Grammar Gazette_Issue1_2025

• Music Tuition The girls will be encouraged to join weekly music lessons and participate in band, orchestra or choir to broaden their cultural interests. Lessons will take an explicit teaching approach—a powerful, evidence based teaching practice which makes lessons clear through modelling. It shows students how to start and succeed on a task, with feedback and opportunities to practise. We aim to nurture their skills, talents and, importantly, belief in themselves in an environment that values students’ contributions, rewards their effort and inspires them to aim higher. Building a School specifically for girls in Years 5 and 6 is quite a unique undertaking and demonstrates Brisbane Girls Grammar School’s ongoing commitment to the education of girls across different stages of development. As a well-known adage observes: The best way to predict future success is to create it.

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Research tells us that to achieve the best outcomes for students—not just the best academic results—education strategies should `recognise the connections between children’s social, emotional, cognitive and academic development, as well as their physical and mental health’ (DePaoli, J. et al Learning Policy Institute ). Understanding that all areas of development are interlinked, the Junior School aims to educate the whole girl intellectually, physically, culturally, socially and emotionally, through a range of tailored programs that include: • The Wellbeing Program Designed for their age and stage of development, it will address body image, emotional regulation, friendship, cyber safety, restorative practices and mindfulness practices, including lunchtime yoga. These topics are particularly relevant to these girls and will help them better understand and cope with the many changes and emotions they will be experiencing.

• A Guide for Effective Learning This has been developed to provide best practice strategies for girls to `learn how they learn’. This introduction to metacognition and effective strategies and procedures will help them become more self-aware, effective and efficient learners. • A Leadership Program The Junior School will introduce girls to the concept of leadership. This program will incorporate ambassadorship, working as part of a committee, event and business planning, a focus on developing soft skills and public speaking and debating. All Year 6 girls will be leaders in the Junior School and will be given opportunities to undertake responsibilities for organising events and activities such as charity events and special days. There will also be a number of elected positions for specific roles. • The Sports, Recreational and Physical Activity Program This will provide the girls with a range of team sports, interhouse and interschool carnivals, a variety of after-school physical activities from which to choose and an interhouse tabloid sports program which will be hotly contested throughout the year.

Captions 1 Head of Junior School Ms Karen McArdle 2 The Junior School sits opposite Main Building 3 There are eight large classrooms across four storeys

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9 GAZETTE • ISSUE 1, 2025 |

Brisbane Girls Grammar School