Dear Parents and Carers and Families,

This week we celebrate Book Week across Australia, with the CBCA theme for 2026 being Symphony of Stories. It is a lovely theme because it reminds us that every story has its own voice, rhythm and character. Books bring different ideas, people and places together. They open up worlds that children may not otherwise see, and they help build language, imagination, empathy and confidence.

At St Peter’s, we know that reading matters. When children read regularly, and when they are read to, they grow as learners. They hear rich vocabulary, learn how sentences work, meet characters who are different from themselves and begin to see that books can be a source of joy, knowledge and comfort. Even a few minutes of reading each day can make a real difference.

A highlight of the week will be our Book Week Parade on Tuesday morning. Students are invited to come dressed as a favourite book character, or in a way that connects with a book they love. It doesn’t need to be complicated. The heart of the day is about celebrating books, talking about stories and enjoying the excitement that reading can bring.

Thank you to our staff for the work they have put into making Book Week special for the children. I hope our students enjoy the week, discover a new book, revisit an old favourite and keep building the habit of reading for pleasure.

Attendance Matters

One area I have been paying close attention to since arriving at St Peter’s is student attendance. Currently, our attendance rate sits at around 80%, which is well below where we would like it to be. As a school community, we should be aiming for attendance above 90% on a regular basis.

Research consistently shows that students who attend school regularly achieve stronger learning outcomes and experience greater wellbeing and connection to school. Attendance below 90% is recognised as an early indicator that additional support may be needed.

At St Peter’s, learning begins from the moment the school day starts, particularly with our dedicated literacy block each morning. Every day missed is a missed opportunity to learn, grow and connect.

Thank you for your support in making school attendance a priority. Together, we can ensure every child has the best opportunity to succeed.

School Advisory Council

The School Advisory Council meets again this evening. This is our fourth meeting for the year.

The council continues to play an important role in providing feedback and advice on the direction of the school.

Principal’s Report Summary – for School Advisory Council

Over the past term, St Peter's has continued to make strong progress across learning, wellbeing, facilities and school improvement.

A major focus has been strengthening consistency across the school. New class structures, updated routines and a revised timetable have helped create calm, orderly learning environments where students know what to expect and can focus on their learning.

One of the most significant changes has been the introduction of a protected two-hour literacy block each morning. Students now move directly into learning at the start of the day, providing a calm and purposeful beginning while increasing opportunities for explicit literacy instruction and targeted support. Early signs indicate positive impacts on student engagement and learning growth.

Our Catholic identity continues to remain at the heart of school life. Students and families have participated in Masses, sacramental celebrations, parish partnerships and our Feast Day celebrations, helping strengthen faith formation and community connection.

Student wellbeing, behaviour and safeguarding remain key priorities. Staff have undertaken extensive professional learning, while school-wide work on routines, transitions and behaviour expectations is helping create a safe, respectful and productive environment for all students.

We have also seen significant improvements to our facilities. Students in Foundation to Year 2 are now enjoying our newly refurbished Junior School learning spaces, while further work continues as part of the school's Building Masterplan. Recent landscaping, decluttering and presentation improvements have enhanced the overall look and feel of the school.

Thank you to our families for their continued support and engagement. Parent forums, Learning Conversations and community events have provided valuable opportunities to strengthen the partnership between home and school.

Looking ahead, our key priorities remain strengthening literacy outcomes, continuing school improvement initiatives, enhancing student wellbeing and promoting St Peter's to prospective families as we prepare for the future opening of the on-site kindergarten

Sports Equipment at School

To help ensure our playground remains a positive, inclusive and enjoyable place for all students, we ask that sporting equipment is not brought from home. This includes items such as footballs, soccer balls, basketballs, cricket bats, tennis racquets, football cards and similar items.

While students are often keen to share their belongings with friends, experience shows that personal sporting equipment can lead to disagreements about rules, ownership and who is included in games. We also want to avoid situations where items are lost, damaged or become the subject of disputes between students.

The school provides a wide range of sporting equipment for students to use during break times. This helps create a fair and consistent environment where all children can participate and enjoy play with their peers.

Thank you for your understanding and support in helping us maintain a safe, inclusive and positive playground for all students.

I hope you have a great week!

Kind regards,

Paul Bissinella 

Acting Principal 

Upcoming Dates

August 2026

September 2026