From the Principal
25 September 2014
Term 3 Issue 9 (Week 10)
Newsletter
St Peters Lutheran School Blackwood
Principal: Mr Mark Rathjen
God in all things
From Little Things, Big Things Grow
As you will remember, a few weeks back (about six actually), we planted our 175 LEA
Anniversary tree in the top north-westerly corner of the campus. When we planted
it, it was a spindly little stick of a thing. Barely looked like anything let alone the big
beautiful liquidambar tree the nurseryman promised us it would be.
I must confess I have looked at it quite a few times over the past month and started
to wonder if it is actually just dead and we might need to go back to the nursery to
buy another one.
Yesterday Mr Smith walks by my office and asked, "Hey Mark, have you seen the
tree?" "No, what tree?" I say, not connecting the dots. "The 175 tree, it's got some
leaves!" "Really?! Wow. This I gotta see!"
I bounded out to the car park and sure enough, the spindly little stick of a thing is
sprouting leaves all over! I took a few photos, stared at it for a bit, smiled and walked
back to my office feeling kinda good about that.
Tonight Andrea (aka Mrs Rathjen and Reception/Year One teacher) was talking to me
as she was marking student work. She was commenting happily on how nice it is
around this time of year as her little people start hitting their straps. She was
commenting on how amazing it is to reflect on the growth of each child over the past
three terms. The reluctant readers are reading, the struggling writers are writing, the
quiet ones are speaking up. They are sprouting and growing and coming to life in
ways that didn't seem as likely all those months before. A little like our spindly little
stick of a thing out the front.
The theme verse for The 175 Anniversary from Luke 13, is about the mustard seed.
A small seed which looks dead and lifeless and yet with water and nurture it sprouts
and grows and becomes all it is intended to be.
Then Jesus asked, “What is the kingdom of God like? What shall I compare it
to? It is like a mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his garden. It
grew and became a tree, and the birds perched in its branches.” (Luke 13:18-19
NIV)
We are indeed privileged as parents and educators to spend all this time with these
precious children. To every day watch and teach and nurture and tend each one. On
a daily basis it is not always obvious to see the points of growth and yet underneath
the surface things are happening and developing and then one day we go "Really?!
Wow". Look at what that spindly little stick of a thing is turning into. Something
beautiful, something of great worth coming into what it was created to be.
As we send home reports and students show some of their learning to you this week,
reflect and celebrate on how far they have come. Remember that even though all
their leaves may not be yet be showing, they will come in time and as God intends.
Bless your holidays and come back refreshed for the last lap of the year.
Mark Rathjen
Principal
Inside this issue... Page Uniform ............................ 2 School Photos ................. 2
School Fee Accounts ..... 2 Bring Your Own Device 2 School Fees 2015 .............. 2
Pedal Prix ......................... 2 Church Garage Sale ....... 2 PYP—Change .................. 3
Congratulations .............. 3
St Peters Sporting Super Stars .................... 4 ........................................... 5
Church News .................. 6 Playgroup .......................... 6 Diary Dates ...................... 6
Attachments…
School Fees 2015
SPLOSHC & ELC
Fees 2015
BYOD Letter from
Principal
Special points of
interest:
Today and
Tomorrow
Student Led
Conferences
Tuesday 14/10
Term 4 commences
for students
Page 2 Newsletter
Term 4 begins on Tuesday 14 October
with our Opening Chapel Service at
8.50am. Please stay for a chat and
cuppa in the hall afterwards.
Pedal Prix Blue Saints Murray Bridge Weekend
After arriving and setting up camp and pits on
Friday afternoon, most of the team got to ride a
couple of laps around the track to familiarise
themselves with the circuit. This training session
was timed to determine our grid position. On
his first lap, Tasman zoomed around the track in
4:21.6 (just 7 seconds longer than our best ever
effort) to put us 151st on the grid of 216 cars
(our best ever grid position).
We spent Friday night relaxing, playing board
games and chatting.
Saturday morning was spent with more relaxing
and getting ready for the race and at Midday we
were off and racing. The biggest problem for
every team was the 3-corner-jack thorns that
were all over the track. We had our fair share of
slow leaks, punctures and replacing tyres over
the 24 hours. But our team of Kyle, Lachie & Nik
(Red Rockets), Tas, Tilly & Sol (White Lightning),
and Laina, Maddie & Zoe (Blue Streak) powered
on throughout the event to finish 171st overall
(with 243 laps / 522.45km) and 32nd of 67 cars in
our Category.
Again, this was the best results that we have had
in the history of Pedal Prix.
Well done each and every one of you.
Thanks Mr Rathjen for coming out to Murray
Bridge to see us on our way and encourage us
through Saturday afternoon. It was also a great
surprise to have the Whitcombes pop in for a
visit and a cheer.
And a big thank you to the parents and families
of the team who came along, helped out and
supported and put in just as much effort as the
riders to make the weekend a success.
Glenn Dixon
Team Manager
To see photos from the day – visit:
https://www.dropbox.com/sh/jzcpdwb6vpsn9fr/
AADhGY-gdMcsoP75vo50ETSxa?dl=0
(this link is also included in today’s covering email)
School Fees 2015 Attached to this newsletter you will find the
School Fee Schedule for 2015, endorsed by the
members at a general meeting of the school held
on 21 September 2014.
Also attached is the 2015 Fee Schedule for
SPLOSHC and ELC.
Uniform Please remember that Day 1 of Term 4 is the
official changeover to the summer uniform.
School Photos School photo day is Monday 20 October
(Week 2 of Term 4). Every student has been
issued a photo order envelope. Every student’s
envelope will need to be returned to the school
office before photo day (even if you are not
ordering any photographs). Family photo order
envelopes are available from the school office. A
reminder that family photographs are for siblings
attending the school/ELC only. More
information about School Photo Day will be
provided at the beginning of next term.
School Fee Accounts
On Tuesday, every school family should have
received an emailed Term 4 School Fee Account.
If you have not received it, please contact the
school as soon as possible.
Thank you.
Bring Your Own Device
Attached to today’s newsletter is a letter from
the Principal regarding BYOD at St Peters.
St Peters Church Garage Sale Saturday 11 October
All are welcome to donate goods for sale at
St Peters Lutheran Church garage sale, and to
attend the sale, on Saturday 11 October.
Goods can be left at the church
from the previous Sunday.
Thank you
25 September 2014 Page 3
IB Learners
strive to be
Inquirers Knowledgeable Thinkers Communicators Principled Open-minded Caring Risk-takers Balanced Reflective
IB Learner Profile
Primary Years Programme (PYP)
Change
Change – How is it changing?
Change is a basic part of our reality. As humans our bodies are
in a constant state of change, our minds are always evolving,
and our attitudes towards life are changing every minute by
what we are experiencing from everything around us. The
world is changing. Knowledge is changing. Technology is
changing.
Our children are growing up in a world in which the pace of
change, both local and global, is accelerating. As educators and
parents therefore, it is our responsibility to help the children
learn about change. To understand that change is the process
of movement from one state; that it is universal and inevitable. Once the children
understand the concept of change, they are then not only able deal with change, but also
be agents of change for the betterment of our society.
It is through the questions we ask at the right time that children come to an
understanding of the world we live in. Likewise, through the use of good questions,
children will come to understand the concept of change.
The following questions may be helpful for you as parents when reinforcing the concept of
CHANGE at home.
How do we change as we get older?
Why do people’s names change when they get married (very applicable to the children in
Miss England’s class!)?
Why do clothes go in and out of fashion?
How has your knowledge about …changed because of this data?
How does a number change when you add one?
How is technology changing?
How are iPads changing the way we learn?
What changes have occurred?
Bronwyn Wilson
PYP Coordinator
Old scholar Sam Bird has received a gold award in the Australian Physics Olympiad and
is off to Australian national university in January for two weeks of training and the
selection process for Australian Olympiad team.
He has also been awarded a medal in the Australian Maths Competition which he will go
to Brisbane in November to receive. http://www.amt.edu.au/2014-australian-mathematics-
competition-medallists-announced/. Well done Sam!
Congratulations to Tasman Dixon who has been selected for the IGNITE program for
students with high intellectual potential at Glenunga International High School. This means
he will be undertaking Years 8, 9 and 10 over two years instead of three. Tasman ranked
9th in the state overall in testing for maths, literacy and abstract reasoning. This is an
outstanding achievement.
Congratulations
Page 4 Newsletter
What a big week in Sport at St Peters.
The last few days has seen many fine performances for teams and individuals.
1. Isaiah Caruso
Isaiah competed at Santos Stadium on Monday in SAPSASA AWD (Athletes with a
disability).
He smashed it, winning gold in the 100m sprint and discus and a silver in the shot put.
Congrats Isaiah.
2. SAPSASA State Day
Three of our Year 6 and 7 students were selected to compete at the State Athletics SAPSASA meet at
Santos Stadium yesterday. The three boys—Pax M, Luke L and Tyson C all achieved creditable 4th and 5th
places.
3. Lacrosse Grand finals
We had three of our students compete Lacrosse Grand Finals. Congrats to Jacob N who won his GF and
also to Tyson C and Cooper K who were runners up.
4. City to Bay Fun Run
Many of our students and parents joined in the City to Bay Fun Run last Sunday.
These are the ones I heard about: Jacob N, Eduard V, Sari E, Indi Z, Shaylee V, Annika V, Sarah W,
Emily H, Josh M, Mary F, Layla V, Argon P and Mrs Rathjen (apologies to any I missed).
Special mention to Jacob N who ran the 12k in 56mins and was the 4th fastest in his age group.
Outstanding! Even beat his dad, who had 'cramp' apparently. :)
5. Pedal Prix
Wonderful effort by all our Pedal Prix competitors who cycled around Murray Bridge on the weekend. See
report elsewhere in the newsletter and the link forwarded with today’s newsletter for photos!
St Peters Sporting Super Stars
Page 5 Newsletter
St Peters Sporting Super Stars
Active After School
Volleyball
We are offering Volleyball for Years 3-7 after
school in Term 4.
It is FREE
and fully supervised by the school.
We still have places to fill.
Term 4 C Grade
Cricket The C Grade cricket team for Term 4 will be
a combined team with Blackwood PS. One of
their parents has also kindly offered to coach.
All students who nominated for Senior
Kanga, C and/or B Grade, and have not let
us know they DO NOT want to play,
have been included in this team.
Term 2/3 Sport
Uniforms must be
returned by the end of
term If your child is continuing to play their sport
of choice in Term 4, please keep the sports
top allocated. If not, please make sure tops
are returned, clean, by the end of term.
If not returned, a $45 fee will apply.
Overdue Sport Fees
A BIG THANK YOU to everyone who
has paid their sport fees. However, there
are still some fees outstanding. If your child
is playing/has played any sport for St Peters
this year, please pay via the front office,
ensuring staff know your child’s name and
sport.
Invoices for non payment will be resent at
the beginning of Term 4 with the10% surcharge
added for all accounts not
paid by the end of Term 3.
Term 4 OSH Sport The following teams are going ahead next
term:
Junior Kanga and C Grade Cricket
Basketball - Years 3 - 6
Netball 8 and under to 13 and under
Year 4-7 Volleyball
This will mean a very busy term of sport for us
with Out of School Hours Sport teams and
two Active After School activities.
All letters re game times etc have been
sent home today. Please read carefully
as some competitions start in the
holidays.
Team Coordinators are
still needed for some
teams Please refer to your child’s OSH Sport letter
and let Sharon know if you can help—
If we do not have enough parent helpers, teams will be withdrawn in the first
week of Term 4.
St Peters Lutheran School,
where the message of Jesus Christ
is communicated and celebrated,
is a caring, supportive learning
community
that encourages global
consciousness, responsible action
and life-long learning.
Diary Dates Term 3 & 4
(for your calendar!)
71 Cumming Street
BLACKWOOD SA 5051
St Peters Lutheran School Blackwood
Week 10 (Monday 22/9)
Thu 25/9 Last Day of Term 3 (ELC—Year 7)
Student Led Conferences
Fri 26/9 Student Led Conferences
Staff PD
Term 4—Week 1 (Tuesday 14/10)
Mon 13/10 Staff PD
Tue 14/10 Term 4 commences for students
Opening Chapel—8.50am
Playgroup
Phone: 8278 0800
Fax: 8370 0414
Email:
We’re on the web…
www.stpeterslutheran.sa.edu.au
These dates are subject to change so please make sure you check them each week.
St Peters Lutheran Church
Services each Sunday at 10.00am
ALL WELCOME!
Coming up…
30/9 - 2/10 Pastors’ Conference in Port Lincoln
11/10 Garage Sale
12/10 Baptism of Jonte Stevens
13/10 –2/11 Pastor Ben on holidays
Any enquiries please contact Pastor Ben:
82782322 or [email protected]
Let each of you look not to your own interests,
but to the interests of others. Let the same mind be in
you that was in Christ Jesus (Phil 2:4-5)
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the latest on what’s happening around
St Peters Lutheran School Blackwood
St Peters Lutheran @StPBlackwood
School Blackwood