Welcome!

A message from the Principal

Harmony Week Celebration 

Last Tuesday 17 March, we hosted an incredible Harmony Week Celebration at school from 5:00–6:30pm. It was fantastic to see our community come together to celebrate the rich cultures present at St Peter’s, with such a strong turnout from families. 

The generosity shown in sharing culture, food and stories was something we should all be very proud of. From the powerful Smoking Ceremony and didgeridoo performance to the outstanding Bendigo Chinese Association Lion Dancers that concluded the evening, it was a truly memorable event for all involved. 

I would like to sincerely thank Ms Price, Mrs Whiteacre, Mr Wilkinson and Madi Hall for their leadership in organising such a wonderful evening and for bringing our community together in such a meaningful way. 

A heartfelt thank you also to all of our staff, who stayed, supported and contributed to making the night such a success. Events like this are only possible because of the dedication and care of our incredible team. 

Ride2School Day – Friday 20 March 

Last Friday, we celebrated National Ride2School Day, and it was fantastic to see so many members of our community join us at the RSL carpark to walk, ride or scoot to school. Thank you to everyone who participated and supported this initiative. It was a great way to promote healthy habits, build community connection, and start the day in a positive way. 

NAPLAN 

NAPLAN concludes today, Monday 23 March, after two weeks of testing. Well done to all of our Year 3 and Year 5 students who participated. Parents and carers, you should be very proud of the way your children approached the tests and the effort they put in. 

We now look forward to receiving the results later in the year, which will be shared with both families and the school once available. 

A big thank you to Mrs Whiteacre for her leadership of NAPLAN this year, and to all staff who supported our students throughout the testing period. 

School Photos 

School Photos will be taken this week on Wednesday 25 March. 

Students will have both individual and class photos taken, and there is also an option for family photos for those who are interested. Please ensure students are in full summer school uniform on the day. If you have any questions or need assistance with ordering, please contact Bridgid, Carmel or Kate in the office. 

St Peter’s Cross Country – Friday 27 March 

This Friday, 27 March, we will be holding our St Peter’s Cross Country event. Over the past few weeks, students have been building their skills and stamina during Physical Education classes, and we are excited to see them put their efforts into action. 

The event will take place during the middle session (12:30pm–1:30pm). Our Junior students will run on a course around the ovals, while our Middle and Senior students will complete a course that includes the oval, soccer pitch, and areas around the school boundary. 

We are also excited to welcome students from CMC, who will be supporting the running of the day. 

Parents and families are warmly invited to attend and support our students throughout the event. 

Event Schedule (Approximate Times): 

• 12:30pm – 12+ years (2 laps around school)  
• 12:40pm – 11 years (2 laps around school)  
• 12:50pm – 10 years (1 lap around school)  
• 12:55pm – 9 years (1 lap around school)  
• 1:00pm – Grade 2 (2 laps of both ovals)  
• 1:05pm – Grade 1 (1 lap of both ovals)  
• 1:10pm – Foundation (1 lap of both ovals)  

Boys and girls will run together, with results recorded for the first 3 place-getters in Prep–2 and the first 5 place-getters in the 9–12 age groups. 

Presentations will take place at our end-of-day assembly (3:00pm). We look forward to a fantastic day of participation, encouragement, and school spirit. Best of luck to all of our runners! 

Senior Unit Caritas Fundraiser 

At our assembly at the end of Week 7, our Year 5/6 students shared their plans to run a Caritas Fundraiser in the final week of term. This will take place on Wednesday 1 April, with a range of stalls and activities organised and led by our senior students. We encourage students to bring along a few coins (if possible) to support this wonderful cause as part of our Lenten journey of giving and compassion. 

Upcoming Dates to Note 

• School Advisory Committee – Monday 23 March Our School Advisory Committee will meet at St Peter’s from 5:30–6:30pm. 
• Last Day of Term – Holy Thursday, 2 April The final day of Term 1 will be Thursday 2 April, with a 2:15pm finish. On this day: 
• Our Easter Raffle will be drawn at assembly  
• Students will take part in an Easter Hat Parade (hats can be made at school during break times or at home)  
• Assembly will begin at approximately 1:30pm (confirmation to come next week)  

Easter Term Holidays 

Our Easter break will commence on Thursday, 2nd April, marking the end of Term 1. 

Students will return for Term 2 on Tuesday, 21st April. This slightly extended break allows staff across the Sandhurst Diocese to engage in professional learning with distinguished educational speakers from around the world, supporting continued improvement in teaching and learning at our school. 

We hope all families enjoy a restful and enjoyable Easter break, and we look forward to welcoming everyone back refreshed for Term 2. Please mark these dates in your calendar if you haven’t already. 

Prayer for Lent 

Loving God, 

Help us during this season of Lent to be people of kindness and generosity. 

Teach us to notice those who need help and to act with caring hearts. 

Guide us to make good choices, to share what we have, and to treat others with respect. 

May we grow closer to You by the way we love and care for one another each day. 

Amen. 

God Bless,

Jeremy Darmody

Principal