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eNews – Week 9, Term 2 2023

Issue no. 19Enews-banner

From Our Head of Junior School

Adelaide SchoolsAcross the grounds and through the corridors, Junior School students and staff could be seen sporting their craziest, brightest socks today, as they celebrated ‘Friendship Day’. Students participated in activities to highlight and practise friendship skills learned through the URSTRONG part of our #EMPOWHER wellbeing program, and they shared friendship internationally by supporting the Light Up Timor Solar Buddy Campaign with their gold coin donations.

Through our academic and wellbeing programs, and everyday activities, we constantly strive to live our three School core values of Courage, Creativity and Compassion. Our systematic, developmentally scoped wellbeing program, incorporating URSTRONG, encourages students to grow their understanding of these values and put them into practice. We know that relationships are at the heart of wellbeing and learning, and that having healthy relationships is a key protective factor against anxiety, loneliness and accepting disrespectful treatment from others. URSTRONG lessons help children develop skills to navigate relationships in healthy and respectful ways. Whether you are younger or older, relationships are not always smooth sailing. Helping students normalise the peaks and troughs of relationship journeys and supporting them in making good decisions that are both self-respectful and respectful of others sets our girls up for success now and into the future.

Through URSTRONG lessons this semester, students have learned the Four Friendship Facts:
1. No friendship is perfect
2. Every friendship is different
3. Trust and Respect are the two most important qualities of a friendship and
4. Friendships change, and that’s okay

They have been learning tips and tricks for putting out small ‘friendship fires’ with kindness, courage and compassion, and strategies and language they can use to help them solve bigger issues if someone is being ‘mean on purpose’. Today, they showed appreciation for friends and practised respectful relationships through cross-age lessons and shared lunch activities, organised by our teachers and Year 6 students.

We look forward to purchasing our Solar Buddy light kits with the money raised today and at our recent Junior School Book Fair, and once they are constructed by our Year 6s, giving the gift of light to children in Timor who have limited access to electricity.

For parents who have not yet accessed the URSTRONG Parent Portal we encourage you to enjoy the wealth of resources available.

Parent membership is free. Just go to the ‘Join’ web page and click the ‘Are you a Parent? Join for free’ pink badge.

Suzanne Haddy
Head of Junior School

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STEMLicious: Charting Future STEM Pathways at Saints

Last Thursday we were thrilled to host a crucial STEM Careers event, STEMLicious: Nourishing Your Future. This ground-breaking event connected and saw our Year 9 – 12 students mingling with stellar women mentors to build confidence and capability and showcase a diverse range of STEM careers in Adelaide.

The gym was transformed into a hive of exploration, imagination and discovery as we created a space where our girls could interact, learn from, and envision themselves as the next generation of women in STEM. As our students talked to the mentors at the display tables, they discovered that the world of STEM is as broad and diverse as life itself, and Eliza Monaghan (APEX Captain/Year 12 student) epitomised STEM innovation by demonstrating the Foodini 3D Printer.

STEMLicious exposed the exhilarating prospect of a career in STEM and how our city’s research and industry landscape caters perfectly to young, aspiring women. Industry leaders from BAE Engineering, The University of Adelaide, SA Water, the Auditor General’s Department and The Space Agency shared how their career path has meandered and how studying STEM subjects has equipped them with the skills to attain their ambitions.

‘Getting the opportunity to speak to professionals within STEM made me realise the breadth of opportunity within a STEM career.’ – Ruby Richards (Year 12 student)

By hosting events like these, we highlight and rectify misconceptions related to these disciplines, showcase that future careers depend on equal representation to balance diverse viewpoints and create a more equitable society. Thanks to the dedication of everyone involved – the event was a resounding success. Here’s to nurturing the scientists, engineers, and innovators of tomorrow!

We would like to acknowledge our fantastic STEM mentors, especially:

• Amy Brooks Birve, Business Integration Analyst, Accenture
• Marissa Bond, Chief Technical Officer, Lumination – virtual reality
• Lisa Butler, Professor Breast & Prostate Cancer, SAHMRI
• Alice Dall, Software Engineering Student, Uni SA
• Kerrie Dougherty, Australian Space Agency
• Rachel Gibson, Prof. Allied Health, The University of Adelaide
• Sarah Keenihan, Science Communicator, CALHN & freelance
• Rachel Leung, Engineer, BAE
• Jena Malone, Senior Postdoctoral Researcher, The Waite Campus
• Barbara McClure, Post Doc Researcher, Centre for Cancer Biology
• Tina Bianco-Miotto, Program Director Food & Nutrition Science, Waite Campus
• Elle Need, Deputy Audit Manager, Auditor General’s Department
• Mariana Oksdath, Science Designer, Illustrator and Communicator, Life Sciences
• Maria Parappilly, Prof Physics & STEM Enrichment, Flinders University
• Kate Pilkington, Technical Applications Specialist, De Novo Software
• Azriel Poskey Miles, Engineer, SA Water
• Dewni Salpage, Engineering student, Women in STEM, Uni SA
• Rebecca Vivian, Computer Science Education Research, The University of Adelaide
• Nina Wooton, Marine Scientist, The University of Adelaide

Melissa O’Loughlin
STEM Innovation Leader

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Saints Athlete Selected for Commonwealth Youth Games


Congratulations to Charlotte McAuliffe (Year 10), who has been selected to represent Australia at the upcoming Commonwealth Youth Games to be held in Trinidad and Tobago this August. She is one of 25 Track and Field athletes and para-athletes to be selected and will be competing in the 400m after qualifying with her National U20 and U18 400m titles.

Junior athletes from across the Commonwealth will be competing in Swimming, Cycling, Track and Field, Triathlon, Beach Volleyball, Netball and Rugby 7s. Only eight South Australians have been selected across all the events to represent Australia so this is a monumental achievement. Well done Charlotte – we can’t wait to hear all about how you go in Trinidad and Tobago later this year!

Photo credit: Athletics South Australia

Alice Johnswood
Sports Administrator

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Saints Brave the Cold for Cross Country

On 8 June, 18 of our girls braved the cold and wet conditions to participate in the School Sport SA State Championships for Cross Country. The event was held in Oakbank and we had girls competing across 14 Years, 15 Years, 16 Years and Open age groups.

The girls achieved some fantastic results with Year 8 students Isla Fahey and India Goodall finishing first and second respectively in the 14 Year Old division. Along with teammates Ava Fox and Abbey Phillips, the girls took out the win for the 14 Year Old division on the day!

Our 16 Year Old team comprising of Year 10 students Charlotte McAuliffe, Malaika McLeod, Zara Trim and Ava Field also won their division. Malaika took our silver in the event, with all four girls finishing in the top ten.

Our Open team with Year 11 students Alice Braithwaite, Daisy Braithwaite (7th), Dani Cox and Naomi Singh finished second overall.

Congratulations girls on your amazing achievements!

At the same event, Lucy Dougherty (Year 4) participated for the East Adelaide SAPSASA District team which she had qualified for earlier in the term. Lucy ran incredibly well finishing in the top 40 out of over 200 athletes. East Adelaide finished second overall and Lucy came home with a silver medal. Great job Lucy!

Alice Johnswood
Sports Administrator

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Congratulations to all Piano Eisteddfod Girls!

Congratulations to all the students who participated in the Piano Eisteddfod on Thursday. Each student had the opportunity to perform on our School’s grand piano in front of their peers, receiving a participation certificate and feedback from our wonderful piano Teachers Sue Mears and Kendall Latzel. We had over 70 piano students from Reception to Year 9 participate in this annual event.

Next Thursday evening, selected students will perform at the Piano Recital alongside our guest performer, singer song-writer and piano player, Ciara Ferguson.

Ciara is a pianist, composer, singer and teacher living on Kaurna land. She completed her Jazz Performance degree with First Class Honours in 2021 at the Elder Conservatorium of Music, where she also won the 2019 Helpmann Academy award for Top Piano Undergraduate. Ciara works in varying genres including jazz, classical, music theatre, cabaret and pop, and has been a backing vocalist, pianist, and/or vibraphonist for varied artists including Tina Arena, Lior, Eddie Perfect, Rhonda Burchmore, Paul Grabowsky, Joe Chindamo, Thando and Wendy Matthews.

She recently recorded albums with her own jazz/folk quartet (which has been featured on ABC Jazz), prog-rock band The Cortex Shift, Minnie Little, Soylent Green (with whom she also performed at Wangaratta Festival of Jazz and Blues in 2022), and the ABC Jazz Commission, Where Emus Roam the Streets. We look forward to having Ciara as a part of our special evening.

Best of luck to all students involved in the Piano Recital next Thursday, 6pm in MB120.

Sally Rounsevell
Director of Music

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Health Notification – Cold and Flu Season

Spread kindness, not cold and flu!

We appreciate everyone’s ongoing efforts in continuing to avoid the spread of illness within the Saint’s community as we aim to protect our immunocompromised students, staff, and families. As the winter months continue, colds, flus and COVID19 are circulating. It is strongly recommended that your child stays home if they have any cold or flu-like symptoms. Whether your child receives a positive or negative COVID19 result, we ask that they are kept home until all symptoms subside irrespective of the illness.

Health Centre

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Year 1s Explore Bell Yett Reserve

Our Year 1 inquiry into ‘natural, managed and constructed landscapes’ is continuing throughout the Term as we explore the beautiful space of Bell Yett Reserve.

During our most recent visit the girls were looking for evidence of how Bell Yett is used. They used their observation skills to notice animal tracks and found fruit from the trees that had been nibbled. They followed the trail of ants and found the ant hills. Rubbish was found as evidence that people use the park and the girls showed their care by picking it up and putting it in the bin.

We imagined how Bell Yett looked in the past and how we can care for this beautiful space now and in the future.

Kathryn Clark and Liz Sandercock
Year 1 Teachers

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Old Scholars in STEM Host Year 9 EDGE Students

This term our Year 9 EDGE students have had two exciting visits to Old Scholars’ workplaces to discover the exciting possibilities of a career in STEM. Read what some of our students had to say about their experiences:

The Year 9 EDGE girls recently had the opportunity to visit the South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute (SAHMRI), famously known as the ‘Cheese Grater Building’. Opening in 2013, the SAHMRI has since been at the forefront of cutting-edge research, covering four key areas: Aboriginal Health Equity, Women and kids, lifelong health, and Precision Cancer Medicine.

During our visit we had the privilege of meeting Dr Laura Eadie (Selwyn 2001), an accomplished Old Scholar who specialises in Precision Cancer Medicine. Laura shared that at Saints, with the help of a passionate teacher, her interest in biology flourished, laying the foundation for her future pursuits. Laura’s journey after completing her doctorate was nothing short of inspiring. She spoke passionately about her incredible post-graduate experiences, including speaking at a TEDx event, travelling the world and even making breakthrough discoveries. Her journey as a woman in STEM inspired us to pursue our own scientific aspirations.

In addition to our informative discussion with Laura, the SAHMRI left us absolutely mesmerised by its unique architecture and the incredible facilities available within. Our tour guide took us to various floors in the building, which was made even better by the glass elevators that offered an incredible view of the facility. Peering through the glass labs on the Cancer Research floor, we witnessed medical researchers in action, alongside cutting-edge equipment. To conclude our tour, we looked down the beautiful spiral staircase running through the centre of the building.

From the glass elevators providing breathtaking views, to the inspiring presentation of Laura Eadie, the tour exposed us to the dynamic world of medical research and developed a newfound appreciation for all of the researchers behind the scenes pushing the boundaries of medical science.

Angelina Tran and Olivia Ng
Year 9 students

Earlier this Term, the Year 9 EDGE girls visited the South Australian Metropolitan Fire Station on Wakefield Street in the city.

It was an exciting experience that we will always remember. We met with Old Scholar Amy Seppelt (Kilburn 2001), who took us on a tour of the station. To start the tour we visited the training facilities, gymnasium, fitness rooms and the squash rooms. On visiting these facilities, we discovered the tough requirements that are required to become fire fighters, the first of these being the beep test; the second, staying in an extremely hot room fully suited; and the third, passing through a climbing maze while carrying a water hose.

We also visited the station’s Communication Centre, where the 000 calls are received and taken. It was interesting to discover that the Metropolitan Station has keys to all the buildings in the city!

To finish off our time at the Station, Amy explained what was involved in her job as a Fire Safety Engineer. It was fascinating to hear her speak about how Fire Safety Engineers make regulations for buildings to be built and run tests to ensure that all of the smoke alarms and systems are wired correctly and working.

Overall, this was a fun experience and we all agreed that the main highlight was seeing the fire trucks up close and getting to sit in one! Although a lot more cramped than it seemed on the outside, five girls squeezed into the three back seats, while Ali was fortunate enough to sit in the driver’s seat. If we are ever able to visit the Metropolitan Station again, we all agree that we would love to slide down the fireman’s pole!

Beverly Hii
Year 9 student

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Year 7/8 EDGE Girls Visit Waite Campus

On Tuesday our Year 7/8 EDGE students were fortunate to access state-of-the-art technology, usually reserved for Senior students, during their excursion to The University of Adelaide’s Waite Campus.

The girls toured the School of Agriculture, Food and Wine Innovation Centre – a leading hub for agriculture and wine research in the Southern Hemisphere which gave our students an in-depth view of advanced research and technology at work in agriculture and wine production.

We saw the state-of-the-art Plant Accelerator, an open-access plant growth and research facility that house advanced plant phenomics and observed first-hand the Smart Houses and the Droughtspotter. The Smart Houses are outfitted with unique complex conveyor systems and imaging stations, capable of non-destructively phenotyping up to 2,400 plants daily using RGB, fluorescence, and hyperspectral imaging. These facilities play a significant role in progressing sustainable agriculture in Adelaide and worldwide by enabling high-throughput analysis. We also saw the Droughtspotter, which can simulate various climate conditions and measure the water loss response of plants under heat and drought stress, offering critical insights into plant resilience. What gave a wow factor was visiting the innovative X-ray CT system for the swift phenotyping of numerous cereal spikes, aiding the understanding of the effect of stresses like frost, heat, or drought on grain development. This technology is beneficial in regions grappling with climate challenges, as it supports the creation of more robust cereal variants resilient to environmental stresses.

Our students shared insightful feedback on their experiences:

‘We really enjoyed exploring the room where scientists could alter the conditions that the plants were growing in, for example, changing the lighting, temperature, and nitrogen and carbon dioxide levels. We were also captivated by the process of scanning seeds and roots using giant X-ray machines and the automation of the conveyor belts.’ – Lauren and Isabel

‘We found inspiration in hearing female scientists discuss their journey through science and their specific fields. We also enjoyed learning about plants in space and wine science. It was fascinating to listen to the different pathways people had taken to end up in their specific field.’ – Olive and Lucille

The excursion demonstrated our commitment to infusing real-world experiences into our STEM curriculum. Our students gained a unique advantage point on how industry pioneers are using innovative research and plant genomics to investigate practical solutions for a sustainable future, notably through intriguing projects like Plants in Space. Providing engaging learning opportunities rich in advanced STEM concepts that expand our students’ horizons and foster a lifelong passion for learning is a pleasure.

This trip was a shining example of how we’re bridging the gap between classroom theory and practical application, enhancing the quality and impact of our educational offerings.

Melissa O’Loughlin
STEM Innovation Leader

Becca Burton-Howard
Gifted and Talented Teacher

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Eco-Friendly Futures for Year 7s

This week the Year 7 students presented an Eco-Market as part of their subject, Futures. With great enthusiasm, the girls exhibited a diverse range of up-cycled products, reflecting their resourcefulness and creativity.

Throughout the project, the girls explored the process of planning, designing, creating, budgeting and marketing their products. They embraced the principles of environmental consciousness, repurposing discarded materials into unique and practical items.

By actively engaging in this hands-on process, the students developed important skills such as project planning, critical thinking, problem-solving and teamwork. They learnt to manage challenges, adapt designs and optimise resources, all while fostering a genuine appreciation for the environment.

Congratulations to all Year 7 Futures students for their creativity, hard work and commitment to sustainability. Thank you to the students and staff who supported us on Market Day.

Denise Reid, Joni Combe, Kyle Martell, Randall Irvine and Ann Li
Year 7 Futures Teachers

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Year 4s Bounce into Burnside Council


On Wednesday the Year 4 girls went to the Burnside Council to learn all about local government and to speak to the Burnside Mayor, Anne Monceaux (nee Harrington, Kennion 1966) former staff and Old Scholar of St Peter’s Girls.

The Year 4 girls hopped off the bus at the Burnside Council with their brains switched on. First 4ZWE and 4OCO put their bags down by the main door. Suddenly, the girls saw Mayor Monceuax come out in her red cloak. She took the girls into her office parlour and showed and explained all the paintings. She then showed them the Council Chambers and the Year 4s got to sit in the chairs like it was an actual meeting and told them how a meeting would work. The girls got to choose one sweet from the main table.

Next, the Year 4 cohort went into the Ballroom and the Environment Officer talked to the girls about which rubbish goes in which bin. The Year 4s split up into 4 groups, then they did an activity where they had mini bins and little cards where you had to figure out which card goes in which bin. The second activity was where they had a bunch of items that would either get recycled, composted or put into landfill. It was a race to see which group put all the items in first but also in the right bin.

Once they had finished in the Ballroom, the Year 4s went to the Burnside Toy Library. A Toy Library is a place where you can borrow toys. They got into groups of three with a piece of paper and pen and had to find three things they would like to borrow and three things they want in the library. Once they finished, they went to Tusmore Park to have recess and have a play for about half an hour. Mikayla said ‘my recess is so yummy!’ Once they had finished, they hopped on the school buses and drove back to school.

The Year 4s had a great time, it was amazing!

Edwina Cannon
Year 4 student

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Outstanding Music Results for Saints Girls


Samantha Li (Year 8) was presented with the Licentiate Award with Distinction and was presented with the prestigious Licentiate Prize at the AMEB SA & NT Awards Ceremony for 2022 Candidates on 15 April 2023 at Elder Hall, University of Adelaide. Samantha is the youngest student to receive this award and prize in the award’s history in SA and NT. Congratulations Samantha on this outstanding achievement.


Samantha Paltridge (Year 4) was presented with the Piano Grade 5 Prize at the same AMEB Ceremony. She also received an A+ for her Grade 6 piano Comprehensive exam. She’s been invited to play for the AMEB midyear showcase concert in July. We wish Samantha the very best with her upcoming performance.


Congratulations also to Eloise Keller (Year 9), who was presented with the AMEB Grade 2 Woodwind ABODA Prize at the same Awards ceremony, recognising her outstanding tenor saxophone playing.


In other music competitions, Grace Guo (Year 2) competed in the 2023 Launceston Instrumental Competitions in Tasmania. She competed in four different sections and was awarded first place in all four of her categories:

• Primary School Recorder Solo section
• 8 years and under Classical Styles Piano Solo section
• 8 years and under Modern Piano Solo section
• Grade 2 AMEB Piano Solo section

Congratulations Grace!

Sally Rounsevell
Director of Music

 

Both Jana Song (Year 8) and Samantha Li (Year 8) represented Saints Girls with distinction in recent weeks.

Adelaide SchoolsOn Friday 19 May, for the Elder Conservatorium’s lunch time concert series, Jana performed with the Elder Conservatorium Chamber Orchestra (ECCO), by invitation of ECCO director and conservatorium head of strings, Elizabeth Layton.

‘When I first got invited to play with ECCO I was super excited because this would be my first time playing with University students. Going through the rehearsals was very challenging for me since all the pieces were pretty difficult and new to me. Liz supported and taught me at  University student level and so we went through things very quickly and I had to be able to be a productive musician. I found playing in a chamber group really exposes me a lot since there were only 3 cellos. The concert was epic! I was able to play with Danny Yang, a high school pianist. I was playing with such talented people and it made me play better too. Hopefully I will be able to play with them again.’– Jana Song (Year 8 student)

Adelaide SchoolsOn 21 May, Samantha Li was involved with the very final show of the State Opera of South Australia’s (SOSA) Gilbert and Sullivan season, performing in the opera “The Sorcerer”. Samantha was one of four students selected to partner with a professional musician for this project doubling the violin, viola and cello parts (of the students, there were two violinists, one violist and one cellist). Having been involved in this project myself, I can attest to the challenging circumstances we faced with this project, having only one rehearsal on Friday before the dress rehearsal and concert. Time was cut very fine, and with the stakes being so high (the final performance of quite a large season), Samantha and the other students held their own so well – she was very poised and professional in her attitude, and we got through the performance and everyone was happy (conductor, orchestra, cast, chorus and audience alike).

‘Performing with such amazing musicians and 5 other students, across various schools, was truly a memorable experience. Being a part of this ensemble allowed me to not only showcase my talents but also learn from the unique abilities of other members. We functioned as a cohesive unit, everyone adding to the collaborative beauty of the performance. Performing with a proper ensemble was an awe-inspiring experience that left me feeling invigorated and empowered as a musician.’ – Samantha Li (Year 8 student)

Tom Marlin
Senior Strings Director

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Strings Concert – Next Monday!

 

Our upcoming Strings Concert next Monday is shaping up to be a wonderful celebration of all things strings. From our beginner string students in Junior Strings to our advanced Senior Strings, we will be hearing a wonderful array of music from every genre. This year we will even be treated to some Jazz strings with Extension Strings aka ‘Revolution Strings’ performing items from their recent win at Generations in Jazz. We hope to see you there.

Monday 26 June (Week 10)
6 – 7pm
Arts Centre, St Peter’s Girls’ School

Sally Rounsevell
Director of Music

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SLIC Reviews – New Edition Out Now!


The Student Libraries Initiatives Club’s Magazine: SLIC reViews Issue 6 is now available.

In this edition we have looked at Graphic Novels which are great for students of all reading levels and ages. They help develop critical thinking and comprehension skills, encourage non-linear thinking, strong visual literacy skills and increase understanding of literary techniques, terms and elements.

Research from the University of Oregon found that comic books averaged 53.5 rare or more complex words per 1,000. That’s more than children’s books which average 30.9 and even adult books at 52.7. Graphic Novels are engaging, fun, cover all genres and captivate readers. You are bound to find one you enjoy!

Start reading SLIC reViews now – click here

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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 our annual 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.

This is a compulsory event for all Year 7 – 12 students. Visit the TryBooking links below to book your daughter(s) a ticket for the night.

Kennion House Dinner – 4 August (Week 2)

Theme: TV Channels

This year for Kennion House Dinner each Year Level will be dressing up as characters from different TV channels. The Year Level channels can be found on the posters located around the school so keep an eye out. Can’t wait to see everyone there for a fun night!

Book now: trybooking.com/CJBAI

Patteson House Dinner – 11 August (Week 3)

Theme: Music Genres

The Patteson House Dinner theme for 2023 is Music Genres! Each Year Level is encouraged to dress up and students can find their allocated music genres on the posters located around the Middle and Senior School. Can’t wait to see everyone’s creative costumes!

Book now: trybooking.com/CJBAJ

Selwyn House Dinner – 18 August (Week 4)

Theme: Disco

Dress up in your glitziest disco outfit and get ready to hit the dance floor! It’s going to be a night of 70s music, great food, and lots of lights!

Book now: trybooking.com/CJBAK

Kilburn House Dinner – 1 September (Week 6)

Theme: Disney

Everyone is encouraged to dress up as their favourite Disney character for the night. It can be anything from princesses, to villains, to your favourite characters from Disney channel. We look forward to seeing everyone at our Kilburn Disneyland!

Book now: trybooking.com/CJBAL

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Junior School Vacation Care – Book Now

Our next exciting instalment of Junior School Vacation Care is almost here! We have some great activities guaranteed to keep the children entertained throughout the July break. With an array of excursions and on-site adventures, there is plenty of fun to be had.

July 2023 Vacation Care Program

Places are limited, so secure your booking now – click here

A late booking fee of $5 now applies for each new booking.

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Spread Drive Supporting KickStart for Kids

This term, Junior School students are invited to participate in the KickStart for Kids Breakfast Spread Drive. This drive is an initiative organised as a collaborative project between a group of Year 12 students and the Year 6 Student Ambassadors. It is aimed at raising awareness about other children in our community and the work of KickStart for Kids.

KickStart for Kids is a South Australian organisation that aims to create an equal chance for all children to succeed in life. They run breakfast and lunch programs to provide meals for children who go to school hungry. Students are better able to focus, interact with others, and perform well in class when they have eaten nutritious meals.

KickStart for Kids relies on contributions from the community. So, we invite Junior School students to bring in breakfast spreads, such as jams, Vegemite and honey to support this organisation and support the children who benefit from their programs. Please refrain from bringing products that contain nuts. There will be a collection box located near the Junior School Library until the end of next week (Week 10)

Suzanne Haddy
Head of Junior School

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COVID-19 Information

Please find the latest guidance from SA Health:

  • It is strongly recommended that students stay home if they have cold or flu-like
    symptoms, and test for COVID-19.
  • Whether they receive a positive or negative result, they should stay home until symptoms subside (usually five to seven days).
  • It is strongly recommended that parents/guardians inform the School if a student is a
    close contact. For further advice regarding close contacts, click here
  • While face masks are no longer mandated, they are an important physical barrier to help stop the spread of COVID, particularly when indoors.

If your child tests positive to COVID-19, please inform the School. Please also notify the School each day of absence, or provide the expected period of absence.

You can notify us via one of the following methods. Please 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.

Email: attendance@stpetersgirls.sa.edu.au

Text: 0428 601 957 (save to phone contacts as SPGS)

Phone: 8334 2200

For more SA Health information, click here

Please note that if your child is unwell, they should remain home until they have recovered, irrespective of the illness.

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2023 School Immunisation Program –
Year 10 Students

Eastern Health Authority (EHA) will be returning to the School for the final immunisation visit next Tuesday 27 June.

2nd dose of the Meningococcal B (Bexsero) vaccine

A reminder to parents/guardians: Students in Year 10 are offered two free vaccines two months apart to be fully vaccinated against Meningococcal B. It is important that your child is present at school on the day when EHA will be providing second doses.

** If your child was absent for the first dose 2 months ago and hasn’t been vaccinated (at an EHA clinic or the GP) they can receive the first dose at the second visit.

Please notify EHA if:
• Your child has already received the 2nd dose with another provider
• You wish to withdraw your consent
• Your child’s medical condition has changed

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 further questions about the program, please directly contact Eastern Health Authority on 8132 3600 or via e-mail at 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. 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 will be available on MyGov within 24 hours of the visit.

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School Medical Information Reminder

It is imperative that all medical information, including immunisations, is up to date on the School’s myLink parent portal.

Please follow this pathway to check and/or update details: myLink > Community Portal > My Details > select child name

If you have any questions, please email healthcentre@stpetersgirls.sa.edu.au

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School Shop Holiday Hours

School Holiday Opening Times

Friday 21 July, 9am – 3pm
Monday 24 July, 9am – 4pm

The School Shop will resume regular hours on Tuesday 25 July.

Regular 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. This is now accessible via the Flexischools platform which also administers our Online Tuck Shop. To sign in or sign up to Flexischools, click here

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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 methods below.

Please include the name of the ELC Room, Class or Home Group, along with the reason for the absence as the School requires this for government reporting purposes.

If emailing, feel free to ‘CC’ the teacher of the Room/Class/Home Group as well.

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.

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Sports News

AFL

Open A: Saints (35) v Walford (20)

BADMINTON

Open A: Saints (6) v Walford (0)
Open B Blue: Saints (2) v Wilderness B2 (4)
Open B White: Saints (1) v Wilderness B1 (5)
Open C Blue: Saints (2) v Wilderness C2 (4)
Open C White BYE
Open D Blue: Saints (2) v Wilderness D1 (4)
Open D White: Saints (3) v Walford D (3)

BASKETBALL

Junior School
Year 3/4 Blue: Saints (16) v Pembroke 3/4 Blue (16)
Best Player: Maggie Will
Super Woman: Winnie Christo – for 100% effort, sprinting down the court and diving on loose balls
Year 3/4 White: Saints (0) v Seymour 3/4 Purple (54)
Best Player: Florence Cleland
Super Women: Angela Shi – for playing great defence throughout the game
Liv Matthews – for executing some great pivoting which we had worked on at training

CROSS COUNTRY

Senior
1st – Elodie de Wit
2nd – Isla Fahey
3rd – India Goodall
4th – Daisy Braithwaite
6th – Alice Braithwaite
10th – Marcella Tolley

Overall points: 84

HOCKEY

Open: Saints (0) v Wilderness (4)

Junior School
Year 4-6: Saints (2) v Loreto 4-6 (1)

LACROSSE

U13 Blue: Saints Blue (7) v Glenelg Seahawks (7)
Best Player: Chelsea Francis
Super Women: Matilda Purvis and Ruby Kelly for a great game in goal
U13 White: Saints White (1) v Glenelg Blackhawks (16)

NETBALL

Senior School
Premier League: Saints (46) v Seymour Open A (56)
Premier League Reserves: Saints (41) v Seymour Open B (60)
Open A: Saints (16) v Walford Senior A (47)
Open B: Saints (30) v Walford Senior B (54)
Open E: Saints (18) v Westminster 10C (70)

Middle School
Year 9A: Saints (60) v Walford Y9 A (11)
‘It was hard to choose a best player this week as all the girls played extremely well and worked together as a team demonstrating set plays we had worked on during training, special thanks to Mim and Zoe for filling in for us.’ – Trudy Wishart (Coach)
Year 9B: Saints (45) v Walford Y9 B (10)
Year 8A: Saints (46) v Walford Y8 A (23)
Year 8B: Saints (26) v Walford Y8 B (13)
Best Player: Ruby Marschall
Super Woman: Zoe White
Year 8C: Saints (14) v Wilderness Y8 D (6)
Best Player: Jana Song
Super Woman: Nathalie Randeniya
Year 7A: BYE
Year 7B: Saints (23) v Walford Y7 A (4)
Best Player: Leila Buttignol
Year 7C: Saints 7C (12) v Pembroke Y7 C (22)
‘Big shout out this week to our tenacious defenders Erin and Maddie! They worked so well together to prevent scoring opportunities for their opposition and to gain turnovers giving us the opportunity to score from them. Well done girls. Best players and superwomen of the week!’ – Sue Wright (Coach)
Year 7D: Saints 7D (12) v Immanuel Y7 C2 (25)
Best Player: Christina Zhu
Super Woman: Serena L

Junior School
Year 6 Blue: Game cancelled
Year 6 White: Saints (5) v Wilderness Y6 White (9)
Year 5/6 Silver: Saints (4) v Wilderness Y6 Blue (13)
Best Players: Sophie Edwards – for her gallant efforts in goals today and every week
Sasha Connor – for her relentless running and flexibility in playing all positions
Super Women: Ying Ouyang – for showing courage when filling in for the other Saints team
Alexandra Teh – for showing increasing confidence as the season progressed
Year 5 Blue: Saints (3) v Wilderness Y5 White (4)
Year 5 White: Saints (1) v Wilderness Y5 Blue (9)
Best Player: Elise Fuller
Year 4 Blue: Saints (26) v Westminster Y3 (0)
Year 4 White: Saints (10) v Scotch Y4 (18)
Best Player: Ava Duldig
Super Woman: Lucy T

SOCCER

Senior School
Premier League: Saints (0) v Seymour PL (2)
Best Player: Grace Beaumont – huge display in goals as usual
Super Woman: Labrini Psaltis – effort is always faultless

Middle School
Middle A: Saints (1) v Wilderness A (0)
Best Player: Aurelia Weidenbach
Super Woman: Ava Fox
Middle B: Saints (4) v Wilderness B White (0)
Best Player: Olivia Park – moved really well always moving into space, and was rewarded with a hat-trick
Super Woman: Scarlett Penley – gave 100% effort both in playing for our team and playing for the opposition who were down on players, a great display of sportsmanship

Junior School
Year 5/6 Blue: Saints (4) v St Ignatius Gold (5)
Best Player: Carissa Lush – applied great defensive pressure, making multiple crucial challenges and clearances
Super Women: Chloe Li and Tia Dong – both made great attacking runs into space, and were rewarded with two goals apiece for their efforts
Year 5/6 White: Saints (5) v Loreto Y5/6 (3)
Best Player: Constance Morel
Super Woman: Hannah Ibrahim
Year 3/4: Saints (0) v Pulteney 3/4 White (2)

STUDENT SUCCESS

Volleyball

Annabel Keough captained the South Australian 15 & Under State Volleyball team at the National Championships held in Canberra recently. The team defeated ACT, WA and upset Queensland (the eventual silver medallists) in the minor rounds. They lost to Victoria (gold medallists) and went down 2 sets to 3 against NSW.

The upset against Queensland in the final minor round match meant the team would face NSW in the bronze medal match. The girls won the game convincingly, defeating NSW 3-0.

On top of her bronze medal, Annabel was also selected in the All Australian Team! Well done Annabel, what a fantastic achievement.

Athletics

At the annual Athletics SA Awards held at the beginning of June, Saints Girls had a number of students nominated as finalists:

Isla Fahey (Year 8), nominated for:
Under 14, Most Outstanding Athlete
Under 16, Stadium Award

Charlotte McAuliffe (Year 10), nominated for:
Under 16, Stadium Award
Under 18, Stadium Award

Elodie de Wit (Year 9), nominated for:
Under 16, Stadium Award

Isla took out the win for Most Outstanding Athlete in the Under 14 age division. Congratulations to all the girls who were finalists and to Isla for her win!

Lacrosse – Judy Thurgood Cup

On 7 June, a group of Year 7-12 Saints girls competed against Wilderness in the Judy Thurgood Trophy at Sturt Lacrosse Club on the opening day of the Senior National Championships.

The annual Saints v Wilderness Judy Thurgood Cup was initiated in 2015 and is contested annually. The actual Cup has been awarded for the first time since 2019 due to COVID. With unfortunate weather issues, the match was called with about 10 minutes remaining, but we still managed to walk away with a 10-5 win!

We started off strong, taking an early 4-1 lead in the first quarter. We managed to keep this lead throughout the rest of the game. A huge credit goes out to our defence and both Jenna and Lara Maione’s strong pressure.

Congratulations goes out to Chelsea Francis and Ruby Kelly for playing their first ever Under 18 match. Well done to Ruby for going goalkeeper for this match and for some amazing saves. Our goal scorers were; Alannah Godfrey (2), Cleo Hart (3), Ashlyn May (1) and Dani Cox (4).

Well done girls, I couldn’t be prouder!
– Dani Cox (Lacrosse Captain)

Dressage

On 11 June, Inge R competed for Saints in the Interschool Dressage competition. Inge placed ninth in the preliminary 1.2 and Top 10 in preliminary 1.3, both in a competitive class. Well done Inge!

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