Reception to Year 3 House Spirit Day
Our recent House Spirit Day was a wonderful opportunity for girls from Reception to Year 3 to collaborate in their Houses to celebrate friendship through a variety of engaging activities. The day buzzed with energy as students learned a special friendship dance, showcasing both teamwork and creativity. The students were challenged during exciting STEM activities where problem-solving skills flourished through collaboration. Creativity soared while crafting friendship ninja headbands, symbolising their bond as House members. The highlight for many was designing their very own “potato friends,” which became wonderful props for role-playing friendship scenarios and practicing essential social skills. The day perfectly embodied our commitment to nurturing strong community bonds through memorable, hands-on experiences.
Helen Smith
Deputy Head of Junior School/PYP Coordinator
Celebrating the Power of Girls and Girls’ Schools
Photo credit: International Coalition of Girls’ Schools – Instagram @girlsschools
Earlier this term, I was fortunate to attend the Educating Girls Symposium hosted by the International Coalition of Girls’ Schools (ICGS) at Queenwood School for Girls in North Sydney. With breathtaking views overseeing Balmoral Beach, this event brought together hundreds of educators and leaders from around Australia and New Zealand who all share a common purpose: to celebrate and cherish the importance of an all-girls’ education. After a traditional smoking ceremony welcome to country, we heard from several current principals of all-girls’ schools, who spoke to the value, uniqueness and advantage of an all-girls’ education, providing insight into their own personal experiences. We then heard from key speakers within the New South Wales department of education who used statistical data to highlight the importance of fostering a sense of belonging to allow students to succeed in all areas of their life, something we truly value here at Saints Girls.
From here, we moved into breakout sessions which were delivered by attendees of the conference. I was a successful applicant, in partnership with Camille Poupardin, who currently teaches Year 3 at St Margaret’s Anglican Girls School in Ascot, Brisbane. I first connected with Camille on a teacher exchange in 2023 and we have remained in regular contact ever since. Prior to my visit, I could see the potential in creating a lasting connection through letter writing, so tasked my Year 3 class at the time with writing their own generic pen pal letter to a Year 3 student in Brisbane. It was here that our pen pal program began, and it has continued ever since. At this conference, Camille and I spoke to the benefits of the program, including strengthening literacy skills, improving communication, promoting critical thinking skills, valuing the editing process and developing written prose. It was a wonderful opportunity to share with like-minded educators the success of our pen pal program, as well as reflect on the positive impact this letter writing venture has had on the girls we teach.
Before the day concluded, we all reconvened in the main auditorium to hear from Zali Steggal, an old scholar of Queenwood, who spoke highly of her experience at an all-girls’ school and how it was the platform that set her up to succeed in her life after graduating. Zali shared her story of becoming a Winter Olympian, before having a career as a lawyer which then led her to a position in politics. It was inspiring to hear from someone who spoke to the grit, determination and strong sense of self that was fostered in her from a young age through her all-girls’ education, as well as the notion that was instilled in her that she could achieve anything she set her mind to. Overall, attending the ICGS symposium was a highly informative and rewarding experience. It reaffirmed my passion for all-girls’ education and the important role we all play in shaping the future generation of young women.
Sarah Mulraney
Year 3 Teacher
Cyber Safety Parent Information Session
Dear Junior School Families,
On Tuesday 17 June, we will be holding a Cyber Safety Information Session for all Junior School families (Reception to Year 6) to be held in the Jeffreys Linn Arts Centre at 6pm.
The session will be run by Cybersafe Families, a provider endorsed by the eSafety Commissioner, who will share the latest research and best practice approaches to online safety education for families. The presentation will include practical strategies and helpful guides to help make home environments cyber safe.
All Cybersafe Families presentations are delivered by professionals in the field, who have an understanding that all children are at different stages in their online journey.
The parent information session will include:
- Introduction to the most popular and current social media platforms
- Tools to recognise and manage cyber bullying
- Information about online grooming and other risks
- Communication strategies – how to start difficult conversations
- Strategies for supporing positive online behaviour, including guides to manage screen time
Please register your attendance via Trybooking link by 5pm on Monday 16 June.
Warm regards,
Marika Taylor
Head of Junior School
