04 August 2023
It was great to welcome everyone back to campus last week. I trust you enjoyed some time together as a family to relax and unwind over the mid year break and that your son(s) is feeling recharged for a productive Semester 2.
For many it was a busy non-term time with interstate and international tours rebuilding to near pre-pandemic levels. It has been wonderful hearing boys recount their adventures from their time away. Touring provides a wonderful learning experience away from the classroom which builds self-confidence and strengthens camaraderie between the boys. Tours also serve to lift the horizon of each student to look beyond their local postcode to benchmark their practice against our interstate and international partners.
Our cricketers completed a successful 22-day tour of England that saw them play 14 matches against prestigious cricketing clubs and schools. They were fortunate to attend the enthralling Ashes Test Match at Lord’s, learn about a new culture and establish friendships, some of which will last a lifetime.
Our Rugby Team enjoyed a successful tour to Victoria with hard fought victories against Geelong Grammar and Haileybury. And back home, our Soccer team hosted the Interstate Independent Schools Cup at Gepps Cross that involved schools from Sydney, Hobart and Adelaide.
A group of students and staff embarked on an unforgettable two-week Technology Tour across the US and Canada. Their journey took them to the heart of innovation with inspiring visits to tech giants including Microsoft, Apple Park, Intuitive Technologies and Intel. And our Exploration Society ventured to Ningaloo Reef, for an extraordinary snorkelling adventure with majestic whale sharks, while other students explored the snow-covered peaks of Mt Hotham.
Thank you to all staff involved in making these tours such incredible cultural and sporting experiences for our students – the memories they have forged will last a lifetime.
On the first day of term, the whole school gathered to celebrate 176 years of educating students in body, mind and spirit at our Founders’ Day service. As we look forward to the term ahead, we paid tribute to our Founders who had the incredible foresight to create Sancti Petri Schola Collegiata (SPSC), The Collegiate School of St Peter in 1847. We give thanks for the privileged opportunities our School affords, acknowledging that everything we enjoy here is a gift from those who have come before us.
The gift of creating and exploring through the visual arts was apparent throughout the spectacular Junior School Art Exhibition on display this week. Congratulations to the boys and Ms Sally Houston for curating this magnificent collection of Australian fauna illustrations. It is clearly evident in the work on display that much joy and wonder has been experienced by students as they have uncovered new processes of art making with Artist in Residence Zinia King.
Congratulations to the following students on their recent co-curricular achievements:
Basketball: Harvey (Year 12) has signed with the Adelaide 36ers as one of four Development Players for the NBL24 season.
Cross Country: Congratulations to Shreyus Arramraj (Year 8) on his selection in the 2023 SA State Secondary Schools Cross Country Team.
Hockey: Bryce (Year 11), Coell (Year 12) and Rhun (Year 11) represented SA at the recent Hockey Australia U18 Championships in Hobart. The team had a successful tournament claiming bronze. Congratulations to Bryce who has been named in the Men’s Australian Futures (U18) Squad of players who will be in their prime age come the Brisbane 2032 Olympic Games.
Table Tennis: Steven So (Year 7) and Peter Zhang (Year 10) were part of the SA Table Tennis Teams who won gold in the U13 and U15 National Table Tennis Championships in Sydney.
Water Polo: Oliver Maddern (Year 10) and Will Disney (Year 11) have been selected for the U17 National Water Polo Championship to be played in Sydney in late September.
Economics: Joe Xu (Year 12) has been shortlisted for the John Locke Institute Global Essay Prize in Economics. He will attend Oxford in September to attend an invitation-only academic conference and prize giving ceremony.
Athletics: Andrew Maenda (Year 11) is currently in Trinidad and Tobago for the 2023 Commonwealth Youth Games. Andrew will compete in the 100m sprint on Monday. His heat is at 0930 (2300 ACST) and can be watched live here. Good luck Andrew!
The St Peter’s Old Collegians have a special evening planned for tomorrow night’s inaugural White & Blue Ball. With old scholars, current, past and future parents and staff in attendance it will be a wonderful opportunity to celebrate enduring friendships and traditions. I look forward to seeing you there!
Tim Browning
Headmaster