The enormous effect of environment on intelligence in the early years is one of the main drivers for the opening of our own St Peter’s Pre-Prep.  Early Childhood Development (ECD) encompasses physical, socio-emotional, cognitive and motor development between 0 to 8 years of age.

As dawn breaks on Saturday, 22 June, our school starts to come alive with the familiar hustle and bustle of a St Peter’s ‘get-together’.  It’s only been 24 hours since the winter solstice and already the blue skies and balmy sunshine seem to indicate the approach of summer.

Winter Warmers, is one of many St Peter’s Prep social events and a firm favourite for a relaxed afternoon of chilled chit-chat with other families.

St Peter’s Prep Schools welcomed over a hundred delegates to its bi-annual Pastoral Care Conference, held on 6 and 7 June. After much needed tea and coffee during registration, our Rector, Greg Royce, welcomed everybody and opened the conference.

The staff and boys have once again enjoyed a creative and fun-filled MADD (Music, Art, Dance and Drama) week.  In the strive for excellence, activities were planned that gave every boy the opportunity to express himself.  The boys rotated in their houses from one activity to the other. Every boy’s creativity had been stimulated and their talents utilised in activities like House Plays, House Choir, Coral Verse, Dance, Culinary, House Chess, Puppet Making and the Green Screen Project.  It will be impossible to provide detail on every activity, however, let us cover a few highlights…

St Peter’s Prep Schools had the privilege of hosting an EdTech Conference recently. The focus of the conference was transforming education, by understanding how technology can be used in schools now and into the future.

Ascension Thursday is celebrated throughout the world. It is the final chapter of Christ’s life on earth. We celebrated His birth, His life, His death and His resurrection. Now He ascends and is taken up into heaven.

On Tuesday, 21 May, the Grade 5 boys and class teachers (Mrs Faul, Mr Clackworthy, Mr Steenberg, and Mr Vuso) spent the day at the College as part of the annual St Peter’s High School Experience Day.

During the course of the Easter holiday, Grade 7 boys participated in the St Stithians and St John’s Easter Rugby Festivals.

I greet you all in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.

As I write this Easter Message, I pray that it will be a great pondering challenge for you and your families as you spend this time together. As we reenact the passion of Christ this Easter, I pray that will be born anew in his death and resurrection.

‘What’s the key to effective learning?’ That question has been the focus of Professor John Hattie’s academic research for more than 20 years. His latest research supports the conclusion that “it’s not just what you know, it’s what you know about what you know - and it’s what you know about how you know” that is crucial for new leaning to occur.

I would like to share the innovative robot that was designed and built by one of our boys, Nirvan Lachman, over the recent long weekend.  I believe that it illustrates the type of thinking and use of resources that we aim to promote through our particular brand of teaching.