From the Principal's Desk

Our year 13 students are currently preparing for their last examinations and for their future lives ahead. They have not had the best year, it was certainly not the year they had planned for. No Bishop’s Shield, two postponements of the senior ball, shortened sports seasons, lockdown away from the support of their teachers and friends. What they do have however is “hope.” Being graduates of St Peter’s College they will leave our school with a sense of community and purpose. They will have “hope” that life is ok, and they can get through the struggles in life. “Hope” that we can be grateful for the gifts of this world and life in general. “Hope” is the quality of seeing in the dark and getting on with life. Day after day despite all that has happened.

I was very privileged this week to attend both the Senior A Netball team dinner and the Netball Committee prizegiving. To see our young women come together and celebrate each other’s hard work, commitment and achievements was a great way to end off the term.

I was particularly impressed and encouraged to see that all members of the Senior A Netball team give back to their school and “little sisters” by either coaching a junior team and/or umpiring. Long may this tradition continue. We were also very lucky to hear some inspirational stories from the guest speaker, Reinga Bloxham. A huge thank you goes out to Erin Wilson and her Netball Committee for organising these events and for ensuring Netball ran so smoothly this year. Thank you also to Mrs Janelle Conlan and Mrs Carolyn Hunter, teachers who very humbly give up their time for our students to ensure they can play Netball and experience top coaching and management.

As we look towards term four, we look towards our upcoming planning and to celebrating our students and staff who will be leaving us soon. This is a time of both excitement for the future and sadness as we say our goodbyes. I would like to take this opportunity to thank Mrs Kathryn Pinckney who is resigning from the sports coordinator role at the end of this year. Fortunately for us she will be remaining on staff as a Teacher Aide. Kathryn has worked tirelessly through the ups and downs of the changing of alert levels and what this meant for sports fixtures and tournaments, sometimes having things changed with only 24 hours’ notice. She always kept the students at the heart of the matter to ensure they could participate in all of the sporting opportunities available and we will be forever grateful for her efforts.

This week you have had two online surveys sent out to you so please check your email inbox for these. The first is a request for your thoughts and ideas for a parent evening on ways we can help our young people become more resilient. The second is a request for your feedback on PBL (Project based learning). We really value our parent voice and hope you can make time to share your views.

Lastly I wish you all a happy and restful break and that we come back in term four renewed and reinvigorated.

Tara Quinney
Principal