Term 3, Week 1, 2023 13 July 2023

Well, I think one of the positive aspects of this term in a Melbourne academic year is that by the end of it, it is more than likely the weather will be warming, the darkness lifting, the rain abating, the days lengthening, and our layers of clothes reducing. And then we have a three-week break!

It is sort of a bit the opposite in Queensland. Generally, winters are glorious with vast duck egg blue skies and little rain. You can just about get away with wearing the same wardrobe except for the addition of a jumper or jacket and you could just about bear it out being a bit cold until the day warms up a bit and you get moving. Mind you, when I lived there, I thought it was freezing. Our Queenslander houses are designed for ventilation and coolness and thus are not ideal in winter – so you sort of tough it out for a bit before it warms up again. However, as Term 3 moves on and then Term 4, you get yourself ready to move towards heat, high humidity, lots of perspiring and - by then end – the dramatic, cracking great storms of December and January (often with lightning and hail) which dump heavy rain mostly in short sharp episodes. These often occurred at 3.30 pm just as we were about to disgorge 1200 students onto a major road and umpteen buses and long trails of cars, many illegally parked, all of it contributing to mayhem made worse by the fact that Brisbane Grammar right next door having also turned onto the streets about 1300 boys.

While weather may differ and settings and backdrops vary – here leafy, my last school inner city, my next school harbour side, school terms are very similar across the country with a sharing of the arc of the narrative or rhythm of each with holidays as intermission. We transition kids in, settle them down, train them up for the next level, teach them, test them, report on them, have sport seasons, musical performances, drama performances, debating, public speaking and then we stagger towards the closing days of each year with something like a Presentation Night or a Speech Day, an end of year staff lunch or BBQ and we wander out of the school gates to our summer break wondering how we can do it all again the following year. 

It is interesting to me that in schools there are similar characters playing similar parts and the points of tension are different yet the same. So often I have feelings of déjà vu when dealing with tricky situations (haven’t I dealt with this situation before with just these types of people with a similar issue?). I suppose this is not surprising – schools are schools, kids are kids, parents are parents and teachers share a common mission, no matter the subject they teach, their individual personality, or the demographic of the school they are in. Staff groupings, such as faculties, do take on their own little cultures depending on the members comprising them and the leadership. Mathematic departments are different to Performing Arts departments and Junior Schools are different to Senior Schools but across the country they have similarities. I know this is stereotyping and there are lots of exceptions, but it still stands to a degree.

Whole school cultures again are similar but different. All schools are caring, and all schools hang their hat on that. Not surprising given the nature of teachers and the people attracted to work in schools – we all really care for kids whatever the setting and however hard it sometimes is. To misquote Shakespeare: “we all have our roles to play”. Our mission is to educate the next generation to be good, productive citizens, so we are clear about what we are doing. As educators and parents, we have a shared ambition for our young people: to do all we can to make them the best they can be. I am confident in making the claim that we are doing noble work of which we should be proud.

The partnership between the School and the parents is very important.  Please try to keep in mind the bigger picture of how important what we do is, to develop the next generation of people who will inhabit and steward our world in the future.

My best wishes are with you for an excellent Term 3 2023.

Warm regards

Marise

Here they completed hands-on experiments in the Mendel Lab, first investigating the evolutionary genetic trends in fruit flies, then working with antibodies to diagnose various patients using ELISAs. Students were assisted by PhD graduates and students, most of whom are actively undertaking research at the Florey Institute. 

This was a wonderful opportunity for our students to explore life as a university science student, ask questions about potential career paths, and of course deepen their understanding of the VCE content.

Sally Cash, Teacher.

Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling star, along with a diverse all-star ensemble cast, in this genre-bending, hilarious story of self-discovery that brings to life the imaginations of generations of Barbie fans and captures the joyous, wonderful, messiness of being alive.

Join other Strathy mums, their daughters and special friends at a Sunday afternoon screening of the BARBIE movie at Balwyn Palace Cinema. $27 per person for a movie ticket and a Palace Traditional Combo: Small Popcorn, small soft drink/bottled water & a connoisseur ice-cream. The movie appeals to all ages and is rated PG. 

To book please click here. Hope you can join us for a fun Winter's afternoon!

We encourage all dads and special friends to attend.

A coffee cart, sausage sizzle and yummy breakfast will be available. For catering purposes, please RSVP by Monday 28 August 2023 by clicking here.

We hope you will join us!

Some simple strategies will be provided to help ensure teens are able to interact with friends on a Saturday night and, at the same time, reduce the risk of underage drinking and the potential dangers associated with such behaviour. It aims to empower parents with a positive message and assist them in having open and honest family discussions in this complex area.

About the Guest Speaker:

Paul Dillon has been working in the area of drug education for more than 25 years. Through his own business, Drug and Alcohol Research and Training Australia (DARTA) he has been contracted by many agencies and organisations across the country to give regular updates on current drug trends within the community. He continues to work with many school communities across the country to ensure that they have access to good quality information and best practice drug education.

He has worked extensively with a range of sporting organisations including the Australian Cricketers Association, the Rugby Union Players Association and the Football Federation of Australia to provide training workshops to elite athletes on a range of alcohol and other drug issues. In 2009 his best-selling book for parents was published titled ‘Teenagers, Alcohol and Drugs‘ and has since been released internationally, being translated into a number of languages. With a broad knowledge of a range of content areas, Paul regularly provides media comment and is regarded as a key social commentator in Australia, appearing on a wide range of television programs including Sunrise, TODAY and The Project discussing topical issues.  Paul also had a regular spot on a national radio program on Triple J for seven years where he dealt with current youth drug issues. Paul also has a blog where he discusses topical issues of the day, as well as addressing some of the questions and queries he is regularly asked by those attending his presentations.

Details:

Thursday 10 August 2023 7.00 PM - 8.00 PM 

Featherstone Hall, Strathcona Baptist Girls Grammar

Bookings: 

To book, please visit https://www.trybooking.com/CHFBY

Bookings are essential

Anxiety, perfectionism and over perfectionism … what is the similarity and difference between the emotional and behavioural experience of each of these presentations…. What is helpful about them… and when do they become impairing? The discussion will highlight a practical understanding and approaches to working with the experience of Anxiety and perfectionism.

About the Guest Speaker:

Dr Celeste Merrigan is a Fellow of the Australian Psychology Society and former Chair of the College of Clinical Psychologists and a Doctorate in Clinical Child, Adolescent and Family Psychology.

Celeste is a former clinical and academic fellow of Psychology Department of the Royal Children's Hospital, and Research Fellow of Murdoch Children's Research Institute, engaged in coordinating and teaching in the Doctor of Psychology (Child Specialisation) at the University of Melbourne and former lecture in the Schools of Public Health and Psychological Science, Latrobe University. She continues to provide guest lectures to doctoral students at Melbourne, Monash and Latrobe Universities and provides clinical and research supervision to a range of professionals and post-graduate students in psychology from the major universities working in hospitals and other settings. She has been a guest reviewer for the Australian Psychologist and the Journal of Family Studies and expert reviewer for program materials for the 'KidsMatter' Project an Australian Government Initiative to improve mental health and wellbeing in school children and implemented through schools and kindergartens. She is a consultant to the Victorian Children's Court Clinic. Celeste has also held positions on a number of mental health related advisory panels. 

Bookings are essential for this parent seminar.

Details:

Monday 21 August 2023 7.00 PM - 8.30 PM 

Featherstone Hall, Strathcona Baptist Girls Grammar

Bookings: 

To book, please visit https://www.trybooking.com/CFR...