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February Monthly Newsletter

  • Home
  • February Monthly Newsletter
Articles
Sections
From the Acting Principal - February 2023
The Chaplain's Column - February 2023
Sporting Life - February 2023
Music News - February 2023
Community News - February 2023
Foundation News - February 2023
Athena News - February 2023
Boarding Life - February 2023
Sections
From the Acting Principal - February 2023
The Chaplain's Column - February 2023
Sporting Life - February 2023
Music News - February 2023
Community News - February 2023
Foundation News - February 2023
Athena News - February 2023
Boarding Life - February 2023

From the Acting Principal - February 2023

The Australian educational landscape is an everchanging one requiring our teaching staff to constantly be reviewing and reflecting what is planned, taught and assessed. In recent years, the most significant changes to impact St Hilda’s School include the move from OP to ATAR, the recent alterations to NAPLAN and the review of the Australian Curriculum.

Each of these changes may seem straightforward when announced and shared through a bullet pointed information sheet, however, the work that is required by teachers to enact and implement the changes is significant. When implementing the change to ATAR, a review of our teaching and learning was conducted from Year 12 backward to Prep as each building block along the educational path required altering to ensure that our students were receiving the very best opportunity for success.

Recently, NAPLAN has been altered both in testing format and in test timing. Every school in Australia is now required to administer NAPLAN online with the Year 3 writing test remaining as the only paper-based assessment. This testing assesses the literacy and numeracy levels of all students in Years 3, 5, 7 and 9. The shift in timing of these tests from May to March this year has required our teachers, particularly in the Junior School years, to alter their teaching and learning plans to accommodate the need to familiarise students with the testing environment and how to engage with the online testing style. We have also just been notified that from this year, NAPLAN will be reported differently, changing from a 10 band reporting format to a 4 band reporting format consisting of four levels of achievement, each with its own descriptor:

• Exceeding
• Strong
• Developing
• Needs additional support

This will mean beginning a new results time series from 2023 as results from 2023 onwards will not be directly compared with results from 2008 to 2022.

Last year, the Australian Curriculum which directs what is taught nationally in schools from Prep to Year 10, underwent a review. Changes were made to every subject area with some subjects undergoing significant change. Our staff are at the forefront of planning for these changes and our approach is a staggered one involving Junior School implementing the needed alterations over the next two years and flowing through to the Middle and Senior School. St Hilda’s School is working ahead of most other schools with our approach to the professional development of our staff and the adjustments to our teaching, learning and assessment programs.

The start of 2023 has been very successful, and our students and staff are very focused on ensuring they are enjoying the academic rigour and the cultural and sporting activities that are already on offer. The Middle and Senior School girls enjoyed celebrating Galentine’s Day on Tuesday 14 February as their first fundraiser for the year. Students were able to purchase homemade brownies and a serenade which included groups of Senior girls singing to others around our school community. Well done to our girls for showing their Non Nobis Solum and for bringing joy to the St Hilda’s campus.

6 8 4

This week was also the start of our 2023 camp program with the Year 7 students engaging in a range of team building activities during their camp at Redland Bay. The girls have enjoyed strengthening their friendships and their ability to work collaboratively and co-operatively together.

The staff and I are focused on providing every student with a well-rounded education that caters for a strong academic focus, and the opportunity for each girl to experience joy as she feels she belongs by finding the cultural and sporting activities that ensure she is able to be the best person she can be. I look forward to supporting the girls and our community through another very productive and successful year at St Hilda’s School.


Mrs Amanda Shuttlewood
Acting Principal

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The Chaplain's Column - February 2023

A Cross of Compassion

At our Year 3 to 6 Chapel Service on Wednesday 15 February, we created a Cross of Compassion for those people of Turkey and Syria who have been so badly affected by the recent earthquake. On a large cross the girls placed the prayers that they had written. During the service, we remembered and prayed for those who had lost their possessions, those who had lost their homes and those who had lost their lives. When natural disasters strike, it is often a great temptation to give up hope and give way to despair. This is one reason that the story of Easter resonates in our hearts because it tells us of the ultimate triumph of hope over despair. That is why a crucifix or cross focuses for us that truth. Christ’s suffering leads to resurrection. Thus, it is by no means an irony that Lent begins next Wednesday - Ash Wednesday - when we start to think of this real meaning of Easter.

  • Cross of Compassion

Fr Patrick Duckworth
School Chaplain

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Sporting Life - February 2023

Middle/Senior School Sports Overview!

School Sport Shout Outs

South Coast Triathlon – Congratulations to Alexia Abela, Sara McCarthy and Isla Hawkins who all represented South Coast at State Triathlon. The races were run in very high humidity and all girls should be extremely proud of their efforts. Special shout out to Isla who finished 10th in her race and has qualified for Nationals in the QLD White team. Well done girls!

South Coast Tennis -Congratulations to Elise Virr who has been selected to represent South Coast at the State Championships in Townsville in March. Elise won 5 out of 6 sets at the trial. Well done Elise!

Summer Fixtures Round 1 - Cricket

Team Opposition Result MVP Most Improved
Opens
CC
STH 2/68 defeated
Meili Deng
Georgia Thomasson
CC 5/66
Intermediates
Washed Out

Cricket Captains - Lucy Corish & Jessica Walton

Summer Fixtures Round 2 - Cricket

Team Opposition Result MVP Most Improved
Opens
IGGS
IGGS 2/60 defeated STH 5/58
Meili Deng
Imogen Bellchambers
Intermediates
BGGS
STH 2/67 defeated BGGS 7/65
Gypsy Sherratt
Darcy Lynton

Firstly, we would like to congratulate the opens team for starting off the season with a win against Clayfield. Unfortunately, division 1 girls were unable to play due to being washed out but made it up in the second round winning a very close game against Brisbane Girls Grammar School. Opens also had a tough game in round 2 with only 9 players against Ipswich Girls Grammar School but couldn’t pull out the win. Well done to both teams and good luck for the upcoming games on Wednesday afternoon against St Margret’s.

Cricket Captains – Lucy Corish & Jessica Walton


Summer Fixtures Round 1 - Senior AFL

Team Opposition Result MVP Most Improved
Opens
SPLC
STH 5.2.32 SPLC 4.1.25
Annabel Boots
Amy Symons
Senior A (STH Red)
BSHS
STH 11.5.71 BSHS 1.1.7
Annabel Montgomery
Lucinda Richards
Senior B (STH Blue)
BYE
Year 10
STM
STH 4.7.31 STM 0.0.0
Madison Holsheimer
Lila Jolly

AFL Captains - Sophie Sendall & Amy Symons

Summer Fixtures Round 2-Senior AFL

Team Opposition Result MVP Most Improved
Opens
SOM HSE
STH 6.5.41 SOM HSE 0.0.0
Lucy Corish
India Rafter
Senior A (STH Red)
SOM HSE
STH 12.11.83 SOM HSE 1.2.8
Fern Deshon
Jesse Hudson
Senior B (STH Blue)
BSHS
STH 7.2.44 BSHS 3.7.25
Maisie Alexander
Zoe Maher
Year 10
SPLC
STH 7.1.43 SPLC 0.2.2
Eliya Jayasekera
Charlie Barrett

We had a great first round of AFL over the weekend and wanted to send out a massive congratulations to all the teams and thank you for your amazing spirit on game day and during the trainings leading up. It is great to see all the enthusiasm from all players, Years 10 to 12.

On Saturday we came home with all teams undefeated, with both sportsmanship and on the score board. Shoutout to the Senior A’s with wins as great as 75-0. It was great to see everyone with correct uniform, it really shows our strength as a team and really promotes a positive culture for St Hilda’s Sport, so let’s keep it up J. Thanks for being such great sports and acting as role models for the younger girl’s season.

Great effort girls. Let’s keep these results up and we look forward to the season ahead.

AFL Captains – Sophie Sendall & Amy Symons

AFL AFL2 AFL23

Club & Non- School Sport Shout Outs

Club Netball Division 2 Winners – Congratulations to our Year 10 (Year 9 in 2022) Club Netball team who won their final last year. This was particularly special asSarah and Issy had to travel a long way back to play and Alice stayed in town so she could play.

Tennis News – Congratulations to Elise Virr who had an incredibly busy and successful summer holidays. Elise finished 2022 as #1 QLD and #6 AUS for 12 and under.

- Selected to toss the coin at one of United Cup Matches

- Winner 14/u Mal Anderson Singles

- Winner 14/u Mal Anderson Doubles

- Runner up 14/u singles Tweed summer championship

- Runner up 14/u doubles Tweed Summer championship.

  • Club Netball

Queensland Under 14 Indoor Cricket Team – Congratulations to Stephanie Antees who was selected and will represent QLD and Nationals in July. Stephanie also competed in the Under 15 girls State Championship for Southern Blaze taking one wicket and one catch. Well done Stephanie!

  • Stephanie Antees

Australian National Under 15 Girls Omnium Championship - Congratulations to Ava Robbins who won the Australian National Under 15 Girls Omnium Championship in Adelaide on the 11 January 2023. Ava showed great consistency throughout all 4 events which included winning the scratch and tempo races and she won the overall Omnium event beating girls 18 months – 2 years older.

On 12 January, Ava followed up with another round of the Share Extensive IT Junior Track Series and finished 3rd overall in Australia for the under 15 girls across the Sydney, Melbourne and Adelaide rounds. Ava has been selected in the Junior Qld State Track Cycling Team to compete in the National Championships in Brisbane from 11 -14 April 2023. Well done Ava!

  • Ava National Omnium Medal with Bike
  • Ava Omnium Medal

2023 Australia Optimist Championships – Congratulations to Milla Gan who was selected to represent Queensland at the Nationals in January. After training hard throughout December she continued her sailing adventures in January travelling to compete at the 2023 Australian Optimist Championships held at the Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club in Newport, Sydney. On Day 1 she represented Queensland in the National Teams Racing Championship and then sailed in the individual regatta across the remaining 5 days. In tough and variable wind conditions including a 7 hour wait on the water for wind on Day 3, Mila placed 13th Girl (36 out of 60 overall) after 10 races in the Optimist Intermediate division. Mila also received the Regatta Sportsmanship Award out of the 178 sailors attending. Well done Mila!

  • Mila Gan
  • Mila Gan2 jpg

The St Hilda’s Sport Team regularly gets school sport results and achievement. The Sport Team loves to be kept up to date with our girl’s achievements across a wide range of club and non-school sports. Please email sport@sthildas.qld.edu.au with any sporting news that we can recognize and celebrate!

For all enquiries relating to Middle/Senior Sport at St Hilda’s please email sport@sthildas.qld.edu.au and ensure that you have downloaded the isthildas app for all our sporting notices.

Mrs Mel Lilley
Director of Sport and Coaching

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Music News - February 2023

Hello and welcome back to St Hilda’s Music for 2023!

Our musicians have had a busy start to the year with all ensembles now in rehearsal and our Years 4-6 and Senior Choirs completing their first performance as part of Sing Out on 27-28 January and Senior Choir well on their way to a second performance at the upcoming Ash Wednesday Service. Many thanks to all the staff and students who made Sing Out such a productive rehearsal period and to the many parents who attended the final concert.

We look forward to welcoming you to the first Twilight Concert of the year on Tuesday 28 February, which will feature Years 4-6 Choir, Junior strings and Junior Concert Band as well as some solo performances.

Congratulations!

At the end of 2022 a number of our musicians are to be congratulated on some great achievements!

Flora Yang (Year 11) has been honoured to receive a place in the Queensland Youth Symphony as a cellist. Established in 1966, the QYS is the premiere ensemble of the Qld Youth Orchestras and auditions are highly competitive. Flora will be travelling with the orchestra as part of their tour to Germany in November-December of this year

Aurora Salmon (Year 10) received an outstanding High Distinction (A+) in her AMEB Grade 8 Flute examination at the end of last year as well as being successful in her audition for the Qld Youth Orchestra Wind Ensemble and QYO Wind Ensemble. These are outstanding achievements to have been achieved by the end of Year 9.

  • Flora Prodigy Project 1
  • Image0

Primary SHEP participants:

First

Surname

Year

Instrument

Ruby

Dan

5

Vocal Soprano

Ellie

Lord

5

Vocal Soprano

Yasmine

Lintot

6

Vocal Soprano

Mila

Park

6

Violin

Athena

Wang

6

Cello

Finlay

Jansen

7

Vocal Soprano

Chaiya

Pema-Chawhan

7

Cello

Aleesha

Ved

7

Vocal Alto


Farewell and Welcome

On 14 February we farewelled Miss Jennifer Sullivan, our brass teacher, who has been part of the St Hilda’s Music Department for the last 10 years. We will miss her love of brass music and her willingness to become involved with all parts of the running of the music department. We wish her well in pursuing her Masters studies in science and our local bat colony will miss the love and care she was always willing to give when any were in distress.

On Miss Sullivan’s departure, we will be welcoming a new Music Team member – Ms Natalie Douglas . Ms Douglas is an Old Girl of St Hilda’s graduating as part of the Senior cohort of 2017 and has since completed her Bachelor of Music with 1st Class Honours, majoring in French Horn. She is currently completing her PhD at the Conservatorium. Ms Douglas brings with her a wealth of knowledge on brass instruments and it will be a delight to welcome her back to the school in her new capacity.

  • Natalie and Phoebe French Horn

Music Examination Results from End of 2022

Congratulations are also extended to Jemima Vaurasi on her hard work to enable the achievement of the following examination level.

Name

Year

Subject

Grade

Result

Jemima

Vaurasi




12

Cello – Trinity College London

7

Pass

Extra Subject Music Lessons

Most students should have received at least their first lesson during Week 3(6-10 Feb). In 2023, we have received an extraordinary amount of applications for instrumental tuition this year and this has caused us to create waiting list for Piano and Violin. If your daughter has not yet received a lesson time and you have completed an enrolment form, accepted terms and conditions and completed payment of Semester 1 fees on Parent Lounge or you have not information that you are on a waiting list, please contact Mrs Julie Haines-Gould in Senior Music Administration on 55777235.

Parents and students are reminded that even if continuing lessons from last year, all girls must submit a new “Extra Subject – Music” Enrolment at the start of each year in order to ensure a lesson time is allocated to them. Please note that advance payment of fees for each semester is required before lessons can commence. A link to the enrolment form is available on the School Website under Parent Resources.

Ensemble Rehearsal Times

All Choirs and Instrumental Ensembles will have commenced their rehearsals by 9 February. The times and days for rehearsals are noted below. To get your daughter involved in music ensembles – please accept the invitation to join music ensembles on Parent Lounge.

View Ensemble Rehearsal Times Here


Beautiful
at The Star 11 March - 9 April

Two of our St Hilda’s Music Staff, Mr Antony Zambolt (Keys) and Mr Andrew Hobler (Guitar), are playing in the band for the production of Beautiful – The Carole King Musical being presented by Matt Ward (TSS Old Boy) Entertainment and The Layt Clinic.

A special ‘Ticket Offer’ for students and teachers is available to experience this Broadway smash hit at The Star from 11 March. This ticket offer is only available for selected performances so get in quick. It’s inspiring true story is of one woman’s remarkable journey from teenage songwriter to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. From the string of pop classics Carole King wrote for the biggest acts in music, to her own life-changing, chart-busting success with Tapestry, BEAUTIFUL takes you back to where it all began—and takes you on the ride of a lifetime with hit songs like (You Make Me Feel Like a) Natural Woman, Locomotion, I Feel The Earth Move, Beautiful and One Fine Day.

For bookings head to www.ticketek.com.au to secure your seats. Password is: SCHOOLS

Ms Janette Kelly
Head of Music

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Community News - February 2023

Click here to view our upcoming events.

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Foundation News - February 2023

St Hilda's Foundation Competition Winners!

Thank you to all those who entered the Foundation 'Name the Bear' competition.

Congratulations to the winner, Zara Williams.

Zara (Year 3) named the bear Ginger and is absolutely delighted to be taking Ginger home.

We had a fantastic response with the colouring competition. Congratulations to our winners Aarna Katoch, Indi McCulloch and Mia Hawkins, they each received a St Hilda’s lunch bag.

We had so many students that took the time to do some amazing colouring in, thank you to everyone that participated.

  • IMG 2315

Mrs Karen Minahan
Foundation Officer

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Athena News - February 2023

Athena Program 2023

St Hilda’s School is committed to providing support for those girls who are pursuing their dreams of elite sport, cultural endeavours or innovative programs. We work with families to offer flexibility and support to students (Years 4 – 12) whilst ensuring that they remain connected to their education and the St Hilda’s School community throughout their schooling years.

Athena Offers:

  • Consultation with parents/carers to assess your daughter’s unique schooling needs
  • Personalised learning plans developed to make schooling sustainable
  • Additional pastoral care and support provided to Athena students
  • Ongoing collaboration and flexibility for families, to ensure curriculum delivery and schooling commitments are balanced and accessible.

Applications for the Athena Program 2023 are now being taken. Students and parents wishing to apply are encouraged to read the Selection Criteria prior to submitting the Application Form, including supporting documentation, to myself via email lcleverly@sthildas.qld.edu.au or by submitting the forms to Main Reception. Application Forms are available on the School Website under Education/Athena Program.

Congratulations

Over the holiday break many of the Athena Students competed in competitions and we congratulate them on their efforts.

Willow Helgeson (Year 5) competed at the South Coast Regional Athletics Championships placing first in Under 11 Shot Put and Discus and second in Javelin. Willow will now represent South Coast at the State Titles in Townsville in March.

  • Willow edit 2

Ava Robbins (Year 7) competed in the Australian Under 15 Girls Omnium Championships in Adelaide over the holiday break. The Omnium is a track cycling event that comprises 4 events run over the course of a day. A 12-lap scratch race, a 12-lap tempo race (the winner of each lap gets a point), a 44-lap elimination (a rider gets eliminated every second lap) and a 20-lap points race (with points on offer 1st to 4th every 4 laps). Ava showed great consistency throughout all 4 events which included winning the scratch and tempo races and she won the overall Omnium event beating girls 18 months – 2 years older. Ava followed up with another round of the Share Extensive IT Junior Track Series and competed in a number of events throughout the day. She finished 3rd overall in Australia for the Under 15 girls across the Sydney, Melbourne and Adelaide rounds. Ava has been selected in the Junior Qld State Track Cycling Team to compete in the National Championships in Brisbane in April.

  • Ava 1
  • Ava 2

Elise Virr (Year 8) was selected in the South Coast Tennis Team to compete at the State Titles in Townsville in March. Elise is very excited about the opportunity to represent St Hilda’s in this team at State Titles.

Mrs Lisa Cleverly
Head of Athena

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Boarding Life - February 2023

On the first weekend of the year our Boarding Community ventured to the Numinbah Valley and undertook the Raw Mud Challenge. The challenging and muddy course was not only a fun united and connected experience, it was also a metaphor for embracing the challenging obstacles that are presented to us whilst living in Boarding. Each boarder faces different challenges at different times, sometimes we need to tackle the obstacles alone, sometimes we need a friend to support us through, and other times we need several people to assist us over the obstacle. That is exactly the message our community received at the beginning of the year, and I can proudly share with you that many of our boarders have continued to support others through and over the challenging obstacles of Boarding Life.

Soon our boarding leadership positions will be announced, and I will share with you who will be assisting our Head Boarder, Prefects, Big Sisters and Committee members on vital issues and events that allow our boarders to share their voice and provide service to others.

Our wellbeing program is well underway for the year and the community has had an amazing array of activities on offer including round one of The Edwin Cup. It was an exciting event against our friends and rivals TSS, but our selected team was triumphant and proudly display the trophy in Boarders Reception.

IMG 9090 IMG 9776 IMG 8744

Mrs Amanda Rigby
Head of Boarding

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St Hilda's School
St Hilda's School

We acknowledge all First Peoples of the land on which we live, walk and work. We honour them and their Ancestors for their survival, continued traditions and spiritual connection to, and caring of country, land, sky, water and sea. We pay respect to their Elders past and present, emerging leaders, and will continue to support their right to self-determination. In particular, we pay respect to the Traditional Owners, the Kombumerri People of the Ngarahngwal and Yugambeh language groups of the Mibiny nation.

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Gate 2, Cougal Street Southport Queensland 4215

Reception: (07) 5532 4922

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