Building resilience is a topic of great interest to schools, families and health support agencies, to ensure our young children have the skills to deal with current difficulties as well as supporting the development of strategies and habits that will help them deal with challenges later in life. 

Research has shown that resilience is partly shaped by the characteristics we are born with and partly by the environment we grow up in.  We also know that the community surrounding the child plays a big part in supporting this development. The African proverb is so true – an entire community of people must interact with children for those children to experience and grow in a safe and healthy environment.  Schools are also part of this village.

Research information from the American Psychological Association shows that the following factors play an important part in developing resilience:

• Positive parent child relationships from early years
• Support by extended family and friends
• Social - emotional schooling – building a solid foundation early and then build upon the skills.  Schools build upon the skills children have learnt from home.

Beyond Blue has excellent resources in helping families with resilience growth. I particularly like the way they explain resilience on their website:

“One way of explaining the concept of resilience is to imagine a plane encountering turbulence mid-flight. The turbulence, or poor weather, represents adversity. Different planes will respond to poor weather conditions in different ways, in the same way different children respond to the same adversity in different ways.   The ability of the plane to get through the poor weather and reach its destination depends on:

• the pilot (the child)
• the co-pilot (the child’s family, friends, teachers and health professionals)
• the type of plane (the child’s individual characteristics such as age and temperament)
• the equipment available to the pilot, co-pilots and ground crew
• the severity and duration of the poor weather.”

Beyond Blue also have developed a suite of excellent strategies to support families build resilience. https://healthyfamilies.beyondblue.org.au/healthy-homes/building-resilience   

How to:

• build good relationships with others
• build their independence
• learn to identify, express and manage emotions
• build confidence by taking on personal challenges

We know that resilience is something that can change over time, that skills can be learnt, that it will look different in different settings – family, cultural and broader community environments. We will continue to work in partnership with parents and support agencies to ensure our students have the skills they need for their future challenges.

Debbie West-McInnes
Head of Primary

“Where you go, I will go
Where you stay I will stay
Your people will be my people
Your God will be my God”

This is the commitment with which Ruth responds to Naomi, her mother in law. Both their husbands have died and Naomi decides to return to her home country. Ruth follows Naomi even when Naomi points out to her that she will become a stranger in a foreign land (Book of Ruth).

I was reminded by this beautiful biblical story when thinking about the celebration of NAIDOC week as someone who came from a different continent. 'NAIDOC Week is an opportunity for all Australians to come together to celebrate the rich history, diverse cultures and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the oldest continuing cultures on the planet.' And we are called upon, every one of us, living in this country, “to embrace and acknowledge the true history of the country – a history which dates back thousands of generations, with the footprints of First Nations peoples the first to fall on Australian soil, with a deep and ongoing spiritual and cultural connection to the land and sea being maintained to the present day.”

Being Australian or ‘becoming a citizen’ of this land, challenges us – to say it with Ruth – to listen to the Indigenous people who teach us about this land, their wisdom and deep connectedness to the land we call ‘home’. Their stories feed the Australian story in their wise and joyful story. But this story is also a story of deep inflicted injustice and pain caused by those who ‘conquered this land’ and denied them their basic human rights, inflicting deep wounds that everyone of us is still called to acknowledge. Every Australian is called to participate in the process of reconciliation. Everyone who identifies as Australian is challenged to embrace the story of those who have occupied this land for 65,000 years. 

NAIDOC Week celebration is just another opportunity granted to us to listen to the Indigenous people of this land, so that we as Australians understand the story of its first nation. To understand and to respect the story of the Indigenous and Torres Strait Islander people allows us to figure out the way on which we together can heal the hurts of the past, and move together into a joint, reconciled future, weaving the story of Australia, this ancient land, of which every single citizen is a part of.

Arise is a Christian Community where people gather each Sunday morning at 9am 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.

View video of worship service

The ICAS competitions are being conducted at school on the following dates:

• Science – Wednesday 19 August  2020
• English – Wednesday 26 August  2020
• Mathematics – Tuesday 1 September 2020

Each of the sessions will be conducted as follows:

• Years 3 – 4  - 8:15am - 9:35am
• Years 5 – 10 - 11:00am – 12:35pm

Science

ICAS Science does not test knowledge of science although the questions may assume some knowledge appropriate to the students’ age. All the information that the students need to respond to the question is provided in the stimulus. The papers cover content on:

• Earth and Beyond
• Energy and Change
• Life and Living
• Natural and Processed Materials

Students are assessed across the key scientific areas of:

• Observing and measuring: Noting and measuring features of items and phenomena
• Interpreting: Interpreting data in diagrams, tables and graphs
• Predicting and concluding: Inferring information from data
• Investigating: Experimental design, use of controls and notion of ‘fair test’
• Reasoning and problem solving

English

ICAS English assesses reading and language skills in a range of contexts. The following aspects of texts are assessed and reported:

• Text comprehension
• The writer’s craft in selecting particular text types, vocabulary and techniques
• Vocabulary

The questions require students to locate, identify, sequence, explain, interpret, analyse and infer information in and about texts. Students read a variety of texts which narrate, describe, explain, argue, persuade and review. These include extracts from picture books, novels, poems, play scripts, transcripts of interviews, letters, diary entries, advertisements, web pages, feature articles, opinion pieces and comic strips. These texts cover a range of topics and may include tables, diagrams, maps and other visual information.

Mathematics

Students are assessed across five key skill areas:

• Algebra and patterns: Patterns of numbers, relationships between numbers and the use of symbols to stand for unknown or variable numbers
• Chance and data: Mathematical treatment of data and statistics
• Measures and units: Properties of the physical world that can be measured, the units used to measure them and the process of measurement
• Number and arithmetic: Types of numbers, their properties and number operations
• Space and geometry: Properties of two-dimensional and three-dimensional space

In 2020, ICAS competitions will be undertaken online. Students in Years 4 – 10 will access the web-based platform using their devices, while Year 3 will be provided with access to a device. Please note, the iPad mini is not supported by the ICAS testing platform. Prior to testing, compliance tests will be conducted on devices. Students may find it helpful to familiarise themselves with the testing platform using the Practice Interaction Test: https://unswglobal.janisoninsights.com/auth/onetimecode?sessionCode=HFBFCTWG&otc=KXPRWMDH&isSampleTest=true

Students who have elected to participate will be supervised by Ms Susan Levitt and Ms Lauren Head. They are to bring the following to each of the competition sessions:

• * A compatible device
• * Pen/pencil for working out

Please note, students are not to bring a calculator or other electronic devices, such as translators or dictionaries. If a calculator is permitted, students must use the online calculator provided within the testing platform.

Further information, including practice tests, can be found at the UNSW Educational Testing Centre website: https://www.unswglobal.unsw.edu.au/educational-assessments/products/icas-assessments/

Susan Levitt
Prep-Year 6 Curriculum Leader: Assessment and Reporting

Dear Parents, Guardians and Caregivers 

To assist with planning for 2021 to ensure effective educational programs, staffing and administration, it is important that the College is aware of expected student numbers.

As per our Enrolment Policy and contract, families are required to give one term’s notice of a student’s withdrawal from the College, therefore we need to be notified by the end of this term (15 September 2020) if your child(ren) is/are not returning to St Peters in 2021. It is imperative that the College receives written notice if you do not intend for your child(ren) to be enrolled as we commence next year. Please email s.enrolments@stpeters.qld.edu.au with your advice, or if you have any questions.

Important: No action is required to confirm that your child is staying at our school as all enrolled students automatically transfer into the next school year with St Peters Springfield.  
This year has been very challenging for many in our community. Any families who continue to experience financial hardship as a result of Covid-19 are advised to make contact with the Principal, Mr Craig Schmidt to discuss your individual circumstances. Mr Schmidt can be contacted by emailing c.schmidt@stpeters.qld.edu.au. 

Please also consider whether any contact, medical or emergency details may have changed for your child. If so, please make changes via the St Peters Community Portal - Update My Details.
We appreciate your support and look forward to our continued partnership for your child(ren)’s education. 

Kind regards
Carolyn Jacobs 
Enrolments Registrar 

Origin’s popular Little Big Idea competition launched today for 2020 which encourages school age children to get involved with STEM and share their great ideas on assisting the community, improving people’s health and wellbeing, and creating a more sustainable future.

Unlike last year, we can’t send our Little Big Idea winners on an innovation adventure to NASA in the USA this year. Instead, the three brightest inventors will each receive $10,000 towards their education or further developing their idea. Plus, the top 12 finalists will receive $1,000 and one-on-one mentoring developed by Engineers Without Borders Australia. 

For more information visit the website:  https://littlebigidea.com.au

Last week St Peters Springfield received the incredibly kind donation of two drones from Mrs Charis Mullen MP, State Member for Jordan. Our Year 6 Leaders Ethan H. and Suastika C. gratefully accepted the drone for Primary School while our Year 12 Captains Khushi P and Zac H. accepted the other on behalf of Secondary School.

Mrs Mullen says she has donated the drones as a way of “saying thank you to the St Peters community” because of their incredible resilience through COVID19. “It’s been a very challenging time,” she explains, “not only for teachers and staff but also the parents and our wonderful students as well.”

Since becoming a Member for Jordan, Mrs Mullen says donating drones, “is really significant as our technologies change and we move more into the science and technology subjects.”

Drone technology is going to be “huge in the future,” explains Mrs Mullen. “Giving every child an opportunity to either play or do something with a drone will be a wonderful experience."

After touring the new Junior High Precinct for the first time Mrs Mullen says, “I’m excited to see St Peters growing and seeing the new Precinct here is just incredible. It’s lovely to finally be able to come and see it for myself. I know that it’s going to be well utilised by all of the students, not only now but in the future and that’s very exciting to know.”

Year 11 geography students went on an excursion this week which was run by Brisbane Urban and Environmental Education Centre. Students were investigating the effectiveness and quality of Fortitude Valley’s public spaces and whether the spaces were successfully meeting the needs of its many diverse users. They will write up a field report on their findings.

Last week we were delighted to be joined by four panelists who shared their unique and interesting career journeys with our students.

Caitlin Archard – a Chief Operations Officer by 30 who went and lived overseas as an Au Pair post school and then went to work at a Financial Planning company and complete her MBA.

Dave Buckell – an Electrical Engineer – now working for a pharmaceutical company – who started life as a tradie and went on to have his Engineering degree paid for by his workplace.

Courtney Speight – a Medical Doctor – who spoke about the need for balancing study with joy.  She did a year studying overseas in Japan as part of her Arts degree before undertaking Medicine.

Jackson Grant – a SPLC alumni who has continued to prove that the next generation are as savvy and entrepreneurial as they come. He has been working in start ups and is studying Computer Science and Business at university whilst working.

This panel was followed by informal catch ups with our incredible subject teachers who were able to give students a better idea of what subjects to study in Year 11 and 12 for enjoyment, fulfillment and success.

The afternoon was the perfect way for Year 10 students to progress their future planning and will be followed by SET (Senior Education & Training) Planning which will take place in Week 4 with Mrs Johnson.

Our Preps arrived to school last Friday to see their Prep rooms decorated and eager to start their 100 Days of School Celebrations. Learning about numbers is an important curriculum area in Prep so the count down to the 100 days of school provided a large range of number learning opportunities. Our Prep students came dressed in clothes covered in numbers and received 100 Days of School certificates. It was a fun day for students and staff as they gathered together to sing number songs and participate in fun number-theme activities.

Professor Alan Harvey, a neuroscientist and musician, has long been fascinated by the power of music upon our emotions and memories.  Biologically, music can also effect heart rate and blood pressure, and give goosebumps and spinetingling chills.  The use of music has the potential to alter the way we view events – film music is a prime example of this. 

Dopamine is released during music performing, and is also present in the areas of motivation, attention and movement. Performing social tasks involving empathy and understanding activate the same parts of the brain as are used during listening to pleasurable music. Levels of oxytocin are raised during choral singing. Oxytocin is also related to the areas of empathy, trust and relationship building.  Professor Harvey states that music is a social glue that enhances a sense of wellbeing.

Music can help unlock memories in people with dementia, and can be used in the treatment of certain developmental disorders, such as autism. It can be used in rehabilitation therapies to improve mood and motor performance in patients who have suffered a stroke or a brain injury, or in conditions like Parkinson’s Disease.

Professor Harvey believes that the power of music is most significant in the field of education.  It impacts positively upon the social and cognitive development of children, and these effects are long-lasting.  Better hearing, better motor skills, improved memory, better verbal and literacy skills, even better mathematical skills. When involved in music making, there is a positive impact upon the way children interact on the social level.

Music is a social communication system that binds people together, making it easier to work cohesively. In Professor Harvey’s words, the power of music can “help drive us towards a more cooperative society and a far more connected world”.

Professor Harvey’s TedX talk, “Your Brain on Music”, can be viewed by clicking on this link: https://youtu.be/MZFFwy5fwYI?t=373

QGSSSA Girls Sport

Girls Sport Coordinator: Anne-Marie Champion

CHANGE OF DATE

Winter Fixture Sports – Netball, Volleyball, Tennis & Hockey

Round 5 v St Margaret’s has been moved from Saturday 15 August to Friday 14 August. This change has been made to allow the girls to play their sport on Friday morning and then they are free to enjoy the long weekend with their families.

Round 2 v Brisbane Girls Grammar School was a mixed bag! Unfortunately, Tennis and Netball were completely cancelled due to the rain.

The Hockey games went ahead in tough conditions on grass at Rangakarra. Well done to Mr Glass and his team of coaches, the girls fought hard in the trying conditions, no wins were recorded but there were lots of positives to build on throughout the season.

St Peters QG Volleyball is going from strength to strength. Well done to Mr Singh and the amazing team of coaches for a great start to the 2020 season. With wins in 10 of the 14 games we are looking forward to taking on Somerville House in a full draw this Saturday.

Our Rowing girls are working hard to prepare for the 4 BSRA Rowing Regattas that are now back on the calendar in August – Mr Hicks will advise further details.

QG Track & Field training continues this week and our Track & Field Coordinators Mr Nodwell, Mr Donatini and Mr Lohe are excited as they prepare for the QG Track & Field Championship on Thursday 17 September (Student Free Day at the end of this Term) – that is seven weeks away!  Well done girls on a great turn out this week!

This week the Sport Department is hosting the Interhouse Track & Field Carnival over three days. Under modified conditions each Year level rotates through six activities - Long Jump, Ball Games, Turbo Jav, Hoop Throw, Sprints and Tug-O-War - and the days finished with a Tug-O-War finale and Sprint relays. It is loads of fun, the students are enjoying the sunshine and the break from the classroom.

Special mention the Mr Nodwell and all the Sports House team, it a huge effort but one we are all enjoying.

Run Club / Middle Distance Running continues to draw large numbers of girls enjoying the Mrs Schreiber running sessions. Further details can be found on the St Peters App.

Equestrian - Well done to Sienna Owen who rode very well in the cold, wet and windy conditions in the Glennie School Interschool event in Toowoomba last Saturday. Sienna competed in the Show Jumping event. This was a warmup event as Sienna prepares for the State Championship later in the year. Good luck Sienna for this week’s Somerville House hosted event.

Good luck to our Netball, Volleyball, Hockey and Tennis girls for the Round 3 fixtures v Somerville House this Saturday.

Go Saints!

QG NETBALL
Coordinator: Mrs Champion – a.champion@stpeters.qld.edu.au

The Netball Round 3 Draw for this Saturday 1 August can be found on the St Peters App.

DATE CLAIMER – Vicki Wilson Cup is on again! Saturday 3 - Monday 5 October – Nissan Arena, Brisbane.

QG VOLLEYBALL
Coordinator: Mr Singh – j.singh@stpeters.qld.edu.au

The Volleyball Round 3 Draw for this Saturday 1 August can be found on the St Peters App.

QG HOCKEY
Coordinator: Mr Glass – c.glass@stpeters.qld.edu.au

The Hockey Round 3 Draw for this Saturday 1 August can be found on the St Peters App.

Round 2 Wrap v BGGS

The weather was certainly hostile for our first Hockey fixture for 2020, and so were our opposition. Despite good starts both the Opens and Seniors suffered large losses. We have some work to do this week, particularly on our defence marking and decision making. But the season is young, and we will no doubt improve. Many of us were just happy that the fixture was over! The girls battled bravely in horrendous conditions. Easily the worst game of Hockey many of our girls have been part of. We look onward and upwards for our fixture this week against Somerville. On a brighter note was the Juniors 4-1 loss. They played one player short the entire game and at one stage had our superstar Niamh off for a quarter after receiving a stick to the chest. This Junior group showed such grit in challenging circumstances and I am excited about what this group will achieve over the next six years!!

QG TENNIIS
Coordinator: Ms Franco – r.franco@stpeters.qld.edu.au

The Tennis Round 3 Draw for this Saturday 1 August can be found on the St Peters App.

St Peters Social Tennis Sunday

To our Tennis Enthusiasts

The weather was kind for us, and we had a great turn-out for our inaugural Social Tennis Sunday. 

Thank you for coming, and I hope you and your families had some fun.

The next Social Tennis Sunday will be Sunday 30th August – please see the flyer attached.

BSRA ROWING
Coordinator: Mr Hicks – p.hicks@stpeters.qld.edu.au

BSRA Rowing Regattas are back on the calendar, further details to follow.

• Saturday 8 August
• Saturday 15 August
• Saturday 22 August
• Saturday 29 August

Reminder - Please contact Mr Hicks if you are unable to attend training, preferably the night before to allow the coaches to plan the session.

Please also complete the online quiz Mr Hicks has sent out this week.

QGSSSA TRACK & FIELD
Coordinators: Mr Luke Donatini – L.Donatini@stpeters.qld.edu.au
Mr Shaun Nodwell – s.nodwell@stpeters.qld.edu.au
Mr Jeremy Lohe – J.Lohe@stpeters.qld.edu.au

DATE CLAIMER – QGSSSA TRACK & FIELD CHAMPIONSHIPS – Thursday 17 September

Training is going well as we prepare for the 2020 QG Championships – seven weeks to go!

AIC Boys Sport -TERM 3

Boys Sport Coodinator - Luke Donatini

The week that was proved to be a challenging one for us all. We have many cancelations both mid-week for training and on the weekend for fixtures in both Tennis and Basketball. However, we were lucky enough to get some Basketball games played at indoor venues.

I would like to especially acknowledge our 2nd IV Basketball team for their ‘gutsy’ win against St Patrick’s College. Watching this game epitomised what all St Peters sporting teams should be aiming to achieve and work towards - a never say die attitude, great sportsmanship and working hard to support your teammates.

AIC Basketball and AIC Tennis Round 3 - After the disappointment of ‘washed out’ games last Saturday we now look forward to this Saturday’s Round 3 games verse Iona College. Our senior teams are away to Iona College whilst our Junior teams are at home. 

We wish every St Peters team the very best and encourage them to represent their College with pride and enthusiasm in Round 3 of Tennis and Basketball.

For details on game locations, venues and times please refer to the St Peters App where all details can be found.

Please note that each venue has a COVID Site Map which outlines both drop off and pick up details which should be adhered to.

With reference to Term 3 training for AIC Basketball and Tennis, please refer to the St Peters App. Any further information required, please contact the respective sport coordinators.

AIC Tennis Coordinator:
Mr Matt Stubbings – m.stubbings@stpeters.qld.edu.au

AIC Basketball Coordinator:
Mr Orhan Memedovski – o.memedovski@stpeters.qld.edu.au

AIC Football, AIC Rugby and AIC Chess pre-season training is now also commenced. We encourage all boys who are participating in these sports to ensure they know when their training is on (please check the St Peters App). For all students who are also participating in either Basketball or Tennis, please be reminded that attending Basketball or Tennis training takes priority over Rugby or Football as they are the ‘in-season’ sports.

This Saturday afternoon / evening we also have our 10A, 2nds and 1st Rugby and Football Teams playing St Patrick’s College in some pre-season games. We wish all our boys every success this Saturday and look forward to witnessing some great games of St Peters Rugby and Football.

All boys involved please check with your coaches and respective coordinator for details pertaining to times, venues and transportation arrangements for this Saturdays games against St Patrick’s College.

If you have any questions pertaining to the up and coming Rugby, Football or Chess season (last 4 weeks of Term 3), please contact the Coordinator.

AIC Football Coordinator:
Mr Nathan Edwards – n.edwards@stpeters.qld.edu.au

AIC Rugby Coordinators:
Mr Juan Gouws –  j.gouws@stpeters.qld.edu.au
Mr Trent Hacking – t.hacking@stpeters.qld.edu.au

AIC Chess Coordinator:
Mr Gil Bygraves – g.bygraves@stpeters.qld.edu.au

AIC Cross Country – Our St Peters AIC Cross Country Squad is now certainly ramping up their focus and training as we now enter our final preparations leading into the AIC Championships on Wednesday 12 August. 

This Friday Mrs Schreiber and the St Peters Cross Country coaches will be conducting the final time trial before our St Peters AIC Cross Country Team is announced. We encourage all our runners to be present at this Friday’s time trial. We wish them every success with the final week of preparation.

AIC Track & Field – It’s been truly encouraging to have have so many students involved and attending our event training session this term for Track & Field.

This week with our Interhouse Track & Field Carnivals which were conducted on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, we were able to further unearth some great athletic talent at St Peters. This is even more promising for what St Peters can achieve at the 2020 AIC Track & Field Championships to be held in early October.

For both Track & Field and Cross Country we ask all students and parents to refer to the St Peters App for training times and locations of specific event group training.

The 2020 AIC Cross Country Championship will be conducted on Wednesday 12 August at Curlew Park, Shorncliffe.

For more specific information pertaining to AIC Track & Field and/or AIC Cross Country, please contact the below coordinators:

AIC Cross Country Coordinator:
Mrs Kerry Schreiber – K.Schreiber@stpeters.qld.edu.au

AIC Track & Field Coordinators:
Mr Luke Donatini – L.Donatini@stpeters.qld.edu.au
Mr Jeremy Lohe – J.Lohe@stpeters.qld.edu.au

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. 

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: