EVENTS AND COMMUNICATION

With only two weeks to go, we still have lots of great things happening at school and outside of school for our students and families. We know this is a really busy time and it can seem overwhelming for students and families. Don’t forget that the place to seek information about what is happening at school is from Compass events and notifications, and our weekly newsletter. There is a lot of time invested at school in placing information in these two platforms, with as much detail as possible, as these are our communication tools to our whole school community. If you find you are unsure after checking these places, our lovely office staff and teachers can support any additional questions.  

THANK YOU TO PARENTS AND CARERS FOR KIND FEEDBACK

Recently, I have been heartened by kind emails from some of our parents and carers about things that they want to acknowledge our wonderful staff for. We know St Peter’s is a beautiful place to learn and grow, and the acknowledgements for individual staff members or groups really helps at times when everyone is feeling the busyness of each week. Thank you for showing your appreciation to the people who make St Peter’s the school to be!

MISSION

CONFIRMATION

Next week, over 30 St Peter’s students will make their Sacrament of Confirmation. Confirmation is a special sacrament in the Catholic Church. It completes Baptism by making our faith stronger and filling us with the Holy Spirit. During Confirmation, the bishop anoints us with holy oil called chrism. We say “yes” to the promises made for us at Baptism, showing that our faith is now our own. Confirmation helps us grow as Christians and prepares us to live our faith bravely in the footsteps of Jesus.

All of Year 3 will participate in a retreat day on Monday, joining in games, prayer and activities to help prepare the Confirmation candidates to make this next step in their sacramental journey. Year 3 staff and students will be joined by Mrs Cameron and the Year 10 Youth Ministry class from MacKillop. The retreat will run from 9.00am to 12.30pm and is incorporated into part of the regular school day. It will be held in the shared St Peter’s MacKillop Chapel.

Please pray for our young confirmation candidates as they prepare to accept the Holy Spirit and commit to being like Jesus.

YOUTH CLUB WITH ZAC

Youth Club kicked off again this week with Zac Parnell and Mrs Cameron! Students in Years 5 and 6 are invited to come along at Lunch 1 on Mondays for some music, games and prayer in the shared Chapel. Zac is excited to get to know our school leaders as they prepare to transition to high school, and is looking forward to welcoming them to Encounter Youth on Friday evenings at the Youth Hub once they get to Year 7!

All Year 5 and 6 students are welcome to meet Mrs Cameron at the Chapel gate at the beginning of Lunch 1 on Mondays.

SCHOOL COMMUNITY GROUP (SCG)

The School Community Group (SCG) is a welcoming and inclusive way for families to be involved in school life. Open to all parents and carers, the SCG meets once a term to share information, provide feedback on school initiatives, and strengthen the connection between home, school, and parish.

To keep meetings focused and productive, all agenda items need to be submitted beforehand, as new topics can’t be added during the meeting. Meeting times will vary each term to help accommodate the different commitments of families. Each meeting will also include a short 5-minute educational component for parents.

This year, the SCG will be gathering feedback on events at St Peter’s and forming a parent team to support the “delay smartphones until age 16” initiative. The SCG ensures every parent has a voice in supporting the learning, wellbeing, and faith life of our students. Please add your agenda items via the google document below.

School Community Group Agenda Item - Link

TELL THEM FROM ME PARENT SURVEY

YOUR FEEDBACK MATTERS

Thank you to all the 150 parents and carers who took part in our recent Tell Them From Me survey. Your honest feedback is invaluable in helping us improve our school community. Each week this term we will share some feedback from the data collated.

PARENTING A CHILD WITH ADHD

Supporting a child with ADHD can feel challenging at times. Simple strategies can make a big difference and benefit all children, not just those who are neurodiverse. Three particularly powerful approaches are: creating a plan to tackle problems together, reminding them of their strengths, and  telling them you love them no matter what. Watch this video explanation below:

LEARNING

CHILDREN PROTECTION WEEK 2025

Putting Children First: National Child Protection Week 

From 7–13 September 2025, schools and communities across Australia will come together to celebrate National Child Protection Week. This annual event reminds us that every child has the right to feel safe, loved, and supported—at home, at school, and in the wider community.

The theme for 2025, “Every Child, in Every Community, Needs a Fair Go,” highlights that protecting children is everyone’s business. When families are supported and communities are strong, children are safer, healthier, and better able to reach their full potential.

At St Peter’s, we are marking Child Protection Week by:

• Teaching children about personal safety in age-appropriate ways, including how to recognise safe and unsafe feelings, and how to seek help from trusted adults.
  
  
• Sharing resources with parents and carers about online safety, positive parenting, and talking to children about protective behaviours.
  
  
• Promoting strong community partnerships, reminding families that schools, neighbours, sports clubs, and local services all play a role in keeping children safe.
  
  

Child Protection Week is not just about preventing harm; it is also about promoting safety and well-being. It’s also about ensuring children grow up in environments that nurture their learning, friendships, culture, and wellbeing.

As parents and carers, you can support the message of Child Protection Week by:

• Talking with your child about their “circle of safety”—the trusted adults they can turn to.
  
  
• Creating space for open conversations at home, where children know their worries will be listened to.
  
  
• Getting involved in community activities that build strong, supportive networks for families.
  
  

Together, we can ensure that every child has the safe and caring childhood they deserve.

For more information and resources, visit the NAPCAN website (National Association for Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect):  National Child Protection Week

WRITE A BOOK IN A DAY !!  WE DID IT !!

On Tuesday, two groups of budding writers made St Peter’s history by writing two entire books in just one day, all for a good cause-The Kids’ Cancer Project. Taking part in the school's first-ever event of its kind, the students worked together as a team, each taking on different roles—some wrote chapters, others illustrated, edited, or designed the cover. Their hard work paid off, as the finished books will be published digitally and will then be made accessible to children in hospitals battling long-term illness. The project not only showcased their creativity and teamwork but also taught them the power of coming together to make a difference. We can’t wait to share the books with you next term.

Congratulations to the following students who participated on the day:

PEER SUPPORT

In the final session of our Living Positively Peer Support program, the children took time to reflect on all they’ve learned throughout the journey. They revisited key ideas such as thinking optimistically, showing perseverance, and using positive self-talk.

The students explored the “I Laugh, I Live, I Love” model and created their own unique Positive Pyramid to take home — a personal reminder of the activities they enjoy, their individual strengths, and ways to show gratitude to others.

We encourage you to continue these conversations with your child about living positively. This could be during the drive home from school, around the dinner table, or while enjoying a backyard game together.

A heartfelt thank you to our amazing Year 6 Leaders, who have led their Peer Support Groups with positivity, perseverance, and resilience. The staff and students of St Peter’s are so proud of their leadership and example.