Camps

Our camps are back in full swing in 2023. Students have benefitted from a return to outdoor learning experiences and adventure in different parts of Queensland.

It has been wonderful to witness the girls’ strength of character and willingness to take on challenges presented to them. The memories, friendships and learning experiences of this year’s outdoor adventures certainly support the idea that ‘not all classrooms have four walls.’

I acknowledge the staff who have made the camps possible, through their attendance and supervision and thank them for building on their connections with the students.

Big Congratulations!

BSPN Architecture has been shortlisted for the 2023 Queensland State Awards, after being awarded the fourth commendation of the Great Brisbane Regional Architecture Awards in the Educational Architecture category for the Fewings Building. We were very proud to work with Lead Architect, Cara Phillips and her colleagues to collaborate with our Old Girls' Association to preserve the façade of this beautiful 100 year old building.

Modern classrooms, a Seniors’ Study Lounge, the Senior Years’ Heads of Year offices, look over the Fewings Lawn and make this original building a feature of our Heritage Heart. Congratulations to the architects!

Future of Education Survey

You may be aware that the Australian Government has established an Expert Panel to inform the next National School Reform Agreement.This week the Expert Panel is releasing a survey to get the views of teachers, parents and students so those directly involved in the education system get a say in how we make it better and fairer.

Survey participants will be able to have their say on range of issues including:

• Improving education outcomes
• Supporting student mental health and wellbeing, and
• Attracting and retaining teachers.

I share the recently announced  Future of Education survey, with you via this newsletter. The Expert Panel, led by Dr Lisa O’Brien AM, will report to Education Ministers at the end of October on the practical reforms that should be tied to funding in the next National School Reform Agreement.

This anonymous survey is available to complete here and will be open until Friday 23 June 2023.

If you wish to discuss how the Federal Government can create a better and fairer education system, please contact Mr Peter Kington, Office of the Hon Senator Murray Watt, Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, Minister for Emergency Management on M: 0410 669 825 or (07) 5531 1033.

“THE WEEK THAT WAS!”

It certainly has been a busy time at Somerville House over the past 10 days. I share snippets from recent events on the Somerville House Calendar.

QGSSSA Cross Country

I was very proud to cheer on the Somerville House runners at the 34th annual QGSSSA Cross Country Championships on Saturday, 20 May. Congratulations to Mr Andre Sinclair and the coaches and thank you to the parent who shared this lovely praise:

I just wanted to pass on our gratitude for the cross country season for our daughter. As you may be aware, she only started at Somerville last year. At her previous school she didn’t ever have the confidence to do cross country running as she thought she wasn’t good enough. She has had such a positive experience running under your guidance and has loved every bit of it. She was a little bit disappointed in her time on Saturday but we reminded her how far she had come from someone who would only ever do the 2km compulsory participation event at her old school, to actually having the confidence to run at the QGSSSA cross country. Thank you for making it such an enjoyable experience for the girls. We really do appreciate it.

Foundation Fundraising Lunch

Last Friday, the Somerville House Community enjoyed the Foundation Fundraising Lunch at Howard Smith Wharves.  We were all proud to support the Benjamin family with the announcement of the establishment of the Rural & Regional Scholarship in memory of Kate Benjamin, 2019 Somerville House Vice School Captain. If you would like to make a contribution to the $300,000 raised-to-date for this scholarship, it will mean that girls with potential will be offered an undreamed of opportunity through a means-tested Scholarship, and the Scholarship will be able to continue over time.

Please contact [email protected] for more information on how to donate.

QGSSSA Reconciliation Round

On Friday 26 May, our Touch Football Teams were proud to participate in the QGSSSA celebration of National Reconciliation Week for Round 9 of our Autumn Fixtures.  The theme for National Reconciliation Week, Be a Voice for Generations, encourages all Australians to be a voice for reconciliation in tangible ways in our everyday lives – where we live, work, socialise and PLAY!  Somerville House, along with six schools were able to play Touch Football at Brisbane Metropolitan Touch Association with a Reconciliation Ceremony presentation of the QGSSSA reconciliation artwork by Leah Cummins of Bunya Designs and the presentation of lapel pins to our Touch Football Captains, Jasmine D and Natasha P. 

Camera Surveillance Systems

Somerville House uses camera surveillance systems which involves the collection and storage, use or disclosure of personal information for legitimate business activities. As you are aware, the School is on an exposed site, close to the CBD. We feel it is prudent to safeguard both our students, staff, the general public and our buildings and assets with the installation of CCTV.

Camera surveillance is used at the School to deter property crime, assist in the investigation and prosecution of criminal offences and to assist in the safe management of the school grounds, assets, and people. Camera Surveillance Systems may also be used to assist in investigation into child protection and student behavioural matters.

The purposes of having CCTV installed are:

• To protect students, staff, volunteers, visitors and members of the public with regard to their personal safety.
• To protect the school buildings and equipment, and the personal property of students, staff, volunteers, visitors, and members of the public.
• To support the police and community in preventing and detecting crime and assist in the identification and apprehension of offenders.
• To monitor the security and integrity of the school site and deliveries and arrivals.
• To monitor contractors when carrying out work duties.
• To monitor and uphold, when necessary, behaviour expectations among all members of our school community in line with the relevant Codes of Conduct/ Behaviour Policies/Health and Safety policy.

The link to the policy can be found on our parent portal - see here.

Student Protection Officers

We welcome Mrs Susan Clarke, Head of Junior School, as one of our Student Protection Officers.  Students can report to Mrs Clarke with matters relating to child protection.

Mrs Kim Kiepe
Principal

Last week, I had the pleasure of visiting Year 9 Camp at Emu Gully. Although the nights were chilly, the days were sunny and warm – perfect weather if you happened to get wet. Emu Gully Adventure Camp provides an exceptional program for building teams, overcoming obstacles, enhancing communication skills and developing leadership capacity, which is excellent preparation for our Year 9 students who are about to embark on running Arts Fest 2023. 

I am sure the parents of Year 9 students have told them much about camp and the storytelling style of instruction based on Australia’s war efforts. The students cannot complete a mission without working as a team, and along the way, they learn to communicate respectfully and effectively. Often the task is impossible, and the students experience that there is more to be learned from when we fail. 

Although arriving on time was sometimes tricky for some groups, the camp leader told me that when asked to navigate a challenge, the students quickly adopted a problem-solving mindset to think of a better way for next time. Not only were they able to apply this intellectually, but they were also able to apply this interpersonally. We are proud of how the students interacted with the camp instructors and threw themselves into the experience. 

Mrs Jo Matherson
Deputy Principal

Positive Psychologists Peterson and Seligman (2004) identify six “character strengths” under the umbrella of wisdom. They describe wisdom as a noble virtue; appreciated by others. Overall, we humans value wisdom, seek out wisdom from people we think are wise and we aspire to making wise decisions.

The Bible values wisdom. A section of its books has been labelled wisdom literature, including the book named Proverbs. This book has over 15,000 words of wise advice. The introductory verses of Proverbs are valuable to highlight the importance of wisdom to living an intelligent life characterized by honesty, justice and fairness.

Young people are advised to listen to their parents because their advice will improve one’s character. There is a twofold challenge here. The first is to children to listen to their parents. The second challenge is to parents to offer advice worthy of their children and to offer advice that will contribute to the character of their child.

These verses lead me to reflect on the advice from my father, received when I was fourteen, that taught me something about justice. I was caught in the vicinity of an incident at school. I had nothing to do with that incident, in fact I was unaware what was going on, but just by my physical location the teacher assumed my involvement. No claiming or explaining on my part would change the understanding the teacher had of the situation. My Dad picked me up after Athletics training that day and I was describing what happened and bemoaning that I’d been given a detention for something I had not done. He did not respond to me at all. So I told him again. He asked me if I was wanting him to go and talk with the School. I replied, “No not really; I’m just looking for some empathy.” My Dad closed the matter with me by saying this. “You are my daughter; I know you very well. I know you are no liar. If you say you didn’t do this, I believe you. But what I also know about you is that you are no angel, so you can consider this detention catch up for when you did something wrong and didn’t get caught.”

In my earthly wisdom Dad would have defended me and I might not have done the detention, AND I would have learned nothing. That wisdom from my dad improved my character. It caused me to be humble, caused me to recognize and be honest about my faults and helped me understand that earthly wisdom and justice will not always be right or fair.

Proverbs 2:6 explains that heavenly wisdom comes from God. That moment of wisdom from my dad was given to him by God. His advice was consistent with the Biblical message. I am no angel – none of us is. Jesus was the only one who was completely innocent. That is why he is the one who can pay the debt of human sin and why he could rise from the dead, why forgiveness is found through him and why we can be raised to heaven also.

It is also valuable to note Verse 7 of Proverbs 1. Our first step on the pathway to wisdom is to have reverence for the Lord. Wisdom is from God, and growing in wisdom means knowing the God who is revealed in Jesus and whose words of heavenly wisdom for abundant life are written in the Bible. The one who created us, is the one who knows us best and knows the wisdom that is good for us. 

Ms Rhonda Oliver
Christian Education Teacher

References: Peterson, C., & Seligman, M. E. P. (2004). Character strengths and virtues: A handbook and classification (Vol. 1). Oxford University Press.

‘There is more in you than you think, and if only you can be made to see it, for the rest of your life you will be unwilling to settle for anything less.’ - Kurt Hahn, Founder of Outward Bound.

We speak about resilience and know that by challenging themselves, students build emotional resilience.  I spoke with students on the Year 9 camp at Emu Gully, Helidon, last week to ask what was the ‘best thing’.

• ‘I loved getting to know my new class this year.  I have really enjoyed getting to know them and us all helping each other.’
• ‘I didn’t want to come to camp and did everything to avoid it but I am glad I came.  I am quiet but I made new friends and I really enjoyed it.’
• ‘I didn’t think sleeping rough and getting muddy could be so much fun.’

Our camp program offers students from Years 4 to 11 a wide variety of invaluable outdoor or alternative educational experiences across South East Queensland and interstate. Through adventurous, positive experiences, our students develop tools to foster personal, spiritual and social goals. Students are inspired to positively engage to become their best selves through development of communication, teamwork, leadership and problem-solving skills, ignite their creativity, and stimulate a sense of independence and adventure while building resilience and courage.

We identify the importance of connecting with nature - to use a quote from Beyond Blue - to look 'beyond blue to green' in developing positive health and wellbeing.  In this age where students increasingly engage with screens, it is most important to see the value in being energised by green. 

‘Liminality is the transitional period during which the participant lacks social status or rank, remains anonymous, shows humility, and follows prescribed forms of conduct.’ This period enables students to reset, open their minds to new experiences and create relational memory.  Educational camps provide liminality.

Camp experiences are an integral component of the School’s program for students in Years 4 to 11 inclusive. A medical certificate is required for an exemption from the camping program. One annual camp fee will be charged to term fee accounts, during the term that the camp takes place. Payment will still be required if students do not attend this compulsory activity. SomerLink - Camps (somerville.qld.edu.au)

Mrs Julie Brunckhorst
Dean of Student Wellbeing

According to World Vision, ‘women’s empowerment can be defined to promoting women’s sense of self-worth, their ability to determine their own choices, and their right to influence social change for themselves and others. It is closely aligned with female empowerment – a fundamental human right that’s also key to achieving a more peaceful, prosperous world.’ 

On Sunday, girls from the Pre-Prep through to Year 6 enjoyed a fabulous high tea at Victoria Park with either their mum or a significant woman in their lives. It was an occasion that celebrated the special bond between empowering women and their young charges. As women, we understand the importance of being a role model to the next generation, whether that be around values, career options, home life, friendships or community – we all have a special role to play. 

Without the support, organisation and creativity of the Junior School Support Group, we would not be able to run events like the high tea. Thank you to the committee for your time and energy – it was a fabulous day! The girls (and adults) clearly loved ‘Heads and Tails’, our warm-up game and the photo booth was as popular as ever (digital copies will be available later in the week), providing wonderful mementos to take away from the event.  

Finally, my gratitude to all the families who supported through donations and attending the event. JSSG are delighted to confirm that $9,000.00 was raised on the day - an outstanding effort – thank you for your support.  

Well done to Cantabile Choir who performed at QYMA last week, they were awarded the silver trophy for singing Starry Night of Winter by Laura Farnell and Keep Your Lamps Trimmed and Burnin’ arranged by Mr Greg Gilpin. 

Students thoroughly enjoyed their performance; we are looking forward to Poco a Poco taking part this week. 

Year 4 ventured to Mt Coot-tha Botanic Gardens last Friday as part of their Science studies. Students had a wonderful time exploring the habitats of producers, consumers and decomposers. The weather was perfect as they sighted and recorded creatures from the lagoon, the different types of plants around the gardens and even dug up worms, spiders, beetles and grubs. 

All in the name of science! 

Thanks to all the Year 4 parents who volunteered their time to help supervise and learn with the girls. 

Learning through the environment and outdoors develops curiosity, risk-taking, leadership and collaboration. The application of knowledge is fine-tuned and enhanced through hands-on learning experiences, these photos show students capturing learning at its best. 

Have a wonderful week ahead. 

Mrs Susan Clarke 
Head of Junior School 

This term we have thoroughly enjoyed delving into children's interests through their contributions to the Seed Book. This valuable resource has provided us with a wonderful platform to honour children's ideas and foster their critical thinking skills. Our journey has encompassed a diverse range of activities, such as collaboration, brainstorming, research, and further inquiry, all aimed at exploring the topics they have brought forth. As we eagerly anticipate future contributions to the Seed Book, our primary focus remains on supporting the children in finding answers to their questions and instilling confidence in them when sharing their thoughts.

The significance of this approach lies in its ability to facilitate children's expression of their thoughts. By voicing their ideas, we gain insight into their understanding, providing a window into their minds. Armed with this understanding, teachers can then design purposeful opportunities that elevate children's thinking to new heights, fostering continued engagement with the concepts being explored.

Additionally, this approach aligns harmoniously with the Queensland Kindergarten Learning Guideline, specifically the principle of Active Learning. Through their involvement in the Seed Book, children are actively demonstrating confidence and enthusiasm for learning. They actively contribute to conversations about their educational journey, enthusiastically responding to and posing questions, sharing their ideas, and effectively articulating their thought processes and discoveries. 

In summary, the Seed Book initiative not only empowers children to share their thinking but also serves as a powerful tool for educators to gain insight into children's comprehension and plan accordingly. The learning steaming from these investigations is now visible in our classrooms as you can see in the lovely pictures attached.

If your child hasn’t yet had the opportunity to take the Seed Book home, it’s time to start reflecting on what seeds they would like to sew and see grow in beautiful classroom investigations- every child will receive the Seed Book during their time in Pre-Prep.

Ms Mariana McIver
Director of Pre-Prep

100 Days To Go

On Wednesday 24 May, the Seniors of Somerville House celebrated 100 days to go of Year 12.  It was a beautiful day on the Fewing Lawn with much memory-making occuring.

Sisters Connect 

As part of the School’s Sisters Connect Program, the Year 7 and Year 12 cohorts spent a pastoral care session last week making chatterboxes and engaging in positive conversations about life at Somerville House. We look forward to our next event connecting through a Just Dance Competition.

Mrs Helen Preston
Head of Year 12

Choirs News

Last week, our Year 5/6 choir Cantabile performed in the first heat of the QYMA Choirs to Year 6 category. They performed beautifully with the adjudicator commenting on the stunning opening set by the choristers. They received a Silver Award and 83 points and now await the results of the second heat. 

We have a busy few weeks coming up in the Choral and Vocal Department so please make note of these dates:

• Thursday 1 June - Somersounds Vocal Masterclass with well-known Australian singer, Jason Barry-Smith.
• Thursday 8 June – Cantamus performing at K2
• Saturday 10 June – Accord performing at St Luke’s Chamber Concert
• Wednesday 14 June – Cantrice and Camerata performing at the BBC Combined Choral Workshop and Concert
• Thursday 20 July – Choral Celebration 2023 which will feature ALL CHOIRS at Somerville House. 

Happy singing!

Mr Shannon Leonard
Director of Choral

Strings News

Music competitions boost young musicians' skills, promoting competition and confidence. Despite the high stakes, our hardworking girls consistently win numerous awards. This week, we congratulate cellist Irene O (8D) who received the Highest Scoring Performance in the String Solo category at the Wynnum Eisteddfod. You can see her proudly holding her trophy and cash prize. Well done, Irene. 

The string department is hosting two special workshops this week to extend the musicianship of our senior school musicians. Stradivari and Amadeus will work with cellist Monique who is an inspiring young artist trailing a different path. Monique wields a cello and strikingly crafted vocals to deliver indie folk laced with chamber pop. Somerville Strings will work with Associate Professor Adam Chalabi one of the most accomplished violinists of his generation.

Ms Raquel Bastos
Director of Strings

Rowing 

Somerville House hosted the Brisbane Schoolgirls Rowing Association Indoor Rowing Championships on Tuesday 25 May. It was a brilliant night of racing with over 240 competitors racing on the rowing machines in individual and relay events.

The Somerville House teams performed well with some nail biting finishes. Thank you for the great support from parents, students and coaches. We have all only just got our hearing back this week. 

Football

Round 9 of the QGSSSA competition was always going to be a tough one, coming up against a dominant BSHS side. The highlight of the week was the intermediates putting three goals on the scoreboard, against a team who had only conceded once the entire season. Well done to everyone on a fantastic round against a strong side.

Basketball 

Reconciliation Round was a fantastic afternoon of basketball between Somerville House and BSHS. Our Opens put up a great fight against a strong opposition, bringing the pressure for four quarters. Our Senior Bs came home with a win and all players received cupcakes after the game!

Mr Andrew McCabe
Director of Sport

Strength and Conditioning Holiday Program – now open for registration

Strength and Conditioning Holiday Training

The Strength and Conditioning program is offering flexible training times for girls staying in Brisbane over the holidays. Our aim is to improve physical attributes, develop athletic skills and teach why and how strength training is beneficial. You can come to one, two or three sessions per week, but two sessions are ideal.

Sessions will be designed for the appropriate level of experience, focussing on improving:

Strength, Speed, Balance, Coordination, Stability, Flexibility/Mobility & Having FUN!

Senior School Students (Year 7-12) 

9:00 am - 10.30 am 
Week 1: Monday 19 June, Wednesday 21 June, Friday 23 June
Week 2: Monday 26 June, Wednesday 28 June, Friday 30 June
Week 3: Monday 3 July, Wednesday 5 July, Friday 7 July

Junior School Students (Year 3-6) 

9:00 am - 10:00 am
Week 1: Monday 19 June, Friday 23 June
Week 2: Monday 26 June, Friday 30 June
Week 3: Monday 3 July, Friday 7 July

Cost
$17/session or $150 for all 9 sessions.
Enquiries: Please contact Mr McPhail here. 

To register please go to: The ‘Events & Payments’ tab within the Parents Lounge of SomerLink. Then search for “June - July Holidays S&C”, there you will be able to register and pay for the number of sessions your daughter wishes to attend.

Due to the number of registrations, we receive during the school holidays, we will be unable to offer refunds or extra sessions during Term 3. Please consider how many sessions you can attend before your purchase. Sessions are capped by numbers, so sign up as soon as possible.

Mr Malachi McPhail
Acting Director of Strength and Conditioning

Congratulations to Chloe L (7D) and Amelia L (7D) for creating the Week 7 Artwork of the Week.

Amelia and Chloe have been exploring how impressionists express light using colour in these handmade canvases painted with layers of gloss medium. They have learnt how to use warm colours in the highlights and cool in the shadows, using colour theory to aid them in their decision making. For the canvases, they first made the frame, then used a paper mâché process to create a semi-transparent canvas, so that backlighting will illuminate the images.

Somerville House has been made aware of an upcoming fire evacuation drill scheduled for the Centre for Children’s Health Research (CCHR) that may affect traffic on Graham and Vulture Street in the lead-up to school pick-up on Thursday afternoon.

On Thursday 1 June from 2.00pm until 3.00pm the CCHR building will be undertaking a whole of building fire drill to ensure the building fire safety regulations 2008 are complied with for a high occupancy building.

For your awareness, the fire alarm system will be activated which may cause noise that is audible within Somerville House grounds, and all CCHR occupants besides critical services will be required to evacuate the building onto Graham Street which will cause crowding. This will also be a simulated fire exercise for the Queensland Fire and Emergency Services Roma Street Fire Service, and they will have trucks on-site to respond to the alarms as per their business-as-usual response.

The assembly point for building occupants is outside Under The Clock Cafe, on the corner of Graham and Vulture Street.

Should you require further information about the upcoming drill, please contact Somerville House Communications Team here.

Thank you in advance for your patience and consideration.

A reminder to all parents and carers to ensure cars are not parking across yellow lines on Stephens Road during school drop off and pick up.  A courtesy call from local police was recently received by the School to inform that the area is being monitored during these times.

Have you ever thought about the benefits of hosting a French exchange student, including the opportunity to practise your French language skills and learn about French culture first-hand? Are you ready to create lifelong memories and experiences for your family by hosting a French exchange student?

Somerville House has been offered the wonderful opportunity to host students from a school in New Caledonia for eleven days in October/November this year.

Collège Jean Mariotti is a coeducational Middle School in French-speaking Noumea, New Caledonia. Somerville House welcomed a group of students and their teachers for one day in 2022, and the visit was so successful that they are coming back this year for eleven days from Wednesday 25 October to Sunday 5 November.

The group of 19 students (boys and girls, but almost certainly mostly girls) will be aged from 14 to 15, so during the school day they will be paired with our Year 9 French students, attending classes with them on most of those days. If you agree to host a student, you would need to provide them with their own room, all meals, transport to and from school, and basically involve them in your family activities. Any family members aged 18 or over would also be required to obtain a compulsory Blue Card.

Hosting an exchange student can be an incredible experience for both the host family and the student. It is a unique opportunity for your daughter to immerse herself in French language and culture. Not only could she improve her French language skills through daily interactions, but she could also develop a deeper understanding of New Caledonia, a part of France located only two hours from Brisbane. Over the years, I have seen long-term friendships develop from such interactions.

If you are interested in hosting an exchange student, please contact the Head of Department - Languages here. Registration is open to parents of students in any year level.

Thank you for your consideration, and I look forward to hearing from you soon.

Ms Debbie Haupt
Acting Head of Department - Languages

The 2023 Somerville House Open Day will be held on Sunday 20 August from 11.00am to 2.00pm. Please save-the-date and stay tuned for more information to come.

Prospective and incoming families are invited to this event to experience life as a Somerville House student. There will be student led tours, demonstrations, performances and much more on offer.

We look forward to sharing this important event day with our Somerville House Community.

Somerville House has a host of exciting community events yet to come on the Term 4 calendar in 2023.  

Be sure to never miss an event by downloading the Community Events Calendar here.  Event information is also available at the bottom of our homepage or via the website event pages here. 

We look forward to seeing you at our community events in November.