Pendidikan kita dapatkan baik secara informal, yaitu dalam keluarga, masyarakat, tempat kursus; juga secara formal, yaitu di sekolah. Singkatnya sekarang kalian semua sedang menjalani pendidikan. Di sekolah dididik oleh para guru, di rumah dididik oleh orang tua. Seringkali kalian bertanya untuk apa sih kita harus belajar? Untuk apa sih sekolah? Pada hakekatnya manusia harus berubah menjadi semakin sempurna, dalam bahasa filsafat semakin memanusia. Istilah sempurna dan semakin memanusia tentu saja dalam konteks cara berpikir dan bertindak sebagai manusia. Jika kita tidak berubah dan berkembang maka kita bisa saja kita menjadi kurang memanusia, sehingga sering kita jumpai kalimat berikut ini: “Dia memperlakukan sesamanya secara tidak manusiawi”,atau “orang itu sungguh-sungguh tidak manusiawi, tidak punya perasaan!” artinya orang itu bertindak tidak selayaknya manusia. Dan memang banyak masalah-masalah social yang diakibatkan oleh manusia-manusia yang kurang manusiawi.

Dengan pendidikan kita menjadi semakin sempurna sebagai manusia artinya semakin peduli pada orang lain, bersikap adil, jujur, sopan, dst. sehingga kita semakin bernilai dan berguna bagi orang lain. Kehadiran para guru di sekolah adalah sebagai pendidik yang membimbing anak-anak untuk berubah. Guru tidak hanya mengajarkan ilmu tetapi juga mendidik karakter para siswa. Guru-guru telah memberikan teladan bagaimana menjadi orang yang berarti bagi orang lain. Di Saint Peter hubungan antara murid dengan sangat dekat dan akrab. Guru selalu siap membantu setiap siswa untuk berkembang. Inilah hakekat hidup, yaitu jika kita bernilai bagi orang lain. Menjadi Men for others. Maka pendidikan merupakan jalan bagi kita semua untuk berubah. Berubah menjadi semakin  sempurna.  Berubah menjadi semakin memanusia.

Hidup Pendidikan Nasional! Hormat bagi para pahlawan pendidikan! Terima kasih buat para guru kita di Saint Peter yang tercinta ini.
Dan terkahir, terima kasih kepada seluruh siswa-siswi SD, International, dan SMA yang telah mendukung pelaksanaan UN di SMP tanggal 25-28 April yang lalu sehingga dapat berjalan dengan sukses. Terima kasih.

Who says Maths is difficult when you can get an avalanche of awards and prizes by just solving while having fun? As this year’s Mathprix Competition theme goes “Maths is easy as ABC”, students of St. Peter’s couldn’t agree more! Bagging the second runner up spot out of 36 groups from 16 different schools, our team 1 definitely showed the crowd what they really got. The team with its members; Hans Mahadhika (5A), Simon Patrick (5A) and Christophe Pratihata (4A) proved that three heads are always better than one. And to lock it all up, our team2 (Dean C – 5C, Evan Adiwinata W -4C and Anthony Steven  – 4A) didn’t go home without making their names on the list, by hooking up the 10th place. This annual event held by the Sekolah Global Mandiri in Cibubur carried pride and success both to students and their school, which only proves St. Peter’s credibility in unleashing the great minds out of its students. Maths Trainer: Mr. Christian

The 21st of March is World Down’s Syndrome Day. The purpose of this worldwide event is, not only to drive to assist those afflicted by DS, but to promote its awareness, and (more importantly) understanding.
DS is caused by an extra chromosome formed in the foetus during pregnancy. Its typical symptoms include unusual physical features, a difficulty in general interaction with others, reduced physical adeptness, and difficulties in learning.
Fortunately, recent studies and general attitudes towards DS have highlighted the fact that with special assistance, specialist training, and most importantly, patience, loving care and attention, most sufferers of DS can now live a happy and comparatively fulfilling life. Although, tragically, some suffer such a severe level of DS that they may be institutionalised for life; some are able to take employment and/or complete a dignified level of study.
One of the greatest obstacles faced by sufferers of DS comes from outside sources, however. The level of understanding of this affliction remains very badly understood, and sufferers (even those somewhat able to contribute to society) are often faced with ostracism, or outright hostility by society – this remains the case throughout the world, not only in Indonesia.
Mercifully there are centres which, as well as providing a safe, loving environment for DS sufferers, also strive to achieve their potential. One of these centres is Dian Grahita, located in the Kemayoran district of Jakarta. On entering the facility, the mountain of trophies, medals, and plaques more than demonstrates the centre’s determination for its students to achieve their very best. On travelling further inside, one is struck by the sheer pride of the place. But more on Dian Grahita later.
As part of DS Day, and in order to try and break down the barriers of misunderstanding, St Peter’s International embarked upon (first of all) a charity drive, organised and brilliantly spear-headed by our own Ms Liria, with an aim to provide an extensive inventory of goods and equipment needed by Dian Grahita to further their success. St Peter’s International is proud to announce that, through the kind generosity of our students’ parents, and the tenacity and hard work of Ms Liria, we were able to donate the following items:

St Peter’s International wishes to extend their warmest gratitude to all those who kindly donated all of the above items, they were warmly and gratefully received by the staff and students of Dian Grahita.
As for the visit to Dian Grahita itself, it can rarely be said that any project, especially one so audacious and unprecedented for our department, is a perfect success. This case, however, was a (very pleasant) exception.
As St Peter’s International students began to arrive, there was, in the back of our minds, the constant worry that some misunderstanding would occur, or that our students may be too shy or uncomfortable in the presence of those afflicted with DS. As it turned out, despite the initial shyness of both our own students and those of Dian Grahita (something to be expected amongst any two groups unfamiliar with each other), the performances of both parties, (and later snack time) led to a comfortable mingling between the students, and by late-morning many SPIS students could be seen sitting with those of Dian Grahita, and vice-versa. Some of the Dian Grahita students performances included singing, dancing, poetry recital, and even a piano solo towards the end of the program.
I observed that, apart from a few severe cases, most of the Dian Grahita students were able to communicate to a surprisingly high degree. Communication ranged from hand-signals and gleeful grunts, to simple sentences, to entirely intelligible and clear conversation, including one girl who was able to converse in broken, but clear, English. I found it very touching that the Dian Grahita students seemed genuinely pleased that we had come to see them and, to the best of their abilities, made us welcome. More importantly, it struck me (as I’m sure it did many others), that the patience, love, attention (and discipline) shown to those students by the staff of Dian Grahita made them, above all, happy.
At the end of our program, Sister Joanni, the principal of Dian Grahita gave a moving speech of gratitude, and then it was time for the Dian Grahita students to get back to class after their morning of excitement.
All-in-all, from every aspect, this project was an incredible success; from the nurturing of the plan by our own Ms Liria, to the tenacity and determination of our Ms Lualhati, to the simple gratitude and appreciation shown by the students of Dian Grahita. As well as this, I feel that our students (and perhaps a few of our teachers) learned a lot about DS, and that it is not something to fear. Sufferers of DS have the same feelings as others, and deserve the same love, respect, and recognition of their abilities as any other.

C. Kennedy
25th March, 2011

Congratulations to our primary students for their achievement in Young Chinese Test (YCT)/MANDARIN TOEFL  2010-2011:

• Perfect Score in YCT   (Level 2): JESSICA DANIELLE
• Passing the YCT (Level 2) : JESSICA DANIELLE, EUGENIA AUDREY UTOYO, MARCO ELMER FUDANI, MICHAEL DAVID SETIADHARMA, AMELIA KATHERINE SURYA, FELIX MICHAEL SANJAYA, STEPHANIE VERA PRATAMA, GRACE SUSILO, JESSLYN DIAPHENIA HOWER, CINDY WIJAYA, MICHAEL DANIEL, MARGARETHA ANGELINE, RENALDY DEWANGGA, CATHERINE BELINDA RO, MICHELLE ANGELINA P, PARAMITA, M. ANGELINA  YURIKO WADA, STANLEY SOENDORO, VIERI JOAN, VICTORIA DOMINIQUE SUTANTO, WILLIAM HOSEA EKOPUTRO, F.B. HUBERT JONATHAN, WILLIAM ANDREW ISAAC, MICHELLE VICTORIA RAHADI, PAULA GABRIELA, EISENHOWER ROCKERFELLER.
• Passing the YCT (Level 3): TASHIA TAMARA, DAVID ADIKUSUMA PURNAMA, GABRIELA LEILANI WIJAYA, ADI DHARMA SUNARKO, LIVIA WIJAYA, STELLA ANASTASIA BUNIE, JECELINE, DESSY NATALIA WIBOWO, JEANNETTE CHRISTABLE S., STEPHANIE ANGELINE, ROBIN LEE DANIEL SEIHU, ANASTASIA CHRISTIE, JANET, ARSYEILLA ANENDITYA, GLORIA GILBERTA, LAURENSIUS MARCELLO SUN, GABY FIDELIA LAREISHI, VERENA LORENZA, JONATHAN MATTHEW, RAISSA ANDRA SAPUTRI, FERREN ANDREA JOTI, LEONARDO ALFONSO, RACHEL EUNIKE K., SAMUEL, THEA AMELIA, STEPHANIE WIBOWO OTTO, DOMINICUS BIMAPUTRA, MERRY ANDHANI, ALVIN, EMANUEL GANES CANTAKA.

• Perfect Score in Mathematics, English and Science : Tashia Tamara.
• Perfect Score in Mathematics and Science : Anastasia Christie, Arsyeilla Anenditya, Fransesco Baernado Hubert J, Thea Amelia, and Gabriela Leilani Wijaya.
• Perfect Score in Mathematics and English : Eugenia Audrey Utoyo.
• Perfect Score in Mathematics: Grace Susilo, Jeceline, Raissa Andra Saputri, Robin Lee Daniel Seihu, Gaby Fidelia Lareishi, Samuel, William Andrew Isaac, Yuriko Wada, Janet, Emanuel Ganes Cantaka, Rachel Eunike, Renaldy Dewangga, Leonardo Alfonso, Dominicus Bimaputra, Stella Anastasia, Amelia Katherine Surya, Catherine Belinda Ro, Gloria Gilberta, Jeannette Christable Sebastian, Jonathan Mathew, Merry Andhani, Stanley Soendoro , and Stephanie Angeline.

Dear students, teachers and staff,
We live in a competitive world which offers comfort and speed, starting from goods and services that can all be made and done easily and quickly. Although we have a lot of alternatives to choose, we tend to choose  the fastest and most comfortable one. When we want to shop, we can do it on line. When we want to eat pizza or burger, we can just telephone and our order will be delivered in less than an hour. Many things, if not to say almost everything can be done easily and swiftly.
We have to realise, however, that  certain kinds of comfort can as well destroy both our mentality and faith. Of course doing things easier and faster is not always  wrong  but when we  have the attitude of wanting everything to be done fast, by taking  shortcuts in a wrong way, then we have jeopordized both our mentality and faith. Quite many people are fond of taking shortcuts. They say : if we have the chance to cheat, why should we study hard? If we can  live a rich life by corrupting, why should we be honest but still live a hard life? If we can litter freely without being fined, why should we put ourselves in trouble to search for the garbage bin to throw the rubbish? If we can still continue our way without being caught by the policeman when the traffic light is red, why should we wait for the green light before we can proceed? If we can go home earlier without being known by our leaders or teachers, why should we be patient and wait until the bell rings?

Dear students, teachers and staff,
Al Gore the nobel pize winner in climate field and  a former vice president of America during his visit in Jakarta, ten days ago  on January 9, 2011, in front of a number of ministers, members of house of representatives,
Businessmen, mass media editors, and NGO members, at Shangri-la Hotel, said  ; I always remember the message from my teacher when I was a little kid. My teacher said that in our life, we only need to answer one question whether we will choose the difficult right ( hal benar yg sulit) or the easy wrong ( hal salah yg mudah ). It is the same question for us in coping with climate crisis. We need some courage/bravery in making our choice to overcome the complicated problem in climate crisis that can risk the lives of mandkind, said al Gore.

My brothers and sisters in Jesus Christ,
The same question is also asked to all of us now  whether we will choose the difficult right or
The easy wrong in coping with problems in lives. Of course, the choice is all at our hands but let me just remind you that
Psalm 14:12 in the old tastement says that there are some people considering the way is straight, but it is
Actually leading you to death. Let us now contemplate, if we are on our trip and arrive
At a three junction. One way is narrow, bumpy,and muddy but this is leading you to your destination. The other way is wide, soft and convenient but is actually taking you to a steep
Cliff. My simple question is which way will you take? Well, we need some courage and patience to proclaim the difficult right.  May God the almighty bless you the wisdom in making your choice. Amen.       
(by Hermanus Malo Dona)