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It is hard to believe we are already into Term 4 of school, with so many wonderful events and learning opportunities ahead! We ask that you continue to check the newsletter each week and Compass notifications throughout this busy term to make sure you don’t miss anything.
WELCOME TO NEW FAMILIES
| Year 1 Green | Lennox Rayner |
| Year 2 Blue | Jack Rayner |
| Year 3 Red | Isabelle Perfrement |
| Year 4 Green | Tian Bosch |
| Year 5 Blue | Archer Fox-Philp |
| Year 5 Red | Benjamin Dawson |
| Year 6 Blue | Ruben Bosch |
| Year 6 Blue | Zachary Worthington |
WELCOME TO TRAINING TEACHERS
During Term 4, we welcome University students who are training to complete their qualifications and practice experiences for teaching. Completing their teaching practicums at St Peter’s are Jade Garland in 3 Green and Jasper Schultz in 4 Blue. We wish them well as they are supported by our wonderful teachers to hone their skills and prepare to complete their studies.
STAFF CULTURAL LEARNING
Our Staff Development Day on Monday this week gave our staff a special opportunity to visit local significant Aboriginal cultural sites in Port Macquarie and surrounding areas, led by Birpai elder Uncle Bill O’Brien, our Indigenous Education Worker Leanne Parsons, and the Indigenous Education Worker at St Joseph’s Nikki Parsons. This experience was designed to support our staff in building cultural awareness and respect for the history of Indigenous people of the Birpai nation so that we can more effectively integrate learning into school curriculum and work towards reconciliation. We are very grateful to Uncle Bill, Leanne and Nikki for sharing their wisdom and knowledge.
Blackmans Point...
Rollands Plains ...
Cowarra Dam ...
Mrs Yorks Garden ...
Town Green ...
MISSION
SOCKTOBER = CRAZY SOCKS FOR MISSIONS
As part of the Catholic missions month of October we are raising money for children’s education and food in Zambia. Come dressed in your school uniform with your crazy socks and a gold coin donation for charity next Friday.
TELL THEM FROM ME PARENT SURVEY
The Tell Them From Me (TTFM) Student Survey gathers students’ perspectives on their learning, engagement, wellbeing, and school experiences. It helps schools understand how students feel about their education and identify areas for improvement to support positive outcomes. Students in Years 4, 5 and 6 at St Peter’s completed the survey in Term 2. Each week this Term a snapshot of this data will be shared. Student focus and feedback groups in Years 4-6 will be facilitated with students this Term to further unpack the survey data.
SCHOOL COMMUNITY GROUP (SCG)
The SCG is a welcoming way for parents and carers to be involved in school life. Meeting once a Term, the group shares updates, provides feedback, and strengthens the connection between home, school, and parish.
Meetings include a short 5-minute parent learning session, and agenda items are due in the day before, on Monday 20th October. Add your agenda items via the Google document below.
School Community Group Agenda Item - Link
PARENT FACTSHEET
CHANGES TO SOCIAL MEDIA FOR UNDER 16'S
From 10 December 2025, Australian law changes the rules for anyone under 16 using social media. This downloadable, short, student-friendly guide explains exactly what’s happening, why it matters, and what you can do right now to protect your content and your digital rights. This guide helps students, parents, and educators understand the new national minimum-age requirements for platforms such as Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat, Facebook, YouTube, and X (Twitter) and more. It breaks down the law in plain language no jargon, no fear, just facts.
Student Guide - Changes to Social Media U/16's
LEARNING
CELEBRATING READING FLUENCY AND GROWTH
At St Peter’s, we are committed to ensuring every student reaches their full potential. A key part of this commitment involves closely tracking and utilising student data to inform our classroom practice, guide interventions, and ensure effective differentiation within the classroom. This ongoing analysis allows us to tailor our teaching to meet the specific needs of our students.
This year, our staff have placed a particular focus on closely tracking reading fluency across all primary grades. Reading fluency is a critical skill that bridges decoding (sounding out words) and comprehension (understanding what is read). It involves reading text accurately, with appropriate speed, and expression. Within the classroom, our specific focus has been on three key elements of fluency:
- Accuracy: This is the ability to correctly identify and pronounce words in a text. Accurate readers make very few errors.
- Prosody: This refers to reading with appropriate expression, rhythm, and tone, much like natural speech. It includes using proper phrasing, pausing at punctuation, and varying one's voice to reflect the meaning of the text. Prosodic reading is a strong indicator that a student understands what they are reading.
- Speaking Speed (Rate): This is the pace at which a student reads. The goal is not to read too fast, but to read at a smooth, conversational rate that allows for comprehension.
THE POWER OF READING ALOUD AT HOME
Developing strong reading fluency requires regular practice. We encourage all parents to continue supporting this goal at home. Regular oral reading is one of the most effective ways to build fluency. When your child reads aloud to you, they are practicing accuracy, prosody, and speed, and you are providing valuable support and encouragement. Spending even a few minutes each day listening to your child read, or reading to them, significantly boosts their confidence and skill development.
CELEBRATING EXCELLENCE AND GROWTH
We are incredibly proud of the hard work and progress our students have demonstrated in reading this year. To celebrate their consistent efforts, we will be awarding one student per class who has shown both academic excellence and significant growth in reading throughout Term 3. We look forward to celebrating their dedication and achievement on Friday, Week 4 (November 7th).
Thank you for your ongoing support of your child's learning journey.
 Tess Koning Principal |
 Karen Robson Assistant Principal Learning |
 Rebecca Cameron Assistant Principal Mission |
ENHANCING SPORT THROUGH FAITH
NSWPSSA
We wish Bonnie Mann, Jai Davis, Nixon Smith, Albi Winters, Mason Pope, Hunter Pociask, Amelia Opitz, Billy Bright, James Millwarde and Eliza Ziade the very best at the NSWPSSA Athletics Championships next week. To reach this level is an amazing achievement. The goal for all students is to have a PB. Making the NSW State Team is a bonus.
ELECTIVE SPORTS
COMPASS EVENT CLOSE TONIGHT
Elective Sports will close tonight, and any students who haven’t been registered will be placed in School Sports. The Elective Sports Program will kick off in Week 3 and will run for 4 weeks. The program provides opportunities for students to get out and be active. A big thank you to Mrs Grant and Mrs Hickson for your amazing work with the program. There is a huge amount of planning, and year after year, they do it so wonderfully well.
SUMMER SPORTS
Summer Sports for Years 4 and 5 are about to commence. A huge thank you to the huge number of students who have trialled for the sports. Good luck to all students competing.
Monday, October 20- Cricket @ Kempsey
Monday, October 27- Tennis @ Kendall
Monday, October 27- Basketball @ Port Macquarie
Monday, November 3- Touch Football @ Kempsey
BASKETBALL NSW GALA DAY
We have had 25 boys trial for the Basketball NSW Gala Day. Mr Post and I have been blown away by the outstanding commitment of the boys over the 3 tryout sessions this week. The improvemnet of all boys has also been amazing, with Mr Post giving tips and each boy taking that on board. A Compass notification will be sent out early next week for this event for the 10 boys who made the team.
KINDER SPORT FOR THE TERM
Recently, we were successful in being awarded a grant of $2800.00 from Sporting Schools. The grant gives us an opportunity to bring in specific coaches to teach students the specific skills of a wide range of sports. Kindy students will kick off next week and for the next four weeks with Soccer. Following the four-week Soccer program, Kindy will then participate in a four-week program of basketball.
WHO WANTS TO PLAY VOLLEYBALL
A huge thank you to Mia Markou (Year 5) for suggesting to me if we could have a volleyball competition. For many terms now, volleyball has been very popular, and the two courts have been heavily used. Therefore, and thanks again to Mia, on Monday, I will be asking for any Years 5 and 6 students who would like to be part of a lunchtime Volleyball competition. I foresee the competition commencing in Week 4, and it will be another fantastic opportunity to get out and active, meet new friends, smile and enjoy sport.
AROUND THE GROUNDS
WELL DONE ADDISON
Recently, Addison Vella (Year 4) and her team, Crush, competed in The Cheercon States Competition. Her team trained really hard, and they came first and hit zero (which means no deductions in their routine) in a tough competition in the Junior Novice division.
THE SPORTING ROAD AHEAD ...
| Zone Summer Sports - Cricket | Monday 20th October | @ Kempsey - Private Transport |
| NSWPSSA Athletics |
Wednesday, October 23rd and Thursday, October 24th |
@ Sydney |
| Zone Summer Sports - Basketball | Monday 27th October | @ PMQ - Private Transport |
| Basketball NSW Gala Day | Thursday 30th October | @ Coffs Harbour - Private Transport |
| Zone Summer Sports - Touch Football | Monday 3rd November | @ Kempsey - Bus |
| Lismore Diocese Summer Sports Trials | Friday 7th November | @ Lismore - Private Transport |
A Compass Notification has been sent to parents for Year 6 Camp
Please Consent and complete by 18th October, 2025
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Registration to Sydney Academy of Sport & Recreation Centre
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Treetops Adventure Waiver
CHANGES WILL COMMENCE
MONDAY 20TH OCTOBER
SCHOOL BUS S403 - AM SERVICE
SCHOOL BUS S529 - SERVICE
This fortnight our PBS focus is Being a Learner. We are encouraging students to stay positive when faced with challenges and to see mistakes as opportunities to learn and grow.
In class, students will be revisiting their Zones of Regulation toolbox. This helps them practise strategies to calm their bodies and minds, especially as we move into a busy time of year. Some of the strategies we are focusing on include:
- Breathing exercises to calm down and reset
- Size of the problem to help match reactions to the size of the issue
- Stop, Opt, Go for pausing and making positive choices
- Superflex thinking to encourage flexible and helpful thinking
- Sensory strategies such as movement, fidgets, or quiet time to regulate emotions
By refreshing these tools, we hope to support students in managing their emotions, building resilience, and feeling confident as they prepare for the transition into a new school year.
We encourage parents to continue these conversations at home by asking your child which strategies they find most helpful and how they might use their toolbox when faced with challenges.
Parent tip: Next time your child feels upset, try taking three deep breaths together or ask them, “What tool from your toolbox could help right now?”
Sharni Geary- Leader of PBS
WEEKLY BORROWING
Please note the following changes to the library borrowing timetable for Term 4.
Amanda Ayres
| Kindergarten Red | Kindergarten Blue | Kindergarten Green |
| Oakley Smith Rebecca Everson Kailey Stevenson |
Henry Pursell Charli Palmer Connor Johnson Sophie Davenport |
Rylan Hunt Matilda Mein Riley Cartwright |
| Year 1 Red | Year 1 Blue | Year 1 Green |
| Leo Van Der Veer Malia Kernahan Coen Watts |
Jemima Gallo Callen Whitehouse Theodore Burgmann |
Lennox Rayner Vinnie Humphrey Poppy Wilson |
| Year 2 Red | Year 2 Blue | Year 2 Green |
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Zara Ruming |
Jack Rayner |
Zoe Harrison Manaia Fitzpatrick Parker Stevenson |
| Year 3 Red | Year 3 Blue | Year 3 Green |
| Milla Pitts Eva Kearns Samuel Zhong |
Rosie Temoso Jack McAllister Aiden Close |
Patrick McAllister Isabelle O'Donnell Lennox Shipway |
| Year 4 Red | Year 4 Blue | Year 4 Green |
| Patrick Duffy Zahli Kee Ava Lorenz |
Parker Smith Hana Stevens Milla Luck |
Cleo Campbell Jett Fuller Finn Scaysbrook |
| Year 5 Red | Year 5 Blue | Year 5 Green |
| Olivia Jones Cruze Alley Will Furney |
Archer Fox- Philp James Farrell Alfred Norman |
Noah Walters Finn Cowan Zeke Boulet |
| Year 6 Red | Year 6 Blue | Year 6 Green |
| Sandon Lickley Milla Campbell Owen Mitchell |
Jaxon Cerato Zachary Worthington Ruben Bosch |
Jack Garvin Luke Ledbrook Chloe Trimmer |
Flexischools orders close at 8.30am !!
Click on the picture below to read the Menu
Canteen Roster
- Volunteer Working With Children Check required
- Please sign into Who's On Location (St Peter's sign in) at the front school office.
Canteen Roster - Week 2 Term 4
| Monday | Kristie Jarrett |
| Tuesday | Jodie Brindle and Simone Roods |
| Wednesday | Karen Green and Jo Sexton |
| Thursday | Alix Blakeley, Clare McManus, Jo Maher and Michaella Edwards |
| Friday | Jodie Brindle, Beck Munday, Daniele Barrois and Emma Dwyer |
| Saturday 18th October |
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| Sunday 19th October |
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| Monday 20th October |
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| Tuesday 21st October |
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| Wednesday 22nd October |
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| Thursday 23rd October |
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| Friday 24th October |
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Week 3, Term 4
| Monday 27th October |
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| Tuesday 28th October |
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| Wednesday 29th October |
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| Thursday 30th October |
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| Friday 31st October |
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STAFF DEVELOPMENT DAYS AND PUBLIC HOLIDAY
Last Day for Students - Tuesday 16th December
Staff Development Day - Wednesday 17th December - Pupil Free
2026 Junior State Cup Player Nominations
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