November Monthly Newsletter 2024

‘I have come to believe that a great teacher is a great artist and that there are as few as there are any other great artists. Teaching might even be the greatest of the arts since the medium is the human mind and spirit.’
― John Steinbeck (Nobel Prize for Literature - 1962)

A teacher’s artwork is never quite done and here at St Hilda’s School our remarkable team of educators truly express their craft with exquisite attention to detail and deep care, precision, and layers of beauty as they support each one of our St Hilda’s girls to grow as learners, and as articulate and kind young women of character. Over the past few weeks, the spirit of Saint Hilda has been palpable, as our students have shared their sincerest appreciation for their learning journeys this year.

A special service for our Year 6 students and families saw our girls reflecting on the completion of their Junior School years and for our Year 12 students, this week marks the end of their St Hilda’s School journey. It has been a great privilege for the community to gather to acknowledge and celebrate these important milestones as girls move onto the next stage of their respective journeys. I look forward to celebrating with our Junior School at Speech Day next Tuesday and as an entire community, Prep to Year 11, at the end of year Christmas Service next Thursday 21 November, at 11:55 am in the Sports Complex. We will celebrate the completion of the year and farewell departing and retiring staff with cupcakes on the oval after the service. Families are most welcome to attend these events.

Today the farewell concert for our Year 12 students was a beautiful celebration of the St Hilda’s sisterhood and the deep connections that we cherish. Earlier this week, the Year 12 Graduation Dinner saw our Class of 2024 officially graduate as articulate, intelligent, confident and capable young women. Individually and collectively, they have been great exemplars of our vision to develop confident, creative and articulate young women who are connected globally and strive to make a difference in their own community. We are so very proud of each and every one of our graduates and on behalf of the entire St Hilda’s School community, I express my deep gratitude for the exemplary role models they have been for St Hilda’s School.

As this is the final newsletter for the year, I would like to extend my deep gratitude to our incredibly supportive St Hilda’s families for entrusting us with the education of their daughters and for the incredible support provided as we partner together to ensure every St Hilda’s girl achieves to her full potential. A special note of thanks to our Parent Support Groups and the committee members for the vital role they play in enhancing our community events and initiatives and in developing our St Hilda’s community spirit.

While we continue to unashamedly pursue academic excellence for each of our girls, a St Hilda’s education is about so much more. Throughout 2024, our staff have worked with dedication and commitment towards supporting the development of the whole girl the whole time. I thank them for continuing to go above and beyond to provide such diverse learning experiences and enriching sporting, performing arts, service, co-curricular and extra-curricular opportunities. I would also like to acknowledge each of our St Hilda’s girls for their determination and dedication in the pursuit of excellence this year.

As we approach our final week of the 2024 school year, I encourage our students to finish well; to make the most of the learning continuing in classrooms, and to continue to be guided by our School values of Love, Compassion, Forgiveness, Hope and Grace.

Thank you for your ongoing support.

Wishing all of our families a safe and blessed Christmas and summer break.

Mrs Virginia Warner
Principal

On Monday, 11^th November the School stopped and commemorated Remembrance Day at a special service for Years 3 to 9. The Year 9 Leaders read prayers, poems or laid wreaths as did a Junior School Chapel warden and the three leaders of the Junior School SRC. As Principal, Mrs Warner gave the closing address in which she spoke of the need for remembrance. Remembrance not just of historical wars but also the need to remember the past to better navigate the present and the future. To do that, of course, we must know the past and to do so means not just to trust one source of information but a whole series of sources with different points of view. It is also very important to recognise the unconscious and conscious bias of the author. This fact can be simply demonstrated by thinking about the Battle of Waterloo of 18 June 1815.

I have read many accounts and there seem to be three basic points of view. The first is that the Allied armies under the Duke of Wellington won the battle by his choice of ground and tactics. The second is that Napoleon relied too much on his marshals and wasted his cavalry while holding onto his reserves, the famed Old Guard, until too late in the day. Thirdly, some would say that the arrival of the Prussian army late in the afternoon swung the battle in favour of Wellington’s forces. Looking at these reasons individually, one could say that none gives the complete answer and would show the bias of those making a claim for just the one at the exclusion of the others. But a more accurate assessment would be to nuance all three together as reasons for Wellington’s victory and Napoleon’s defeat. Thus, to learn from the past we need to be aware bias, that of our sources but also of our own.

The photographs of the joyous soldiers and crowds of July 1914 should be seen in conjunction with the sombre statement of Sir Edward Grey, British foreign secretary at the time who said: “The lamps are going out all over Europe; we shall not see them lit again in our lifetime.” Thus, remembrance should be a search for accurate knowledge of the past so that we can learn to put such knowledge into positive action in the present for the future. This aligns with the Prayer for Peace where was say: “Shed abroad your peace in the hearts of us all and banish from us the spirit that makes for war, that all races and peoples may learn to live as members of one family and in obedience to your law, through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.”

Father Patrick

November has certainly been a busy time for the music department with our annual Junior Music Assembly as well as other recent performances including:

• Big Band and Rhythm and Blues Band providing the entertainment for the Principal’s and Old Girls’ Christmas Party.
• Prep and Year 1 Singers, Junior Concert Band, Years 2-3 Choir, Years 4-6 Choir and Vocal Ensemble and Junior String Ensemble recording performance to be presented at the Junior School Christmas Carols on 15 November
• Year 6 presenting their song – “Sisters” for their Graduation Ceremony.
• Senior Choir singing at both the Remembrance Day Service and Year 12 Reflection Service

Junior Music Presentations Assembly

At Junior School Years 3-6 Assembly on Monday 21 October, we were very impressed by some outstanding music performances and able to award Junior School musicians who have worked hard throughout the year as members of choirs and instrumental ensembles.

The assembly opened with solo performances by seven Year 6 musicians performing in competition on their instruments as part of the annual Year 6 Instrumental Idol competition and also the Year 6 Percussion Ensemble with their rendition of Somebody That I Used To Know. All performers were outstanding this year and the placegetters were:

• 1^st Ella Zhang - Flute
• 2^nd Toni Wang – Alto Saxophone
• 3^rd Shanzay Mian - Trombone

The Year 5s followed with their excellent first public performances on the instrument they started as part of the instrumental music program 6 months ago, with the Concert Band piece Trombones In Paradise.

The Junior Music Captains also presented a great summary of their year in music during 2024. Congratulations to Ruby Dan, Kiki Loreaux, Maggie Ritchie and Nanami Tomomune on their contribution as Junior School Music Captains this year.

Congratulations must go to the trophy winners for ensembles presented also at this assembly. Their leadership and achievements this year as part of their choirs, bands and strings groups has been greatly appreciated.

Senior Choir Workshop with Opera Qld artist – Jason Barry-Smith

As part of the 2024 partnership between St Hilda’s and Opera Qld, The Senior Choir had the pleasure of working with one of OQ’s Artists – Jason Barry-Smith – during their Wednesday afternoon rehearsal this week.

Jason explored performance possibilities with 4 of their current songs – “The Climb”, “Cantate Domino”, “For The Beauty of the Earth” and “I Will Remember You” concentrating of performance energy and use of lyrics to engage with text.

Here are some thoughts from two of Music Captains for 2025:

Choir was extraordinarily engaging and memorable with Jason from the Opera Queensland this afternoon. He was lively, energetic and full of fun, teaching us many new skills of choir we have never explored before. For example, how we should use our tone and how we should sing confidently. These things I will always remember and will accompany me throughout my music journey.

Manci Yu (Year 11)

Our workshop with Jason from Opera Qld this afternoon, was both enlightening and fun. He was engaging, fascinating and taught us choral and performance skills that will help us for the rest of our musical journeys. Madeleine Jackson (Year 11)

Music Examination Results

Results from AMEB Music Examinations have arrived in recent weeks and congratulations are extended to the following musicians on their hard work to enable the achievement of such pleasing results:

Janette Kelly
Head of Music

School Sport Shout Outs!

School Sport Australia 13-15s Touch Championships – Congratulations to Lorielle Scholz who recently competed as part of the Qld Team who defeated NSW in the final 7-3 taking out the National Title. Lorielle was also named in the Australian Merit Team for the second consecutive year – Well Done Lorielle!

Congratulations to our 7A AFL team who took out the inaugural Year 7 pennant. Our girls showed incredible grit and determination with an incredible second half fightback to take out the win and finish the season undefeated securing St Hilda’s 7A finishing the inaugural 7A AFL pennant!

Non School Sport Shout Outs!

Congratulations to Elise Virr who won Singles and Doubles Champion titles at the Caboolture Opens event. Elise is off to Nationals in Sydney and we can’t wait to hear how Elise goes!

High School Camp Draft – a big shout out to Abbey Dennis, Matilda Johnson, Matilda Fearon, Zara Fearon, Leah Carrigan, Emma Weitemeyer, Jordan Curr, Sarah Edwards and Ellie Wells who recently competed in the High School Camp Draft held at Pittsworth Showgrounds at the start of Term 4.

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 [email protected] with any sporting news that we can recognize and celebrate!

For all enquiries relating to Middle/Senior Sport at St Hilda’s please email [email protected] and ensure that you have downloaded the isthildas app for all our sporting notices.

Mel Lilley
Director of Sport and Coaching

CONGRATULATIONS

Samantha Sun (Year 6) competed at the National Tennis Championships in Sydney last week. Samantha won both her qualifying matches and moved into the top 16 in Australia. She played in the quarterfinal going down to the number 1 seed player placing 5^th in the Under 12 Singles event.

Elise Virr (Year 9) who competed and won the singles and doubles event at the Caboolture Open recently. With 7 matches, 16 sets, 162 games over 2 days it was a big weekend!

OLYMPIC CHANGE MAKER AWARD RECIPIENTS

Congratulations to Dior Scholz and Evie Caple (Year 12) on receiving the Olympic Change-Maker Award in 2024. This award recognises Australian secondary school students who are demonstrating the Olympic spirit through leadership and driving positive change in their communities.

ATHENA PROGRAM 2025

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 2025 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 [email protected] or by submitting the forms to Main Reception. Application Forms are available on the School Website under Education/Athena Program

Mrs Lisa Cleverly
Head of Athena

Upcoming Events

Click to view upcoming Foundation events here.

For more details please email [email protected] or contact Karen Minahan on 07 5577 7358.

Mrs Karen Minahan
Foundation Officer

Upcoming Community Events

Click to view here.

OGA Cookbook

St Hilda’s Bush to Beach Cookbook is full of recipes, images and recollections from Old Girls about life at St Hilda’s. Some of the recipes in this cookbook have been passed down through generations, some are incredibly simple, others more complex.

Traditional favourites feature along with dishes that reflect the diverse backgrounds and cultures of the many generations of girls that have made St Hilda’s School what it is today.

St Hilda’s Bush to Beach Cookbook will inspire you! It’s a trip down memory lane and a time capsule for treasured recipes and a must-have for your kitchen.

Head to the Uniform Shop to purchase one just before Christmas!