Lockdown Drill
In the second half of Term 3, we are scheduled for an emergency lockdown drill, in compliance with our school emergency management program.  Both our lockdown and emergency evacuation drills are compliant with mandatory Occupational Health & Safety legislation and Australian Standards. Our school has policies in effect designed to keep the students and staff secured in safe locations.  Research shows that schools with an emergency plan are safer schools.  No one wants to be guessing about what to do if a true crisis occurs.  Student and staff safety is paramount and a plan in place is designed to save lives.

What is a lockdown drill and what happens during one?
A lockdown or lockdown drill is when students and staff “lockdown” the school for safety reasons.  Teachers lock their classroom doors and students and staff move away from windows and doors.  Outside doors are locked.  No one is allowed into the building other than emergency personnel.  Parents who arrive during a lockdown (even a drill) must wait outside the building for the lockdown to end.  Although all possible circumstances for an emergency lockdown situation cannot be anticipated, we aim to ensure maximum security for everyone on school premises at the time.

What are possible reasons for having a lockdown?
There are many reasons for having a lockdown, they include:

• a potentially dangerous situation taking place in our school
• unauthorized dangerous person threatening injury or harm inside or outside our school
• a medical emergency, requiring an outside response when we need to keep students inside classrooms, (eg nearby chemical spill affecting environment)
• any other safety issue where we want to keep students from harm or possible danger

An evacuation is when, for some reason, the entire student and staff population needs to leave the building (a fire, chemical spill, bomb threat, etc.) for an extended period of time.  Staff escort students to a safe location and remain with them there and make sure everyone is accounted for. From there, students would either return to the campus (when drill is over or school is deemed safe) or be released home.  Release of students to their parents or home must be highly controlled in the event of an evacuation or lockdown. We need to ensure that all students are safe and accounted for before we allow parents to pick them up.

Emergency lockdown drills are carried out twice annually, as are the emergency evacuation drills.

Kenmore Army Cadet Unit
Australian Army Cadets is a youth development organisation that aims to develop skills in decision-making, leadership, planning, public speaking, resilience and working in a team environment. If your daughter is aged between 13 and 18 years old next year, she can consider an epic challenge. She might like to join the brand-new 108 Australian Army Cadet Unit - Kenmore! This is her chance to experience the thrill of being part of an exciting youth organisation modelled after the Australian Army.

At 108 ACU, she will be able to learn awesome skills like camping, map reading, abseiling, first aid, and more. Additionally, there are opportunities for international exchanges and physical training. Bolstering the Somerville House experience, your daughter will be able to support charitable fundraisers and help her community!

Located at Kenmore State High School, the Cadet Unit meet every Tuesday evening from 6 pm to 9 pm near Block E.  The Cadet Unit also has weekend bush exercises for cadets to put their newly learned skills into action. There is also the annual Cadet Camp for students to meet and work with 2,000 other cadets!

As the unit is cadet-led, adults are there to guide and mentor the young people. Cadet leaders will learn how to plan and run lessons, manage activities, and lead parades. It really is an amazing opportunity to develop leadership potential!

There is no need to worry about uniforms, equipment, or training materials – as the cadet unit covers this aspect.  Adult volunteers undergo strict screening and training by the Australian Army Cadets.

Students considering this opportunity can join at the start of term 1 or term 3. The first parade will include an information session for parents and carers, so everyone can learn more information about this great opportunity.

As the advertising blurb says:
Ready to embark on an adventure of a lifetime? Visit www.armycadets.gov.au and search for 108 ACU or shoot us an email at [email protected]. Get involved, meet new friends, and discover the leader within you!

Mrs Kim Kiepe
Principal

As a Science teacher, National Science Week always excites me, and it is celebrated this week with a number of activities to mark the occasion at school. I have always loved seeing the wonder in children’s eyes when they see something they can’t explain and then the delight and sense of achievement when they explore and learn how something works. 

Even in the school holidays, when my children and I had a break, I couldn’t help myself, and we delved into science experiments that could be done at home using everyday items. There are many places to find simple science experiments that you can do at home that are appropriate for a range of ages, so if you are looking for something different to do on the weekend or in the school holidays, the links below might get you started. 

DIY Science - National Science Week 

Science - ABC Education 

Projects | Code Club Australia 

Activities for kids at home - The Australian Museum

CSIRO

Home : Fizzics Education

Geoscience Australia

Scienceworks at Home - Scienceworks

STEAM Club Online | ANSTO 

Mrs Jo Matherson
Deputy Principal

Last week was the Somerville House annual Chapel Week, with various activities and gatherings to celebrate the birthday of our Chapel and the spiritual life of the School. The theme was Who You Say I Am, what God says about us and our identity in Him. Chapel Captain Tiffany N(12O) said in her address to the Senior School Assembly:

Anyone who is joined to Christ is a new being; the old is gone, the new has come. All this is done by God, who through Christ changed us from enemies into his friends and gave us the task of making others his friends also, (2 Corinthians 5).
As a Christian, the statement “I am who You say I am” holds a profound significance and serves as a powerful affirmation of our identity and worth in the eyes of God, It encompasses several key aspects of our faith and relationship with our Creator.

First and foremost, recognizing that "I am who God says I am" acknowledges the authority and sovereignty of God. It affirms that our identity is not defined by worldly standards or the opinions of others but is ultimately determined by our Creator, who knows us intimately. He knows us down to the smallest detail as the strands of hairs on our head are numbered according to what Jesus says. If God knows us that well and continues to love us and reach out to us, we are indeed of great worth.

By immersing ourselves in His Word, we come to understand the truth about our identity as His beloved children. We discover that we are fearfully and wonderfully made (Psalm 139:14) and that we are created in His image (Genesis 1:27). As flawed and broken human beings, we often struggle with feelings of guilt, shame, and inadequacy. God understands our weaknesses and failings and he loves us when we are least lovable. However, in Christ, we find redemption and restoration through His ultimate sacrifice on the cross. By accepting His forgiveness and embracing His grace, we can shed our old identities and step into the newness of life that He offers.

As we daily affirm, "I am who God says I am," we find our true identity and security in Him, enabling us to live as radiant reflections of His love and grace in a world longing for the transformative power of the Gospel.
It is so tempting to listen to the wrong voices, the ones who tell us we’re not good enough, we don’t compare favourably to others, we’ll never be as good, as smart, and pretty or as successful as others. But it is not about us and what we have achieved, it is about Jesus and what his death on the cross achieved for us. Growing in embracing who God says I am, is a journey I am definitely on. I invite you to join me.

Ms Chris O'Gorman
Senior Chaplain

Friday 18 August – National Day of Action Against Bullying and Violence

The significance of the concern society continues to express about the prevalence of bullying and violence is made clear in the naming of The National Day of Action Against Bullying and Violence.

In a time where it appears that each day is dedicated to raising awareness of issues of concern, this day, this day of action, has been revisited for close to two decades. The aim of the day is to highlight Australian schools and their efforts to counter bullying and violence, and to bring school communities together in an attempt to find workable and real solutions.

Schools nationwide have integrated social and emotional learning into the learning culture and values of their community in response to research evidence which supports increasing students’ understanding and direct experience of respect, humility, and care for others to discourage bullying behaviours.

An emphasis on student voice on how to create and sustain a positive and inclusive culture of belonging and connection has long been embedded into the pastoral care structures in schools. Curriculum too, has sought to provide students with the opportunity to identify positive responses to the challenges often met in negotiating relationships. This wellbeing focus does not rely on one day of the year being identified as a day when we should stop to recognize how we should live and work together, it is the foundation on which a school climate and culture is built. One which recognizes the example of Christ as the essence of all relationships.

That antisocial behaviours can still exist, even with the attention which is given to developing positive, caring relationships, continues to perplex teachers, parents and students alike. Research conducted in 2020, on bullying among middle schoolers, identified that while peer groups can promote a range of prosocial and positive emotional and behavioural attributes, they can also elicit negative or antisocial attributes. One of the complexities of this issue identified by Rodkin, is that young people’s personal identity and sense of self can be influenced by the peer group to such an extent that their individual autonomy can be affected. Rodkin infers that if a peer group endorses negative behaviour, young people will more willingly endorse such behaviours in order to preserve their position in the group and their group identity.

Can we conclude from this - why ‘good kids’ can adopt behaviours and responses which by all accounts are completely out of character?

The need to collaborate with young people to identify the traps that lead to bullying is certainly understood in schools such as ours where positive and productive relationships focus our mission.

At school and at home, listening intently to our young people when they share their stories and experiences can contribute to our understanding of how they see group norms and enable us to reinforce the attitude they bring to their experience, or just as importantly, challenge the meaning they make and the responses they choose. Our responsibility continues to be to educate. To identify mean tendencies and remind each young person of the role they can take in actively changing what is and isn’t accepted in their group.

Ms Wendy Lauman
Acting Dean of Student Wellbeing 

The power of speech, hormones, and why we need to hear each other.

How often have you answered the phone and said or heard, “It’s so nice to hear your voice”? Research tells us that hearing supportive words from someone we love has real, measurable impacts on hormones associate with stress.
In a 2012 study, children were given an extremely difficult exam, and then randomly placed into four groups. One group was comforted by their mother in person, one group was comforted by their mother over the phone, one group was comforted by their mother over text message, and the last group was left alone. The study measured the child’s reduction of cortisol (stress hormone), and release of oxytocin (love hormone).

The researchers discovered that children who were able to be with their mother in person or speak with her over the phone showed a significant reduction in cortisol, and oxytocin was released. However, children who instant messaged did not release oxytocin, and they maintained levels of cortisol as high as those who did not interact with their parents at all.

It seems there is a real physical response to touch, smell and vocal tones, that are simply not conveyed over text message. These physical responses then translate into feelings of comfort, love, and reduced stress. What’s most amazing to me, is that this same response was observed through a phone call. Hearing the voice of a loved one is so much more powerful than a text, and just as effective as being comforted face-to-face.

Reference: Seltzer LJ, Prososki AR, Ziegler TE, Pollak SD. Instant messages vs. speech: hormones and why we still need to hear each other. Evol Hum Behav. 2012 Jan;33(1):42-45. doi: 10.1016/j.evolhumbehav.2011.05.004. PMID: 22337755; PMCID: PMC3277914.

Ms Sarah Winkleman
School Psychologist

Year 2 are currently working on the art of persuasive writing, using various techniques to create a strong argument in their favour. On Friday six students from 2B presented their ideas to me about whether we should or should not have a school uniform. I heard arguments from the ‘for team’ first followed by the against. On the ‘for team’, there was a great sense of pride, unity and ease when wearing a uniform to school. Their persuasiveness also included messages of community, linking it to what they value about being part of Somerville House. The ‘against team’ then took the floor, sharing thoughts about the cost of the uniform, freedom of choice and individuality. I thought that both teams were expert in their effectiveness, technique and style.

Whilst this wasn’t an official debate or genuine bid to remove the uniform it did make me think about the importance of our striking uniform which is symbolic in many ways. The original school colours were yellow and white, to mark the centenary of the School, a Rose was bred to be Somerville House yellow. Our school crest was designed by Robin Dods, a well-known Brisbane architect. It represents wisdom standing upon the book of Knowledge holding the lamp of truth. In 1912, the school colours were changed to green and blue, these colours now synonymous with all things Somerville House. The green in our crest and uniform represents growth, blue is associated with loyalty and white signifies purity.

So, whilst wearing civvies to school might be fun and enjoyable, the traditions, history and community that comes with donning the green, blue and white brings us together, with a shared understanding of our aims, ethos and values.

Congratulations to Jessica D (6D), who was 50m breaststroke champion representing Somerville Swimming Club at the Short Course Queensland Championships at the weekend. Jessica also won silver for 100m breaststroke – well done Jessica, and to all the Senior School students who also placed.

Prep Wicked Weather Incursion

On Thursday 10 August, the Preps had their first incursion led by Mad About Science. The focus was Wicked Weather and the students conducted various experiments to develop their critical and creative thinking skills. They used laboratory equipment to make a simple model of the water cycle and observed a simulation of rain forming and falling. Each student erupted snow polymer and explored its texture and properties. They conducted simple tests to determine whether the material used in T-shirts and sunglasses blocked UV radiation and everyone made a simple UV detector to keep. It was a wicked day!

Year 2 Excursion to Miegunyah House

As part of Year 2 History Unit “Changes in Technology”, Year 2 students visited Miegunyah House Museum last Thursday. Miegunyah House, built in the 1880s when local tradition was at its most opulent, is richly furnished and decorated with iron-lace balustrades, filigree columns and friezes. The excursion provided students with evidence of life in the 19th century. The students learnt about the people who lived at Miegunyah and saw the labours of 19th century housekeeping.

We all loved Miegunyah house so much, but my favourite part was at the dining table. It was favourite because Frances and Chioma were pretending to be Mr and Mrs Perry, who were the owners of the house. Madeline G (2A) 

Miegunyah house was a great experience for me, and I enjoyed it all. My class and I got to see the summer outfit Mrs Perry wore, and it was so thick! Imagine wearing that in summer.  

Chioma N (2A) 

My favourite part of the excursion was going on the bus because I liked it when we drove through the city. My second favourite part was the children’s room because of all of the tiny wooden toys and the baby bath. 

Celeste C (2B) 

I really liked going to the dining room and looking at the tiny dogs under the glass domes. I liked learning about them coming from China. 

Elizabeth P (2B) 

I loved that we grated the beans and carrots because I got to try something new. 

Eleanor L-W (2B) 

I enjoyed making the butter at Miegunya House. We also saw how the fridge was hanging on a chain from the roof so the bugs could not get in. 

Rosie M (2C) 

I also really liked the kid's room. I loved how there was a little tea set on the mini table.

Annie F (2C) 

The thing that I learnt was that in the past it was so different from now because women had to work extra hard to do the cooking and cleaning. 

Tahlia S (2C) 

Year 4 Camp

Year 4 attended camp at Alexandra Park Conference Centre, Alexandra Headlands, last Wednesday to Friday, where teachers were impressed by the energy and courage with which all students took up the many opportunities to learn new skills, make new friends and enjoy new experiences. Camp provided a fun and challenging range of team building activities that encouraged clear communication, creativity, resilience, and resourcefulness – well done Year 4!

We share below some student highlights.

Year 4 Camp was the best thing ever! On the last night we did a game that incorporated modelling skills and using our creativity skills to create a fashionable and reusable dress. We also played ‘The Best Game Ever’ which turned out to be the best game ever! This game tested our unknown skills and talents that no-one thought we had. We loved playing on the beach and splashing around with our friends in the ocean.

Olivia H and Sunny P (4A)

All the girls in grade 4 were excited to go on camp in Alexandra Headlands. We did so many exciting activities but one of the grades favourite games were The Best Game. People were called out of groups and had to do a specific task for example, who had the smallest foot or who could throw a paper plane that their group had made the furthest. Overall, it was an amazing three days on our first school camp.

Gia B and Amelie B (4B)

We had lots of fun at camp, and it was the best 3 days of our year 4 life! We couldn’t sleep at all until camp came. The best thing we liked was, making friends, communicating with other people you don’t know, trying new foods and things, playing on the beach, building up teamwork and doing fun activities. There were so many things we did we can’t possibly count them all! Something we learnt was how to clean the dining room properly and the strengths of teamwork.

Matilda D and Tsubaki M (4C) 

Year 5 and 6 Author Visit – Sue Whiting

Last Thursday, the Year 5 and 6 students enjoyed a fantastic author talk with Sue Whiting. Sue has had more than 70 books published and the girls enjoyed listening to her tips on being a writer. They were particularly fascinated by Sue’s explanation that all stories are a lie and that good writers add enough truth in the details and that is what makes a story believable. Some students also enjoyed the opportunity of making up a story in five minutes and sharing it with the class. Sue Whiting and the teachers were very impressed by the imagination and creativity that the girls shared.   

Book Week Parade – Friday 25 August

On Friday 25 August, in session 1, the Cotton Library will be hosting the 2023 Junior School Book Week Parade! This year, the Children's Book Council of Australia have chosen the theme: Read Grow Inspire. In Information Literacy lessons, we have been exploring this theme as well as the short-listed books.

The girls are encouraged to come to school in a costume which represents a character/object from a book that they really enjoy reading. We are very much looking forward to seeing everyone in costumes which are both safe and appropriate to wear at school (no miniskirts, exposed midriffs, etc and closed in shoes).

If you have any questions about this event, please contact the Cotton Library -[email protected] 

Mrs Susan Clarke
Head of Junior School

National Day of Action against Bullying and Violence 

This Friday 18 November, the school community will join together to say no way to bullying at Somerville House. The 2023 theme for this National Day of Action is focused on growing connections to help prevent bullying. It is important that we work together as a whole-school community to:

• Prevent bullying by maximising protective factors and minimising risk factors. 
• Supporting students by enabling positive, help seeking behaviours and applying the School Anti-Bullying Policy. 

Click here to find out more about how families and play a key role in preventing and responding to bullying via the Bullying No Way website.

One of the most significant risks to student wellbeing is cyberbullying. There is a growing body of research that clearly indicate that unsafe online practices can seriously impact on student wellbeing. We encourage all parents to engage with the eSafety Commissioner website to help protect our children from the harmful effects of the online community.

Students will engage in various activities throughout the week to: 

• Learn what bullying is and what it is not. 
• Explore ways of responding to conflict and bullying. 
• Promote help-seeking behaviours. 
• Reminding students that it is never okay to hurt others. 
• Reassuring students that the school can help them. 

Junior school students are invited to wear an orange ribbon this Friday to show their support for the National Day of Action against Bullying and Violence.

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

CONTAINERS FOR CHANGE CAMPAIGN IN FULL STEAM

Every Term 3 the Early Learning Centre’s team is excited to kick off a heartfelt campaign to make a difference as part of our ongoing efforts to give back to our community. Each year we aim to raise funds for the NCC Neurocritical Care/Brain Saver Trust at the Children's Hospital.

We continue to work towards our goal to donate the generous sum of $600 to the NCC, which plays a crucial role in providing specialised care and support to critically ill children.

To achieve this ambitious target, we are calling upon all families to participate in our "Containers for Change" initiative. By contributing your eligible containers, we can collect and recycle them at designated collection points, converting them into much-needed funds.

Please continue to place all eligible containers in the collection basket as you make your way in on Friday mornings. External parties can take eligible containers directly to a collection spot and use the Scheme ID C10500935.

Your support and involvement will not only help us reach our goal but will also demonstrate to our children the power of collective action in making a positive impact on the lives of these young patients and their families.

If we successfully achieve our target, we plan to celebrate with a disco party for the children on the last week of term!

Thank you for your unwavering support!

URBAN NATIVE BEES

Last week the children in Pre-Prep had a fantastic opportunity to learn about the importance of native bees and the fascinating world of beehives. We were honoured to host Ocean from Urban Native Bees, who came in and captivated all our classrooms with their informative and engaging presentation.

Ocean shared with us the crucial role that native bees play in our ecosystem and how they contribute to pollination, helping plants and flowers thrive. It was eye-opening to learn about the diverse range of native bee species and their unique characteristics.

During the session, Ocean showcased many interesting examples of beehives and demonstrated how these structures work. Our children were intrigued by the intricacies of hive life and the amazing organisation within bee colonies.

The visit from Urban Native Bees was not only educational but also inspired a newfound appreciation for the environment and the vital role that bees play in maintaining our ecosystem's balance. Such enriching experiences broaden our perspectives and encourage us to be responsible agents of our environment.

GREAT BOOK SWAP

Thank you for contributing your books to our Great Book Swap. The Pre-Prep children loved book shopping and learning that the money would go to buy books for children in remote communities. We raised $180 for the Indigenous Literacy Foundation. Thank you so much for your support!

Ms Mariana McIver
Director of Pre-Prep

 

With so much hype and excitement surrounding the FIFA Women’s World Cup, it seems fitting to share the success of one of our Somerville House Football Students, Maria S (Yr 8). Maria plays for Olympic Football Club and has been recognised by The Greek Herald for her consistent performance and contribution to the sport.

Maria is what you could call a ‘triple threat.’ Not only does she play football, but she has taken up coaching and refereeing.

“At Olympic FC I coach an Under 9 boys’ team which I love. I enjoy teaching them what I know.  I have been privileged to train under some amazing coaches, including former Socceroos and former A-League players. This year I also started refereeing which is harder than it looks,” Maria told The Greek Herald.

The young football player will be catching all the World Cup games being staged in Queensland and is looking to catch her favourite Matildas out on the field.

“I’m looking forward to seeing the Matildas but specifically Sam Kerr, Steph Catley and Haley Raso. Sam Kerr really inspires me; she started playing football at a young age and yet three years after she started playing, she got into the Matildas,” she explained.

“I think it is important that the World Cup is in Australia this year because it raises the profile of women’s football and hopefully will encourage more girls to play football. It is great to have the world’s best female players playing so close by that we can go and watch them!”

Well done, Maria!

Mr Andrew McCabe
Director of Sport

Scarlett has achieved this detailed etching print of an endangered turtle species. She has made this artwork in response to Shaun Tan’s work which explores the relationships between humans and wildlife. Next, she will build in an urban background based on a photograph taken at the school to create strong contrast between the untamed wild and built, man-made environment. 

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.

Reminder to Somerville House parents to register for our upcoming Parent Afternoon from 4.00pm to 5.00pm Tuesday 29 August. It's a great chance for Junior School parents to connect with Senior School parents, meet members of the Senior Leadership Team and view our recently opened fields and hardcourts at SomerFields. We look forward to seeing you there. 

Click the image below to register now!

Ticket sales extended! Do not miss out on your chance to sparkle!

Join parents from all year levels, staff and Year 12 students and partners at the 2023 Somerville House Ball. In addition to wonderful food and entertainment, the gala event offers a great opportunity for our school community to join together and celebrate in true Somerville spirit. Get a table together with friends, members of your co-curricular group, or let the Ball Committee help place you at a table.

When:                  7.00pm Saturday 9 September 2023

Where:                    The Plaza Ballroom, Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre, South Brisbane

Dress code:             Black Tie with a touch of glitter

Tickets:                  Adults $200

                               Students and Partners $160

Click here to purchase tickets. For full details and FAQ's please click here. 
Please email [email protected] with any further questions.

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

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.