Grammar Gazette- Issue 2, 2013

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Allying for Cerebral Palsy research AAKANKSHA DESAI AND CAITLYN DUKE, SERVICE CAPTAINS

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The Student Council has been collecting funds for the charity by hosting several awareness and fundraising events for the School community. These have included Blue Day celebrations before major co-curricular events, selling Valentine’s Day treats, the YOLO debate against Somerville House, BiGrammar Touch and Netball games, and the ‘Steptember’ health and wellness initiative. Additional funds have been received from selling Cerebral Palsy Alliance badges made by students, café charity tins and through a generous donation from the Girls Grammar Interact Club. This important cause has become part of the Brisbane Girls Grammar School Service programme. We hope that the strong bond that has been forged with our sponsored scholar and the Cerebral Palsy Alliance will continue beyond 2013.

BRISBANE GIRLS GRAMMAR SCHOOL SELECTED the Cerebral Palsy Alliance as our charity for 2013. This organisation aims to enhance the lives of people with cerebral palsy and enable their full participation in the community. The Alliance strives to achieve this through the provision of therapy and support services, as well as funding research to answer the many unanswered questions that surround CP. As representatives of an academic institution of ambitious young women, it seemed fitting for the Girls Grammar Student Council to decide to support a female scholar in her endeavour to make a difference through scholarship. Ms Hayley Smithers-Sheedy is a speech therapist, PhD student, and epidemiologist with the Cerebral Palsy Research Foundation. On 20 May this year we welcomed Hayley to Girls Grammar for the Cerebral Palsy Research Foundation Day. She conducted two interactive sessions for students about her career as a research scientist and as a speech pathologist, engaging and inspiring girls in their scholarly aspirations. Hayley’s presentation was based around the relatively deficient knowledge base surrounding the causes of cerebral palsy. Her research involves looking into infections that may be contracted while babies are in utero . Hayley is specifically exploring congenital cytomegalovirus, and distinguishing the link between this virus and children born with cerebral palsy. Hayley expressed her gratitude for the funds we were providing, and explained where each $10-increment raised will be utilised in her research. She gave us a sense of inclusion and personal ownership of the study.

IMAGE Ms Hayley Smithers–Sheedy (centre) with Service Captains Caitlyn Duke and Aakanksha Desai

Pink Day supporting NBCF

RAISING AWARENESS AND FUNDS FOR the National Breast Cancer Foundation was the focus of Pink Day at Girls Grammar on Friday 3 May. Through selling Pink Ribbon merchandise, fairy bread and raffle tickets for a three-tiered cake, more than $1800 was raised to support NBCF research. A strong message about prevention and early detection was conveyed to all students and staff, and everyone recognised the giant pink ribbon formed by students on the pool lawn as an emblem of significance to the many families who have been affected by this disease.

GRAMMAR GAZETTE