Welcome to 2021. I am sure you are all feeling as excited and grateful as we are at the prospect of a fresh start at the beginning of new year. While 2020 may have been a year that challenged us, we all learnt much and we take those lessons with us into 2021. One of the lessons that we, at St Peters, learnt is that we all need each other and every interaction matters.
Throughout this year we are keen to grow our school’s wellbeing program by investing in two key elements—growing in grit and building relationships. Last year tested our resilience, but adversity breeds resilience, and we are heading into 2021 with a greater understanding of the obstacles life can throw at us and the knowledge that overcoming them makes us stronger.
The second lesson we learnt from the events of last year was that we need one another. Being physically isolated makes for a lonely life because we are deeply connected. While fostering relationships is sometimes difficult – especially for some of our young people – they are what sustain us and give our lives meaning and joy.
Helping our young people to grow and flourish is a partnership between home and family and as parents, you play a vital role in ensuring the emotional and psychological wellbeing of your children. Through your modelling of a balanced and sustainable lifestyle, they learn the value of healthy, high-quality lives.
As part of the partnership between school and home, the P and F have very generously purchased a membership for 2021 with Happy Families, a parenting and wellbeing tool run by Justin Coulson. As St Peters Springfield families, you now have access to this invaluable resource for free! To access the site, please create an account following the instructions given below.
We wish you all the best for the New Year and we look forward to working together to create a culture of wellbeing and flourishing in 2021!
Sue Grotherr Head of Secondary Years
What's On
Date Claimers: Friday 5 February to Wednesday 10 February 2021
Date Claimers:
Friday 5 February
Junior High Swimming Carnival Year 6 Leadership Day
Tuesday 9 February
Central District Swimming Year 7-12 Academic Honours Assembly
Wednesday 10 February
Year 7 Camp Year 3-6 Swimming begins Year 4 Information Session Year 5 Information Session
Ministry
Close encounters
I was sitting in the pews the other day, listening to stories about the first days of Jesus’ ministry, and the people he met and interacted with. It got me thinking about the new school year, about the people we are going to meet, about the encounters we have, and about friendships we make.
During the holidays, I was lucky enough to head back up the coast for a short while, to spend time with great friends. I also had the opportunity to go back to my old congregation. There I caught up with a number of old and dear friends – and it was like we were never apart. I also had the opportunity to chat with members there that I’d never gotten to know really well and to meet with new people who have joined since I left. This time with them had me thinking about how we encounter people… how we make connections…
During our lives, we are constantly encountering people. Many of those turn out to be of little significance and are soon forgotten. But other encounters can turn out to be of great significance – they enrich our lives and can even utterly change them. A bond is formed almost immediately and we can be free to be true to ourselves. Imperceptibly we notice a difference in our lives because of the friendship that has grown.
In the Bible reading for the day, I got a glimpse of the importance of people’s first meeting with Jesus. The lives of those who were to be disciples were completely changed. We too find similar changes happening in our lives as we encounter Jesus and discover how he changes our way of thinking.
I believe that what makes St Peters truly unique is the relationships we form, the connections we make with each other. This is the heart of the Lutheran ethos that forms St Peters - We are called to be the Gospel of Christ amongst the people of St Peters so that all may experience authentic life in a restorative community. To experience an authentic life means that each person is allowed and encouraged to discover who they are and who God calls them to be in community.
So as the apostles were called to serve, each one of us to are called to serve. The initiative lies with Jesus who meets us again and again in each other: in the students, in the parents, in the staff, and more specifically in the Word and devotion and worship. The call is Christ’s; he can speak to the depths of our hearts, calling us to a relationship with himself and to be a co-worker with him in the world. May you have a blessed year, full of fellowship and friendship.
Chaplain Kirsten
Arise
Arise is a Christian Community where people gather each Sunday morning at 9:00am in the St Peter’s Hub, to meet Jesus the Light of the World. "Arise, shine, your light has come!" Isaiah 60:1
All are welcome.
The video on Facebook is of the complete worship service.
West Moreton Child and Adolescent Oral Health Service
Secondary Years
Getting into the ‘scope’ of Senior
Our Year 11 Biology students have wasted no time in settling into Senior School. This week they completed their first mandatory practical – using microscopes to view a variety of cell types. They have learned to calculate both the magnification and field-of-view of each lens combination, which will enable them to estimate and compare the different cell sizes. They looked at onion and elodea (plants), but their favourite cells to watch were the euglena, a type of ‘swimming’ photosynthetic algae that zipped in and out of the field of view.
Year 7 - 12 Drama Club
The Arts
Private Tuition
The school offers tuition on a number of instruments and Speech and Drama. All lessons are provided by experienced and qualified tutors, and are given on-site. Private Tuition lessons commenced this week. To enrol for lessons, please complete and return the enrolment form found in the Private Tuition Handbook. Any questions can be directed to Ms Sally Grennan, preferably by email (S.Grennan@stpeters.qld.edu.au).
Ensembles
Music ensembles will commence in Week 3. The conductors welcome all returning members and new members to our ensembles. Any questions can be addressed to Ms Grennan or the ensemble conductors. All rehearsals are scheduled in PA1.
“Again and again, it has been shown that active engagement in the arts improves academic and often social outcomes for students in both primary and secondary education”.
Mary Jo Capps is a leadership consultant and former CEO of Musica Viva. She believes passionately in the vital role arts education plays in the development of students and society.
Citing renowned British author, speaker and adviser, Sir Ken Robinson, and the Australia Council for the Arts, Mary Jo seeks to question attitudes to arts education.
During his lifetime, Sir Ken Robinson delivered TED’s most popular talk to date, provocatively titled “Do Schools Kill Creativity?”. In this talk, Sir Ken sought to upend what he saw as an antiquated education system, based in industrialisation’s need for academic and vocational skills, but which ignores humanity’s need for creative, brilliant people to be encouraged and valued.
In the release of a major research project, “Creating the Future”, Australia Council for the Arts tracks attitudes to the arts and their role in our lives. The Australia Council reported that nearly every Australian – 98% - engages with the arts in some way, whether through listening to music, reading, engaging online, attending events or engaging with the arts of their cultural background. The council concluded that the arts are embedded in the very fabric of our lives.
Mary Jo Capps expands on two areas of benefits gained from an arts-rich education. They are:
1. Better cognition in all areas
2. Better mental health.
In next week’s Cornerstone article, I will outline her findings in these areas.
Sport
Springfield Sport
Welcome to all members of the St Peters Lutheran College sports community for the 2021. I trust all families have had a relaxing break and are looking forward to what this year holds.
Last year certainly had its challenges but were proud of the way students remained committed throughout the year and made the most of the opportunities available. I strongly encourage all young women and men at the College to be involved in as many sports as they can this year – not just to enjoy the array of physical and social benefits, but also to be a part of the significant improvements that St Peters has displayed in both the QGSSSA and AIC Competitions and Representative Sport over the last five years.
The diverse range of sports offered to students from Prep to Year 12 aims to cater for both varied interests and varied ability levels. St Peters Sport recognises the importance of positive sporting experiences in a young person’s development, and therefore accepts that competition focussing solely on winning and losing can create undue pressure on students. To this end, in junior years there is increased emphasis placed on enjoyment, fair participation and skill development. As our sportspeople mature, the aforementioned attributes remain important while a sense of competition also shifts into focus. In senior years, results become an increasing part of shared team goals and successes.
Parents are strongly encouraged to be involved within their child’s sporting pursuits, particularly through positive support at matches. This attendance is invaluable and creates an environment which is conducive to quality performances and a united, supportive approach. We greatly appreciate the effort and time that is required of parents and we thank you in advance for your support.
Tuesday 9th March: Lutheran Primary Swimming @ St Peters Indooroopilly
For any further questions or feedback, please do not hesitate to contact me as we all work together for the delivery of a quality program of Sport at St Peters.
QGSSSA Girls Sports
This week our 2021 QGSSSA Swimming and Senior Softball seasons will get underway with the BGGS Invitational Swimming Meet on Friday 5 February (evening) and our first round of Senior Softball games on this Saturday morning. We wish all girls competing for the first time this season, or the first time for St Peters, the very best of luck and we hope that you enjoy your first sporting experience for the year.
This week our Basketball, Football and Touch seasons commenced with trials/training for all our Open teams.
Next week all other team trials/training will get underway (Year 7 will commence in Week 4 after camp) – all details are on the St Peters App.
Cross Country training has started also, and this Friday morning sees the first Run Club for 2021.
We encourage girls to come into Sports House if they have any questions regarding the Sports on offer this term.
At St Peters, we pride ourselves on many things but when it comes to Sport we particularly value commitment and communication. Commitment to a team is something we emphasise in Girls Sport and parents we would appreciate your support in reiterating the importance of honouring a commitment. When girls sign on for a Sport it is important, they consider whether they can uphold this commitment for the season. Each sport will have two training sessions and a game/meet each week in season and it is vital that girls do their best to attend these sessions. If they are unable to attend a session, we ask the girls to please communicate this with their coach and the coordinator of the Sport.
Last Saturday saw the Water Polo teams take to the water for the first game of the second half of the season. After an eight-week break from competition, there were some tough games as we came up against teams who had recently participated in the QLD State Championships. Our Open team and U17B team both had great wins on the weekend, well done girls. We hope to see you all at training, working hard to improve your skills.
WET WEATHER - SPORT TRAINING CANCELLATIONS
If rain is predicted, please keep an eye on student emails and the St Peters App for notifications.
AUTUMN FIXTURES – BASKETBALL, FOOTBALL & TOUCH
Well done to the girls trialling for our Basketball, Football and Touch Open teams, it is great to see all girls giving their best and trialling with such enthusiasm.
For all other teams, trials will take place during the training times in the first few weeks.
The first official QGSSSA Swim meet is on this Friday 5 February, this meet is hosted by Brisbane Girls Grammar School at the Centenary Pool, Spring Hill. If you are attending this meet please ensure you sign on, a bus will be provided leaving the St Peters Bus Stop at 3.30pm. The estimated finish time of the meet is 7.30pm and the bus will return to the St Peters Bus Stop @ approx. 8.00pm.
Thank you to all girls who remain committed to our Senior Softball teams. Training is underway and will continue again next Tuesday and Thursday morning from 6.15am -7.30am.
The first round of games is this Saturday 6 February and continues on 13 Feb, 20 Feb and 27 Feb, (6 & 13 March if wet weather occurs).
Water Polo is well underway for the second half of the season. A big thank you to Olympians Rhys Howden & Kate Gynther for joining our teams over the last week, these specialist coaching sessions have been enjoyed by all and an amazing experience for our girls.
Games continue this Saturday 6 February, please see below or check the St Peters App for further details.
Cross Country pre-season training has commenced this week. There are many training sessions to choose from – please check the St Peters App for further details.
Do your best to attend as many of these sessions as you can, with Wednesday sessions being a priority.
Run Club starts this week also! Join our Running Community on Friday mornings - meet at 6.30am at the St Peters Bus Stop.
I do hope all our students have had a great first week back at school and are back into the daily routine of both academic studies and cocurricular activities.
Last weekend we saw our Junior and Senior School Boys participate in Round 1 of AIC Cricket, Volleyball and Open AFL. Playing St Edmunds College in trial games the week before served our teams well for last weekends fixtures. It was great to see the cohesion of the St Peters teams come together for games against Padua College. For our teams and their coaches, they can now reflect on what great work they have achieved over the past few weeks prior to the commencement of the AIC season. Last weekend has offered an opportunity to focus on what skills need to be consolidated and what areas need to be addresses for positive improvement moving into this weekend’s Round 2 fixtures.
This coming weekend will see St Peters compete against Villanova College in Round 1 of Cricket, Volleyball and Open AFL. We will also be hosting St Laurence’s College and St Edmund’s College in one of our annual AIC Lead-Up Swimming Meets at our 50m Pool.
Traditionally, games against Villanova College have been heavily contested and this weekend will be no different. It is vitally important that all our students strive to exhibit positive traits of enthusiasm and passion together with a resounding level of good sportsmanship whilst both on and off the field of play.
2021 AIC Ecumenical Service
At the start of each school sporting year, all member schools of the Associated Independent Colleges (AIC) come together to celebrate the commencement of the AIC sporting year. The annual Ecumenical Service is a gathering of Heads of Colleges, Deans of Students, Deans of Identity, Student Sporting Leaders and Heads of Sport to celebrate the important sporting values upheld by each college of AIC. This year’s 2021 Ecumenical Service was held at Iona College, Lindum on Thursday 6 February.
Congratulations First VI Volleyballers and First XI Cricketers
Leading into Round 1 of AIC we announced both our St Peters First XI Cricket Team and our First VI Volleyball Team. At both gatherings we were able to acknowledge and congratulate the selected members of each respective team. Mr Tim Kotzur, Head of College, spoke to the players about being proud custodians of the Cricket ‘Baggie’ Cap and First Volleyball Jersey. To wear them with pride and live up to our College’s motto Plus Ultra. Ultimately, to leave St Peters Sport in a better place!
St Peters First VI Volleyball
Noah S (C), Josiah R, Patrick C, Alexander H, Kye V B, Cooper R, Jirra T, Bradley S, Zane P.
Coach: Mr Matt Young
St Peters First XI Cricket
Oscar W (C), George T, Lachlan D, Sam B, Curtis B, Prahbis B, Keshavan M, Matthew H, James R, Thomas J, Jorge F.
Coach: Mr Andy Richards
We encourage all students and parents to attend and offer support to our cricketers, volleyballers, AFL players and swimmers as a large part of our sporting program is also community engagement. It is a great environment to connect and socialise with other students and parents who are part of St Peters.
St Peters Student Spectators at AIC Volleyball, Cricket, Open AFL & Swimming
All St Peters students who intend on spectating (should they be allowed under COVID restrictions) are to be appropriately dressed in their Formal Uniform or HPE/Sport Uniform.
Students are NOT permitted to attend any St Peters sporting event if they are not dressed in College uniform. All students, whether participating or spectating, must also be wearing appropriate footwear. They are NOT to be wearing ‘thongs’ or ‘slides’ whilst attending a St Peters sporting event.
AIC Sport Round 2 – St Peters Vs Villanova College
For full details of times and venues for this weekend’s AIC Round 2 games against Villanova College, please refer to the St Peters App. If the sport specific information you are looking for cannot be found on the St Peters App, please contact the below sport specific coordinators.
It is important at any student who is unable to attend some training sessions, it is vital that their absence is communicated to their coaches firstly, then their coordinators or myself.
Queensland Girls Secondary Schools Sport Association (QGSSSA) Girls Year 7 – 12
The College is involved in two prestigious sporting associations, Queensland Girls’ Secondary Schools Sports Association (QGSSSA) and Brisbane School Girls’ Rowing Association (BSRA). There are ten schools in the formal QGSSSA competition and fixtures are played on a rotational basis whereby all schools compete against each other. Girls also have the opportunity to participate in the Queensland Interschool Equestrian Association (QISEA) and Brisbane Water Polo Inc (BWPI).
A comprehensive overview of the 2021 Girls Sport program can be found by clicking on the link below:
Associated Independent Colleges (AIC) Boys Year 4 – 12
St Peters is a member of the formal inter-school sporting competition known as Associated Independent Colleges (AIC). There are eight schools in this formal competition and matches are played on a rotational basis whereby all schools compete against each other throughout the year.
A comprehensive overview of the 2021 Boys Sport program can be found by clicking on the link below:
Representative Sport is an important pathway to enabling our students to achieve individual success and to further their sporting development. Girls and boys aged 10 - 19 years are entitled to attend the Metropolitan West Sports selection trials which includes a district trial with Central Comets in the sports they currently play at St Peters. Exceptions to this would include sports that are not offered to students within the St Peters Co-curricular Sport program such as orienteering, baseball, etc. In 2021, student nominations will be approved by the Head of Sport, Mr Jeremy Lohe and submitted through to the appropriate convenor.
Please also familiarise yourself with both the Representative Sport Policy and the Central District Sport Calendar:
As we aim to offer more opportunities for Lower Primary students, we are asking for expressions of interest for Prep to Year 2 Netball program. This program will be run on a Monday afternoon from 2.30 pm to 3.30 pm and be run by Mrs Marty Stolberg. Cost of the program will be $100 for 6 sessions. Dates of the program are as follows:
Session 1 Monday 8th February
Session 2 Monday 15th February
Session 3 Monday 22nd February
Session 4 Monday 1st March
Session 5 Monday 8th March
Session 6 Monday 15th March
Back Up Monday 22nd March
Registration for this program needs to be completed by Friday 29th January with payments for the program by Friday 5th February. Please register by clicking on the link:
If you have any questions, please contact Mr Jeremy Lohe via email.
WDNA Girls Primary Netball Year 3 – 6
We are aiming again to have St Peters teams entered into the Western Districts Netball Association competition made entirely of girls from St Peters Springfield. Girls will play in teams based of their date of birth. Girls from Years 3 – Year 6 in 2019 will be eligible to play in this competition. Please note that 8 Year old girls in Year 3 will need to play up in the 9 Year old competition.
Please click on the link below to register your interest for the 2020 season:
Central District Swimming will take place on Tuesday 9th February at Ipswich Grammar School. Students wishing to trial for the District team to go to Met West will need to complete nominations by Friday 29th January. As this is a representative trial, only students swimming to a high standard will be eligible to trial with final nominations to be approved by the Head of Sport. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact Mr Jeremy Lohe via email.
We are very much looking to build on the last few years with the formation of a Year 4/5/6 Cricket teams made up of Springfield boys who would train on St Peters Springfield and then play games against other schools within the AIC competition. Teams are dependent on numbers, with teams needing a minimum of 12 players in each team. Please click on the link below to register your interest for the 2020 season:
As in 2020, the College aims to further increase participation in Co-curricular Sport in 2020 by supporting the movement of students between St Peters Springfield and St Peters Indooroopilly.
This will be achieved by a dedicated St Peters Sport Bus and will operate at the following times:
Morning (AM) – St Peters Indooroopilly to St Peters Springfield
Depart promptly at 7.45 am from the St Peters Indooroopilly Internal Bus Stop
Afternoon (PM) - St Peters Springfield to St Peters Indooroopilly
Depart promptly at 2.35 pm from the St Peters Springfield Bus Stop
Students must register for the Sport Bus through the ST PETERS SFD Sport Bus Manifest. This sheet will be shared directly to students Google Drive Accounts with students needing to add their name whenever they require a seat on the bus for training at Indooroopilly. Parents will also need to fill in the ST PETERS Sport Bus Consent Form before their child uses this service.
Further information about the ST PETERS Sport Bus, please click on the link below:
Information regarding the St Peters Lutheran College Springfield Sport program will be communicated through a range of modes including email, St Peters App and Cornerstone. Students and parents will primarily receive information from the Head of Sport at Springfield but at times may also receive information from the Girls and Boys Sport Coordinators or individual Sport Coordinators. Parents and students are encouraged to download and use the St Peters App for information regarding the Sport program.
St Peters APP
Please download the St Peters ‘app’ today!!
All information regarding the St Peters Lutheran College Sport program including sport training times and venues, draws, coordinator details and wet weather arrangements can be found on the St Peters App.
*Please ensure that you update your preferences in the Settings> Subscriptions section of the app so that you only receive information from your appointed Campus or area of interest that are relevant to your family e.g. Springfield or Sports.
The app can be downloaded free through iTunes or Google Play, please search for St Peters:
