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—

sharon.smith@stpeterslutheran.sa.edu.au

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:

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 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 pfeiffer241@gmail.com

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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St Peters Lutheran School Blackwood

St Peters Lutheran @StPBlackwood

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