22 June 2018
‘The Prince Boofhead Syndrome’, co-authored by Dr Michael Carr-Gregg and Elly Robinson, provides useful tips for raising empathetic boys. Recent research has shown that empathy in children today is 20% lower that it was some 30 years ago, which is a disturbing statistic.
Show your son you love him whether he wins or loses, passes or fails a test, or doesn’t reach a goal he has set for himself.
Let your son experience adversity. I have written previously about the positive outcomes which can arise out of cultivating grit within a child, and the long-term benefits of promoting the character strength of perseverance.
Let your son take responsibility for his poor behaviour or disappointing outcomes. Sometimes parents are too quick to try and accept responsibility for what the child has done.
Allow your son to be his own hero. Parents should never live their lives vicariously through their children.
Never accept or put up with intimidating or violent behavior. This is particularly the case with how boys treat their mothers. From an early age, boys must be taught to respect women.
Do not hesitate to seek professional help if you are at all concerned about your son and his emotional and mental wellbeing.
David Hine
Head of Junior School
Thank you to the St Peter’s College community:
I have been lucky enough to have had to opportunity to work as the Learning Support Teacher in Junior Primary for the past term and a half. It is hard to believe that the time has gone as quickly as it has but as I reflect upon my experiences here, I have nothing but fond memories of energetic and spirited boys, wonderfully compassionate, hardworking staff and parents who are welcoming and involved in their boys learning. I’ve loved supporting all the boys in many ways: in the Early Literacy Intervention Program (ELIP), the Years 4 and 5 basketball team, out on yard duties and during House events. Throughout my 25 years in education, it is particularly obvious that the boys at St Peter’s College are very lucky to have the necessary resources to implement such successful learning programs that not only work and cater for individual needs, but also acknowledge and reward progress made. I have seen such an improvement in the boys’ progress in the short time I have been here, and I have genuinely loved being a part of it all. It has been a richly diverse and rewarding few months and I’d like to thank everyone for making it so enjoyable for me.
Sally Menadue
Diverse Learning Needs Teacher
Dates to Remember
22 June 2:30 – 3:00pm Reception – Year 2 Assembly in the JS Hall
26 June 1:30 – 3:00pm Years 5 and 6 Matinee Concert performance
7:00 – 8:30pm Years 5 and 6 Concert
27 June 9:15 – 10:15am Reception to Year 2 Bastille Day celebration
28 June 11:00am – 3:00pm Winter House Games
29 June 12:15 – 1:00pm St Peter’s Day Service
3:00/3:15pm Term 2 concludes
School will finish at the normal time on Friday 29 June of 3.00pm for boys in Reception – Year 2 and at 3.15pm for boys in Years 3 – 6.
Term 3
24 July 8:30am School resumes for Term 3
8:45am Founders’ Day Service
26 July Australian Mathematics Competition
12:15 – 1:00pm Chapel Service for Years 4 – 6
30 July 5:00 – 6:00pm Junior School Art Exhibition Opening
7:30pm Junior School Friends of Saints meeting
31 July UNSW ICAS English Competition
Junior School Art Exhibition
1 August 2:30 – 3:00pm Reception – Year 6 Assembly in Memorial Hall
7:00 – 8:00pm Fellows Lecture: Louka Perry
Junior School Art Exhibition
2 August 12:15 – 1:00pm Chapel Service for Years 1 – 3
Junior School Art Exhibition
3 August Junior School Art Exhibition
Staff News – We thank Mrs Amy Martin, Mrs Sally Menadue and Mrs Natalie Pearce for teaching in the Junior School this term. We have appreciated their positive contribution to Saints and wish them all the best for the future. In Term 3, Mr Sam Tirrell and Mr Travis Burridge will be on Long Service Leave. We welcome Mrs Christie Wilson and Mr Tom Latchford who will be their replacements.
Thank You – My sincere appreciation to the families in the Junior School for such a positive and rewarding second term for 2018. Thank you to all parents for your active involvement in the life of the School and for contributing to another successful term for the boys. We have had parents involved in classroom activities, attending assemblies, coaching and watching sporting teams, planning and organizing school-wide events, and supporting teachers with assistance in the classroom or on excursions. I trust you all have an enjoyable and relaxing mid-year break with the boys.
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 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 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