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A LOVELY TRIBUTE TO ST PETER'S DON
On Thursday this week our senior students and staff joined with family and close friends of Don Farrell to place a special tribute to Don in our Memorial Garden.
The tribute was a very special recognition for a passionate family man, an outstanding educator and leader and an extraordinary friend and man.
Don was the foundation principal at St Peter’s and began a small and very closely connected community in 1993.
His leadership over the following 14 years, directed a very carefully planned and implemented 2 stream educational community.
Don will be remembered as a leader and person who placed huge emphasis on personal relationship and building an understanding in his communities to the importance of learning and sharing love and compassion, particularly to those in need.
PASTORAL CARE CONTINUUM - INVITE TO COMMENT
St Peter’s Pastoral Care Continuum has been placed in the newsletter the last two weeks and is again inserted below.
A second document has been included for you to comment on any part of the continuum, as an important part of the process.
Pastoral Care Continuum - Family Feedback
PROACTIVE APPROACH - STUDENT AGENCY
St Peter’s students have already illustrated a very proactive approach to sharing leadership within the school.
Last week the Pastoral Care Continuum was shared with our senior students, particularly the PBS flow chart.
The student representatives indicated they thought the flow chart was fair and gave students a number of reminders and guides before timeouts were given.
They also made the following comments in regards ensuring fairness for all students:
SCHOOL CAPTAINS AND SRC STAFF TIPS:
- For staff to give a lot more positive reminders to Kinder students or new students to the school, until they become used to PBS
- For teachers to not keep all children in if a few children are not following the rules or that all children should not be stopped from playing a game if a small number aren’t playing fairly.
- For teachers to try to be consistent when staff use rule reminders as against reflections/time out
- For staff to listen to students if they have been named in a group for getting into trouble and they haven’t actually been in the group. (I did advise students that sometimes it is difficult for a teacher when managing a complex situation to take all input, however teachers will very often respect a student, who approaches them after to explain what may have been a misinformed decision).
Senior and middle primary students have been very industrious creating games or supporting younger children in their play.
Senior students have started a dance club and a touch football tournament
Click on the pictures below to watch the videos...
Dance Club and Touch Football.
Students from Years 3 & 4 have been a great help as safety monitors for our Kinder/Year 1 and Year 2 students in their endeavours to engage in the trike circuit.
Click on the pictures below to watch the videos...
Kinder, Year 1 and Year 2 using the trike circuit.
Other students have recently approached school leadership to implement a Maths Club, Drama Club and a Loom Band Craft Club. These clubs will start within the next two weeks.
We are very appreciative of our students offering a great variety of opportunities for others to engage and enjoy.
Thank you.
NEW FAMILIES TO PETER’S - WELCOME MORNING TEA THIS MONDAY
Our welcome morning tea to new families will be held this Monday after Morning Assembly, 8:45am of which you are also invited to attend.
It can sometimes be a difficult step moving into a new community, particularly if you have also moved more recently, into the larger town community.
For this reason, we are holding a special morning tea for new families to St Peter’s. Unfortunately restrictions will limit the number of people we are able to invite and hopefully soon, we will be able to include all families under such invites.
The morning tea will go from approximately 9.00am – 9.30am.
Really looking forward to meeting and learning a little more about our new families.
CONFIRMING 3 STAFF DEVELOPMENT DAYS (PUPIL FREE)
The following days have been confirmed for staff development:
Friday, February 26 | The Learning Collaborative (learning to develop students’ ability to present written text) |
Thursday, April 1 | Staff Spirituality Day |
Monday, April 19 | compulsory staff First Aid course |
BUS SAFETY - SO IMPORTANT
Each year, Bus Safety Week raises awareness for all road users on how to stay safe on and around buses. There is a 40km/h speed limit for traffic passing a school bus that is picking up or setting down school children. The speed limit is for all traffic travelling in the same direction as the bus, whether the bus is stationary or moving. The 40km/h speed limit must be observed when the rear ‘wig-wag’ lights on the bus are flashing. Flashing headlights on these buses also alert oncoming motorists that children are close.
We ask families to talk with their child about:
- Waiting until the bus has gone to cross the road safely.
- Not getting distracted by a mobile device.
- What to do if they get on the wrong bus or off at the wrong bus stop.
More Road Safety tips can be found at:
Road Safety Transport - Keeping Our Kids Safe
Keeping Your Children Safe When Dropping Off and Picking Up At School
Ash Wednesday - Marking the Beginning of Lent
THE FATHER SEES WHAT IS DONE IN SECRET
In the St Agnes’ Parish Ash Wednesday Gospel Reflection, Fr Paul reads from Matthew’s Gospel (6: 1-6, 16-18) in which Jesus warns against parading good deeds before others to attract their notice. Afterwards, he reflects on the significance of Ash Wednesday as we begin our Lenten Journey.
Fr Paul says Ash Wednesday is one of the most important Holy Days in our liturgical calendar. It opens for us our season of Lent, a season of fasting, prayer and alms giving, as is mentioned in the Gospel.
Our season of Lent is always a season of preparation, which is signified by the change to the colour purple. Purple is our ‘get ready’ colour, our colour of preparation. We use it for this season of Lent and for the season of Advent when we prepare ourselves for the birth of Jesus.
On Wednesday, we entered into this new season of Lent and Fr Paul invites us to spend this time of preparation repairing our relationship with God; trying to come back to God, to acknowledge our sins, and to seek healing and help from Jesus.
Click here to watch Fr Paul as he reflects on the Gospel of Matthew (6: 1-6, 16-18)
Our Prayer Place in the Classroom
On Wednesday, to mark the beginning of Lent, each class dressed their special prayer place in purple. Purple is the colour for ‘getting ready,’ and during Lent, we get ready for Easter by spending time getting to know Jesus better by praying, fasting and giving. We pray to deepen our relationship with God, we fast in order to focus on the sacrifice Jesus made for us on the cross, and our call to give means making the needs of others our own. The traditions of praying, fasting and giving need not be elaborate, it could be as simple as devoting our first waking moments to conversation with God, we could fast not just from chocolate or lollies but perhaps from anger or judgement. Our giving doesn’t always need to be material, it could be giving time, or love and care to others.
St Peter’s Prayer Day
We celebrated our annual St Peter’s Prayer Day yesterday, remembering members of our school community, family and friends who have passed away. This year was particularly poignant for the St Peter’s community, with the passing in the holidays of Don Farrell, the founding principal of St Peter’s. Don was a much loved and admired member of our St Peter’s community and his death has been felt profoundly by many current and past staff members, students and families. A special memorial and dedication service was held to remember Don, as well as all those lost to our St Peter’s community.
Caritas Launches Project Compassion!
The beginning of Lent sees the launch of Caritas’ Project Compassion. An important link to giving in Lent is to go without, or fast, in order to share what we have with those who don’t. Each class has a Project Compassion box in their prayer place in which students may choose to place some of their pocket money or forgo a treat at the canteen in order to give to others in need.
Watch the launch video here, you may recognise some familiar faces!
Project Compassion Launch Video
LEARNING
Beacon - a cyber safety education app
Telethon Kids Institute and Bankwest have launched Beacon - a cyber safety educational app designed to keep parents and carers up to date with trusted, tailored information, to help keep their kids safe online. Beacon will shine a light on the online world with:
- Articles and videos backed by the latest research
- Tailored content and alerts, unique to your family needs
- Create your own family agreement
- Help and services that are available to you and your family
Vegetable Week and the Big Vegie Crunch
Vegetable Week, featuring the ‘The Big Vegie Crunch,’ is a school-based event, funded by NSW Health.
‘The Big Vegie Crunch’ is an attempt by NSW primary school students to break the record for the highest number of children eating vegetables simultaneously – and to get kids excited about vegetables!
Vegetable Week 2021 will run from Monday 15 March to Friday 19 March, with The Big Vegie Crunch held at 10am on Thursday 18 March. Watch 'Pete's Eats' over the coming weeks for more info!!
Geoff Leary Principal |
Karen Robson Assistant Principal Learning |
Rebecca Cameron Assistant Principal Mission |
Positive Behaviour Support - PBS
PBS Fortnightly Focus: Zones Of Regulation and Student Toolboxes
Zones of Regulation is an approach used to support the development of self-regulation in children. All the different ways children feel and the states of alertness they experience are categorised into four coloured zones. Children who are well regulated are able to be in the appropriate zone at the appropriate time.
This fortnight we are consolidating our understanding of the 4 Zones and we are also examining different ‘tools’ that students could have in their ‘Zones Toolbox’, which students can implement when they need to. Students are learning to appreciate and understand that each of us will have different tools in our toolboxes.
In our Health lessons across the school this week, students are beginning to create their own, individualised toolboxes. Some examples of the tools are:
We are all very different and what works for one person will be different from what works for another. Maybe you find exercising or moving your body makes you feel better. Listening to music or getting a big drink of water might help. Sometimes people find holding a stress ball, creating things with their hands or colouring in to be very calming. A quiet space with a book or some time alone might do the trick!
We encourage you to have a discussion about what is in your child’s toolbox and to also share with them what self-regulation strategies work for you. Were they different or similar?
PBS Co-ordinators
Briody Tarbox and Kyrah Dal Santo
Monday 22nd February |
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Tuesday 23rd February |
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Wednesday 24th February |
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Thursday 25th February |
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Friday 26th February |
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Tuesday 2nd March |
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Wednesday 3rd March |
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Thursday 4th March |
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Friday 5th March |
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Monday 8th March |
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Tuesday 9th March |
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Wednesday 10th March |
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Thursday 11th March |
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Friday 12th March |
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Monday 15th March |
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Wednesday 17th March |
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23rd, 24th, 25th, OR 31st MARCH |
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Friday 26th February |
Staff Development Day - Writing Childminding will be available on this day. Please register on the link below by Tuesday 23rd February: |
Thursday 1st April | Staff Spirituality Day |
Monday 19th April | Staff Development Day - First Aid |
Wednesday 5th May | Proclaim Lismore |
Monday 12th July | Staff Devlopment Day - TBC |
Tuesday 5th October | Staff Devlopment Day - TBC |
2021 Student Residential Address and Other information Collection
The Australian Government Department of Education, Skills and Employment will be undertaking a residential address collection in 2021. As part of this project, we have to provide parental address information as well as student residential address information.
Please see the following 2021 Student Residential Address and Other Information Collection Notice for further information.
Kinder Parent / Teacher Meeting
Kinder teachers welcome the opportunity to meet with parents regarding their child's transition to school. This is an optional interview and parents wishing to make a booking can do so via the following link Parent/Teacher Interview booking using the code rbqeg. Bookings will close 9 am Monday 8th March.
For more information please see the folloing letter which has been sent home to kinder families - 2021 Kinder Parent / Teacher Letter
1st Big Carnival of the Year
Our swimmers hit the water early in the week at the Hastings Zone Swimming Carnival. Congratulations to our 32 students who gave their all and were very brave in a highly competitive carnival.
A very special well done to Tilly Sinclair who won the 11 Yrs Girl Runner up.
On an individual note, the following received ribbons:
Parsha Looby | 2nd Freestyle |
Cooper Dawson | 3rd Freestyle, Butterfly |
Jack Lacey | 3rd Breastroke |
Oliver Laundry | 2nd Butterfly |
Josie Campey | 1st Freestyle |
Will Coombes | 3rd Backstroke, 100M, Freestyle |
Noah Pociask | 2nd Breastroke |
Peter Duffy | 2nd Backstroke, Butterfly, 3rd 100M Freestyle, Freestyle, IM |
Tasman Lorger | 1st Freestyle |
Rocky Mann | 2nd Freestyle |
Judd Charet | 2nd Breastroke |
Tilly Sinclair | 1st Backstroke, Butterfly, 2nd Breastroke |
Junior Girls Relay | 3rd- Indi Easton, Amaya Davis, Parsha Looby, Mckenzie Trimmer |
Junior Boys Relay | 3rd- Cooper Dawson, Jack Foye, Felix Plowright, Will Coombes |
Senior Girls Relay | 2nd- Ella Oliver, Tilly Sinclair, Josie Campey, Lily Moseley |
Senior Boys Relay | 2nd- Stirling Wickham, Noah Pociask, Riley Garel, Peter Duffy |
These students, except the Junior Boys and Junior Girls Relay Team, will now compete at the Lismore Diocese Swimming Trials.
Thank you to our wonderful families who assisted at the carnival: Mrs Charet, Mr Garel, Mrs Pociask, Mrs Plowright, Mrs Davis, Mrs Dawson, Mr Foye and Mrs Easton. I had also families on the bench prepared to assist on the day and again I thank Mrs Sinclair, Mr Cowan and Mrs Ayres. We are very blessed to have you at St Peter’s and we couldn’t do this without you.
Winter Sports
We have 64 Year 5 and 6 students competing at the Hastings Zone Winter Trials this Monday February 22, 2021. As the weather has been wet this week, please keep an eye on the St Peter’s Sports Facebook page if the day is postponed due to wet weather. Information will be posted if the event is postponed by 6:45am.
An Australian Rep touches base at St Peter’s
This week our Year 1 and Year 6 students will be coached in Touch Football by an Australian representative, Tahney Luck. We have been very fortunate over the past year to have Tahney come to St Peter’s and teach Touch Football to our kids. Tahney will be at the school for the next four weeks as part of our Sporting Schools Grants.
Diocesan AFL Trials |
Friday 19th February B/U Date 23rd February |
Grafton |
Zone Winter Trials Netball, Soccer (Boys & Girls), Union, League (Open & 11's), Hockey |
Monday 22nd February |
Port Macquarie |
Diocesan Swimming |
Friday 26th February B/U Date 2nd March |
Murwillumbah |
School Cross Country |
Wednesday 10th March |
St Peter's |
Diocesan Winter Trials |
Friday 12th March 1st B/U Date 19th March 2nd B/U Date 26th March |
Grafton |
Jeff Arkinstall - Leader of Sport
Canteen RosterThere is a limited number of vacancies on the 2021 Roster. Please contact the office or Mrs Robins if you are interested !! The Roster will be sent out to families once it is finalised. With some COVID-19 restrictions in place volunteers in the canteen will be limited to Thursdays and Fridays ONLY at this stage. As the Term progresses Monday, Tuesdays and Wednesdays will be included. Please see the Roster below - Week 4
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Pete's Eats Open for Lunch 1 and Lunch 2
MILKSHAKES !!!
Strawberry, Vanilla, Chocolate
50 cents
LUNCH 1 ONLY
or place your order as normal on a lunch bag!
Debbie Robins - Canteen Manager
Library Timetable - Term 1
Please note a change on borrowing time and day for students in 6 Red.
Children are welcome to do a “catch-up” borrow if they have missed out on their class’s allocated time and day. However, if that day is a Thursday, they will need to wait until the next week as there are no staff members in the Library on Friday.
Just a reminder that we require children to bring a Library bag
to keep their books organised and safe.
Fran Cullen - Librarian
Kinder Red | Kinder Blue | Kinder Green |
Jett Fuller Qwade Kerr Charlee Ramsey |
Amelia Barber Braxton Dolsen Oliver Cowan |
Finn Scaysbrook Daisy Dwyer Edison Martin |
Year 1 Blue | Year 1 Green | |
Finn Cowan Isaac Thompson Eleanor Campbell |
Ashantae Ram Noah Walters Coraline Martin |
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Year 2 Red | Year 2 Green | |
Chloe Trimmer Albi Winters Genevieve Ford |
Nixon Smith Paolo O'Brien Tia Saad |
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Year 3 Red | Year 3 Blue | Year 3 Green |
Jonah Files Jessie Winter Lilly Goulding |
Madeline Goldie Noah Bates Harrison Blake |
Amaya Davis Max Humphries, Ayla Vonbun |
Year 4 Red | Year 4 Blue | Year 4 Green |
Jacob Lane- Rowsthorne Indi Easton Geordie Baird |
Trinity McIlroy Mikaela Moffatt Lincoln Wells |
Riley Martino Cody Winter Charlotte McQuade |
Year 5 Red | Year 5 Blue | Year 5 Green |
Grace Collins Callum Clancy Cody Williams |
Indy Lorger Spencer Stewart Bethany Folks William Coombes |
Milla Kelly Ruby Winters Madison Sivell |
Year 6 Red | Year 6 Blue | Year 6 Green |
Riley Nevins Blaze Colthorpe James Bugler |
Claire Morris Soairse Crinion Jesse Taylor |
Gracie Huxley Charlie Cameron Georgia Dunn |
St Peter's School Account 2021
2021 St Peter's School Account invoices have been sent home!
Thank you to families who have already commenced repayments!
Parents are encouraged to make regular payments via BPay, EFTPOS, Direct deposit, cash or cheque. The account is due to be finalised by the end of Term 1.
Regular payments will ensure the account is paid by the due date. Many families have set up their regular payments and have started the year in credit.
The St Peter's School Account 2021 is separate to the St Agnes' Parish Fees Account.
For any families facing financial hardship, fee assistance is available through
St Agnes' Parish - St Agnes' Parish Link or contact the school office.
Leukaemia Foundation World’s Greatest Shave
Please support St Peter's parent, Toni Menjivar!
I'm on a mission to shave the world from blood cancer, and I need YOUR HELP!
On Saturday 13th of March I'm sacrificing my locks to help Aussie families facing blood cancer.
Will you step up and sponsor me as I take on the World's Greatest Shave?
Your donation will provide families facing blood cancer with the special care they need to make it through every scary, uncertain moment that follows a diagnosis.
It will also help brilliant research scientists continue their search for better ways to diagnose and treat blood cancer more effectively.
Every day another 47 Australians are diagnosed with a blood cancer.
I'm on a mission to change that.
Will you help by sponsoring me?
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