Year 6 Celebration and end of term farewells
Presentation of Year 6 students
Kasserian Ingera, I wonder if anyone knows what this phrase may mean? Kasserian Ingera.
Among the most accomplished and fabled tribes of Africa, no tribe was considered to have warriors more fearsome or more intelligent than the mighty Masai.
It is perhaps surprising, then, to learn the traditional greeting that passed between Masai warriors: "Kasserian Ingera.” It means, "And how are the children?"
Not "how do you do" or "how's it going", but they ask "how are the children?" This greeting is wonderfully revealing about the values of Masai society – it acknowledges the high value that the Masai always place on their children's wellbeing.
And the hoped-for reply is equally revealing: "All the children are well." Not my children. Not some of the children. All the children are well. For the Maasai, society cannot be well unless all the children are well. And if the children are well, it means peace and safety prevail. It means life is good.
Imagine – in Australia – if our greeting was not "hello" or "g'day" – but “Kasserian Ingera” – and how are the children?
In education, the question - “how are the children?” - is really the only question that matters.
There are girls, every year, finishing their primary school years from schools all over the world, no matter what the circumstances – girls just daring to dream.
It is my hope that Somerville House girls starting their secondary years in the new year will believe their success will be determined by their fortitude, confidence and individual hard work.
A Chapel Service and Presentation of Year 6 students event marked the completion of our Year 6 Class of 2020’s primary schooling years last Thursday evening (Thursday 26 November). Thank you to Mrs Louise McGuire, Mrs Narelle Ward, Mr Ian Loom, Ms Chris O’Gorman, Mrs Claire Reynish, Mrs Tammy Gregg, Mrs Annette Reis, Mrs Lynne Schylder, Mr Tim Smetham, Mrs Gaye Ryan and Mr Shannon Leonard for organising such an emotional and special service for our Year 6 students and families.
End of term farewells
A number of academic staff conclude their contracts at the end of this year, and we thank them for their service while other teachers have been on maternity leave or long service leave. Our thanks go to Mrs Danielle Davies and Mrs Janine Thompson in the Junior School, and Mrs Tammy Bateson and Ms Shiyi Xu in the Senior School.
On behalf of students and staff, we acknowledge Mr Tom Clarke’s leadership of the Social Sciences Department and his service to Somerville House for fifteen years. Mr Clarke has made a significant contribution to the School and taught many students during this time. We extend every good wish to Mr Clarke.
We also farewell Mr Andrew Marshall, Year 2 Teacher and Junior School Prep to Year 3 Co-ordinator, and wish him well in his promoted role after six years of service at Somerville House.
We acknowledge the contribution of our corporate staff who leave at the end of 2020. Thank you to Ms Cathy Taylor-Alt, Co-curricular Sport Administration Assistant (9 years); Ms Kate Graham, Senior Pathways Co-ordinator (7.5 years); Mrs Blythe Falkiner, Under the Clock Manager (4.5 years), and Ms Julia Rowley, Health Centre Manager (4.5 years).
In our Boarding House, we farewell Ms Emma Carman and Miss Sallie Salisbury as Boarding Assistants, and Miss Maeve Doolan, Boarding Supervisor. We also thank Housekeepers, Mrs Dawn Lennox and Mrs Sue Wesener, who have each given twelve years of service to Somerville House.
Our Language Assistant returns to China, so we bid farewell to Ms Yan Mao, Language Assistant and thank Yan for her wonderful help with our students in the Chinese classrooms.
Finally, we wish Heads of Year - Mrs Helen Preston and Mrs Alana Murray the very best for their long service leave in Semester 1. We also extend our best wishes to Mrs Katie Martin, Mrs Sarah Zambelli and Mrs Logan Parker who will enjoy maternity leave in Semester 1 next year.
Staff acknowledgement
We thank Dr Debra Shearer-Dirie for her contribution as Head of Music for the past three years, from 2018 to 2020. Dr Shearer-Dirie will continue in her role as teacher of Music.
Join with Us!
Thank you to everyone who has so generously given to the Foundation’s End of Year Appeal. Your gift will enable the Foundation to support current Somerville House students and continue to fund future scholarships, while also offering financial support to those impacted by the pandemic. Earlier this year, the School combined with the Foundation and the Old Girls’ Association to create the COVID-19 Bursary Fund. Together, we have been able to help over sixty-five families who were financially affected by the pandemic. We are grateful for the help you can give to the End of Year Appeal.
Christmas blessings
Wishing you and your family all the love, peace and joy in the world this Christmas.
Mrs Kim Kiepe
Principal