Mrs Michelle McDonnell - Principal

The highlight of my job is the conversations I have with students.  I love to hear about what is happening in their lives outside of school, and also what they are learning and their excitement about a co-curricular group they are part of.

It was lovely to spend time with our Year 4 students at their camp at Galston Gorge last week.  Our students are amazing ambassadors for our school when they are out and about, joining in activities with enthusiasm and persisting with things they find hard.  I think that all of the students who attended would have gone home feeling proud of themselves for staying away from home overnight, learning to ride a bike, getting a bullseye in archery or reaching the top of the rock climbing wall. We are certainly very proud of them.

We are very excited to be holding our first Cambelltown Anglican Schools Christian Ministry Dinner. It will be a wonderful opportunity to gather as a community and learn more about the Christian ministry of Campbelltown Anglican Schools and how we can sow the Gospel of Jesus into the school community.  I am looking forward to seeing many of our St Peter’s families at this event.  

Our students will be ably cared for by the OSHC team led by Mrs Schwigtenberg during the evening with dinner, activities and a movie.

Bookings are essential and will close 4pm, Friday 7 June 2024.

Booking Link

Thank you to those families who have continued to support us by having their children dressed correctly in their school uniform each day.  When students arrive at school neatly dressed, they are also ready to learn and feel part of our school community.  

We are aware that there have been some uniform items still to come at the uniform shop at Narellan; however, I have been informed that from mid next week, all outstanding items will be in stock.  These include socks, long sleeve blouses and long sleeve shirts.  

We have also introduced a long sock which may be worn by girls with their Navy pinafore instead of stockings should they prefer this option.  The long socks and stockings are not to be worn with the summer dress or the skort / culottes.

From the beginning of Week 6, our expectation is that all students will be correctly attired in one of the approved uniform combinations.

Unfortunately, we continue to have problems occurring in our school carpark.  It is vital that we work together to keep our school community safe during our peak morning and afternoon periods.  Please demonstrate patience when waiting in our drive through line to either drop off or pick up your child. I understand that everyone is busy and the systems we have in place are designed to facilitate a safe and timely drive through process.

If you are in the carpark from 8.00am - 9.00am or from 3.00pm - 3.40pm, please do not leave your car.  If your child needs assistance into school or OSHC, please park offsite and walk them in.  This will ensure our drive through moves smoothly and safely.

Mrs Nerida Hadfield - Deputy Principal

We truly have had another remarkable fortnight in our school and it's a wonderful time to reflect on the various activities and learning experiences that have been taking place for our students.

One of the greatest joys of my role is witnessing the enthusiasm and growth of our students as they embrace new opportunities. Recently, our Year 4 students embarked on an exciting camp to Galston Gorge. I was incredibly proud of the way all students challenged themselves to try new activities and for the respectful behaviour and attitude they showed each other and the Crusader Leaders. It was so rewarding to see them challenge themselves, build self-confidence, and develop greater independence. These camps are invaluable, offering students the chance to learn outside the classroom and bond with their peers in a supportive environment. Thank you to all the staff who attended and took great care of the students.

In addition to camps, we’ve had open classrooms where parents could see firsthand the incredible work our students are doing. It’s always a pleasure to observe the curiosity and engagement of our students as they showcase their projects and learning journeys. Having Fireman Raft visit Year 1 during the Community Helper Day was special!

The Public Speaking Competition that took place yesterday was outstanding. The primary students displayed remarkable poise and eloquence, impressing us with their ability to articulate their thoughts and ideas clearly. These competitions are not only a platform for developing speaking skills but also a confidence booster for our young speakers. The adjudicators were faced with the difficult task of choosing a winner for the two stage groups.

A special mention goes to our Year 6 students, who have begun their exhibition inquiries. The buzz of excitement and inquiry is palpable as they delve into their chosen topics. The Exhibition journey is a significant milestone, encouraging deep research, collaboration, and critical thinking. We look forward to seeing the culmination of their hard work and creativity in late September.

As the weather cools down, we remind all parents of the importance of labelling jumpers and jackets. This simple step helps us ensure that lost items can be returned to their rightful owners promptly. Please be reminded that students may have one small key ring attached to their bag for easy identification purposes only. Other toys are not necessary and can cause upset when lost or broken.

Thank you for your ongoing support and involvement in our school community. Together, we continue to create a nurturing and stimulating environment for our students to thrive.

Mrs Jamie Nielson - Head of Teaching & Learning

Reading quality literature with students brings educators great joy. The engagement, excitement, and enthusiasm that children display during shared reading experiences make these moments even more valuable and enriching for everyone involved.

Whether it's a new story or a beloved favourite that has been read again and again, sharing a great book is a wonderful way to expand students' understanding of the world around them, grow their sense of perspective and empathy, extend their vocabulary, and foster strong connections between the reader and listener. 

With these benefits in mind, The Australian Library and Information Association (ALIA) runs an annual project called the National Simultaneous Storytime (NSS). This event aims to promote the value of reading and literacy across our country by inviting schools, day care centres, community libraries, bookshops and families to join an Australia-wide reading experience. 

In 2023, the event broke previous records, with over 2.3 million participants at over 59 000 locations across Australia. 

On Wednesday 22nd May at 12:00 pm, St Peter’s students from Junior Primary and some Primary classes took part in the National Simultaneous Storytime. The focus text for 2024 was the beautiful narrative, Bowerbird Blues,  by Australian author, illustrator and designer,  Aura Parker. Students were treated to a live reading by the author and engaged in activities inspired by creative features from the text. 

Sharing reading experiences with our children significantly enhances their learning, understanding, connection and wellbeing. When students have opportunities to engage with quality literature, they gain numerous benefits that extend beyond academic achievements. Even older students and independent readers greatly benefit from sharing reading times with a more experienced reader or adult. Reading together and being read to is a wonderful gift that is readily accessible to us all. 

If you would like to learn more about the National Simultaneous Storytime or find out where to access Bowerbird Blues, by Aura Parker, please follow the link below to the NSS website. 

We are sure you will enjoy this book as much as we did. 

2024 National Simultaneous Storytime - Bowerbird Blues by Aura Parker 

A reminder our Term 2 Parent Information is on next Tuesday, 28 May (Week 5). We would like to welcome our families to join us for An Introduction to the NSW English Syllabus - Years 3-6. This event is open to both Junior Primary and Primary parents and all are encouraged to attend to gain valuable insight into the teaching and learning that takes place in English within a Primary classroom. 

Parent Information Session Schedule 

Date: Tuesday 28 May, 2024

Where: Year 3 Classrooms 

Workshop Times: 

2:00 - 2:45 pm - Session 1 

7:00 - 7:45pm - Session 2 (repeated session) 

Please note that this is a parent only event and there will be no child minding services available during the information session. 

Parent Information Session - Booking Link

Mrs Kasie Bingham - Sports Administrator

Why are some of the IPSSO sport rules different from weekend club sports?

IPSSO and PSSA school sport is a representative pathway, as opposed to the non-competitive (participation) club. For students to progress through the IPSHA and CIS, eventually NSWPSSA as well, they will be expected to have the knowledge and skill as per U12/U13 competition leagues.

Why this is important for Year 3/4 students who are generally in U10s, is because they can begin nominations for the representative and state independent school teams from Year 5. These trials occur from early Term 1, and therefore students who want to pursue it need to already have the game and rule knowledge to do so. We utilise the Inter-School sport teams to upskill students from Year 3 in these areas.

You can read the copy of the IPSSO Rule Book here.

Week 3 - v. Broughton Anglican College

Week 4 - v. St Gregory's College

Please download and regularly check the Term 2 & 3 Draw. Students have also been given a printed copy attached to their permission note.

New and updated uniforms are currently being ordered. Students will wear their full summer sports uniform for IPSSO games in the meantime. Please note that AFL and Soccer require red football socks. These can be purchased from Rebel Sport until the Ranier has St Peter’s ones in stock.

Football boots are not essential, but if your child already owns a pair, they may be worn for IPSSO games. Mouthguards are mandatory for AFL, and shin pads are mandatory for soccer.

Last week, Woojin S from 5S competed on the CIS Tennis team at the NSWPSSA Tennis State Championship.

Woojin played really well, winning 6 Singles and 6 Doubles games. Although a superstar in our eyes, unfortunately he wasn’t selected for the NSW team to compete in the National Tennis Championship this year. A huge congratulations for his achievement!

Our Athletics Carnival is soon approaching. Further details will appear in your inbox within the week.

Qualifying for Field Events at the Athletics Carnival have begun. These take place in your class PE lessons with Mr Vernon. The reason for qualifying for field events is due to the length of time it takes to provide each student with a fair turn on the actual day. Time allows for only 8-10 students for each field event and in each age group.

Using the IPSHA qualifying distances, we have created an alternative for ourselves. Mr Vernon will be setting out markers during lessons on each field event, and students who can meet that distance will compete in that event at the Athletics Carnival. Please find these below:

​Students have been made aware of this during PE lessons, and we encourage you to also speak with your child and support them in having their best go!

We wish the following students all the best as they attend a variety of IPSHA/CIS events:

• Woojin S and Lachlan S who are running at the CIS Cross Country on June 6.

Near the end of this term, students from Years 3-6 will have the opportunity to be selected to compete in the St Peter’s Gymnastic team at the IPSHA Gymnastics Competition in Term 4.

Trials are scheduled to take place in Weeks 9 and 10. Students will be communicated with information regarding this. Mrs Bingham, Mr Vernon, Miss Tranby, Mr Calnan and Mrs McDonnell will be involved in selections.

Students currently competing in club beyond Level 3 will be expected to perform the floor and apparatus routines as per their club competitions. Training throughout Term 3 will be for only Level 1-3 teams.

Please inform me if your child is involved in Gymnastics out of school. Email me at sport@stpeters.nsw.edu.au communicating their levels and the disciplines in which they compete.

IPSHA and CIS sport team trials are for students in Years 3-6 excelling in a sport at a representative level.

If you have a child who will be in Years 4-6 in 2024, who is already involved a Club Sport Representative team outside of school, please email me to let me know sport@stpeters.nsw.edu.au There are still many other opportunities for State Rep Team Trials in 2024 that include:

• Cricket

• Boys and Girls Softball

In your email, please inform me of their representative / development team they play for and their preferred playing positions. Entries are limited, so school trials may need to take place.

The Annual St Peter’s Tennis Competition will take place this term. Students have signed up to compete in the singles competition. A draw will be organised and displayed on the Sports Board outside the Sports Shed. 

Students can bring their own tennis racket the day their match is scheduled. The matches will take place during lunch times. Families are not able to attend this event.

This term, Year One have been inquiring into How We Organise Ourselves through the central idea ‘Cooperation builds thriving communities’. To help us continue exploring how people cooperate to meet the needs of a community, we participated in Community Helper Day. 

Our day began with excitement and wonder at our Parade, as we admired the Community Helper costumes that everyone had dressed up in. Year One had so many creative costumes ranging from police officers, to firefighters, to teachers, doctors and even a chicken shop owner! Another highlight included a visit from Mr Raft where we heard about the ways he helps the community as a firefighter. Year One were impressed by how quickly he could put on his protective uniform!

We also enjoyed welcoming parents into our classrooms in the afternoon to hear about how they help the community. Year One had many interesting and thoughtful questions for their parents and learned about lots of new jobs. We spent the rest of our time together cooperating to make our own thriving communities out of paper!

Here are some of Year One’s reflections on the day:

“My favourite part of Community Helper Day was when we made communities with our mums and dads because I couldn’t stick the buildings on the paper by myself and I really loved that my mum could help me.”

- April, 1R

"I loved seeing our class line as a rainbow of colours because of our costumes." 

- Kushal, 1S

“I liked dressing up as a builder because I got to use a measuring tape and I measured things in the playground.” 

- Anwit, 1M

“I liked when we made the communities because it was fun making the buildings out of paper.”

- Adriana, 1L

On Friday 17th of May, Year 3 went on an excursion to Stanwell Beach for an exciting adventure to learn about how the choices we make affect the environment and animal survival.

Year 3 began the day learning about native animals and one of the biggest threats to the natives of our rainforests - foxes (bad foxes!). They visited a creek and used special nets to catch living water creatures. The number of living things would determine if the water was healthy or not healthy.

Year 3 also went on a bug hunt! They searched around plants and trees, looking for critters and bugs munching on leaves or digging in the mud. This also taught us whether the soil was healthy or not.

Finally, Year 3 visited the beach to help some special animals - penguins and turtles! They learnt how to dig shelters in the sand to protect the nests of these cute creatures from harm. We should feel proud knowing we are helping keep the animals safe.

Through their adventures, Year 3 learnt that even small actions, such as picking up rubbish or building shelters, can make a big difference in protecting our environment and the animals that call it home. And we won't be able to wait for our next adventure to keep learning and helping the world around us!

• We give thanks for an excellent Year 4 Camp and all the exciting new challenges the children participated in.
• We pray for Year 3 as they go on camp the first week of June. Pray for safety and fun, and the children who are anxious may feel safe and secure.
• We pray for staff and students who have been or are currently unwell. Pray for healing and renewed energy. 

A variety of Peripatetic Tutors are approved to provide tuition during school hours in the following areas:

Piano (K –Year 6)
Cello (Years 2–6)
Guitar (Years K–6)
Singing (Years K–6)

Piano Tutors
Mrs Jiann Bekes | 0411 300 560 | 4625 8290 | jbekes540@gmail.com
Mrs Koula Johnson | 0405 680 028 | koulajohnson@gmail.com
Guitar Tutor
Mr Daniel Myer | 0439 716 734 | daniel@ultimateguitaracademy.com
Vocal Tutor
Mrs Francesca Olson | Mobile: 0413 942 632 | francesca.olson@gmail.com

Piano / Cello Tutor
Ms Samira Dib| Mobile: 0418 248 239

Term 2

Monday, 29 April 2024 - Friday, 5 July 2024