Recently our Junior and Senior School parents were invited to respond to a short survey to assist us with improving the school newsletter – The Honour Roll, as well as the communication function of the SomerLink platform. The purpose of the survey was to help us learn more about parent perspective, opinions and needs. The online survey garnered a good number of parent responses to thirteen questions.

In sharing a snapshot of our parent responses, I acknowledge the depth, nuance and variety of parent thinking.  I also take this opportunity to thank the 472 parents who provided responses. The most surprising response from my personal perspective relates to a number of comments stating that the Principal and other members of the leadership team should stop using the PR person to write our newsletter articles.  Contrary to this view, I correct this misconception, because we actually each research and write our own articles, as a way of sharing thought leadership on topics that might be of relevance to our Pre Prep to Year 12 parent community.

Over 70% of respondents reported being very satisfied or satisfied and 12% of the 472 respondents were unsatisfied with The Honour Roll (our weekly school newsletter), with the remainder indicating unable to comment either way. In sharing survey feedback, we have identified 36 parents who said they would like assistance with their settings on their personal device (mobile phone, laptop).  We are pleased to be able to reach out with personalised help to each of those parents.

Sample comments for improvement include:

"It would be nice to hear from the Heads of Departments occasionally as to what is going in the various departments. This could be done in rotation in the weekly newsletter so that we hear from each of them once a month or month every two months. The newsletter should be for newsworthy items."

"Ensure staff put the relevant sport or activity in the title so it is clear what activity it is relating to."

"I would find it beneficial if we could log onto the grade that your daughter is in rather getting extensive communication for other year levels. This is something that numerous mothers have expressed to me as well."

SomerLink Help for parents?  You can find a series of 'How To' videos designed to help with accessing the most frequent items in SomerLink on our website. All videos that have a voice-over feature have had subtitles added which can be changed to your preferred language.

Principal’s Tip?  Are you tired of receiving SomerLink notifications in your email inbox?  Click here to learn how to configure your notifications so you can manage communication more easily.

Next steps?  Outcomes from the virtual feedback allow us to review the wide-ranging and comprehensive suggestions for how we can improve our written communication. We will now theme the responses and use the most frequently mentioned ideas or concerns as improvement strategies.

This summary is simply a snapshot. Please feel welcome to contact me by email via [email protected], should you wish to review the full range of feedback from our parent respondents.  We are happy to email them to you. 

Travel Safety – by train and road

Recently, a letter was sent from my office to the Honourable Mr Mark Bailey MP regarding the campaign for installation of fare gates at platforms at the Southbank Railway Station. We are concerned about behaviours impacting the safety and user experience by students and staff at this station, given the proximity to the School. We believe that the Southbank Railway Station is a key form of transport for our students and with the increasing traffic in our precinct, so it is important that parents and students feel comfortable to use this facility.

Similarly, we have requested that the Brisbane City Council install pop-up bollards along the Graham Street forecourt, to enhance pedestrian safety along this busy thoroughfare.  Parents are requested not to park their vehicle on the footpath outside Gates 6 and 7.  Student drop-off is via the Gate 1 entry loop or after 8.00am by the drop-off zone along Graham Street.  Again, I have requested that the Brisbane City Council patrol our drop-off zone, given the number of medical precinct patrons who access these car-parking spots zoned as “drop off only” in the peak morning and afternoon times.

School Community Code of Conduct

Somerville House promotes the values of respect, integrity and inclusiveness, in keeping with the Christian ethos. In my role as Principal, I observe that the vast majority of interactions within the Somerville House community are overwhelmingly positive and productive.  On behalf of all staff, I convey our ongoing gratitude for your support and partnership in working with the School in the care and development of your children. Please take some time to review the School Community Code of Conduct which serves as a guide for the expected standards of behaviour within the Somerville Community.

Mrs Kim Kiepe
Principal

For many of us, smart watches help us to manage our health, keep on top of our schedules, navigate, know what the weather will be and even tell the time. Smart watches for children and adolescents, however, can just add to the plethora of devices that cause distraction and interrupt their learning at school. 

Matthew Lynch from the Tech Edvocate outlines more reasons why you should think twice before purchasing a smart watch for your child. 

• Smart watches for children pose a serious threat to children’s privacy. Manufacturers of these devices don’t follow safety protocols so hackers could easily seize control of a child’s watch and gain access to personal data, including their location.
• Vibrations cause constant distractions in class, limiting attention span and the ability to learn new content. 
• Smart watches are by their nature delicate and can easily be damaged. Smart watches are not durable enough to withstand the rough and tumble that should be associated with childhood. Care of the device that children know is valuable, may inhibit free play. 
• Because these watches are expensive, not everyone can afford to buy them. This can lead to status issues where children who don’t own smartwatches are seen as having a lower status. This can exacerbate existing feelings of inequality.  

Smart watches are not permitted to be worn to school, and considering the information above, you may wish to assess whether a smart watch is appropriate at all for your daughter. Please assist us in ensuring smart watches don’t impact on the school day. 

Mrs Jo Matherson
Deputy Principal

Saying Sorry

This week is Reconciliation Week, where we acknowledge the wrongs done to Australian’s indigenous people in the past, especially by the removal of children from their families in what is known as the stolen generation. Even though these things happened at a time before many of us were born, there is great power and healing in recognizing the wrongs that were done, and expressing our sorrow and regret for those things. In the culture of our indigenous people, family ties and generational links are very powerful, and so the hurts of the past are felt strongly by today’s generations.

There is great power in giving an apology, and all of us can learn from this. If we do the wrong thing – and if we are honest with ourselves we all do that more often than we like to admit – there is enormous power in saying sorry and seeking to make restitution if we can. When wrongs have been committed, there are various possible responses. At one end of the spectrum are those who would seek revenge, responding to one wrong by committing another. Instead of revenge, some people pursue justice, allowing a neutral agency to determine the level of guilt and appropriate punishment. A more generous response offers forgiveness and ultimately reconciliation. A powerful example of this was the Truth and Reconciliation Commission in the wake of the dismantling of Apartheid many years ago in South Africa.

Our relationship with God is also based on apology, or what we may call confession. This involves regularly admitting to God that we have failed to live in harmony with God, others and even ourselves in our words, deeds and thoughts. This is what the Bible calls sin. The Apostle John in his first letter tells us that we are deceiving ourselves if we say we are without sin, but that if we confess our sins God will forgive us.

Two mistakes we can make in this area are these. Firstly, instead of admitting our failure we can try to cover it up, to lie about it and thus make things worse. Being caught out in our lies is dis-honourable indeed. The second thing we can do is to give an insincere apology to God or to another person, and this is probably worse than not apologizing at all. God can see our heart and read how sincere we are anyway, and so can most people. As a teacher, one of my pet hates is when students apologize when they are doing so only because someone else has told them they have to. The insincerity is as bad as the original act.

May we be humble enough to know when we have done the wrong thing, to be genuinely sorry for hurting others, to give sincere apologies and to seek to make restitution, to put in place actions that to some extent make up for the hurt we have caused.

Ms Chris O'Gorman
Senior Chaplain

Our theme for Positive Wellbeing Day on Thursday 2 June is Be Brave – Be Just – Brave Heart.

Bravery - "I act on my convictions, and I face threats, challenges, difficulties and pain, despite my doubts and fears." (viacharacter.org)

This intentionally links with the National Reconciliation Week theme of Be Brave – Make Change, "tackling the unfinished business of reconciliation to make change for the benefit of all Australians."    

This week encourages us "together to make a more just, equitable and reconciled Australia through respectful relationships between the wider Australian community and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples."

According to Via Character Strengths, bravery sits under the virtue of courage along with honesty, perseverance and zest. Central to this strength is facing rather than avoiding fears and incorporates physical, psychological and moral bravery. Speaking up for what is right regardless of popular opinion, reflecting on painful aspects of oneself and making adjustments and standing up for someone in need. It empowers us and helps us face adversity.

We encourage our students to be confident, be brave and speak up for right, especially in this week of National Reconciliation reflection.

Anxiety is good for you 

We are listening to the experts who advise anxiety is increasing.  Additionally we have had so much drab weather with little sunshine. Brisbane is known for its sunshine and averages 283 days of sunshine every year.  This May we have had 199 hours. With sunshine comes vitamin D.  So what does this mean for us all?  When we can, we should champion the outside, get a little sun exposure, fresh air and a green fix. Our uniform is just not enough!

Dr Tracy Dennis-Tiwary, professor of psychology and neuroscience and author of Future Tense: Why Anxiety is Good For You (Even Thought It Feels Bad) (May 2022), says that anxiety is still much misunderstood, and that it can be transformative in helping us create, innovate and find meaning.  She relays a Harvard study in 2013, where participants were faced with significant stressors.  One group were prepared with education about anxiety, what they would feel and how their body would respond, noting that these were positive signs, preparing them to be brave and persistent. The other group were not taught about this mindset. The first group responded to the stressors with lower blood pressure and heart rates and did better during the experiment.  The message here for parents and teachers is to teach the former mindset to be able to use anxiety to their advantage. Bravery in a stressful situation, it takes practise.

Uniform Angels

Our Uniform Angels help students to present well in their uniforms at change of season.  With the weather turning a little chilly this week it is ideal that we have the compulsory change-over to winter uniform.

• Does your daughter need help with sewing on a button to her blazer or white shirt?
• Does she need a green ribbon?
• Does she need to polish her shoes?
• Does she need help with hemming her navy tunic?

Uniform Angels come to the rescue.

Mrs Julie Brunckhorst
Dean of Student Wellbeing

Over the past week, we have acknowledged National Sorry Day (March 26) as well as celebrated National Reconciliation Week.  The theme of National Reconciliation Week 2022: Be Brave, Make Change resonated strongly with our students who were enthusiastic contributors to a range of initiatives that promoted learning about our shared histories and cultures.  Somerville House students value inclusivity and justice, and I was heartened (but not surprised), by their enthusiastic response when asked to design activities that promoted the business of reconciliation.

Year 10 student, Pernille and Kirby, will speak on assembly about their understanding of National Sorry Day. Kirby will provide a historical overview of the day, whilst Pernille plans to reflect on her involvement with the Lord Mayor’s Youth Advisory Council and the learnings she has undertaken there around the Uluru Statement from the Heart.  At lunchtime they will be joined by another Year 10 student, Cheryl, and lead activities that highlight Indigenous voice and support for reconciliation. 

It will also be powerful to hear from our Year 12 students, inspired by Sarah and Kailani, who have created a video that explored the affirmative action statements, provided by Senior School students, that answered the question:  What are the brave actions of reconciliation that will make change?  

I include the transcript from that video, here:

• Reflect on your mindset – Harper 
• Start a conversation – Phoebe 
• Know whose Country you are on – Tia 
• Be aware of inaccurate, negative and unbalanced portrayals – Anna
• Learn local history – Jasmine
• Talk about Australia’s history with a critical lens – Tiarni 
• Seek to understand cultural safety and inclusive practice – Arielle
• Support Indigenous-owned businesses – Geena 
• Report racism – Taleyah 
• Be a brave ally. 

Our Positive Wellbeing Day, scheduled for Thursday 3 June, will also connect to the theme of National Reconciliation Week by encouraging Brave Hearted actions that promote inclusivity and a valuing of different stories. The Wellbeing Portfolio will be able to report on that in our next newsletter.

Mrs Kathryn Emtage
Associate Dean Student Wellbeing, Deputy Head of Boarding

Look for the glitter in the day

I love these words – "Look for the glitter in the day" (Rebecca Sparrow). They resonate with me on a personal level and also as an educator.

We all want to teach our children the concept of gratitude, and there is plenty of research about how good it is for our wellbeing. However, often asking “What are you grateful for?” can feel like a chore.

Teaching children to look for the glitter in each day is a great way to get them searching for and NOTICING the things that have gone their way.

There is ALWAYS glitter in the day – even the tiniest speck counts.

“What has been the glitter in YOUR day?”

“What has worked out? What has brought you joy?”

Try it with your children and perhaps you will also start to see more glitter in your own daily lives as well! 

JSSG High Tea

The High Tea functions for girls and the significant women in their lives, organised by the Junior School Support Group, were held last Sunday (29 May). It was lovely to witness the community spirit and recognition of the important women in our lives at these special events. The photo booths were, without a doubt, a highlight for all of the students!

Thank you to the members of the JSSG committee – Miriam Musgrave, Megan Clarke, Graham Cox, Lisa Petrulis, Rac Lau and Avena Fernandez for the enormous amount of time and energy they devoted to arranging these two wonderful events.

Thank you also to all the generous sponsors (as listed below) who donated raffle prizes and whose support is very much appreciated.

• Sakkas Family
• Werda/Cameron Family
• Shelburn Family
• Leon/Ratnam Family
• Clarke Family
• Cox Family
• Fernandez Family
• Musgrave Family
• Petrulis Family
• Bazianas Family
• Donsky/Sanders Family (Winston Quinn Gin)
• Code Camp
• Junior Engineers

Year 6 News Monitors interview

Watch the latest video from our Year 6 News Monitors where they interview key music staff - Director of Music, Mr Will Eager, Director of Choral Music, Mr Shannon Leonard and Director of Strings, Ms Raquel Bastos - about the benefits of participating in Co-curricular Music.

Spirit Awards - Term 2

Each term, teachers select one student from each class to receive the Spirit Award. These students consistently demonstrate the Somerville House 5Rs: Respect, Responsibility, Resilience, Relationships and Reflection.

These students wear the Spirit Badge each day with pride and are exceptional role models for other students.

Congratulations to the following Term 2 recipients:

• Anna C (Prep M)
• Olivia P (Prep L)
• Olivia K (Prep Z)
• Elsie C (1A)
• Charlotte M (1B)
• Chloe S (1C)
• Dishi M (2A)
• Gianna K (2B)
• Kaitlyn L (2C)
• Alexia H (3A)
• Gia B (3B)
• Pollyana S (3C)
• Eliza C (4A)
• Chelsea Z (4B)
• Isabella S (4C)
• Annabelle Y (5A)
• Frances S (5B)
• Cate D (5C)
• Evie S (5D)
• Lily B-M (6A)
• Lillian C (6B)
• Philipa M (6C)
• Alvita C (6D)

In Years 4 to 6, we also award a certificate to a student from each class for a Class Achievement Award to recognise a variety of accomplishments, such as displaying a growth mindset, completing an academic task to an excellent standard, showing good progress or for being curious and investigating a topic of interest.

Congratulations to the following students.

• Georgia L (4A)
• Isabella Z (4B)
• Elsie G (4C)
• Annie T (5A)
• Claudia D (5B)
• Mia L (5C)
• Brielle H (5D)
• Kate E (6A)
• Helena M (6B)
• Zoe W (6C)
• Natalie W (6D)

Queensland Youth Music Awards

We are very proud of the students in Junior Choirs who competed in the Queensland Youth Music Awards last Monday 23 May and Thursday 26 May.

Poco a Poco achieved a Gold Award. Cantabile also achieved a Gold Award and we eagerly await the second half of this section to find out their overall placing. Many thanks to Mrs Wendy Jurrs and Mr Shannon Leonard for their work in preparing both these ensembles, accompanied skilfully by Mr Christian Gante.

Junior School Badge Presentation Assembly – Tuesday 19 July – Save the date

We warmly invite parents of new students to a special assembly on Tuesday 19 July (Week 2 of Term 3) commencing at 9.00am in the Harker Auditorium, Valmai Pidgeon Performing Arts Centre (Level 5). Junior School students who have been at Somerville House for one semester or more will receive their School Badge at this assembly. 

The ceremony will conclude at approximately 10.00am. We hope you can join with us to celebrate this very special step in your daughter’s school journey. 

Mrs Louise McGuire
Head of Junior School

The diverse circumstances in which children grow up influence their needs, wants, perceptions and behaviours related to financial and consumer matters. Typically, at age 10 to 11, children can discriminate between their needs and wants and make simple plans for challenges associated with their unique circumstances.

Within their familiar world, their source of income begins to diversify, and may include pocket money for jobs in the home, achievement trade-offs, money-making projects and gifts. Children begin to manage small amounts of money and plan their spending.

They are exposed to a range of media and social networks that influence their consumer preferences and how they spend, with identity increasingly shaped through the possession of particular things.
This wider exposure to social and digital worlds and more independent decision-making creates consequences that, typically, challenge them to seek guidance.

Next week the Year 5 classes will be introduced to a program called ‘Talk Money’ through two workshops. The workshops are designed to be inclusive and relevant for students of all backgrounds and experience. This links directly to the Australian Curriculum and incorporates Maths and HaSS (Economics and Business) concepts.

Students learn how to save, manage, and spend money, manage needs versus wants and discuss the digitisation of money and different payment options.

Through a series of activities, students examine how people value money differently and how they can have constructive conversations with family and friends about money. They learn how to set savings goals as part of managing their money.

Students also examine how to save and manage money and consider different payment options, including the digitisation of money.

If you have a daughter in Year 5, please ask her about her learning and give her practical experiences where she can practice her newly acquired skills.

Mrs Gaye Ryan
Assistant Head of Junior School- Teaching and Learning

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

UQ-QAMT Problem Solving Competition

In March this year, thirty students from Years 7 to 11 participated in the UQ-QAMT Problem Solving Competition. This was the largest number of students the school has registered for this event.

This is a very challenging completion held over two hours with students working individually to solve complex problems.

Congratulations to Lavanya G (8E) and Ee Lin S (9E) for achieving a High Commendation and Matea Z (10O) for obtaining Third Prize in the Year 10 section of the competition.

We congratulate these three students on their excellent results. All three students have been invited to participate in a mentoring program which will prepare them for the Mathematics Olympiad later in the year.

Australian Mathematics Olympiad

In February, Ee Lin S (9E) and Ella J (10G) were selected to participate in the Australian Mathematics Olympiad. This is an invitation only competition and involves about 100 students from around Australia working individually for four hours solving very complex problems.

From this competition Ee Lin was awarded an Honorable Mention.

Both students were selected to participate in a week long training camp in the last week of Term 1. From this training camp both Ee Lin and Ella were selected to participate in the AMOC Expanded Mentor Program. Students in this program have the opportunity to be selected to represent Australia in the International Mathematics Olympiad.

We congratulate both Ee Lin and Ella for their outstanding accomplishment.

International Mathematical Modelling Challenge

Each year the Year 11 Specialist Mathematics students participate in the International Mathematical Modelling Challenge. Students work in teams of three or four over five days to generate mathematical models to solve a real life complex problem. This year students were asked to model the boarding of passengers on and off a variety of plane types and to determine the method that would allow passengers to embark or disembark in the shortest possible time.

Congratulations to Suhani G (11), Evelyn W (11F), Andrea C (11M) and Ashley L (11D) for their response being recognised as a National Finalist.

We congratulate these students on this outstanding result.

Mr Trevor Redmond
Head of Mathematics

We are delighted to announce that Ingrid J (11M) has been selected to attend an exclusive STEM Summit at QUT. She will be one of sixty students to attend this event, and was selected from 320 applicants from Years 11 and 12 across Brisbane, Regional Queensland and Northern New South Wales. The summit takes place over the September holidays. We are so proud of Ingrid and her passion for STEM. 

Mrs Cynthia Nolan 
Head of Department - Digital Solutions and Technologies

The Senior Years Support Group warmly invites you to the Year 11 Parent Event.

Drop your daughter off on Vulture Street at 5.45pm for her Year 11 Secret Dinner and come to The Secret Garden at Canvas Club for a night out with your fellow Year 11 parents, before collecting her from Graham Street at 9.45pm.

Date: Wednesday 15 June
Time: 6.00pm to 9.30pm
Location: The Secret Garden at Canvas Club16 Logan Rd, Woolloongabba
RSVP: Ticket sales close on Wednesday 8 June and are non-refundable after this date.
Cost: $50 per head. Your ticket includes a drink on arrival and substantial cocktail canapés.

Click here to secure tickets.

For any enquiries please contact Mrs Lisa Evans via [email protected]

Success at QYMA

Over the past two weeks, Somerville House Choirs have competed in the Queensland Youth Music Awards. All groups performed beautifully and represented the School admirably. Congratulations to all the students and staff who were involved. 

• Cantrice – Gold Award (Conducted by Mr Leonard)
• Cantamus – Silver Award (Conducted by Ms Kemish)
• Cantabile – Gold Award (Conducted by Mr Leonard)
• Poco a Poco – Gold Award (Conducted by Mrs Jurss)

Mr Shannon Leonard 
Director of Choral  

Tennis

Finally the weather presented lots of sunshine with a number of girls attending tennis trials at the Somerville courts last Saturday.

Students participated in organised match play and were given the opportunity to show their skill level and ability on the court as well as their knowledge of the game. A set of criteria was developed by the coaches to ensure our selection process is fair and equitable and to assist in selecting teams.

All players demonstrated effort and commitment and enjoyed their tennis experience throughout the morning.

We look forward to a great season of tennis on and off the court.

Ms Kerry McAllister 
Sports Co-ordinator and Administration Assistant - Co-Curricular, Cultural, Community

Year 1 students have completed a stencil printing unit exploring shape and colour. They have created a "curious creature" using shapes that respond to word images or textures. This is a printing process that requires multiple layers and precision in tracing, cutting and lining up each layer to develop an image.

Annie has created Bubble, by cutting out the large ‘bubbly’ shape and printing it orange for her creature’s head for her first stencil.

On her second stencil, she has cut out shapes for eyes and a mouth and then printed them green on top of the previous print. Annie worked independently and developed her image using five stencils to create her fabulous curious creature.