Last year marked the conclusion of our Strategic Intent Plus Ultra 2025, which established a clear direction and laid a firm foundation for our future. Over the past 12 months, the College has reviewed progress against the Intent to develop our next Strategic Intent, charting our course towards 2030 and beyond.

I’m delighted to share with you the outcome of this — our new Strategic Intent Plus Ultra Ever Higher 2030.

Plus Ultra Ever Higher 2030 takes the best of what has been achieved and builds on the momentum of the last five years. As we look to the future, Plus Ultra Ever Higher 2030 continues with the existing Strategic Pillars that either deliver or support the Mission of the College. Each Strategic Pillar consists of a small number of high-level Strategic Initiatives that lay out our priorities for the next five years and direct our focus, energy, and resources in a concerted and disciplined effort to realise our timeless Mission with purpose, intention, and meaning. In a world where the pace of change has never been so fast, yet will never be this slow again, Plus Ultra Ever Higher 2030 helps us to remain true to our Mission whilst providing clarity as we chart our path forward.

At the core of Plus Ultra Ever Higher 2030 are our students and their learning, care, formation, and growth. Our Strategic Intent provides direction and clarity in the vocation of the College to offer an education that develops the fine young St Peters person — young people of character who are kind, caring, grateful, and respectful. Young people who are problem-solvers and critical thinkers. Young people who are creative and innovative. Young people who are resilient and adaptable. Young people who are empathetic and live lives of integrity. Young people who are humble yet aspirational. Young people who have a servant heart and seek to use their learning to make a difference in the world. Young people who have a sense of purpose, of hope, and of agency, enabling them to live well in a world worth living in. This is both the 'gift and task' of a St Peters education as laid out in Plus Ultra Ever Higher 2030.

You can access a full copy of Plus Ultra Ever Higher 2030 below or by visiting the College’s website.

More will be shared about our new Strategic Intent in Cornerstone in the coming weeks.

Tim Kotzur
Head of College

Thursday 5 February 2026

• Founders' Day and Commencement Ceremony
• Primary Info Session | The HUB at 5:00pm

Friday 6 February

• Upper Primary Swimming Carnival
• Secondary Years House Meetings | House shirts for Secondary Years

Saturday 7 February 

• GBC Secondary Round 1 Away Games | Staines Memorial College

Monday 9 February

• Week A
• Years 3–6 Swimming 

Tuesday 10 February 

• Central District Swimming Event
• Secondary Assembly

Wednesday 11 February 

• P&F second-hand uniform shop | 7:30am–9:00am
• Resilience Day Workshop | Year 11 – Session 1
• Resilience Day Workshop | Year 12 – Session 2
• Junior High Information Evening | 5:30pm–6:15pm
• Senior School Information Evening | 6:30pm–7:15pm 

Friday 13 February 2026

• Lower Primary Chapel | HUB 8:30am
• Upper Primary Chapel | HUB 9:15am

Saturday 14 February 2026

• GBC Primary Round 1 Away | Staines Memorial College
• GBC Secondary Round 2 Away | The Springfield Anglican College
• 2027 Year 7 and Year 10 Academic Scholarship Exam

Here we are at the start of a new school year, with the reality that beginnings are indeed very important.

Think of how important beginnings are for the start of a good story. A great story pulls you in from the very first word. It’s beginning has the power to draw you into the plot and bring the story's characters to life. So much so that once you start reading a story with a good beginning, you can become so engrossed that you must keep on reading till the very end. Think of these beginnings of classic stories:

• 'In the light of the moon, a little egg lay on a leaf.' – The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle
• 'In a hole in the ground there lived a hobbit. Not a nasty, dirty, wet hole, filled with ends of worms and an oozy smell, nor yet a dry, bare sandy hole with nothing in it to sit down on or to eat; it was a hobbit-hole, and that means comfort.' – The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien
• 'When I wake up, the other side of the bed is cold. My fingers stretch out, seeking Prim’s warmth but finding only the rough canvas cover of the mattress. She must have had bad dreams and climbed in with our mother. Of course she did. This is the day of the reaping.' – The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins.
• 'It is a truth universally acknowledged that a single man in possession of a good fortune must be in want of a wife.' – Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austin.
• 'In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was God.' – The Bible, John 1:1.

How’s the beginning of your 2026 school journey going? What story will the beginning of the school year tell for you? Have you started in a way that is drawing you in to what will follow? How is your character being developed?

Starting the year strong can set us up for success. Planning for the term and year ahead can give us confidence in the work we need to do. Warmly welcoming new staff, students, and families into our Indooroopilly and Springfield communities can help them feel a sense of belonging to who we are and our purpose as a College. Starting the new school year strongly is important for every member of our College communities. All of us can care for and help people in such a way that we set them up for success.

Yet during all these new beginnings, we need the gentle reminder that God is with us as our story unfolds. Whatever way the plot progresses this year and however our character develops, Jesus, who is described as 'the Word', accompanies us and gives us his grace to enable us to live life to the fullest.

May God bless your new school year, as you begin with God!

Tim Jarick
College Pastor

You are invited to join Arise as it celebrates nine years together as a worshipping community on Sunday 8 Feburary.

Worship is at 9:00am, including the consecration of our new Altar and Lectern. A birthday morning tea will follow.

If you are looking for a community to worship God and share life’s journey with, please come and share in the joy at Arise. Worship is in the Junior High Foyer every Sunday from 9:00am.

For more information, please contact Pastor Matt on 0447 656 793 or m.wilksch@stpeters.qld.edu.au.

Pastor Matt Wilksch
Springfield Chaplain

SCHOOL LOCKER OXLEY CLOSURE

We have recently been advised that the School Locker store located at Oxley is closing on Saturday 7 February as they prepare to relocate their store.

Parents wishing to purchase uniform items can do so at Shop 45 at St Peters Indooroopilly. During this transition period, Shop 45 will be open from Monday to Friday, starting from Monday 9 February. Please click here to view their opening hours.

Uniform items can also be purchased via the School Locker online store, and they are currently offering free shipping.

Our P&F Committee also runs a second-hand uniform shop at our Springfield Campus each Wednesday morning during the school term, from 7:30am to 9:00am. We accept all uniform donations at reception. Proceeds from the sales of the P&F second-hand uniform shop will be donated to a charity chosen by P&F.

Thank you for your understanding.

FORMAL HAT | COLOUR FADE ISSUE (selected batches only)

We would like to inform families of an issue affecting a small number of boys’ formal hats sold through The School Locker and the Indooroopilly Uniform Shop (Shop 45). A specific batch of hats was found to fade significantly over time, resulting in a pinkish or brownish discolouration.

Only hats from the following two purchase order batches may be affected: PO 271965 | PO 301062

If your son's formal hat matches one of these purchase order numbers (found on the inside tag), it may be eligible for a free replacement.

What families need to do next:

• Check the inside label of your son's formal hat for the purchase order (PO) number.
• If the number is PO 271965 or PO 301062, the hat may be replaced.
• Take the hat to Shop 45, St Peters Indooroopilly, or to St Peters Springfield Reception, where staff have been fully briefed on the recall and replacement process.
• If your child’s hat has a different PO number but is showing similar colour fading, you may still wish to contact Shop 45 on (07) 3377 6209 to discuss your options.

If you have any questions or require clarification, please contact Jade Cooper at j.cooper@stpeters.qld.edu.au

As we move further into the term, our Primary Years students are settling into the rhythms and routines of school life. This early part of the year is an important foundation time, where clear expectations, consistency, and strong relationships help children feel secure and ready to learn.

At St Peters, we believe students flourish when high care is matched with high expectations. Guided by our Lutheran values, every child is known, valued, and supported as a unique learner, created by God with purpose and potential. Teachers prioritise connection and wellbeing, ensuring students feel safe, confident, and ready to engage fully in their learning.

Alongside this care, we maintain clear and consistent expectations for learning, behaviour, and effort. As an International Baccalaureate (IB) World School offering the Primary Years Programme (PYP), we encourage students to take responsibility for their own learning, develop independence, and demonstrate the attributes of the IB Learner Profile. These expectations support students to grow as caring, principled, and resilient learners who contribute positively to their community.

This balance of care and expectation reflects our Plus Ultra mindset — challenging students to go further than they thought possible, while knowing they are supported every step of the way. It also creates calm, purposeful learning environments where inquiry, collaboration, and respect can thrive.

We thank our families for partnering with us as we establish routines and shared expectations. When school and home work together, our students are truly free to flourish, growing in confidence, character, and a love of learning

Lia Sabri
Head of Primary Years

YEAR 7 CAMP: BUILDING, BELONGING, AND BRAVE BEGINNINGS

Our Year 7 Camp was a wonderful opportunity for students to connect, challenge themselves, and begin their high school journey with confidence. Across the camp, students took part in a wide range of activities, including boogie boarding, fishing, beach games, archery, catapulting, and conquering the big swing. Each activity encouraged teamwork, resilience, and a willingness to step outside comfort zones — and it was inspiring to see so many students attempt challenges they might not have tried without the support of their peers.

One of the most rewarding aspects of the camp was watching the cohort come together as a unified group, regardless of whether students joined us from our primary school or other schools. Shared experiences quickly turned unfamiliar faces into friends, and by the end of camp, there was a strong sense of belonging across the group.

Evenings brought quieter moments of connection, with trivia games and a movie night watching Zootopia. While there were a few tears on the first night as some students missed home, these quickly gave way to smiles, laughter, and growing confidence as students settled in and supported one another.

Throughout the camp, staff had the chance to get to know students beyond the classroom, learning names, personalities, and strengths. It was clear to see growth in independence, courage, and friendships in just a short space of time — a powerful reminder of how valuable these shared experiences are.

We returned to school incredibly proud of our Year 7 students. They demonstrated kindness, perseverance, and a willingness to embrace new challenges. They are a great group of young people, and we look forward to seeing their continued growth throughout the year.

Mrs Lucy Hinchliffe
Year 7 Coordinator

PRIVATE TUITION PROGRAM

There is still availability for students to partake in the Private Tuition program here at the College. Opportunities exist for tuition for Violin, Viola, Cello, Double Bass, Guitar, Ukulele, Flute, Oboe, Clarinet, Saxophone, Trumpet, Trombone, Tuba, Percussion, Piano, Speech and Communication, and Dance. The Private Tuition Booklet is available on Firefly and includes the enrolment form. The tuition cost for a 30-minute private lesson is $43.50 per week, and the termly invoice will be emailed directly to parents at the beginning of each term. For new students, please complete the form, scan it, and send it to sfd.performingarts@stpeters.qld.edu.au or fill out the online form to Sign Up for Private Lessons!

COCURRICULAR ACTIVITIES

The Performing Arts Cocurricular program for 2026 commenced this week for all ensembles. Thank you to those students for your commitment to developing Teamwork, Grit, and Empathy. Commitment to these activities is for the full calendar year and includes participation in rehearsals and all performances. Most ensembles are non-auditioned except for Cantabile Strings and Rock Band, as relevant standards are required. If you require any additional clarification concerning the ensembles, please reach out to Mrs Campbell, Ms Powell, or the ensemble director for assistance. The Music Ensemble Enrolment Handbook is available on Firefly and includes an enrolment form. Please email completed forms to sfd.performingarts@stpeters.qld.edu.au or fill out the online form to Join an Ensemble!

THE WIZARD OF OZ

What a fantastic start for the College Musical last Friday as the full cast assembled for a read-through of The Wizard of Oz. Opportunities still exist for parents and students to be part of this production as backstage crew, make-up, hair, and costume assistants, Front of House, and making props at Art Club. If you would like to be involved, please email Mrs Campbell or Ms Powell. Students are reminded to always refer to Microsoft Teams for any schedules or messages. Please be prepared for your rehearsals and know the lyrics and script before you arrive to work on your scenes.

UPCOMING EVENTS

• Lunchtime Concert: 4 March | Rock Band, Soloists
• SPOSA Reunion: 7 March | Soloists
• Strings Lunchtime Concert: 16 March | String Ensembles/Soloists
  
  

Mrs Geraldine Campbell 
Performing Arts Co-ordinator

GBC Secondary Round 1 | Staines Memorial College

Fixtures and training schedules are now available (see below). Students must arrive 30 minutes before game time, and registrations are still open via sfd.sport@stpeters.qld.edu or the Sport Hub. The following teams are on a bye this week: 

• Junior Girls AFL
• Senior Girls AFL

Primary GBC Sport begins in Week 3.

GO SAINTS!

Central Comets Trials

Students who wish to attend any Central Comets Trails must email sfd.sport@stpeters.qld.edu or see the Sports staff in the Hub. Please view the 2026 Central Comets Calendar for details.

Sports Bus | Indooroopilly

All students now have access to book the sports bus to and from Indooroopilly for SPW and other sports training. Please access the Sports Bus manifest from the 2026 SFD Sports Bus on Microsoft Teams.

Mr Kale Reed 
Head of Sport

P&F Meet and Greet Breakfast

You are warmly invited to attend a P&F breakfast to meet other parents, learn more about the great work the P&F does, and find out how you can get involved. The P&F Meet and Greet breakfast will be held on the concourse on Tuesday 17 February 2026 at 7:00am. If you are able to join us, please click here to RSVP. We look forward to meeting with our Springfield families.

Seeking Coat Hanger Donations

Our College is seeking donations of coat hangers to support our P&F second-hand uniform shop. If you have any spare coat hangers (including trouser and skirt coat hangers with clips) that you no longer need, we would greatly appreciate your support. Donations can be dropped off at the College during regular school hours. The proceeds from the P&F second-hand uniform shop are donated to a charity chosen by the P&F.

A reminder that our P&F second-hand uniform shop opens each Wednesday during the school term from 7:30am–9:00am.

If you wish to learn more about the P&F or be a part of the P&F group, please contact us at pf.springfield@stpeters.qld.edu.au

Thank you to everyone who has donated uniforms and for your continued support.

P&F Committee Springfield