Filter Content
I hope all St Peter’s mums were spoiled yesterday and acknowledged for all that they do for their children and their families. I also hope that for those whose mums are no longer with us they were able to reflect on how significant they were in our lives.
MOTHER'S DAY BREAKFAST
Thank you to everyone who worked so hard to ensure that our students were able to share a breakfast with their mums last Wednesday. Nearly 700 people attended and were able to share in a breakfast that included yummy pancakes. A great team effort.
MOTHER’S DAY STALL
Another thank you to the team who organised a very successful Mother’s Day Stall last Friday. There is a lot of work in the organisation beforehand and in the running of the stall on the day. Our students were very excited to be able to buy something special for their mums. I did note that the queue for the canteen at recess and lunchtime was double its normal length so I hope any money left after purchases did get into the right hands.
FLORENCE STREET ACCIDENT
Not yet, but it isn’t far away and I pray to God it does not involve a student from St Peter’s being injured. The speed limit on Florence Street is 40km h and U turns are illegal. I know this because there are signs up. The parking zone is a 2 minute zone for drop off and pick up and parking or stopping for drop off close to the crossing is illegal. I can do nothing to enforce any of these laws and bylaws but I have contacted Glen Eira Council and Caulfield Police to ask them to patrol Florence Street between 8:30am and 9:15am in the morning and between 3:00pm and 3:45pm in the afternoon whenever they can.
STUDENT HEALTH
While the number of COVID cases is decreasing other illnesses are still prevalent in society and at St Peter’s. These include colds, flu and recently Gastroenteritis. If your child is feeling unwell you have a responsibility to keep them at home for their health and wellbeing and for the health and wellbeing of all students and staff. Students at school are being reminded to wash their hands before eating and to use hand sanitiser when returning from the bathroom.
SCHOOL FEES
A reminder that updated School Fee accounts have been sent out last week. If any family has any challenges in paying their fees please do not hesitate to contact Loretta Ballas, our finance officer, lballas@spbentleigheast.catholic.edu.au or me, principal@spbentleigheast.catholic.edu.au
AUSTRALIA’S BEST TEACHERS - IMOGEN McKILLOP
News Limited papers across Australia have been conducting a campaign to identify some of Australia’s best teachers. Our own Imogen McKillop was nominated by one of our parents whose child was in her class last year. It is wonderful to be nominated and then to be shortlisted as one of Australia’s Best Teachers is a very humbling experience. Imogen was featured as part of the media celebration with photos in the Herald Sun and the Herald Sun magazine on the 6th of May. There was also an interview from the Saturday morning Channel Seven Sunrise Breakfast show. I thank the families who, on short notice, were able to be present for the Sunrise television show cross on Saturday morning.
Being in the spotlight is not Imogen’s preferred place and I am grateful to her for accepting this opportunity and all it involved. I am grateful to the parent who took the time to complete a nomination and I am grateful to the News Limited organisation for co-ordinating a campaign that recognised teachers and all that they do.
Enrolments for Foundation (Prep) in 2024 have opened. If you know of neighbours or friends who have a child starting school in 2024 please ask them to call the School to book in for any of the School Tour dates listed below.
Wednesday, 17th May - 2.30pm
Saturday, 20th May - 9.00am
Monday, 22nd May - 5.30pm
Wednesday, 24th May - 9.00am
Current families with children already at St Peter’s that have a child starting Foundation in 2024 can access an Enrolment Information Pack from the School Office.
DIGITAL AMBITION
Melbourne Archdiocese Catholic Schools (MACS) is developing a Digital Ambition and is seeking input into the ambition from school communities across the Archdiocese of Melbourne.
The MACS Digital Ambition is a statement of how we will enable our MACS 2030 Strategy through a contemporary technology experience for all. Importantly, it will set out how we will provide students, staff, and whole school communities with safe, simple, intuitive, and innovative digital experiences.
To ensure our Digital Ambition is aligned with the needs of our school communities, MACS is inviting and encouraging you to participate in this consultation process by:
- Reviewing the Digital Ambition Draft for Consultation.
- Providing feedback to the targeted questions via a quick online survey. This link will remain open until Friday 26 May. Survey Link
- Attend online ‘drop-in’ sessions where the MACS team will be happy to answer any questions directly. There is a dedicated session for parents and families on Monday 22 May 2023 - 7:00 – 8:00pm. Click here to join the meeting
WEEK 4
Tuesday, 16th May - BENTLEIGH DISTRICT CROSS COUNTRY- Selected Students
Wednesday, 17th May - Year 1 Wildlife Exposure In School Activity
Thursday, 18th May - YEAR 5 & 6 Interschool Sports - ST. PETER'S V COATESVILLE / FEDPAS - 4.00pm - 6.00pm
Friday, 19th May - National Walk Safely to School Day
WEEK 5
Monday, 22nd May - Year 6 Confirmation Reflection Day / School Advisory Council- 7.00pm - 8.30pm
Wednesday, 24th May - National Simultaneous Storytime - 11.00am
Thursday, 25th May - YEAR 5 & 6 Interschool Sports - ST. PETER'S V OAKLEIGH SOUTH / FEDPAS - 4.00pm - 6.00pm
Friday, 26th May - Bishop Tony Ireland visiting Year 6 students - 10.00am
Sunday, 28th May - PENTECOST SUNDAY / CONFIRMATION MASSES - 1.00pm & 3.00pm
WEEK 6
Monday, 29th May - NEWSLETTER
PLEASE NOTE: Change of Date for the Term 2 P & F Sausage Sizzle & Casual Day - This will now be on Tuesday, 20th June.
On Thursday 4th of May some Year 5 and 6 students went to the Melbourne Writers Festival. We have done this every year and always have a blast. When we arrived in the city we sat down and waited for the first writer.
Brenton McKenna is an Aboriginal comic artist and writer and has written numerous books like his best sellers, Ubbys Underdogs and Hairy Holes. His books are based a lot around monsters, which brings us to our next writer.
Zana Fraillon is a bestselling author who co-wrote the Raven song. She loves all types of creepy things, in one of her books she sacrificed children! She uses lots of things to inspire her including a magic eightball, miniature skulls and much more. Her books have been recognized so much they are in development for on the stage and the screen.
The third writer of the day was Lev Grossman. He talked about how he wrote one of his best selling books The Silver Arrow. Lev loves animals and his favourite are whales. He got his inspiration from extinct animals and the environment. He even wrote a sequel called The Golden Swift.
The last writers were married and wrote a best selling book called The Glow. Sofie wrote a lot of adult books. The Glow was her first children's book she had written. Marc prefers to draw while Sofie writes and together they have created multiple books.
Overall it was a very fun and exciting day and we loved listening to the authors explain their writing processes.
By Allegra and Miles 6LM
Rrrm Rmm! The bus stopped. When I entered the zoo I thought that it was a dream! But it wasn’t. I had my fruit and it was time for the Australian trail. I saw the wallabies, they were so adorable. They ate carrots and the weirdest mushrooms - eww! Next up we had snack and we saw meerkats. They were so energetic, like they’d had Coca Cola. It was awesome!
My favourite part was the Safari bus. Rumble Rumble as we took off! The first thing was the camels - they had a big hump, they were massive. Next were the antelopes, their horns were as big as a sword. They were 10-15 years old. They were amazing! After that, we saw the ostriches who had laid massive eggs. Then we saw the rhinos, they were big like boulders. Following that, we saw the giraffes. Their necks were so long! Wow! So cool! I couldn’t believe my eyes! Next were the zebras. Wow - their stripes were really hypnotising!
It was so interesting - I was sad to have to go but we should not be sad, we still had a good trip!
Axel 2OP
On Friday we went to the Werribee Zoo. We got there by bus. When we got there we went into the Wallaby Enclosure and became Habitat Heroes!.
After that we went on the Australian trail. We saw lots of emus, koalas and kangaroos. Then we went on the Safari and we saw rhinos, ostridges, hippos, giraffes and zebras. Then we went on a path to see the lions and meerkats and then headed home.
We had a great day!!.
Charli, Bordeaux & Hanna 2MK
On Tuesday the 9th of May the Year 4s went to Polly Woodside. There were two groups, 4GS and 4MH and then there was my class 4KG and the last class 4MM. All the classes left at 9:00am and 4GS and 4MH got dropped off at Polly Woodside and the other classes got dropped off at ACMI to walk all the way to Polly Woodside.
During the walk the classes walked across the Sandridge Bridge and we took loads of pictures of where our ancestors came from. My own was in fact Germany, Malta and Italy.
When we got to Polly Woodside it started to rain so we had to go inside a conference centre. After the rain passed we got to go on the ship but before we got to go on the ship we had to pass a couple of tests. First one, balance; second one, navigation; last one, speak sailor.
When we got to the ship Audrey (tour guide) said it was bad luck if you don’t step on with your right foot. On the ship we did lots of cool activities like scrubbing the deck, ringing the bell, steering the steering wheel, exploring the captain's quarters, pretending to bring up the sails and last of all flag code cracking.
After we finished we got the bus back to school and arrived right on the bell.
By Noah (4KG)
On the 9th of May the Year 4s and I went on an excursion to Polly Woodside.
We rode a bus and got dropped off at Federation Square.
When we got dropped off, we walked to a park. We had our first break at the park. We ate our fruit and snack and we stayed there for 20 minutes. Some people went to the toilet.
After that, we started our adventure.
It started raining so the students quickly opened their bags to grab their raincoat. Then it stopped and we stopped at Sandridge Bridge to have a look at it. There were countries A-Z lined in alphabetical order. I saw my culture and I saw the symbol I studied with my partner.
When we finally arrived at Polly Woodside we had our lunch. At Polly Woodside I learnt that the ship was a cargo ship. On the ship we had a few tests. One: Steering the wheel. Two: Scrubbing the deck and more. It really is a good place.
Then we rode another bus back to school.
Overall it was the best excursion EVER!!! I suggest everybody should visit the Polly Woodside.
Leah (4KG)
BUCKET FILLER - TERM 2 WEEK 2
STAR AWARDS - TERM 2 WEEK 2 - FRIENDSHIP!!
JUNIOR SCHOOL - For Amazing FRIENDSHIP skills by demonstrating that a friend knows how to help, share and cooperate with others!!
Oscar Senecal, Martina Lo Schiavo - FHK / Ava Haddad, Anderson Cooper - FMR / Emily Griffin - FSS / Samuel Eddy, Gianluca Simonetta - FMS
Aston Mai, Issy Hornum - 1BR / William Barry, Emily Kenny - 1SH / Olivia Spyrellis, Oliver Matthews - 1MH / Andre Enver, Zoe Georgiades, Max Thorpe - 1BE
Ayla Barazi, Ariana Catania - 2GP / Jack Beare, Elijah Lawson - 2OP / Hanna Swart, Harry Reaper - 2MK / Anthony Karras, Lilah Suttie - 2RN
MIDDLE SCHOOL - Fo demonstrating positive FRIENDSHIPS by being kind to others and acceting that everyone is different and that's okay!!
Monty Winterton, William Jaber - 3EM / Olivia Trojak Nyamuka, Aemon Eddy - 3IK / Payton Jansz, Alexander England - 3AM / Archie Bateman, Tia Stipsianos - 3GG
Sophie Ferwerda, Harper Westlow - 4KG / Chloe Monoang, Henry Oates - 4MM / Billy Quinnell, Sophia Natera - 4GS / Ashton Janssens, Victoria Quiroz Medina - 4MH
SENIOR SCHOOL - For demonstrating positive FRIENDSHIPS by being kind to others and accepting that everyone is different and that's okay!!
Charlie Caminiti, Katelynn Chung Yan Kow - 5HU / Tom Kearney, Chloe McDowall - 5HG / James Zadro, Zoe Neeson - 5AC / Kaitlyn Nguyen, Scarlett Bloomfield, Nicholas Haritonas - 5PC
Jake Evans, Madeline McDowall - 6SH / Tia Karras, Ashlyn Burke - 6KM / Allegra Aherne-McInteer, Costa Xenos - 6LM
Our next Walk/Ride2School Day will be this Friday, 19th May which is also National Walk Safely to School day.
In the meantime keep Active by Walking, Riding or Scootering to school whenever you can!!
Don't forget to have your cards clipped whenever you walk, ride or scooter to school and return your completed cards to the office to receive a new one.
Next P&F Meeting: Tuesday, 13th June 7pm online
As the evenings are starting to get cold, wet and rainy, we have decided for the months of June and July to move to online meetings. This way we can still meet but from the comfort of our homes, with a warm drink and hopefully more of you can attend this way ! See you online 
Year Two Jump, Play & Disco - Friday, 5th May
What a fantastic night the Year Two children had JUMP-ing on Inflatables, PLAY-ing Sports and dancing at the DISCO 
!!! Over 135 people attended - 75 children + 60 parents. Thanks to our special guest for popping in !
Mother’s Day Breakfast - Wednesday,10th May
Thank you to all the Dads that treated our mums to a scrumptious breakfast last Wednesday. Around 300 mums and their children attended. It was a very busy morning and we were extremely lucky to have so many wonderful volunteers helping out to ensure the breakfast ran smoothly.
Special thanks go to Darren Eyckens for coordinating the cooking, Martha Pavlou for decorating the hall and a BIG thank you goes to Justin McCarthy for all his hard work behind the scenes in setting up on Tuesday night and packing up after the Breakfast.
Mother’s Day Stall - Friday, 12th May
Thank you to all the volunteers who helped out at the Mother's Day Stall. A huge thank you to Angie Leontaritis for organising and running such a special event for our students. Hope all our mums enjoy their surprises on Mother's Day !
