Newsletter Term 2, Week 3 12 May 2022

Although the origins of the story have been traced back as far as 1000 years ago, it was Gabrielle-Suzanne Barbot de Villeneuve who wrote the first edition of 'La Belle et la Bête' in 1740 as a morality tale, encouraging readers not to judge others by appearances for ‘beauty is found within’. Jeanne-Marie Leprince de Beaumont adapted the story again when she published her version in 1756. This interpretation further explored the idea of female autonomy during an era when a woman’s worth was determined by whom she would marry. Using these important themes as starting points, students involved in the production reflected upon their relevance in a contemporary context when we began the rehearsal process in January. A screening of Emma Watson’s UN ‘He for She’ speech and subsequent analysis of her portrayal of Belle in Disney’s 2017 ‘Beauty and the Beast’ film prompted further discussions as the weeks passed.

Every cast member made a valuable contribution, regardless of the size of their role. The cast and orchestra, conducted by Jenny Meachem, worked together after school, on weekends and during the holidays, successfully juggling multiple commitments to create a performance that celebrated the strengths of Performing Arts at Strathcona. Before their final performance, the cast and orchestra gathered in Featherstone Hall to acknowledge the dedicated student technical crew and assistant director, Sarah McNulty. Whilst eating crepes and imagining we were in France, the students also expressed their gratitude for the work of Dean Gourley, Chris Johnson, Sarah Thom, Mark Killmister and Friends of Performing Arts, whose work behind the scenes made this collaborative production a possibility. 

Claire Johns, Director of Productions and Senior Mentor (Grenfell)

Face masks
Face masks, while recommended, are not required in any school setting (indoors or outdoors, junior school or senior school, and even when physical distancing cannot be maintained). This means students, staff and visitors are no longer required to wear face masks when on school premises. However, any student or staff member who wishes to wear a face mask can continue to do so.

RAT screening program
The supply of RATs will continue for the first 4 weeks of term 2. The screening recommendations remain the same:

- Test at home twice a week (we recommend Mondays and Thursdays)
 
Note:  Students and staff who have recently tested positive for COVID-19, and have completed their 7-day isolation period, do not need to undertake rapid antigen test (RAT) screening for 12 weeks after their release from isolation. However, if they develop symptoms then they must remain at home and cannot return to School until clear of symptoms or can present evidence of a negative PCR test result.

Close contacts (household contacts and household like contacts)
Students and staff who are close contacts of a person who has tested positive to COVID-19 are not required to quarantine. They can return to school as long as they undertake rapid antigen tests 5 days within their 7-day period and wear a face mask while indoors.

If any close contact develops symptoms during this period, they must remain at home and cannot return to School until clear of symptoms or can present evidence of a negative PCR test result.

If any close contact returns a positive RAT result during this period, they must isolate for 7 days and not attend school.

Vaccination requirements for visitors to schools
Parents, carers and other adult visitors (not performing work) are not required to show evidence of two doses of COVID-19 vaccine when entering the school or attending school events.

Parent volunteers (performing work) are required to show evidence of three doses of COVID-19 vaccine.

COVID Cases
Please refer to Maple for updates to COVID cases at our school.

Items in this week's Career News include:

• Dates to diarise
• REMINDER: University Clinical Aptitude Test (UCAT)
• News from Federation University
o New Bachelor of Sustainable Food Systems
• Cyber Security Courses at Victoria University
• News from RMIT University
o Bachelor of Business: Social Impact Major
o Diploma of Visual Arts
o Fashion Textiles and Sustainable Innovations
• Bachelor of Business (Entrepreneurship and Innovation) at Swinburne University
• Civil Engineering Degrees in Victoria in 2022
• Mechanical Engineering Degrees in Victoria in 2022
• Snapshot of La Trobe University in 2022

We are bombarded with news of fuel costs, electric cars and autonomous cars. There is the regular traffic report, accident reports and road toll statistics. But what about flying Cars? There are companies working on them and one of our speakers from our upcoming Centre for Learning Futures Event: Quantum computing, carbon capture and flying cars, Aidan Biggar, has worked as a flight tester for flying cars! He now flight tests drones for vaccine delivery to remote regions of the world.

Our news is filled with destructive weather events and the science and politics of all the carbon dioxide we pump into our atmosphere and oceans. We hear from champions of the environment, young like Gretta Thunberg and older like David Attenborough. We need to remove carbon dioxide from the air. There are ways of doing that and Elon Musk has contributed 100 million USD to what is claimed to be the largest incentive prize in history – the XPrize for Carbon Removal. Our speaker and Strathcona alumnus, Rebecca Phillips, is a team member of a student research group that won XPrize funding of $250 000 USD.

Our lives are dominated by computer technology through our communications, learning and entertainment. We are aware of the hazards of being constantly glued to our devices, the traps of social media, hackers and scammers, and have an insatiable appetite for increased processing and internet speeds. What if we could make computers that were more powerful – much more powerful? Mithuna, our final speaker, completed a PhD at Cambridge University exploring that question.

Cars are a major manufacturing process and the demise of car production in Australia was seen as a disaster by many, in part because of the loss of jobs in manufacturing. Fighting climate change is both a source of headlines about destroying jobs and creating jobs. Computers also have this dual contribution to the discourse on the future of work with the threat of computers or robots replacing human workers presented in tandem with the value of skills in digital technology for career opportunities.

Visions of the Future goes beyond the usual stories of cars, computers and climate change with a twist. Cars that fly, quantum computing and carbon capture are fields of active research and we will learn about them from three young creative researchers. Mithuna, Rebecca and Aidan bring their expertise and experiences from Cambridge University, Monash University and Stanford University and the Kitty Hawk and Swoop Aero companies.

I hope to see you at Strathcona at 6.30 pm on Thursday 19 May. For your free ticket book online here.

Ross Phillips, Senior Dean of Learning Futures

The night involved a fancy 3-course meal for all girls, their dates, and the dedicated staff who were in attendance on the night, along with a DJ, photographer, the viewing of the formal video, and the awarding of certificates and sashes to our highly flattered superlative winners. 

After missing numerous formative experiences and opportunities to bond as a year level from 2020 onwards, our lovely Year 12s were beyond eager to celebrate one another and mark this as an experience we will all hold onto; something that is sure to remain a fond high school memory. 

Having heard from Mrs Ward, who helped us to organise the night, that Formal exceeded the expectations of the girls, it is safe to say that it was a true success, and we are extremely grateful to all the staff and students who ensured that the night ran so smoothly.

Camp groups were announced this week, as was a change to the program altering the camp to a five day/four night extravaganza. As in previous years, the focus is on team work.  Finding your own balloon proved that  "team work makes the dream work", and preparing Duke of Ed journals, mapping out the route and doing laps of TC on the bikes all helps to settle nerves and ensure that students are prepared for the challenge. A camp packing list can be found on the Year 9 Parent Page of Maple. To replace the rafting activity, OEG will run a beach 'water' day in Term 4 for Year 9s. 

Students also completed their final NAPLAN tests this week in a calm and composed manner. This is good practice for exams later in the Term. A reminder that Year 9 students have Exam Day on Tuesday 14 June.  We would appreciate students having no appointments on this day. 

Upskill sessions in Envision this week and next Tuesday are the beginning of our entrepreneurial learning journey which will culminate in the launch of numerous businesses. All students will complete four workshops: 'Cards, customers and calligraphy', "branding, marketing and mood boards", "selling food", and finally "beeswax wraps". We hope these sessions inspire creative thinking and may prompt the development of exciting new brands. 

Next Tuesday, all Year 9 students will attend Main School at the beginning of the day to hear presenter Melinda Tankard- Reist speak on the topic "The Online Life of Girls". Please refer to Edsmart for further information and specific logistics. 

Best wishes,

Karyn Murray, Head of Tay Creggan

Junior & Middle School (Years 7 & 8) Mother’s Day Lunch – Friday 20 May 2022

We are delighted to invite you to join us in celebrating Mother's Day at a lunch at Georges restaurant in Camberwell. $80 per tickets which includes a glass of bubbles on arrival, 2-course meal plus tea and coffee. Further drinks available at the bar. Gather your friends and make a booking - numbers are limited! Please RSVP by Friday 13 May 2022 by clicking here.
Lucky tickets available for purchase on the day and some great prizes to be won.

Junior School Disco – Saturday 21 May 2022

The Junior School family disco will be held on Saturday 21 May 2022 at the Whitehorse Club in Burwood East. There will be a DJ, photo booth and an abundance of food for everyone to enjoy.

Adult ticket: $45.00 (2-course meal) Child ticket: $28.00 (pasta/nuggets/chips and vanilla ice-cream) Cost includes dinner & drinks will be available at bar prices.
Please click here to book.
Please indicate any dietary requirements when booking. Please note that every child must be accompanied by an adult and siblings are welcome. For catering purposes please RSVP by Friday 13 May 2022.

Strathcona’s Wellbeing Workshop (for unstoppable girls and women).  Book now here: https://www.trybooking.com/BYT...

Who: Mothers, Special friends and their daughters from our entire community, school families, alumnae and the local community. The workshops are designed for Mums, special friends and daughters to participate together, from all age groups, fostering connection, and healthy lifestyles in line with Strathcona’s Wellbeing program.

When: Sunday 15 May, 9.30am  - 2.30pm

Day's activities include:

8.30am Yoga (optional) with Strathcona Alumna and owner of Light Space Yoga, Clare Monahan. 
9.30am Breakfast followed by Guest Speaker Jo Stanley, Founder and CEO of Broad Radio, TV host of House of Wellness and alumna of the School.

African Drumming

The wellness benefits of drumming are numerous; it helps to develop enhanced teamwork, leadership and communication skills needed to work together to create rhythms and music in unison. It is good for our state of mind, and will leave you feeling connected, energised and empowered.

Bracelet Making

Mindfulness can be practiced in a variety of ways. Typically people think meditation but there are many activities that can help us to become more aware of our thoughts and feelings, reduce stress and anxiety, improve focus and fine motor skills. The simple nature of bracelet making allows you to follow a repetitive pattern and helps to focus your attention hopefully resulting in slower breathing and feelings of calmness. This is a simple activity that can be done on your own or whilst chatting with friends.

Gratitude Journaling

Gratitude is one of the key pillars of good health and wellbeing. Numerous studies have demonstrated that gratitude journaling can increase one’s happiness. The benefits of practice gratitude include; increased positive mood, more satisfaction with life, nurturing of key social skills such as humility, patience and wisdom and less materialism. Gratitude journaling is an intentional way to reflect on the things, people or situations we are grateful for. It allows us to put these feelings into words and we are then more likely tell someone we are grateful for them!

Where: Our Senior School Campus 34 Scott Street, Canterbury

Breakfast and lunch are provided, as well as gift bags from our supporters.

Places are limited, please book quickly to avoid missing out and to assist us with catering.

Jo Stanley – Guest Speaker

Jo is a performer, writer, TV and radio presenter. She is co-host of The House of Wellness TV and Radio, and creator of the House of Wellness podcast. She writes a regular column for the Sunday Life Magazine, and is the creator of the Play Like A Girl kids book series. Her performance style, which is heavily influenced by her stand-up comedy roots, makes her a much sought-after MC and speaker.In between all these very rewarding roles, Jo has now turned her vast media experience into building Broad Radio – Australia’s first radio network for women, by women, and a platform that will amplify the full diversity of women’s voices and stories.Jo is passionate about mindfulness and meditation, and its profound benefits for mental health, life balance and happiness. She is also an advocate for women’s and girl’s health, gender equality and healthy, respectful relationships. In support of these issues, Jo is a patron for Lighthouse Foundation, a patron for Wellsprings for Women, and an ambassador for meditation app, Smiling Mind.

Clare Monahan – Yoga Instructor

Clare is an Old-Strathconian, Yoga Studio owner, and Mother of 4 beautiful boys. Graduating in 1998, Clare attending Strathcona from Year 3. After graduating, Clare completed a Bachelor of Business/Marketing and went on to spend over a decade working in commercial marketing for various international organisations.

In 2014, Clare left the corporate world to open her first Yoga Studio, Light Space Yoga, in Balwyn with her mother, followed by a second and third studio in 2015 and 2016 in Mitcham and Ivanhoe. In 2020, in response to Covid-19, came the creation of a progressive online yoga platform and app which now houses a growing library of over 3,000 yoga classes plus 36 live classes every week. Light Space Yoga is inspired by a fresh and contemporary approach to yoga, with over 120 classes every week to suit all levels and abilities. Each studio has been designed to feel like a sanctuary with natural light, tree-top views, and white bamboo floorboards.

You are warmly invited to this very special Strathcona Centre for Learning Futures event: Quantum Computing, Carbon Capture and Flying Cars. The talk will feature three guest speakers; Mithuna Yoganathan, Rebecca Phillips and Aidan Biggar.

ABOUT GUEST SPEAKERS

Mithuna Yoganathan

Quantum computers have been hyped to be the next big thing in computing, but will we really all have quantum computers in the future? If so, when? In this talk Mithuna will explain why the buzz around quantum computers might be missing the point. Quantum computers do hold a lot of promise- but probably not for running your laptop faster. 

Mithuna is from Melbourne and did her PhD research at the University of Cambridge in the UK. Her research was about whether certain kinds of computational problems could be run faster on a quantum computer. 

Rebecca Phillips ('17)

Increasing carbon dioxide concentrations in the atmosphere is a concern for many of us and affects or will affect us all in one way or another. Rebecca will introduce carbon capture and conversion as a technology that is expected to play an important role in future efforts to fight climate change. She will outline the approach a Monash student team is using to try and develop such technology and how being involved in student teams can be an enriching experience at university.

Rebecca attended Strathcona, graduating in 2017. She is now in her final year of studying Environmental Engineering and a Diploma of Chinese at Monash University. She is currently involved in the Monash Carbon Capture and Conversion (MC3) team. Their proposed solution of turning algae to biochar won funding in the XPrize student award competition, supporting their progress until the final submission in 2025. 

Aidan Biggar

Aidan will speak about what we can achieve with aerospace technology, where he thinks the future of the industry is going, and why he thinks we direly need more women to enter the field! He’ll share his  background of living in the US and Australia and what it was like to work in Silicon Valley before moving back to Victoria where he joined a small start-up. Aidan believes there almost always exist opportunities to work in your desired industry! 

Aidan was born in New Zealand before moving to France and ultimately settling in Australia. He graduated from Melbourne High School in 2013, before moving to California for university. He studied mechanical engineering at Stanford University and then worked for two years as a flight test engineer for the flying car company Kitty Hawk. His current role has him leading the flight test team at Swoop Aero, a drone start-up in Port Melbourne which focuses on delivering vaccines to hard-to-reach regions of the world.

We are delighted to invite you to join us in celebrating Mother's Day at a lunch at Georges restaurant in Camberwell. $80 per ticket which includes a glass of bubbles on arrival, a 2-course meal plus tea and coffee. Further drinks are available at the bar. Gather your friends and make a booking - numbers are limited! Please RSVP by Friday 13 May 2022 by clicking here.

Lucky tickets are available for purchase on the day and some great prizes to be won.

Junior School Disco – Saturday 21 May 2022

Save the date – booking and further details to follow.