Term 2, Weeks 9 & 10 2021

Learning Enhancement Literacy and Numeracy Parent Assistance

Thank you to the parents who responded to the invitation in the Week 8 newsletter to volunteer their time to assist with Learning Enhancement Programmes. We are grateful for your help and we look forward to welcoming you into classrooms next term.

If you haven't responded and are still interested in being a parent helper, assisting with sight word drills, times table drills, reading with students, and similar activities to give students additional occasions to develop their basic literacy and numeracy skills, please email administration@stpeters.nsw.edu.au with the subject title 'Learning Enhancement Assistance', and include your full name, Working with Children Check number and date of birth for this to be verified by the school. Once complete, the School Office will email you a document to read, sign and return, 'Volunteers Confidentiality Agreement, Safety Induction Package and Child Protection'. This may be returned to the Office, or scanned and emailed to administration@stpeters.nsw.edu.au

Subject to COVID restrictions easing, we will be holding training sessions so parents will know how to implement the programmes effectively. You are only required to attend one training session and these will be run on:

Tuesday, 20 July from 9.30am - 10.15am
Wednesday, 21 July from 2.30pm - 3.15pm

If you are unable to attend either of these times, please contact me through the office.

Please fill in the Google Form with details of your preferred training session, as well as your availability for assisting in classrooms.

Please don't hesitate to contact me if you have further questions regarding assisting with Learning Enhancement programmes.

Thank you for your support.

ICAS Assessments

Families are reminded that the Parent Payment System closes as of Friday, 16 July (last week of School Holidays). The Parent Payment System is the only way families may register their children in order to participate in this highly academic competition.

The following assessments are offered at St. Peter's:

Digital Technologies: Monday, 9 August - Friday, 13 August (Term 3: Week4)

English: Monday, 16 August - Friday, 20 August (Term 3: Week 5)

Science: Monday, 23 August - Friday, 27 August (Term 3: Week 6)

Mathematics: Monday, 30 August - Friday, 3 September (Term 3: Week 7)

To access the Parent Payment System, visit: https://shop.icasassessments.com.au/pages/pps and enter the School Access Code: LGM070

Approaches to Learning (IB PYP)

The Enhanced PYP has acknowledged that explicitly teaching our students 'how to learn' is an incredibly crucial element of our offerings. We desire for our students to be lifelong learners, and in order to achieve this, students need to learn the myriad of skills required to be successful learners. The Approaches to Learning (ATL's) complement the Learner Profile, and should be recognised as skills that do not rely on academics. As a school, we recognise the importance of the attainment of the ATL's, and formally report on student growth in these areas within our school reports.

There are five main areas within the ATL's:

Communication - students learn how to appropriately communicate by listening, interpreting and speaking, they develop their understanding of foundational literacy skills in order to effectively read and write as a tool for communication, and they learn how to utilise digital technologies as a form of communication
Research - students learn to devise deep questions in order to gather information and data from a wide range of sources, they apply academic honesty by acknowledging these sources and learn to differentiate between reliable and unreliable sources
Self-Management - students learn to manage their time and their resources to effectively support their learning, they develop the skills of persistence and resilience and the understanding of their responsibility within their personal actions
Social - students develop an understanding for the need to display care and empathy towards others, they learn to develop the skills to overcome social challenges, they learn about the various roles when working collaboratively with others and to contribute effectively
Thinking - students learn to recognise problems and apply strategies to best solve them, they develop their ability to critically and creatively analyse situations, they learn to make connections between their learning and their personal experiences, and they learn to reflect on their individual learning process

As you read through these brief descriptions, I encourage you to reflect on how the Approaches to Learning develop a strong foundation for our children as they progress through their years of formal schooling and into the workplace. I also encourage you to carefully read through your child's attainment within their report, and celebrate their growth in these areas.

Semester 1 Reports

Student reports were released via the Parent Portal on Monday, 21 June 2021. If you have not received an email notification in regards to this, please contact the Administration team.

My thanks to the dedication of our teachers in carefully reflecting on each individual child in collating the data and composing report comments. I trust that your child's report reflects that your child is known and loved, both academically and socially.

This time period marks the second offering of our new reporting format (also utilised in Semester 2, 2020).

We would appreciate hearing from our families, your perspective of this. Please share your thoughts at: feedback@stpeters.nsw.edu.au

Parent / Teacher Interviews

Our Parent / Teacher Interviews will be offered, onsite, on: Thursday, 15 July, commencing at 2pm - 8pm.

A second round of interviews are offered on Monday, 19 July, from 3:30pm - 5pm.

Booking information will be sent home via email in the coming days. If you do not receive this by next Wednesday, 30. June 2021, please contact our Administration team as a matter of urgency.

The purpose of these interviews is to offer the opportunity to further discuss your child's Semester 1 Report, or any other matters you wish to discuss. Attendance is not compulsory.

Year 4 - Aussie Notables

Mr Peter Stevenson - Dean of Biblical Studies

This week Year 4 has displayed their Aussie Notables presentations. Over the past few weeks, Year 4 has been working hard on their Unit of Inquiry under the Central Idea of 'Our Actions have Impacted the Future', with us finding out how Australia has been shaped by people over the centuries.

Students took on the persona of an Aussie Notable and presented a Bioriddle for the audience to guess who they were. They then showed their learning centres and answered questions about how their Notable has contributed to the history of Australia. From Sportspeople to Entertainers to Prime Ministers to Doctors and Crocodile Hunters.

The students were amazing and the Year 4 teachers couldn't be prouder.

Year 4 - Aussie Notables

Staffing Update

Mr Tim Vernon has been appointed as our temporary PE Specialist/ Sport Coordinator for the remainder of the year.

Tim has formerly taught at St. Peter's as a classroom teacher (2001-2005), most recently working in various sporting/ coaching pursuits in swimming, basketball, tennis and rugby.

Positions Vacant

We are currently advertising for the following positions:

Teacher Assistant - 2 days per week (Part-time) - Closing Friday, 25 June 2021.
Commencing Term 3, until the end of the year, with the possibility of permanency appointment.
Classroom Teachers (Casual)
Bus Driver (Permanent & Casual)

Please visit our School Website to apply: https://www.stpeters.nsw.edu.au/discover/employment/

Prayer Points

Giving thanks that our Musical was able to go ahead and that our Cast & Crew were able to perform after all their hard work.
Pray for the ongoing COVID situation and for those responsible for managing our State.
Pray for our families over the School Holidays that they will have an opportunity to relax, recharge and stay healthy.

School Calendar

Week 10

Friday, 25 June 2021

Last Day For Term 2

School Holidays - Monday, 28 June 2021 - Friday, 9 July 2021

Monday, 28 June 2021

10.00am - 12.00pm: Movies with Mr Gorman (Two Two Overboard!)

Staff Professional Development Week - (Pupil Free Week) Monday, 12 July2021 - Friday, 16 July 2021

Thursday, 15 July 2021

2.00pm - 8.00pm: Parent Teacher Interviews (Prep Echidnas & Wombats, Kindergarten to Year 6)

Friday, 16 July 2021

No Vacation Care / School Office Closed

Term 3

Monday, 19 July 2021 - Friday, 17 September 2021

Week 1

Monday, 19 July 2021

Students Commence Term 3
3.30pm - 5.00pm: Parent Teacher Interviews
3.30pm - 6.00pm: (Prep Koalas & Possums)

Tuesday, 20 July 2021

9.00am - 9.30am: Chapel (Kindergarten - Year 2)
7.15am: Year 6 Camp

Wednesday, 21 July 2021

Year 6 Camp
9.00am - 9.30am: Chapel (Years 3 - 5)
11.40am - 12.30pm: Junior Primary Rep Sport VS MT Annan Christian College
1.30pm - 2.20pm: Primary Rep Sport VS MT Annan Christian College

Thursday, 22 July 2021

Year 6 Camp

Friday, 23 July 2021

Year 6 Camp Concludes
8.15am - 10.00am: Coffee Cart
9.00am - 9.30am: Junior Primary Assembly

Week 2

Monday, 26 July 2021

10.00am: School Tour for new families

Tuesday, 27 July 2021

100 Days of Kindergarten Party
9.00am - 9.30am: Chapel (Kindergarten - Year 2)
11.30am - 12.00pm: Maths Olympiad 4

Wednesday, 28 July 2021

9.00am - 9.30am: Chapel (Years 3 - 6)
10.00am - 10.30am: Maths Games 4
11.45am - 12.30pm: Junior Primary Rep Sport VS MT Annan Christian College
1.00pm - 2.00pm: Primary Rep Sport VS MT Annan Christian College

Thursday, 29 July 2021

Photo Day ( Whole School, Class, INdividaul & Prep Echidnas & Wombats)
3.00pm - 4.30pm: Matilda Cast After Party

Friday, 30 July 2021

8.15am - 10.00am: Coffee Cart
9.00am - 9.30am: Primary Assembly

Matilda Jr.

What a delight it has been to see our hall transformed into a theatre and to see our students take the stage as we presented Matilda Jr. I have been so impressed with the confidence, determination and theatrics presented. Just another reason, our school continues to impress.

Thank you to each and every student who took to the stage. Be it a main role, back stage or massed choir, we are so impressed and thankful for you.

Thank you to the parents and visitors who provided a vital audience for our students, despite the challenges associated with the required restrictions.

Normally, our ticket sales go toward covering the significant costs associated with staging the musical. With reduced capacity, we anticipate a $15,000 shortfall.

I have been humbled by some parents who have offered to contribute a donation toward this shortfall. If you would like to contribute in this way, please email events@stpeters.nsw.edu.au and our staff will contact you.

Thank you for your ongoing support. I am incredibly proud every one of our students.

A New Future For St. Peter's

As announced this week, the Schools' Council last week approved the commencement of Secondary Education, from 2022. St. Peter's Anglican Primary School will become St. Peter's Anglican Grammar with Prep -Year 7 in 2022, growing to be a full Prep - Year 12 School by 2027.

Enrolment applications are being accepted now through our website:

https://www.stpeters.nsw.edu.au/admissions/how-to-apply/

Information Sessions for Secondary will also be held in the initial weeks of Term 3 as follows:

Tuesday, 27 July 2021 - 6.00 pm - 7.30 pm

Thursday, 29 July 2021 - 6.00 pm - 7.30 pm

Please register your attendance by registering via: https://enrol.stpeters.nsw.edu.au/events.

Give thanks for this exciting news and we look forward to continuing to provide quality Christian Education to more students in the coming years.

As always, if you have specific questions or comments, please feel free to email me: feedback@stpeters.nsw.edu.au

Farewell Mrs Hornman

We wish Fiona and her family well as they relocate to Thailand for the next few years. Fiona's contribution to St. Peter's has been outstanding. She will be missed enormously.

Thank you, Fiona!

St. Peter's Heart

The Chair has also announced the commencement of a our new small special School on the grounds of St. Peter's from the commencement of 2022. Initially housed in the Whitehouse that will be fitted for this purpose, St. Peter's Heart will be a small school, with small class sizes, for students with moderate intellectual disability and/or moderate Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD).

For a long time, there has been a need in this vital area and we are delighted to be able to provide a nurturing and caring environment for these girls and boys diagnosed with additional needs.

Our Heart is for all students to know and understand their value as members of our community, and we look forward to sharing our Heart for quality Christian Education with more students through St. Peter's Heart.

Further information will be forthcoming early in Term 3. Enquiries can be made through our website or by clicking on the Link: Enquiries.

Reporting

This week, through the Parent Portal, Semester 1 Reports have been issued. A slightly different format, you will have noticed that the general comment appears on the first page, along with the approaches to learning, to signify the importance of these areas.

Semester Reports are issues as one piece of the assessment pie and should be viewed alongside anecdotal feedback, conversations with teachers, assessment feedback and the many other ways you become aware of how your children are progressing.

As always, if there are specific questions or concerns, please don't hesitate to reach out to the classroom teacher in the first instance.

Term 3 Return

We look forward to all students returning for Term 3 on Monday, 19 July 2021. We wish all in the St. Peter's community a wonderful and refreshing break.

IPSSO Sport

Week 9, games against Oran Park Anglican College

Junior Sport: Wednesday, 9 June 2021

SPORT	RESULT	SPAPS	OPAC
Soccer	Win	3	2
AFL	Win	19	6
Netball	Loss	3	17
Newcombe ball	Win	2	0

Senior Sport: Wednesday, 9 June 2021

SPORT	RESULT	SPAPS	OPAC
Soccer	Loss	0	4
AFL	Win	46	7
Netball	Loss	4	19
Volleyball	Loss	1	2

Players of the Match:

Junior Soccer: Nicholas D

Senior Soccer: Aidan G and Brody H

Junior AFL: William P

Senior AFL: Lela B

Junior Newcombeball: Savannah N

Senior Volleyball: Ashton V

Junior Netball: Sophie T

Senior Netball: Indianah P