Buoyed by the imminent return of our students to campus next week, I am approaching our first term of 2022 with a sense of hope for more face-to-face interactions, despite the feeling of groundhog day. A school comes alive with the buzz of student chatter and their very presence means we can look forward to student activity, along with the core business of teaching and learning.

In this first edition of The Honour Roll, I reflect on the musings shared by the keynote speaker at last year’s online AHISA Conference in September.  Former Westpac CEO, Gail Kelly spoke about what she learned throughout her notable career as the first female CEO of one of the big four banks in Australia. In 2010, Kelly was listed by Forbes as the eighth most powerful woman in the world.  She is an innovative thinker, with interesting insights on leadership and workplace culture.

In her address, Gail Kelly spoke about leadership lessons, referring to the importance of putting people and customers at the heart of a business, exercising resilience and leading with courage and generosity of spirit. I was especially drawn to her reflection on Eddie Jaku’s book, The Happiest Man on Earth. In his experience as a Holocaust survivor, Eddie was still able to find hope and gratitude, in the face of living in death camps and losing his family. Gail Kelly drew upon Eddie’s statement - “I know what it is to stare evil in the face”, highlighting how some people choose to be optimistic, by viewing the world through a glass half-full perspective. In this approach, such people choose how to respond to others and in adopting a positive mindset, they reap multiple impacts.

Gail Kelly alluded to a number of leadership lessons and it is her contention that having a “generosity of spirit” is an essential ingredient for being successful in life, through her explanation that “if you believe in practising generosity of spirit, at your heart you believe in the power of an individual to make a difference and at your heart, you treat individuals with deep respect and want to see others flourish”.

In closing, I encourage everyone in our school community to reflect on Gail Kelly’s wisdom and draw strength from her experiences.  It is important we acknowledge the hard work of our teachers who have guided students across Junior and Senior Schools through the opening weeks of 2022 via the Somerville@HOME online learning platform. Congratulations to all students for navigating your first nine days of schooling from home. 

It is my pleasure to welcome our new teachers below, who successfully managed the remote-based learning experience.

Mrs Kim Kiepe
Principal

Although the 2022 school year has begun differently from what we might have expected, many of us are approaching the year with the same expectations we would have as in any other year. I suggest that we need to reconsider this approach, particularly if we, or a member of our household, contracts COVID-19, at least for the short term. It is well known that COVID-19 affects each individual differently in both severity and duration and we are not sure how that might affect our family members, friends or ourselves. We need to put care above all to ensure we are supporting those who need it or allowing ourselves the time to recover fully, without putting pressure on ourselves to continue as normal at the same time. 

We may be assisting our family, friends or neighbours to manage their daily activities while they recover or isolate/quarantine for a period or we might be the ones who are required to follow a health directive or are unwell. I ask all parents to assist their children in not putting undue strain on themselves. If unwell, do not attend classes online, even if you are eligible. Although in the preliminary stages, there is some evidence to suggest that those who try to ‘carry on’ when unwell are more at risk of developing long COVID. Those helping others must give themselves some leeway to ensure they are not running themselves down with this additional load. I also ask that you be patient with teachers who are dealing with the same situations in their own families and neighbourhoods. Our teachers are dedicated to providing the best environment possible for your daughters to learn in, and they work hard to adjust to the needs of the students and health directives.  

I hope this period of adjustment is short, but in the meantime, understanding, care and kindness will assist each person to manage in the best way possible. 

Mrs Jo Matherson
Deputy Principal

Online Beef

There may be a shortage of beef in supermarkets at the moment, but there is no shortage of ‘beef’ online, as people express different and sometimes opposing views about COVID-19 restrictions and vaccinations. It has become easy to lose friends over this issue or spoil family gatherings as heated discussions arise. The situation is exacerbated for those who follow social media and news feeds, as algorithms ensure that the material fed to the user entrenches them in their opinions.

How do we agree to disagree respectfully, and not just about COVID-19? A few things might help in this area.

1. Be clear about the facts and statistics upon which you base your opinions, and ensure you are using reliable sources.
2. Value the relationships in your life. Is the issue at hand worth losing a friend or family relationship over, or is it best to agree to disagree?
3. Listen carefully to the other person’s thoughts and opinions and reasons for holding them. Even if you disagree, you can respect their point of view and understanding generally breeds respect.
4. Seek to draw closer rather than allow yourselves to be driven apart.
5. We all have bad days when we say things we soon regret. Be quick to apologise.

Christians understand that we have been recipients of much grace, forgiveness and love from the Lord. Jesus commands us to extend that grace, love and forgiveness to others in return, even though we constantly need God’s help to do so (at least I know I do!).

Real J.O.Y. comes from putting Jesus first, others second and yourself third. In all that we do, may we make decisions based not just on our rights and freedoms, but our responsibility to those around us. When we act as a community committed to the good of each other, then everyone benefits.

A big shout out to all those in our community involved in healthcare. Thank you so much for all you are doing for the wider community in this difficult time. Our prayers are with you.

Ms Chris O'Gorman
Senior Chaplain

I wish I had created that wonderful title, but no, The Center on the Developing Child, Harvard University, has some excellent resources, particularly about taking care and developing children, despite our current distractions. 

The Center advises that resilience is not inherent, rather learnt over time, through experiences that interact with our genetic make-up, which is why we all respond differently.  They liken resilience to a seesaw.  As the negative weigh us down it decreases the positive. They recommend to tip the scale the other way by reducing the negative stressors and increasing the positive, for example by connecting and listening to our children, we lighten their load, decreasing the negative and increasing the positive connections.

‘Serve and return’ communication is encouraged and easy to do in those moments of silences or gaps. Repeating is a great form of flattery and resounds to the other person that what they are saying or doing is good enough to repeat, but then build on it. The example used explained that when your toddler points to something, point at it too and say what the object is. For a teenager who is talking about a Netflix episode, return with your enjoyment of the episode and then add to this. ‘serve and return’. At this time of the Australian Open it might be a fun experience to challenge the length of the volley.

Talk about self-care. Take care over the next week. Celebrate the opportunity to be together more than usual. All the best for the start of learning for 2022 and may it be another strong year this year. 

Self-care leads me to Child Protection. It is important at this time of year to draw your attention to the PMSA Child Protection Policy. Please re/familiarise yourself with this policy.  Over the course of the next week or more, students will be reviewing this policy.  We encourage you to communicate with your child, under the age of eighteen, about this.  Please check their understanding and encourage help-seeking behaviours. 

Please also review the Anti-bullying Policy and the Acceptable Use of ICT Policy. At this point, a refreshing cup of green and lemon tea is the perfect place to start self-care while I turn off my mobile phone and sit in the cool breeze outside. Take care.

Mrs Julie Brunckhorst
Dean Student Wellbeing

Well, the start of the year has certainly been different (or the same, depending on what you are comparing to). In this everchanging landscape, it’s inevitable that our emotions too will be everchanging. Some days we may feel hopeful and optimistic, and other days quite the opposite. Whatever you might be feeling is okay.

Certainly, many feelings are unpleasant or uncomfortable – anger, sadness, fear, worry – but to try to get rid of these feelings entirely would be completely unrealistic. Psychotherapist and author of The Happiness Trap, Dr Russ Harris teaches that the things we generally value most in life bring with them a whole range of emotions, both pleasant and unpleasant. Many of the parents I talk to tell me about the varying joys and anguish their roles bring. So of course, it’s natural to experience a roller-coaster-like range of human emotions in response to what we are collectively experiencing (gosh, isn’t it hard to be human sometimes?).

I know for myself there are many mixed feelings stirring together at this time – the thrill and excitement of a new year and all its possibilities. The anxiety mirrors the excitement (what if ‘xyz’ goes wrong). Empathy for those facing bigger challenges than I am. Frustration with technology that doesn’t seem to work when you need it, alongside feelings of gratitude that we still have some ways to connect with our community.

One of the biggest myths that exists in psychology is that you should be able to control what you think and feel. But according to Dr Russ Harris, while we do have some control, we cannot control most of the random thoughts or memories that occur to us. What’s more meaningful though, is that we have control over our actions. Whatever we may be thinking or feeling, we can choose actions that move us towards the life we want to live.

So even when I’m frustrated with technology, I use it because I value connecting with people. And even with all the mixed feelings of starting this new role at Somerville House, I know that working within the School community to support mental health is something I truly value. I encourage you too, to acknowledge whatever you may be feeling and know that makes you perfectly human.

Miss Sarah Winkleman 
School Psychologist

A new year offers us the chance to embrace new opportunities with resilience, creativity, and a positive outlook, as we navigate our way through a very different beginning of the School year. Let us hope and pray that we all continue to share smiles, gratitude and grace, effort and perseverance, and a love of learning within our very special Junior School community. 

I take this opportunity to thank the Junior School staff for the fantastic work they have been doing in preparation for the start of school. Collaborating in professional teams, teachers have been very busy organising their curriculum outlines, home learning activities and resources, as well as acquainting themselves with the learning backgrounds of their new students. They have certainly embraced this week’s Somerville@HOME program with enthusiasm and a positive attitude, and we hope the girls have too. 

I would like to thank our parents for your patience and understanding as you have supported your daughters (and us) during this time. I can’t tell you how much we are all looking forward to welcoming students back to the School campus on Monday 7 February. 

Please ensure that you are regularly checking SomerLink posts and inform us via [email protected] if you are experiencing any difficulties accessing the information you need.  

A reminder that much information can be found in our Family Handbook, on the homepage of SomerLink.

We welcome Miss Emma La Mari who has commenced in the Junior School as one of our Prep Teachers. Miss La Mari has most recently taught in Victoria and is very excited about joining the Somerville House community. 

Miss Sophie Zipf, Ms Natalya Naumova and Miss Abbey Greenacre have also joined the Junior School staff, all as part-time Teacher Aides.

We farewell part-time Teacher Aide Mrs Amanda Healy, who resigned at the end of 2021 to spend more time with her family. We thank Mrs Healy for her dedication and care of students during her time with us and wish her all the very best.

Day 1 Arrival – Monday 7 February

Drop off on day 1 is as per normal – after 8.00am at the Turning Circle, for school starting at 8.25am.

Following Queensland Health guidelines, please drop your daughter/s at the Turning Circle to minimise visitors on our school site.

Prep drop off times for day 1 are between 8.30am and 10.00am, as per reminders from your class teachers. We ask Prep families to arrive at their allocated time to ensure a smooth start to the day for all Prep students.

Prep parents may park outside the School and walk your daughter into the Junior School, or drop her at the Turning Circle. Staff and students will be there to assist. Unfortunately, there is no parking available on the School campus.

Afternoon collection is as per the times below, and coloured permits have been issued to all families. 

Please click here for further details in the Family Handbook.

Important Turning Circle reminders

We ask that parents and carers please review the following reminders to ensure that our Turning Circle facility works as safely and as efficiently as possible: 

• Display your coloured permit clearly in your windscreen during afternoon pick-up.
• Follow directions from the Turning Circle staff.
• Drive slowly through the Turning Circle facility.

Thank you for your attention to these matters.

Parent Information Evening – Thursday 10 February, 6.00pm (ONLINE)

Our 2022 Parent Information Sessions will be on Thursday 10 February (Week 3). Each class teacher will present information about the year ahead via MS Teams. Sessions will commence at 6.00pm and they will also be recorded for your convenience.

More details regarding these sessions will be posted on SomerLink in the near future.

Mrs Louise McGuire
Head of Junior School

After a somewhat bumpy start to 2022, we look forward to welcoming everyone to a new school year in the Junior School. Whether you are a new family starting at Somerville House or returning for another year, we wish everyone a happy start to their 2022 educational journey. 

The commencement of a new school year is an excellent time to establish consistent routines and behaviours that promote deeper engagement in learning as well as a sense of wellbeing. This year particularly, we all need to focus on the protective factors that help to strengthen our resilience and positive mental health. Equally as important, we also need to be aware of the risk factors that are an inevitable part of our human experience, so that we can mitigate threats to our wellbeing and develop strategies to overcome challenges. 

Some protective factors that will help children to settle into the School year include:

• structure and consistent routines
• supportive relationships 
• clear expectations for positive behaviour
• development of personal skills and interests
• engaging in learning.

Early in the year, Junior School students will engage with the 5Rs which underpin the values of Somerville House.

• Respect – self-respect, respecting each other, respecting our belongings and the environment
• Responsibility – being organised, taking initiative and making good choices
• Resilience – having courage, bouncing back quickly and persevering with challenges
• Relationships – building each other up, learning to manage conflict and valuing friendships 
• Reflection – kindness and consideration of others, practising gratitude and celebrating achievements 

We will include information, resources and events to support parents and families in the Junior School section of this newsletter as we work together to promote a sense of positive wellbeing in our community.

Tuesday 8 February is Safer Internet Day. Click here to find out ways you can help your daughter to stay safe online.

We look forward to developing a partnership with you and supporting your daughters’ journey in the Junior School in 2022.

Mr Tim Smetham
Assistant Head of Junior School – Pastoral Care & Administration

Strength and Conditioning (S&C) complements girls' training schedules by offering external sessions that target aspects such as strength, power, speed and agility. The S&C program offers best-practice coaching that aims to enhance the athletic development of students.

The Junior Squads are a fun-based training group that works on all things strength and conditioning to help develop well rounded Junior athletes.

Who: Years 3 to 6
When: Sessions are available Wednesday afternoon (3.15pm to 4.15pm) and Tuesday and Thursday mornings (7.00am to 8.00am) term time, all year.
Training venue: The upstairs gym located at the Murray Evans Sports and Aquatic Centre
Uniform: Sports Uniform
Fees: Junior Squads - $285 per term for one session per week or $400 per term for twice per week

Click here to register and email Miss Freya Greensill via [email protected] for any questions.

Miss Freya Greensill
Sports Co-ordinator

Please click here to view a list of upcoming Junior School events and activities.

Welcome to the 2022 academic year.  Despite what has been an unusual start to the year, our students and teachers have embraced the Somerville@HOME program.  We congratulate students for the positive way they have begun the year and thank teachers for the work they have done in moving learning online for this period of time. 

In the Senior Years subjects such as MAP (Year 10) and AIM (Years 11 and 12), the main focus at the beginning of the year is providing students with resources to set themselves up for success for the year by developing study planners and setting academic goals.  The AIM teachers in Years 11 and 12 will be working with the students in their classes to evaluate and monitor these goals throughout the year. 

At home, you can help your daughter by discussing academic goals with her and working alongside her to develop strategies to achieve these goals.  Regular study patterns and ensuring there is a space which is conducive to study are also important to establish early in the year.  Many students find it useful to have copies of their school timetable, study timetable and goals visible within their study space.

The School subscribes to the ELES Study Skills Handbook, which contains a number of very useful resources, including advice on setting up study routines.  Details for the Study Skills Handbook can be found here.

Mrs Wendy Jurss
Dean of Academic Programs

Welcome to Co-Curricular Programs 2022

Somerville House provides a wide and diverse range of co-curricular activities, as an integral part of the educational experience for our students.

More and more the educational landscape is acknowledging that learning takes place in many forms and environments outside the traditional classroom setting. The skills and knowledge obtained by our students through participation in our Co-Curricular Program reinforces what is learnt within our curriculum program, and vice versa.

Being part of the Co-Curricular Program is to be part of the School community and to contribute to the enrichment of the students, parents and staff within it.

I encourage all students to seize the opportunities that are available to them in the co-curricular arena at Somerville House. The Register of Interest for co-curricular activities 2022 process should now be complete and it is time for students to confirm their commitment. I encourage all involved in co-curricular to demand high standards of themselves and their teams to ensure benefits are maximised.

The Co-Curricular team ensures that accurate and up-to-date information is available on the various Co-Curricular pages of SomerLink.

I look forward to 2022 where Somerville House teams and groups will, I am sure, develop their skills and perform incredibly well with Honour Before Honours.

If you have any queries I encourage you to contact the relevant co-ordinator in the first instance and/or Mr Will Eager for Music or Mr Andrew McCabe for Sport.

Mr Allan Legge 
Director of Co-Curricular Programs

Student Achievements 

Congratulations to Emma M (12O) for her recent AMEB Grade 8 Comprehensive Flute Exam. Emma achieved a fantastic result of A+.

State Honours Ensemble Program 2021 

Congratulations to the following students who were awarded a position at the State Honours Ensemble Program late last year. Josephine D (11M), Ariel J (8C), Elizabeth K (10O), Annabel L (9E), Andy M (Class of 2021), Biya S (9F). Click here for the full article.

Mr Will Eager 
Director of Co-Curricular Music 

Strings News 

On New Year’s Eve, three of our students were invited to perform with the Queensland Pops Orchestra for their New Year’s Eve Gala Concert. Congratulations to Ein N (8B), Emily M (9C) and Ivy H (10D) for this fantastic achievement. Click here for the full article. 

Ms Raquel Bastos  
Director of Strings 

Water Polo

Five of our Water Polo athletes had an opportunity to play for different teams during the National Summer Slam event over the holidays.

Louisa D (12C) and Annabel C (12G) represented the top QLD Girls U18 team and became the 2022 Summer Slam Champions. Louisa was also named Most Valuable Player for this event, which is a great accomplishment. 

Olivia M (11M) and Dasha O (9E) represented the top QLD Girls U16 team and became the silver medalists of the 2022 Summer Slam event, narrowly losing by one goal in the final game.

Ruby J (9A) was selected as the draft player for the Barbarians Team and had the opportunity to play at this event, showing her potential for future selections. 

All athletes have shown absolute dominance in their respective field of play.

A huge congratulations to Louisa D (12C) and Annabel C (12G) who have made the Australian Youth Squad and Dasha O (9E)  and Olivia M (11M) who have made the Australian Cadet Squad.

Having four national representatives in one school Water Polo team (our Opens Team) is a tremendous achievement.

We are very proud of all these athletes.

Ms Sky Hilton
Sports Co-ordinator

Strength and Conditioning (S&C) - SomerStrong Squad 2022

Please note that our small group SomerStrong sessions have been approved to continue this week and next with our increased COVID-19 safe practices. If you wish to be involved, please feel free to send your daughter along as per usual. However, if you wish to wait until the official school start date, that is also fine. If this is the case, please email Mr Malachi McPhail via [email protected]. 

S&C complements girls' training schedules by offering external sessions that target aspects such as strength, power, speed and agility. The S&C program offers best-practice coaching that aims to enhance the athletic development of students.

Who: Years 7 to 12 (any student not participating in a S&C program)
When: Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 6.30am to 7.45am; Monday 3.15pm to 4.30pm (sessions depend on numbers)
Training venue: The upstairs gym located at the Murray Evans Sports and Aquatics Centre
Uniform: Sports Uniform
Fees: Squads - $365 for one session per week or $500 for twice per term (billed at end of term school fees)
Register: Click here to register and email Mr Malachi McPhail via [email protected] for any questions.

Miss Freya Greensill
Sports Co-ordinator

Transforming Brisbane into a sea of pink.

On Sunday 6 March, more than 15,000 people will come together to form a special part of the RACQ International Women's Day Fun Run 2022.

Together, we aim to raise more than $1.5M for personalised, practical support services and life-saving breast cancer research at Mater—to show women with breast cancer that they're not alone.

It would be great if we could support this initiative. While we will see the sea of pink, we hope to see many lime green Somerville sports hats running around this course. Please click here to register to run, and do so as soon as possible, as there are only a few spots remaining. We will arrange to meet at school and walk down to the South Bank Parklands for the start. Sign up as an individual or select the family option. Select the 'run' option so that we can all start together, run but walk if need be.

Pricing:
Adult (16 years+) - $60
Child (under 16 years) - $50

Mr Andre Sinclair
Director of Athletics and Cross Country