A Culture of Giving at St Peter’s Woodlands
At St Peter’s Woodlands, service is more than one of our four school values — it is something we seek to live every day. Through acts of kindness, our School Spirit initiative, units of inquiry, fundraising, leadership opportunities and simply giving time to others, we encourage our students to look beyond themselves and consider how they can make a positive difference in the lives of others and in the wider world.
Our culture of giving is evident across every year level and extends well beyond the classroom. Service is also intentionally woven into our curriculum, with units of inquiry providing opportunities for students to explore issues that matter and, where there is an obvious link, identify meaningful actions they can take in response. Whether our students are raising money for a charity, sharing their time and talents with others, or seeing a need and taking the initiative to help, they are learning that service can take many forms — and that even the smallest contribution can have a meaningful impact.
Students Leading Through Service
Each year, our Student Service Leadership Council (SSLC) selects a charity to support, giving our students the opportunity to identify a need in the wider community and take action.
This year, the SSLC has chosen to support Puddle Jumpers, an organisation committed to responding to the social development needs of some of society’s most vulnerable children and young people.
With the support of the school community, the students have already organised a cake sale, casual clothes day and toiletry donation drive, with a walkathon planned for next term. Through these initiatives, our students are not only raising funds — they are developing leadership skills, learning about the needs of others and experiencing the power of collective action.
Their commitment has also inspired others. One Year 2 student was so moved by the SSLC’s efforts they decided to make a contribution of their own, organising a bake sale from their front yard and inviting the local community to support the cause. It is a wonderful example of how service can inspire service, with one student’s actions encouraging another to think, “What can I do?”
Giving Time and Building Connections
In Year 6, our students have been demonstrating that service is not always about fundraising. Sometimes, the most valuable gift we can give is our time.
As part of their work with Kapara Glenelg Residential Care Home, students have spent time getting to know residents and learning about their lives. They have written biographies of the residents, creating opportunities for meaningful conversations and connections, and have collaborated with residents to create artwork together for the SALA Festival.
The students also identified ways they could contribute financially to the residence. They organised a Jumble Sale, selling games, treats and other goods to the school community, with the proceeds going towards funding incursions and excursions for the residents. The school is also currently collecting coffee table books for Kapara, providing another simple but meaningful way for our community to contribute.
These experiences help our students understand that service is about relationships as much as it is about giving. By spending time with others, listening to their stories and finding ways to brighten their lives, our students are learning the importance of connection, compassion and generosity.
Service Beyond the School Years
Our culture of service doesn’t end when students leave St Peter’s Woodlands. It is particularly rewarding to see our Old Scholars continuing to embrace these values in their new communities.
Recently, Old Scholars Tyla, Harriet and Zara, now Year 9 students at Immanuel College, undertook an Impact Project supporting the Animal Welfare League (AWL). The girls reached out to the SPW community for donations and, thanks to the incredible generosity of our families, collected five large bags of supplies.
They then visited the AWL to deliver the donations and saw first-hand the impact of their efforts. Their initiative demonstrates that the values nurtured at SPW can continue to guide our students long after they leave our school gates.
A Community That Gives Together
Service can also bring our wider school community together around causes that matter. In September, Team Wilderness took on the challenge of Coastrek 2026, walking an incredible 30 kilometres along the coast to raise funds for Beyond Blue and support mental health.
The team of SPW parents Erin Watkins, Heather Chatterton, Lorraine Hanley, Louise Carslake, Debbie Ravenscroft, Stacey Venter and our very own parent and teacher, Olivia Furniss raised an extraordinary $6,315, placing them among the Top 3 fundraising teams in South Australia.
This achievement was made possible mostly through the generosity and involvement of the broader SPW community. From supporting a BBQ fundraiser and raffle, to donating prizes, purchasing tickets, contributing financially and cheering the team on, everyone played a part.
Small Acts, Lasting Impact
These stories represent just some of the many ways service is woven into life at St Peter’s Woodlands. From a Year 2 student selling baked goods from their front yard, to Year 6 students giving their time to build relationships with residents, to Old Scholars supporting animals in need and staff and families walking 30 kilometres for mental health — each act of service begins with the same question: How can I make a difference? Our hope is that by creating opportunities for students to serve, lead, give and connect, we help them recognise that they have the capacity to contribute to something bigger than themselves. At St Peter’s Woodlands, giving is not simply something we do. It is part of who we are — a community that looks beyond itself, notices where help is needed and comes together to make a difference.
