Newsletter Article: Term 1, Week 6 202

Dear Stuartholme Community,

It is my privilege to be addressing you on behalf of the Deputy Principal.

The first steps that I took at Stuartholme were back when I was 6 years old, when I accompanied my mum and my eldest sister on our families first visit to Stuartholme, to do it all in one – enrol and get the uniforms and start in four days.  It was the day my parents chose to send their 3 daughters to the school, we all now and have all called our second home. I can remember the visit like it was yesterday, Stuartholme is pretty interesting to a 6 year old and I also remember my mum’s tears, tears of worry , whether this was the right choice. However, as sisters and as a family we wouldn’t change a thing about coming to Stuartholme or our Stuartholme journeys which have all given us a unique and transforming experience.

My first official steps as a Stuartholme student were in 2022, again accompanied by my family. I was feeling a mix of emotions on that day (I cried), until I took my first step into our Year 10 boarding dorm, where I was greeted by not one but several girls and from that point they become my family, my sisters. The friendships that I hope will last forever. That’s the point that I knew Stuartholme was going to be a life changing experience for me, I had the opportunity to be the best I could be.

Each day as a school community we strive for greatness and we are guided by our Graduate attributes of courage, compassion, and confidence, these three attributes guide each Stuartholme girl to be able to reach their personal best. How these attributes guide me are:

Courage:

I believe that when you have courage, the first step is always the most important. We sometimes get caught up in the busyness  of life and focus on the bigger picture rather than what is in front of us. Courage is doing a sport you may never have tried or getting involved in a club or saying hello to someone new around the school. It’s  about stepping outside your comfort zone to see what other possibilities there are to Step Up at Stuartholme. Over my time at Stuartholme I have needed to have courage to step outside of my comfort zone in sports , co-curriculars and with-in my leadership role. But the thing about having courage with-in Stuartholme is that the community will always be cheering you on every step of the way.

Compassion:

Having compassion is being there for one another and supporting each other through the highs and the lows. Being a boarder can be challenging at times when you have to be away from your family. I show compassion by turning up and being there for those boarders experiencing these emotions,  because at some point in my journey I have shared the same emotions. As seniors of the school we are big sisters, we have a role to play in our little sister’s journeys, to support, be there for them and keep turning up.

Confidence:

We sometimes expect we always have to be confident, but in reality some days we just can’t. Being a part of the Stuartholme community makes being confident and being you so much easier. I reflect on who I am as a person and look at the times when I am confident and it’s when I am surrounded by friends , my teachers , my family and  my school community. We are apart of family, and you come as you are and you will be loved . Stuartholme gives me the freedom to be confident , to be me , to chase new horizons , to set goals , to achieve goals and create the unknown. We at Stuartholme give each girl that opportunity.

I also know that as we reach the middle of the term  and exams start that “ There is no secret to success. It is the result of preparation , hard work and learning from failure.”

Have a great term and in the words of St Madeleine Sophie continue to be humble, be simple and be kind.

Stella Berge 

Cor Unum Committee

Newsletter Article: Term 1, Week 6 2024

I, along with the Cor Unum Committee, have the pleasure of taking part in the ‘Student Newsletter Takeover’ once a term. The Cor Unum’s takeover of the school’s newsletter is all about representing student voice and continuing connections with every member of our Stuartholme community. This week, I have the pleasure of writing an article on behalf of our Principal, Mr Crump and sharing some of the excitement of the start of this term.

Celebrating our community spirit – #LiftHerUp!

When stepping into leadership as part of the Cor Unum Committee, I did not realise how much happiness and joy was to come from the experience. I understand that challenges will always lie ahead, but the start of 2024 has brought so much joy!

On the first day of term, we as a Cor Unum Committee announced our theme for the year -#LiftHerUp! Inspired by our school’s dedication to the Sacred Heart goal of building community as a Christian value, we aim to create an atmosphere bursting with support, love, and upliftment. This year, our ‘one heart’ has expanded to welcome our newest members – not only Year 7, but also Year 5 students. Bounding around in their blue socks, they’ve brought about a fresh energy and sense of joy into our community, particularly at Friday lunchtimes!

Dance Off Fridays are such a special moment for our community. Every second Friday, we come together to sing and dance our way through lunch. It’s been an incredible highlight of our year together so far, watching every student genuinely enjoying themselves. I think the enthusiasm of our grade 5 students (possibly powered by their love for Taylor Swift), has had a significant impact on the number of girls that join us at Dance Off. Where once there was a slight hesitation waiting for a crowd to form before coming to dance, this year has seen a delightful change with an immediate flood of girls who must think ‘if the year 5’s can do it, why can’t we?’. It’s moments like these where we see the confidence and the pure happiness of the 5’s having a domino effect on the rest of our community, embracing the essence of our focus goal.

Celebrating student success

The first few weeks of this term have been significant in celebrating student achievement. Our recent academic assembly, live streamed for our wider community, gave us all a chance to celebrate not only those who have such amazing academic achievements, but to every girl who is giving it her all. With the presentation of our Principal’s Awards, we “lift up” the students who come to school every day, ready to engage in learning and demonstrate they care. Congratulations to all recipients, we are very proud.

Celebrating our sporting prowess

Last week we took a dive headfirst (literally) with great spirit into our Swimming Carnival. It was so nice to see that when we weren’t swimming in a race, we were wholeheartedly embodying this year’s theme, constantly cheering on the side-lines, and supporting one another to do our best. These events truly define us as a community – not just as a bunch of must-dos, but as opportunities to share so much spirit. For us as a Year 12 cohort, all the ‘lasts’ are beginning to feel that extra bit special, and we’re so lucky to be able to spend these moments with a community that has become like our second family.

Sustaining success into the term

To conclude, I’d like to share a tip for success to finish this term well. Over the years I’ve had my fair share of stress leading up to exams, and I believe to maintain being at my very best, I still need to ensure I have a break to reset. Simply taking the time to go for a walk, watch a movie, play some tennis, and keep doing the little things that bring you joy amidst the chaos of the last couple of weeks is all it takes. But remember, it’s important to stay motivated. Assessment is looming and it’s important to work smartly – apply yourself, put in your best effort, and always remember that mistakes are just proof that you’re trying.

With joy,

 Mia Woodhouse

Cor Unum Committee

Newsletter Article: Term 1, Week 6 2024

“The essence of a Sacred Heart school is that it is deeply concerned for each student’s total development-spiritual, intellectual, emotional, physical”.

Sr Suzanne Cooke, rscJ

I’m delighted to have the opportunity to be taking over the newsletter this week for wellbeing. I feel this quote really speaks to the heart of the holistic approach to education that I have experienced at Stuartholme. The emphasis on wellbeing here at Stuartholme has played a significant role in my development. In my experience, participation in the many opportunities on offer has been essential in optimising personal growth, particularly developing resilience, and a sense of identity.

Galentine’s Day in Week 4 is a perfect example – our version of Valentine’s Day that celebrates our friends. During lunchtime, amidst the face painting and Dance Off in the courtyard, we witnessed beautiful demonstrations of friendship, underscoring the significance of female friendship in our lives and the enrichment it brings us.

Similarly, the swimming carnival last week was the perfect stage to celebrate the athletic achievements and dedication of our swimmers, as well as our school spirit through war-cries, dress ups and cheering on our competitors.

After six years at Stuartholme, I can’t stress enough the value of participation in school activities like our interhouse competitions. Joining in strengthens your sense of identity as a Stuartholme student. The house system also offers great opportunities to form connections with girls in other grades. Most of all, it’s just a lot of fun. I’m far from a star swimmer, but through dressing up, cheering on your friends and having a go there’s so much in the day to enjoy beyond racing. This years’ carnival was particularly special for us seniors; the first of many last interhouse events. We rounded the day off with a spirit circle on the oval, and it all felt very surreal. Participation can put people out of their comfort zones, but a little bit of discomfort is okay. How I see it, this discomfort is essential to building the confidence to face new challenges. My Mum was right to push me to attend all these events since Grade 7, opting out was never an option for me! In retrospect, I can see now that community is built, and memories are made from attending these events.

Looking forward, we have our Interhouse Cross Ccountry carnival and International Women’s Day to look forward to. These are great opportunities to get involved so we can lift each other up. But before we can get there it’s a long, tough couple of weeks of assessments, especially for our senior students. Burnout can creep up, so I’ve found scheduling time towards socialising and rest to be essential to maximising my performance. Parents play a huge role in helping us get through these more strenuous periods, and we are extremely grateful for the patience and practical support you provide. Thanks for boosting our resilience.

To bring it back to our student theme this year, we see #LiftHerUp as a call to action to rally behind our Stuartholme sisters, to offer authentic support, and to continue to ignite St. Madeleine Sophie’s spirit in the community. Critical to this is wholehearted participation. It has been really exciting to see how student events recently have brought this to life. I think Madeleine Sophie would be proud.

Susannah Streeton 

Cor Unum Captain

Newsletter Article: Term 1, Week 6 2024

Dear Stuartholme community,

My name is Ava Cheal, and as your Academic Captain for 2024, it is my pleasure to deliver the Student Newsletter Takeover this term for Ms Annie Van Homrigh, Dean of Teaching & Learning Innovation.

I can’t believe that we’re already in Week 6! I feel like the term has flown by. Firstly, catching up with all our friends and teachers after summer break, then getting back into our study, sports and other co-curriculars and now buckling in for the assessment period coming up in the next few weeks. To set us up for success in the year ahead, there are already so many different opportunities to build our study habits and develop goals in support of us achieving our very best.

Just last week, students in Years 10 – 12 each had a study skills session with Darren Periera from Success Integrated and his in-house DJ. This was a really exciting event which equipped us with strategies for academic growth in a fun and engaging format.  Students especially enjoyed the DJing in the breaks! In the Year 12 session, we learnt about the acronym B.E.S.T, which stands for Belief in oneself, Exam preparation, Studying smart and academic Toughness – that is, never giving up! One very interesting takeaway that I got from this seminar was the importance of visualising your goals and expecting the best in oneself. By doing this, then proceeding to make quality micro-decisions regarding one’s study, your own goals can quite easily materialise into physical achievements.

To help students on the way to achieving these goals, some exciting initiatives have also begun this term. One of these is the Hive Mentoring Program in the Library on Tuesday and Thursday afternoons after school from 3:15 pm to 5:15 pm. This opportunity is open to students in Years 7 to 12 to work with Stuartholme Alumnae to discuss subject material, getting time management advice, effective study habits or just having a chat to connect with our past students. For students in the upper year levels, the Academic Mentoring program has also commenced.  This program involves students working with their Teacher Mentor to review their academic progress, set goals for the year ahead and identify strategies to work towards their goals. In Year 12, students are assigned a specialist Academic Mentor who also supports them through discussion about their post-school plans, career aspirations and ATAR goals.  

Goal setting is an effective tool for supporting academic achievement. However, goal setting is not just confined to academia, it can also be really helpful to set goals in every aspect of your life for the year ahead. I have found that for me, having goals for both inside and outside of school helps me to maintain a school-life balance which is essential to stay healthy and happy. For all students, I recommend creating a commitment schedule that includes dedicated study time as well as time to catch up with your friends, exercise and time for rest during the week to manage energy and stress, especially in the busier times of the term. In addition to the learning opportunities at school, there are plenty of resources available on myStuartholme for students and parents to access, including tools and key contacts to work in partnership towards students achieving their individual best.  

I wish all the best to our students for a strong finish to Term 4.  Believe in yourself, stay focussed on your goals and give study your B.E.S.T.!

Ava Cheal

Ava Cheal

Academic Captain

Dear Parents, Caregivers, Staff, and Students,

Stuartholme School’s Celebration of Excellence serves as a pivotal moment for us to recognise and honour educational excellence that define Stuartholme. It is an occasion where we come together to acknowledge the remarkable achievements and contributions of our students, staff, and community members.

We write to inform you of an important update regarding the Celebration of Excellence event. After consultation with QPAC the date has had to be rescheduled to Wednesday, 16 October.

More information around the event will be shared closer to the time.

Thank you for your continued support.

Warm regards,

Daniel Crump

Newsletter Article: Term 1, Week 6 2024

Dear Stuartholme Boarding Community,

The first 6 weeks of Term 1 have been action packed and exciting for all, with the annual Wet n Wild trip, rec activities, sport, Galantines Day, Interhouse swimming carnival and plenty of schoolwork especially for the year 12’s.

Over the past weeks, the boarding community have shared several special events this term, one of which is The Seniors and Teachers Afternoon Tea.

In week 5 my fellow senior boarders and I participated in a relatively new tradition, The Teachers Afternoon Tea. The afternoon was such a special opportunity to be able to express our gratitude to our teachers who have been by our side since the very beginning of our journeys at Stuartholme. I can confidently say that it was an enjoyed afternoon by all. A huge thanks goes out to Ms Melissa, Ms Morris, Kester and the girls, for all the preparations.

Another special event which occurred at boarders’ mass on Sunday of week 4 was the boarding badge ceremony, where we came together to welcome 35 new girls to the house.

At mass we presented the girls with their boarder badges. The badge is worn on the girl’s dress in summer and blazer in winter to allow them to be reminded of the 127 girls and staff that support them and stand by them. Sacred Heart education at Stuartholme is so uniquely special to be a part of, being a Stuartholme Boarder is an opportunity beyond compare. The badge signifies the sisterhood of our boarding house that will forever be a part of our lives. This year’s focus goal of building community as a Christian value is what Stuartholme Boarding does so well. This is exemplified in our badge ceremony, where 127 girls and I are fortunate enough to call ourselves Stuartholme boarders and be united through the symbol of a badge.

With the presentation of the badges the girls were also warmly welcomed into their boarding houses of Amiens of Grenoble. The two houses have much friendly rivalry that enhances the spirit of boarding. A true testimony to this spirit is Anzac Day Cup, where the two houses battle it out to see who will score the most points and claim the Anzac Day Cup. This day and lead up of activities will begin next term, Term 2.

Another event that the girls always thoroughly enjoy is mass with Marist, which is right around the corner, Sunday of week 6 we will head over to Marist to engage in mass. This mass offers bonds to be formed with our brother school and to come together and celebrate religion. It’s a spirited event where the songs are sung passionately, and all members of both schools happily become involved with the mass in its entirety.

With the sacred heart goal of building community as a Christian value. We treasure this opportunity to connect outside of our Stuartholme Boarding community and form or renew connections with Marist Boarding.

Wishing everyone much health and happiness for the rest of term 1 and a restful break for the fast-approaching Easter Holidays.

Grace Moffatt

Amiens Captain

Year 5 and 7 students enjoying learning how to knit!

Library Lovers Day 

Love Letter winner written by Maggie O’Donoghue because she “loves our library because it is a place of safety, welcoming, belonging, knowledge and reading”. Congratulations Maggie!

Book Club – Every second Wednesday 

House Chess Cup Competition 

The Stuartholme Arts Department warmly invites you to our first performance for 2024 – Year 11 Drama’s Share on Wednesday 6^th March at 6pm (approximately 30 min run time).

As part of their first formative internal assessment for Unit One, the Year 11 students have devised performances inspired by Angela Betzien’s Hoods which explores the current economic and social pressures that are faced by many Australian families.

These performances hope to create change in our audience as we share stories of those in our community that are too often silenced. This performance event is free of charge. Please come and support our creative and talented drama students in their first senior performance.

Sport News

Congratulation CaSSSA Swimming Team

Congratulations to our 2024 Swim Team who won the CaSSSA (Medium) Championships today! Our team has won the trophy for eight years in a row, under the direction of Head Coach Pete Rosengren and Casey Flouch from The Swim Academy. It is a fantastic achievement, and we are extremely proud of the team.

Our girls were flying from the first event, with 49 individual first places, 17 seconds and 3 thirds. Our relays finished on the podium in every single event.

Congratulations to our 12U Freestyle Relay team of Maddison, Addison, Isla and Ruby. The team won by over 10 seconds and beat the record which has stood since 2016.

Overall, our teams finished:

• Champion 12U team
• Champion 13U team
• Champion 14U team
• Champion 15U team
• Runner Up 16U Team
• Champion 19U Team
• Third Open Team

CaSSSA Swimming Champions and Percentage Trophy winners! We finished with 1016 points, ahead of San Sisto with 881. Full results will be published on the QLD Swimming database for those chasing their times.

Read the Courier Mail wrap-up: 2024 CaSSSA Cup swimming medium schools | The Courier Mail and 2024 CaSSSA Cup swimming medium schools | Gold Coast Bulletin

Stuartholme were also hosting the event – thank you to the Sport team and coaches for their assistance in announcing, administration and timekeeping. Our Year 8s did a phenomenal job as cheer squad and event volunteers. A big thank you to the supervising teachers and coaches for looking after them.

Our Year 5 team will compete for their pennants next Thursday 7 March and the team will celebrate our successful swimming season with awards on 11 March.

STUARTHOLME SCHOOL INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S FUN DAY – SUNDAY 10^th MARCH

Stuartholme School is excited to participate in the International Women’s Day Fun Run next Sunday 10^th March.

Thank you to the community who have supported the Stuartholme School team by signing up to run, jog or walk or donate.

Stuartholme is currently sitting 5th on the School Leaderboard having raised $2258. For those who missed out on purchasing a ticket, you can still show your support virtually or make a donation through Mater Foundation – Stuartholme School.

Please see below some important details and if you would like to join the Stuartholme staff, students and parents at the pre-run meeting point.

  Start line: is located on Vulture Street, Southbank.

Meeting point: we will meet as a school community dressed in our pink and red school visors/caps at the front of the Ship Inn

Meeting point time: 6am

What to wear: Pink with a red Stuartholme visor or cap

Run Start Times: 6:15am 5km runners start | 6:55am 5km joggers start | 7:50am 5km walkers start

Finish line: Brisbane City Botanical Gardens

For more information on course maps visit Event Info | International Women’s Day Fun Run 2024 (mater.org.au)

Net Gains: STU Water Polo’s Coaching Team 

At 15, Annie faced a pivotal setback: not making the under 18 Water Polo team for the Queensland Academy of Sport (QAS). The disappointment was immense—she went home and cried while her friends celebrated their selection and planned their trip to a competition in Japan. This disappointment, which would have derailed many budding athletes, became the catalyst for Annie’s increased commitment to the sport. Instead of spelling the end, it ignited a fire within her.

Annie Cowan is one of our very own STU Water Polo coaches – a part of the remarkable team working under the mentorship of Jodi Stuhmcke and Head Coach Hannah McWilliam.

“Failure can either break you or forge you into something stronger. For me, it was a wake-up call,” Annie recalls. “I realised talent gets you only so far. It’s the hard work you put in when nobody’s watching that makes the difference.”

This moment was a turning point in Annie’s career. With renewed vigour, she focused more on her training, determined to be selected for the QAS team. Her perseverance paid off; she secured her spot in the QAS squad in 2022, later joining the World Tour team and as well as, started to play for the Adelaide Jets the National League.  All this in her final year at Somerville House.

Now, as a coach, Annie channels her experience into nurturing a new breed of water polo aspirants, deeply imbued with the lessons she’s learned: show up, listen to your coaches, and apply their guidance. Annie’s tactical prowess as an award-winning national team goalkeeper—a role she embraced by chance— offers her a unique perspective. “As a goalie, you’re the last line of defence. The pressure is intense, but so is the reward,” she explains. Her skill as a goalkeeper has moulded a coaching style that emphasises individual responsibility within team dynamics.

Her message to her players at Stuartholme is clear: want to be there, show up to every training, and listen to your coaches. This philosophy stems from her experiences, including a humbling moment at QAS when a lack of willingness to train led to her being sent home—a mortifying lesson in commitment.

“Once, I told my coach I didn’t want to train and, in front of everyone, he sent me home. It was mortifying,” she shares candidly.

Beyond the pool, Annie is soaring to new heights, pursuing aviation studies. Juggling a demanding training schedule with academic rigour is a challenge she meets head-on, armed with discipline and time management skills honed through her athletic achievements.

While at Somerville House, Annie’s participation in co-curricular competitions like the Australian Youth Championships and Queensland State Championships played a crucial role in her career, as these events are where she was spotted by QAS selectors. Now as a coach, she can use her recent experience to guide her team members and demonstrate what it takes to play at a national level.

Annie’s journey in the water polo arena, has included participation in prestigious events such as the European World Tour and the World Cup in 2022, as well as winning multiple awards such as MVG (Most Valuable Goalie) over several years. These experiences now inform her coaching, allowing her to empathise with and inspire the young athletes under her wing.

Stuartholme is truly lucky to have such a great role model on our coaching team. Annie’s experience extends beyond her personal accolades and into the heart of Stuartholme’s water polo program, where she is will continue to remind her players – remember to work hard and listen to your coach.

Author: M Cid 

Go for Gold Fund

Thank you to the Queensland Government for supplying yoga mats as part of the Go for Gold Fund, for our S60 program. This equipment will help to ensure students stay fit and injury free!

Celtic Soccer Academy

To find out more information or sign up to the Celtic Soccer Academy Advanced Player Development & All Levels Camps click here.

Managing Wildfires – How NASA’s newest technology is helping fight fires worldwide.

While many think that NASA’s sole purpose is purely space exploration, their highly advanced technology innovations and programs provide extremely useful tools in helping a variety of other causes. NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration) has recently become a member of the National Wildfire Coordinating Group. This new partnership has opened up a variety of opportunities for the organisation to work with other government agencies and partners to learn more about the prevention and causes of wildfires.

“As wildfires become larger and more frequent, NASA is working to apply our scientific and technological knowledge toward this national challenge, and integral to our approach is forging collaborative partnerships,” said NASA Deputy Administrator Pam Melroy. “Harnessing our Earth observation capabilities and cutting-edge technology in safe air operations, we are poised to make new connections that will bolster wildfire fighting efforts across the government.”

NASA’s approach to wildfire prevention involves a comprehensive strategy that goes beyond firefighting itself. The Wildfires program covers the entire cycle, addressing risks before a fire starts and managing the aftermath. Before a wildfire breaks out, NASA’s Earth-observing satellites monitor various factors such as soil moisture and vegetation maps to identify fire-prone areas, helping decision makers prepare. During active fires, real-time data from Earth observations provides crucial information for rapid response efforts, aiding in assessing the extent and impact of the wildfires on communities and the environment. Even after the flames are extinguished, the program continues to play a role by identifying areas at risk for floods, landslides, and water quality issues, assisting decision makers in supporting recovery and enhancing future resilience. NASA’s efforts to tackle wildfires not only show promise in preventing such disasters but also give hope for a future where their expertise can be used to address a variety of different environmental issues.

By Eve Tully (Year 11 UQ Science Ambassador)

Here is an introduction to five of our ten UQ Science Ambassadors for 2024. Profiles of our other ambassadors, Eliza Flanagan, Arabella Robinson, Sophie Freeman, Nyah Murphy & Lizzie Rosanowski will be shared in the next newsletter.

It certainly promises to be another exciting year ahead in science with such an engaged and enthusiastic group of ambassadors. Each of them will be writing for the newsletter and working together to raise the profile of science in our community. If you are a member of our community and would like to support us in this endeavour, please get in touch with me (wmacdonald@stuartholme.com).

The Year 9 and 10 students enjoyed the Street Science Show on Tuesday morning where they observed liquid nitrogen and dry ice magic. The presentation also linked in to the effects of climate change highlighting the challenges the world faces today.

Upcoming events:

World Science Festival (World Science Festival Brisbane) has a great program of events running from the 15^th – 24^th March. There are many free events to enjoy from The hatchery: Turtle conservation experience to the City of Science at Southbank over the weekend.

Queensland Biology Winter School (Year 12)

14 – 15 June 2024

The UQ Year 12 Queensland Biology Winter School (12QBWS) will provide a deep dive into contemporary topics in genetics, phylogenetics, evolutionary biology and biochemistry and how biological disciplines are interconnected. Applications are open now and close on Friday 3 May 2024.

Learn more about 12QBWS

Queensland Biology Winter School (Year 11)

1 – 2 July 2024

The UQ Year 11 Queensland Biology Winter School (11QBWS) will provide a deep dive into contemporary topics in biodiversity, cell, animal and plant physiology, biophysics, and how these biological disciplines are interconnected. Applications are open now and close on Friday 3 May 2024.

Learn more about 11QBWS

Engineer Your Future QUT – Event – High school engagement

An engineering experience day at QUT that will open your eyes to a possible career path in Engineering. QUT are partnering with The Engineering Link Group and Engineers Australia to deliver hands-on experiences for Years 9 to 12 students to showcase engineering as it really is – exciting, challenging and world-changing.

During this full day experience students will participate in two hands-on workshops facilitated by QUT Ambassadors and real engineers. Students will also have an opportunity to connect with professional engineers over lunch and during the workshops.

Kind regards,

Ms Wendy McDonald

Leader of Learning – Science

Save the Date

Open Day

Next Saturday 9 March 2024

Open Day is always a fantastic community celebration of our school and one of the best opportunities we have to connect with staff, families, and students. It’s a chance to showcase all the wonderful aspects of Stuartholme!

Tickets for our inaugural Picnic on the Green event are still! available now and only 50 tickets are left!

Join us for an exquisite luncheon amidst the beauty of the Stuartholme School grounds, featuring live music from 12.30pm to 5pm and a catered picnic lunch.

To purchase your ticket, please click here.

We welcome Cool Time, Green Options and Armstrong Building as our Gold Sponsors for the event.

There are still sponsorship opportunities available, to find out more or to get involved please contact events@stuartholme.com.

This year, we as a school community, had a wonderful time celebrating Chinese New Year with our new addition to the Languages Department, Mrs Sylvia Sun.  Mrs Sun is a highly energetic and creative Chinese language teacher, who in her short time at Stuartholme has already provided our students with many culturally enriching learning experiences.

Throughout the Lunar period (10^th – 24^th February) Chinese language students had the chance to make 饺子（Chinese dumplings under the instruction of Mrs Sun.  Dumplings are a traditional New Year dish where the whole family get together to make them during the day and then feast on them on New Year’s Eve, which was the 9^th February this year.

We also embarked on the ambitious task of lining the students on the oval to form the Chinese character for dragon 龍.  This was then photographed by our amazing drone team.  Despite the rain, it was wonderful to see the whole school come together as a community to accomplish this feat.

Stuartholme alumna Madeleine Border (Class of 2013) is a Meanjin/Brisbane theatre maker, performer, and writer known for her unique voice blending political satire and quirky dialogue. She aims to provoke, intrigue, and amuse her audience. Madeleine has had a remarkable journey in the theatre world, serving as Playlab Theatre’s Young Playwright-in-Residence (2019), Backbone Youth Arts resident artist (2019), and participating in various programs including Express Media’s Left to Write Program (2020) and Dead Puppet Society Academy Program (2022). She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Drama and Political Science and completed her Masters of Writing, Editing, and Publishing at UQ in 2019.

Madeleine has been commissioned by Playlab Theatre to write a play about the transitional period between leaving high school and entering adulthood. The play, having its world premiere at the Brisbane Powerhouse this March, follows the journey of Lorrie (Loxie), as she navigates the challenges of starting a job, moving out of home, and waiting for university offers. Titled “Big Yikes!”, the play is a coming-of-age story that delves into themes of boundaries, decision-making, and autonomy, while also asking existential questions about purpose and life choices.

“Big Yikes!” will be performed at the Underground Theatre, Brisbane Powerhouse, from Wednesday, March 13 to Saturday, March 23. It is suitable for students aged 12 and above. If you’re interested in supporting Madeleine and experiencing the play, please visit Big Yikes! by Madeleine Border – Playlab Theatre

The latest edition of the Cor Unum is now available online. If you would like a hard copy please visit Main Reception to collect.

Can your Year 12 daughter speak and write a language other than English?

If the answer is yes, we encourage her to consider sitting for the Senior External Language Examinations that takes place end of 2024. If her mark is competitive,  it will contribute four Semester units for the calculation of her ATAR. If she achieves at least a Sound achievement (C-), it will also provide her with 4 credits towards the Queensland Certificate of Education (QCE) and she will be eligible for 2 adjustment factors (2 bonus points) towards her ATAR in most Qld universities including the University of Queensland , QUT and Griffith University.

Unlike her other general subjects at school, external language examination is 100% external so just one examination at the end of the year. There is no preparation organised by the school. It is designed to recognise the achievement of students who speak and write another language that is not offered at school or cannot be accessed because of the timetable.

The languages available are Arabic, Korean, Indonesian, Korean, Modern Greek, Polish, Punjabi, Russian, Tamil. Vietnamese or Chinese.

You are interested! An expression of interest needs to be registered by contacting myself before April 30. A fee of $73.46 applies.

This information has been presented to your daughter in year level assembly and an email was sent to the cohort. Please encourage your daughter to contact me if she wants to know more about it.

Laurence Somerset lsomerset@stuartholme.com  +61 7 33695466

Dear Stuartholme Parents/Carers,

My name is Mary-Louise Rowell and I write to seek expressions of interest regarding the annual Mother’s Day Lunch (MDL) in May 2024.  This is always a great day, and we are seeking committee members.  If you have any talent in fundraising, PowerPoint presentations, photography or decorations – we would love to meet you!

Please phone/text me on 0439 857 301.

Alternatively I can be contacted via email at:  mlrowell10@hotmail.com

Regards

Mary-Louise Rowell

HOST AN INTERNATIONAL STUDENT ATTENDING STUARTHOLME SCHOOL

Stuartholme has partnered with International Student Care Australia (ISCA) to provide international students the experience of living with an Australian family and immersing themselves in the Australian culture and way of life. Homestay Accommodation is available to International students as a temporary option when the boarding house is at capacity.

Stuartholme School Homestay Program is operated by our approved third-party provider, International Student Care Australia (ISCA).

If you would be interested in hosting an International Student, please contact John Coade to find out more.

Mob:    + 61 0427 269 360

Tel:       + 61 7 3851 0704

Email:     isca@isca.net.au

Web:    http://www.isca.net.au

GeoSnapShot | Photo access

Stuartholme School uses GeoSnapShot, a platform for securely storing and sharing photos from school events and activities with our community.

To access GeoSnapShot, you can navigate through your MyStuartholme toolbar under ‘View Photos,’ as shown in the image below.

Reminder | Update details on Consent2go

This is a reminder to please check that your daughters photo consent details are up-to-date in Consent2Go via the MyStuartholme- Update details tile.

Details that are up-to-date give photo permission for student images to be used in social media, print and online publications. Students that have consent will also have permission to have their photos uploaded to GeoSnapShot, a program that Stuartholme uses to share photos easily with families. You can access these images through MyStuartholme.

If you have any questions or concerns, please contact marketing@stuartholme.com.

Are you on the hunt for a fantastic holiday camp to keep your kids engaged and entertained during their break? Look no further than Junior Engineers School Holiday programs being hosted at Stuartholme these school holidays.

**BUY MORE SAVE MORE**

When you Buy 2 products, you’ll save 10%, when you buy Buy 3 or more products, you’ll save 15%.

With 4 exciting programs on offer, we are thrilled to offer the perfect blend of fun and education for children aged 5-13. We’ll be exploring our latest theme: Aqua Mode in Minecraft Aqua Mode, Lego MindStorms, Stop Motion and Jnr Minecraft classes!

Click on the link below for a course and watch them flourish in an environment that seamlessly combines fun and learning.

https://www.juniorengineers.com.au/school-holidays?postcode=4066

The Stuartholme Debating Program needs you!

 The 2024 Debating Season is underway and following the tremendous successes of last year we have experienced a rapid increase in the number of students signing on.

 We are currently seeking three members of the Stuartholme Community that might be able to mentor a team.  Times and dates to meet with the team are flexible and the competition which runs from February – July includes 4x formal Debates.

 If you or someone you know thinks they might be able to assist with a team please contact our Debating Coordinator, Molly McCann on mmccann@stuartholme.com.

Thank you