09 March 2018
I recently read an article noting that senior executives in some of the biggest tech companies in the world are sending their children to a Rudolf Steiner School in California. The reason is because the school does not use technology until the children are aged 12. What is it about technology which is causing these executives from Google, Facebook and Apple to send their children to a school where there is no technology in primary school?
In addition, two large Apple investors have urged CEO, Tim Cook as recently as this year to issue health warnings for children using iPhones. They have likened children’s addiction to iPhones and social media as akin to smoking cigarettes in the 1950s and 1960s – no-one knew the dangers they were sailing into. Interestingly, psychologists worldwide believe we are setting ourselves up for a public health crisis.
My concern is what children are doing with technology outside close supervision at school and at home. That is when the significant issue of cyber bullying takes place and where we see the tragic outcomes of the misuse of one of the greatest inventions in modern history – the computer… to be continued and sections with permission from Nikki Gemmell from ‘The Australian’.
Congratulations to Vincent Barone and Joe Jureidini who have been chosen as Library Leaders for 2018.
Joe Jureidini
Vincent Barone
Congratulations to the following boys who have been chosen as Sport Captains for 2018.
Edward Weeks, Cricket Captain
Thomas Grosser, Tennis Captain
Alfred Chan, Volleyball Captain
David Hine, Head of Senior School
Further information for Junior School parents
Dates to remember
9 March 2:30 – 3:00pm Reception – Year 2 Assembly in JS Hall
12 March Adelaide Cup Public Holiday
13 March 7:00 – 8:00pm THRASS Information session for Parents
15 March 8:45am – 3:15pm Year 5 at Monarto Zoo
12:15 – 1:00pm Years 4 and 6 Chapel Service
17 March 5:00 – 9:30pm Junior School Friends of Saints Movie Night
21 March 2:30 – 3:15pm Years 3 – 6 Assembly in Memorial Hall
22 March 12:15 – 1:00pm Years 1 – 3 Chapel Service
23 March 2:30 – 3:00pm Reception – Year 2 Assembly in JS Hall
27 March 11:00 – 11:30am Reception ‘Last Supper Play’ in JS Hall
28 March 7:00 – 8:00pm Fellows Lecture: Prof John Hattie
29 March 11:00 – 11:30am Easter Service in JS Hall
30 March Good Friday
2 April Easter Monday
Staff News
We welcome Ms Sally Menadue to St Peter’s College this week. Sally is replacing Mrs Kathy Simpson, who is on Long Service Leave until the end of Term 2.
A Call for Junior School Volunteers
The Junior School runs a very successful Learning Assistance Program (LAP), which is supported by a regular group of volunteers who provide an hour and a half of their time from 8.45 – 10.15am, once a week. This program is a significant benefit to a number of boys in Years 2 – 6 to assist with with their literacy development, and only operates with the generous support of our volunteers. If you are interested in becoming a volunteer at the school and would like more information about joining our friendly and supportive team in LAP, please contact:
Geraldine Waldron LAP Coordinator
Tel: 8404 0415 or gwaldron@stpeters.sa.edu.au
Traffic Safety
St Peter’s College is situated in close proximity to the CBD of Adelaide, and adjacent to the Botanic Gardens. The School campus sits between two high-traffic roads in North Terrace and Hackney Road. The safety of our boys is of paramount importance, and caution must always be taken when walking, riding or driving in this vicinity.
Pedestrians
When boys are crossing North Terrace on their way to and from School, they must always cross at the pedestrian traffic lights situated near Trinity Street. Boys should not cross the road at any other place, even when traffic is stopped for the lights.
Boys who need to cross Hackney Road must use the traffic lights on the corner of North Terrace, or walk under the bridge (over the River Torrens) to the north of the School. Alternatively, boys should use the pedestrian island opposite the entrance to Plane Tree Drive. In the Junior School, parents should use either the North Terrace or Hackney Road car parks. Parents are asked to respect any designated spaces signed for Staff parking.
The Junior School Avenue is open for parking until 9:30am. It is then closed for traffic throughout the day and reopens at 2:30pm.
Drop-offs
Parents may drop boys off inside the School grounds in the Hackney Road carpark, North Terrace carpark or in the Avenue. However, there is no parking in the Avenue.
Photographs on Social Media
Out of respect to other families within The School, St Peter’s College asks that photographs taken at any school event or function that contain images of other students not be published, distributed to others or placed on any form of social media, without the consent of the relevant student’s family.
Outside School Hours Care
The Before School Care program at St Peter’s College operates from 7:00am to 8:15am each school day. The After-School Care program runs from 3.00pm to 6.00pm school days. Unlike many childcare programs, the Camp Australia program at St Peters’ College OSHC is eligible for the Child Care Benefit and the Child Care Rebate, which can reduce the cost of the program by up to 50% or more. The Child Care rebate is not income tested. It pays up to 50% of your out of pocket expenses … up to $7,500 per child a year.
Service Hours and Fee Structure:
| Hours | Fee Structure | |
| Before School Care | 7:00am to 8:15am | $14.03 |
| After School Care | 3:00pm to 6:00pm | $29.95 |
| Early Finish (per hour) | $10.00 per hour | |
| Annual Enrolment Fee | $20.00 per family/per year |
After applying the Child Care Benefit and Child Care Rebate, the Out of Pocket expenses will be:
Before School Care $4.47 to $7.02
After School Care $9.89 to $14.98
To reduce your fortnightly out-of-pocket costs, choose to have your rebate paid direct to Camp Australia. To find out more about how you can save contact Camp Australia’s friendly Customer Service Team on
1300 105 343 or the Family Assistance Office 13 61 50.
Car Parking
I would like to remind parents of the regulations regarding use of the Junior School carpark. People using the carpark need to stick to the 10km/h speed limit and follow the arrows to assist us with the safety of our boys and their families. Parents who are collecting boys in the area near the School Uniform Shop please ensure they do not park around the round-about at the end of the road and also do not park in front of cars that are parked in marked car parks, making it impossible for these cars to leave the car park.
Parents please take note of the disabled carparks in the Junior School. Parents are currently parking in these bays without the appropriate permits.
Please also refrain from using mobile phones while driving to ensure the safety of all boys.
Playground Supervision
Each morning teachers supervise the playground from 8:15am – 8:30am, before the boys go to class for the start of the school day. Boys who arrive at school before this time should go to Outside School Hours Care (OSHC). After school there is supervision of the exit points to 3.40pm. After this time, any boy not at a co-curricular activity or still waiting to be collected by a parent will be taken to OSHC by the teacher on duty.
Parents are responsible for the supervision of their son on any playground equipment after school, as teachers are rostered on duty at various exit points in the Junior School. We do ask that boys do not play on the equipment outside the Years 3 and 4 classrooms until after 3:15pm.
Lost Property
There are four lost property bins in the Junior School.
- One near the photocopy room outside 1G.
- Two in the Bickersteth Building opposite the 3N classroom (for all clothes).
- One outside the Art Room (for all lunch boxes and bags).
We would encourage boys to check these bins for any lost property, as all left-over items are donated to charity at the end of each term.
Term Dates for 2018
Term 1 30 January – 13 April
Term 2 1 May – 29 June
Term 3 24 July – 28 September
Term 4 16 October – 7 December