/BJZQC
Junior School Vacation Care
Our next awesome instalment of Junior School Vacation Care is almost here. We have some great activities guaranteed to keep the children entertained through the break. With an array of onsite adventures, there is plenty of fun to be had.
June / July 2020 Vacation Care Program
Places are limited, so click here to secure your booking now!
School Immunisation Program – Year 10 Second Visit for Meningococcal B
Eastern Health Authority (EHA – www.eha.sa.gov.au) will soon be visiting the School to continue the above vaccinations for those students with parent/guardian consent.
If you did not receive an immunisation consent form from your child, please ask for one at the Front Office or contact EHA on 8132 3600.
If any information provided on the original consent form has changed, please inform EHA immunisation staff before the date of vaccination by calling 8132 3600.
Please notify us 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
Remember: it is your responsibility to notify EHA of any change in 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.
Out of the Blue Cover Design Competition
The Out of the Blue committee is holding a competition to design the front cover artwork of our School Arts Journal – Out of the Blue. All submissions must adhere to the following requirements: black and white, a simple outline style, and a 20 x 20cm square layout. If your artwork does not fit these requirements, your entries will be considered for the content of the book. Submissions can be supplied in either a digital or physical format.
Please submit your entries to the Learning Strategies room or email to outoftheblue@stpetersgirls.sa.edu.au.
Entries close Friday of Week 2, Term 3. The winner will be announced at the end of Week 4. We are looking forward to seeing everyone’s amazing art!
CLOTHES SHWOP: We Need Your Help!
Did you know that Australians are the world’s second largest consumers of fashion? On average, we each consume 27kgs of new clothing and textiles every year. Most of this ends up in the bin after less than a year. Members of the School’s Environment Club would like to change this!
The Environment Club is focusing on sustainable fashion with our ‘Clothes Shwop’, where students can donate old clothes for tokens, and cash-in these tokens to take new clothes in return! If you have old clothes you don’t want anymore and are happy to donate or exchange for other items, then please support this worthy cause. Any remaining items will be donated to a women’s charity.
Collections will take place outside of the Junior School Library at lunch every Tuesday and Thursday leading up to the actual ‘Clothes Shwop’ where you will be able to choose pieces from the donated clothing. The first ‘Clothes Shwop’ will be held on Thursday and Friday in Week 5 of Term 3 in the Drama Room.
Bring in your old clothes, help the environment and make your wardrobe that bit more exciting!
Sara Peak
Environment Club Captain
School Shop Merchandise
The School Shop sells a variety of branded merchandise and memorabilia perfect for a gift or as a souvenir.
Items include coffee mugs, china, mobile phone power banks, umbrellas, signet rings, key rings, pens, notebooks, wine and champagne glasses, candles, scarves and more.
Visit us to see what we have in store!
School Shop
Bus Tap Card Reminder
Please note that all School bus students must use their student ID cards to tap on and off each time they board and alight a School bus service to comply with our new tracking system.
Also, a reminder that all students from Years 3 to 12 can now use their student ID cards for point-of-sale transactions at the Tuck Shop and School Shop.
To register for the service and ensure funds are available on the cards, parents need to use the flexischools program, which already facilitates the School’s online Tuck Shop. For instructions on how to set up an account and add funds, watch the first 30 seconds of this video. To access flexischools, log in to the myLink Parent Portal and select the ‘Tuck Shop’ tab on the top menu. When registering, search for the School’s name, remembering to add the apostrophe in St Peter’s.
For information on transaction fees and other costs, click here.
If you have any queries regarding these new systems, please contact our System Business Analyst Bronwyn Ledgard via bledgard@stpetersgirls.sa.edu.au or 8334 2264.
Road Safety Appeal
The School has recently received reports of poor driver behaviour including speeding, tailgating and vehicles parked across residential driveways in surrounding streets. Road safety and courtesy is everyone’s responsibility and is of the utmost importance in a school setting. We appeal to all of our families to take extra care in our car parks and on the roads for the safety of our students, parents, staff and the wider community.
And, a reminder that right turns are not permitted into or out of the School’s main car park on Stonyfell Road.
Code Camp – Virtual School Holiday Camps
Bring the excitement of Code Camp to your own home these winter school holidays!
Join today for just $99!
Tried, tested and recommended by over 3,000 Aussie families, learn at your own pace with 10 hours of instructor-led video tutorials and live tech support from our Australian-based team.
Do You Have a Connection to Woodlands Girls’ Grammar?
Year 11 Scholarship Information
The Elaine Balfour Ogilvy Scholarship is for girls who are planning to enter Year 12 next year, who attend an Anglican school and whose mother, grandmother or great grandmother attended Woodlands Girls’ Grammar School. It was created by the Woodlands Old Scholars in honour of an old scholar, one of the Australian Army nurses who died in the horror of war after the fall of Singapore.
Applicants need to post an introductory letter and four copies of their CV to:
The President
Woodlands Old Scholars’ Association
39 Partridge Street
GLENELG SA 5045
Applications close 24 July 2020
Interviews will be conducted in Term 3, giving the panel a chance to have an informal chat with the girls. We will be assessing attributes such as presentation and enthusiasm and will take this opportunity to see certificates and awards which substantiate the CV.
If you have any enquiries, please contact me via sorrell.lou@gmail.com
Louise Sorrell
St Peter’s Woodlands Old Scholars’ Association President
Apple’s Cleaning Tips for iPads and Laptops
Apple products are made with a variety of materials, and each material might have specific cleaning requirements. To get started, here are some tips from Apple that apply to all products:
- Use only a soft, lint-free cloth. Avoid abrasive cloths, towels, paper towels, or similar items.
- Avoid excessive wiping, which might cause damage.
- Unplug all external power sources, devices, and cables.
- Keep liquids away from the product, unless otherwise noted for specific products.
- Don’t get moisture into any openings.
- Don’t use aerosol sprays, bleaches or abrasives.
- Don’t spray cleaners directly onto the item.
Is it okay to use a disinfectant on my Apple product?
Using a 70 percent isopropyl alcohol wipe or disinfecting wipes, you may gently wipe the hard, non-porous surfaces of your Apple product, such as the display, keyboard, or other exterior surfaces. Don’t use bleach. Avoid getting moisture in any opening, and don’t submerge your Apple product in any cleaning agents. Don’t use on fabric or leather surfaces.
Here’s the full article from Apple: https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT204172
Of course, please check your device instructions for specific requirements.
Sports News
With Term 2 drawing to a close, we hope that the current efforts by all South Australians continue throughout the holidays with planned return to sports scheduled from the start of Term 3. For those who have nominated, fixtures and information should have been received. Further updates and reminders will be sent prior to the term resuming and we hope that the positivity, team spirit, camaraderie and proud representation of Saints Girls continues throughout the sporting season. – Neil Fuller (Director of Sport)
Lacrosse
Under 11 Blue – Saints 5 drew with North Adelaide 5
What a wonderful start to an unusual Lacrosse season. The Under 11 Blue team played a confident game in which they were able to put weeks of training into practice. As the game progressed, the girls gained perseverance and a greater understanding of the gameplay. They showed fair play, and the new members of the team took to the game with ease. All team members contributed evenly. Valencia Capobianco spent half of her first game as goalie and did an incredible job! Matilda Birmingham also played very well both on the field and in the goals. Millie and Chelsea led the team with ease, demonstrating great goal shooting, speed and competitiveness with their ground balls. Hayley, Juliette and Matilda P showed eagerness and determination – most impressive for their very first game. In training, we will look at possibly practising moving into space when attacking and following opposition players more closely. Overall, a fantastic effort for the team, looking forward to more games! – Sophie Auricht (Coach)
Under 11 White – Saints 6 defeated ETP 3
All of the girls were excited to get to play the first match of the season. Everyone attacked well by running into space to get the ball, especially Lois Burton-Howard and Lilly Meo. Shooting for goals was also done well, especially when the girls aimed them at the lower corners. Special mention to Lola Meo who scored her first lacrosse goal. All of the girls were excited at half-time that they were up by four goals. The girls got the concept of sticking to one player in defence well, especially Ruby Kelly, Grace Marshall and Neela. Well done to our goalies Scarlett Schinella and Willow Chong who volunteered and saved several goals. Great job to all the girls and for showing good sportsmanship when playing for ETP due to them not having enough players. Goal scorers were Lilly (3), Lois (2) and Lola (1). – Lucy Martin (Coach)