Harmony Week is a celebration held annually in March across Australia. It’s aimed at promoting diversity, respect and inclusiveness. This event is an excellent opportunity for parents to teach their children about different cultures, traditions and customs. The goal is to encourage everyone to appreciate and celebrate differences, and to promote a sense of community and belonging for all.
During Harmony Week, a number of events and activities are held to bring people from different cultures together. These activities include multicultural food festivals, cultural performances, art exhibitions and workshops. Participating in these events helps children to gain a deeper understanding and appreciation of the diverse communities that make up Australia.
As a parent, you can engage your children in discussions about multiculturalism and encourage them to ask questions. Promoting a more harmonious and inclusive society can help children grow up with a greater appreciation for the richness and diversity of Australia's cultural landscape.
This Special Report aims to instil positive values and provide an opportunity to start a conversation with your child about diversity and multiculturalism.
The last couple of weeks have been a bit overwhelming. A new war has broken out in the Middle East, and suddenly the future looks much less certain than it did. Petrol prices are on their way into orbit, and there’s a sense of foreboding that things could get much worse, very quickly. I’m holding my breath, hoping people don’t revert to stockpiling toilet paper! Hopefully, we’ve learned our lesson from the pandemic. But it certainly feels like a movie we’ve seen before.
The irony of the fuel prices going up is that so far, there is no shortage. Supply is exactly the same and has not been interrupted yet. But demand has doubled. We have been panic-buying just in case. The shortage is relative to demand, not relative to our actual needs. So, we’ve done this to ourselves!
But far worse is the violence of war. If we are worried about escalating conflict, we can only guess how hard life must be in Iran. Lord, have mercy. And if things escalate, then high fuel prices won’t be the worst of our problems.
When we feel overwhelmed, the Scriptures invite us to pray. Peter writes, "Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you" (1 Peter 5:7). Paul says, "Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God" (Philippians 4:6). Jesus invites us to pray to God as children ask their parents for what they need: "When you pray, say, 'Our Father in heaven … Give us today our daily bread'" (Matthew 6:11; Luke 11:3). Passage after passage offers us invitation after invitation to go to God with our needs.
The example of Jesus teaches us this, too. Jesus prayed often. When he had a busy day ahead, he prayed. When he was weary from his work, he prayed. When he had a big decision to make, he prayed. Before he chose his disciples, he prayed all night. When he struggled to do his Father’s will, he prayed. When he was crucified, he prayed. He prayed for his friends, for his enemies, for the people of God, for those who did not know God. That Jesus prayed so fervently gives us a clue how and why we should pray.
The outcome of prayer is seen less in getting what we want and more in growing our relationship with God, so we trust that God is with us and still in control. This lightens our hearts and minds, leaving peace in place of fear and anxiety.
Paul tells the Philippians they should pray and give thanks, and then, "The peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus" (Philippians 4:7). No longer will panic overwhelm us, but God’s deep and abiding peace will keep guard over our hearts and minds. Prayer brings us peace.
Grace and peace be with you.
Pastor Matt Wilksch Springfield Chaplain
What's On
A Little Friday Night Music | Friday 20 March
Join us for A Little Friday Night Music! Free entry. All are welcome.
Primary Years
Primary Years News
Building Stronger Relationships Through Restorative Practices
At St Peters, we recognise that conflict is a normal and daily part of school life. In primary years especially, most disagreements arise within friendship groups — often around the rules of a game, shifting relationships, bossiness, misunderstandings, or moments when someone acts mean‑on‑purpose because they’re feeling upset themselves. These situations aren’t signs of failing friendships; they are signs that children are still learning how to navigate social complexity.
To support this learning, St Peters is committed to using Restorative Practices (RP). This approach acknowledges that resolving conflict well takes time, patience, and an understanding of each person’s perspective. Instead of simply assigning blame or issuing quick consequences, we guide students to reflect on what happened, consider how others were affected, and develop a plan to do better next time.
Our commitment to RP is strongly aligned with the work of Adam Voigt, a leading Australian educator and founder of Real Schools. Voigt emphasises the power of RP to build strong, relational school cultures and to help students grow through moments of difficulty. As a former principal and advocate for restorative school communities, he highlights that effective behaviour support comes from relationships, empathy and clear expectations — not punishment.
We know that conflict at school can sometimes lead to tough afternoons at home, especially when a child is feeling unheard, embarrassed, or overwhelmed. Parents can play a vital role by first listening calmly and acknowledging the child’s emotions before jumping to solutions. Gently asking questions such as "What happened next?" or "How did you feel when that happened?" can help children sort through events. Reassuring them that conflict is a normal part of learning builds resilience. Finally, encourage them to think about what they might do differently tomorrow — mirroring the restorative conversations we use at school. This shared approach strengthens their confidence and helps them return to school ready to repair, reconnect and try again.
Thank You to Our Open Day Volunteers
A heartfelt thank you to all the staff, students and parents who generously volunteered their time to support our College Open Day. Whether you were greeting new families, performing in a choir, leading tours, assisting with activities, or sharing personal insights into what it means to be part of our community, your contribution made a significant difference.
Your warmth, energy and dedication helped create a welcoming atmosphere that truly showcased the spirit of our College. It was wonderful to see so many families visiting after hearing such positive things from the wider community. Thanks to your efforts, they were able to experience firsthand the culture, opportunities and sense of belonging that define our College.
We are incredibly grateful for your support in making the day such a success.
Triple P – Session 2
Raising Confident, Capable Children is the topic of the second session of the Triple P course being offered in the Primary Years. Please see below for more details and register via email to c.glass@stpeters.qld.edu.au.
Cameron Glass Acting Head of Primary Years
Junior High
Junior High News
As we approach the final weeks of term, class time is purposeful, assessment tasks are being completed, and students are being asked to demonstrate what they have learned across the term.
During this busy period, classroom engagement is critical. Asking questions, contributing to discussions, and making the most of teacher support make a tangible difference in each student's learning.
Esafety
We are now four months into the social media age restrictions, and this presents a real opportunity for students and families to reflect on habits and priorities. What is becoming clear is that simply removing access is not the solution on its own. The more important work is what replaces it.
Time and again, research points to how digital platforms are designed to capture attention. As noted in recent analysis, "endless feeds are not accidental… they are shaped by design choices that keep users scrolling." Students need to be intentional about how they use their time and where they place their attention.
This is an opportunity to prioritise face-to-face conversations, strengthen friendships in real settings, and be present with family. It is also a time for clear and healthy boundaries at home. Open dialogue between parents and children about device use, expectations and balance is all-important.
Messages for students during the school day
We appreciate that from time to time, last-minute appointments or unexpected changes can arise, and families may need to contact the school during the day. However, passing messages to students can be challenging as classrooms are busy learning environments and interruptions can disrupt lessons. While Junior High Reception will always assist when needed, frequent non-urgent messages can interrupt teaching and impact students’ focus. We kindly ask families to ensure that only urgent messages are sent through Junior High Reception during school hours whenever possible. Where you can, please make after-school arrangements with your child before the start of the day. Thank you for helping us minimise disruptions and keep students focused on their learning.
Max Forbes Head of Junior High
Year 7
This week saw our second cohort session for Year 7 in our Tech Together program, a partnership with the University of Queensland and its researchers on the impacts of screens on teenagers. This week’s sessions focused on internet safety, cyberbullying and protection from online scams and hackers. Key takeaways from this week’s lessons were: think before you post; privacy matters; not everyone online is who they say they are; don't speak about your problems; and kindness and respect apply online, too. There was a focus on communicating with a trusted adult to remind students that they are not alone and that, if they are worried about anything online, they do not need to navigate it alone. We hope that students have learnt some valuable skills to help guide them through the challenges of an online world.
Allie Walsh Year 7 Coordinator
Year 8
Year 8 has had a fantastic Week 8, with several guest speakers addressing wellbeing and healthy habits. On Tuesday, students heard from a presenter from the Shift Clinic, who spoke about developing healthy habits for life. The session focused on how nutrition, sleep, and screen time can influence overall wellbeing.
In Chapel, we were honoured to take part in the commissioning of the new flags. Our Form representatives will take responsibility for raising and lowering these flags next term. They will also oversee the sports equipment loan locker, allowing Year 8 students to borrow equipment during recess throughout Term 2.
Tegan Sutton Year 8 Coordinator
Year 9
Year 9 students completed their NAPLAN assessments over the past week. While the first day presented some widespread technical difficulties across the country, our students demonstrated admirable patience and resilience as the situation was resolved. We were very proud of the mature way they handled the disruption and the focused effort they showed across the remaining testing sessions.
The Junior High House Leadership application process has also recently taken place. This provides an opportunity for students to step forward and represent their House community through service, enthusiasm, and positive example. House Leaders play an important role in encouraging participation at House events, supporting younger students, and helping to build strong House spirit across Junior High. We were pleased to receive a strong number of thoughtful applications, and the successful leaders will be announced in the coming week.
Shaun Berman Year 9 Coordinator
Sport
Rowing Information Evening | Thursday 19 March
Parents of students in Years 8–12 are warmly invited to attend a Rowing Information Evening on Thursday 19 March from 6:30pm to 7:30pm.
Come along to find out more about the St Peters Rowing program, meet our senior coaching team, and ask questions.
This is a fantastic opportunity to learn how your child can get involved in one of the most rewarding sports at the College and be part of a welcoming and supportive community.
Andy Clatworthy and James Chadwick Rowing Coordinators
Cricket End of Season Celebration | Sunday 29 March
Reversible Basketball Uniforms Supported by P&F Grant
We are excited to share that our Basketball program purchased new reversible tournament uniforms, thanks to the generous support of the St Peters Parents & Friends Association.
These uniforms will be, and have been, used across both Junior High and Senior School Years during pre-season tournaments, States, Nationals and other external competitions. The reversible design not only improves efficiency when teams are required to change colours quickly but also reduces the need for multiple sets of playing gear.
We are incredibly grateful to the P&F for their continued support of student sport at St Peters. Their contribution ensures our athletes can represent the College with pride, comfort and professionalism.
On behalf of our Basketball community, thank you to the P&F for helping us elevate the experience for our players.
Georgia Smith Basketball Coordinator
Digital
Digital News
International Robotics Competition
Our secondary school FIRST Robotics Competition (FRC) team, the Rock Bots, recently had a stellar weekend of competition in Sydney at the Southern Cross Regional. 43 teams, including several international teams, worked hard from Friday to Sunday in a large-scale Robotics competition. The playing field is basketball-sized, robots weigh 50 kg or more and travel over 30km/h, and collisions are allowed. Our sturdy robot, Rocky III, performed well despite taking some massive hits that required repairs. Congratulations to our travelling team, non-travelling team, coaches and sponsors for a fantastic start to the year for St Peters Robotics.
During this event, we experienced many challenges and highlights:
Held the event high score for most of Day 1
Reached the semi-finals
First pick team in the 8th place alliance
Won the first-ever award for Rock Bots (Quality Award)
First St Peters student to reach the FIRST Leadership Award semi-finals
First Australian school to receive the FIRST Inspire the Future Award
Rocky III suffered mechanical and electronic damage, all of which was repaired and enhanced
Quality Award
In another outstanding achievement, the Rock Bots received their first-ever award at an FRC competition, the Quality Award. This award celebrates machine robustness in concept and fabrication.
Award Guidelines:
A team must be able to describe their quality plan, i.e. how their design ensures robustness throughout the entire competition.
The entire machine demonstrates quality: workmanship, welds, attachment systems, wiring, paint, etc.
The machine can withstand the rigours of competition — maintaining functionality, including the use of designed-in redundancy and risk mitigation measures.
Building the machine contributes to the team’s success on the field.
Student Leadership Recognition
Year 12 student Jack C (pictured below - centre) has been recognised for his long-standing contribution to Robotics as a FIRST Leadership Award Semi-Finalist, an international award celebrating outstanding student leaders in Robotics. Jack is the first St Peters student to reach semi-finalist status in a FIRST competition, achieving this distinction in both the FIRST Tech Challenge (FTC) and FIRST Robotics Competition (FRC) divisions. Jack completed interviews for both programs, including an in-person interview at the Southern Cross Regional, where judges asked about his leadership style, impact within the school and wider community, and his future aspirations in STEM. Congratulations to Jack on this outstanding achievement.
St Peters Robotics Connections
Jacqueline Jaco and Simon Nitschke, both with strong ties to St Peters Lutheran College, volunteered as judges at the Southern Cross Regional competition over the weekend. Jacqueline, now a Process Engineer at Hatch specialising in metallurgical processes and resource extraction, is a proud St Peters alumna who was first introduced to Robotics in Year 7 by Mr Canfield. Joining her on the judging panel was Simon Nitschke, also from Hatch, a St Peters parent and President of the St Peters Digital Parent Support Group. Their involvement is a wonderful example of the St Peters community in action, with alumni and parents supporting the next generation of students as they explore Robotics, engineering and innovation.
St Peters - Inspire the Future Award
Exciting Robotics news! St Peters has just been recognised as one of 15 schools in the 2026 cohort for the Inspire the Future: FIRST® Recognition Program. St Peters is the first Australian school to receive this accolade. The program recognises 'schools with outstanding commitments to expanding access to FIRST programs in their learning communities.' FIRST Inspire the Future Educator Recognition Program. Our students participate in FIRST LEGO League, FIRST Tech Challenge and FIRST Robotics Competition each year.
There are thousands of schools around the world who take part in FIRST programs each year; 2024–2025 includes:
FIRST Robotics Competition (FRC): ~3,731 teams (high school)
FIRST Tech Challenge (FTC): >109,000 students (middle/high school)
FIRST Lego League (FLL): >650,000 students (ages 4–16)
Girls’ Esports Invitational – Players Wanted!
Do you enjoy gaming, strategy, or competitive play? We are looking for female students to represent the College at an upcoming Girls’ Esports Invitational hosted by St Aidan’s Anglican Girls’ School, Corinda.
To support schools preparing for the inaugural QGSSSA Esports Competition, St Aidan’s has invited teams from across the association to compete in a friendly QGSSSA Esports Invitational on Saturday 28 March from 9:00am – 2:00pm, with awards presented at 1:45pm.
Students will compete in three exciting game zones:
Minecraft Capture the Flag (CTF) – teams of 5 players
Rocket League – individual competitors
Chess.com – individual competitors
Divisions are available for:
Junior: Years 5–6
Senior: Years 7–12
This event is a great opportunity to try Esports, build teamwork and strategy skills, and represent the College in a fun and supportive environment. Whether you’re an experienced gamer or simply curious to try competitive esports, we would love to hear from you.
Extra practice sessions for these games are held on Mondays (Minecraft), Tuesdays (Girls only sessions for all games) and Thursdays (Rocket League).
