COR UNUM NEWSLETTER TAKEOVER – Dean of Mission

Cor Unum Captain reflection | Saint Madeleine Sophie Barat Mass and Investiture of Blue and Green Ribbons

When I started writing this speech, I looked at what past Cor Unum Captains had written and was amazed. Let me tell you there is some liquid gold in what’s been written. And I remember thinking, “these are incredible! How am I ever going to compete with that?” And you see that’s the issue, I looked at it as a competition not as a collaboration. When my mum went to school, teachers could only give ONE student 100% for a subject in the year, that means even if two students both made a banger story, only one of would get the ‘top’ mark. Students were competing against each other, not against themselves. And what’s changed? That education system is no longer in place, it’s changed in such a short time frame already. Nothing stays the same forever, we learn from the people before us and with what we’re given, we create something new.

And who else is a perfect example of this than the Saint herself, Madeline Sophie! After all today is her day. Now I won’t lie to you she was delt a hard hand, even before her life began, being born 2 months premature due to the stress her mother faced during the brutal French Revolution. Her baby body was so fragile she was baptised the next morning only a few yards from her home, as they assumed she wouldn’t live. Imagine that? This school and over 150 other schools across the globe wouldn’t exist, women’s education and rights would be, literally, centuries behind. And being a woman born 200 years ago she experienced the full wrath of misogyny firsthand.

It’s hard to truly understand how frightening it would have been to live in a world where you couldn’t learn, all of us here can think critically with concise and articulate language but back then it was hard for even well… back then you, as a women, were an outlier to receive any sort of education and it would’ve been a ‘competition’ for getting into a good marriage. But did that stop Sophie? No, she challenged the status quo, and it was with the help of her kindred brother that she was able to learn. He taught her Latin, Greek, history, natural science, Spanish, and Italian! Seriously, all of these subjects were specifically reserved for males only. Imagine your only source of education is from what your brother can tell you, no teachers, no sister students, no support. Sadly, this is still the reality for many women in our world today, suffering under frustrating constraints forced upon them by a birthright they had no choice in. It’s still a competition, we just don’t see it here in Australia in everyday life. But the biggest difference from Saint Madeline Sophie’s time and now is that we have a voice to speak for these women. Organisations, Caritas for one example, are the collaboration of people across the world to provide everyone the opportunity to learn.

A famous influencer recently shared “Many things have to change course, but it is we human being above all who need to change,” this quote from Pope Francis could be seen as a reflection of Saint Madeline Sophie’s vision: A call to change, and the education for all across the world. We may take it for granted but Intellectual Values shape change. They provide a voice to speak out against discrimination, and a voice isn’t just speaking. It’s rather the ability to see prejudice, to hear inequality, to understand the unjust treatment they face. It’s our most powerful tool, which everyone has the right to.

What’s never really mentioned in these speeches is what happened after? We rarely focus on how the torch she provided blossomed. A number of Sophie’s students founded their own religious congregations. Like Eugénie Smet, founding the ‘Society of the Helpers of the Holy Souls’ a congregation with a focus on supporting the poor and the marginal. Or Henriette d’Osseville who founded the ‘Sisters of Our Lady of Fidelity’, a congregation which their primary goal is the education of young women, especially orphans. Today? they serve worldwide.

The legacy that Saint Madeline Sophie left behind is astounding which provided these amazing women the opportunity and support to make change in the world. And although cliché you can too! No matter how small, “Your example, even more than your words, will be an eloquent lesson to the world” the words of Saint Madeline Sophie herself.

Today you’re sitting in this chapel one that wouldn’t have been made without Sophie. And if there’s anything you remember from today, I hope it’s this: 200 years later, the worlds changed a lot, and it will continue to do so. But are we going to shape this changing world into the one that we want to see or the one it’s becoming? Life is going to be hard, it’ll also be easy, it’ll also be fun, it’ll be a lot of things! but there will always be hardship. The less we see life as a competition, a comparison, the more we work together, the more we play our part, the more we can bring change.

Chloe Carew

2023 Cor Unum Captain

COR UNUM NEWSLETTER TAKEOVER – Dean of Student Wellbeing 

One of the most anticipated days on the Stuartholme calendar is the Feast of St Madeleine Sophie Barat, informally referred to as ‘Mad Soph Day’. This day is a highlight in our Stuartholme community, as it fosters the spirit which is always so fondly brought to mind at the mention of Stuartholme. The day kicks off with a liturgy in our Chapel to commemorate the life and legacy of St Madeleine Sophie, where Sr Rita Carroll and our 2023 Cor Unum captain, Chloe Carew, deliver an address that encompasses the impact of a Sacred Heart education. We also award our Year 10 Green Ribbons and Year 12 Blue Ribbons to students who display school spirit and live out the Five Sacred Heart Goals of Education. To follow, the whole school community gather on the oval for our carnival celebrations – this year’s theme being Country. We encouraged everyone to expand on their initial thoughts of this theme to understand what it could really mean to them, opening to individual culture or home country, or any country! The festivities were filled with rides, treats, and even a petting zoo in keeping with the country theme.

Following the beautiful Mass giving thanks for the life of Madeleine Sophie Barat and the joyful carnival celebrations, students gather in house groups to perform a rehearsed song and dance in our annual Choral Competition – a core aspect to the celebrations of the day. This year’s choral theme was also Country, as Stuartholme enjoyed a whole day of country-themed celebrations. The grand finale of the day, however, is a similar performance by the teachers which always ends with everyone on their feet, joining in. This event enlivens a strong sense of belonging within the community, as the whole school bands together in a moment of rejoice, each and every one of us playing our part to make music together, encompassing the Stuartholme Spirit.

The buzz of the day reflects St Madeline Sophie’s joyous spirit and engages the whole Stuartholme community in celebrating the uniqueness of a Sacred Heart education. It truly enlivens our Sacred Heart goal, “Building community as a Christian value”.  I absolutely love the sense of belonging, as I feel supported in my wellbeing and backed by my community.  Around this time of year, I encourage everyone to play their part in maintaining connections, as I know that the buzz around Mad Soph Day and assessment can take away from looking after ourselves and those around us. Make sure to have some time to recharge as we ramp up to assessment before the holidays, and look out for friends, too. Some easy ways to this this are to set aside some quiet downtime for yourself or asking your friends if they are okay and offering a listening ear. Be kind to yourselves, but be sure to push yourselves to achieve your best!

Harriet Moore 

Cor Unum Committee 

COR UNUM NEWSLETTER TAKEOVER – Acting Dean of Teaching and Learning Innovation

Dear Stuartholme community,

My name is Grace Tupicoff. As the 2023 Academic Captain, it is my pleasure to deliver the student newsletter takeover for the Acting Dean of Teaching and Learning Innovation.

As my secondary schooling career comes to an end, one thing that is constantly on my mind is, “What will I do next year?” I wonder what I will have accomplished in a few years’ time.  Will I have completed studies at university? Started my own business? Or even moved to a different country for work? These are questions that we all find ourselves asking towards the end of high school.

On the 17^th of May, Year 11’s and 12’s had the opportunity to engage in the “Ask a Professional” event. Experts, including many Stuartholme alumnae, from numerous different professions were in attendance. We were joined by professionals from Law, Business, Medicine, Design and Science just to name a few. It was an incredible opportunity to ask questions and receive advice from experts in their fields. Students were highly engaged in this event, and we found it reassuring to see real life examples of the many pathways available to us after school. These people had such incredible tips and advice for us, to point us in the right direction for next year.

This event was centred around life outside of school, however, as External Assessment and the end of Year 12 approaches, it is important that we stay focussed on our studies in the present. All year levels will engage in some exams this term but the best thing to do is to start studying early.

There are numerous study techniques and studying apps that you can try. These include Cornell note taking, Flora (which uses the Pomodoro technique) and flashcards. The best thing to do is try out the different techniques to find what works best for you. These strategies can be found on the Academic Committee page on MyStuartholme. Sometimes it can be a struggle to get used to using these techniques, but the best advice I can give to everyone is to always keep going. When you feel you are falling behind, sit down and just commit to getting 5 minutes of work done.  The first five minutes is always the hardest, but it is easier to keep going once you get started. Focus on studying regularly and getting assignments done ahead of time. This not only creates less stress for you near exams, but it also means you have fully engaged in the content and therefore, fully understand it.

The idea of studying can be daunting to many students because it implies that you are constantly doing schoolwork, during school, after school and even on your weekends. This sometimes leads to us putting off schoolwork, and instead prioritising other activities or procrastinating, which leads to falling behind. It is really important to develop a balance between school, extra-curricular activities, and social life. Throughout school I have always engaged in either one or two co-curricular activities each term and I have worked to find a balance that works for me. I put all my commitments and assessment dates into the calendar on my phone, so I have a clear indication of when I am busy. At the start of every week, I look at my calendar and plan what schoolwork I need to do each day to keep up to date. This easily makes me aware of where I need to be and what I need to get done, helping me to maintain a balance. The student diary is also a useful tool for this.

One of the biggest aids in achieving my academic success have been my teachers. The teachers at Stuartholme have so much wisdom and encourage me to be the best I can be. I’m not one to ask many questions usually (several of my teachers have encouraged me to work on this and I am challenging myself to ask more questions) but I have learnt that no matter the question, it is always best to ask. Seeking clarification and confirming my understanding has proved immensely helpful to me and made school so much easier. Even if you don’t want to ask in front of the whole class, I recommend that you start by quietly asking at the end of the lesson and build your confidence from there.

As the end of the term nears the best thing to do is keep on top of your work but also don’t forget to take time to destress. Remember, in the words of Nelson Mandela, “It always seems impossible until it’s done.”

Grace Tupicoff

Academic Captain

Hi everyone,

It’s been a busy start to term in the Careers office, but it’s wonderful to be seeing so many students from Year 9 through to Year 12.

I’ve also been busy with a few other events and lessons to support our students in their career exploration.

Excursion to Thomas Dixon Centre with Bligh Tanner – 20 April

We headed to the Thomas Dixon Centre with Bligh Tanner in Week 1 – such a great opportunity to learn more about how this building was created by the architects, structural engineers, fire engineers, project managers, Queensland Ballet staff and more. We learnt more about these careers, what to study to get into these areas, and some of the interesting challenges of creating beautiful new buildings (like expanding paint, tension nets, reinforcing and restoring the old building, and more).

Parent Lab – 11 May

It was lovely to sit on a panel with parents for the Term 2 Parent Lab earlier this term. Thank you to the Parents of Stuartholme for the invite. We talked about a lot of things, including how to support your young person with their career exploration and what to expect over the next few months if your young person is in Year 10.

I also referenced this amazing research, which looks at what kinds of support can help a young person with their career decision making: How youth explore, experience and think about their future: A new look at effective career guidance by OECD – Issuu

Ask A Professional event for Year 11 & 12 – 17 May

Last week, we welcomed a wonderful group of parents and alumnae to the school for our annual Ask A Professional event as part of Year 11 and 12 Wise Wellness. This event helps our senior students to better understand their different careers options, as well as the different journeys they can take after school. Bonus, students also get to practise their networking skills!

Thank you again to every parent and carer who attended this event to share their time and wisdom with our students. It was incredibly valuable!

Preparing Year 10 students for SET Planning

This term, we’ve been using Wise Wellness to help prepare our Year 10 students for senior subject selection and Senior Education & Training (SET) planning.

So far:

• Students have used the Career Avenues Career Profile and Action Planning portal to explore different careers, short-list any of interest, and research how to get into these areas
• They’ve heard from me about the many ways they can explore their career interests before they finish school
• They’ve heard from Mrs Van Homrigh about how the Queensland Certificate of Education (QCE) and Australian Tertiary Admissions Rank (ATAR) work
• They’ve heard from Mrs Somerset and senior students about how vocational education and training (VET) works in Year 11 and 12.
• I’ve also talked to students about their many post-school options and how they might get into them, including apprenticeships, traineeships, work, gap years, TAFE and university.

We’re also excited to introduce a new whole-day Careers Day for Year 10 on Tuesday, 13 June. At this event, students will hear from inspiring alumnae, try some hands on workshops in different career areas, and do some self-directed research in preparation for their SET planning meetings in Term 3.

Resume workshop for Year 10 Hospitality Work Experience Program

I also had the pleasure of seeing the Year 10 Hospitality Work Experience group this week to talk about how to write a great resume, including how they would include their new qualifications, skills and experience from the work experience program.

As always, please find below a selection of information and opportunities that could be useful to you and your young person. You can find other helpful resources on the Careers page of my.Stuartholme.

Careers Mail

OPEN DAYS

If you’re thinking about further study, I really encourage you to go to a few different open days this year. Here are the dates we know so far.

EXPLORE

Videos about different occupations

You can view a range of myfuture ‘occupation spotlight’ videos that feature unique career journeys across various industries. Some of the featured occupational videos are:

• Country Manager
• Mechanical Fitter Apprentice
• Senior Project Manager
• Mental Health Support Facilitator
• Business Intelligence Manager
• Mixed Cropping Irrigation Farmer
• Trainer and Assessor
• Counsellor/Case Manager
• Business Development Manager

Click here to read more and to access the videos.

Brisbane Careers and Employment Expo THIS WEEKEND

The Brisbane Careers & Employment Expo being held on 26 & 27 May 2023 is a leading careers, training and education event in Queensland. The event offers the opportunity for students, job seekers and career changers of all ages to connect with organisations for guidance, clarity and opportunities in relation to career options. It is free entry and click here for more details.

Upcoming Creative Industries and Design Student Showcases

Want to know what a Contemporary Art or Design Degree at QUT might look like? Throughout May, you can see QUT student in-progress and completed works by attending the following public events across Brisbane.

• 24 – 27 May          Big Hair in America at The Creative Industries Precinct, QUT 22 Musk Ave, Kelvin Grove
• 28 May                  Finding Barrambin as part of BCC Green Heart Fair at Victoria Park, Herston
• 31 May – 3 June   Stupid F#*king Bird at The Loft 22 Musk Ave, Kelvin Grove

Resource for Aspiring Journalists

This resource will be of assistance if you are considering a career in journalism. Australian Newsroom Journalism provides a series of posts free to help you learn more about writing like a journalist. Posts will continue to be added keeping them relevant to student needs and interests and to reflect industry changes. The resource will help you if you are considering a career in Australia’s newsrooms by giving you an insight to the things editors are looking for when they select cadets or trainees.

EXPERIENCE

Design and visual arts workshops

Registrations for Griffith Uni’s Design and Visual Arts Workshops have opened and spots are filling fast!  Over a two-day program held during the school holidays, you will:

• complete at least one piece of work for your creative portfolio
• develop an understanding of how to take photos and present them for maximum impact
• learn how to self-promote your practice and creativity in writing.

Remember, if you want to start study at the Queensland College of Art (QCA) from 2024, there is a new pathway to entry into their degrees via portfolio admission. These workshops are a valuable opportunity to learn the do’s and don’ts of a successful portfolio so don’t miss out! Click here to register and workshop details are:

• Visual Arts Workshop: Monday 26 to Tuesday 27 June 2023, South Bank campus
• Design Workshop: Monday 26 to Tuesday 27 June 2023, South Bank campus
• Design Workshop: Thursday 29 to Friday 30 June 2023, Gold Coast campus

Musical Theatre and Acting workshops

The Performing Arts department at the Queensland Conservatorium Griffith University (QCGU) invites Year 11 and 12 students with an interest in performing arts, to register for their Winter School (26 – 29 June) and Acting and Musical Theatre Audition Workshops (3 – 7 July). The programs are run by Conservatorium performance coaches and based on teaching from QCGU degrees. Click here for more information and to register.

GOOD TO KNOW

Thoroughbred breeders Australia Fast Track traineeship program

Thoroughbred breeders Australia has launched the Fast Track program to create a pathway for talented horse people to enter the industry. If you are passionate about horses this is an opportunity where you will be employed and mentored on a respected stud farm, gain a formal qualification plus have the opportunity to learn from leaders in the global horse industry. The 12 month program provides an accelerated introduction and learning experience that will help Fast Track graduates’ progress quickly in careers in the breeding industry. You will gain an introduction to all aspects of the thoroughbred industry, allowing you to kick-start your career.

This opportunity is aimed at anybody who has a passion for horses, no matter your equine background. If you enjoy an active lifestyle, working outdoors in a social and fast-paced environment, Fast Track could be the start of an exciting new career. Click here for more information and to apply.

Sign-up to receive QTAC news

Keep up to date with changes at QTAC to ensure you make well researched decisions based on current information. Click here if you want to receive QTAC news updates.

Bursaries for female students

The National Council of Women of Queensland has launched its 2023 bursary program for female students. Visit the website for more information and to download the application form. Applications open on 17 April and closes on 5 June 2023.

Uni essentials: Tax File Number and Unique Student Identifier

Year 12 students planning to go to university should apply early for a Tax File Number (TFN) and a Unique Student Identifier (USI). To be eligible for HECS-HELP or FEE-HELP (Commonwealth assistance), students must provide a TFN and a USI on their Commonwealth Assistance Form once they become a student. All universities and TAFE Queensland require you to have a TFN and USI and you can read more about QUT fees and HECS-HELP or visit the government StudyAssist website.

World Economic Forum’s Future of Jobs Report 2023

The digital revolution, the drive to “go green” and other factors are reshaping the global world of work at an unprecedented rate. Autonomous and electric vehicle specialists top the list of fastest-growing jobs in 2023. AI and smart technologies are making roles like bank teller, cashier and data entry clerk obsolete. These roles could see the fastest rate of decline in the next five years.

The word ‘disruption’ encapsulates what’s happening in the global labour market, which is constantly being reshaped by the digital revolution, efforts to decarbonize in the face of the climate crisis and other geopolitical and social changes. In the next five years, almost a quarter of jobs (23%) are expected to change through growth of 10.2% and decline of 12.3%, according to the World Economic Forum’s Future of Jobs Report 2023. Click here to find out more including:

• What’s driving the future of jobs?
• Fastest growing vs. fastest declining jobs
• What goes up …
• A greener jobs future

Warm regards,

Tom Lillyman

Careers Counsellor

Sporting Achievements

CaSSSA Cross Country Winners 

Congratulations to our Cross Country team who won the CASSSA Championship trophy yesterday. They also excelled with 5 team pennants, a second-place finish, and an impressive collection of 5 individual gold medals. Their remarkable performance has earned seven of our talented runners the honour of representing Met West at the upcoming Queensland School Sport Championships in July. An amazing achievement by all the students and a big thank you go’s to the sports department and Chris Gale for coaching the team to victory!

  Lily Byron makes Queensland WaterPolo team U14- Gold Team

Congratulations Lily Przybylak (Middle) for being selected for the Australian Waterpolo U14 Gold Team, what an amazing achievement. Lucy will travel to Melbourne in July for the competition.

France Rugby Heritage Cup Team selection 

Congratulations to the following students who have recently been selected to compete in the France Rugby Heritage Cup. Exciting times lie ahead for these students as they travel overseas to Pontlevoy in France early September.

Athletics Interhouse Carnival

Thursday 1^st June

In readiness for the Stuartholme Interhouse Athletics carnival, students can arrive and depart in STU HPE uniform. Students can get into costumes etc. at school, but must be back in STU HPE uniform before leaving school.

S60

The doors to S60 are back open from Tuesday 18 April!

We have plenty of supervised gym sessions open to students and a variety of group classes to keep you motivated and active throughout the term!
No commitment and no competition. Students are welcome to opt-in and out of the S60 program at any stage throughout the term. S60 is all about keeping active and gaining confidence within a gym setting. Unlike other sports, you won’t have a set training schedule, it’s all up to you!
Check out the timetable on the S60 Fitness page to find out more.

Click here to sign up! Once you’ve signed up, jump over to the S60 Fitness app to start booking your gym sessions and classes!

Please note: A parent or guardian must co-sign the membership form and memberships are on a direct debit which can be suspended or cancelled at any stage.

Parents we have something for you as well!

We also offer circuit classes for parents! Join Rhys on Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 8:25am for a post school drop-off workout. Email s60@ghrc.com.au for more details. 

Families in the Samford area  –  please be aware that Brisbane Bus Lines, who operate our morning and afternoon runs, also have a number of services between the Samford area and the Ferny Grove Station on the Bus 3 route.  Details can be found here:  School Bus Connections – Ferny Grove Rail.pdf (brisbanebuslines.com.au)

In the mornings, School Bus 74 ( School Bus No 74.pdf (brisbanebuslines.com.au) ) leaves Main St, Samford at 6.53am and should arrive at Ferny Grove 10min before our Bus 3 leaves there; if it happened to be running late, students should inform the driver of their need to connect to Bus 3.  In the afternoons, there are several services that leave Ferny Grove at 4.15pm, heading to various locations around Samford (see first link above for details).

Free travel from Samford to Ferny Grove.  The majority of high school students who live in the Samford area are likely eligible for the School Transport Assistance Scheme (STAS).  This is where Translink pay BBL direct to transport students to their nearest state school.  Details about this can be found here: Student Travel Assistance | Brisbane Bus Lines

This means that Stuartholme students residing in Samford are most likely eligible for free travel through to Ferny Grove (as Ferny Grove High School would be the nearest state high school). To apply for free travel between Samford & Ferny Grove parents will need to complete a Bus Travel Assistance (BTA) Form.   For details/form:  How to Register | Brisbane Bus Lines

On Friday, May 19th, the highly anticipated Mother’s Day lunch took place at the Victoria Park Marquee. It was a delightful gathering where current and past mothers, alumnae, and special guests came together to celebrate and honor the incredible bond of motherhood.

Over a delicious three-course lunch, people engaged in conversations, shared stories and formed new friendships. We would like to give a special thanks to our guest speaker, Geraldine Knapp, for delivering a humorous speech and being great company. It was a truly memorable occasion filled with laughter, love, and appreciation for the remarkable mothers within our Stuartholme community. We would like to express our gratitude to the organising committee, led by Fiona Woodard and Caroline Wilkinson, for their amazing efforts.

Nathan Wallis is a grandfather of three, father of three and foster father to many more. His professional background includes early childhood teacher, child therapist, social service manager, university lecturer and neuroscience trainer.  He has developed a reputation as a lively and engaging speaker who uses humour and plain language to make this complex topic come to life. 

Covid has put all of us in an unpredictable environment and this has added layers of complexity to an already complex time of life – especially for children and teens already dealing with issues around anxiety and depression.

During adolescence parts of the teenage brain are “shut for renovations”. This is the part of the brain responsible for regulating the teenager’s moods, for understanding consequences, maintaining focus and for thinking about the well-being of others. And the ‘teen’ years can start as early as 9 and end anywhere from 18 to 32 years of age! 

However, the good news is that there are clear tips and practices from the research that can help and enhance our teen’s ability (and yours) to cope with this tricky time and minimise the stress for everyone. Understanding the changes that are taking place will help you to navigate successfully these important and formative years.

When: Wednesday, 14 June

Time:  5:30 pm to 7:00 pm

Venue: Champagnat Centre – Marist College Ashgrove

Cost: No cost involved

RSVP: Click on this link to register your attendance https://events.humanitix.com/nathan-wallis-conscious-intelligence

I’m sure we were all waiting in anticipation of Saint Madeline Sophie day this week. One of the highlights is watching all the houses compete in the choral competition and seeing which house will take home the trophy. Listening to the great singing is one of the best parts of the day’s celebration. There are many reasons why people love listening to music so much. One reason is that it increases blood flow to the region of the brain where we generate and control our emotions. Listening to different types of music can affect your emotions such as reducing stress or lowering blood pressure. This is because of the neurons (nerve cells) which send and receive messages between the brain and the body. There are specific populations of neurons in our brains which are selective to speech and music. However, recent studies conducted by neuroscientists have discovered that there are specific neurons in our brains which don’t respond to instrumental music or regular speech. These neurons which are in the auditory cortex only respond to singing!

For more information see https://www.uclsciencemagazine.com/article-b4/

Anna Newham (Year 11 Science Ambassador)

Upcoming Science opportunities:

At the University of Queensland:

• Queensland Biology Winter School – Year 12 (26&27 June)
• Queensland Biology Winter School – Year 11 (3&4 July)

SPARQ-ed is designed to immerse Year 10, 11 and 12 high school students in biomedical research. They will work as a team to answer a genuine research question designed by researchers working within the Translational Research Institute. Across the five days they will:

• Learn how to use basic biomedical research equipment.
• Attend a research seminar.
• Complete protocols designed by the researcher.
• Collect and process data.

Work collaboratively to prepare a presentation, reporting their findings back to the research community. Biomedical Education for School students | Translational Research Institute (tri.edu.au)

Kind regards,

Ms Wendy Macdonald

Leader of Learning – Science

This week, we had the pleasure of welcoming visitors from Kincoppal-Rose Bay School, Sacre Coeur, and Baradene as part of the ANZNET program. For a one-week visit, these students had the opportunity to immerse themselves in the vibrant atmosphere of Stuartholme School. They attended classes alongside their host sisters, gaining insights into our educational environment and forging new friendships. It was a delight to have them join in our Saint Madeleine Sophie Day celebrations, where they experienced the joy and spirit of our school community. To further foster connections, they also enjoyed a morning tea with our leadership team. As their time with us comes to an end, we extend our warm wishes for safe travels as they return home. May their experiences at Stuartholme School leave them with cherished memories and lasting connections.

On Thursday 25 May, Stuartholme School celebrated and invested the Blue and Green Ribbon recipients during the Saint Madeleine Sophie Barat Mass. It acknowledges Year 10 and 12 students within our communities who exhibit the spirit of Cor Unum in all they do. The French ribbon, worn diagonally from right to left, symbolise these students’ generosity of service, strength of character, inclusiveness, joyful spirit of co-operation, dedication to study and ability to live out the 5 goals of Sacred Heart Education in all they do. We acknowledge the recipients of these ribbons, chosen by the students and staff of our community, for their contribution and leadership at Stuartholme.

Characteristics of Blue Ribbons – current Yr. 12 students

They are students who:

Are an inspiration to others by example.

Display strength of character in their ability to live by their convictions, informed by the Goals of Sacred Heart Education.

Show generosity through service.

Are open to growth in understanding the needs of the wider community.

Promote Cor Unum through an attitude of inclusiveness.

Show a joyful spirit of cooperation no matter what the task.

Congratulations to our Year 12 Blue Ribbon recipients: 

Harriet Moore, Laura Penning, Isobel Martin, Eleanor Fraser, Bridget Dillon, Chloe Carew, Charlotte Spooner, Darcy Mansul, Felicity Hoult, Eleanor Tiernan, Grace Tupicoff, Anna Roads, Mia Savill, Grace Clulow, Amelia Bird

Characteristics of Green Ribbons – current Yr. 10 students

They are students who:

Give of their best academically.

Are involved in the life of the school as shown by: readiness to share in the activities of their Houses and involvement in Service Groups;

Embrace a spirit of Cor Unum by being welcoming of all and generous in their acceptance of difference;

Show a growing understanding of the Goals of Sacred Heart Education;

Are able to judge what is appropriate behaviour in given circumstances and be counted on to give good examples consistently.

Congratulations to our Year 10 Green Ribbon recipients: 

Eliza Flanagan, Zara-Jane Wich, Bethany Van Hecke, Sarah Killen, Charlotte Woodard, Gemma Anderson, Martinique Harvey, Arabella Robinson, Elizabeth Rosanowski, Eleanor O’Brien, Amelie Gordon, Prudence Hoult, Erin Mansul, Bridget Lyons.

Our year 10s faced the challenges set by Emu Gully camp and through the activities and guidance of the Emu Gully camp leaders, discovered the value of supporting those in their group even when the conditions became tougher. The students shared their goals for the camp at the start and highlighted messages of support for each other. The camp staff then challenged them, through the activities, to keep up this team support and care for each other when they were not in their comfort zone. To add emphasis to these activities, each team became responsible for the safety of one team member on a stretcher, both in the mud activity and on the night walk, scrambling up and down muddy slopes. To their credit, our year 10s reached into themselves and stepped out of their comfort zone to show that the team did matter and that they could succeed in supporting each other.

The learning about the importance of the whole group rather than just the individual is our step towards next year’s leadership activities where we emphasise that true leadership is about ‘service leadership’, working to serve the whole group. The camp also pushes the students to work with a randomly selected group rather than a friendship group, mirroring life in work teams after school. In this situation, girls come to know and value others in their group whom they may have never spoken to previously. This helps the cohort to become more united and eventually present a united presence as Senior Student Leaders of the school at the end of next year.

Whilst the camp was very much a learning experience, we hope that the students also enjoyed their time and can now reflect on the value of camp.

COR UNUM NEWSLETTER TAKEOVER- Principal

Dear Stuartholme,

My name is Isobel Martin, and this year I have the honour to be a part of not only our Cor Unum Committee, working alongside Chloe Carew, Harriet Moore, and Laura Penning, but also as one of Boardings’ vice captains, in partnership with Lily Nolan, Bronte Rigney, and Samantha Connelly. It is to my delight that I write to you all in this week’s newsletter!

Once a term, students are provided the opportunity to collaborate in the ‘Student Newsletter Takeover’. In which articles, normally written by our Leadership Team are penned by us, promoting student voice and, as a result, facilitating our recognition and agency.

Earlier this term, we, as a boarding community, celebrated the success of being an Excellence Awardee as part of the Educator Awards in the category ‘Boarding School of the Year’. I take great pride in my status as a boarder and the tight-knit community that has been fostered here, so I am exhilarated that this has been recognised at a national level. Mr Crump, our school principal, has also been congratulated as an Excellence Awardee for principal of the year, which I believe to be a testimony to his hard work and dedication to our community.

In addition to these incredible achievements, we celebrated National Boarders week from the 16^th to the 22^nd of May. In celebration of this, we recognised the boarding parents for their commitment to Stuartholme and their daughter’s education. Thank you for the sacrifices you make for us to have the opportunity to receive our education here at Stuartholme. We also recognised our beautiful boarding staff and thanked them for their contributions in the house. Additionally, on Thursday 18^th of May, our boarding captains attended the Southeast Queensland Boarding Leaders Dinner as a way to band boarders together in celebration of our diversity and culture.

On Friday 12^th we celebrated International Nurses Day. We are so lucky at Stuartholme to have an incredible nursing team supporting and caring for us. As a boarder it can often be difficult being unwell and being far from home, but the nursing staff have always provided me and the other boarders such kindness, care and support on weekends, late nights and days spent in isolation. Thank you, Sisters Kylee, Jane, Georgia, Genevieve, Dawn, Christine, Abeni, Megan, Sarah and Therese.

Perhaps one of the most anticipated days of the year; a day that truly evokes passion, spirit, and unity: St Madeleine Sophie Day. On the eve of the feast day of St Madeleine Sophie Barat, we, as Stuartholme boarders, gathered together for Procession of Lanterns. Accompanied by an articulate and heartfelt reflection by our Liturgy Captain, Milly Cook, this tradition is always a beautiful time for us to reflect on our connections with the people around us as well as our identity as a Sacred Heart community. This spirt persisted throughout the following day. Beginning Our Feast Day with an ever-moving mass, students who were recognised by their classmates and teachers as upholding the values of Madeleine Sophie and our five Sacred Heart Goals were commissioned through our tradition of Green Ribbons (Year 10) and Blue Ribbons (Year 12). Soon thereafter, our school gathered on the oval, dressing up to a theme chosen by the Cor Unum Committee, to further celebrate Madeleine Sophie, before changing into drama blacks for our annual, spectacular Choral Competition.

As we draw close to the end of Term 2, with only Athletics Carnival to go, I implore each and every one of you to maintain your energy as you have done so thus far. I know that in these heavy assessment periods, it can often be hard to do so, however, I also know that by encouraging each other and playing our parts as members of our community will make the rest of the term breeze past!!

I wish all of you the best of luck!

Isobel Martin

2023 Cor Unum Committee

The Australian Minister for Education is encouraging teachers, parents and students to complete a survey to inform the work of the Expert Panel Review for the next National School Reform Agreement.

The Review to Inform a Better and Fairer Education System (the Review) will make recommendations for Education Ministers to inform the next agreement to improve education outcomes in Australia and meet the current and future needs of students.

Survey participants can have their say on a range of issues including:

• Improving education outcomes
• Supporting student health and wellbeing, and
• Supporting and retaining teachers.

The survey is available to complete here: Survey for Parents and Carers Life in Australia Survey (srcentre.com.au)

It will be open until Friday 23 June 2023.

The Expert Panel will use the results to help draft a consultation paper which will invite submissions from all stakeholders. Results will also inform the development of recommendations
for the final report, which will advise Education Ministers on what targets and reforms should be included in the next National School Reform Agreement.

Junior Engineers – Coding and Robotics Camp

Code Camp

If you wish to participate, please click here School Holiday Camps at Stuartholme School | Code Camp