Book Week Celebrations and Premiers Reading Challenge
Each year across Australia, the Children’s Book Council of Australia brings words, images and stories to the forefront of our hearts and minds during the celebrations for Book Week.
During Library lessons in the lead up to Book Week, the Reception to Year 3 classes listened to the shortlisted books from the CBCA Early Childhood category being read aloud, as well as completing follow-up activities. During Book Week, they enjoyed craft and creative thinking activities linked to characters in the books.
To culminate Book Week, the Junior School students embraced the 2025 theme of ‘Book an Adventure’ with imaginative costumes related to adventure or characters in books. They waved and smiled at parents and friends as they paraded along the walkway to the Chapel. At a special Junior School Assembly, each class then took to the Jeffreys Linn Arts Centre stage to showcase their outfits to the Junior School student cohort. The students thoroughly enjoyed the presentation by SLIC members of scenes from the book ‘Spiro’ shortlisted for CBCA Book of the Year awards, as well as being entertained by the teachers dressing up and acting out their own version of ‘The Wildest Book Week Ever’ by Heath McKenzie.
Our next reading focus is the conclusion of the Premiers Reading Challenge which students have been working towards since Term 1. For Reception to Year 3 students, the reading records have been maintained at school, assisted by class teachers. Students in Years 4 to 6 will need to submit their completed forms electronically to their Year Level Canvas Library course by Saturday 6 September.
Louisa Mitchell
Junior School Teacher Librarian
EDGE Year 5 and 6 Poetry
As part of the EDGE programme in the Junior School, we have been exploring poetry and responding initially to images. Here are samples of two students’ stunning poems which evolved from discussion and elaboration on this image.
Shelley Hampton
Acting Deputy Head of Junior School
Cold Serenity
A snowy pine forest stands quietly,
branches heavy with frost,
each needle coated in shimmering ice.
Soft snow carpets the ground, muffling footsteps,
while pale sunlight filters through the dense canopy,
casting intricate patterns on the winter silence
The air is crisp, filled with the scent of pine,
a whisper of wind weaves through the branches,
carrying the faint echo of distant winter calls
Frozen needles glisten, catching fleeting glimpses of light,
while shadows stretch long across the snow-covered earth.
In this frozen sanctuary, time slows-
a moment suspended in icy breath and silent grace.
Elizabeth Sinclair, Year 6
Forest
I glare at the statuesque pines awestruck by their beauty
The buoyant chatter of birdsong echoes in the branches above
The surrounding air is as crisp as an autumn morning when the world is still waking
My hand runs along the ancient pines
The bark flaking at my fingertips
The dew enhancing every scent
I am all alone and yet I feel that the world around me is buzzing with life
Olivia Rachwal, Year 5
Tickets are now on sale for OLIVER! JR
Our incredible Year 5 students are putting their hearts into bringing this beloved musical adaptation of Oliver Twist by Charles Dickens to life on stage!
Follow young Oliver’s unforgettable journey, from the harsh walls of a workhouse to the lively streets of Victorian London. With a cast of colourful characters and timeless themes of hope, belonging, and resilience, this production is not to be missed. Expect laughter, music, and a whole lot of heart.
Don’t miss out! Book now!
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Winning poster artwork by Year 5 Student, Cindy.
St Peter’s Girls’ School’s Production of Lionel Bart’s OLIVER! JR
Book, Music and Lyrics by Lionel Bart
Licensed exclusively by Music Theatre International (Australasia)
Moon Festival – Year 3 Chinese
To celebrate the upcoming Chinese Moon Festival (also known as the Mid-Autumn Festival), our Year 3 Chinese language learners explored how the festival is celebrated in China. They learnt the ancient Chinese poem Jing Ye Si (Thoughts on a Quiet Night), practised writing related Chinese characters, and decorated lanterns with their Chinese names.
Yuhan Liu
Language Teacher
Get Ready for a Celebration of Creativity!
Junior School Art Trail 2025
Dear Junior School Parents,
We are delighted to announce the 2025 Junior School Art Trail on Monday 8, Tuesday 9, and Thursday 11 September (Week 8) — a vibrant showcase of imagination, colour, and artistic talent from our Reception to Year 6 students!
Junior School parents are warmly invited to our opening launch of the Junior School Art Trail on Monday 8 September from 8.30am to 9.30am. Please meet me at the Jeffreys Linn Arts Centre steps at 8.30am to open this wonderful week of creativity. The launch will be followed by a guided tour of the Art Trail.
Families can also view the Art Exhibition before school on Thursday 11 September from 8.00am to 8.30am, as well as after school from 3.30pm to 4.30pm.
We warmly welcome Grandparents and Treasured Friends to join us on this magical journey on Tuesday 9 September. This is a day of celebration as we honour the special bonds between our students and their grandparents and treasured friends.
To help Grandparents and Treasured Friends enjoy the Art Trail comfortably, the exhibition will be staggered throughout the day, with guests asked to attend the session scheduled for their youngest Junior School student.
Schedule
Please note, older sisters will join the tour scheduled for their youngest sibling; Grandparents will only join one tour.
- 8:45am – 10:00am: Year 1 & Year 6 students
- 10:30am – 11:45am: Mid-Year Receptions & Receptions
- 12:00pm – 1:15pm: Year 2 & Year 5 students
- 1:45pm – 3:00pm: Year 3 & Year 4 students
You will have received invitations via email for Families and our Grandparents and Treasured Friends. We look forward to celebrating with you and ask that bookings be made via Trybooking (see below).
Parents
Monday 8 September, 8.30am
Grandparents and Treasured Friends
Tuesday 9 September
Warm regards,
Marika Taylor
Head of Junior School
Fathers’ and Treasured Friends’ Celebration
Marika Taylor, Head of Junior School, warmly invites you to our Reception to Year 2 Fathers’ and Treasured Friends’ Celebration to be held on Monday, 1 September from 2pm to 3pm. This event will begin with a classroom visit, followed by a sausage sizzle on the Jeffreys Linn Arts Centre Quad.
Please RSVP via Trybooking by clicking the button below. We look forward to seeing you there!