In 2015, the Queensland Executive of the Australian Council for Educational Leaders (ACEL) led the development of the Statement of Commitment to the Profession of Teaching. It is a document that aims to speak to all educators, capturing those values and beliefs that are shared across the teaching profession.
The statement opens with these lines: I acknowledge that I am a member of a profession that extends to me the opportunity and the privilege to make a positive difference in the lives of young people.
And it closes with these: In committing to this statement, I accept the responsibilities of being a teacher and acknowledge the deep trust placed in me by young people, parents, caregivers and society.
The statement is a powerful one, encapsulating the thoughtfulness, gratitude and joy with which teachers approach their work. The statement hangs on the wall by my desk; I read it often, each time finding a different resounding sentence or turn of phrase. Most recently, I have been struck by this extract: I understand that teaching is a deeply human endeavour. While I teach subjects, ideas and skills, above all I teach young people, who are our future.
This concept of education as a human endeavour is readily embraced at St Peters Lutheran College Springfield. Indeed, the hive of purposeful activity that has characterised the opening weeks of Semester 2 underscores a collective commitment to the young people in our care.
Across the first two weeks of term, our Year 12 students met with educators to complete their second round of academic coaching, which is a new component of our academic care program. Speaking on behalf of all academic coaches, it has been such a worthwhile investment to see our Year 12 learners reflect on their actions, acknowledge their successes and decide the next steps to enhance their learning progress.
In Week 2, we hosted our Senior School Information Breakfast, attended in record numbers by students, parents and teachers. For the first time, we invited our Year 9 students and parents alongside Year 10 students. We were thrilled by their enthusiasm and curiosity about the Senior School experience.
Our Senior School Information Breakfast was followed by SET-Planning, where Year 10 students and their families met with experienced educators at the school to develop a senior pathway plan. What I have enjoyed most about these meetings is hearing our Year 10 students share their aspirations, their hopes and their dreams. Partnering alongside parents to help our students make informed decisions about their future is incredibly rewarding.
With such a hopeful and future-oriented beginning to Term 3, I am optimistic about the semester ahead. I look forward to continuing to build relationships with students across Years 7-12 to support them not only as learners but as individual people.
Sarah Gunn Director of Studies and Pedagogy
What's On
3 August - 18 August
3 August - Year 1 Lone Pine Excursion
3 August - Year 10 French Excursion
4 August - Secondary Main Photo Day
7 August - Shoe Lace tying workshop – Prep (TBC)
8 August - P&F General Meeting, 6:30pm - 8:30pm HUB)
09 - 11 August - Year 5 Camp
10 August - 100 Day Year 12 Celebration
15 August - Secondary 3-in-1 Conference
15 August - ICAS English
16 August – EKKA Show Public Holiday (no school)
17 August – Community Focus Day
18 August – Primary School Disco:
Prep, 3:30pm to 4:00pm
Lower Primary 1-3, 4:30pm - 5:30pm
Upper Primary 4-6, 6:00pm - 7:00pm
Ministry
For those standing at a crossroads in life
If you could have any superpower, what would it be?
Strength, speed, invisibility, flight, telepathy, telekinetics? Something else? For me, the answer is knowledge. But not super smart knowledge or super wise knowledge, no. I want to have the ability to sit with a life decision and know exactly how it will ripple out through the world. Year 10 students doing SET planning, Year 12s soon to be leaving and those considering jobs or wondering where to live, take note. Everyone faces these moments of uncertainty (or trust, depending on which way you look at it). Even though God would not give us that superpower, we are given helpful promises.
Promise 1 – We know where the journey ends
Colossians 3:3-4: For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your life appears, then you will also appear with him in glory.
God has given us the goalposts and told us how it ends. We know what we are aiming for, to be with Christ, so any step in that direction is a good one.
Promise 2 – God’s word illuminates our next step
Psalm 119:105: Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path.
God did not promise a road map but did promise the illumination of the next step. So God’s word will guide us through the night, step by step to where God is leading.
Promise 3 – Wherever you go, God goes too
Psalm 23:4: Even though I walk through the darkest valley,
I will fear no evil, for you are with me;
your rod and your staff, they comfort me.
Whenever I have prayed for God’s help in deciding on whether to take a job or not, I hear the same thing ‘whichever you pick, I will be with you.’ There is no evil we fight alone, no people to encounter or situation to face that we do not do with God at our side!
God’s promises of reassurance are for all people, but especially at this moment for our Year 10s, Year 12s and parents of children, you know where the journey ends; God’s word illuminates your next step and wherever you go, God goes too. May God bless you as you find your next steps along this pathway of life. Amen.
Hi, my name is Chappy Ben, the new Chaplain at Springfield. I did not plan to be a chaplain. In my SET meeting I said that I wanted to invent things. I was pointed towards engineering. This was the first of a long list of plans I have had for my life. Engineer, Psychologist, Pastor, Youth Worker, Teacher and Chaplain.
Each little step had a purpose and a challenge. The challenge of being an engineer was needing to live in a town like Clermont and years later the purpose of my first teaching role was to become a part of a community out there. God used it all, guiding me step by step, to be the person that I needed to be. Each step only became apparent as I took the preceding step in faith. Now my most recent step has taken me back to the same school I sat that SET meeting in.
Ben Lyons Chaplain
Arise Lutheran Community Church
Arise is a Lutheran community that meets at St Peters, Springfield. It’s a place where you can come to know God’s love through Jesus, and find light and hope for your life, and connect with other families from St Peters and the wider community.
In our service you will hear God’s word, sing, pray and share in Holy Communion if you want to. There’s a message for the kids too.
2023 Non-Government Schools Census Collection Notice
The Australian Government Department of Education would like to advise all staff, parents and guardians that it will collect certain information about the school, its staff and student body as part of the 2023 Non-Government School Census collection (the Census).
How and what information is collected for the Census?
Census information is provided to the department by the ST Peters legal entity (the approved authority) via the SchoolsHUB website.
The Census provides information about St Peters and the number and characteristics of the school’s staff and student body during a specific reference period. Characteristics collected through the Census include:
teaching and non-teaching staff
students’ year level and workload
students’ gender and age (as on 1 July 2023)
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander staff and students
students with disability
students receiving distance education
boarding and overseas students.
The names of students and staff are not collected, apart from the name, position and contact details of the staff member nominated as the primary contact for the Census.
For more details on the Census and what information is gathered CLICK HERE.
School Photos 2023
Continuing Enrolment 2024
Dear Parents, Guardians and Caregivers
We wish to assure you that planning at the College is well underway to ensure effective educational programs, staffing and administration at our school in 2024. To assist us with finalising details it is important that the College is aware of our expected student numbers.
My child will continue as a student at St Peters Springfield in 2024
There is no requirement for the families of students who will remain at the College in 2024 to contact us. Unless the Principal or Enrolments Office receives specific written advice from you that your child is leaving at the end of 2023, we will assume your child’s enrolment will continue and as such, their place at school in 2024 is secured. Therefore, families who will remain at St Peters into 2024 do not need to take any action.
My child will leave St Peters Springfield at the end of 2023
We do wish to remind families that, as per the terms of your enrolment contract, if you do not intend for your child to remain a student of St Peters in 2024, you need to advise us in writing before the start of Term 4 2023. Whilst we would very much appreciate your advice as soon as you are able, the final date for acceptance of notice without penalty (term’s fees in lieu of notice) will be Monday 23 October 2023. Please note that there can be no flexibility with regard to this contractual requirement due to the high demand for places at the College.
If you have any questions regarding continuing or new enrolment with St Peters, please contact the Enrolments Team by email at s.enrolments@stpeters.qld.edu.au, or by phone at 3470 3888.
Enrolments Registrar
OSHC Ekka Show Day and September Student Free Day Vacation Care Booking Form
Committed to our Community
The safety and wellbeing of all St Peters community members is a key focus for the College. St Peters has appropriate policies in place regarding acceptable standards for student safety and behaviour. These are reviewed periodically. Our policies reflect our commitment to engender learning in a Christian environment.
The Value of a Great Teacher and Lessons Learnt in the Playground
Kath Murdoch, Education Consultant, lists the value of a great teacher and lessons learnt in the playground as necessary components to a child’s school, speaking to your students this is certainly packed up in the Primary Years.
The ‘playground’ can be the greatest teacher
While we teachers immerse ourselves in the demands of curriculum planning and classroom instruction we can forget that our kids’ heads and hearts are so often somewhere else. When speaking to our students two things they missed most; their friends and their teachers. Some of the best moments of a school day have everything to do with the relationships grown, challenged, lost and found in the playground. This is the learning that will often stick with them for a lifetime.
It’s all about the teacher
We know the research bears this out but there is nothing like experiencing the phenomenon first hand! Hearing your child talk about their teacher is a reminder of just how much the quality of the teacher and the relationship they choose to develop with their students matters. This has been evident when our teachers were embarking on daily ‘zooms’ with their class and being available to check in during the day.
Lia Sabri Head of Primary
Sport
AIC Boys Sport
"The five S’s of sports training are: stamina, speed, strength, skill, and spirit; but the greatest of these is spirit," Ken Doherty.
This coming weekend St Peters head into Round 3 of AIC Basketball and Tennis. After a tough round of AIC sport against St Laurence’s College in Round 2, we now turn our focus and energy on a successful campaign against St Patrick’s College this weekend. Our Senior teams will be playing ‘Away’ whilst our Junior teams will be ‘Home’ at St Peters.
We really must commend all our Basketball and Tennis players on their sportsmanship, resilience, tenacity and overall enthusiasm. It was again wonderful to be spectating and witnessing these attributes of our College’s young men.
With both Basketball and Tennis well underway, we are now also starting to turn our attention to AIC Track & Field in preparation for the AIC Track & Field Championships which will be held in Week 1 of Term 4. It was great to see so many boys giving athletics a go at our Inter-House Track & Field carnival which was held last Wednesday and Thursday.
We strongly encourage all Years 7 - 12 boys to get involved and attend any of the Track & Field training sessions that they can. Being involved and participating in events that encapsulate running, jumping and throwing can only benefit their overall sporting prowess and skill development.
Being part of the St Peters Track & Field Squad in 2023 will also assist in developing, fostering and establishing greater bonds with their peers whilst growing our college’s spirit and culture.
Round 3 AIC Basketball & Tennis Details
For more information pertaining to game times and venues of all Boy’s Sport fixtures for this coming weekend (Round 3 AIC Basketball and Tennis verse St Patrick’s College), please check the St Peters App.
An important reminder to all students about our college’s expectation surrounding correct dress standards at AIC fixture games for both players and student spectators:
All students playing Basketball and Tennis must be dressed in the correct playing attire (including socks). If the weather is cool, only the St Peters Track Top and Track Pants are to be worn.
Footwear – joggers are to be worn at all times by those students participating in AIC Sport. No open footwear (eg. Slides or thongs etc) is to be worn at any time.
All student spectators are to be dressed in St Peters winter formal uniform. Students who have played earlier in the day can be dressed in the sports uniform to support. Students attending AIC games who are not dressed in the correct St Peters attire will be asked to leave.
For the Round 3 Basketball Draw vs St Patrick's College CLICK HERE. For the Round 3 Tennis Draw vs St Patrick's College CLICK HERE.
St Peters Track & Field Lead Up Meets
St Peters Track & Field training is now underway, and we are already experiencing really good participation numbers at weekly training. Similar to last year, we are really excited for the 2023 AIC Track & Field season, and we are sure it will not disappoint.
Our 2023 AIC Lead Up Meets for Track & Field are on the following days, please mark these dates off in your calendar:
AIC T&F Lead Up Meet 1 – Thursday 24 August at SAF, Nathan, 4:00pm - 7:30pm
AIC T&F Lead Up Meet 2 – Wednesday 30 August at SAF, Nathan, 4:00pm - 7:30pm
AIC T&F Lead Up Meet 3 – Thursday 7 September at SAF, Nathan, 4:00pm - 7:30pm
AIC T&F Lead Up Meet 4 – Wednesday 13 September at SAF, Nathan, 4:00pm - 7:30pm
AIC T&F Championships – Thursday 5 October & Friday 6 October at SAF, Nathan
For further information about training and upcoming AIC Track & Field meets, please refer to the St Peters App.
For the 2023 Track & Field Calendar CLICK HERE For the 2023 Track & Field Training Schedule CLICK HERE
AIC Golf Championships
On Monday 31 July, St Peters Golfers competed at the annual AIC Golf Championships (Balharry Shield) at Keperra Country Golf Club. On a beautiful day, our golfers represented their College with pride and determination. As a result, they were victorious and were crowned the 2023 AIC Golf Champions.
Congratulations to Jacob M, Noah J, Andy W, George W and Tanna C for bringing home the AIC Golf Balharry Shield to St Peters. We were extremely proud of the way these boys conducted themselves and the sportsmanship they exhibited both on and off the course.
Term 3 Coordinator Contact Details
The below named Coordinators have already been communicating via email with all boys who have signed on and who have been attending training. We do ask that all boys please open and read these informational emails which pertain to their chosen sport for Term 3.
Our AIC Term 3 Boys Sport Coordinators for 2023 are:
With regards to wet weather and any unforeseen or potential cancellations of AIC sports, please ensure that you keep an eye out for notifications and alerts via the St Peters App.
QGSSSA Girls Sport
RHYTHMIC GYMNASTICS CHAMPIONSHIPS
All the best to our Rhythmic Gymnastics girls, coaches and Mrs Maynard as they prepare for the Rhythmic Gymnastics Championships this Friday 4 August. It has been a challenging season with many absences due to illness, but the girls have worked incredibly hard to fine tune their routines and they look amazing. We wish them all the best for the Championship Day, we know you will do your best and make us all proud.
If you would like to support our team and tune into the action, please CLICK HERE for the livestream link.
INTER-HOUSE TRACK & FIELD Carnival
It was a sea of colour as the students enjoyed the Inter-House Track & Field Carnival last Wednesday and Thursday. The event offered six activities to participate in, including tug of war, ball games, sprints, turbo javelin, long jump and shot put. Additionally, there were three competitive events, the 800m, 100m and relays. The day was a perfect break from the classroom, and everyone enjoyed the beautiful Brisbane winter weather while engaging in these activities.
RESULTS
1st Place – Mitchell 2nd Place – Chisholm 3rd Place – Laver
WINTER FIXTURES - NETBALL, VOLLEYBALL, HOCKEY & TENNIS
Round 3 was another great round of Sport for our girls. Our Tennis, Netball and Volleyball teams did amazingly well against Clayfield College and the Brisbane Girls Grammar No 2 teams. Our Hockey girls enjoyed a week off with Clayfield not fielding an Open or Junior A Hockey teams.
Round 4 this Saturday we take on Somerville House with Netball and Tennis playing at their new Home venue, SomerFields.
Please watch for communication from your respective sport coordinators and keep an eye on the St Peters App for the weekly draws. Please ensure you arrive on time and in the correct uniform to prepare for your games. Good luck girls!
Reminder - Communicate with your coordinator if you are unable to attend a training session or a game, early communication particularly for a game is very important.
Attendance at training across our sports has at times been poor, and there has been no communication from many girls. It is important as we continue to work on building culture in our programs that girls/families understand attendance at training is expected. Of course, we understand missing some training sessions are not avoidable but where possible please arrange appointments outside training times.
Date Claimers:
Round 4: Friday 4 and Saturday 5 August v Somerville House (Away) Round 5: Saturday 12 August v Brisbane Girls Grammar School (Home) Round 6: Saturday 19 August v St Aidan’s (Away) Round 7: Saturday 26 August v Brisbane State High School (Home) Round 8: Saturday 2 September v Ipswich Girl's Grammar School (Away) Round 9: Saturday 9 September v St Hilda’s (Home)
Round 3 saw many teams enjoy a bye including our Open, 10A, 10B2, 9A, 8A, 8B and 7A teams, we saw many of these girls enjoy an internal game on Friday afternoon. Also enjoying their Friday afternoon session, the Development Squad under the guidance of Coach Carynne and Coach Ben worked hard on their skills and enjoyed a great session.
Saturday saw our Senior C2 team travel to Ipswich for a nice and early 7:00am game, well done to the girls, Coach Ben was very happy with their performance.
The remaining teams travelled to the home of Netball, Nissan Arena in what was a wonderful opportunity for our teams to play on the indoor courts as we took on Clayfield College and the BGGS No 2 teams. This round saw our 9C team play their first game of the season and they did a great job. With eight wins from nine games our teams looked solid with the highlight being a 103 – 5 win for the Senior B team. I don’t remember a score over 100 in the last few years so well done to the Senior B girls who performed extremely well.
This weekend, our Open, 9A and 8A games have been rescheduled to Monday 14 August due to the Vicki Wilson Final Series which is played on Friday and Saturday. Congratulations and good luck to these girls who will be representing St Peters, it is a tough two days of Netball, and we wish you and Coaches Tracey and Patti all the best.
Good luck also to our teams that will be travelling to SomerFields in Rocklea, the new Home venue for Somerville House.
We again have many teams having a bye which is disappointing, but we can look forward to a full Home game round again Brisbane Girls Grammar in Round 5.
Congratulations to our Round 3 Award Winners, the girls who whipped up a storm on court!
Round 4 Draw v Somerville House/St Hilda’s: Saturday 5 August – Please CLICK HERE for the draw.
Senior C2 Team v St Hilda’s – please see the weekly email for bus details.
Date claimer: Vicki Wilson State Championships – Friday 4 & Saturday 5 August
Good luck to both our Open and combined Years 7- 9 teams at the Vicki Wilson Final Series, we wish you all the best for the two day tournament. Reminder that due to the Vicki Wilson Final Series being played on Saturday 4 August, the Round 4 v Somerville House games for the 8A, 9A and Open teams have been rescheduled.
Monday 14 August – 4:00pm at SomerFields – 194 Dunn Road, Rocklea
Round 4 Draw v Somerville House: Saturday 5 August – Please CLICK HERE for the draw
Date claimer: Seniors Volleyball Schools Cup: Friday 4 – Sunday 6 August
Good luck to the Open team for the Senior Volleyball Schools Cup, we wish you all the best for the three day tournament.
Due to the Senior Volleyball Schools Cup being played on Saturday 4 August, the Round 4 v Somerville House game for the Open team has been rescheduled.
Tuesday 15 August – 4:00pm at Murray Evans Sport & Aquatic Centre (MESAC) – 4 Stephens Road, South Brisbane
BSRA Regatta #3 – St Peters Hosting Saturday 5 August
The 2023 BSRA Regatta #3 is on Saturday 5 August and is being hosted by the St Peters Rowing Parent Support Group.
Hosting this event is a large undertaking where the St Peters Rowing program organises and takes all profits from the catering of this event. It is anticipated that approximately 2500 people will attend this regatta. The hosting of this event is a large logistical undertaking facilitated by the Rowing Parent Support Group to ensure we take full advantage of this fundraising opportunity. Please could I ask all families to make themselves available to assist with bake sale items, lolly bags and drink donations the week before the Regatta and to plan to be at the Regatta on Saturday 5 August to help.
Last night was our very last training session for Rhythmic Gymnastics. The girls trained hard and routines were polished, ready for competition.
On behalf of the coaches and myself, I’d like to sincerely thank all parents and caregivers for your support and most importantly to our girls for their dedication and hard work during the season.
Tomorrow is the Rhythmic Gymnastics QGSSSA competition day at Moreton Bay College and we’re all very excited to see the girls perform their routines. We are beyond proud and know they’ll perform exceptionally well on the day.
Date Claimer: QGSSSA Rhythmic Gymnastics Championships – Tomorrow Friday 4 August – departure from St Peters internal bus stop 7:30am
Please note: Details of the QGSSSA Rhythmic Gymnastics Championships have been emailed to families including the schedule and venue map
I look forward to seeing the girls bright and early Friday morning.
Well done to all girls who have represented their Houses at the Inter-House Track and Field Carnival last week and to those girls who have trialled and been selected to represent Northern Eagles or Central District at the Met West trials in a few weeks.
The first QGSSSA Track and Field Meet will be held this Friday 4 August at the State Athletics Facility. We would like to see as many girls as possible sign on and attend this meet. Girls have been sent an email with the link to sign on, please do so ASAP.
Transport will be provided from St Peters Indooroopilly Bus stop straight after school to the venue and will return approx. 8:00pm.
If you have any questions, please contact Mr Lohe.
Purchasing the long sleeved T-shirt – Each girl who is part of the QGSSA Track and Field Team will need to purchase a Grey long sleeved Track and Field Shirt. Details can be found below. Once payment has been made, students can come to Sports House to collect.
Date claimer:– QGSSSA Track & Field Championships – Thursday 14 September
Please check the St Peters App for the Term 3 training schedule.
TOUCH ALL SCHOOLS
To continue building the Touch Program, St Peters will be entering an U13, U15 and U18 teams into the All Schools Touch Competition to be held in Term 4 down the Gold Coast.
This exciting opportunity will give many of our girls the opportunity to continue to develop their Touch game.
Details have been emailed to the girls invited to play; any questions please contact Miss Laura Buckby – l.buckby@stpeters.qld.edu.au
COMMUNITY RUN CLUB
Community Run Club continues all year round. Join our Running Community on Friday mornings, meet at 6:30am at the St Peters Bus Stop. It is a wonderful way to improve your fitness and meet other members of the community.
When attending/watching any other St Peters sporting fixtures, girls are asked to ensure they are wearing their St Peters Formal uniform or if they are playing, their St Peters playing uniform is allowed. (PE Uniform or casual clothing is not allowed).
WET WEATHER SPORT CANCELLATIONS
Please keep an eye on the St Peters App for cancellations. We will endeavour to do this by 1:30pm for afternoon training sessions and 5:30am for morning training sessions. Updates for game days will also be provided, students will also receive an email.
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:
Community
Rail Safety Week 7 - 13 August
Rail Safety Week is an annual community awareness week held in Australia and New Zealand, designed to engage the community in safe rail practices.
Every life lost and injury on the rail network is a tragedy and the impacts on family, friends, communities, rail and recovery staff and witnesses can be profound. These incidents together with thousands of near hits each year can cause trauma and work-related stress and illness to rail and recovery staff.
We encourage all members of the community to Stand Back, Look Up, and Stay Rail Safe when on station platforms.
