Grammar Gazette- Issue 1, 2006

Grammar Sport Water Polo

National Youth Science Forum

Top Honours in Griffith University Competition

Soccer The girls are thoroughly enjoying their games and are highly enthusiastic at training. This is a very promising start for a new sport at Girls Grammar. Special mention goes to Mia Pradella (12W) who scored the first goal for the School’s soccer teams in the first round against St Aidan’s. With the addition of soccer there are now nineteen competitive and four non–competitive sports offered by the School.

As part of the Year 11 Economics syllabus students completed a core unit — The Economics of Labour. The unit is designed to introduce students to a number of issues relating to workplace relations from a social, historical and economic perspective. As part of the assessment, students were required to research a specific issue such as: the glass ceiling and women in the work force, the future of trade unions, work place relations reform or their own topic based on class discussions or their own reading. Students were then invited to submit their industrial relations essays

into the Griffith University competition, which was open to Years 11 and 12 statewide. Rachel Ferris (12R) chose to tackle the issue of the casualisation of the work force and her essay was awarded the Judges choice for its well researched and professional argument to enforce safe guards for the casual workforce. Other prize winners were Sophie Heading (12G), Emma Burrell (12R) (Meritorious certificates) and Gowri Chandrashekar (12E) (Highly commended).

Hannah Wilson (12M) was selected to attend the NYSF in Canberra with 143 national and international students. The NYSF is a programme for Year 11 students who are interested in careers in science, engineering or technology. The NYSF was an unforgettable experience. The lessons I learnt, the skills I acquired and the friends I made will be memories for life. The two weeks were filled with dozens of activities including visits to science and engineering establishments and laboratories. We listened to engaging speakers and attended university seminars which provided valuable insight to career paths. As a result I am now planning to go to UNSW or UQ to study science. This will give me a broad range of career options to consider when I have a better idea of what I want to achieve and what I want to give to the world of science. Since returning from the NYSF I have been given the opportunity to attend the National Youth Science Week overseas with 25 other students.

Three teams represented the School in the grand finals of the Brisbane Water Polo Competition. The teams were – the 13As, 14As and 15As. The support of spectators particularly those Years 11 and 12 students who came along during their exam block was in true Grammar spirit and greatly appreciated. All of the girls played well and congratulations to the 14As for their championship win.

Swimming The annual QGSSSA Swimming Carnival revealed the culmination of months of hard work for the School’s swimmers. The wonderful support from parents, staff and students helped the swim team push into fourth place in one of the closest QGSSSA swimming competitions in recent years. All age groups performed well and the final placings were: 13 years and under – 5th, 14 years – 3rd, 15 years – 1st, 16 years – 4th, 17 years and over – 1st

Emma Burrell

Sophie Heading

Rachel Ferris

Gowri Chandrashekar

Lisa Marshall (11M) Wins Queensland Young Historian’s Award 2005

On Wednesday 8 March, the premiership champions Girls Grammar First XI cricket team, captained by Alice Nicklin (11W), played a match against the Staff XI team, captained by Mr Greg Bland, Cricket Co-ordinator. The game took place in the McCrae Grassie Centre and all proceeds of the match went towards breast cancer research. The match leaped off to an exciting start with the coin being tossed by former Southern Stars Captain Belinda Clark AM. Ms Clark elected to bat for a few overs with the Student XI team. It was a thrill for all players to have such a talented, high profile cricketer at hand to support the game. It was a highly entertaining spectacle at which the large crowd witnessed some powerful batting, some unorthodox bowling techniques, and some unconventional interpretations of the rules — such as moving the stumps mid-delivery. The match ended in a 30-30 draw but everybody involved agreed that it was an excellent opportunity to showcase the Girls Grammar cricketers and support a worthwhile charity. Charity Cricket Match

The function of the historian is neither to love the past nor to emancipate himself from the past, but to master and understand it as the key to the understanding of the present. (E.H. Carr) The National History Challenge is a research-based competition for Australian students from Years 5-12. The competition gives students a chance to be a historian and be awarded for quality research, the use of resources and effective presentation. Last year the theme of the challenge was ‘Australians All’. Lisa’s essay on John Curtin, the Australian Prime Minister during World War II, was awarded the Queensland Young Historian’s Award for 2005. This award gave Lisa the opportunity to join fellow prize winners in a two day educational and recreational trip to Canberra for the National presentation of awards in Parliament House by Dr Brendan Nelson MP, representing the Department of Education, Science and Training. Lisa said the journey was a wonderful and unforgettable learning experience and encourages other students to involve themselves in any of the competitions the History Teachers Association of Australia have made available for young history students.

12 grammar gazette : may 2006

grammar gazette : may 2006 13