If “emotionally charged celebration” is the answer, what is the question? 

I would venture that the question might be, “What was the reaction to the Senior tie and badge year level assembly on Thursday 12 November, 2020?”

Without doubt, a highlight of last week’s calendar was an invitation to present the Class of 2021 with their Senior ties and badges. This year’s event was different to the tie and badge presentation of previous years. In fact, I think I could safely say that Somerville House has established a new tradition! At least that is the view held by our students, because “we have a new tradition” was recounted to me by a number of Year 11 students.

Audience members included our Year 6 cohort and Year 6 teachers, along with the Year 11 tutor teachers and members of the Leadership Team. We enjoyed listening to an address from School Captain, Dinethra E (11G), and Vice-Captains, India C (11M) and Georgia N (11C). The Year 11 House Captains each took to the lectern to invite forward their fellow students to cross the stage to receive their tie (from me) and their badge (from a Year 6 student). It was made extra special, because a first day at school or early years’ image of each Year 11 student was displayed on the screen, as she crossed the stage. It was lovely to hear the audience reaction to the images of our older girls as a younger girl... teacher images included!

Just when I thought we had given out the last tie, no-one was prepared for the special moment when Mrs Kathryn Emtage announced a secret surprise. The stage was cleared and some Year 6 and Year 11 students, accompanied by Mr Shannon Leonard, joined together to perform the Matilda famed 'When I Grow Up'. The song in itself symbolised the connection that every student has to the essence of what it means to be a part of our unique Somerville House community.

Such a special event has created a legacy and feeling of belonging for our Year 12 and Year 7 classes of 2021. Mrs Julie Brunckhorst, Dean of Student Wellbeing believes that the positive impact on student connection will be felt by many for years beyond school.

Particular thanks must go to Head of Year 11, Mrs Kathryn Emtage for organising the event and Mr Shannon Leonard for co-ordinating the secret rehearsals of 'When I Grow Up'. Congratulations to all Year 11 students in taking on their Seniors’ role. It really was a very special occasion for our Year 11 cohort, along with their Year 6 sisters, who will be welcomed into the Senior School in another Somerville House tradition in the last week of term.

Former United States President, Barack Obama, once said:

Essentially, Obama reminds us all that we can and should play a part in the wellbeing of our society. His words also reinforce that leadership is open to all. We look forward to the leadership of our Year 11 cohort as they lead us into 2021, in taking up the challenge of their Senior year ahead.

For the Foundation End of Year Appeal on Friday 13 November, members of the Somerville house community were invited to Join with us. If you would like to make a gift, please click here.

Mrs Kim Kiepe 
Principal

All we want for our children is for them to be happy, right? I think this is an unattainable goal and one that we should reconsider. Happiness is at the top end of the spectrum and without experiencing other places along the emotional spectrum, we do not value being happy as much. I hope for my children to be content. Being content is about peaceful satisfaction. It involves appreciating what you have and where you are in life, rather than wishing things were different. Happiness comes and goes, and we have little control over it; being content is something you can continually work towards. 

Below are some ways we can ensure our outlook is brighter and as a result, our mood better, and we will be a nicer person to know. 

Get rid of suspicion and resentment: Rather than holding a grudge, put things right where you can and move on.  
Stop living in the past: Learn from your mistakes and use the experience to improve for next time. 
Don’t waste time and energy fighting things you cannot change: Find the things you can change and the places you can make a difference. 
Forget self-pity: No-one gets through life without some misfortune and sorrow. It’s how we deal with it that helps us heal. One way is to think about how others are feeling and try to help them. 
Set high standards but be realistic: Set your sights high but make sure you can achieve your goals as long as you make the effort. 

Mrs Jo Matherson 
Deputy Principal

Ending well

This week, on a note that is both happy and sad, we are farewelling our Year 12 students as they move to the next stage of life’s journey with future study or work. The girls have already shared their final Chapel Service together, farewells from their house group and a mother-daughter dinner where they were officially welcomed to the Old Girls' Association. This week they will share a high tea, their final assembly and the Valedictory Service. The boarders will also have their farewells with their boarding sisters.

When finishing one stage of life and moving on, it is important to finish well, whether that is leaving school, moving from one job to the next or leaving any significant community of which we have been a part. 

It is a little like packing for a journey. Anyone who has travelled overseas (remember that??) will know that choosing carefully what you leave behind is just as important as choosing what you take with you. There is nothing worse than dragging unnecessary baggage all over the world. There is a life lesson in this. All change involves a ‘leaving behind’, be it the roles we identified with, relationships we valued, skills or knowledge now redundant, once cherished belongings, or a predictable routine. Perhaps some of what we leave behind involves hurts and disappointments, things that didn’t quite work out the way we wanted, decisions that angered us.

It is always better to try to tidy things up in our relationships as far as is possible, and when we move on, this is particularly true. In the book of Ephesians, the Apostle Paul talks about how Jesus, through his death on the cross, has broken down every wall of hostility between people. Those walls may be because of political views, gender, race or any other thing, but it is as we bring them to Jesus that healing and reconciliation can come.

I trust our Year 12s leave with many fond memories of what they have experienced and how they have grown in their time at the School, and our prayer for them is that they leave as mature young women, ready to face the world and negotiate the various challenges that life inevitably presents. In God’s strength they will prevail.

Ms Chris O'Gorman 
Senior Chaplain

With the impending festive season and end of school celebrations, some teenagers may be feeling ready to party, wanting to put the disruptions, frustrations and disappointments of this past year, behind them.

To ensure our young people stay safe during this time, parents and carers are encouraged to have a discussion about alcohol - no matter how difficult or overwhelming it may be. It is important to outline the rules and boundaries around age-appropriate alcohol consumption and the legal implications of underage drinking. 

Young people are at greater risk of alcohol-related harm than adults because their brains continue to develop until their mid-twenties. The safest level of alcohol consumption for teenagers, is no alcohol at all. This may be difficult to enforce. However, parents and carers can influence sensible drinking habits and help minimise the risks.

In this Special Report, a series of discussion points are offered to help make the conversation about alcohol consumption a little easier. We hope you take time to reflect on the information offered, and as always, we welcome your feedback. Please click here to read the special report.

If you have any concerns about your child's wellbeing, please contact the School for further information or seek medical or professional help.

Mrs Julie Brunckhorst 
Dean of Student Wellbeing

2021 Junior School Captains

We congratulate Eve A (5C) and Frankie S (5D), who were announced at assembly last week as our Junior School Captains for 2021. We wish them all the very best for their leadership of the Junior School next year. Eve and Frankie were presented with flowers by our 2020 Junior School Captains Mia D (6B) and Abby M (6A). We take this opportunity to thank Mia and Abby for all their hard work and the positive and resilient way they have approached the challenges and opportunities of this year.

Lifeline donations

Thank you to all students and families who brought in donations last Thursday 12 November for Lifeline. We filled a truck! Your generosity and thoughtfulness in taking the time to donate is much appreciated. A special thank you to Year 5 students for helping collect at the Turning Circle.

Staff update

Mr Andrew Marshall, Year 2 Teacher and Prep to Year 3 Co-ordinator, will be leaving the School at the end of this year to take up a new position as Junior School (Prep to Year 6) Pastoral Care Co-ordinator at Redeemer College. We thank Mr Marshall for his six years of service to the Junior School and wish him all the very best in his new role. 

Collection for Queensland Children’s Hospital gifts

Over the past few years, in collaboration with the Queensland Children’s Hospital Foundation, the School has hosted a special lunch for the children and their families who are in hospital over the Christmas period.

We are delighted once again to continue this association, with this year's event planned for Tuesday 15 December.

We suggested to the organisers that the Junior School fund gifts for the children and their parents and they were delighted with this idea. Please click here, by Monday 30 November, if you would like to make a donation. After this time, we will be purchasing an array of age appropriate gifts for the attendees. 

Thank you very much in advance for your support of this endeavour.  

2021 booklists

The 2021 booklists are now available on the School website. 

Please click here to place your order through Campion Education (Code: M5J2) by Wednesday 16 December.

Year 11 Tie and Badge assembly

Last Thursday 12 November, as part of our Sisters Connect Program, the Year 6 students were involved in a special assembly where Year 11 students received their Senior tie and badge. As always, within our community, we relish these opportunities for our Junior School students to look ahead and be inspired by the older students. 

Mrs Louise McGuire
Head of Junior School

STEM matters

STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) is fundamental to every part of our lives. Sometimes referred to as STEAM, (with the Arts added) it is something we aim to cater for in the Junior School. Recently added to our Junior School Annual Awards, is the Arna Bennett STEAM Award. This is awarded to a student who demonstrates innovation and critical thinking and uses engineering or technology in imaginative and creative responses to real-world problems.

There is currently a big achievement gap between girls and boys in STEM in schools and women are vastly underrepresented in STEM occupations and among STEM degree holders.

Having half the population (women) not participating in STEM fields also limits creativity and innovation. For example, when engineers made the first generation of airbags for cars, they used adult male bodies as the basis for their designs, which resulted in avoidable deaths for women and children.* 

Girls need to participate in STEM to make sure the experiences and needs of women are included in studies and in the design of products and services.

As a parent, supporting your daughter’s interest and confidence in STEM is easy. Here are some things you can try:

Encourage questions: Scientists are professional 'question-askers', so encourage your daughter’s natural curiosity. Let her know that she doesn’t need to have all the answers or to do things the ‘right’ way. Encourage her to explore, make mistakes and discover things for herself.

STEM-friendly home: Encourage your daughter to have fun engaging in safe experimentation and discovery. Let her get a little messy in the kitchen and backyard while she practises predicting, measuring, observing and analysing. Borrow books and watch documentaries and TV programs about science, technology, the arts and nature.

Follow your daughter’s interests: Use your daughter’s interests as a springboard for STEM learning. For example, if she is into horses, she might like to find out how they are bred, what their nutritional needs are, how their muscles move, and how fast and far they can run.

Talk: Talk to your daughter about the designs and shapes that you see around you in nature, buildings and machinery, or science stories in the news. Ask her about what she is learning at school in maths and science – and get excited! Encourage her to talk about her struggles and her successes and praise her for her effort.

STEM is for everyone: Encourage your daughter to pursue her interests in these areas, and let her know that these subjects are for everybody. If she lacks confidence or doubts herself, encourage her to keep trying, tell her you believe in her, and find ways to help her if she needs it.

The GiST website is a fabulous resource for parents.

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

*Margolis, Jane. Unlocking the Clubhouse: Women in Computing (2002): p3

The end of Term 4 is quickly approaching and this week is the final week for borrowing from the Cotton Library. All students will be encouraged to borrow for the last time during their Information Literacy lessons.

During Weeks 8 and 9 the girls will be asked to return all of their library books. This is particularly important if your daughter is finishing the School year earlier than Friday 4 December or if she is not continuing at the School in 2021. Students will be able to bring books from home to read at school, or read books that are already in classrooms.

During the summer break, girls who have downloaded the ePlatform app onto a home device, such as an iPad, will be able to borrow from the School's ebook library. Ebooks are being added to this library all the time, so your daughter is being reminded weekly to check to see if she can download and read an ebook at home. These books have been meticulously chosen by the School’s teacher librarians for their literary value and reading enjoyment. It is a free download from the App Store and students in Years 4 to 6 have already downloaded this app onto their school laptop. However, having it on a home device will be convenient over the School holidays.

If your daughter is having any difficulties or you would like more information regarding the ePlatform app, please contact Mrs Cheryl Toohey via [email protected] for assistance.  

Mrs Cheryl Toohey
Teacher Librarian

We will be hosting Junior Engineers' coding and robotics programs in the School holidays from Thursday 10 to Tuesday 22 December.

Please click here for details and to register or phone 1300 089 344 for more information.

Students from Years 7 to 10 will receive a letter confirming their subject choices for 2021 this week. This will enable parents to purchase the relevant items from the booklist. The booklist is now available and orders should be placed before Wednesday 16 December in order to guarantee delivery before 23 January 2021.

To order textbooks and stationery

1. Visit order.campion.com.au (recommended access via Google Chrome)
2. Click on Order Now or Order Here 
3. Navigate to select Somerville House from the list of Queensland schools (with or without creating an account)
4. Enter the School code: M5J2 
5. Click CONTINUE and select the relevant year level.

Mrs Wendy Jurss 
Dean of Academic Programs

Year 11 parents will receive End of Unit 2 reports this week. The reports will be uploaded into Parent Lounge. Reports for Years 7 to 10 will be distributed on Tuesday 15 December. These reports include an overall result for the semester or unit and a summary of the topics covered throughout the year. In addition to these, the report indicates Key Strengths, which are the areas in which the student is performing well and Areas for Consolidation, which provide feedback in order to improve further. Each subject also provides feedback on a number of Learning Behaviours to provide a summary of classroom engagement and independent learning skills.

The Years 7 to 11 Awards Celebration will be held on Thursday 3 December from 11.00am to 12.30pm. Students will receive an email this week if they are an award winner. The calculation of academic awards is based on subject results available by the end of Term 3, with weighting applied to subjects in some year levels as per the Awards Policy. Year 11 results available at the end of Term 3 are translated from a cumulative numerical result to a grade on a fifteen point scale when calculating the GPA.

A link to the recording and resources from the Year 12 2021 Information Evening was emailed to parents last week. You can also watch the recording below.

Last Thursday 12 November the Year 11 students took another step towards embracing their role as student leaders of the School when they received their Senior tie and badge. In a special year level assembly, Year 6 ‘Little Sisters’ joined their Year 11 ‘Big Sisters’ for an afternoon that highlighted the connections across the Junior and Senior School, allowing both year levels a glimpse of what lies ahead.

The assembly contained many magical moments including the symbolic presentation of the Senior badges by Year 6 students, the ‘looking back’ photos of the Year 11s on their first day at school and a poignant musical performance of ‘When I Grow Up’ by a very talented group of Year 11 and Year 6 singers. You can watch the assembly below:

The assembly was led by our 2021 School and House Captains. Below is an excerpt from School Captain elect, Dinethra E's (11G), opening welcome.

Mrs Kathryn Emtage
Head of Year 11 

Between April and September this year, a group of nine Year 7 to 10 students participated in the Mathematics Challenge for Young Australians – Enrichment Phase. Over this time, students worked through a booklet of content and then were ask to utilise this content to generate solutions for a series of challenging questions. 

The following students were recognised:

• Matea Z (8F) and Cheryl S (8D) were awarded High Distinctions
• Ee Lin S (7B) was awarded a Distinction 
• Annabel L (7B), Xiang Lin S (9C), Suhani G (9C) and Michelle L (10G) were awarded Credits.

Congratulations to these students for a wonderful outcome.

Mr Trevor Redmond 
Head of Mathematics

Somerville House continues to encourage the academic success, personal growth, service-learning and responsible stewardship of it’s students. To support this, the School and the Somerville House Foundation offer a range of scholarships for students in Years 7 to 11 each year.

We are pleased to advise that applications for scholarships are now open to students who will be in Years 7 to 11 in 2022. These scholarships include:

• Academic
• Boarding
• Music
• Sport
• Foundation

To apply for a scholarship, or to learn more about the opportunities available to your daughter, please click here.

Alternatively, please do not hesitate to contact Mrs Vanessa Saxby, Admissions Manager, via phone 3248 9202 or via [email protected], should you have any further questions about the application process.

Congratulations 

Congratulations to the following students for their recent AMEB exam results:

• Grace R (10F) – Grade 8 Viola: Honours
• Caitlin O (11D) – Grade 8 Viola: Credit
• Jinyue Z (6B) – Grade 7 Violin Repertoire Exam: Successful

End of year choir masterclass

Last Tuesday 10 November we were visited by the eminent Mr Jason Barry-Smith; a prominent Brisbane-based singer, conductor and composer. He energised our Senior choirs and gave the girls a lot to consider with regard to their energy when singing. The students had a wonderful time.

Coming up this term

Year 7 students will be involved in the inaugural Sports Expo, which will be held from 8.15am to 3.10pm at the School on Wednesday 2 December. Students will be involved in six sessions throughout the day, participating in activities which may include:

• Athletics 
• Basketball 
• Badminton 
• Cricket 
• Soccer
• Gymnastics 
• Hockey 
• Tennis 
• Netball 
• Volleyball 
• Water Polo 

The aim of the Expo is to provide an opportunity for Year 7 students to try a range of sports, determining those that they may be interested in continuing in Senior School.

The Expo is designed to encourage girls to become involved in a sport or physical activity, whether it be at a competitive or recreational level. Through providing more opportunities at a young age, we aim to defer early specialisation of individual sports and develop the ‘athlete’ for long term success, building a positive association with exercise and organised sport.

Girls will be allocated to groups based on their preferences and will be notified of their activities and the equipment required.

Details: 

• Students will have ten-minute breaks between sessions and will need to bring snacks. 
• There will be a twenty-minute break for recess and a forty-minute break for lunch, students will require a full packed lunch. 

What to bring:

• Somerville House HPE uniform
• Water bottle
• Hat and sunscreen must be worn for outside activities
• Somerville House swimming togs, cap and towel for Water Polo.

Time:
Students will need to arrive at the Murray Evans Sports and Aquatic Centre (MESAC) by 8.15am. Once there, students will be split into their groups and assigned a member of staff who will take them to their first session.

Welcome: 8.15am to 8.30am
Activity 1: 8.35am to 9.25am
Activity 2: 9.35am to 10.25am
Recess: 10.25am to 10.45am
Activity 3: 10.50am to 11.40am
Activity 4: 11.50am to 12.40pm
Lunch: 12.40pm to 1.20pm
Activity 5: 1.20pm to 2.10pm
Activity 6: 2.20pm to 3.10pm

If your daughter is involved in an aquatics event in the first two sessions it is advisable that she wear her swimming togs underneath the HPE uniform.

Students will be accompanied by a member of staff to and from each session.  All activity leaders are experts in their sport and will provide an excellent opportunity for your daughter to learn the skills required to play that sport. 

Students will need to complete the online registration form indicating their preferences by Wednesday 25 November. An email will be sent this week with a link to the form.

Please note that we cannot guarantee that all preferences are granted. 

This promises to be a very exciting day of activities for your daughter which will hopefully expose her to some new sport and recreation activities.

From the Sports Captains

Sport and physical activity has many positive benefits. Over the final few weeks of the year, we aim to provide the wider school community with some helpful tips about exercise and why we should get out there and get moving more often! Physical activity, specifically running, releases endorphins which provide us with that ‘feel good’ component during and post exercise. Regular exercise will lift your mood, reduce stress, improve sleep quality and increase energy levels. Ultimately, participating in physical activity will significantly boost your overall wellbeing. Since we all lead such busy, full-on lives at school – especially during exam periods – doing more physical activity will help to manage stress so that we can better enjoy our time at school. 

One way to get involved is to come along to the Somerville Run Club – a fun, friendly way to release more endorphins in a supportive environment. Runners of all abilities are welcome. Somerville Run Club is on from 6.30am to 7.45am on Tuesday and Friday mornings, meeting at the gym.

Sophia K (11O) and Belle A (11F)

RESULTS - Week 6, Term 4

Teacher: Mr Peter Whittred

Students in Year 9 have recently completed Pop Art portraits in clay, based on their own take of the 1960’s art movement and its response to changes in society and the art world. The raku clay heads will dry for two weeks and be fired in the School’s kilns at 1000 degrees centigrade, to cool over three days and enable final painting in bright 1960’s colours.

The School is considering the introduction of board shorts as a non-compulsory uniform item to be worn during HPE swimming lessons. Initially, this item will be available for students in Years 5 to 12. The cost will be approximately $70 per pair.

The Uniform Shop invites all parents of students in Years 5 to 12 in 2021 to complete the survey below. The survey will close on Wednesday 25 November.

Please note, for this item to proceed, a 50% response to this survey is required. 

Please click here for link to the survey.

Mrs Katie Martin 
Head of Health and Physical Education

Uniform appointments are now available for the 2021 School Year. Appointments are essential for all new and current students to purchase any item required from the Uniform Shop. Please note that there will be no walk-in appointments available.

January appointments

Somerwear will be open for appointments for new and current students from Wednesday 13 January to Friday 22 January 2021 with one student per time slot and one parent per student.

Please click here to make a booking.

Mrs Linda Connor 
Manager, P&F Business Operations

On Friday 13 November the Somerville House Foundation launched its End of Year Appeal, Join with us. For those of you who have so generously given already, a huge thank you! 

The appeal received overwhelming support on Somerville House social media channels. Our Instagram post received over 248 likes, with our Facebook post reached over 2,400 people, receiving 178 likes, one of the most highly-rated posts. 

Dominique Layt, Foundation Chair commented, ‘The Somerville House Foundation were at the ready to assist. This is exactly the circumstances the founders of the Foundation intended we support.’ – summing up the purpose and focus of our current efforts. 

Another comment, ‘A school that has always been a strong support unit. So proud of you Somerville!!’ made those of us involved in this campaign very proud. 

The Foundation has a long-standing tradition of offering financial assistance through scholarships and bursaries to support diversity, equity and excellence at the School. The Foundation assists members of the School community experiencing financial difficulty through the provision of bursaries. Scholarships are awarded to students who might not normally be able to access a Somerville House education. The majority of scholarships are multi-year and allocated on a competitive basis. The status of scholarships, and the year in which they will next become available, is captured in the Foundation Scholarships Schedule.

Until this year Senior Scholarships, otherwise known as Foundation Scholarships, have been funded with revenue from Foundation events. This year because of the pandemic the Mothers’ Morning Tea and Chapel Service and the ever-popular Foundation Fundraising Lunch were cancelled - with that went our opportunity to raise the funds for scholarships awarded to girls with talent in academics, music or sport. 

Despite being unable to fundraise via events the Foundation continued to fund these scholarships. This year alone, the Foundation has spent $100,000 to fund existing scholarships – this amount is over and above the $295,000 that has been directed to support girls impacted by the pandemic. The Foundation’s end-of-year appeal invites you to Join with us – to support Somerville House students by giving to our Scholarships & Bursaries Program. Your gift will enable the Foundation to continue to support talented students through our scholarship program while also offering financial support to students impacted by the pandemic.

This appeal is an opportunity for those who can, to give back and support Somerville House students when they need it most. Your support will enable us to continue to finance existing commitments while channelling funds not derived directly from donations to support students in need. One hundred per cent of your gift will go to assisting students. 

On Friday, members of the Somerville House community were invited to Join with us. If you would like to make a gift please click here. 

Thank you!

Ms Petrina Gilmore
Director of Philanthropy

What a busy week we have had. Not only have we been focussed on NAIDOC Week, we also acknowledged Remembrance Day and Diwali. While Indigenous perspectives are consistently embedded in our program throughout the year, we had a lot of fun using opportunities given to us each day this week to really focus on our Nations' First People. 

We started the week on Friday 6 November, creating an acknowledgment of country and then making our own small posters with Indigenous greetings from the girls written on them. We explored the Dreamtime Story 'How The Birds Got Their Colours', then were involved in a process-based art experience making our own birds out of clay (Barry the Bird is featured in our display). We learned about Indigenous symbols through scratch art on boomerang scratch boards and used sand art boomerangs as well. This created a dialogue between our girls who celebrate Diwali and their friends, talking about Rangoli which we plan to explore further. We created message sticks, drawing inspiration from this year's NAIDOC Week theme, Always Was, Always Will Be. We also discussed Remembrance Day and painted poppies. We expanded upon our Indigenous symbol exploration through the creation of story stones, using white paint and flat black stones to create a new resource for us all to use. 

We wrapped up our celebrations baking damper to take to Prep B and provided different jams such as Desert Quandong Jam, Rosella Jam and Lili Pili preserve. We also gave the class our excess materials from Monday's Dreamtime Story exploration. The girls were so excited to share that they had learned about the story yesterday in their class.

Please note that we are now open for Vacation Care bookings. If you need any assistance with enrolment, please contact Miss Eden on 0423 576 872 or via [email protected]. 

Miss Eden (Co-ordinator), Miss Audrey (Educator), Miss Ayni (Educator) and Miss Diana (Educator)
OSHClub

Boarding House Support Group (BHSG) Meeting 

Date: Thursday 3 December
Time: 1.00pm to 3.00pm
Venue: Fewings
RSVP: Online access via Microsoft Teams will be shared via email. 

For more information, please contact Head of Boarding, Mrs Frances Greene via [email protected].

All meetings are from 7.00pm to 8.30pm.

If you would like to attend an OGA General Meeting, please email the Old Girls' Association via [email protected].