2018 School Magazine

HEAD GIRLS’ REPORT

This year, as a Student Council, we devised three main themes— Pride, Individuality and Empowerment —to underpin our School motto. Our ultimate goal was for girls to be proud of their School, each other and most importantly themselves.

While this was a big task and a lot to ask of girls, we remained confident that creating a positive environment based on these three themes would motivate and inspire young women in all Year levels. To establish this environment, we continued celebrations such as Blue Days, on which students decked out in blue to wish girls good luck in QGSSSA events. With themes from Blue Hawaii to Bluesfest and Decked out in Denim , the creative and unique decorations adorning the Year 11 and 12 tables added to the magical atmosphere that we all treasure. It makes us incredibly happy and proud to see so many girls embracing every moment and displaying their individuality at any given chance. Throughout the year, we were humbled by girls who supported the School’s various service endeavours, including Grammar Goes Green and the annual Pink Stumps Day event. These events played significant roles in establishing community and defining the student body. To witness girls from all Year levels come together in support of a common cause, whether something as simple as planting a tree or watching a cricket game, was something truly special. As leaders, we encouraged attendance at such events, especially among the Year 12 cohort, as it has been these occasions that enriched our Girls Grammar experience and made the year so memorable. We also strongly encouraged fellow Year 12 leaders to rally for change. One of the most recent examples was the removal of decorative balloons at Open Day 2018.

We were confronted by the disconcerting impact such a beautiful abundance of helium decorations posed upon the environment. Despite the epochal expose´ of the balloons, we felt compelled to amend the tradition this year. With a quick turnaround, the Year 12 cohort worked passionately, cohesively and efficiently to form new ideas and hopefully pioneer a new tradition for future students of the School. The Student Council announced the addition of paper lanterns displayed among the large fig tree at the front of the School, as well as royal blue ribbons which adorned the white picket fence—a unique signature of the School. To honour the environment that we intended these changes to support, potted daisies flanked the School’s front entrance gates. As the 2018 Head Girls, we are proud of the Year 12 cohorts’ achievements as leaders. At the beginning of this year, we knew the hardest part of our leadership would be applying our motto in the School environment, as opposed to them being merely words on a page. However, we are delighted to say that the sense of pride and individuality each Grammar girl showcased throughout the year has made us realise we have in fact accomplished this goal. Harper McIlroy (12W) and Annabel Ryan (12E)