1978 School Magazine

grow in a positive way. Historically speaking Girls' Gram- mar has always been considered an academic school even though there are now no entrance requirements. As a result courses have not always catered for the dif- ferent types of girls who enter the school. This year we saw Speech and Drama introduced as a Board Subject into Grade 9 and next year we have been chosen tp pilot the new Speech and Drama Course again in"Grade 9. For 1978 we are introducing Health and Physical Educa- tion,as.a Board Subject into Grade 'l 1 . We decided not to make it an elective lower down the school but rather to increase the number of periods in the subject in Grades 8, 9 and 10 so tlrat every girl will have it as a school sub- ject. We feel this is most necessary if we are to keep our young people flt and aware of their own personal needs. Although it is an old saying it is very true "A healthy mind is a healty body". By including such subjects in our school curriculum we hope to broaden the base of our girls'education.

that she could go to the Paraplegic Games in England. There was a Richmond Fellowship Drive, a spellathon that raised money for the blind, and of course our wonderful school effort for the Save the Children {und where we actively support 7 children. As well as this many forms have raised money for those less fortunate than themselves and E.E.A. girls have been active in their service areas. Last Saturday 26th November, the boarders gave a Christmas party for 20 under privileged children in the Spring Hill area. They did all their own cooking and each girl made a gift to be presented to the children. lhose gifts left over were given to Mr. Dixon, the Head'of thilocal Central Schdol, to distribute to other needy children in the area. We hope to make this an annual evenl. To all those who have been involved in such efforts throughout the year I would like td say con- gratulations and I hope that you continue to keep up the good work. A newsletter was distributed to everyone outlining in more detail than time will permit me now the activities of second semesler. This follows on f rom our f irst semester newsletter. ln the future these two publications will replace the Principal's report that was previously published at the end of the year. My annual report will now appear in the School Magazine the following year. There is a very detailed report in the newsletter about sporiing activities throughout the year but I would like to compliment the Physical Education Staff and all the parents and teachers who have actrvely supported the girls throughout the year. We have had a most suc- cessful year with many pennants and awards. Con- gratulations to you all. Next year we will see the beginn- ing of a modified House system for sport and our first school Sports Captain, Jane Baxter. All the A forms will support each other as will the B,C,D,E, and F. We hope this will overcome our problems of greater involvement for all. Now that our numbers are larger than the Girls Section of State High School we have no excuse for not continuing our interest and success. Next year I am pleased to see there will be a 'weighting' in interschool athletics and swimming to allow the smaller schools the opportunity to do well. lt is very nice to be victorious but up until now it has been impossible for many of the smaller schools. We hope this will bring an even better spirit into our interschool events. When Miss Shaw left at the end of last year she told me she had left two legacies to see what I could do with them. The School Hat and Speech Night. She had sown the seeds for complete evaluation of these two pro- blems. As a result the Board decided that only one hat will now be worn - the navy velour and they also agreed that Speech Night would go. On the matter of the school hat - a Representative from the Health Department spoke to the girls on the risks of skin cancer and the types of hats suitable for the Queensland climate. Mr. Dilks said that two in every three people in Queensland developed skin cancer and that our navy hat is a rather suitable one for the sun. He did suggest however that the brim could be widened slightly. lt is easily transportable if it is not on the head being squashable, sittable etc., therefore fulfilling all the requirements of a good hat. With frightening statistics such as those given by Mr. Dilks we ask parents to please support us in our efforts to make the girls realise their personal responsibilities. They can no longer say "lt won't happen to me."

Staff have been encouraged to rationalise assignments this year. We invited Mr. Rus Cowie from the Queensland University to discuss the problems of assignments at a staff meeting earlier in the year. Even so I am concerned at the continuous pressure our grade 'li and grade 12 students are under. Continual assessment is very.good in theory but in practice can often be one assignment after another with no consolidation at the end. These pressures are sometimes easily discerned; periodic absences from school, inability to join in other activities because of a fear of not coping and of getting a reduced rating. Fortunately, Extension Education Activities allows relaxation as well as self fulfilment but I wonder how we can further develop more self-reliande and self- discipline so that the great selfishness we tend to see in a number of young people will be lessened so that they can realise that it is only in giving you receive. There have been indications of concern for others this year. The Kirsten Jack Memorial plain clothes day raised $600 for Leukemia Research. $2,000 was raised in a Runathon for Susan Davies, an old girl of the school so