Newsletter Term 3, Week 4 7 Aug 2020

Parents and staff have once again had to rejuggle lives and workspaces to care and supervise children while working from home, coming to terms (again) with our changing world. This has been a difficult week. We know from experience this will get better. We will fall into our routine and rhythms, come to value those glimpses of your child’s classroom, relish the extra morning time without the school commute and discover a new way to live differently for a little while.

I took some time to glance back at last year’s August newsletter. It was a different, but not so different school calendar. We held school events such as the SFA - ELC and Junior School Family Disco, Science Breakfast and our School Tours and Open Morning. Yes, we do mourn the loss of these physical connectors within our community. However, many school routines and events have continued their annual cycle with new freshness and vigour. Our Careers Evenings was launched into a virtual world with an entirely new format. Expanding over four nights alumnae volunteered their time to share their experience, education pathways and chosen careers. These nights have been outstanding with true interactive experiences for our students and genuine mentoring occurring. The success of this event is one of our takeaways and learnings for next year’s planning.

Please take the time this weekend to reflect upon the good, the new and exciting that comes from new experiences. Next week we will continue into Term 3 and our staff will be here to support your daughters in their learning and wellbeing with optimism and enthusiasm.

Warm regards
Mrs Marise McConaghy
Principal

Over the last 2 weeks all girls in Year 7-12 have been given the opportunity to listen to a webinar presented by Danielle Miller from Enlightened Education. This webinar, especially designed for our School and focused on importance of Gratitude. Below is a reflection on the webinar from Laura Cairo in Year 7.

''This week Danielle Miller presented a webinar on Gratitude and the benefits of it of practising this every day, it  was inspirational! Danni included stories of times when people showed thanks and she highlighted how amazing it feels. Importantly, she told us that we all experience gratitude in different ways. What I loved most about the webinar most was that she included practical ways to involve gratitude in your life and gave us a 21 day gratitude challenge which I have started. Danni’s message was inspiring and really connected to us all. I am really grateful that we got to listen to this webinar.''

 Mrs Amber Sowden, Head of Staff and Student Wellbeing Programs

The Year 9 teams must be congratulated thus far for being undefeated, and it has been commented that their well researched and beautifully constructed arguments are to thank for that, along with the skill and passion they bring to debating. 

The Year 10 teams too have done incredibly, winning three out of four debates, employing thematic rebuttals that have been very effective with advised and secret topics which they have not seen before; an incredible effort on something new. Grace Jenkin has been commended for speaking particularly well.

The topics for Years 11 and 12, have become significantly more difficult, however the girls have worked amazingly against the opposition. Both Year 11 teams were particularly successful in the debate ‘that we should ban climate change denial’.

The Year 12 teams have also had a successful debate season thus far, with two out of three wins, one a secret topic. Sophie Felice must also be commended for volunteering to speak in two of those debates and receiving best speaker.

It is great to see so many girls participating and cheering on debating even though it hasn’t been all that we expected. Good luck to the teams that still have rounds coming up, we wish you all the best!

Harshitha Bharaneedharan, Debating Leader

Sadly, our recent Click and Collect reservation service has been suspended, but the good news is everyone can continue to find great reading material from our eLibrary.

Remember, books can take you anywhere!  

Check out the latest titles from the Wheeler's E-book Library

Visit New York, Mongolia or the moon... all from the comfort of your own home.

Zara, Oli R and a cheeky (anonymous) TC teacher who joined in. The next challenge Sienna set was for a House dress up challenge. I am sure that you will agree from the photos – Findlay was the clear winner (and we liked the fact the Aussie team won!) Prizes are in the mail!

The second exciting piece of news for Year 9 this week is that our IT Design team, Meg, Audrey H and Kate H, has launched our very own TC Envision Marketplace for sales from Envision businesses. This gives us full control over our sales and means that the selling fees are not exorbitant. The TC Envision Marketplace team have spent countless hours problem solving, writing code and  thinking carefully about user experience on this website – you can take a sneak peak here: https://envision.melbourne/. It is still awaiting the first business to launch their product – but it will not be long!

Last week, Liesl Woods and I were invited to attend a professional Masterclass run by the Wade Institute at the University of Melbourne. The Wade Institute is a leading centre for entrepreneurial training. In the Masterclass, we were immersed in spreadsheet simulations focussed on 'How to make Financials Fun' for teenagers – we built our own edible flower business in one hour. In Tuesday’s Envision class we were able to incorporate some of what we learned, and many of the modules that the Year 9s complete are based on what we have gained by Professional Development at the Wade Institute. Interestingly, I heard Professor Sandra Milligan speak at a Melbourne Graduate School of Education event on Tuesday evening about the importance of every student learning core transferrable skills which do not fall under specific academic domains. Skills such as collaboration, critical and creative thinking, conflict resolution – all needed to create, develop and manage your own business successfully.

We have chosen three teams to present their pitch at the Wade Institute Pitch Panel later this month – they are:

• Envision Marketplace – Meg, Audrey H and Kate H
• Paperwalls – Milla P, Georgia S, Isa and Nicole
• Eclipse – Ivy, Chloe R, Sophie H, Olivia A and Nikki

Special mention should also go to the teams:

• Kitz4Kidz – Amelie, Sienna, Kiara and Jess
• Together Tea – Molly, Bethany, Pippa and Fiona

who were in the running and have fabulous businesses to launch! We look forward to sharing some of the pitches with you.

Finally, I would like to recognise that hearing about the more restrictive lockdown has been a difficult pill for many Year 9s to swallow, and they are not alone. We are encouraging students to connect with their peers and teachers and to reach out to girls who may be feeling a little isolated. Several Wellbeing offerings are available – journaling, service activities, Active@Home, pilates, netball, prayer sessions and more – so please encourage your daughter to make use of these if her mood drops. If the Year 9 teachers can assist, please let us know.

Mrs Karyn Murray

I've always encouraged my class to take risks with their learning and not be afraid to try new things. Whilst learning from home has changed what has been familiar, it has given us opportunities to try and test new things. Last week the Year 4 girls spent an afternoon roaming around their gardens looking for objects that represented 3-Dimensional shapes. We found mushrooms looking like hemispheres and bricks like rectangular prisms. We are also on the look-out for Magnolia trees during daily walks around the block now that the school newsletter has been named The Magnolia. Each girl has taught herself to play solo card games from carefully following Instructional Texts. The girls showed how adventurous they are when they had to photograph and share some examples of perpendicular and parallel lines, we saw photos ranging from pergolas, to rungs on a ladder and dog’s legs!

I personally feel the girls are becoming more independent as learners, as without a teacher right next to them they are prepared to take on more challenges themselves. What a great feeling of empowerment this gives them as they are independently developing new skills.

I congratulate all the Junior School students as they continue to remain buoyed and upbeat, trying new activities and learning in different ways.

Fortunately, I have great teachers to communicate with every day, always sharing ideas and creative ways to extend our pedagogical methods. I do miss seeing the girls in person though, and especially all of the ‘I’ve got it now…’ or ‘aha!’ moments as teachers call them.

Mrs Penny Allen, Deputy Head of Junior School

Strathcona has just commenced the intake process for Year 7 2023 applicants. Our Strathcona Admissions Department is also actively enrolling for many levels in 2021 and beyond. Should you be currently considering Strathcona for your daughter in the future, be sure to submit your Application for Enrolment online to avoid missing out. Please email our friendly Admissions Department registrar@strathcona.vic.edu.au if you would like to know more.

I was reflecting on some of these previous pandemics that have taken place throughout history. For example, the Plague from 1720-1722, Cholera from 1817-1820, the Spanish Flu from 1918-1919 as well as the epidemics in between. I noticed that these larger pandemics have roughly taken place every century. While past pandemics can be credited for producing much of our finest art, the unexpected and incidental side effects birthed from this pandemic will be unique as we escape from true isolation thanks to the wonders of modern technology, forging our ability to remain connected even when not physically together.

I have tried to picture how the gospels would read if they were written in a pandemic. I am of the view that Jesus would still be the fearless healer, miracle worker and teacher. It strikes me that Jesus is indeed with us in our pandemic, through his spirit, the great comforter and counsellor. Jesus' words in his great commandment are this, ''to love God and love others''. Sounds easy right? Locked in a house with our nearest and dearest favourite people for months on end. Unfortunately, our favourite people may not stay our favourite people if we cannot learn to love and forgive, to lay down our pride and show grace for each other’s weaknesses.  

I ask myself why it is the very hard situations, where we are stretched and challenged, where the deepest freedoms are produced. Must we be tried and tested to produce true levels of love, forgiveness, patience, and shedding? Maybe so, but my prayer for us as the Strathcona Community is that none of our challenges be wasted. None of the hardship and sacrifice would be futile, but, that they would be used as pressure to produce beautiful jewels in our character and relationships. Where genuine love for God and each other can be the product of the grit that we are each showing in different ways. Every encouragement to you as you navigate through times that are new to us.

Mrs Kathleen Vergers, Chaplain

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Due to the current COVID-19 Lockdown Advice, the Uniform Shop will be temporarily closed. The decision to re-open will be reviewed on a weekly basis. Apologies for any inconvenience this causes.

If you urgently require second hand uniforms please contact Fiona White by email fwhite@strathcona.vic.edu.au for an alternative arrangement.

Please note that there are currently no second hand V-neck Jumpers, Hoodies or White Winter Shirts in stock.