St Peters Lutheran School Newsletter

On days like Remembrance Day (and ANZAC Day), people from all around the world are asked to stop and remember the servicemen and women who fought and died for our countries in war. It seems to me that this is a very important thing to do, because for most of the other 364 days in the year, I am probably not that mindful of the incredible valour and sacrifice of these men and women. The way we usually remember is by taking some time out:  whether it is a minute in silence, attending a service, wearing a poppy or even some time in prayer. But it seems to me that the affect of this remembering is often short lived. Come the next day, most of us are not consciously mindful of these people. Remembering is a once or twice a year event. In 2 Timothy 2:8 Paul says to his friend Timothy to; “Remember Jesus Christ, raised from the dead, descended from David.”  What does Paul mean here by the word “remember”? Does Paul want Timothy and us to stop once in a while (maybe once a year) and have a minute silence? Does Paul want us merely to recall Jesus in our minds?

To remember Jesus Christ involves thinking and meditating about Jesus, but it goes beyond that. Remembering Jesus means a continuous, conscious orientation of your life. In other words, we are not just to remember Jesus once in a while, but continuously. Remembering implies living the way Jesus taught us to live.  Martin Luther suggested, “When you wash your face, remember your Baptism”.  In other words, allow him to be at the forefront of your thinking as often as possible and in so doing remember whose you are, that you are saved, forgiven and loved beyond measure.

Life is so busy. We are all time poor. There is so much to see and do.  And when it comes to living out my faith, I can be pretty lazy. But it seems to me that remembering Jesus, and what he did for us, may just about be the most important key to living well. Perhaps a good start is to regularly wash your face!

So remember Jesus: Lest We Forget.

Adapted from A devotional blog - by Mike Everett (Fervr.com)

Mark Rathjen
Principal

Hopefully you have all been actively engaged with our Instagram and Facebook pages and noticed some changes with a new profile logo and new photos complete with our logo and theme “Grow with us”.  Earlier this year at our 20th anniversary celebrations we launched “Grow with us” as our theme coming from the four pillars of our strategic plan forming the acronym GROW.  Our motto, God in All Things, remains the same and heads our strategic plan.

G    God in All Things

R    Relationships

O    Ownership

W    Wellbeing

In third term, we engaged Linda Theel to help us with a marketing strategy and operational plan going forward. Part of this was a logo refresh that used the new theme and revised logo for use on posters, publications and in our online platforms.  Mark Thomas, a former parent of the school and well known graphic designer has been developing this theme and will continue to work with us. We have also recently had a videographer visit the school and new photos taken that will be incorporated into our theme in due course.  Some plans for next year involve improving signage around the school and developing a style guide for consistent use of the school brand together with updates to our website.  Whenever possible I encourage you to share St Peters theme of “Grow with us”.

Yours in Christ
Tim Geue
Chair School Council

It was great to see everyone at this year’s PYP exhibition. The students worked hard presenting an engaging, collaborative inquiry identifying, investigating and offering solutions to real-life issues and problems. The Exhibition offers our students the following opportunities:

• for students to engage in an in depth, collaborative inquiry
• to demonstrate independence and responsibility for their own learning
• to explore multiple perspectives
• to synthesize and apply their learning of previous years and to reflect upon their journey through the PYP
• for teachers to engage in an authentic process for assessing student understanding
• to demonstrate how students can take action as a result of their learning
• to unite the students, teachers, parents and other members of the school community in a collaborative experience that incorporates the essential elements of the PYP
• to celebrate the transition of learners from primary to middle/secondary education.

To begin the evening, the senior students introduced the big idea of this year’s Exhibition through a song “Do Something” that encouraged us to be the action we want in our world.

The students then had the opportunity to showcase their inquiry, talk to parents and other students and answer any questions. It was delightful to be able to see the connections the children had made with the central idea, the concepts, the Learner Profile and action components of the PYP.

Issues ranged from Vaccinations and Sustainability to Education and the need for more Arts subjects! The students were passionate and knowledgeable about their chosen central ideas and had many thought provoking and action inspiring conversations.

Our school mission states that we as a school encourage global consciousness, responsible action and lifelong learning and that is exactly what we saw on Wednesday night as the students unpacked many issues that are important and relevant to themselves and the society we live in. As we are all lifelong learners, I do hope that the presentations left you compelled to take some action of your own on an issue that you are passionate about.

Well done to all the students, teachers, mentors and families involved in this process.

Bronwyn Wilson
PYP Coordinator

Parents, our end of year STOCKTAKE is fast approaching. This is to inform you that overdue notices were sent home yesterday and to remind everyone when school resources, that are used at home, need to be returned by.

If you have library books they need to be returned to the Library by Wednesday 27th November (Week 7).

If you have readers and/or Reception and Year 1/2 card sets please make sure they are returned to your child’s classroom, Room 9 or 10, by Tuesday 3rd December (Week 8).

The Library will be closed for student borrowing from Monday, 25th November (Week 7). As of this date we are open for returns only. This is in preparation for the Stocktake, which starts on Friday 29th November (Week 7).

From Week 7 students are encouraged to bring their own reading material to school for silent reading in the classroom. Please make sure these items are named as we do get unnamed items “returned” to the library.

Classroom Libraries will also be available to “borrow” from at this time but it is preferred that these items remain at school in readiness for the stocktake and because the end of the year is also fast approaching.

Thank you for your cooperation at this very busy time of year.

Mrs Sharon Smith
Resource Centre

THE LAST SCHOLASTIC BOOK CLUB ISSUE FOR 2019!

ORDERS DUE: Thursday 21st November 2019

Every purchase from Scholastic Book Club helps the school to buy extra resources.

The last Scholastic Book Club Issue for 2019 has gone home today. LOOP orders are now open. The closing date is 21st November 2019 @ 4pm. This will allow time for orders to be received and distributed before the last day of the school year, Tuesday 10th December 2019.

Orders and payments for Book Club can only be made online using the Scholastic LOOP platform. This will ensure that students get their orders, which are delivered to school for free, and that the correct payment is received. Please use the link to register and start your order www.scholastic.com.au/loop

LOOP is also available as an app, for both apple and Android devices.

THIS IS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO DO SOME CHRISTMAS SHOPPING. But, please, if you do not want your order to be delivered VIA your child process as a GIFT ORDER when using the Scholastic LOOP.   Mrs Sharon Smith will contact you when your order is available for collection.

Cash payments are no longer available at St Peters.

Thank you to everyone who has ordered from Book Club in 2019.  20% of what you spend has gone back to St Peters. Your support, in ordering from Book Club, has allowed the school to buy additional library books and teaching resources for the students to use.

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