2024 School Magazine

Study Buddies

Study Buddies is a Service opportunity and valuable experience for Years 7, 8, and 11 students which aims to foster study habits and connect students across different Year levels. 2024 was another wonderful year for us, with many keen students getting involved in the program. As Senior Study Buddies, Year 11 students have met with their Year 7 or 8 buddy each week to guide them with homework, study skills, time management, revision scheduling, assignments, and general school life. Study Buddies is an incredibly rewarding experience for all involved and a great chance to give back to the School community. Year 11 buddies are given the opportunity to connect with younger students, become a mentor, and experience a leadership role within the School, while junior students are given skills to succeed in future years at Girls Grammar and make valuable friendships with older girls. We would like to sincerely thank the Year 11 students who volunteered their time, the enthusiastic and dedicated Year 7 and 8 students, and of course, our incredible coordinators— Mrs Paula Quinn and Ms Matilda Walsh—for keeping the program running smoothly and ensuring each buddy enjoyed the experience throughout this year. Katie Dore (11W) and Ajin Kyoung (11H)

BCSS Reading Club

The Brisbane Central State School (BCSS) Reading Club consists of a group of 10 to 15 BGGS girls who walk down to the BCSS school library every Monday afternoon. The Service Club is coordinated by Mrs Danielle Munro and includes students in Years 11 and 12. We read with the younger children for around an hour, helping them with their literacy skills. Most of the BCSS students are in Years 1 to 4 and are from diverse backgrounds. The BCSS Reading Club program supports and betters the children’s reading skills, as English is not the first language for some of the children. Throughout the year we have built meaningful relationships with the younger children and watched them improve in their reading immensely. We always look forward to a fun-filled Monday afternoon full of reading, chatting, and playing games. Gabriella Briggs (11G) and Orla Hourigan (11G)

S2S Reading Program

knowing that through consistent effort and dedication, we've made a lasting impact on their education. We are immensely thankful for the guidance and support of s2s Qld Program Specialist, Maryke Olds, as well as our BGGS coordinator, Ms Grace Coxon. Terese Pulle (10B) offers her personal experience of being a buddy, reflecting that: ‘I learned that dedicating just a small part of my week made a difference in someone's life. From feedback received from his parent, I understood that it helped him to improve his reading in leaps and bounds.’ Elizabeth Nash (10H) and Clara Yang (10B)

The Student2Student reading program (s2s) is a program run by The Smith Family which aims to help disadvantaged young Australians improve their literacy skills. Students in Years 3 to 8 are paired with reading buddies at least two years older than them, who are trained by The Smith Family. Over a period of 18 weeks, buddies call two to three times per week for 20 to 30 minutes. As buddies, our role is to assist the students in sounding out words, comprehending the story, and engaging in meaningful discussions about what they've read. Our goal is not only to improve their reading skills but also to nurture a love for reading. It’s incredibly rewarding to witness their progress,

060 | BRISBANE GIRLS GRAMMAR SCHOOL 2024