Grammar Gazette- Issue 1, 2010

SNAPSHOTS

Activity and challenge

One of the ways that the Health Studies Faculty encourages students to challenge themselves is through the School’s lifesaving and aquatics programme. Historically, Girls Grammar students have been meeting the challenges associated with lifesaving since 1912. Mrs Pauline Harvey-Short, writing about the School in the 2005 Royal Life Saving Queensland 100 Year History Book, asserts ‘the first eight students passed [Royal Life Saving Society of Queensland] certificates along with their teacher, Miss Hunt, who gained her Instructor’s Certificate with three of the students.’ Subsequent Heads of Health and Physical Education have, with continuous support from the School and its principals, developed an ever-growing commitment to the practical value of lifesaving and to the There are very few things that are as intrinsically linked as physical activity and challenge. When one engages in physical activity the challenges are myriad: the challenge to others, to the clock, and vitally, to oneself.

When lifesaving is taught in a purpose-built pool, learning experiences are able to be tailored to suit the full range of abilities present in the School. Importantly, the experiences will indeed be challenging — inherently so — allowing Grammar girls to extend themselves in the safest possible environment.

idea that lifesaving can be an agent for real personal development. Lifesaving takes a student out of her comfort zone. It allows her to adapt and get used to discomfort before challenging her again. This “progressive overload” approach to challenge is not unique to the aquatic environment, but it is perfectly suited to it.

Mr Stephen Fogarty Director, Health Studies Faculty

COMMUNITY contributIONS

In 2008 the School received a substantial bequest from the estate of a past student, Judith Dalton Noblet who attended Brisbane Girls Grammar School from 1941 to 1942. This gift contributed to the establishment of the new swimming pool and undercover activities area. Although living in Sydney, Ms Dalton was clearly committed to the work of the School and through her bequest, has contributed to the enhancement of the educational environment for Grammar girls for years to come. The P&F Association gifted $250,000 towards the installation of a lift in the new swimming pool project, as a way of easing the challenges of the School’s multi-level site. The first donation of $100,000 was made in June 2009. A further donation of $150,000 was presented in February 2010. Installation of this lift means that all levels of the School’s campus have equitable access. The P&F Mothers Group also donated $9,000 for additional shade umbrellas on the campus. Current and future Grammar girls are the beneficiaries of the School community’s generous contributions to the new swimming pool.

grammar gazette AUTUMN 2010 18