In this issue

Newsletter Article: Term 4, Week 8 2023

A joyful year

I am thrilled at the joyful and successful school year we have had, one that has delivered exciting opportunities and remarkable growth for each and every member of our school community.

At the heart of our journey was the vision of our new Principal for 2023 – Mr Daniel Crump to be bold, joyful, transformative, and impactful. This vision embodied our collective commitment to push boundaries, embrace challenges, and explore new horizons.

It has been energising to have worked alongside him in the role of Deputy Principal and in partnership with all in our Stuartholme community to offer a Sacred Heart Education that enables every child to feel loved, grow, and make a real difference in the world.

As we bid farewell to 2023, the concluding year of our current strategic plan, I eagerly anticipate the opportunities that 2024 will bring.

I am thrilled at the prospect of collaborating once again with our esteemed Principal and every member of our school community. Together, we aspire to continue our journey as a pioneering girls’ school, steadfastly advancing upon the visionary path laid out by our founder, St. Madeleine Sophie Barat, and her transformational vision for education.

Wishing you a wonderful festive season

“Christmas is not just a season, it’s a feeling of love, joy, and togetherness that warms our hearts throughout the year”.

It’s truly remarkable to pen my final newsletter article for the parents of 2023, especially with Christmas just around the corner. This cherished time of year holds a special place in my heart, as it signifies a profound reconnection with our dearest loved ones, families, and friends—those who infuse our lives with boundless joy.

As we stand on the brink of this festive season, I offer my heartfelt well-wishes for all our families. May each of you embrace this season with open arms and open hearts, finding solace and delight in the miracles, the gifts, and the promises that Christmas brings.”

Deborah Lonsdale-Walker
Deputy Principal

Newsletter Article: Term 4, Week 8

Foundation of the Society of the Sacred Heart 

Tuesday 21 November was the Foundation Day of the Society of the Sacred Heart. In the life of the Church, this day is also the Feast of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin. When Joachim and Anne brought their daughter, Mary, to the temple, it was a complete giving over of her life to God. Perhaps that is why this feast day was chosen for Madeleine Sophie and her three companions to consecrate themselves wholly to God in 1800.  

 At that time, Sophie and her companions knew that they wanted “to make known the love of the Heart of Jesus” and to respond generously to the needs of the world around them, especially the poor and of women, in the wake and upheaval of the French Revolution. She also recognised the pressing need for transformation through rigorous education and a spirituality of the heart.  

 In 1800, Sophie and her companions set out to discover what God was asking of them. That  eternal quest remains for us today, as we continue the legacy of discovering and making known the love of the heart of Jesus through the education of the young people that sit in our classrooms everyday. 

 In gratitude we give thanks for this vision and for the countless rscJ and Sacred Heart educators that have kept it alive for 223 years. 

 Advent 

I’m certain that it has not escaped your attention that Advent and Christmas are approaching! Advent is a time for preparation and anticipation; God is preparing us for the birth of Jesus which will come in new and unexpected ways in our lives.  

 One of the great rituals of Advent is the lighting of candles on the Advent wreath. The wreath, with no beginning or end, firstly symbolises eternity and God’s eternal love for us which is ever green, ever new, shown in the promise and birth of the Messiah, his Son. Each candle represents the four weeks of Advent and the blessings of Christmas: hope, faith, joy and peace. These are the true gifts of Christmas, the gifts given to us who seek how the life of Jesus is birthed in our hearts and in our world. Sometimes a fifth white candle is added in the centre of the wreath.  This is lit on Christmas Eve to mark the coming of Christ the Light. 

 As our year concludes and we approach Christmas, we ask that God’s hope, faith, joy and peace fill our lives and those we love. 

 God of life and love,  

Come again to our world this Christmas time,  

through your Word, your Spirit, your people, and the living presence of Christ.  

As our year of educating to a deep respect for intellectual values draws to a close,  

refresh us with your peace so that we may return in the new year  

renewed in vigour, in hope, in faith and in purpose, 

through the most Sacred Heart of Jesus. Amen. 

Justin Golding
Dean of Mission

Newsletter Article: Term 4, Week 8 2023

As we approach the conclusion of 2023, I find myself reflecting with deep gratitude on my role as the Dean of Student Wellbeing. This year has been an enriching journey both personally and professionally, thanks to the outstanding Wellbeing Team: the dedicated Leaders of Student Wellbeing, our Counsellors, Health Centre Staff, and all the passionate staff who have worked tirelessly to guide our students throughout the year.

Valedictory Celebration:

Last week, we came together as a community to formally bid farewell to our Year 12 students in a memorable Valedictory Mass, meticulously organized by Mr. Golding. The evening continued with a delightful cocktail party, marking the celebration of our Year 12 Graduates and the completion of their educational journey at Stuartholme. A highlight of the event was the inspiring Valedictory Speech delivered by Charlotte Spooner. Her words resonated as she challenged her classmates to “give back to this education and fulfill Sophie’s mission” by being changemakers. Charlotte emphasized the importance “to always look to and make change through the little things: to be humble and simple and to bring joy to others wherever we can”. A powerful reminder for us all.

Thankyou

I would like to express my sincere gratitude to Margaret Devlin, our Year 12 Leader of Student Wellbeing for 2023, who has decided to step aside from her current role in 2024. Margaret has made significant contributions and has shown dedicated care for our students. While she will be missed in the Wellbeing space, we are thrilled that Margaret will continue to be a part of our community, taking on a new role as a Director with Academic Services. We wish her every success and enrichment in this new phase of her professional life.

Warm Christmas Wishes:

As the holiday season approaches, I extend my warmest wishes to all Stuartholme families for a peaceful Christmas. May this time of Advent be one of renewal and reconnection.

In closing, I want to express my gratitude to everyone who has made this year memorable and meaningful. Together, we have created a supportive and nurturing community that fosters growth and positive change.

Wishing you all a joyous holiday season and looking forward to the opportunities and challenges that the new year will bring.

Elizabeth Foxover

Dean of Student Wellbeing  

Newsletter Article: Term 4, Week 8 2023

Our Sacred Heart Goal in focus for 2023 is “A Deep Respect for Intellectual Values” and what a joy it has been for our community to enliven it this year. In my new role of Dean of Teaching and Learning Innovation, I have been delighted to see students answer the call to embrace academic courage by building habits that lead to educational excellence.  Students have actively strived towards realising our Graduate Vision of being courageous, compassionate and confident now and into the future. They have been well supported by a team of expert staff who are passionate about education and skilled at empowering young people to realise their potential.  Importantly, we know that students achieve the best outcomes when they are well supported at home too and it has been wonderful to walk alongside parents as part of our continued partnership approach to student success this year.

The wisdom of our Foundress, Saint Madeleine Sophie Barat, is always at the heart of all that we do at Stuartholme.  This quote in particular has been front of mind for me in 2023:

“Let us respect childhood; let us honour the soul of that small creature of God who can already make choices of the best if we take the time to awaken her reason and make her use her judgement.”

By having a deep respect for intellectual values, we recognise the capacity our young people have to make the best choices for themselves.  Of course, humans are imperfect and young people in formation are meant to make more mistakes than most.  It is through making mistakes and having the courage to try again that students do the most memorable learning and their “best” continues to get better.  As we moved into the implementation phase of our Pedagogical Framework this year, we saw our students and teachers embrace practices that awaken reason through the use of thinking routines that develop metacognitive skills for lifelong learning.  The pedagogical model embedded in the framework provides a roadmap to realising our graduate vision by developing students’ intellectual habits for excellences through practices that come to life in Stuartholme classrooms everyday.  In 2023, our learners have courageously challenged themselves to be intellectually curious thinkers who make use of their judgement to learn and grow to be the best they can be.

This year has also seen some significant developments in the broader education landscape with the emergence of generative Artificial Intelligence, changes to NAPLAN that saw the tests delivered at the beginning of the year and reported on using new timescales, and the release of the latest version of P-10 Australian Curriculum as well as updates to Year 11 & 12 General and Applied Syllabuses.  Our passionate and dedicated teachers have taken these challenges in their stride.  They continue to do magnificent work here at Stuartholme and many of them also contribute their expertise well beyond our gates for the benefit of the greater education community.  I offer them my sincere gratitude for their exemplary service and congratulate them on their many achievements throughout 2023, including being recognised by multiple award nominations.  I am also incredibly thankful for our brilliant support staff who work tirelessly behind the scenes to help bring our vibrant teaching and learning program to life.  Thank you especially to Christine Heath for her significant support and invaluable contributions to Academic Services this year.

As the year comes to a close, I feel an immense sense of pride for all that has been accomplished in our teaching and learning community over the past twelve months.  I encourage each student to finish the year by reflecting on her own journey and celebrating her personal growth.  To our graduating scholars in their senior year, may you continue to draw from our Sacred Heart Principles to embrace the intellectual habits for excellence that you have developed at Stuartholme and go on to flourish in the wider community by realising your potential for transformation.  As Sophie says, “Your example, even more than your words, will be an eloquent lesson to the world.”

Best wishes to all for a safe and blessed Christmas,

Annie Van Homrigh

Dean of Teaching and Learning Innovation 

Newsletter Article: Term 4, Week 8 2023

Over the past few weeks, there has been an undeniable magic descend upon the boarding house. Not only has it been a time of celebrations and farewells for our year 12 graduating boarders but it’s also the time of year where the spirit of Christmas wraps around our boarding community, like a warm and familiar embrace, bringing our boarders and staff together as a family away from home.

One of the most cherished traditions that mark this festive season in our House is the delightful celebrations that occur each year. From the laughter echoing down the hallways, to the twinkling of fairy lights strung, Christmas trees decorated and Secret Santa exchanges in each year level, the entire house buzzes with excitement and anticipation. This, in combination with the weeks of thoughtful planning and collaboration involved in Year 12 Boarder Farwell, leading up to the final celebrations involved in this momentous event, connects and strengthens our community and reminds us all how incredibly special our Boarding Community is.

A highlight of our Christmas celebrations is the much-anticipated Secret Santa exchange. Each year level eagerly awaits the drawing of names, setting in motion a flurry of thoughtful gift shopping and for those creative artists in the group, making unique treasures. The thrill of both giving and receiving gifts fills the dorms with an infectious joy. Staff often remark that there is something magical about the thoughtfulness behind carefully chosen presents and the look of surprise on boarder’s faces when they unwrap a carefully selected or made gift. Amidst the laughter and merriment, there is a deeper significance to our Christmas celebrations. It is not just about the decorations or gifts; it is about the spirit of community, of giving, gratitude and enjoying time together. It is the time to appreciate the friendships we have forged, the challenges we have overcome and the support we have lent to one another throughout the year.

As the Boarding House empties, with parents arriving to collect their daughters and others heading to the airport to fly home to various parts of the country and overseas, the spirit of warmth and unity lingers, awaiting to be rekindled next year. To our year 12 boarders and families, we give thanks to you and celebrate the time we shared, to our year 7-11 boarders and families, we cannot wait to welcome you back in January.

On behalf of our boarding team, we hope you have the most wonderful of times this summer holiday and enjoy a beautiful and connected Christmas with those you love.

Take care everyone,

Jane Morris
Dean of Boarding

Scientists print bones, tendons and ligaments for the first time

Most people would be familiar with 3D printing, after all, we have our very own at our school. While the technology was previously limited to fast-curing plastics, it has now been made suitable for slow-curing plastics also, which are more elastic, durable and robust. This means, new and complex robots can be created from a variety of high-quality, delicate materials in one go.

Using such technology, researchers at ETH Zurich have succeeded for the first time in printing a robotic hand with bones, ligaments and tendons using slow-curing thiolene polymers. This material has exceptionally good elastic properties, meaning it is ideal for producing the elastic ligaments of the robotic hand.

3D printers typically produce objects layer by layer, where nozzles deposit a given material in viscous form at each point before a UV lamp cures each layer. To accommodate the use of slow-curing polymers, a 3D laser scanner was added to check for any surface irregularities by calculating any necessary adjustments to the amount of material to be printed with a high level of accuracy. This ensures that these bones, tendons and ligaments are exact replicas of those found in the body, meaning they can be used as sufficient substitutes for humans.

The researchers are planning to use the new technology to offer a 3D printing service to its customers and to sell the new printers to the medical world for public usage.

You can find out more information here: Printed robots with bones, ligaments, and tendons | ScienceDaily

This is also the final time that the 2023 UQ  Science Ambassadors will be writing to the Stuartholme community. Being in this role, these activities and experiences have not only inspired others, but us as leaders, to keep exploring and learning from this fascinating subject. We have grown not only in our knowledge of science, but in each other’s individual skills and how they play a role in creating an effective, teamwork-fuelled environment where we all were able to learn and thrive along with our community.

Thank you for supporting us in this role. We wish the 2024 ambassadors all the best and know that they will have such a wonderful and enriching opportunity as we did.

Sophie Ladbrook

2023 UQ Science Ambassador

 This week we were lucky enough to have very special visits and curriculum-aligned shows by Martin (of Totally Wild fame) with his native Australian animals from Geckoes Wildlife, and also Starlab who brought their mobile planetarium/Cosmodome Science Theatre!

Upcoming Science Opportunities:

 Rhodes Rise Program – UQ Application Workshops

The Rhodes Rise Program is a prestigious program from the Rhodes Trust that finds brilliant people who need opportunity and supports them for life as they work to serve others. The program begins at age 15–17 and offers a lifetime of incredible benefits including scholarships, mentorship, career development opportunities, funding, and more.

The UQ Ventures Discovery Program is offering free workshops to help high school students make a successful application this year.

Register your email here: Rise | Apply to Rise (risefortheworld.org)

Entrepreneurship: 30% off 2024 enrolments (for those in Year 12 only)

To celebrate the launch of the Certificate IV in Entrepreneurship and New Business (BSB40320), UQ Skills and UQ Ventures are offering 30% off to the first 20 students to enrol for 2024. This nationally accredited qualification is delivered over 11 months to students in Year 11 or 12, through a combination of weekly virtual classes and two face-to-face workshops at UQ’s St Lucia campus each term.

QUT High School Student Engagement

About us

QUT’s High School Student Engagement program has been running since 2013 and is committed to inspiring the next generation of future leaders. We provide meaningful student experiences for Year 7 to 12 students regardless of background, gender, academic level or location.

We deliver fully funded on-campus workshops, events and professional learning.

Our talented Student Ambassadors inspire, lead and connect with program participants bringing diversity and real-world inspiration into all our activities.

Follow this link to find out more and get involved! QUT – High School Student Engagement

CSIRO Virtual Work Experience opportunities

In 2023, the CSIRO virtual work experience program will support students to undertake work experience remotely, providing opportunities for those who may face geographic or other barriers to participating in traditional work experience. It also allows you the opportunity to experience contemporary ways of working, from homes, and with people across geographic boundaries, just as CSIRO scientists do every day.

Virtual work experience allows you to undertake collaborative, group science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) projects, including projects linked to real-world CSIRO research and industry challenges. Instead of attending a CSIRO site, experienced CSIRO staff will supervise groups of students remotely using a secure online platform. The groups will comprise of five to ten students who may be remote from each other and who will work together to complete tasks that can be used as part of portfolios and help inform your study and career plans.

Eligibility

To be eligible to do virtual work experience with CSIRO, students must be:

• in year 10 or 11, and aged 15-17 years for the duration of the work experience
• enrolled in a school in Australia
• able to commit to a designated week between February and December 2023
• be supported by a teacher, parent or other approved adult in their physical location throughout their work experience project.

To apply, follow this link: Apply for Virtual Work Experience – CSIRO

Kind regards,

Mr Timothy Butler

Acting Leader of Learning – Science

INAUGURAL PICNIC ON THE GREEN

Stuartholme School presents the inaugural Picnic on the Green on Saturday, 13 April 2024!

Indulge in an exquisite luncheon amidst the beauty of the Stuartholme School grounds, accompanied by live music from 12pm to 5pm.

More details to come with tickets to be released in early 2024.

On Thursday 23 November Stuartholme hosted their annual Carols evening. The night was a success with beautiful performances all through the evening. The night started with drinks, followed by all parents, students, alumnae, staff and guests venturing into the Chapel.

Thank you to everyone who was involved and to all parents, students, special guests and staff who attended!

NEW Labelling Service Available

Garments are to be placed into a bag with relevant paper work obtained through the school shop. The items are then sent to the laundry to be named. The laundry will return the labelled items back to the school shop for payment. Labelling will be done usually on a Wednesday with items returned to the school shop the following Friday.

New School Satchels have arrived and they are available for $39. Strong canvas book bags that have plenty of room for your books, a water bottle and lunchbox.

The Swim Shorts have arrived and are available for $65. Swim shorts are to wear over togs or water polo suit for those students who require more coverage.

New House shirts have also arrived. Cost is $42. House shirts will be compulsory for the new Junior School. They are colourful and will certainly stand out.

You can purchase these along with the other products available at our School Shop through Flexischools: https://flexischools.com.au/

If you need a new unform and it to be professionally fitted, book an appointment here: SHS School Shop (office365.com)