Grammar Gazette- Issue 1, 2023

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FROM THE STUDENTS

Into the Wild DUKE OF EDINBURGH’S INTERN A TIONAL A W A RD T A KES STUDENTS F A R A ND WIDE Molly Cooper (11W)

Lessons for Life PHYSIC A L EDUC A TION IN THE SENIOR YE A RS Lily Cavallin (12B) and Isabel Goodwin (12G)

The Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award is a highly valuable co-curricular activity that has shaped my secondary school experience

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Studying curriculum Physical Education (PE) in our senior years has been a highlight of our

for the better. I was inspired to participate in the Award because of the opportunities that would be available to me, and because the experiences of past participants sounded highly positive. The Award requires participation in an activity in each of the following four sections: Skill; Voluntary Service; Physical Recreation; and Adventurous Journeys. For the Gold Award Level, which I began earlier this year, participation in a Residential Project is also required. Completing activities in each of these sections has allowed me to build a stronger sense of self and create a strong personal community. For my service component, I elected to volunteer at my local community gardens in Graceville. Each Sunday, a small group of other Duke of Edinburgh Award participants from Brisbane Girls Grammar School and I assist other volunteers with various tasks, as well as complete our own projects. In the past, these individual projects included supporting flood recovery, painting a cubbyhouse, and running workshops for young children. At the moment, our project is creating a garden in a currently unused area of the gardens. Although it is a challenge to keep a consistent level of commitment to all of the activities that comprise the Award, I have found that completing my activities regularly is a good way for me to stay active and involved in my community, both within and outside of the School. Throughout the year, the School runs Adventurous Journeys, usually in a national park in southeast Queensland. We have previously been to K’gari (Fraser Island), D’Aguilar National Park, Conondale National Park, and most recently, Girraween National Park. My favourite journey so far was the trip to K’gari in early 2022. Although the first day was long and difficult for our group, the rest of the trip was thoroughly enjoyable as we got to see and swim in K’gari’s beautiful freshwater lakes, including the pristine Boorangoora (Lake McKenzie), and spend the nights stargazing. The trips are often very physically, and sometimes even emotionally and socially, challenging; however, they are incredibly rewarding once they’ve been completed. As a current Gold Award participant, I intend to complete my Residential Project with Infuse Travel in early 2024. The Project will take place in the Sunshine Coast Hinterland area and will have a strong focus on animal conservation and wildlife rehabilitation. The Project involves learning about animal conservation at Australia Zoo, connecting to Country, and service with the Sunshine Coast Council. Overall, I have had an incredible experience with the Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award so far, and I am greatly looking forward to the rest of my Gold Award. I would highly recommend this co-curricular opportunity to any Grammar girl who wants to broaden their horizons.

time at BGGS. The subject has provided us with friendships, amazing learning opportunities, and a diverse education, all of which we will take with us into the future. Senior PE comprises a mix of theory and practical learning. In theory, we have learned about topics including exercise physiology, motor learning, equity and access, and ethics and integrity. In the practical component, we have explored a whole range of sports like netball, sports aerobics, and swimming, to which we have linked our theoretical learnings. The experience of being able to learn beyond the walls of the classroom through the practical aspect is one of the main reasons why we love PE. The sports we do in class push us outside of our comfort zone and enable us to experience things we might have never tried otherwise, such as doing a cartwheel in aerobics or shooting a three-pointer in basketball. We have found that practical PE provides the perfect, much-needed way to get your body moving with friends, while also learning. We have created strong bonds with the rest of the class that continue outside of School. Being supported by peers who have similar interests and passions is extremely valuable. PE has now become a second family for us and the staff always make our time enjoyable. Whether we need a teacher to help with a question, academic proposal, or even just a chat, they will always make time. Through their passionate and enthusiastic approach to teaching, we always feel we are in good hands. In the classroom, the topics covered allow for full class discussions and spark reflections on personal experiences. Additionally, the interesting topics learned in PE have guided our decisions for potential future careers as we have realised our love for the subject. We are both interested in pursuing careers in health and behavioural science, and PE has opened up this opportunity and desire as we have learned about several scientific aspects of the human body. Physiotherapy, occupational therapy, and psychology are just a few of the professions we are considering. Our love for the subject grows more and more with each lesson and we are thankful PE is taught so comprehensively at BGGS.

ABOVE (L TO R) ISABEL GOODWIN (12G) AND LILY CAVALLIN (12B)

CAPTIONS 1 STUDENTS ON EXPEDITION: SARGUN VIRK (11W) AND MOLLY COOPER 2 MOLLY COOPER

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GAZETTE • ISSUE 1, 2023 ISSUE 1, 2023

BRISBANE GIRLS GRAMMAR SCHOOL