Grammar Gazette- Issue 2, 2006

STAFF PROF I LES

SNAPSHOTS

Mrs Fiona Robinson Enrolments Registrar

Mr Andrew Pennay Head of Classroom Music

Mrs Lillian Arici Head of Chemistry

Top of the State

I am drawn to the life and diversity of the school environment and the Registrar’s role is one that I enjoy and find rewarding. I am a very family orientated person and I feel privileged to be able to assist the families who are considering Girls Grammar for their daughters. Choosing a school that will best suit your child is often a difficult decision for parents, there are so many things to consider and schools can vary enormously. I have moved internationally and interstate with school-aged children and can empathise with parents navigating the myriad of options available. Initially a Mathematics and Office Practice secondary teacher in Victoria, I pursued my interest in office technology by working as a Business Analyst and later Management Consultant. It was during this time that I completed a Graduate Diploma in

My first experience of Brisbane Girls Grammar School was as a pre-service teacher in Science and Mathematics in 2000. I thoroughly enjoyed my time in both faculties and was pleased to start my teaching career the following year in a school that values academic excellence so highly. In my six years here, I have primarily taught Chemistry and Junior Science. I believe it is important to recognise that students in science are motivated and challenged in a wide variety of ways and I enjoy working with them to help them to achieve to the best of their ability. Providing the time for student interaction on a one-to-one basis is important to encourage the enthusiasm and confidence required to tackle difficult concepts. For the past two years, I have also worked in the role as Head of the Chemistry

I am passionate about assisting students to achieve their musical best. In particular, complementing the strong co-curricular performance programme at the School through a rigorous Classroom Music experience enables students to focus on the development of musicianship skills, musical analysis and composing skills. I also lecture in music education at the University of Queensland, focusing on secondary school music teaching methodology and the roles of improvising and composing in the classroom. Outside of the School, I enjoy sharing teaching philosophies with Australian teachers through a range of professional bodies and by participating in music education workshops. I have also visited Geelong Grammar School and Townsville Grammar School as a clinician, working

Forty-eight Grammar girls sat the prestigious Queensland Association of Mathematics Teachers’ Problem Solving Competition. Seven Grammar girls achieved wonderful results, with Jenny Pan (8B) achieving the highest score in the State in the Junior Division and winning the University of Queensland Civil Engineering Prize. Shiney Seo (8M) also acquitted herself extremely well, being placed 12th in the State. At the Intermediate level (Years 9 and 10), Kathryn Zealand (10R) achieved third place in Queensland. Three Year 9 students, Vicky Kim (9B), Lucy Wark (9M) And Kim Newman (9W) each received a Certificate of Commendation for their success. The Senior Division was extremely difficult with Antonia Morris (11W) being the recipient of a Certificate of Commendation . All the participants deserve congratulations for putting in the time, effort and persistence in challenging themselves at this level.

Writer in residence — Dr Eva Sallis The School had the privilege of hosting our 2006 Doris Waraker Townsend Memorial Writer in Residence, Dr Eva Sallis for a three-day programme.

Dr Sallis completed a Master of Arts on the poetry of TS Eliot, has a PhD in Literature and is a Visiting Research fellow at the University of Adelaide. She is a writer of literary fiction and criticism and has won numerous literary awards for her novels, including The Australian Vogel Literary Award for Hiam , which is studied in Electives in Senior School. Her latest work of fiction, The Marsh Birds , won the Asher Literary Award and was short-listed for numerous national and international awards for literature. During her Residency, Dr Sallis conducted a series of intensive and very well

received daily workshops on writing and editing for twenty senior students. Parents also had the opportunity to meet Dr Sallis at a cocktail party held in her honour. Dr Sallis worked with Year 11s in two sessions on short story writing designed to assist them in creation of their own short stories. She also presented an eloquent and thought-provoking address to the School Assembly on the intersection of human rights, social justice and the arts, to all of which she has a passionate commitment.

Chinese Delegation visit

Organisation Development, which specialises in managing change. I think this experience has given me the people skills and attention to detail that is required as Registrar. With the arrival of three young children and the desire for flexible working hours, I worked as a computer software trainer in the TAFE and private sectors before rejoining the School sector at St Leonard’s College, Melbourne to assist with the administration of the International Baccalaureate program. It was during this period, that I pinpointed enrolments as an area I would really like to become involved in. After I relocated to Brisbane with my family the opportunity to work at Brisbane responsibility, which I take very seriously. I know how important it is for parents to be given accurate and meaningful information about the School and their daughter’s enrolment. Girls Grammar School arose. It’s a challenging role with considerable

department. Given that we consistently have well over two hundred students studying Chemistry in the Senior School, this can be a challenging but very rewarding experience. I am fortunate to work with a team of teachers who strive to provide the best possible quality chemistry education for our students. We work together to develop strategies, resources and hands-on activities to help students grasp challenging chemical concepts. A key aim of our programme is to provide students with a realistic experience of chemistry, by enabling them to undertake independent research projects and giving them access to technology and analytical equipment as used by research chemists. I sincerely hope that many of our students go on to develop the enthusiasm and appreciation that my fellow chemistry teachers and I have for our subject area. Given that Chemistry is a keystone for many tertiary science courses, a positive experience at secondary school will hopefully lay a solid foundation for students and set them on the pathway of continuing chemistry education.

with young composers and performers to develop their musicianship skills. For seven years, I have worked with The Australian Voices, a new music ensemble that commissions, performs and produces recordings of the choral works of young Australian composers. As Assistant Conductor, I recently travelled to China where the ensemble was awarded two gold medals and one silver medal in the World Choir Games. In July, we performed as part of the Annual Conference of the International Society for Music Education in Malaysia and Australia’s renowned ChoralFest in Tasmania. The Classroom Music programme at Brisbane Girls Grammar School encourages an excitement and joy in learning that importantly however is the fact that our hard-working team of specialist Classroom Music teachers cater for a diverse range of student abilities, promoting achievability, accessibility and an informed, intelligent love of music for all. inspires students to pursue music education at a tertiary level. More

Hangzhou and West Lake, for a long time a favourite haunt of poets and philosophers, are celebrated for their scenery and their role in the cultural history of China. When Led by Mr Gengyun Chen, a consultant with the West Lake District government based in Hangzhou, a group of chinese educationalists visited the School. students from Brisbane Girls Grammar School visit our Affiliate School in Shanghai, a visit to Hangzhou is always included in the itinerary. Mr Chen and the group were most interested in the curriculum and co-curriculum choices that our School offers students as well as the fine facilities and pastoral care programme that create our dynamic learning environment and community. The visit concluded with a pleasant afternoon tea hosted by Deputy Principals Miss Felicity Williams and Mrs Marise McConaghy, which provided an interesting forum for discussion on our education system.

Ms Lorraine Thornquist, Director of International Studies, with Chinese delegates.

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grammar gazette spring 2006 15