St Peters Lutheran College

Template:Infobox Aust school St Peters Lutheran College (SPLC) is a co-educational Lutheran day and boarding school for students from Preparatory to Year 12. The College is situated on a 21 hectare campus in Indooroopilly, an inner suburb of Brisbane, Australia. Established in 1945, the school aims to excel in Christian co-education and focus not only on academic achievement, but co-curricular involvement as well.

Symbolism

Luther's seal

There are certain symbolic icons present in the college emblem, including:

• Martin Luther's iconic white rose (from his seal (left))
• an inverted crucifix for St Peter, the founder of Catholicism, who was crucified upside down.

The School's motto, Plus Ultra (Latin for Ever Higher), is said to emphasise the college's desire for high standards achieved with excellence in all endeavours.

Facilities

One of the renovated Science Labs

Over the past few decades, there has been a dramatic addition of facilities at the college. From the farmhouse "Ross Roy", bought and used as the first building of St Peters in 1945, the facilities . The middle and senior schools have little need to interact as they are both self-reliant, although, students travelling from the middle school to the senior school are generally destined for the Visual Arts block or Technology blocks.

Theile house, a four storey building comprising of computer labs, classrooms, year 12 lockers and the Theile study centre, was recently renovated and extended under instruction from current headmaster Mr. Stephen Rudolph. The modern facilities in the new building include a large study centre and a lift for the disabled and elderly.

Beginning in late 2004, the renovation of two science labs in the senior school was begun, and two more have been since renovated in 2005 to bring them upto more modern standards.

Head of College

Currently, the head of college is Mr Stephen Rudolph. Appointed in 2003, with 27 years of experience in administering Lutheran schools (including a position as principal of Luther College, Melbourne, Australia), he has encouraged significant changes throughout the college, including the refurbishment of Theile House and the Refectory. Listed below are past headmasters of the college and their term in office.

• Mr W C Schneider (1945-1954)
• Mr H W A Lohe (1955-1970)
• Dr C Dron (1971-1993)
• Mrs Sally Chandler (1994-2002)

Notable alumni

The St Peters College Chapel

Many former St Peters students have had notable careers. Maxine Seear, Chris Noffke and Shane Gould are amongst the Olympic athletes who have studied at the college, while various internationally acclaimed musicians and actors (including Sigrid Thornton, Lisa Gasteen and James Cuddeford) have also had their school education at St Peters.

Other renowned past students include Brisbane author Rebecca Sparrow; Brisbane Lions player Mal Michael; 1986 Commonwealth Games 1500m Freestyle Gold Medalist Jason Plummer; 2002 Commonwealth Games Women's Marathon Bronze Medalist Jacqui Gallagher; Director of the Queensland Conservatorium of Music Professor Peter Roennfeldt; and co-founder of clothing label Sass & Bide, Heidi Middleton.

Music program

St Peters has co-curricular musical facilities in place to cater for the needs of the 2000+ student body. Tuition is available through the school on most popular instruments, as well as vocal lessons and musical theory (AMEB). Music is an elective course through Years 8-12, while music is compulsory for students in grade 7 or below.

The college's music program was acknowledged by the Australia Council, the Federal Government's arts funding body, in 1988 when the College received a financial grant to establish the "Composer in Residence" program in an Australian school. The first paticipant in the program was Stephen Leek who, during his period as Composer in Residence, wrote the award-winning Once on a Mountain. The focus on Australian music has also culminated in the commissioning of a number of notable Australian works including Sarah Hopkins' Past Life Melodies (which is part of a College audio CD production) and Stephen Leek's Songs of Passage.

Touring forms a significant part of the College's music program. Student ensembles have toured throughout the Asia-Pacific region, Russia, USA, Europe and China.

Graduates of St Peters now fill leading positions in Australian and overseas orchestras and arts organisations. They have used their St Peters music education as the basis for graduate study at such leading institutions as Yale University, St Olaf College, the Yehudi Menuhin School and the Royal College of Music.

Chorale

St Peters Chorale is a world class youth choir regarded as one of Australia's leading youth choirs. It frequently premieres pieces of music from various composers, especially supporting Australian ones. It tours regularly, nationally and internationally. Most recently, in December 2004 and January 2005 it toured through England, Czech Republic, Poland, Hungary, Austria and Switzerland. The conductor and founder of Chorale, Graeme Morton, is an internationally renowned musician. He recently accepted a Churchill Fellowship to study choral conducting in Northern America and has served at St Olaf College. In 2006 the Chorale was visited by the Paradubice Prague Choir and more recently by Canadian conductor Tony Funk and (seperately) by Canadian conductor Dr. John Hooper.

At the present, the Chorale is preparing for it's performance of Mozarts Requiem (KV 626).

Symphonic Winds

St Peters top band, the Symphonic Winds has been an integral part of the bands program since its creation, integrating the best brass, woodwind and percussion students from years 9-12. After a succesful overseas tour to the USA/Canada in 2005, there are plans for a tour in 2008. Recent events include winning the Queensland Youth Music Awards (2006).

The Orchestra

Conducted by Antoni Bonetti, the St. Peters Orchestra offers a wonderful opportunity to budding string, woodwind, brass and percussion players alike, spanning years 8 to 12. The ensemble has performed a number of successful concerts in 2006, and are embarking on a tour to New Zealand during September.

Other ensembles

St Peters has an extensive system of ensembles, including the year 5 choir, the grade 6/7 boys choir, the grade 6/7 girls choir, the Percussion Ensemble, Cantique (senior girls' choir), Saints and Singers (senior boys choir), the Guitar Ensemble, the Year 8 Concert Band, the year 6/7 Concert Band, the Wind Ensemble, the Middle School Strings, the Senior Strings, Junior Stage Band, Intermediate Stage Band, and the Senior Stage Band.

Curriculum

Curriculum at St Peters:

• is based on a view of human life and understanding as being part of the whole of creation under the lordship of Christ
• recognises that literacy and numeracy are basic and essential skills for learning
• is structured to incorporate the eight nationally recognised Key Learning Areas (KLAs) and, in keeping with Lutheran Education Australia policy, additionally incorporates the study of a ninth KLA, that of Christian Studies
• is very broad and provides a diverse range of learning experiences that centre on the individual student and his/her needs, abilities and interests
• actively incorporates appropriate technology within its delivery
• is based on the concept that all students should study an essential common curriculum that will introduce them to the major fields of human study and knowledge
• is flexible and structured in such a way as to provide for the learning needs of all who are committed to the College
• promotes an appreciation of cultural diversity and aims to promote multiculturalism and develop a sense of internationalism within the College community

Curriculum organisation

The curriculum at St Peters is designed to provide a continuum of experience and knowledge acquisition from Prep to Year 12. To this end, St Peters offers programs within three separate sub-schools; the Junior School (P-5), Middle School (6-8) and Senior School (9-12). Each sub-school operates semi-autonomously with its own Head of Sub-School and administration. There are plans for the future to have the Middle School run from years 5-7, and have a Junior High (8-9) and a Secondary High (10-12). The Junior School will then run from P-4.

Within the broader framework of a combined P-12 college, curriculum oversight is maintained by the Deputy Head - Curriculum, who has responsibility for policy and strategic management across all levels in the academic curriculum of the College.

The separation into Junior School, Middle School and Senior School enables St Peters to:

• enhance and develop curriculum and support structures appropriate to the students' developmental and intellectual needs;
• provide appropriate pastoral care structures to cater for the needs of each individual student; and
• expand specialist facilities, tuition and support necessary to complement the student's growth and development.

The curriculum construct at St Peters centres on a model of cognitive development that focuses on the acqusition of basic cognitive skills in the early years, the development of meta-cognitive skills and knowledge in the middle years and cognitive maturity and self-directed learning in the senior years of schooling. The College curriculum is under continuous review so as to keep abreast of educational developments, but broadly follows the syllabus documents of the Queensland Studies Authority.

The programs and facilities at St Peters ensure that students have a solid grounding in traditional academic studies, are confident in using today's technology, appreciate their cultural heritage and enjoy sporting and recreational activities.

Publications

The school has a number of publications that are made available to the school community and others. The school's weekly newsletter, currently known as The Rock, is available from student and parent portals, plus the SPOSA (St Peters Old Scholars Association) network, in PDF format. Plus Ultra, a magazine printed three times each year, can be found at the publicly-accessible section of the school's website and is mailed to all students and staff. Other publications are detailed on the school's website here. A yearly publication knows as The Review is circulated to all students in the following year.

Sport

Sport is an integral component of the educational experience at St Peters. The co-curricular sporting program provides opportunities for all students to be active participants in a wide variety of sports and physical pursuits. St Peters caters for both beginning athletes and elite performers, fostering the development of essential life-long physical skills, healthy behaviours and positive dispositions.

The College has proud sporting traditions and an exceptional sports record. . The school's sporting facilities include an indoor sports hall and weights room, a 50-metre and a 25-metre heated pool, six tennis-specific courts, eight additional multi-purpose outdoor courts and three ovals, two of which have turf cricket wickets.

Sports offered

The college offers a variety of sports for all age groups from primary to senior

These sports include:

• Athletics (Track and Field)
• Badminton
• Basketball
• Chess
• Cross Country
• Equestrian
• Football (Soccer)
• Gymnastics (Rhythmmic and Artistic)
• Hockey
• Netball
• Rowing
• Rugby Union
• Swimming
• Tennis
• Touch Football
• Water Polo

Competition

Students in Years 4 to 7 compete in The Associated Schools Junior (JTAS), while boys in Years 8 to 12 compete in the Associated Independent Colleges (AIC) competition and girls in Years 8 to 12 compete in the Queensland Girls' Secondary School Sports Association (QGSSSA). On any given weekend, up to 600 students represent the College in a number of different sports.

Other Co-Corricular Activities

St Peters students participate in a range of other co-curricular activities. These include Optiminds, Debating, Public Speaking, Robocup, Theatre Sports, Drama Access, future problem solving, bee keeping and various outside competitions.

St Peters Combobularity Club

St Peters Combobularity Club is a Gavel club, which is a program for under 18's organised through Toastmasters International. The club has been operating since 2005 and its public speakers have won several notable awards during that time.

Ironbark

The workshop at Ironbark

Ironbark is the outdoor campus of St Peters Lutheran College. Ironbark is located near the town of Crows Nest, some 50 km north of Toowoomba and 150 km north-west of Brisbane. The property consists of 600 hectares (1485 acres) of heavily timbered, undulating granite country.

Ironbark was named for the Eucalyptus Crebra, the narrow leaf Ironbark, which grows across the property. The Ironbark is a tree of great resilience and produces hardwood timber of great beauty and toughness. It is the aim that some of these characteristics are reflected in Ironbark graduates.

The donation of land in 1971 provided the College with an opportunity to develop and implement a program based on the twin concepts of spiritual retreat and education for life. After several years of discussion and planning, a pilot program was run in 1974. Following the success of the pilot program, the Ironbark experience has been part of the College curriculum since 1976.

Students from the College spend five weeks at Ironbark in Year 9. During their stay, students experience community living, help to run the farm and maintain the property, and undertake a range of outdoor adventurous activities. The students have no formal academic lessons during their stay at Ironbark.

Burnt forest area of Ironbark

A central aspect of the Ironbark program is the opportunity all students have to step away from their everyday life and reflect upon their own spiritual journey. Students are encouraged to do this by the natural environment together with daily devotions and regular worship services.

Ironbark is staffed by specialist teaching, outdoor, maintenance, catering and farm staff. All staff work closely with students in their areas of expertise. Facilities on site include two dormitories, staff accommodation, a well-equipped workshop, a garden, and a mixed farm. Much of the food consumed by the students is produced on the property.

At Ironbark, students are challenged physically, socially, intellectually and spiritually.

In 2004, a group of Year 9 students experienced Ironbark's first ever bushfire evacuation. The fires scorched much of the property, affecting the curriculum greatly; the students were evacuated to a church hall in Crows' Nest, and eventually sent home for a further week. The students were not able to partake in activities normally offered such as the three day hike, and the 24 hour solo camps were moved to a staff member's property. The fires were fought by members of the fire brigade from Crows' Nest and by some of the staff at Ironbark. No documented casualties occurred during the fires.

External links

• St Peters Lutheran College Website
• Lutheran Education Australia