Last term in Chapel, Years 7–10 looked at some of the 'heroes' of the Bible, people like David, Abraham, and Noah, whose stories take up whole chapters, even books. They're leaders, warriors, kings. People whose faith seems bold and impressive.

But recently, one of our students shared a reflection on someone quite different: Anna. Her story appears in just three verses in the Gospel of Luke. She’s not famous. She doesn’t lead armies or perform miracles. She’s elderly, widowed, and spends her days in the temple, praying, fasting, and worshipping.

It’s easy to miss someone like Anna. But that’s precisely the point.

Luke 2:36–38 tells us:

"There was also a prophet, Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was very old; she had lived with her husband seven years after her marriage and then was a widow until she was eighty-four. She never left the temple but worshipped night and day, fasting and praying. Coming up to them at that very moment, she gave thanks to God and spoke about the child to all who were looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem."

This seemingly small detail in the Bible offers something profound. Anna is a prophet (something quite rare in itself for a woman of that time), and her response to the arrival of Jesus is immediate and overflowing with joy. After decades of prayerful waiting, she sees the infant Christ and knows: this is the one. The long-awaited Messiah. The fulfilment of every promise.

Her life hadn’t been easy. She had experienced loss. And yet, her response wasn’t bitterness or despair, but deep, hopeful worship.

In Chapel, students were invited to consider what our own lives say about what we value. If someone could only observe how we spend our time, what would they learn about us?

In a world that tells us our worth is found in performance, appearance, or popularity, Anna offers a counter-image: a quiet, faithful life rooted in seeking God.

We all invest our time in things that matter to us — school, sport, music, work, friendships, even just keeping up with daily demands. These aren’t bad things. But they can’t carry the full weight of our identity. When challenges come — stress, disappointment, insecurity, grief — what holds us up?

Anna reminds us that even in weakness, we are seen. Even in obscurity, we are valuable. She didn’t make herself the centre of the story. She pointed others to Jesus. That’s what made her significant.

As we reflect on this term’s Chapel theme, her story gently but powerfully challenges us. Are we chasing strength that the world recognises, or are we rooted in something deeper? Do we define ourselves by how well we’re doing, or by the God who knows us, loves us, and sustains us?

One quote that was shared in Chapel, from John Newton (the writer of the hymn 'Amazing Grace'), captures the heart of this message:

"I am not what I ought to be, I am not what I want to be, I am not what I hope to be in another world; but still I am not what I once used to be, and by the grace of God I am what I am."

May we be a school community that remembers that. In all our striving, study, and activity, our true strength is not found in being impressive but in being known and loved by God.

Peter Schmidhauser
Junior High Chaplain

You’ve likely heard about Australia’s new social media laws, which come into effect on 10 December 2025. These world-first age restrictions are designed to protect young Australians during a critical stage of their development.

From this date, social media platforms will be legally required to take reasonable steps to prevent anyone under the age of 16 from creating or maintaining an account. The aim is simple: to reduce the risks and create a safer digital environment for young people to face online.

Supporting Your Family Through this Change

These changes may spark strong feelings for some young people — frustration, worry, or even anger — particularly if social media is part of their daily social life. Here are some ways parents can help make this transition smoother:

• Start the conversation early. Don’t wait until 10 December! Talk with empathy and curiosity about your child’s social media use and the reasons for the new laws. Emphasise that these changes are about protection, not punishment.
• Phase out social media. Gradually reducing your child’s time on social media, rather than stopping suddenly, can help ease negative feelings.
• Explore healthy alternatives. Help your child find other ways to stay connected with friends and engage in activities that are age-appropriate.
• Reset digital habits. This is an ideal moment to review your family’s tech use, online safety settings, and device routines. More information on Family Technology Agreements here.
• Stay firm but supportive. Some teens may look for 'workarounds' such as using another person’s ID, creating hidden accounts, or using VPNs. Help them to understand why this isn’t a good idea and the risks that come with it.
• Use parental controls wisely. Avoid early downloads of restricted apps and take advantage of family safety settings and tools available on most devices, such as parental controls.

How St Peters is Supporting this Change

At St Peters, we’re actively supporting families as these laws take effect. We’ll be running parent and student information sessions, updating our Technology and Wellbeing Guides, and sharing practical resources via Firefly.

This topic will also be included in Curriculum and Online Safety lessons, ensuring students receive age-appropriate guidance and education around safe and responsible digital behaviour.

A webinar for parents of students in Years 4–9 will also be held on Wednesday 22 October at 7:00pm. More information is available via the College Calendar.

Find Out More

For further details, visit the eSafety Commissioner website and the Tech and Wellbeing page on Firefly.

Together, we can help our young people enjoy a safer, healthier digital world.

Rachael Yates
eLearning Coordinator

Primary Years Semester 2 Sport Photos (and additional Secondary Years Sport Photos) will be taken Monday 20 October in Café 45. 

Please click here for the schedule.

Primary Years students are to be dressed in their Sport Uniform (PE shorts and PE Shirt). Secondary Years students are to be dressed in full formal uniform, including a blazer and tie.

Cocurricular (Sport) personalised order forms will be emailed to families in the coming weeks. Please follow the instructions in the email.

Additional information regarding photos can be found on Firefly. Please click here.

Uniform fittings can now be conveniently booked online! Parents and caregivers can take advantage of our new, streamlined booking process to easily secure a uniform fitting time that suits their schedule.

Simply click the booking link below or scan the QR code to make your appointment. This new system ensures a smooth and efficient experience for all families.

Link: https://www.schoolinterviews.com.au/code/qxeys
Event code: qxeys

Parking in accordance with all road rules and signage is important to keep our children and other road users safe. Unfortunately, Brisbane City Council has received an increase in the number of reports of illegal parking around our school. As a result, our school has been added to the Council’s Safer Schools Program this term.

What does this mean?

Brisbane City Council’s Parking Compliance Officers will be actively patrolling the streets surrounding our school during Term 4 to encourage safer parking behaviours. These patrols will be conducted on foot and in highly visible Community Safety and Regulation vehicles that can identify alleged offences using Automatic Number Plate Recognition and GPS software. Please be kind — they have a job to do.

What are the common parking signs around schools?

A guide to common parking signs around school zones can be found on the Brisbane City Council website by searching the term 'School Parking’'

Traffic Congestion Around Indooroopilly

At the beginning of each term, we experience significant congestion in the streets surrounding our Indooroopilly campus, with an increasing number of parents opting to drive their children to and from school. This impacts the timely running of our bus services and puts extra pressure on pick-up zones on Lambert Road and Harts Road. This usually settles down by Week 3. We kindly ask for your patience during this period and remind you to please remember the following:

• Observe and adhere to all parking signage instructions and road rules. If we all do the right thing, we can help keep the traffic moving around this suburb, which also allows our buses to arrive/depart on time.
• Do not stop/park on yellow lines at any time.
• Do not park or leave your vehicle in Loading Zones. This interrupts the flow of traffic through that zone.
• Lambert Road Pedestrians – do not walk across the driveway on Lambert Road. Please walk up the Shared Zone near Kiss'n'Go. Dashing across the driveway as vehicles turn in/out creates a serious hazard for both you and your children and disrupts the movement of traffic along Lambert Road.
• Parking on footpaths is illegal.
• Do not double or triple park even in the side streets, e.g. Dennis Street
• Be aware of Shared Zone markings in and around the College.
• Arriving just 10–15 minutes later has a huge impact. All streets are usually completely clear just 20 minutes after the final bell.
• Parents/carers must not enter the College grounds to drop off/pick up between 7:00am – 8:15am or 2:30pm – 3:30pm without written permission from the College (e.g. for students with large music instruments).
• Be respectful to staff.

For more information, please see the Traffic Safety guidelines below:

Traffic Safety Guidelines - Click Here

您孩子的安全需要我们每个人的努力

Thank you.

Nicola Britton
Community Engagement Officer

Families with children currently enrolled at St Peters Lutheran College who wish to enrol a sibling in the following year levels are kindly reminded to submit an online application before the end of Term 4.

• Prep 2027
• Year 5 2028
• Year 7 2029

Due to high demand for places, all sibling applications must be received by Wednesday, 3 December 2025.

Nicole McMahon
Admissions Manager

Join us for the 2025 St Peters Golf Day!

Brookwater Golf & Country Club, 1 Tournament Drive, Brookwater
Sunday 2 November, 11:30am – 7:00pm
Cost: $160.00/player
Ambrose Competition

Catch up with friends or make new ones during a spectacular day on the green in support of St Peters Service Learning projects.

About the Course

The Brookwater Golf & Country Club boasts a Greg Norman signature golf course. Greg’s inspired design makes each hole a perfect mix of challenge and playability. Thanks to recent renovations that have restored the course to its original design, the Brookwater golf course layout is better than ever. The 18-hole, par 72 championship golf course will challenge and inspire, with its signature bunkering and inclusion of natural waterways.

Supporting our Students

All funds raised will go towards the College’s Service Learning Program. Each year, our students go above and beyond to support a range of causes close to their hearts, and the 2025 St Peters Golf Day will provide a welcome boost to their efforts.

Ticket includes: Motorised buggy, 18 holes of championship golf, lunch and after-round burgers, and a complimentary drink.

Tickets available via Eventbrite

During the final week of the school holidays, 13 Year 11 students completed their Gold Residential Project at Ironbark for the Duke of Edinburgh Award. Over five days, the group worked together on a range of meaningful service and maintenance projects that contributed to the ongoing care of the property. Their tasks included retrieving, repainting, and replacing Rogaine barrels used for navigation activities, removing truckloads of invasive and harmful weeds, and assisting with general upkeep and farm duties across the site.

Beyond the physical work, the week provided a valuable opportunity for students to develop teamwork, leadership, and independence. Many participants forged strong connections and lasting friendships with peers from both the Indooroopilly and Springfield campuses, bonding through shared challenges and experiences. The Gold Residential Project was not only a chance to give back to the Ironbark community but also a rewarding way to contribute to their Duke of Edinburgh Award journey. Many thanks to all the staff at Ironbark for making this experience possible and so memorable.

Blake G, Jonny S, and Mia H

Year 12 Students

Year 12 students are moving through the final stretch of their school journey, bringing a time of reflection, anticipation, and excitement — for both students and parents. This time marks the culmination of years of hard work, late nights, early mornings, and the balancing act that comes with involvement in the many facets of life at St Peters.

Take a moment amidst this revision and exams to celebrate how far your child has come. Completing Year 12 is an achievement in itself, and everyone has grown immensely throughout this journey.

Remember to celebrate this milestone together and encourage your sons and daughters to look forward to the opportunities ahead. Do not lose sight of the 'big picture' — whilst the upcoming external exams mark an important milestone, they are just one part of a larger journey of life.

Exam Information

All information regarding the external exams (including the timetable and times of examinations) has been made available to all students and can be found on Firefly.

QCAA also publishes the following resources for students and parents/carers

Directions for students: External assessment 
- directions students must follow when sitting external assessments

Equipment list: External assessment 
- information about approved equipment for all assessments, QCAA-approved calculators, student devices, subject-specific equipment, and prohibited materials.

Illness and Misadventure Applications

If a student becomes unwell before or during an examination or is affected by adverse circumstances out of their control, they are encouraged to seek assistance at the Academic Hub. An Illness and Misadventure application may be lodged with the QCAA, but students will need to complete appropriate forms and obtain documentation (such as a medical certificate) as evidence. (QCE and QCIA policy and procedures handbook v5.0)

It is important to note that avoidable circumstances, such as misreading the examination timetable or sleeping in, will not be accepted for an application for illness and misadventure.
Please contact the Academic Hub (3377 6561) with any questions or concerns.

Year 11 Students

Year 11 students are also entering this significant and challenging phase of their academic journey, with Unit 3 work beginning in many subjects. It is important for students and parents to understand that all assessment results from Units 3 and 4 are used to determine an ATAR, as well as a successful completion of the QCE. Therefore, students should:

• Establish a routine and be organised: Year 12 coursework moves quickly, and starting with good habits is important. There should be a healthy balance between schoolwork, relaxation, and cocurricular/extra-curricular activities.
• Set realistic and achievable goals.
• Continue to develop resilience and independence.
• Complete all drafts to the best of their abilities.
• Seek advice from their teachers.
• Be patient with setbacks: there may be times when the students feel overwhelmed or disappointed in their results. Remember, setbacks are part of the learning process and provide valuable lessons for the future.

I wish all Year 11 students every success in their Year 12 studies and look forward to supporting them through this important time.

Important contacts

Ross Boyle, Head of 7–12 Curriculum - Students: r.boyle@stpeters.qld.edu.au / 3377 6561
Nicki Maynard, Assistant to Head of 7–12 Curriculum: n.maynard@stpeters.qld.edu.au / 3377 6561
Bronwyn Jamieson, Year 12 Coordinator: b.jamieson@stpeters.qld.edu.au / 3377 6572
Amanda Huxham, Year 11 Coordinator: a.huxham@stpeters.qld.edu.au / 3377 6516

Ross Boyle 
Head of 7–12 Curriculum - Students 

Trish Russell
Head of 7–12 Curriculum - Academic Staff

WORLD TEACHER’S DAY

It’s Hats Off to Teachers on Friday 31 October! Let’s celebrate our teachers and thank them for all the work they do to educate, inspire, and empower learners across Australia.

It's time to tip our hats to the incredible Primary Years educators who shape our future.

At St Peters, we will be acknowledging this day as a staff group, and our students will be encouraged to offer their simple and heartfelt thanks to their teachers who devote endless energy, emotion, time, and professionalism to the children under their care.

PREP 2026 ORIENTATION MORNINGS

The first of our Prep Orientation mornings was held this week as we welcomed our students and their parents for 2026.

Our Prep Orientation mornings are invaluable in helping young students transition smoothly into their first year of formal schooling. These sessions provide children with the opportunity to familiarise themselves with their new environment, meet their teachers, and interact with future classmates, easing any anxieties they may have about starting school. For parents, orientation mornings offer insight into the daily routines, expectations, and learning experiences their child will encounter. It helps build a sense of community, fostering trust between families and the school. By creating a welcoming and supportive atmosphere, these mornings lay the foundation for a positive, confident start to a child's educational journey.

Lisa Challenor
Head of Primary Years

Welcome to Week 2 and the fresh energy of Term 4. It has been wonderful to see students return with focus and enthusiasm. Many are already busy with rehearsals, training sessions, and fixtures. Thank you for supporting them to balance their cocurricular commitments with study and rest.

Raising Teenagers - Talking to your child about the new social media laws

From 10 December 2025, social media platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok, X and YouTube will be required to take reasonable steps to prevent Australians under 16 years of age from creating or keeping an account.

The aim is to protect young people from the pressures and risks that come with social media use, including excessive screen time and exposure to harmful content.

As parents, now is a good time to:

• Talk early and openly. Explain that this is not a punishment but a measure to support their wellbeing.
• Review device use. Begin reducing access to age-restricted platforms well before December.
• Model balance. Show positive habits around technology use at home.
• Stay informed. Join our parent webinar on Wednesday 22 October to understand the changes and how to guide your child through them. Further details to follow.

Uniforms and Sun Safety

In line with our Uniform Policy and Sun Safety Policy, students must wear their formal hat to and from school and their formal or bucket hat during break times. Please support us by checking that your child has these items and is wearing them correctly each day.

Max Forbes
Head of Junior High

Term 4 is off to a great start, and there’s a real sense of momentum as we head into the final stretch of the year. The coming weeks will be filled with a number of engaging events and workshops, including the Courage to Care Incursion and the Future Anything workshop on 1 December, where students will have the chance to think creatively and work collaboratively on real-world problems. It’s an exciting time of year, and we’re hopeful it will be a positive and rewarding finish as students continue to grow into more mature, thoughtful, and responsible young people, ready to take on new challenges with confidence.

Ben Higgins
Year 7 Coordinator

The Year 8 cohort has started the term well. Students were excited to return to school and have been focused and engaged with their learning. During Pastoral Care lessons, we have been discussing being organised, attentive, and ready for learning.

The Year 8 boys helped cheer on our AIC Track & Field team last Friday at QSAC. They enjoyed a day outside of the classroom, actively participating by encouraging their peers to do their best and showing school spirit.

Our Year 8 Japanese classes were treated to a wonderful experience yesterday, participating in a session with Martial Arts Queensland to hone their Japanese speaking skills and celebrate Japan’s national Sport Day holiday (Taiiku no Hi). Please see some of the students in action in these pictures.

Allie Walsh
Year 8 Coordinator

It has been a positive and purposeful start to Term 4 for our Year 9s. As they step into their final term of Junior High, students have settled back into routines with a positive spirit and a strong sense of connection. There has been a great atmosphere across the cohort. Students have been encouraging one another as Ironbark preparations continue for some classes, and engaging well with the opportunities that come their way.

The photos below capture some of the energy and camaraderie that have set the tone for the term ahead.

Helena Lambert
Year 9 Coordinator

Year 12 students, please check that your contact details are correct in your learning account with the QCAA student portal, https://myqce.qcaa.qld.edu.au/. 

In March 2026, you will receive a letter from the Minister for Education and the Arts inviting you to participate in the Next Step Year 12 Completers survey, following up on your activities after graduating. You may also receive an email or phone call from the Queensland Government Statistician’s Office. 

Your feedback helps our school improve services for future students, and you can win a laptop for participating. For more information, visit www.qld.gov.au/nextstep.

The Solo Festival is the St Peters version of an eisteddfod. Students are invited to perform, listen to their peers and receive feedback from renowned performing musicians and educators, participating in either a competitive or non-competitive section.

The time limit for sub-school sections is:

• Senior School – maximum of 8 minutes
• Junior High and Upper Primary – maximum of 6 minutes

A rehearsal time is offered for students (not including pianists), and further notification regarding rehearsal times will be sent via email closer to the Festival.

Cost per student:

• Entry Fee for Pianists – $20.00
• Entry Fee for all other Instruments/Voice – $30.00 (accompanist provided for both performance and rehearsal)

Registrations are due by Friday 17 October: http://solofestival2025.eventbrite.com.au

Christine Taylor
Co-Director of Cocurricular Music

St Peters Chorale was honoured to join with the University of Queensland Music Chorale and Orchestra for a spectacular performance of Poulenc’s Gloria at the Queensland Performing Arts Centre (QPAC) Concert Hall on Sunday 21 September. The concert, titled Resilience and Reverie, celebrated strength, beauty, and artistic expression through choral and orchestral music.

Composed in 1959 by French composer Francis Poulenc, Gloria remains one of the most beloved choral masterworks of the 20th century. Written for soprano solo, large orchestra, and chorus, the work combines exuberant joy with moments of deep reverence and tenderness. Poulenc’s unique musical voice, by turns playful, luminous and spiritual, creates a vivid setting of the traditional Latin text that continues to move audiences around the world.

The collaboration offered St Peters Chorale a wonderful opportunity to perform alongside university-level musicians in one of Brisbane’s premier concert venues. Performing the entire work from memory, the Chorale members displayed exceptional musicianship, focus, and professionalism. Year 12 student Aidan H also had the privilege of performing on French horn in the orchestra. It was a memorable and inspiring experience for performers and audience members alike.

Photographs by Jenny Cuerel Photography.

Christine Taylor
Head of Choirs

It has been a big few weeks in Digital cocurricular programs. Our eSports and Robotics students have started new competitive seasons, qualified for national competitions, and won prizes. There has been a lot happening!

Marvel Rivals Team Big News

Congratulations to our Marvel Rivals team, the newest St Peters eSports team, on their great performance last term. They placed 3rd in the Round Robin stage, and then 3rd in the Playoffs for Division 1. It’s especially impressive considering they only just started last term, while playing against teams that had been competing all year.

This success means they have qualified for the National Competition this term, a collection of the top four teams throughout the year. This competition will take place online on Saturday 18 October. Congratulations and the best of luck to the team (Sam B, John S, Nathan M, Robert S, Jonathan M, Ocean C, Joel F, and coach Mr Prout) for the finals.

AEL Minecraft Capture the Flag

As one of the top teams throughout the year, our school and students were invited to join the Australian eSports League (AEL) High School Nationals! We wish them the best of luck this Saturday as they take on teams from around Australia. 

If you'd like to tune in, we are expecting to broadcast all matches via Twitch and YouTube channels.

FIRST LEGO League Win

In St Peters' second year competing in FIRST LEGO League, we are very proud to announce that team Cookie Embers won the Engineering Excellence Award on the weekend. Competing at the Brisbane Regional at South Bank TAFE, against teams from South East Queensland, were two of our Year 5 and Year 6 teams, Cookie Embers and Toffee Embers. Unearthed is the 2025/26 game, where teams can complete up to 15 robot missions using their custom-designed robots and present their Innovation Project to judges.

The Innovation Project is a research-based challenge where teams identify a real-world problem related to the season's theme of archaeology, research existing solutions, design and prototype an innovative solution, and then present their project and findings to judges. Team Cookie Embers focused on the ethical challenge of taking artefacts from one country to another and on how to repatriate these artefacts. Toffee Embers had a technological focus, showing how ground-penetrating radar (GPR) can be used to safely examine artefacts without interfering with surrounding areas.

Some Senior School students volunteered at this event, and we thank them for giving up their weekend to support younger students learning about Robotics.

FIRST Tech Challenge holiday build days

During the holidays, three of our FIRST Tech Challenge Robotics teams worked hard, preparing for competitions coming up next month. The rookie team, #25827 Flaming Marshmallows, attend the FTC Academy, an intensive three-day event at Grace Lutheran College. They worked with world champion teams and coaches to develop their design, robot-building, and CAD skills.

At the same time, our other two FTC teams, #11505 Flaming Galahs and #11506 Flaming Tacos, attended their own in-house build days at St Peters. Our first competition is in early November, so we have a lot to do to get competition-ready.

Feel free to drop into MS07 to see our new competition field for the 2025/26 game called Decode. 

Simon Canfield
Digital (Robotics) Coordinator

Donations Needed – Flannelette Sheets and Towels

The Community Hub is collecting clean, hole-free flat flannelette sheets and old towels to be repurposed into nappies and baby wraps for children in the PNG highlands. Donations can be dropped at any Sub School reception or directly to the Community Hub on Thursday mornings (8:00am – 11:30am) at the P&F Centre.