Celebrating Culture, Language and Legacy at St Peters Springfield
This week at St Peters Springfield, we mark the significant celebration of NAIDOC Week 2025, a national occasion recognising the rich history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. Now in its 50th year, this milestone provides a moment to honour the strength and resilience of Indigenous communities, while renewing our commitment to walk alongside them in respect and reconciliation.
This year’s theme, “The Next Generation: Strength, Vision and Legacy,” is especially powerful within an educational context. It calls us not only to remember the contributions of the past, but to empower young people to lead with courage, compassion and cultural awareness. At St Peters Springfield, our Plus Ultra mindset encourages students to grow in purpose and to embrace their role in shaping a more just and inclusive future.
Our College has already marked important milestones this year through Reconciliation Week and Harmony Week, including our joyful Cultural Dress Day, which allowed students to proudly share their heritage and deepen intercultural understanding. These moments of celebration are grounded in our belief that education is a preparation for life, which includes fostering empathy, respect and a global perspective.
Fittingly, this week is also French Week at the College. French, as our second language, is an important part of our curriculum and a window into global citizenship. Throughout the week, students are engaging in language-based learning experiences and enjoying French cuisine at the Hearts Café, celebrating the joy and richness of another culture.
Finally, as a candidate Primary Years Programme (PYP) International Baccalaureate (IB) World School, we are committed to international mindedness—valuing diversity, seeking understanding and living out our Christian ethos by acting with justice and kindness. These shared experiences deepen our community and shape the kind of global citizens we hope our students will become.
Mr Craig Brown Head of Springfield
What's On
What's on 17 July - 24 July
17 July
Year 11 UQ Economics Excursion
French Week (15-18 July)
18 July
Secondary Years Track & Field Carnival
22 July
Year 11 Elevate Ed (Time Management)
Year 12 Elevate Ed (Finishing Line)
23 July
Years 10 and 11 Micro-Folies French Excursion
24 July
Year 10 Meningococcal Vaccinations (second dose)
Senior Leaders Coffee Catch-Ups – Mr Dominic Piacun, Head of Secondary Years
Join us for our weekly Coffee Catch-Ups, held everyWednesday morning from 7:45am to 8:15am at The Hearts Cafe Coffee Nook. These informal sessions provide an opportunity for parents and students to connect with members of our Senior Leadership Team in a relaxed, welcoming environment.
Whether you would like to discuss specific topics or simply enjoy a friendly conversation, our Leaders are here to listen and engage with our College community.
Next week, Wednesday 23 July, Mr Dominic Piacun, Head of Secondary Years will be hosting the session.
Please feel free to drop by; we would love to see you there.
Mr Craig Brown Head of Springfield
School Photo Days
Queensland School Photography will be taking College class and individual photos on Wednesday 30 July and Friday 1 August.
Online Orders
Orders may be placed at www.qldschoolphotography.com.au using School Access Key CL8X747G. Please follow the online prompts to complete your order.
Late Orders
Individual and class photo orders will be accepted online for one week following the photography sessions.
Delivery Arrangements
Families requiring specific delivery arrangements should contact Queensland School Photography directly to ensure appropriate handling.
Important Notes
Students must wear Formal Uniform according to our Uniform Guidelines, including blazers for relevant year levels.
All students present during scheduled photography sessions will be photographed.
Orders must be placed directly with Queensland School Photography.
For enquiries regarding photo orders, please contact the photography provider directly.
Mrs Jade Cooper Personal Assistant to the Head of Springfield and Workplace Contact Officer
The purposes of a person’s heart are like deep water. But one who has understanding brings them out. Proverbs 20:5
There is an Indigenous concept called Dadirri, which is advocated by Aboriginal leader and educator Miriam-Rose Ungunmerr Baumann. Dadirri means 'inner deep listening and quiet still awareness.' It is a spiritual concept and practice that involves deep listening to understand and connect with yourself, others, and your surroundings. Dadirri encourages you to listen not just with your ears, but with your whole being, paying attention to both what is said and what is not said. It involves quiet awareness and a deep sense of connection with the other. It is a cultural practice that involves ceremony, story sharing, and community building. Dadirri has many connections with Christian understandings and is very relevant for schools in our current culture (see www.miriamrosefoundation.org.au/dadirri for more information on Dadirri).
Deep listening for understanding is a precious skill for all people in life, but listening is not a skill we often explicitly teach children and young people in school. Being fully present for others in a way that opens the mind to truly listen to another person is a great gift. Indeed, it could be called a spiritual gift where one person connects to another person, soul to soul, in what could be called a holy human moment. Listening to and understanding another human being involves the stuff that glues relationships together: empathy and connection. It means being present for another person without judgement or agenda, showing openness to receive what they are saying, and discerning what they are not saying. Having the patience and self-control to respond with understanding and insight are stabilising qualities in any relationship. In the New Testament book of James, chapter one, verse nineteen, we hear these words: My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry. And in the Old Testament book of Wisdom, Ecclesiastes chapter three, verse seven says: There is a time to be silent and a time to speak.
Improving communication often begins with enhancing how we listen. Poor listeners tend to focus on their own concerns, filtering everything through a lens of self-interest. Interruptions occur frequently, assumptions are readily formed, and there is little interest in or care for the speaker’s message. Responses are usually either repetitive or confrontational, aimed at defending personal views. In contrast, effective listening involves being open-minded and genuinely curious about what others are saying. It means paying attention not just to the words, but to the underlying motivations and emotions. Good listeners create a safe space for honest dialogue by being fully present and empathetic. This deeper form of listening requires setting aside personal judgements and being open to new perspectives and meanings.
Dietrich Bonhoeffer, the Lutheran Pastor who was executed during the Nazi regime, wrote about listening in his spiritual classic on Christian community, Life Together. He wrote the following: The first service one owes to others in the community involves listening to them…We do God's work for our brothers and sisters when we learn to listen to them… (We) forget that listening can be a greater service than speaking. What an encouragement to hone our listening skills in our various roles here at St Peters. And what an insight from Bonhoeffer—that Christian community is first and foremost about listening to others. That is how we serve each other. God works through our listening as much as our speaking.
As we steamroll into the term, may we take moments with our students, our colleagues and ourselves to practise deep listening.
We pray, Lord Jesus, give us the capacity to deeply listen to one another. Deepen our ability to be patient and empathetic. Forgive us when we fail to listen with sensitivity for understanding. Bless us with insight as we communicate what is said, and what is unsaid. And thank you, that you truly listen to us. Amen.
Tim Jarick College Pastor
Arise Live – 27 July 2025, 5:30pm for 6:00pm
Arise Live is an event for youth and young adults and for those young at heart, held in Junior High Precinct at St Peters Springfield. With a focus on music, a message from God’s word, food and friendship, this will be a fun night for all. Come and be encouraged in your journey of faith.
Pastor Matthew Wilksch St Peters Springfield Chaplain
Important Notices
Nationally Consistent Collection of Data on School Students with Disability (NCCD)
Every year, all schools in Australia participate in the Nationally Consistent Collection of Data on School Students with Disability (NCCD). The NCCD process requires schools to identify information already available in the school about supports provided to students with disability. These relate to legislative requirements under the Disability Discrimination Act 1992 and the Disability Standards for Education 2005, in line with the NCCD guidelines (2019).
Information provided about students to the Australian Government for the NCCD includes:
year of schooling
category of disability: physical, cognitive, sensory or social/emotional
level of adjustment provided: support provided within quality differentiated teaching practice, supplementary, substantial or extensive.
This information assists schools to:
formally recognise the supports and adjustments provided to students with disability in schools
consider how they can strengthen the support of students with disability in schools
develop shared practices so that they can review their learning programs in order to improve educational outcomes for students with disability.
The NCCD provides state and federal governments with the information they need to plan more broadly for the support of students with disability.
The NCCD will have no direct impact on your child and your child will not be involved in any testing process. The school will provide data to the Australian Government in such a way that no individual student will be able to be identified – the privacy and confidentiality of all students is ensured. All information is protected by privacy laws that regulate the collection, storage and disclosure of personal information. To find out more about these matters, please refer to the Australian Government’s Privacy Policy (https://www.education.gov.au/privacy-policy).
We are pleased to share that our new phone menu system is now live at St Peters Springfield.
When you call the College, you will now hear a simple menu of options to help direct your call to the right person or department straight away. This new system will help reduce wait times, improve response times, and make it even easier for families and community members to connect with the College.
This update is part of our commitment to providing excellent service and care for our community. By ensuring your call reaches the right area from the start, we can focus on what matters most; supporting our students, families, and staff.
Thank you for your support as we continue to enhance the way we connect with our College community.
Mr Craig Brown Head of Springfield
Primary Years
Chessmates
Secondary Years
Year 11 Camp
In Week 9 of Term 2, our Year 11 students, accompanied by three staff members, ventured to the chilly Lockyer Valley for the Emu Gully Adventure Camp. This experience marked a significant milestone in their leadership journey, as they prepare to step into their roles as the most senior students of the College in Term 4. The camp challenged students to push beyond their comfort zones through a series of demanding physical and mental tasks, all designed to strengthen connections and foster growth. Facilitators skillfully linked each challenge to ANZAC stories, highlighting the values of mateship, perseverance, sacrifice and courage, qualities essential for success in their final year and beyond. Memorable moments included the Kokoda mud trek, the reflective night walk and the ever-popular paintball skirmish. More than just a camp, the experience offered valuable personal insights, strengthened bonds within the cohort, and created lasting memories that students will carry with them well into the future.
Mr Chris Cant Year 11 and 12 Coordinator
Performing Arts
The Arts News
Be on time, Be prepared, Be a leader, Believe!
Welcome back to Term 3 for another action-packed Term of celebration and growth for our Performing Arts students as published in the upcoming events list below. A major focus will be with our Speech and Communication students as they prepare for the Ipswich Junior Eisteddfod (Year 6), the Primary Years and Secondary Years Drama Troupe Presentations. We are also heavily involved whether as a host school or participating in Dance and Music commitments as part of the Springfield Festival of Learning program in Week 9.
State Honours Ensemble Program
Congratulations to Medha C, Ruhika S and Emily S who participated in the South-East Queensland State Honours Ensemble Program from 10-12 July at the Queensland Conservatorium Griffith University. The students worked with leading conductors Loreta Fin and Kate Albury in the Pearl String Ensemble and the Magenta Choir.
Springfield Festival of Learning
In Week 9 of Term 3, St Peters will host two events as part of the Springfield Festival of Learning Program. To lead up to our events, two Year 6 students and a Senior Leader will be part of a workshop and conversation from 15-17 July relating to the composition of a Coalition Song created by Singer-songwriter Josh Arnold. We look forward to performing the song as part of our Primary Years Choir workshop on 8 September with guest presenter Paul Jarman.
Staff Changes
Ms Emma Anstey-Codd has resigned effective from the end of Week 3. We thank Ms Anstey-Codd for her work with the Choir and within the Vocal Private Tuition Program over several years and have celebrated the growth within the College Vocal Program because of her attention to detail and passion. We wish her well as she explores further opportunities. We are currently in the recruitment phase and will notify parents once an appointment has been made.
Ipswich Junior Eisteddfod
Year 6 students under the direction of Mrs Kathy Wilson will again compete at the Ipswich Junior Eisteddfod in Week 2 as a Speech Choir. They have been preparing two pieces, a poem called Skateboard by Max Fatchen and a piece of prose called Storm Boy by Colin Thiele. Thanks to Mrs Wilson and the Year 6 students as they further continue to develop teamwork, memorisation skills, rhythmic elements and communication skills.
Beenleigh Eisteddfod
On 29 July, Dolce Voce will compete at the Beenleigh Eisteddfod. We wish them well and look forward to celebrating their results.
Queensland Independent Schools Summit
On Thursday 31 July, selected vocal and instrumental students will travel to the Sheraton Hotel on the Gold Coast to present with Ms Waveney Yasso our Acknowledgement of Country at the Queensland Independent Schools Summit.
Upcoming Events
Term 3
15-17 July - Springfield Festival of Learning Coalition Song with Josh Arnold
17 July - Waveney Yasso Workshop
21-25 July - Ipswich Junior Eisteddfod (Speech)
29 July - Beenleigh Eisteddfod (Dolce Voce)
29 July - Assembly Performance (Rock Band)
31 July - Queensland Independent Schools Summit – Waveney Yasso
7 August - Twilight Tours (Piano/Violin Duet)
27 August - Lunchtime Concourse Concert (Rock Band)
5 September – Primary Years and Secondary Years Drama Troupes Presentations
8 September - Springfield Festival of Learning (Dolce Voce/Visual Art)
12 September - Springfield Festival of Learning
17 September – AVEO Secondary Years Presentation
Mrs Geraldine Campbell Performing Arts Coordinator
Sport
Springfield Sport
Term 3 Sport Training Schedule
Please engage with the Term 3 Sport training schedule. Please note program start dates and times. Please email k.reed@stpeters.qld.edu.au if you wish to register.
Term 3 Springfield Track & Field Training
Track & Field training is now underway and runs every Wednesday and Friday morning at 6:15am with Coach Marty and her team.
These sessions are essential for students preparing for AIC, QGSSSA, Greater Brisbane Conference (GBC) and upcoming trial events.
Please engage with the Term 3 Track & Field events schedule.
Secondary Interhouse Track & Field Carnival
Best of luck to all Secondary Years students who will compete in the Secondary Years Inter-House Track & Field Carnival tomorrow. Please note all buses will transport students from Springfield from 8:30am, as this is a compulsory event, students must arrive prior to departure. View Program.
Sports Bus Bookings
Students participating in Sport at Indooroopilly must book a seat on the Term 3 Sports Bus via the 2025 SFD Sport Bus Manifest on Teams. This must be done through the student’s account. For assistance, please contact k.reed@stpeters.qld.edu.au.
Mr Kale Reed Head of Sport Springfield
Girls Sport
cOMMUNICATION
The Sport Newsletter will now be published on a fortnightly basis. Important information such as training times, match day schedules and cancellations will continue to be shared with our community via emails from the respective Sport Coordinators and via the St Peters App. Students and parents with mobile devices are encouraged to download the St Peters App, select their 'Subscriptions' via 'Settings' to choose what content they wish to receive, and regularly check the app for the latest information.
QGSSSA TRACK & FIELD
Please click here to sign on for the QGSSSA Track & Field Season!
Thank you to the students who attended preseason training throughout Term 2 and the holiday break. We have seen many committed students consistently attending training as we aim to improve on our 3rd-place finish from the QGSSSA Track & Field Championships in 2024.
For those who have not yet begun training, the following information outlines the upcoming season.
Tuesdays at UQ are our priority training session, with all events being offered. Students are asked to ensure they attend these afternoons at UQ for preparation for upcoming meets and team selection. A bus will depart from the Indooroopilly internal bus stop at 3:30pm and will return at 5:15pm.
Students who are involved in other Term 3 sports are expected to attend at least one Track & Field Session outside of their training schedule.
If you have an extracurricular commitment, such as sport/music, and cannot attend any sessions, please email Miss Knight and we can discuss a solution for your schedule.
This Saturday, we kick off Round 1 of our Winter Fixture sports! Please check the St Peters App for fixture times and locations. This year, St Peters will have seventeen Netball, sixteen Volleyball, six Tennis and two Hockey teams competing in the QGSSSA competition. Good luck to all our teams for their first game on Saturday!
Season Overview:
Round 1 – Saturday 19 July v BSHS (Home)
Round 2 – Saturday 26 July v St Hilda's (Away) – Return Bus Transport Provided
Round 3 – Saturday 2 August v St Aidan’s (Home) – Netball Focus Round
Round 4 – Saturday 9 August v Somerville House (Away) – Tennis Played Friday Night
Round 5 – Saturday 16 August v St Margaret's (Away)
Round 6 – Saturday 23 August v BGGS (Home) – Tennis Focus Round
Round 7 – Saturday 30 August v Clayfield College (Away)
Round 8 – Saturday 6 September v Moreton Bay College (Home) – Volleyball Orange Round
Round 9 – Saturday 13 September v IGGS (Home) – Hockey Focus Round
BSRA Rowing Camp
What an incredible week we've just had at the recent St Peters BSRA Rowing Camp in Bucca, Queensland!
Operating out of the Bundaberg Rowing Club, we were fortunate to enjoy spectacular weather, world-class training facilities, and the most generous hospitality we could have hoped for.
Our rowers truly rose to the occasion. Across the board, their attitude, effort, and teamwork were truly outstanding. It was inspiring to see the commitment they brought to each session, both on and off the water. Their behaviour throughout the camp was a credit to themselves, their families, and our school. They trained hard, supported each other, and represented St Peters with pride.
A heartfelt thank you to John Pettigrew, Marat Frolov, Zach Pennisi, and all our dedicated coaching team, whose tireless efforts made the camp run smoothly and productively. Your leadership and passion continue to shape not only great rowers but great people.
A very special thank you to the Bundaberg Rowing Club, who welcomed us with open arms. Their support, particularly the delicious meals and incredible hospitality, created a home away from home for our team, making the experience truly unforgettable.
This camp has set the tone for what we believe will be a strong and exciting BSRA season. With our first BSRA regatta fast approaching on Saturday 26 July at Wyaralong, the momentum is building, and our rowers are ready to take to the start line with confidence and determination.
Let’s keep this energy going and support each other every stroke of the way. We’re proud of how far we’ve come, and even more excited about what’s ahead.
Go Saints!
Lachlan Allen Director of Rowing
ST PETERS STUDENT SPECTATORS ON GAMEDAYS
Should any St Peters student be attending a St Peters sporting event/game outside of normal College hours, it is expected that they are dressed in St Peters formal uniform. If a student is not wearing the correct attire when attending a sporting event/game, they may be asked to leave the venue.
Student Achievements
AFLQ Schools Cup
Congratulations to our Senior AFL team, who won their first wild card entry match against Kendron State High School yesterday. The team will continue to compete in the AFLQ Schools competition throughout the term in a knockout-style event. Their next game will be Wednesday 23 July against Sandgate District SHS. We wish them all the best for their future games!
ST PETERS ACHIEVEMENTS
We would like to acknowledge student sporting achievements throughout the year. If your daughter has competed at a national or international level, please click here to share the details with us.
The Sport Newsletter will now move to a fortnightly rotation. Important information such as training times, match day schedules and cancellations will continue to be shared with our community via the St Peters App. It is encouraged that all students and parents with mobile devices download the St Peters App and regularly check the Sports section of the App for the latest information.
TRACK & FIELD
Thank you to the students who have been attending training throughout Term 2 and the holiday break. We have seen many committed students consistently attending training as we aim to improve on our 3rd-place finish at the AIC Track & Field Championships in 2024.
For those who have not yet begun training, the following information outlines the upcoming season.
Tuesdays at UQ are our priority training session, with all events being offered. Students are asked to ensure they attend these afternoons at UQ for preparation for upcoming meets and team selection. A bus will depart from the Indooroopilly internal bus stop at 3:30pm and will return at 5:15pm.
Students who are involved with Term 3 Sport such as Rugby league, Tennis, or Basketball are encouraged to attend Track & Field Sessions outside of their training schedule i.e. If you have Year 9 Basketball training on Monday afternoon and Thursday morning and are a middle distance runner, you can’t attend Monday training for Track & Field, but you could attend both Tuesday and Wednesday afternoons when you are free.
If you have a cocurricular commitment, such as a sport or music and cannot attend Track & Field, please email Mr Fraser, and we can discuss a solution for your schedule.
Meets will begin in Week 7 with our first meet on 28 August being the 'Focus Meet', where all students wishing to compete for a spot in the AIC Team will need to attend. This event will take priority over other sports training sessions, and coordinators have been made aware of your absence.
St Peters participated in the Bremer invitational in Week 10 to continue preparations for the upcoming AIC Basketball season. Our 8A, 10A, and First V students competed over two days, with over 34 teams participating at Ipswich Basketball. Special mention to our 8A boys, who finished third overall and to Miss Smith and all coaches involved in pre-season preparations. This weekend our Juniors (Year 7–9) are playing at home, while our Seniors will travel away to St Laurence’s College. Please keep Saturday 9 August free for our Basketball Focus Round vs Iona College.
RUGBY LEAGUE
After debuting in AIC Rugby League last year, St Peters will be entering six teams in the 2025 competition, including a primary team. This is a great achievement for the College, with just two teams in the competition in 2024. All teams will travel out to St Laurence’s College at Runcorn this Saturday. Rugby League has also moved to a home and away model due to the growing popularity of the sport, with St Peters hosting all games in Rounds 3, 4, 6 and 7 at Harts Rd Oval. Please keep Saturday 23 August free for our Rugby League Focus Round vs Padua College.
Best of luck to our Open Boys who are competing at the Queensland Secondary School Team Tennis (QSSTT) State Final against St Andrew’s Anglican College from 14–15 July. AIC Tennis this week will be held at Griffith University Tennis Centre for Seniors (Years 9–12) and at SomerFields Tennis for Juniors (Years 5–8). Please mark your calendars for Saturday 13 September for our Focus Round vs St Laurence’s College.
AIC Basketball, Tennis, and Rugby League are the current IN-SEASON BOYS AIC SPORTS this term and training is currently underway. Track & Field has weekly meets on Wednesday and Thursday afternoons, starting from Weeks 7–10, and culminating in the AIC Track & Field Championship in Term 4.
For details of times and venues for this weekend’s schedule, please check the information on the St Peters App.
For our St Peters sporting programs to positively develop and grow, it is paramount that our students attend training sessions for their chosen sport, so they can improve and refine sport-specific skills and build cohesion amongst their teammates.
If students are unable to attend some training sessions, it is vital that their absence is communicated to their coaches first, and also to the respective coordinator/s.
