At St Peters Springfield, leadership is something students do, not just wear. Our Student Portfolio Leadership Model is designed to grow agency — students' capacity to use their voice, choice, and influence in the service of our College community. Guided by the OECD Sun Model of Student Agency, we help young people move from participating to leading: setting goals, taking initiative, and reflecting on impact — always aligned to our values of Care, Dignity, and Respect.

Our 2025 Leadership team hands over to the 2026 team this week. Thank you to our 2025 Leaders. Your vision, 'Lead with courage, connect with kindness, serve with purpose', was lived across the year. Arts lifted the profile of Showcase and Night at the Theatre; Sport and Houses drove record participation across Athletics, Swimming, and Cross Country; Academic leaders championed debating and peer tutoring; Culture celebrated our diversity through events; Faith & Service leaders shaped Chapel and service opportunities; and Wellbeing kept care front and centre with R U OK? Day and a consistent Wellbeing Club. And of course, our entire team worked to lead the Shave for a Cure event, raising a record amount for the Leukaemia Foundation. You leave a strong legacy, including Junior High Portfolio Captains working alongside Senior leaders.

Welcome to our 2026 Team. Your leadership has been shaped by Ironbark, Ignite in Year 10, and Year 11 Leadership Camp. This continued last week with the Y-Lead day and our LEAD Appreciative Inquiry at Brookwater, where you gathered student voice, mapped priorities, and began shaping a new team vision. Over the coming weeks, leaders across Sport, Performing Arts, Wellbeing, Academic, Faith & Service, Culture and Houses will finalise plans that build belonging and broaden opportunities for every student to step forward and lead.

Dom Piacun
Head of Secondary Years

Thursday 16 October

• Community Focus Day (Gifts of Grace)

Friday 17 October

• ASCA Exams

Monday 20 October

• Year 12 Study Week begins
• Sport Photos at Indooroopilly
• 2026 Prep Orientation

Tuesday 21 October

• Leaders Induction Ceremony
• Performing Arts Showcase
• Prep and Year 1 Day Camp

Wednesday 22 October

• 2026 Ironbark Parent Briefing

Thursday 23 October

• Sport Photos at Springfield
• Year 8 Mt Coot-tha Ironbark Prep Day
• Senior Creative Showcase

Friday 24 October

• Welcome to Junior High
• Prep – Year 2 Excursion

Join us for the 2025 St Peters Golf Day!

Details

Brookwater Golf & Country Club, 1 Tournament Drive, Brookwater
Sunday 2 November, 11:30am – 7:00pm
Cost: $160.00/player
Ambrose Competition

Catch up with friends or make new ones during a spectacular day on the green in support of St Peters Service Learning projects.

About the Course

The Brookwater Golf & Country Club boasts a Greg Norman signature golf course. Greg’s inspired design makes each hole a perfect mix of challenge and playability. Thanks to recent renovations that have restored the course to its original design, the Brookwater golf course layout is better than ever. The 18-hole, par 72 championship golf course will challenge and inspire, with its signature bunkering and inclusion of natural waterways.

Supporting our Students

All funds raised will go towards the College’s Service Learning Program. Each year, our students go above and beyond to support a range of causes close to their hearts, and the 2025 St Peters Golf Day will provide a welcome boost to their efforts.

Ticket includes: Motorised buggy, 18 holes of championship golf, lunch and after-round burgers, and a complimentary drink.

Tickets available via Eventbrite

Last term in Chapel, Years 7–10 looked at some of the 'heroes' of the Bible, people like David, Abraham, and Noah, whose stories take up whole chapters, even books. They're leaders, warriors, kings. People whose faith seems bold and impressive.

But recently, one of our students shared a reflection on someone quite different: Anna. Her story appears in just three verses in the Gospel of Luke. She’s not famous. She doesn’t lead armies or perform miracles. She’s elderly, widowed, and spends her days in the temple, praying, fasting, and worshipping.

It’s easy to miss someone like Anna. But that’s precisely the point.

Luke 2:36–38 tells us:

"There was also a prophet, Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was very old; she had lived with her husband seven years after her marriage and then was a widow until she was eighty-four. She never left the temple but worshipped night and day, fasting and praying. Coming up to them at that very moment, she gave thanks to God and spoke about the child to all who were looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem."

This seemingly small detail in the Bible offers something profound. Anna is a prophet (something quite rare in itself for a woman of that time), and her response to the arrival of Jesus is immediate and overflowing with joy. After decades of prayerful waiting, she sees the infant Christ and knows: this is the one. The long-awaited Messiah. The fulfilment of every promise.

Her life hadn’t been easy. She had experienced loss. And yet, her response wasn’t bitterness or despair, but deep, hopeful worship.

In Chapel, students were invited to consider what our own lives say about what we value. If someone could only observe how we spend our time, what would they learn about us?

In a world that tells us our worth is found in performance, appearance, or popularity, Anna offers a counter-image: a quiet, faithful life rooted in seeking God.

We all invest our time in things that matter to us — school, sport, music, work, friendships, even just keeping up with daily demands. These aren’t bad things. But they can’t carry the full weight of our identity. When challenges come — stress, disappointment, insecurity, grief — what holds us up?

Anna reminds us that even in weakness, we are seen. Even in obscurity, we are valuable. She didn’t make herself the centre of the story. She pointed others to Jesus. That’s what made her significant.

As we reflect on this term’s Chapel theme, her story gently but powerfully challenges us. Are we chasing strength that the world recognises, or are we rooted in something deeper? Do we define ourselves by how well we’re doing, or by the God who knows us, loves us, and sustains us?

One quote that was shared in Chapel, from John Newton (the writer of the hymn 'Amazing Grace'), captures the heart of this message:

"I am not what I ought to be, I am not what I want to be, I am not what I hope to be in another world; but still I am not what I once used to be, and by the grace of God I am what I am."

May we be a school community that remembers that. In all our striving, study, and activity, our true strength is not found in being impressive but in being known and loved by God.

Peter Schmidhauser
Junior High Chaplain

Arise Live is an event for youth and young adults and for those young at heart, held in Junior High Precinct at St Peters. 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 with other young people.

Please RSVP for Grandparents' Day via this link.

Year 4 have been on an adventure to Brookfield this week. Over the two days of camp, students participated in events including Climbing Wall, Bush Skills, Circus Skills, Survivor Challenge and Archery. We look forward to sharing more of a recap next week, but please enjoy some photos from their time away.

On Friday 10 October, the Year 2 students, teachers, and assistants enjoyed a wonderful day camp at Emu Gully in Helidon. Through exploration and challenge, the students discovered their sense of adventure and showed great courage as they embraced new experiences. It was the perfect day to spark their imaginations and curiosity about the world around them.

As we explored the camp, we spotted a variety of Australian wildlife, including a lizard, a koala, and even an eagle soaring above. The local bushland inspired us to look closely at the many different types of leaves, flowers, and trees that surrounded us.

The students’ excitement grew as they tackled the huge slide, climbed steep hills and walls, pulled heavy wheels, and crossed the billabong in a boat. We shared our lunch and ended the day cooling off in the water, swinging from the tree swing, playing volleyball, and soaking our tired feet.

It was a truly special day filled with adventure, discovery, and appreciation for the beautiful world around us. The Year 2s were captivated from start to finish, and the experience sparked many conversations on the journey home.

Lisa Singleton and Ariel Jerrard

From 10 December 2025, age-restricted social media platforms must take reasonable steps to prevent Australians under the age of 16 from creating or keeping accounts. The rules target mainstream social apps and focus on platform compliance (not penalties for kids or parents). Some services (e.g. education, health, messaging) may be excluded by legislative rules. 

For what counts as 'reasonable steps', which platforms are likely covered, and what this means for families, see the eSafety Commissioner’s FAQs (updated September 2025): https://www.esafety.gov.au/about-us/industry-regulation/social-media-age-restrictions/faqs

During the last week of our holidays, we had the opportunity to participate in the Gold Residential Project at Ironbark. Throughout the week, we took part in a variety of activities that gave us a real taste of life there. One of the first tasks involved searching the area for barrels used in the rogaine game (which for most of us felt like we were doing it again). We also helped repaint the barrels and completed daily farm jobs (reminiscing on past experiences).

As a student from the Springfield campus, it was great to meet and connect with new people from the Indooroopilly campus, which made the experience even more enjoyable. We also spent time clearing out large patches of fireweed in the fields, helping to care for the land. Overall, the Gold Residential Project was a valuable opportunity to challenge ourselves, build new friendships, and contribute to the Ironbark community as part of our Duke of Edinburgh Award journey.  

Akshara P (Year 11)

Why Music Matters

When Stress Peaks, Don’t Silence the Music.

As exams approach, rehearsals are often the first thing students skip. The usual reasons? "I need to study" or "I'm too stressed". But research shows that last-minute cramming rarely improves results, and that making music together can actually lower stress levels, boost focus, and prepare students to perform at their best.

This exam season, music shouldn’t be left behind. Instead, it can play a vital role in helping students enter tests calmer, more focused, and ready to succeed.

AMEB Speech and Communication Exams

Last Saturday, Max V, Shanaya D, and Yug K sat AMEB Speech and Communication exams. Thanks to Mrs Wilson for her work in preparing the students for these exams.

Performing Arts Showcase Concerts Term 4

Congratulations to all performers at the Semester 2 Performing Arts Showcase Concert held on Wednesday 15 October in the JHP Foyer. The next Performing Arts Showcase concert will be held on Tuesday 21 October, commencing at 4:30pm. Students are to arrive by 4:00pm wearing the correct summer uniform with neat hair and clean shoes.

ASCA Examinations

On Friday 17 October in PA1, the Australian Speech Communication Association examinations will be held. Good luck to all students and thanks to Mrs Kathy Wilson and Mrs Yasmin Scott for their preparation. We look forward to celebrating your achievements.

Jacaranda Festival

Members of Allegro and Pizzicato Strings will be performing at the Jacaranda Festival to be held on Saturday 25 October at 9:10am at the Evan Marginson Park, Goodna. Thanks to Ms Crellin for her work in preparing this ensemble for this performance, as this presents a wonderful opportunity for the younger musicians to perform and promote our college in the wider community. Students are to arrive by 8:30am and be in full formal uniform. Ensure you have your instrument, music and music folder.

Studio Recitals

The Semester Two Studio Recitals will be held on Monday 27 and Thursday 30 October in the Learning Commons. Students will be nominated by their Private Tutor, and then information will be sent to parents to nominate the preferred Recital day and time. Please arrive at least 10 minutes before the Recital start time for tuning and placement so that each Recital commences on time. At this stage, the 3:00pm Recital on Thursday may be cancelled due to lack of numbers and performers asked to join one of the other times.

Upcoming Events 

• 21 October – PA Showcase #2
• 25 October – Jacaranda Festival (Allegro Strings), TBC
• 27 October – ACM Piano Exams
• 27 October – Studio Recital 3:00pm
• 30 October – Studio Recitals 3:00pm and 5:00pm
• 7 November – Christmas Carols 5:00pm–6:00pm
• 21 November – Year 12 Valedictory Service
• 26 November – Junior Creative Showcase
• 28 November – Primary Celebration Service
• 29 November – 30 November, SHEP Primary
• 1 December – Secondary Presentation Evening
  

Mrs Geraldine Campbell
Performing Arts Coordinator

Sports Bus Bookings

Students participating in AIC, QGSSSA, and SPW Sports at Indooroopilly must book a seat on the Term 4 Sports Bus via the 2025 SFD Sport Bus Manifest on Teams. This must be done through the student’s account. For assistance, please contact l.jacobs@stpeters.qld.edu.au.

GBC Term 1, 2026 Registration

Be part of St Peters Springfield history! Students in Years 6–11 are invited to register for Term 1, 2026 GBC Sport and help establish the foundation of Sport at Springfield.

Sports on offer include Volleyball and Australian Rules Football for boys, and Basketball and Australian Rules Football for girls. Students must be available for training during the week and for games on Saturdays, with schedules, trials, and fixtures to be confirmed next term.

GBC games will be held on Saturdays between 8:00am and 11:30am, either at home or away.

Please refer to emails to access the registration link today!

AIC & QGSSSA Track & Field Championships

Congratulations to all students who represented Springfield at the recent AIC and QGSSSA Track & Field Championships. Our students competed exceptionally well across both carnivals, a true reflection of nearly four months of hard work and commitment. Our boys' team finished 3rd overall, and our girls' team were runners-up!

Kale Reed
Head of Sport Springfield