From the Principal Term 3 Issue 2

Newsletter

St Peters Lutheran School Blackwood

Principal: Mr Mark Rathjen

God in all things

Speak kindly

The tongue can be a dangerous instrument. Among the more nasty things a

tongue can be told to do is gossip. Gossip is especially nasty because you can

never completely repair the damage it does.

The other day I heard this story:

There was once a man who repeated a bit of "untruth" about his work mate.

Within a few days, the whole workplace knew the story. The person it

concerned was deeply hurt and offended. Later, the man responsible for

spreading the rumour learned his information was completely untrue. He was

very sorry and went to an old friend to find out what he could do to repair the

damage. "Go to the shops," he said, "and purchase a feather pillow. On your

way home, open the pillow and drop its feathers, one by one along the road."

Although surprised by this advice, the man did what he was told. The next day

the wise man said, "Now, go and collect all those feathers you dropped

yesterday and bring them back to me." The man followed the same road, but to

his dismay the wind had blown all the feathers away. After searching for some

time he returned with only three feathers in his hand. "You see," said his friend,

"It's easy to drop them, but it is impossible to get them back."

So it is with gossip. It doesn't take much to spread a rumour, but once you do

you can never completely undo the wrong. After three years of researching

gossip, Indiana University sociologist Donna Eder identified an important

dynamic involved in gossip. She discovered that the initial negative statement

was never the starting point for gossip. The negative statement lives or dies on

what happens next.

1. If one person, or a number of people, agree with the gossip that has been

thrown out on the table, that bit of gossip is pretty much free to go anywhere

it wants.

2. On the other hand, if the gossip was challenged by someone, it would die, or

get demoted, or, all in all, become nothing.

In short, gossip, at least initially, isn't as strong a force as we often thing it to

be. This is why an individual can often stop gossip dead in its tracks by speaking

up for the person who is being maligned. This is true in the school yard, the

staffroom, the car park or any place really.

Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for

building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear.... Let

all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamour and slander be put away from

you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tender hearted, forgiving one

another, as God in Christ forgave you. —Ephesians 4:29-32

Mark Rathjen, Principal

Inside this issue... Page From the Principal .......... 2 The Future of Year 7 ... 2

Crows and Lunchboxes2 Inside Story ................... 2 Data Collection

Reminder ................... 2 Musical .............................. 2 Hats at School ................. 2

Music is Fun Band ........... 2 PYP .................................... 3 Parents and Friends ........ 4 Quiz Night ..................... 4

Free—Give Away ........... 4 Library News ................... 5 Cake Stall ......................... 5

OSH Sport News ........... 5 Diary Dates ...................... 6 Entertainment Books ..... 6

Blackwood Community Hub ........... 7

Special points of

interest: Thursday 16/8

Cake Stall (Room 6)

Friday 17/8

Book Week

“Dress Up Day”

Tuesday 21/8

Musical Matinee and

Evening Performance

Wednesday 22/8

SAPSASA Athletics

From the Principal

The Future of Year 7

at St Peters

Today a letter was emailed to all parents from

the Principal and Council Chair regarding the

future of Year 7s at SPLS.

Given the changes that are afoot in SA over the

next few years regarding the Year 7 shift to

Secondary Schooling, it important that our

school community are clear on our plans.

In short we plan to retain our Year 7

programme including 2020 with a review next

year as to a decision for 2021. Please read the

letter for more detail.

There are still a handful of families who are yet

to return the Data Collection forms that were

sent home in Term 2 and again last week.

Please complete and return these forms

promptly. Should you need a new form or want

to discuss anything included in the form, please

contact the front office.

Data Collection

Reminder

After a period of hiatus, the Inside Story’ has

returned! Each week we aim to post a story of

interest regarding our learning programme here

at SPLS. We post it on our Website and the

School Facebook page and the link is also

emailed to everyone who requests this. We

also post on the school Twitter feed

(@StPBlackwood). This is a handy promotional

tool as well as information to our

families. Could we ask that you ‘share', ‘like'

and pass on the Inside Story each week so that

many more people can hear about the fabulous

learning opportunities at our school.

Inside Story Music is Fun Band

Last Wednesday we were treated to a

wonderful morning of fun and music from The

Music is Fun Band. What a great way to enthuse

and encourage students to take an interest in

Music.

Thanks Miss Wilson and Mr Pearson for

organising this event. See the latest 'Inside Story’

for more detail.

We are having a few issues with hungry and

thieving crows around the school. This is

particularly relevant to Year 3-7 students.

Please remind them of the importance of closing

lunch boxes properly and zipping up school

bags. We speak often to our students about

this and ask that you do the same.

Our crows are very adept at removing things

from bags to get at the morsels that they think

are for them.

Crows and Lunchboxes As Winter moves toward Spring, the days are

coming when we will again need hats for outside

play and learning. Please ensure that hats are

left at school so that if we have days where the

UV levels are higher, hats can be worn.

We would anticipate that hats are likely to be

needed as we get closer to second half of

August. The school’s policy is that hats should

be worn when the UV level is 3 or above during

times when students are likely to be outside (ie

Recess, Lunch and PE lessons).

Hats at School

The school musical is fast approaching and we

are getting excited about sharing Polly Parrot

and the Pirates with you all.

Information regarding costuming and ticketing

etc has been sent home via Skoolbag. Wider

family and friends are of course very welcome to

attend - it would be great to fill the church and

hall on all three occasions.

We look forward to enjoying this event and

celebrating it with our students.

The Musical

is nearly here

Page 3

IB Learners strive to be Inquirers Knowledgeable Thinkers Communicators Principled Open-minded Caring Risk-takers Balanced Reflective IB Learner Profile

The Enhanced Primary Years Programme

Learner Agency

A word you may have heard lately in Education is agency.

So, what exactly is agency?

Learner agency refers to the level of control, autonomy, and power that a learner

experiences in an educational situation. Learner agency can be manifested in the choice

of learning environment, subject

matter, approach, and/or pace.

The notion of Learner Agency in the

PYP seeks to give students more

ownership over leadership, daily

schedules/timetables, the creation of

the learning environment and being

involved with unit planning and choice

of assessment strategies.

We all have AGENCY, which is the

capacity to act intentional ly.

Recognising and supporting agency in

the enhanced PYP will create a

cu l t u re o f mutua l r e spec t ,

acknowledging the rights and

responsibilities of students, schools

and the wider learning community,

enabling students to take ownership

of their learning and teachers of their teaching.

The overarching questions we will be asking whilst addressing the enhancements of the PYP

at St Peters are -

1. How are learners at St Peters actively responsible for their own learning?

2. Where are students exercising their agency?

In reviewing ‘Learner Agency’ in the school we are able to celebrate what is already

happening and build upon the structures that are present.

Our weekly Class and Whole School Meeting, run by the Year 7 leaders, are excellent

examples of learner agency where students have a say in the way the school functions and

the decisions that are made.

If you would like to read more about Learner Agency, click on the link below.

https://barbarabray.net/2017/11/08/defining-learner-agency/

Bronwyn Wilson

PYP Coordinator

Parents and Friends

The countdown is on until the Quiz Night, to be held on Saturday 15th September - only 5 weeks to go!

This year we are having an 80s theme - that wonderful era of big hair, shoulder pads and neon clothes! We

are making this a family friendly event, with board games available for kids from year 5 upwards. There will be

a "Guess the staff member" competition in the lead up, with photos of staff from the 80s, which will be open

to both parents/caregivers and students, as well as more fun games on the night.

If anyone has any 80s memorabilia, like posters, walkmans, cameras, phones, cassette tapes, video tapes, board

games, toys, books, etc that we could use for a display, please let us know

at stpeterslutheranpandf@gmail.com or speak to

Heather Stevens, Narelle Adams, Nathan Smith or Alex Speed.

We are asking each class to donate small items to be used as prizes on the night:

ELC—toys, games & stationery (eg lego, hot wheels cars, figurines, travel games, scented erasers/stickers)

Room 9—lollies (eg retro party mix, redskins, milkos, choo choo bars, white knights, wizz fizz, minties, fan-

tales, jaffas, life savers)

Room 10—chocolate (eg box chocolates, fun size chocolate bars, freddo frogs/caramello koalas, chocolate

biscuits)

Room 5—gourmet food (eg jams, chutneys, sauces)

Room 6—baked goods (eg cakes, biscuits, slices)

Room 1—something for Mum (eg cosmetics/toiletries, jewellery, homewares)

Room 2—something for Dad (eg toiletries, gadgets, leisure items)

You can place donations in the labelled tubs in your classrooms. We are also still looking for larger donations

from local businesses.

Families from Room 2 are being asked to volunteer to help on the night. A roster will be available in your

classroom. Thank you for your support - we cannot do it without you!

So start inviting your friends and organise a table for what is bound to be a fun night. Tickets are $20pp

(tables of 8) and will be available in the next week or so, so watch this space!

Fun 80s fact: The first music video ever shown on MTV was Video killed the radio star by The Buggles

https://www.facebook.com/events/187652971897298/

FREE ~ GIVE AWAY

Church Women’s Fellowship is changing the end Meeting Room. There

is a 2 drawer metal filing cabinet to give away. If anyone would like it,

either see Sam or Deb at Reception or come and see me, Monika, after

service, call me on 8276 9356, or contact me per email at

bill2011@bigpond.com asap

There are also books and a few other bits and pieces that are displayed

in the hall. If you are interested, please help yourself.

Thanks, Monika

Page 5

Library News

Overdue Notices

Overdue notices went home Wednesday.

If your child is unable to locate a missing item

please speak to their class teacher first as the

missing item could be a classroom reader. If it

is a library book they will redirect you to Mrs

Smith in the library.

Thank you for helping us all with this task.

Issue 5 Book Club

Orders have now been submitted.

Delivery is expected by the end of week 4.

The Premier’s

Reading Challenge is coming to a close for 2018.

R-2 students have completed the

challenge with their teachers.

All other students who have completed

THE CHALLENGE must have their forms in to

Mrs Library Smith on/or before

Friday September 7th 2018.

Please use the RED box located on the

circulation desk.

If students are not sure what books they have

read or if they have read enough for 2018

(12 books since Term 1), please come in to the

library and Mrs Smith can help you find out.

And a note from the Premier’s Challenges

Admin Team:

Voting for the 2019 posters for both the

Premier's Reading Challenge and

Premier's be active Challenge is open now, and

closes on Friday 31st August!

Voting will be via the PRC website, as in

previous years, and accessible via Kidspace and

Teenspace, as well as from the News Flash

section on the home page.

So spread the word and make sure you vote

to determine the 2019 Challenges posters!

Go to the Premier’s Reading Challenge

website to submit your votes.

There are links under News Flash.

Out of School Hours

Sport News

Term 4 2018 OSH Sport Nominations

Nominations for Term 4 Out of School Hours

Sport will be opening at early Week 6.

Families will be notified via Skoolbag when the

on-line nomination form is open.

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

(for your calendar!)

71 Cumming Street

BLACKWOOD SA 5051

St Peters Lutheran School Blackwood

Week 4 (Monday 13/8)

Thu 16/8 Cake Stall

Fri 17/8 Book Week “Dress Up Day”

Week 5 (Monday 20/8)

Mon 20/8— Book Week

Fri 24/8

Tue 21/8 Musical Matinee and

Evening Performance

Wed 22/8 SAPSASA Athletics

Thu 23/8 Musical Evening Performance

Week 6 (Monday 27/8)

Thu 30/8 Principal’s Tour

Fri 31/8 Father’s Day Breakfast

Second Hand Uniform Shop Open—

after Chapel

Sun 2/9 Father’s Day

Week 7 (Monday 3/9)

Tue 4/9 School Council Meeting—7pm

Sun 9/9 Community Worship (R-2)

Phone: 8278 0800

Fax: 8370 0414

Email:

admin@stpeterslutheran.sa.edu.au

We’re on the web… www.stpeterslutheran.sa.edu.au

These dates are subject to change so please make sure you check them regularly in newsletters and via the Skoolbag app.

St Peters Lutheran Church

Services each Sunday at 10.00am

ALL WELCOME

Entertainment Book

2018-2019 Your 2017 | 2018 Entertainment Membership

has now expired.

If you haven’t already, please continue

supporting St Peters Lutheran Church’s

fundraising by purchasing the NEW 2018 | 2019

Entertainment Membership or if you want to try

a membership for the first time you can order a

book or digital membership online visit http://

www.entbook.com.au/161p031

Alternatively complete an order form at the

school’s front reception.

Any questions contact Alexandra Lauterbach

ajlauterbach@icloud.com or 0408848933

St Peters Lutheran Church

Services each Sunday at 10.00am

ALL WELCOME