I’m always surprised to see the large number of Halloween items appearing in shops. I’d always thought it was a very American thing to do. People cut scary faces into pumpkins, kids dress up as witches or ghosts or in scary costumes and go around to houses saying 'trick or treat', expecting to be given lollies or else they’ll play a prank on those in the house. It’s an evening when the bad and scary spirits get a bit of a look in and are made fun of.
But here we celebrate a different day. Halloween is the evening before the Holy ones’ Day. Halloween is a day to think about death before we think about the life after death – All Saints Day. In many countries throughout the world, All Saints Day is celebrated as a public holiday. It is a day when we remember all of the Saints. So, who are the Saints? (And I don’t mean a Victorian AFL football team.) Catholics are often taught the names of many saints and what they are remembered for. Often they’ve done great things for their faith, worked miracles, and perhaps even been killed for their belief in Christ. Certainly, they are Saints that are worth remembering, but they are certainly not the only saints, or the only ones we remember on All Saints Day. November 1st is the day that we remember all of those Christians who have passed on from this life and are now worshipping God in Heaven.
The saints we remember on All Saints Day are not only the people who worked miracles or who died for their faith, they were ordinary Christians. They were real people who struggled every day with their human nature. They may not always have seemed “good” or managed to get everything right, but they believed in the promise that Jesus forgave all their sins. They’re not super-human, they’re people like you and me.
You see, here’s the thing – every baptised person is a holy person, a saint. Jesus has promised that everyone is made clean and holy when they are baptised. All their sins are forgiven. They are blessed. But we may not always see it; we’re all human and struggle with doing the proper thing. We don’t always get it right, but we know that when we get it wrong, we can turn to God for forgiveness and he makes us clean and new.
So, as Christians, we’re a bit like Halloween and All Saint people - sometimes to may see that we are acting like an imp and get things a bit wrong, but really, under the scary disguise we’re saints, people who are made holy and good by Jesus. We’re both at the same time – good and bad, saints and sinners. We go back to Jesus all the time and we say sorry for the wrong things we have done, knowing that Jesus died for our sins and promised that all baptised believers are made new every day.
Kirstin Munchenberg Chaplin
Important Notices
Semester 2 Secondary Sport Photos
Personalise order forms have been handed to students this week. Personalised order forms for students in Years 10 to 12 will be emailed to parents today.
Online order will close on Sunday 20 November 2022.
Click Download Portrait or Order Online button at top right
Select Order Packs Click Here
Enter the personalised shoot key
Select the photo/s you wish to order and add to cart
Proceed to the Checkout
Price: $25 per photo
*** Online SPECIAL ONLY – Receive a 25% discount when purchasing two or more photos ***
Copies of the photos listed can be ordered after the order close date by phone (07) 3865 4291 and will incur an additional $10 search fee.
Please note, if your child was listed as absent in the photo(s), you are still eligible to order.
Semester 2 Primary Sport Photos & selected Secondary Semester 2 Sport Photos | 17 October 2022
Personalise order forms will be emailed to parents in the coming weeks.
Around the College
Guide Dog Service Learning
As a part of 10Js Service Learning experience during Form Class time, students have explored the issue of 'access' being a challenge to those who are vision impaired.
Did you know that 'over a third of Guide Dog Handlers across Australia have reported being denied access to a public venue or form of transport because of their Guide Dog in the past year (2022).' This is a terrible statistic and 10J wanted to help in some way.
So, last Wednesday 26 October, 10J held a fundraising stall at lunchtime to help raise money and awareness for Guide Dogs.
Students sold Guide Dogs merchandise and baked goods with the support of Alan and ‘Ayla’ from Guide Dogs Qld.
Developing students who are internationally minded is a hallmark of the Primary Years Program at St Peters. An important component of this international mindedness is living as a leader each day, regardless of year level. Our Year 5 students took a deep dive into developing their leadership last Friday as they completed the Kokoda Challenge at Mt Coot-tha… an activity full of resilience, grit and teamwork. This Kokoda Challenge certainly sees our Year 5 students in good stead as they become our student leaders in Year 6, 2023.
Handling tricky friendship days
Recently I was fortunate enough to attend a conference where founder of URSTRONG Friendship Development, Dana Kerford, was a guest speaker. Dana left teaching in Canada near two decades ago to help educate schools and families on the highs and lows of friendship. It was an enlightening session and her phrase ‘friendship fire’ really resonated with me. From my experience in primary education, nearly every friendship will ‘catch fire’ from time to time, some bigger than others. The truth is…. it’s a normal part of life and as per the graphic below from URSTRONG, part of the Friend-O-Cycle. The challenging part of this as a parent is finding the right words and a balanced approach when our children return home from school overcome with emotion.
Our College has a membership with Parenting Ideas, one of Australia’s most trusted sources of parenting education and support. As part of this membership, all the parents in this school community can attend some fantastic webinars in 2022 at no cost. We’re pleased to let you know about an upcoming webinar.
Friendships can be complex, intense and filled with unpredictable ups and downs. Even though we might wish that our kids could 'just get on with it', most need our active guidance to problem solve daily challenges.
In this webinar, Michelle Mitchell offers a set of practical guiding principles to help empower children to handle tricky friendship days.
Key learning and discussion points include:
A trusted adult’s role in social-emotional education
The importance of the tiny voice
Six guiding principles to help tweens navigate tricky friendship days
How parents can help children with the gaps in their development
Tips for supporting extra sensitive kids
Presented by Michelle Mitchell, Bestselling author and professional speaker.
Click this link to view the video overview:
When Wednesday 2 November 2022 at 8:00pm - 9:00pm AEDT
Enter our school’s name to verify your eligibility. The $39.00 discount will then be applied.
Fill in your account details. These are the details you will use to login to your account and access your webinar and resources
Click ‘Place Order’
This offer is valid until 31 December 2022. If you’re unable to make the broadcast time, please register anyway and you will get access to the recording.
Mr Cameron Glass Acting Deputy Head of Lower Primary
Junior High
The importance of sleep
On Tuesday 25 October, our Years 7 and 8 cohorts attended a presentation on the importance of sleep as part of their Academic Care and Wellbeing program. The ‘Why we all need great Sleep’ session was presented by Katherine Maslen, from The Shift Clinic in Milton. Katherine’s presentation to the students included information about the body’s need for sleep, what happens while we sleep – and the side effects of having poor quality sleep experiences. Katherine also discussed the negative effects on sleep of using blue-light emitting devices (such as phones, iPads and laptops) prior to sleeping. She explained to the students that the amount of sleep needed by us at different stages of our lives varies. Katherine pointed out that teenagers need between 9-10 hours of sleep per night in order for their bodies to function optimally and to assist with improving their overall wellbeing. She also provided the students with a range of simple behavioural changes they can make in order to improve the quality of their sleep. Katherine’s presentation to our Years 7 and 8s is part of a series of wellbeing sessions that are part of the Junior High Academic Care and Wellbeing program that will continue in 2023.
Some advice Katherine gave the students to assist them to fall asleep more easily and improve the overall quality of their sleep, included:
Have a bedtime routine
Try to go to sleep and wake up at the same time each day
Avoid watching action-based programs on TV or playing action video games in the hour prior to going to bed as these stimulate brain activity
Turn off all devices (phones, iPads, laptops etc), and stop watching television, at least one hour before bedtime
Not sleeping with phones in the bedroom – leave them with parents or switched off in another room. This avoids the temptation to constantly check the phones during the night and the subsequent interruption to sleep brought about from receiving social media notifications or text messages during the night
Have subdued lighting in the bedroom (such as a bedside light) rather than bright/harsh lighting that may impact on the body’s natural sleep/wake rhythms
Avoid drinking any caffeine drinks (including coffee and energy drinks), and particularly not in the hours prior to bedtime as these stimulate the brain and impact our ability to fall asleep. A better alternative is a cup of camomile or peppermint tea.
Avoid drinking water prior to going to bed – as water before bedtime increases the likelihood of having to go to the bathroom during the night and thereby interrupting sleep
The Arts
VAPAr People’s Choice Award for Excellence in Visual Art 2022
Winner announced
Congratulations to Sophia J (Year 12)
Bleached Future: Mixed media on wood, canvas and acrylic
‘Bleached Future’ responds to the fragile beauty of marine life. Our reef contains ecosystems that are the largest living entity on our planet. When corals are stressed by changes such as temperature, light, or nutrients they expel the symbiotic algae living in their tissues, causing coral bleaching which leaches a reef of its yellow, greens and pinks, leaving behind a graveyard of brittle white. We will be writing an obituary for the vast coral ecosystems. ‘Bleached Future’ explores the past and questions the future. Conversations and actions need to occur to protect the fragility and fading of this underwater world.
Access Arts Paintings | On Display Now at the PAC
Access Arts Painting Exhibition
During Term 3, students from Years 7 to 10 participated in a five week painting workshop one afternoon a week, and learned about the history, symbolism and art movements incorporating fruit and vegetables within still life paintings. Students then created their own composition from a selection of fruit and vegetables. They were asked to bring in a plate or bowl and tablecloth from home, that held personal meaning to them. They photographed their composition, considering arrangement, colour, balance and lighting. Using their photograph as their reference image, they learnt how to paint 3D forms, surfaces, textures and tone in proportion with each other to create their own personalised fruit painting.Artists of reference included Giovanni Battista Ruoppolo, Paul Cézanne, Andrea Huelin, Whitney Spicer, Vynka Hallam, Nicole Nelius, Jen Mellor, and Kathryn Johnston.
The finished artworks are currently on display in the PAC and we encourage teachers and students to take a look.
CAPTURE People’s choice winner
Congratulations to...
Gabrielle N (Year 12) Little Honeyeater
Highly Commended
Lucas W (Year 8) A Dream
Scarlett H (Year 7) Splodge the Frog
Sport
Primary Sport
“It is not how much we have, but how much we enjoy that makes happiness.” Charles Spurgeon
Primary Cocurricular Sport Term 4
The following sports will be on offer in Term 4
Cricket
BWPI Girls Waterpolo
Years 4-6 Girls Basketball
Term 4 Mini Squad and Group 1 Squad for SPW Swimming – Information regarding training at the 25m pool in Term 4 has been emailed to all Year 2 – Year 6 parents/caregivers.
Saturday Learn to Swim Private Lessons – Information regarding Learn to Swim Lessons running at St Peters 25m Pool has been emailed to Prep – Year 6 parents/caregivers.
Years 4-6 Girls Basketball
Throughout Term 4 we will be offering weekly basketball coaching sessions for Years 4-6 Girls. All Years 4-6 girls are welcome to attend the sessions.
To sign on for the Term 4 Basketball Sessions please CLICK HERE
The focus of the Basketball sessions will be to develop fundamental skills and basic gameplay.
Years 4-6 Term 4 Cricket
All cricketers are welcome to attend the training sessions. Any new St Peters Cricketers will need to complete the following form. Please CLICK HERE to complete the form.
Should you have any question concerning Term 4 Cricket, please contact St Peters Cricket Coordinator, Mr Gary Munday (G.Munday@stpeters.qld.edu.au)
Primary Years HPE
All Prep – Year 6 students will be involved in Swimming during Term 4, Weeks 3–9. Students are required to wear the St Peters swimmers, the St Peters rash shirt, St Peters cap (if required) and goggles. Students have also been asked to bring along fins (flippers). These are required to assist with drill work in developing the stroke of the students. A towel is also required.
Any student unable to participate in swimming will be required to bring a note. If they are unable to participate for multiple HPE lessons, they will require a doctor’s certificate. Students have also been reminded that they are to bring a water bottle and are required to wear their hat to and from lessons.
Please remind students to bring their swimming gear each week for their weekly HPE Lesson for the remainder of the year.
HPE Dates Term 3
HPE Swimming: Week 3 – Week 9
Primary Years Swimming Carnivals
Years 1-3 and Years 4-6 Inter House Swimming Carnival.
St Peters 25m Pool Wednesday 23 November
Details to follow closer to the date.
Girls Sport
Girls Sport Coordinator – Anne-Marie Champion
“Believe you can and you’re halfway there” Theodore Roosevelt
ST PETERS SEMESTER 2 SPORT AWARDS PRESENTATION
In 2022, many students who have represented the College in sport in Semester 2 will be recognised at a special awards evening. This will be held in the Performing Arts Centre on Tuesday 15 November from 5.30 pm.
Semester 2 Sport Award winners will be recognised in front of parents, the wider St Peters community, and their peers. Students, and parents of students receiving an award have been emailed an invitation.
TERM 4 SPORTS
If the girls choose more than one sport, communication is the key, please advise the respective sport coordinator at the start of the season.
Last Saturday saw the first ever QGSSSA Junior Australian Rules Football competition get underway. Well done to our Years 7 – 9 girls who took to the field; many for their first game of Australian Rules. Thank you to the wonderful team at AFL Queensland and Amy from the QGSSSA for their support to give the girls this amazing opportunity.
It was a hot, humid morning, the atmosphere was pumping with 29 teams, approx. 430 girls coming together in a carnival type atmosphere at Yeronga AFC. The format of two mini games per team gave the girls lots of game time and the improvement from game one to game two was great to see. Congratulations to all our girls, you did amazing, thank you to our parents for their spirited support and to our coaching staff for all their work. It was a special morning, and we look forward to the remaining Gala Days.
Gala Day No 2 Results
Year 7
Round 3 – St Peters 6.2.38 d Somerville House 5.4.34
Round 4 – St Peters 3.3.21 draw St Aidan’s 3.3.21
Year 8
Round 3 – Brisbane State High School 7.3.45 d St Peters 4.3.27
Round 4 – St Peters 11.6.72 d St Hilda’s 0.0.00
Year 9
Round 3 – Ipswich Girls Grammar 5.9.39 d St Peters 1.1.7
Round 4 – St Peters 4.5.29 d Brisbane Girls Grammar 4.3.26
2022 Junior Australian Rules Gala Days
Saturday 5 November
Saturday 12 November
Saturday 19 November (Rescheduled Gala Day No 1)
Please CLICK HERE for the Gala Day No 3 Draw, it can also be found on the St Peters App.
Congratulations to our Water Polo Captains for the 2022/2023 BWPI season.
Water Polo Captains: Remaya B, Chloe M & Heidi K Vice-Captains: Emmilia Mc & Tilly P
Round 2 Water Polo Wrap up
Saturday 29 October brought us a super hot day and of course Round 2 of the BWPI competition.
At Musgrave Park at 8.30am our U15 D3 Team proved to be far too strong for AHS. It was a good thing this team has Willow and Amelia who share the goalie position because our defence was so strong AHS only had two attempts at goal the whole game. It would be very boring to be stuck in goals with little or no action. Our super speedy lefty Maddie had a cracking game and was awarded the team prize for having ‘crazy good skills’! It was great to have four of our St Peters Water Polo Captains/Vice Captains present cheering on these girls.
U13 D4 Team lost by one goal. Special mention to Clara for making her debut and having a real crack especially in defence. Coaches, Mila and Sophie, were up and about with excitement during the game; there was great improvement shown from last week’s game. We were especially happy with the way the girls were passing the ball around. Eve in goal was up on her legs and stopping shots which is why she was awarded the prize for the week.
U15 D4 went down but played some awesome Water Polo. Georgie A scored a cracking goal and was up and down the pool in attack and defence. This team showed improvements all over! Emily T protected the cage well stopping many attempts from the Loreto girls.
The U18 D3 team bounced back from last week with a great win. With numerous girls new to polo and learning the game it is great to see the other team members explaining and stepping up to teach them. This game was exciting with a few 5m penalties given. Amelia S from the U15 D3 team has put her hand up to join this team as the goalie and boy she made a difference to the team!! Special mention to Willow M who is new to school and our program for playing in her first ever game of polo, talk about learning the rules on the fly!
Please CLICK HERE for the Round 3 Draw, it can also be found on the St Peters App.
2023 QGSSSA OPEN TEAM PRESEASON TRAINING SESSIONS
BASKETBALL PRESEASON sessions will continue next week in the St Peters Indoor Gym, 3.30pm - 5.00pm.
Monday 7 November
TOUCH PRESEASON sessions will continue next week on Harts Road Oval, 3.30pm - 5.00pm.
Wednesday 9 November
FOOTBALL PRESEASON sessions will be held on the following days on Harts Road Oval, 6.15am – 7.30am.
Friday 4 November
Friday 11 November
ST PETERS ROWING
St Peters is excited to offer the 2022 Term 4 Learn to Row Program. St Peters has a rich history in Rowing with a number of highly successful rowers graduating. St Peters prides itself on ensuring that students who participate in Rowing throughout their College life are encouraged and supported to find balance between their academic and Rowing pursuits. Rowing is a unique sport within the College and if you would like to be part of something very special with a rich history, Rowing is certainly the sport for you.
Following the Learn-to-Row Program, the Girls Rowing seasons are as follows.
Term 2 (Preseason) – Playing another QGSSSA sport is highly encouraged.
Term 3 – Regattas are held weekly throughout Term 3. Girls cannot play Volleyball, Hockey, Tennis or Netball and row.
The cost for the Term 4 Learn to Row program will be $145. Athletes are expected to wear their St Peters sports uniform to each session with closed in shoes. Learn to Row athletes are not expected to purchase a zootie for this program.
This program will run during Weeks 5-7 this term.
To sign up or if you have any questions in regard to St Peters Rowing, please contact Peter Hicks (Head of Rowing) - p.hicks@stpeters.qld.edu.au.
Please CLICK HERE for the Term 4 Athletic Performance & Development Training Schedule. The schedule can also be found on the St Peters App.
SWIMMING FOR FITNESS
Coordinator: Mr Peter Dawson – p.dawson@stpeters.qld.edu.au
Swimming sessions have commenced at the 50m pool for any girl playing Water Polo or wishing to do pre-season QGSSSA swim training. These sessions will be held on:
Monday afternoons 50m pool: 3:30pm – 4:15pm
Thursday afternoons 50m pool: 3:30pm – 4:15pm
There is no need for girls to sign on for these sessions, simply turn up to the pool for the sessions you can make.
Boys Sport
“Do you know what my favourite part of the game is? The opportunity to play.” Mike Singletary
Introducing St Peters Athletics Performance Coordinator
St Peters are very fortunate in many ways when it comes to sporting opportunities and accessibility to quality coaching and quality sporting programs. With the commencement of Mr Leigh Smith earlier this year, the St Peters Athletics Performance Programs have just lifted to another positive level.
Leigh has recently taken up the position of St Peters Athletic Performance Coordinator and his enthusiastic and positive impact on our boys’ sporting programs has been instantaneous. Having just returned from the 2022 Commonwealth Games where he assisted our Australian Men’s 7’s Rugby Team, Leigh has immersed himself into the St Peters sporting life with high energy and commitment.
His wealth of experience and expertise is substantial having led the Strength & Conditioning Programs for Australian Netball (Diamonds), Australian & Queensland Rugby, AIS Strength & Conditioning, Football Australia, and Basketball Australia.
The St Peters Athletic Development Program (ADP) is open to all St Peters students (Years 7 to 12) across all sports and all level of athletic ability. All sport specific programs, as well as our general athlete development programs, are well planned and supervised by experienced coaches under the guidance and direction of Mr Leigh Smith and his staff.
For further information about the St Peters Athletic Development Program (ADP) please contact Mr Leigh Smith directly – l.smith1@stpeters.qld.edu.au
Please also refer to the St Peters app for information about ADP training times and days or CLICK HERE.
2023 Term 1 AIC Sports – Pre-Season Training
Our 2023 Term 1 Boys Sports pre-season training and preparations are now up and running. We have experienced some strong participation numbers with boys involved in Australian Rules, Volleyball and Cricket.
All boys currently in Years 7 to 11 have now been emailed information regarding ‘sign on’ and training days and times. We do ask that if a boy is interested in participating and have not yet signed on, please do so as soon as possible.
Training times /schedules are also posted up on the St Peters App. We request that both students and parents please check the St Peters App for days and times of their respective sport training.
We do ask all boys to keep checking their emails for more important information pertaining to 2023 Term 1 sport.
St Peters Semester 2 Sport Awards Presentation
In 2022, many students who have represented the College in Sport in Semester 2 will be recognised at a special awards evening. This will be held in the Performing Arts Centre on Tuesday 15 November from 5.00 pm.
Semester 2 Sport Award winners will be recognised in front of parents, the wider St Peters community, and their peers. Students, and parents of students receiving an award will be emailed an invitation in the weeks to follow.
Dress Standards at St Peters AIC Sports Training Sessions
An important reminder to all students about our College’s expectation surrounding correct dress standards at St Peters AIC training sessions:
All students training for Volleyball, Australian Rules and Cricket must be dressed in the correct St Peters Sports/PE uniform (including socks – if football socks are required, these are to be St Peters Football Socks).
Cold Weather – only the St Peters Track Top and Track Pants are to be worn if warm clothing is required.
Footwear – joggers/football boots are to be worn at all times by those students participating at any St Peters training session. No open footwear (eg. Slides or thongs etc) are to be worn at any time.
For further information about what is happening with 2022 Term 1 pre-season sports, please contact one of the below St Peters Coordinators:
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.
Community
Carols Under the Stars
The St Peters P&F are proud to provide a variety of jumping castles and rides at this year's Carols Under the Stars. We encourage families to pre-purchase a wristband for each child to access all the rides before the day on Eventbrite. These can be collected from School Receptions from Wednesday 23 November.
RIDE WRISTBAND - $15pp
Wristbands will also be available for purchase on the day from the Info Tent on Stolz Oval for $20pp.
Rides will operate from 4:00pm-6:00pm.
Note: Students performing in the Carols are eligible for a discounted price on ride wristbands (access restricted to after rehearsal 5:00pm-6:00pm) – please get the code from your Director of Music.
At St Peters, every parent, guardian and caregiver of a student at the Indooroopilly campus is automatically a member of the St Peters Indooroopilly Parents & Friends. On Monday at the AGM we elected the 2023 Committee. Your Executive were re-elected and we look forward to another successful year in 2023. Congratulations to the following parents who were elected as Officer Bearers:
Robert Barber (President)
Darren Draper (Vice President)
Lauren Aldridge (Treasurer)
Jacqueline Nave (Secretary)
Jane Burton-Smith (Member)
Lija Marshall (Member)
Anthony De Stefani (Member)
Greg Morton (Member)
We also welcome Maggie McIntosh as a new Committee Member. You can view the full list of Committee Members here.
We want to take this opportunity to thank our departing members, Warwick de Villiers and Rowena Lester, for all their hard work in helping build such a strong foundation for the Committee.
The P&F meet once a month in the P&F Centre and all are welcome. Please refer to the College Calendar for 2023 dates.
