2020 Annual Review

The Glue that Binds the Blue

MRS ANNE INGRAM DEPUTY PRINCIPAL

‘The ability to persist in the face of difficulty may be as essential to success as talent or intelligence.’ (Duckworth, 2013)

were still able to thrive while contributing to their local communities. Rural Aid’s Gift of Music Program, which usually sees student volunteers visiting rural schools and teaching music to students, was adapted to create a virtual concert that was shared with aged care facilities. In this way, our students were able to bring the gift of music to older community members who, at the time, were isolated from their loved ones. The Notes of Hope initiative aimed to connect with, and provide hope and support to, three key social groups in our community—farmers, aged care residents and frontline health care workers. Through this unusual year, many students have been involved in the School’s Service Program, in ‘hands on’ ways, strengthening and creating new community connections. Creativity brings with it flexibility, the ability to find a different path or take a different approach. When our students develop greater creativity, they expand their ability to generate multiple solutions to real life problems. In this most challenging of years, our Year 12 cohort stepped up to the plate, determined to make their final year one to remember, despite the disruption and uncertainty. Led by Head Girls, Arwen Dias-Jayasinha (12G) and Abbey Grice (12E), and supported by the Student Council, the cohort radiated creativity, resilience, hope and optimism and were indeed ‘the glue that bound the blue’. They created virtual assemblies, embraced remote learning, strengthened House spirit, supported their buddies and reimagined their Year 12 Formal, all while mastering a new system of senior assessment. They reminded us all to seek positivity in every circumstance and act with kindness. Their energy and passion for their school and its community was palpable.

Research in the social sciences has long made the observation that socio-political change often occurs in sudden bursts, as a response to an external shock, setting in motion a new trajectory. In times of fundamental crisis, windows of opportunity for change inevitably open up, and sometimes, can be leveraged in a purposeful way to change a course of action. The COVID-19 global pandemic could be viewed as such an external shock, that has, over the course of 2020, fundamentally reshaped some areas of how we live and how we, as a school, function. As we find ourselves, hopefully, emerging from the worst of the pandemic, rather than simply bouncing back and reverting to a ‘pre-coronavirus’ state, some of the changes that have been put in place throughout the year, those ‘COVID keepers’, may become more long lasting. As the pandemic held us to account, the School placed a priority on student and staff wellbeing, creating as many opportunities as possible to foster resilience in our School community, which served to ameliorate the adverse effects of COVID-19. Upon reflection, as a community, we drew great strength from a variety of sources—a sense of purpose, creativity, hope, self-care and positive relationships. Purpose helps us to understand the importance of our role in the community and appreciate that what we do matters to people other than ourselves. For girls especially, a sense of purpose is a key protective factor that can lead to enhanced happiness, self esteem and life satisfaction. Through the School’s Service Program, our students develop a deeper understanding of the world and its complexities. There is great power in community-based learning. Throughout the pandemic, while original plans for the year were significantly changed, our students

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Brisbane Girls Grammar School Annual Review 2020