06 April 2018
One of the most important questions often asked by people is “what is the good and how do I act in a way that is good?”
It is true to say that every human action is a moral action, as evidenced by the recent controversy around the ball tampering incident in South Africa. In every choice we make, we decide what is good and we act in a way that either grows the good or diminishes it. Too often, we get caught up on the big goods: major problems that we are faced with that deliver big results and that carry big consequences. But the small goods are just as important, since they are where most of us live our lives. Saying (and meaning) “thank you” to someone who has done something for us. Doing a kindness for someone we don’t know or who isn’t on our friends list because they are in need or listening to someone. Giving them half our treat like lollies or chocolate because they’re having a rough day. These actions don’t bring about world peace or solve the world’s problems. Or do they? If we took care of each other with the small goods in all our actions every day, what would the world look like? As Saint Teresa of Calcutta said: “There are no great things, only small things done with great love.”
(sections printed with kind permission from Jack McLain SJ)
Thank you: my sincere appreciation to the families in the Junior School for such a positive and rewarding first term for 2018. Thank you to all parents for your active involvement in the life of the school and for contributing to such a warm community feel at Saints. We have had parents involved in classroom activities, attending weekly assemblies, coaching and watching weekly sporting fixtures, planning and organising School-wide events, and supporting teachers to create a dynamic teaching and learning environment for the boys. I trust you all have a wonderful school holiday time with your sons, and we look forward to seeing the boys return to School on Tuesday 1 May 2018.
Thank you to all the parents who attended this week’s parent/teacher interviews. The teachers appreciated the opportunity to speak with parents about their son’s academic progress and social and emotional development.
Dates to Remember
10 April 8:45am – 3:00pm Years 3 – 6 Summer House Games
12 April 12:15 – 1:00pm Chapel Service for Years 4 – 6
13 April 3:00/3:15pm Term 1 concludes
Term 2
1 May 8:30am School commences for Term 2
3 May 12:15am – 1:00pm Chapel Service for Years 4 – 6
4 May 1:30 – 3:00pm Years 3 – 6 Cross Country Carnival
9 May 2:30 – 3:00pm Reception – Year 6 Assembly in Memorial Hall
7:00 – 8:00pm Fellows lecture: Audette Excel AO
10 May 12:15 – 1:00pm Chapel Service for Years 1 – 3
11 May 2:15 – 3:00pm Mother’s Day celebration in Reception – Year 2
4:00pm Friday Winter Sport commences
12 May 8:15am Saturday Winter Sport commences
14 May 7:30pm Junior School Friends of Saints meeting
Staff News – Mr Adam Clutton and Mrs Em Wilson will be on long service leave in Term 2. Mrs Amy Martin and Mrs Natalie Pearce will fill those roles during Adam and Em’s absence. We wish Adam and Em all the best for an enjoyable and refreshing break.
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 (1.5 hours) of their time from 8.45 – 10.15am, once a week. This program is of significant benefit to a number of boys in Years 2 – 6 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 on 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 our School Community, 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 will operate from 7:00 am 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. Could 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. Could parents please respect and take note of the fact that there are disabled carparks in the Junior School. We currently have parents parking in these bays who do not have the appropriate permits. Parents have indicated that there are parents who are driving whilst on mobile phones in our school carparks, and potentially endangering the safety of our Junior School boys. Obviously we would ask that parents do not engage in this illegal practice.
Playground Supervision – Each morning teachers supervise the playground from 8:15 – 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
For the information of parents we have 4 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
David Hine, Head of Junior School