Newsletter Term 2, Week 5 26 May 2022

I can see the well-meant reasoning behind that approach but there was very little in the way of careers and pathways counselling in those days. No-one asked me what topics I liked the best or found easiest, in which classes time passed the most quickly or what my outside interests were. And as the timetable blocking was created before we selected our subjects rather than built as a result of our choices, I remember the agony of having to choose between French and Physics. I reluctantly said au revoir but it didn’t sit well with me at the time and in fact I have always regretted it.

In first year university I blindly continued in STEM but relied heavily on friends in most of the lab pracs and went close to failing Physics. I went on to major in Zoology, completing my Honours project with a thesis on the behaviour of black-capped capuchin monkeys I’d sat observing for a year at Melbourne Zoo – as far away as you could get from organic chemistry and the laws of gravitation. Looking back I would probably have been more suited to the humanities and the fact I have recently published my first novel and have never found time pass as quickly as when I’m writing (even now as I contentedly type this article) is perhaps a testament to that. In writing, I have found what is referred to as ‘career flow’.
When you are in the flow you are fully engaged and some of the descriptors include terms such as: happiness, time standing still, unrestrained, energized, risk taking, peaceful, coping with change, focus, and intrinsic motivation.
Career Flow (2018) Norman E. Amundsen, Professor of Counseling Psychology at the University of British Columbia, Canada.

It's no surprise, then, that in my role at Strathcona my key aim is to ensure our leaving students one day find their own career flow. Instead of drifting into a job or university course, they are given the opportunity and encouragement to both research their options and undertake the required soul-searching to make an informed choice based on a strong sense of who they are as individuals.
As part of the VCE subject selection process, every Year 10 student is currently booked for a 1:1 appointment with me for a whole period. We begin our chat by looking at what topics they have enjoyed learning about so far at school, which subjects they tend to find most success in (and these are not always the same) and how they like to spend their time outside school – not just in organised activities but in their spare time. What do they like to do, read about, discuss?

Together we look at the results of their Morrisby testing from Year 9, including where their natural strengths lie as well as how they tend to approach tasks and whether, for example, structure and routine are preferable over creativity or variety. We talk about what they believe their particular skills are – perhaps it’s in negotiating and conflict resolution, or seeing possibilities, or meeting deadlines – and I ask them to tell me examples of situations in which they have noticed these skills coming to the fore.

Using a long list of ‘work values’ as a prompt, we focus on what they believe would be important aspects of any future job in order to be happy and fulfilled – such as not being office-bound, or the pursuit of knowledge, or public recognition. I then ask if they have a dream job in mind, or even vague ideas about career areas which might attract them in the future, and we tie these answers back to whether they seem a good fit with the skills, interests and values upon which the girls have just reflected. The topic of outside influences often comes in here, too, and the benefit of taking advice from others but ultimately making a decision which, deep down, feels right./

With plenty of open questions, the session is a wonderful opportunity for me to get to know the Year 10s and for them to better get to know themselves. And all this before we even mention 2023! The appointment concludes with a brainstorming of which VCE subjects they are considering based on their interests and where they will likely find success, as well as looking at any relevant university pre-requisites whilst still keeping their education as broad as possible.

Career management is a lifelong skill and by introducing students to the concept of pathways-based self-reflection it’s hoped that throughout their lives they will continue to ‘check in’ with their thoughts and emotions at every career intersection to make sure each decision feels right. A job will only be fulfilling if it fits snugly with their abilities, interests and what’s important to them as unique individuals.

Joanna Buckley, Head of Careers and Pathways

Items in the Career News include:

• What does a Clinical Neuropsychologist do?
• What is a Freelance Journalist?
• Virtual Tours of Bond University
• Upcoming Monash Seminars

o Discover Monash Seminar Series
o Campus Tours – Winter Holidays
o Monash Information Evenings

• The Bachelor of Accounting and Business Information Technology (Professional) at Swinburne
• Trades at RMIT
• Monash University – Business Explorer
• Chiropractic, Osteopathy & Remedial Massage Courses in 2022
• Physiotherapy Degrees in Victoria in 2022
• Snapshot of Federation University Australia in 2022

The team was very proud to show off the fantastic facilities at Tay Creggan and enjoy some fun racing on their home turf (river).

At 8km, the races were longer than the team had raced thus far in 2022, or ever for many. 
However, the team took on the challenge and completed the course strongly and with enthusiasm.

Many visitors have proclaimed this event their favourite venue and new visitors expressed wonder at the beautiful buildings and grounds at Tay Creggan.

The kayaking parent committee, with the support of all parents,  came together exceptionally well and presented an amazing food stall that was extremely popular and helped give our fundraising a nice boost.

As mentioned, the team raced strongly and all should be highly commended for their efforts.

Highlights were;

Division 7
2nd Place   Mia Horskins and Stephanie Tang

Division 9
2nd Place  Abigail Wilson & Yuxin Yang

3rd Place   Rayna Weng & Matilda Noonan

Rob Russell, Kayaking Coach

Post-covid, we have become far more comfortable with staying home. We are travelling less, our footy crowds are lower, shopping centres less busy and our young people are engaging more and more with each other online. Whilst these changes may be here to stay, I happen to think that the Camp2Campus journey offers a unique experience for all students to step away from this world and rely more on themselves, live with nature and the elements and be required to communicate face to face with their peers.

Undoubtedly, some students have thrived this week, others have hated every moment but pushed on; there will be stories of heroics, of scrapes and bruises, of moments where things became a bit uncomfortable - but in many ways, this is symbolic of life, and recognising our strength in adversity is a salient life lesson. 

My thanks to Toni Black who has managed our Camp2Campus 100km journey with incredible calmness and to the staff: Tim Churchward, Sarah Thom, Stephanie Daperis, Andrew Linley, Sam Ellis, Toudi Kouris, Rob Russell, Katie Harris and Liesl Woods (who created the Camp2Campus journey back in 2012 for Year 9 students) who have taken time away from their families and lives to mentor, encourage and challenge our young people to see that they are capable of many things. As the saying goes "a journey of 1000 miles begins with one step."

I do hope that you get to hear plenty of stories when your intrepid traveller returns - I know the weekend will be a time for relaxation!

Best wishes,

Karyn Murray, Head of Tay Creggan

We had a wonderful day at the Junior School Athletics Carnival and it was such a joy to have parents once again in attendance. All of the children performed brilliantly and it was clear that they have been training very hard during their PE lessons. Congratulations to Findlay who were the winners of the Junior School Athletics trophy for 2022.

Next week we have several students representing Strathcona in the Boroondara Division Cross Country event. This is the first time we have had students from the Junior School qualify for this event.

I hope you all have an enjoyable weekend.

Lisa Miller, Head of Junior School

We thank Mary-Jane El-Khoury, current parent and owner of Georges restaurant, for donating a $100 voucher and Jen Aitchison for organising the Koko Black donations for the lucky ticket draw. Along with MKR pamper hampers, bottles of champagne and an Acorn Nursery voucher, there were many happy winners!

$930 was raised from the lucky ticket draw with 50% of the proceeds from the draw as well as 50% of the Junior School Mother’s Day stall profit being donated to Women’s Property Initiatives (WPI) who create new beginnings for women and children at risk of homelessness by providing permanent and affordable homes, access to support networks and ongoing advocacy.

The other 50% of the proceeds will be given to the Junior School to purchase special items for the girls.

On Saturday evening, 120 Junior School students from Prep to Year 6, danced the night away while eating pizza and taking photos from the photo booth at the Junior School disco. Glow sticks adorned the girls’ heads and loud happy noises filled Featherstone Hall. Another successful event!

You are warmly invited to Strathcona's Year 10 Play Production, Morgan Lloyd-Malcolm’s feminist play ‘Emilia’.

“I will never be at peace as long as I have no voice. I will not stop. I will not rest until I find words for all my daughters I will never know” 

Emilia is a call to arms, to reject the injustice of silencing women’s voices and fight for the right to be heard. Inspired by the life of 17th century poet Emilia Bassano, who fought doggedly for her voice to be heard in the patriarchal confines of Elizabethan England, her battle is sadly still relevant today.  Emilia is a symbol of women down the ages who have raged against the misogynist machine and struggled for equity.

This passionate play, written for an all-female cast, takes place in a theatrical dream landscape where the 17th and 21st centuries intersect. It is a wonderful play that places women centre stage. Tickets are available through Trybooking here.

Dates and times of performances in the Drama Studio are:
SHOW 1 – Thursday 2 June 2022, 7.00pm – 9.30pm
SHOW 2 – Friday 3 June 2022, 7.00pm – 9.30pm.

Adults $12, Students $10

Tay Creggan, our Year 9 campus, is proudly part of Open House Melbourne 2022. This event will now be held online.

Take a virtual tour of the magnificent heritage building, Tay Creggan, and learn about its interesting history narrated by a Strathcona Girls Grammar student.
You can also take a tour of Tay Creggan in Minecraft. This has been cleverly created by two of our Year 9 students.

More information will be available closer to the day on our website.