2021 Fairholme Annual Report

Fairholme College 2021 ANNUAL REPORT Based on 2020 Data

Introducing Fairholme College Fairholme College offers a diverse range of high-quality, contemporary educational experiences within a Christian community. It is a College of the Presbyterian Church of Queensland. Founded in 1908, the College moved to the current site in 1917; it is situated on the Range escarpment in Toowoomba on the Darling Downs.

Vision | Fairholme – a nurturing Christian school, committed to developing a vibrant learning community; one that challenges students to become confident and respectful contributors within our global society.

Values | Christ-Centred Faith – Collaboration – Enjoyment – Respect – Seeking Excellence CHARACTERISTICS OF THE STUDENT BODY Fairholme College enjoys a vibrant and varied student body. The large, dynamic boarding community contributes invaluably to the unique nature of our College community.

Boarding students come primarily from Queensland and New South Wales; however, we have girls from a great diversity of regional centres throughout Australia. While small in number, our international students further enrich our student community. The College is proud of its indigenous students; there were 20 students enrolled during this reporting period.

YEAR LEVELS OFFERED Fairholme College offers programs from Kindergarten to Year 12. The Boarding community consists of girls from Year 5 to 12.

CO-EDUCATIONAL/SINGLE-SEX The Fairholme College Kindergarten is co-educational. Prep to Year 12 offers a girls-only education.

SCHOOL SECTOR Fairholme College is an independent day and boarding school.

TOTAL ENROLMENT, INCLUDING KINDERGARTEN School

Day Students

Boarders

Junior School

234

2

Middle School

194

93

Senior School

180

88

608

183

SCHOOL FUNDING BROKEN DOWN BY FUNDING SOURCE Refer to the My School website for detailed information regarding income; specifics regarding various funding sources is available at myschool.edu.au

Contact Person for Further Information Regarding this Report Mrs Fleur Koch Assistant to the Business Office 07 4688 4688 info@fairholme.qld.edu.au

Contents From the Chairman

02

From the Principal

04

Christian Education 08

Junior School 10

04

Junior School Arts

12

Junior School Sports

14

Middle School

16

08

Senior School

18

Junior School

Teaching and Learning

20

Dr Linda Evans

Boarding 23

16

The Arts 26

Middle School

Business 30 Careers 32

18

English 34

Senior School

Sports and Activities 35 Home Economics

38

Humanities 39

Published by Fairholme College Editor: Marita Ramia Layout & Design: Sandra van der Stelt Advertising Enquiries Communications Office T 4688 2341 Fairholme College Toowoomba

Proudly a College of the Presbyterian Church of Queensland Wirra Wirra Street PO Box 688 Toowoomba Q 4350 T 07 4688 4688 E info@fairholme.qld.edu.au W www.fairholme.qld.edu.au ABN: 16 917 099 053 Registered Provider (Queensland): Fairholme College Toowoomba CRICOS Provider Code: 03726D

Information Technology

ATAR Results

40

Languages 41 Mathematics

42

Greta Centre

43

Greta Junior

44

Science 45 Service 47 Pastoral Care

21

49

VET 50 Information Technology Services 53

23 Boarding

26 The Arts

From the Chairman

MR IAN ANDERSEN, CHAIRMAN

ensuring we were able to continue providing the very best education possible. I particularly thank Dr Evans and the Senior Leadership Team for their unfaltering commitment, drive and passion in leading the whole Fairholme Community.

To state the obvious – 2020 was a year like no other. While it presented its own unique and significant challenges and stresses, there were opportunities to do things differently – which is exactly what Fairholme did.

There were many times this year when I felt somewhat disconnected – simply because we were not able to go about our usual activities and events in the normal way. For example, and as you might expect, most of our Board meetings were conducted via video link – and I really missed the many events and opportunities for me to be involved in College life.

Our Principal, Dr Evans, and I had many conversations about how we managed the impact of COVID-19 restrictions. I’m very aware of the way 2020 unfolded, so I want to express my sincere thanks to each and every one of you – students, parents, and staff in particular – for your perseverance, persistence and ingenuity, your thoughtfulness and generosity throughout this year, thus

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Last year, I announced the finalization and approval of our new Master Plan.

This year I announced at ‘Presenting Fairholme’ that we plan to commence construction of Stage 1 of the Master Plan in June 2021, with completion due in December 2022, at an expected cost of more than $9 million.

The motivation to commence Stage 1 as soon as possible comes from a review of our current and projected needs, the condition of some of our Senior School buildings and the distribution of functions across the campus.

Stage 1 will make use of the only available land on the site that does not directly impact teaching needs – right at the front of the College. Once complete, it will allow us to empty and demolish some of the buildings on the north-eastern corner of our site (the corner of Bridge and Fairholme Streets) to make way for new facilities to be constructed in Stage 2, and eventually Stage 3. Stage 1 pulls together the Administration functions of the College into a new building and creates a new front door to the College. It also accommodates teaching and learning spaces. Importantly, there will be no loss of teaching and learning spaces during any stage of construction.

When complete, Stage 1 will provide

accommodation for Senior Classrooms, Drama Classrooms, Art Classrooms, a new Junior and Middle School Assembly and Multi-Functional Space and the College Reception and Administration Functions. It will further integrate the Junior and Middle Schools through the creation of this new Junior and Middle School Assembly Area and Multifunctional Space in what is the current Administration Building.

The design of this space will also allow the College to accommodate more effectively any parent functions and information sessions; P&F meetings; staff professional learning seminars; student socials and celebration events. Its location at the front of the College also allows good accessibility for members of the Toowoomba and Fairholme Communities.

Significantly, Stage 1 will also see the commencement of the reconfiguration of vehicle access, set-down and parking arrangements at the front of the College, in order to improve the safety and efficiency of this area and provide an all-weather connection to the College.

Construction of this magnitude will come with some substantial impacts - particularly related to traffic movements and parking arrangements for parents and staff. We will, of course, put temporary arrangements in place to manage these impacts, but I seek your patience and forbearance while works progress and thank you in advance for your understanding of these requirements.

Picture: Fairholme College Master Plan

The Board of Directors continued to provide stable and considered leadership throughout the year. The Moderator of The Presbyterian Church of Queensland (PCQ), Right Reverend Dr Phil Strong, continued to serve in his second consecutive year as Moderator; and we welcomed the Reverend Stuart Hoadley as PCQ Clerk of Assembly and Mr Paul Cotton as PCQ Treasurer, who replaced Reverend Peter Barson and Mr George Harris respectively, during the year. Reverend Barson continues to serve on the Board in his previous (vacant) position on the Board. I thank the Board of Directors for their ongoing service and dedication to the College and the use of their considerable talents in their vital governance role.

The College enjoys the wholehearted support of the Presbyterian Church of Queensland.

In 2020, the College spent almost $1.4 million on improvements to our facilities and infrastructure. Projects approved and completed during the year included: • Planning for Stage 1 of the College Masterplan • creation of new offices for the Head of Learning Enhancement in the Middle School

• • •

refurbishment of the Health Centre and Sports Offices ongoing upgrading and replacement of IT equipment furniture, fittings, plant and equipment replacements.

The Board approved the 2021 Budget at its November meeting. The Board is very conscious of the many competing factors in developing the budget each year, including the realities of daily life and the ongoing and new financial challenges confronting many of our families; as well as the need to continue to improve our facilities and provide the very best education for our students.

With this in mind, the 2021 Budget provides for a 2.5 per cent increase in Tuition Fees; a 2.5 per cent increase in Boarding Fees.

greatest legacy is the impact we have on each other and on the lives of those around us. So, as we move on, either to life away from Fairholme for some of us, or continuing at Fairholme, I trust you will look forward with enthusiasm to the challenges and opportunities I’m sure 2021 will present.

This great College continues to be very well-placed to meet those challenges and opportunities.

The Capital Levy has increased by 2.5 per cent, and for the first time in six years the Technology Levy will increase by an increment of $10.00 per term to $150.00 per term.

As always, it is vital that we reflect on each year as it passes, in order to celebrate our successes, learn from our mistakes, and to reminisce. Our

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The Space to Choose DR LINDA EVANS, PRINCIPAL

In speaking of places and spaces in between, Viktor Frankl, holocaust survivor, psychiatrist and Christian, is attributed as saying:

‘between stimulus and response there is a space. In that space lies your freedom and power to choose your response. In those responses lie your growth and your happiness.’

Whether or not Frankl said these precise words, matters little. What matters is that he gained insight through enduring difficulty. His was suffering at its most extreme, yet in its midst, he found hope through what he termed 'the space the choose one's own way'. In the following words, he illustrates this beautifully – We who lived in concentration camps can remember the men who walked through the huts, comforting others, giving away their last piece of bread. They may

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have been few in number, but they offer sufficient proof that everything can be taken from a man but one thing: the last of the human freedoms – to choose one’s attitude in any given set of circumstances, to choose one’s own way.

imagined; our global and local responses were and are varied and interesting.

It is easy for us to view 2020 as having been a year of enormous struggle, to talk of it as a disaster, or of the things we missed out on. It was an extraordinary year. We were all held captive in some way by the power of the COVID-19 pandemic. It was difficult for everyone and amid this difficulty; we were called to have perspective. Frankl, as an Auschwitz survivor, gives clear perspective; he also reminds us that we have the freedom to choose [our] attitude in any given set of circumstances; to choose [our] own way. From moment of stimulus to moment of response there is a space for contemplation.

•

This pandemic entered our collective consciousness in ways we couldn’t have imagined, can’t imagine or haven’t

•

•

In Bangalore, India, a restaurant Desi Masala fed more than 10,000 vulnerable people every day.

British Army Captain, the late Tom Moore, aged 100, set out to raise money for the Health Services by walking back and forth in his garden – he raised over $32 million British pounds.

People in Naples, Italy left solidarity baskets for those struggling … 'Put in, if you can, take out, if you can’t.’

More locally at Fairholme – when staff stand-downs appeared imminent – administration staff responded by offering to reduce their working hours to allow others to continue to work, the swim staff became bathroom cleaners just to allow the pool to reopen, and our Day families opened their homes to our Boarders, to enable them to return to face-to-face learning. Even

in our grimmest moments ‘we can hold despair in one hand and hope in the other.’ That was the COVID silver lining, the distillation of what really matters.

We can choose to see silver linings, and we can create them through our choices. Author and Peak Performance Researcher, Dr Adam Fraser, has investigated this space in between stimulus and response – he refers to it in his same-titled book, as The Third Space. His fascination with this began when he worked with soldiers returning from military service in Iraq. Not surprisingly, they brought the stress and trauma of being a soldier into their homes. Fraser observed that they needed significant focus and support within this transition period, within the third space.

Australian Steve Hooker finished 28th in the world in pole vault at the Athens Olympics. Four years later at the Beijing Olympics he won gold. In between time he focused meticulously on getting the small things right in the transition space between defeat and success. Another researcher studied the world’s top tennis players – Nadal, Federer, Serena Williams, for example.

He discovered that what separated them from other players were their rituals in the time between points, not in playing the points themselves.

Perhaps this attention to detail, to maintaining the rituals of College life

and College culture, was at the heart of the Fairholme response to COVID-19 imposed change. This was evident in the elaborate take-home learning packs devised by Junior School staff; high level of engagement through Schoolbox – the College’s learning management system; the continued Assemblies and Chapel services online; the high participation rates in the COVID Cup Cross Country; ZOOM Smoko meetings with Boarders; House and Holme Group activities and the regularity of personal contact that took priority on a daily basis. For me, the essence of the individuality of care was best evidenced on the day the boarding staff wrote the name of each Boarder in chalk on the brick wall adjacent to Mrs Sutton’s room. Silver linings.

On the day I shared the news that the Year 12 Formal could not go ahead, I had a carpark conversation with Piano Teacher, Mrs Lebsanft, who said: ‘These Year 12 girls are remarkable, there have been unprecedented changes in their lives but they will wear 2020 as a badge of honour into the future.’ And they will. Enduring difficulty provides perspective. For staff and students, 2020 provided a metaphoric badge of honour worth so much more than any certificate or accolade; it is an indelible stamp of resilience and adaptability.

Our Senior Leaders of 2020 rewarded us over and over again with their inventiveness and their willingness to do things differently, so apparent in:

• • • • •

Shave for a Cure online Flourish – the magazine Their high participation in the COVID Cup Cross Country They way they led and embraced the opening ceremony at the Athletics Carnival, and The Senior Common Room mural.

Ultimately, the choices we make in the transitional gap between stimulus and response matters. Despite the disruption of COVID, despite the complexities posed by living with and through a pandemic, there is still choice: choice about our responses.

Our Seniors of 2020 have entered their diverse, promise-laden, shiny new worlds; perhaps they can think of Roger Federer who, in the mere seconds in between points in a tennis match, takes the time to plot his response – here he demonstrates the pinnacle use of the third space. We always have the space to choose – as we embrace 2021, may we choose wisely and well.

Frankl reminds us that no matter what, the last of the human freedoms is to choose one’s attitude in any given set of circumstances, and to choose one’s own way.

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Key Student Outcomes Student Attendance – Average Rate in the College

Year Level

Total Number of Students

Number of School Days in 2020

Total Number of Attendance Days in 2020

Total Number of Student Absences

Average Attendance Rate

In 2020, the average student attendance rate for the whole College was 92%.

Kindy 2 Day

15

69

909

56

94%

Kindy 3 Day

17

101

1,691

161

90%

Kindy 4 Day

23

171

3,799

217

94%

Prep

18

171

3,078

260

92%

1

19

171

3,249

277

91%

2

23

171

3,799

288

92%

3

21

171

3,545

324

91%

4

29

171

4,825

386

92%

5

34

171

5,592

582

90%

6

36

171

6,068

495

92%

7

106

171

18,215

1446

92%

8

94

171

16,163

1363

92%

9

87

171

14,924

1388

91%

10

91

171

15,473

1185

92%

11

96

171

16,416

1076

93%

12

80

168

13,440

639

95% 92%

APPARENT STUDENT RETENTION, YEAR 10-12 In 2020, the apparent retention rate for students moving from Year 10 through to Year 12 = 100% Student Retention

Number

Year 10 Base

Year 12

Apparent Retention

80

80

100%

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Management of Non-Attendance Fairholme College recognises that attendance each day and each lesson is an integral part of student success. We take great care to monitor the attendance of every student each day. Attendance is recorded electronically each day at 8.30am and again at 11am and in the final class of the day.

In addition, rolls are also marked in Assembly/ Chapel or Holme Group Meetings. Absentee lists are generated early each day and are placed on the Staff Room Notice Board and are also emailed to all staff.

Administration staff follow up any students who are absent to ensure that we have had contact from parents or care-givers to let us know of their whereabouts. These staff will phone, email or SMS the parents of any students not accounted for.

Additionally, students who are missing from classes during the day are also followed up by academic staff such as a Head of Sub School or a Head of House. These staff are also involved in supporting students to return to school when they have had an extended absence from school.

In 2020, when students were working remotely due to COVID restrictions, rolls were maintained when staff facilitated early morning Holme Group check-in sessions. During the day, when staff engaged classes via platforms such as Zoom or Microsoft Teams, attendance was monitored. Follow up with families was similar to established protocols, seeking clarification from parents if a student was not in attendance for remote check in sessions. Using our usual channels, parents were able to notify the College if their daughter was unable to participate in remote learning on a particular day.

When a student is ill or unable to attend school, it is expected that parents of Day Girls notify the College by 8.30am by phone, email or via the College app.

Boarding staff notify key staff about any Boarders unable to attend class and are therefore in the College Health Centre. Should a student be absent for more than three days, the Head of House or Head of Sub School will contact the family to offer support and enquire as to the student’s welfare at that time. In the case of prolonged absence, parents are asked to request planned absence for their daughter in advance via a letter through the College Principal. Student Absences during examination/ assessment time are managed through the College’s Student Academic Policy.

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Christian Education

MS CATH BUTLER, HEAD OF MINISTRY AND MISSION

Theodore Roosevelt said these famous words in 1910: It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming … if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat.

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Throughout 2020, there were many ‘arena moments’ – moments of riding high on the waves of victory one moment and then in the next moment, floundering in the doldrums of defeat.

It has been a year of extremes.

Yet, it’s worth pausing to acknowledge that there was a communal and courageous daring greatly in an arena not of our choosing. We faced defeat feeling disappointment when events were cancelled, celebrations postponed, or when we could no longer go on that ‘trip of a lifetime’. Stretched to the very edge of ourselves at times, and perhaps to the edge of our mental health, we carried on, woke up the next day and did it all again. People remained compassionate, thought of others, expressed gratitude for what they did have, worked hard, learned new skills or new ways of doing things in a short space of time.

There is much to give thanks for.

COVID-19 affected us all. However, it did not stop ministry at Fairholme; rather, it opened opportunities for more girls to connect with Christian faith throughout 2020. Chapel services moved online for Boarders and all sub-schools, and these forums prompted lovely moments for reflection within these smaller groups. Through platforms such as the Fairholme Ministry page on Instagram or the FairSongs playlist on Spotify, students were able to remain connected and encouraged in their faith. myFairholme (the school’s e-learning platform) has the capacity for groups to be created and so, through the Ministry@Fairholme group page, a Thought for the week, along with the Song of the Week and the Bible Verse for the week was posted. This page also holds a plethora

of resources for girls to access that can assist them to grow in their trust of, and faith in, Jesus. Students also continued having Christian Education classes from Prep through to Year 12 and Mrs Jenny Sutton ran Bible Studies for the girls in Boarding throughout the week, whenever that was possible.

And so, whilst the arena we lived in and the battles we all faced were significant, and not of our choosing, we didn’t crumble. We were courageous. We dared greatly. We pressed on.

Jesus promised in this world that we would have trouble. That tribulation would come. That we would know adversity. But he encouraged people to ‘be of good cheer’ because of the confidence that knowing Jesus has overcome the world brings. (John 16:33) As we continue to enter the arena day

after day, into an uncertain future, may we do so with confident courage and hope, because Jesus’ death and resurrection has proven that not the darkest evil (nor even the most insidious virus) is capable of separating us from God’s love or the Spirit’s presence.

… We are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Amen.

- Romans 8:37-39

2020 Fairholme College Results Family Engagement The culture of the College is one which invites conversation with families. Parents are welcome to discuss situations with relevant members of staff, as appropriate. Specifically, information evenings etc. allow parents the opportunity to be updated on student programs and to seek clarification and discuss matters accordingly. Parent/Teacher/Student interviews, held regularly across the College, offer a further avenue for discussion and collaborative planning.

Specifically, each year Year 6, 9 and 12 girl and their families are offered the opportunity to complete a survey; this is done in Semester Two each year. Questions provide the chance to indicate satisfaction, and provide specific feedback, in all areas of College life.

Key sample indicators from family responses from Year 12 families and students are provided below. The following elements of College life received indicators from parents well into the ‘very high satisfaction’ category – this band holds a benchmark of 80%.

Academic Program, Boarding, Communication, Community Engagement, Loyalty, Management & Leadership, Service Opportunities, the Sport Program, Pastoral Care, and The Arts.

Across the sub schools, over 80% of parents rated their overall satisfaction with their daughter’s experience at Fairholme College as ‘very high’.

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Fairholme Junior

MRS ERIN TONSCHECK, HEAD OF JUNIOR SCHOOL 2020 provided much to reflect upon – challenges, successes and opportunities to contest the status quo.

The Fairholme Junior School community showed much resilience and I am proud to be able to share with you some of our many successes.

The academic program continued to build rigour across all learning areas, with English as the specific focus. Staff focused upon the development of a rigorous writing analysis process as well as embedding a strong synthetic phonemic program across the early years. Attention now turns to strengthening number sense within the early years Mathematics program and we look forward to the flow on of even stronger Numeracy results through the middle Junior School.

Extra-Curricular Academic pursuits included Chess lessons, Creative Minds Club, Maths Olympiads and OptiMINDS this year. Each required some alternative thinking and we are

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pleased that our girls were able to access these opportunities via online, as well as in face-to-face delivery throughout the year.

Sporting opportunities continued to abound in the Junior School, with our girls involved with Clubs and Associations in Swimming, Track and Field, Cross Country, Netball, Touch and Basketball. We continued to be a strong presence in the Andrews Cup Association. Whilst numbers of attendees were restricted due to capacity limits at events, we were pleased to be able to continue competing across seven out of seven possible sporting competitions this year. This was a great achievement and one that very few schools, clubs and associations were able to achieve in 2020. The range of experiences and depth of specialist support is a feature of Fairholme Junior School’s sports and physical activity provision.

A huge range of additional training and other after-school activities were very

ably supported by specialist coaches and sports Development Officers. A global pandemic was unable to contain the Junior School’s love of health, sport and fitness, with involvement in the Fairholme Cross Country COVID Cup as well as weekly fitness challenges and training programs offered via myJunior Fairholme during the Learning from Holme period.

Fairholme Junior School’s wide-ranging Creative and Performing Arts offerings continued in 2020. Whilst Sing Out and the Toowoomba Eisteddfod were not able to proceed, the girls were able to continue with Chorale, Junior String Orchestra and Junior Band, with filming of performances for parents to enjoy. During the Learning from Holme period, some girls were able to continue with small-group lessons online – a steep learning curve for all!

Classroom music, dance and drama lessons continued, as did the wonderful Junior School Musical and Christmas Musical, albeit in adjusted formats. We are grateful for the creative thinking

of our staff, who ensured that great opportunities to express creativity and be part of performances continued.

Fairholme Junior School’s focus on inclusivity, of building connection and feeling a sense of belonging was never more evident than in 2020. A global pandemic that required social distancing, Learning from Holme, support for the families of essential workers; all this was embraced without question, for the greater good. This resulted from the strong commitment of staff, students and parents to be involved, to work hard and to move through this time together.

‘Come what, come may, time and the hour runs through the roughest day.’

- Macbeth I am thankful to have been part of Fairholme Junior in 2020. The dedication and support of each and every member of our community shone like a beacon in the dark – I am grateful for the year that was, and hopeful for blessings continuing in 2021.

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Junior School Arts

MRS BELINDA ELDRIDGE, CO-ORDINATOR OF JUNIOR SCHOOL ARTS MUSICAL We started 2020 rehearsing our musical, The Art Book. A young artist, Julia, had been left an art journal by her Great-Grandmother; and each year level brought to life an artist as Julia learnt about famous artists. Year 6 taught us about famous portraits and Picasso, Year 5 taught us about Vincent van Gogh, Year 4 taught us about Claude Monet, Year 3 taught us about John Singer Sargent, Year 2 taught us about Cicely Mary Barker and our Year 1 students were some mice who lived near the art gallery.

Just as we were entering the dress rehearsal and performance phase of production, everything came to a halt due to COVID-19. Once we were back at school, we re-invented the musical into a film project. Throughout Term 3, each class was filmed performing their scene and then early in Term 4 the film was screened to the Junior School classes before being provided to the families to watch at home.

INSTRUMENTAL AND CHORAL What an unusual year it was for performers as a result of COVID-19.

The Eisteddfod was unable to proceed, Sing Out was cancelled and rehearsals

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as we knew them were reconfigured for safety.

The Chorale, consisting of Years 4 to 6 girls, rehearsed in small, widely spaced groups and gave a performance that we were able to film for parents. The Tartan Trebles, the Years 1 to 3 girls, had a brief opportunity to rehearse at the start of the year, before being paused for the remainder of the year.

Junior String Orchestra and a widely spaced Junior Band proceeded throughout the year, with performances filmed for sharing with parents. Year 2 Strings and Year 4 Band were able to continue and even included a period in Term 2 when our Year 4 girls were having their small-group lessons whilst at home, via the internet!

Lunchtime Concerts occurred each term, where students who learned musical instruments were given the opportunity to perform. The students performed for their friends as we were unable to have visitors attending.

CLASSROOM MUSIC, DANCE, DRAMA Our girls enjoyed classroom Music, Drama and Dance throughout the year,

with Mrs Belinda Eldridge teaching Music, Mrs Katrina Bailey teaching Drama and Mrs Brooke Choice teaching Dance.

CHRISTMAS MUSICAL With changes to our year continuing in Term 4, the annual Christmas Musical for Kindy to Year 3 had to be re-imagined. Instead of a performance in the Assembly Hall to a full house of parents and grandparents, each class rehearsed their own nativity story in their classrooms. We then filmed our performance to share with parents.

OUR YEAR IN PERFORMING ARTS COVID-19 made 2020 a challenging year for performers and audiences. We constantly looked for ways to continue creating and performing in enriching ways and share these performances with our families. We hope that even though things were different in many ways, our students still had great opportunities to be part of ensembles and enjoy expressing their creativity through Music, Dance and Drama.

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Junior School Sport

MRS LEE-ANN GRANTHAM, CO-ORDINATOR OF PHYSICAL EDUCATION AND SPORT Fairholme Junior Sport offers a wide range of sports and activities for the girls and involvement and participation rates are excellent in Interhouse activities.

SPORTING OPPORTUNITIES

Interhouse carnivals in Swimming, Cross Country, Athletics and Gymnastics involve all students, with Tennis and Aquathlon being optional.

The Interhouse Junior Swimming Knockout Tournament is by invitation.

Fairholme junior participated in local Interschool Swimming, Athletics and Cross Country. Fairholme Junior is also involved in the Andrews Cup in the following sports: Swimming, Athletics, Cross Country, Cricket, Tennis, Touch, Track and Field, Netball, Softball, Gymnastics and Basketball.

Fairholme teams participate at Swimming, Athletics and Cross Country Zone carnivals. Regional Sports include selected students who attend Zone trials in Hockey, Basketball, Tennis, Cricket, Netball, Softball, Touch, Aquathlon, AFL, Orienteering and Girls’ Football (soccer). Selected students then have a pathway to attend Regional carnivals in all mentioned sports.

Interschool Friday Sport is offered for Years 5 and 6 through the Toowoomba Primary Schools Sports Association, and the Year 3 and 4 students participate in a friendly competition with The Glennie School Junior Years twice a term in Touch, Netball and Softball.

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THE ANDREWS CUP

This competition continues to provide development and training in several sports. This occurs every Wednesday afternoon after school as students immerse themselves in seasonal sport. COVID-19 significantly reduced the number of students representing Fairholme at Andrews Cup competitions in 2020 but training opportunities were still provided for many.

Sixty-nine per cent of all Year 4-6 students were involved in one or more Andrews Cup carnivals in 2020. Fiftyeight per cent of Year 2-6 students attended at least one carnival. Over 62% of Year 5 and 6 girls attended multiple Andrews Cup Carnivals.

ANDREWS CUP COMPETITION 2020

We fielded Andrews Cup teams across the following sports: Tennis, Touch, Swimming, Athletics, Netball, Gymnastics and Basketball.

Fairholme finished in 8th position overall at Swimming, with the 10 and 12yrs age groups performing strongly.

These age groups did very well at the Track and Field competition where they finished in 3rd place overall.

Unfortunately, the 8 and 9 years athletes were unable to participate due to COVID regulations. Sadly, neither the Cross Country nor cricket were

held due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Netball was held as a local competition where Fairholme excelled, taking out both A and D grade and finishing a credible 2nd in C grade. The Andrews Cup Tennis saw our strongest results to date, with 2nd in the C division and overall 4th position in A and D grades.

Fairholme Touch continues to yield strong results, with 3rd place in A, B and C divisions.

The Basketball team finished in 2nd place, despite being a very young team with only three Year 6 players. Our gymnasts in the B Division finished in a credible 4th position.

HPE AND AFTERSCHOOL ACTIVITIES

Some HPE and After-School Activities are delivered by Development Officers from various clubs such as hockey, basketball, cricket and AFL, and Development squads in a variety of sports are offered.

Other non-competitive, fun-filled activities that enrich the Physical Education and sporting program ran at Fairholme Junior after school include: Net-Set-Go, Auskick, Aussie Hoops, Basketball, Tennis ‘Hot Shot’ Sessions, Cross Country Training and Athletics Training.

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INTERHOUSE CHAMPIONS SPORT

INTERHOUSE CHAMPIONS

Swimming

Stephens

Junior Knock-out Swimming Tournament

Cameron

Cross Country

Stephens (COVID-19 Cup - Powell) K-Yr 2 Stephens

Track and Field

Powell

Tennis

Cameron

Gymnastics

Cameron

ZONE AND REGIONAL REPRESENTATION

The tables below indicate the number of Junior School students involved.

Swimming Range Zone Darling Downs

12 Representatives 4 Representatives

Netball Range Zone Darling Downs

9 Representatives 2 Representatives

Basketball Range Zone Darling Downs

6 Representatives 2 Representatives

Cricket Range Zone Darling Downs

2 Representatives 2 Representatives

Touch Range Zone

2 Representatives

Equestrian Queensland

1 Representative

Mrs Judy Dickinson, continued to develop a squad of juniors who achieved highly in local club competitions. The girls also represented their regions at both club and school levels. In 2020 a proposal was put forward to encourage more after-school learn-to-swim sessions for the 8-10yrs year levels.

Cross Country Mrs Katie Davidson and Mrs Grantham assisted with preparing the girls for Cross Country. Sadly, the season was cut short due to COVID-19 but many students continued their training at home and submitted virtual Cross Country data and photographs.

Touch Fairholme Junior’s All Schools Touch Team achieved 2nd place at the SW Queensland All Schools carnival in Dalby. All other carnivals were cancelled. Thank you to Craig Collins, Brenda Rackemann and Sami Farquharson for their coaching expertise throughout the season.

Junior School Students SPORT representation Range Zone 31 Darling Downs 13 Queensland 1

the U/12 girls play together with Year 7 girls of the same age.

Club Basketball Fairholme fielded two club teams, with the U/11 team achieving 2nd place in their league and the U/13 team winning their division. Four Middle school students played in these teams alongside the Junior School students.

The Summer League of Basketball in Term 4 saw four school teams participating at U/12, U/14 and U/16 levels.

Club Touch Fairholme Junior fields an U/11 club Touch team each Thursday night in Term 4 and Term 1. However, some Junior School U/12 Touch players, played in teams with Year 7 players, as in Netball. Two Junior School students played in an U/13 Qld All School Team, alongside Middle School students.

LOCAL CLUBS AND ASSOCIATION SPORT

DEVELOPMENT SQUADS and QLD ALL SCHOOLS COMPETITIONS Athletics An Athletics Development Squad, under the coaching of Mr John Sessarago, Miss Kirsten Murry, Mr Grahame Pitt and Senior HPE students, continued to flourish.

Fairholme Junior School’s involvement included Swimming (FAST) as well as Association Netball, Basketball and Touch Football. Association Sports attract specialist coaches, raise the skill development levels and provide seasonal sporting opportunities in the wider community. These Association opportunities also provide students with a transition space between Junior and Middle School sport.

Swimming The FAST Swimming Club, under Mr Dave Negus, Miss Hayley Wolff and

Saturday Netball This has been a feature of Fairholme Junior sport for over 20 years. Many of

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Middle School

MRS JAYE ROSS, HEAD OF MIDDLE SCHOOL

2020 was a very successful year for the Middle School girls. In Year 7 we welcomed 66 new students to the Middle School in January, and these girls quickly embraced the Fairholme culture and the many opportunities presented to them. Whilst the year presented challenges, the Middle School girls were still able to achieve academic successes. Additionally, the girls balanced their participation in Sport and The Arts effectively. We are pleased to present the following highlights: ACADEMIC SUCCESS – ICAS With the cancellation of NAPLAN this year, the participation of our Fairholme Year 7,8 and 9 girls who completed the International Competitions and Assessments for Schools (ICAS) held greater importance. The results are a credit to the girls and are proof of their hard work and exceptional attitude towards learning.

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CO-CURRICULAR OPPORTUNITIES • Debating: Four Year 7 teams, five Year 8 teams and three Year 9 teams.

• Year 7/8 QAMT Maths Quiz: 21 girls and 7 teams competed successfully and one team made it through to the Regional Final (Brisbane West), where they placed • Robotics: Year 7 and Year 8 students enjoyed a specialist STEM subject throughout the year and also a lunchtime club • The Arts attracted many girls to the wide range of opportunities available to them in Dance, Music, Drama and Visual Art • Middle School Box of Chocolates Concert: an opportunity for Middle School girls to try out performing in front of an audience; this was performed during Year Level Meetings.

SERVICE OPPORTUNITIES It is important that Middle School girls develop an understanding of how they can contribute to society through helping others. The following highlights demonstrate the work of the girls in this area: • Middle School girls supported a number of charities such as Cancer Council – Daffodil Day, Indigenous Literacy Day and various fundraising activities.

• Support for Hike for Homeless to help raise money for struggling Toowoomba families • Operation Christmas Child • Light the Night – raising awareness and hope for people with Blood Cancer • Letter writing to communities (aged care facilities, rural communities) to lift their spirits and raise connections during COVID-19 lockdown.

INCLUSIVE ACTIVITIES Girls of Middle School age need to feel valued, known and welcomed in their school community. Fairholme Middle School fosters this through a variety of fun activities designed to make every girl feel like she belongs.

• Year level camps at the beginning of the year • Socials and sporting afternoons with St Mary’s and Toowoomba Grammar School.

• Competitions: Book Week Dress Up Day and Treasure Hunt, Cape Making, Just Dance • Lunch time activities: Trivia quizzes, Chalk Drawings, Hand Ball, Christmas Card writing, Mr Squiggle Competition, writing what they are grateful for on our Middle School chalkboard walls.

• Middle School buddies: RAK buddies, where the girls were buddied with someone in their grade to provide Random Acts of Kindness for them.

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Senior School

MS CATRINA SHARP, DEPUTY PRINCIPAL/HEAD OF SENIOR SCHOOL To the Senior School girls of 2020 …

In 2020, you accepted the challenge to learn differently and engage with your teachers in new ways. Your independence increased, and you discovered new found-skills – some as pleasant surprises and others through sheer determination. To your credit, you were not content to accept the distance forced upon us. Rather, you stood up for all that our community is about – connections, relationships and support, and you reached out to your own families and to our Fairholme family. In doing so, you all tipped the world in our favour, more than just a little.

As Head Girl, Laura Craft, proclaimed at Presenting Fairholme, the moniker ’20-two-0: Year of the Hero!’ was one befitting the entire world as well as one which proved to be perfect for our own community. Heroism – or courage, was seen in virtually every setting. For some time, we all needed to learn differently, communicate in new ways, remain connected through atypical means and do this all from new places. However, such was the Senior School community’s

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attitude and persistence that this was managed with a fabulous outlook, and was thus successful, but it also set the stage for positive, ongoing change! The understanding that the new frontier was one we were experiencing together was a comfort and indeed provided great encouragement. As Zara Bambling and Phoebe Meyer Elks rightly claimed, in a year that could have manoeuvred us all towards being spectators alone, the girls at Fairholme refused to be defined by such a position and chose instead to unveil their true hero qualities.

Distance, restrictions, constant change and uncertainty were not match for a community such as ours, and one led by an incredible group of Senior Leaders. A global pandemic was no match for their commitment to their servant leadership responsibilities. Never just spectators, our Year 12 girls deserve the warmest congratulations.

We remain grateful that you reminded us that we can be heroes to others and encouraged us to remember that small acts can be heroic. You prompted us

all to grow through serving others and to appreciate our inner glow – shining with our strengths and recognising that finding our passions definitely perpetuates the domino flow for our community!

Girls, you protected all that is important to us at Fairholme – relationships, connections and belonging. The world forced you to do it differently and to stretch yourselves to manage obstacles that just kept on coming! In truth, the goings on of the year propelled you to be better people, better friends, better community members and magnificent leaders! Your work alone was one of the great silver linings of 2020!

We wish our leaders every blessing in their new adventures. May you all continue to be dedicated to the people in your lives, may you reach out to those who need care, work hard, be kind, be strong and be comforted by the fact the Lord will forever hold you in the palm of his hand.

Post-School. Destination Information (available September 2021)

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Teaching and Learning

MR STEWART PEACOCK, HEAD OF TEACHING AND LEARNING In 2020 we embarked on several firsts; the first time that students across Years 10–12 completed their study under the new QCE system, and the first time since 1972 that a large proportion of Queensland Year 12 students sat subject-based external assessments. Yet the most significant ‘first’ was the global pandemic.

possibilities to do things differently and with greater flexibility, resulting in potential benefits. Staying united and learning together, regardless of opinions on the degree of how positive versus negative potential outcomes are, one can argue that throughout 2020 we were all able to see how truly adaptable life can be.

Perhaps one of the most perplexing characteristics of the COVID-19 pandemic is that it presented us with a challenge with no fixed end point.

At the time of writing we still have no idea how long this might last. We learnt that online learning places increased demands on students to become more independent learners, but therein lies the opportunity to develop resilience.

They say that conflict breeds innovation, that adversity creates change. So, while ‘Learning from Holme’ produced some inspirational moments, some irritating moments, some fun moments and some frustrating moments, like many teachers, parents and students across the world we experienced new

The Queensland Certificate of Education (QCE) is now the ‘main game’. For our girls, achieving their best results in their subjects and courses is the key to maximising their ATAR (Australian Tertiary Admission Rank).

Yet, balancing their studies with nonacademic pursuits, for most, remains in context.

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The single biggest change in the new QCE system is the way students are now assessed in General subjects.

Three school-based assessments and an external assessment means fewer assessments overall — an emphasis on quality over quantity. Thankfully, in response to the pandemic,

the Queensland Curriculum and Assessment Authority (QCAA) reduced the number of internal assessments for Queensland Year 12s by one, to alleviate the pressure on students.

Fairholme College received very positive feedback from the QCAA with regards to our Endorsement and subsequent Confirmation submissions for 2020. Under the new system, Queensland schools are required to develop internal assessments according to the parameters outlined in the syllabus. These assessment items are then submitted to the QCAA for endorsement before they are used in the classroom. This process ensures that all assessments provide sufficient opportunities for students to demonstrate syllabus requirements and to build teachers’ capacity to develop high-quality assessments.

Confirmation, on the other hand, is the annual quality assurance process for ensuring the comparability of student results for summative internal

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assessments in General and General (Extension) subjects. For each subject, several randomly selected assessment items are submitted to the QCCA for confirmation. Confirmation is not about marking or remarking students’ work. It is a quality-assurance process that is focused on checking the accuracy and consistency of the judgments made by teachers, to ensure comparability of student results across Queensland. A significant proportion of our teachers are trained and active QCAA Endorsers, Confirmers and Markers; a crucial component for an informed understanding of the workings of the new QCE system.

As one would appreciate, scheduling the 17 days of external assessments across all Queensland schools is a complex logistical exercise involving around 53,000 students sitting 46 General subject external assessments in over 13,000 different subject combinations. In preparation for this event, our Senior Teachers devised a planned sequence at the start of Term 4 for an intensive three-week period to prepare our students thoroughly for the External Examinations, with particular focus on Mock Examination results and feedback as the best methods for exam preparation.

The new approach to assessment also led to changes in the way senior schooling was organised, in order to provide occasions for our Year 12 students to celebrate important final occasions together as a cohort. In a year of major disruptions to normal school life, providing an opportunity for the College community to acknowledge the contributions of our Seniors throughout their years

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of schooling was perhaps more important than ever before. Events such as Presenting Fairholme and Valedictory celebrations retained the time-honoured traditions that are so important to our College.

In the Middle School, Fairholme continued to build on the sequential programs of study established and fostered in the Junior School. A learning approach is taken to ensure that students are working at levels which are challenging, yet within reach. The principles underlying the best in Middle Schooling suggest that offering students a choice of subjects and allowing them to negotiate areas of interest within a subject – for example, Mathematics – encourages better engagement in learning and a greater degree of understanding of the topic.

As such, with the constant review of Elective subjects, in 2021 Fairholme has introduced Agricultural Science as an elective offering in Year 9, whilst interest in Business, Languages and The Arts continues to grow. Our teachers in the Middle School will continue to develop a dynamic curriculum that makes us wish we were at school again.

The Learning Pathways Centre, developed to ensure that all students are offered an opportunity to undertake an exciting and authentic career plan that suits their individual strengths and dreams, has seen the number of students studying Vocational Education and Training (VET) Programs increase yet again.

The Year 10 Specialist Elective program is a significant and integral part of the of the Fairholme curriculum; one only has to only drop into the Health Hub on any given Tuesday or look up from

our oval to marvel at the skill of our drone pilots, to feel the excitement and enthusiasm and witness ‘real-life learning’ in action.

The academic reputation of the College goes from strength to strength, with our students continuing to achieve outstanding results each year. The Class of 2020 distinguished themselves by achieving outstanding QCE results and subsequent ATARs. Their individual commitment to high academic standards, demonstrated through diligence and perseverance, is noteworthy and has set a fine benchmark for their peers.

After the necessity to switch to online learning in late March, our Year 12s rase to the challenge magnificently.

They were superbly supported by our exceptional teaching staff; we are proud that their combined efforts were so well rewarded.

We stand by the wonderful QCAA and ATAR results as accurate assessments of each student’s potential achievement.

I would like to thank the students of Fairholme College, particularly our Year 12 students, for being a delight to work with in 2020. I would also like to thank the parents for being so supportive, particularly of our curriculum directions and choices. Finally, I would like to thank our magnificent staff who are always flexible, creative and committed, and who maintain a wonderful sense of humour which makes Fairholme a happy place to be.

Boarding

MS MARGUERITE DUNNE, HEAD OF BOARDING Fairholme is one of the largest all-girls Boarding Schools in Australia and 2020 has seen our Boarding House continue to be a leader in providing residential care for girls in Years 5 to 12.

Our boarding students continued to contribute approximately 30% of numbers to the Middle School and 40% of girls in our Senior School. We welcomed two Yr 5 Boarders during the year and so students ranged from 10 years of age right through to 18-year-old girls in Yr 11 and Yr 12. As in previous years, most Boarders came from regional South-West Queensland and North-West New South Wales, but we also have many girls from Central and North Queensland, and further away from the Northern Territory and Victoria, with a small number whose parents reside overseas. This wonderful mix of girls brings real diversity to the Boarding House, which benefits all the girls.

In January, we welcomed over 50 new girls from Year 5 to Year 11 into our

Boarding House. This was an increase on previous years, and it is obvious that our modern facilities are attractive to new girls and their families. Many girls comment on the refurbished rooms and how much they value their own study and storage spaces, vanity units and access to common rooms and kitchenettes on each floor. A lot of the rooms also enjoy beautiful views over Webb Park and the escarpment or our Fairholme gardens and lawns.

The Fairholme Health Centre, with a registered nurse on duty 24 hours per day each day of the school year, is also reassuring for our families.

Boarding provides such a positive experience for all our girls. They learn to be more responsible for their own belongings and space and to be flexible and resilient as they negotiate and collaborate with the other girls with whom they share a room, bathroom and breakfast and dinner table.

Our Boarding staff observe great development in our girls’ maturity and ability to co-operate with others and

to be independent and organised in their approach to their daily tasks and towards their study.

Our boarding students also benefit from the proximity of the Boarding House to Fairholme's day school. So many of the boarding girls use the sporting and performing arts facilities after hours and take advantage of their easy access to after- and before-school training, rehearsals and other sporting, academic and cultural co-curricular opportunities.

Another plus for our boarding girls is their supervised ‘prep’ or homework time. Teachers from the day school are rostered to support the girls while they do their academic study each week night and Sunday afternoons. Many students find this focused quiet and independent study time vital as they rise to meet the academic challenges that their subjects provide for them.

The girls also benefit from the positive and reassuring messages provided to them by our weekly Devotions and

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Chapel time each Sunday night. This is further enhanced by the opportunity to attend Bible Study sessions during the week and these groups have become very popular as the girls enjoy the heartening support these times together provide.

the girls included baking and craft, and games on the oval or in the Fairholme pool.

The Big Sister program continued in 2020, and this provided a wonderful support to our new and younger girls.

Of course, it also provided a good chance for our Senior girls to further In 2020, the Fairholme Boarding develop their leadership skills. Year-level House continued to be a busy and etiquette dinners continued as well, and vibrant place with a huge variety of activities for the girls to participate this allowed the girls to plan activities in before and after school and on within their year levels to contribute towards the overall wellbeing of the weekends. Speed, Power and Strength was offered on three afternoons and two Boarding House. mornings per week, and this proved very popular with the Boarders. Morning and A successful orientation weekend afternoon walks and runs also offered an was held in September and again in late October to ensure that all new opportunity for the girls to get regular families were ready for the 2021 school exercise. On the weekends many girls year. The Boarding House welcomed walked to local parks to enjoy the markets or the playgrounds, with a stop nearly 50 new families to these events, off at the shops on the way. Regular and many of these girls and parents trips to bowling and laser tag, Bounce, commented on how helpful it was to and Grand Central kept the girls active. attend and learn all the information they needed to transition successfully A trip to Wet and Wild started off the to Fairholme College Boarding in 2021. year and trips to Ice World and Emu Gully were offered towards the end of Fairholme Friends of Boarding the year. Other regular activities for

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continued to develop and attract new members throughout 2020. Towards the end of the year it was decided to hold meetings, via zoom, each month after the College P & F meetings, and this has proven to be quite a successful mode of communication. The Friends of Boarding held a very successful Boarders’ Cent Sale which raised significant funds which will benefit the Fairholme community in 2021.

2020 was another successful year for boarding at Fairholme.

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The Arts

MRS KAREN HAYWARD, HEAD OF THE ARTS ‘The arts are an intellectually engaging intersection of lateral thought and practice. They interrogate the human experience and challenge our understandings by encouraging and provoking alternative ways of seeing, thinking and doing. They enable us to know and observe our world collectively and as individuals. They reveal a sense of who we are and might become as we make connections and new meaning of the world around us and our place in it.’

extensively to the enjoyment, passion, creativity and strength of Fairholme Arts.

Year 10 Dance A – 100% Year 11 Dance A – 42.8%, B – 57.2% Year 12 Dance (*excl. External Exam Results) A – 50%, B – 37.5%, C – 12.5%

DANCE Dance is offered as an academic subject in Years 8 – 12. The Senior Dance course EVENTS AND ACHIEVEMENTS is a QCAA academically-rigorous General Subject that contributes to the • Contemporary Dance ATAR system.

Choreography Performance for Year 12 choreographed by Jen Dance fosters creative and expressive Murray communication. It uses the body as • ‘Women of Strength’ Luncheon – (QCAA – The Arts Senior Syllabus 2019) an instrument for the expression and Dance Troupe Performance communication of ideas. It provides • Phoenix Online Dance Despite the unique challenges faced, opportunities for students to critically Competition (Troupe and The Arts at Fairholme College in 2020 examine and reflect on their world Troupettes) continued to offer students an array of through higher-order thinking and • Dance Photoshoot for the Dance intellectually engaging opportunities, movement. It encourages the holistic Troupe and Troupettes albeit via some new, creative and development of a person, providing a • Co-curricular Offerings innovative ways. The Arts Programs way of knowing about oneself, others • Dance Collective (Open to Years served to challenge, develop, extend and the world.

7 – 12) and empower students through the • Dance Troupe (Auditioned Group delivery of rigorous academic programs ACADEMIC RESULTS Years 10 - 12) and an array of exciting co-curricular Year 8 Dance • Dance Troupettes (newly formed opportunities. The resilience and A – 66.3%, B – 30.4%, C – 3.3% in 2020) (Auditioned Group Years dedication displayed by our professional Year 9 Dance 7 – 9) staff and our talented students speaks A – 65%, B – 30%, C – 5%

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•

Interhouse Dance – Solo, Small Group and whole House Competitions.

DRAMA The study of Performance is offered to students in Year 7 and Drama is offered as an academic subject in Years 8 – 12.

The Senior Drama course is a QCAA academically-rigorous General Subject that contributes to the ATAR system.

Drama fosters creative and expressive communication. It interrogates and reflects the human experience by investigating, communicating and embodying stories, experiences, emotions and ideas. It engages students in imaginative meaning-making processes and involves them using a range of artistic skills as they make and respond to dramatic works.

ACADEMIC RESULTS Year 7 Performance A – 38%, B – 59%, C – 3% Year 8 Drama A – 41.8%, B – 53.9%, C – 4.3% Year 9 Drama A – 33.3%, B – 66.7% Year 10 Drama A – 50%, B – 33.4%, C – 16.6% Year 11 Drama A – 16.6%, B – 50%, C – 33.4% Year 12 Drama (*excl External Exam Results) A – 50%, B – 37.5%, C – 12.5%

EVENTS AND ACHIEVEMENTS Senior Drama Performance of ‘Antigone’ • Queensland Theatre – Scene Project (Years 9 & 10 Drama Classes) performance of ‘Wisdom’ at the Empire Theatre’s Heritage Bank Armitage Centre.

• AMEB Drama & Performance Examinations Barbara Sisley Awards in 2020 (Top Result in Queesnland in their respective AMEB Grades) presented to Jenna Tomlinson (Year 11) for Grade 5 AMEB, Libby Clark (Year 10) for Grade 4 AMEB, Emmi Lange (Year 7) for Grade 2 AMEB, Lucy Rose (Year 6) for Grade 2 AMEB and Richa Vimal (Year 5) for Grade 1 AMEB.

•

CO-CURRICULAR OFFERINGS Troupe de Loop (Years 7 – 9) Individual Tuition – Speech and Drama • Interhouse Drama – Solo and Small Group Competitions • Sound and Lighting Crew (Years 8 – 12) – students involved in this group provide invaluable sound & lighting technical support, backstage assistance and equipment set-up for myriad College events, assemblies and performances throughout the year and are an integral part of the fabric of The Arts Department.

• •

MUSIC Music is offered as an academic subject in Years 7 – 12, with Music Extension being offered as an additional course of study for Year 12 students. The Senior Music and Music Extension courses are QCAA academically-rigorous General Subjects that contribute to the ATAR system.

Music fosters creative and expressive communication. It allows students to develop musicianship through making (composition and performance) and responding (musicology).

ACADEMIC RESULTS Year 7 Music A – 74.3%, B – 25.7% Year 8 Music A – 57.1%, B – 42.9% Year 8 Performance Music A – 63.6%, B – 36.4% Year 9 Music A – 100% Year 10 Music A – 71.4%, B – 28.6% Year 11 Music A – 0, B – 100% Year 12 Music (*excl External Exam Results) A – 100% Year 12 Music Extension (*excl External Exam Results) A – 66.6%, B – 33.4%

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EVENTS AND ACHIEVEMENTS CHORAL AND VOCAL MUSIC • Commencement and Induction of Leaders Assembly – Vocal Performance – Emma Johnson • Brightest and Best Choral Festival – Brisbane • Founders’ Day Assembly – Music Extension Performance – Breanna Collins, Emma Johnson and Lilly Marsden • ‘Extensions in Music’ Concert • ANZAC Day Duet Performance

by Emma Johnson and Lilly Marsden

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•

Toowoomba Virtual Secondary Performing Arts Festival

Results Fairholme Middle Chamber Choir SILVER Fairholme Senior Chamber Choir SILVER

• • •

‘Crème de la Crème’ Senior Music Extension and Senior Music Scholarship Recital Middle School ‘A Box of Chocolates’ Concerts held during Year-Level Meetings Presenting Fairholme Middle and

• • • • • • •

Senior School Chamber Choir performances ‘November Nuances’ - Years 8 and 11 Performance / Extension Music Recital Fairholme Singing Studio Recital State Honours Ensemble Program (SHEP) AMEB / Trinity College examinations ‘Women of Strength’ Luncheon Vocal Performance – Emma Johnson and Lilly Marsden Valedictory Assembly – Year 9 Choristers Final Assembly

INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC • Annual Instrumental Music Camp – QCCC Mt. Tamborine • State Honours Ensemble Program (Qld. Conservatorium of Music) • Kaleidoscope Concert Series – ‘Opening Night’ Concert • Middle and Junior School Lunchtime Concerts – Virtual and Live • Middle School ‘A Box of Chocolates’ Concerts held during Year-Level Meetings • ‘Women of Strength’ Luncheon – Instrumental Performance • Toowoomba Hospital Foundation Fundraiser – Fairholme College String Quartet • Queensland Symphony Orchestra Prodigy Project – Eliza Kingston (10), Evangeline Imray (10), Rachel Yap (8) • Virtual String Soiree • Presenting Fairholme Middle and Senior School performances • Final Assembly Performance – Eliza Kingston • Toowoomba Virtual Secondary Performing Arts Festival Results Fairholme Brass Ensemble SILVER Fairholme Symphonic Wind Band GOLD Fairholme Flute Ensemble SILVER Fairholme Stage Band SILVER Fairholme Chamber Strings GOLD Fairholme Symphony Orchestra GOLD CO-CURRICULAR OFFERINGS CHORAL MUSIC • College Choir (Years 7 – 12) • Middle School Chamber Choir (Years 7 – 9) • Senior School Chamber Choir (Years 10 – 12) INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC • Symphony Orchestra • Symphonic Wind Band • Stage Band • Brass Ensemble • Chamber Strings • String Quartet • Flute Ensemble • Clarinet Ensemble • Guitar and Ukulele Ensemble • Bagpipes and Highland Drums

OTHER • Interhouse Vocal and Instrumental Music Competitions TUITION • Individual Instrumental, Music Theory and Music Technology Specialist Tuition • Individual Vocal Tuition – Fairholme Singing Studio • Speech & Drama Specialist Tuition VISUAL ART Visual Art is offered as an academic subject in Years 7 – 12. The Senior Visual Art course is a QCAA academically-rigorous General Subject that contributes to the ATAR system.

Visual Art provides students with opportunities to understand and appreciate the role of visual art in past and present traditions and cultures, as well as the contributions of contemporary visual artists and their aesthetic, historical and cultural influences. This subject prepares young people for participation in the 21st century by fostering curiosity and imagination, and teaching students how to generate and apply new and creative solutions when problemsolving in a range of contexts. This learnt ability to think in divergent ways and produce creative and expressive responses enables future artists, designers and craftspeople to innovate and collaborate with the fields of science, technology, engineering and mathematics to design and manufacture images and objects that enhance our daily lives.

ACADEMIC RESULTS Year 7 Visual Art A – 35.9%, B – 56.3%, C – 7.8% Year 8 Visual Art A – 42.9%, B – 49.5%, C – 7.6% Year 9 Visual Art A – 42.7%, B – 48.7%, C – 8.6% Year 10 Visual Art A – 52.4%, B – 42.8%, C – 4.8% Year 11 Visual Art A – 43.7%, B – 43.7%, C – 12.6% Year 12 Visual Art (*excluding External Exam Results) A – 57.2%, B – 14.3%, C – 28.5%

EVENTS AND ACHIEVEMENTS ‘Networks’ Photographic Competition – open to all three sub-schools. Overall winner – Sruthi Gandu (8). Judged by John Sessarago.

• Anzac Day Wreath-making Project • ‘Learning @ Holme’ kits prepared and mailed to all students in Years 7 – 12 to provide much-needed access to art materials to sustain student engagement and learning during Term 2.

• Year 9 Watercolour Studies – Virtual Exhibition using Exhibbit Gallery Program • Independent Education Union Awards for Excellence in Art Design 2020 – High Commendations awarded to Katelyn Morey (Year 4) and Lily Cameron (Year 8) • DD/SWQ Creative Generation Excellence Awards in Visual Art – Zarabella Bambling (12), Paisley Collison (12), Ruth Johnston (12) and Imogen Mason (12) • Meta Experience Day – Authentic Experience underpinning Senior Syllabus Requirements – student engagement with hands-on workshop and exhibitions at the Toowoomba Regional Art Gallery • Year 12 Senior Common Room Mural – initiative of Year 12 Art class and Visual Art Captain – Ruth Johnston • Year 10 Lino Block Prints – Virtual Exhibition using Exhibit Gallery Program. Works sold to raise funds for P&F Committee Spring Fair Festival 2020.

•

CO-CURRICULAR OFFERINGS Nokie – Middle School Art Group Eikon – Senior School Art Group Interhouse Visual Art competitions.

• • •

ARTS POCKETS AND CERTIFICATES | RECOGNITION OF SERVICE Congratulations to the Year 11 and Year 12 Arts students who were presented with Pockets, acknowledging their outstanding service and significant contribution to one or more of The Arts co-curricular discipline areas throughout this year.

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Business

MRS KATRINA MAHER, HEAD OF DEPARTMENT – BUSINESS Business is very important in our everyday life and also in every walk of life. People study business for many reasons. Some are preparing to pursue careers in one of the major fields of business. Others want to become better-informed consumers by understanding their rights, and to avoid pre- and post-purchase problems. The Business course at Fairholme aims to equip students to enter the real world of consumerism.

The Year 9 Business course focuses on two key concepts: Financial Literacy and Business Enterprises. Financial Literacy is explored through real-life concepts such as Budgeting, Income, Credit and Loans, Banking, Investing, Mobile Phones and Insurances. The Business Enterprise Unit provided opportunities for students to develop their entrepreneurial skills. Students, in pairs, ideated an innovative good or service, and created a comprehensive business plan as a part of the Plan Your Own Enterprise Competition.

The Business Plan consisted of an

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operational analysis, conducted market research, created a marketing plan, devised advertising and pricing strategies and discussed future business goals.

The Year 9 Launch students introduced a design-thinking methodology for solving problems. Students were given opportunities to create design solutions for real-world issues, spaces and created and enhanced products.

The focus was on human-centred design, which required students to empathise with the needs and wants of end-users and ensured their proposed design solutions met specific design requirements. Students learned skills and knowledge that included sketching, visual communication, low-fidelity prototyping through creative and lateral thinking and visual, written and oral communication. Launch allowed the girls to be experimental and collaborative throughout the process, whilst working together to bolster each other’s creativity.

To assist with the selection of Senior subjects, Markets and Opportunities is designed for Year 10 students as an introduction to the three Business Senior subjects: Accounting, Economics and Legal Studies. The purpose of this course is to provide a taster for students to make an informed decision regarding subject selection for Years 11 and 12.

The Year 11 Accounting students completed Units 1 and 2, learning processes and practices for both service industries and trading industries.

Students sat their first Summative piece of assessment under the ATAR system, focusing on the topic of managing resources, in particular non-current assets, for a trading business.

Unit 3 of Year 12 Accounting focused on managing the resources of a business, including accounts receivable, non-current assets and technology.

The students produced fully classified statements to report comprehensively on the performance of a sole trader and explored how administrative and

Academic Results

11+56+2211I 20+20+60I 38+25+12I LA 11%

SA 22%

VHA 11%

Accounting

VHA 20%

SA 60%

Economics

LA 25%

HA 20%

HA 56%

accounting controls can be used effectively to protect and maintain the resources of a business. The focus of the final unit for external assessment was to analyse, interpret and evaluate the performance of a public company, primarily through the use of financial ratios.

This year the Year 11 Economics students began their studies with the fundamentals of economics, including understanding the basic economic problem and market forces using the supply and demand model. The next topic of Unit 1 was based around an investigative research report on economic flows using the five-sector circular flow of income model. Unit 2 delved into the study of markets and efficiency and what happens when markets fail, as when markets fail to account for environmental costs. This led to a study of inequality, on which a response to stimulus exam was based. Students then transitioned to Unit 3 for Term 4 where they studied international economics and the global economy. The first internal assessment was a combination exam.

The Year 12 group successfully completed their studies of the new QCE Syllabus for Economics in 2020.

SA 12%

Legal Studies

VHA 38%

HA 25%

Term 1 began with the second topic of Unit 3, International Economic Issues.

The assessment was an investigative research report on issues surrounding Australia’s balance of payments which has undergone important changes in recent years. Term 2 marked the beginning of their final Unit, Contemporary Macroeconomics.

With most countries around the world experiencing very serious and dramatic economic consequences due to COVID-19, studying the theory and objectives of economic management could not have been more relevant for the girls. Their study culminated in the external exam.

LEGAL STUDIES Legal Studies enables students to have confidence in approaching and accessing the legal system and provides them with a better appreciation of the relationship between legal and social issues. There is immediate relevance of Legal Studies to students’ lives.

In 2020, Year 11 students considered how criminal law attempts to balance the rights of individuals with the needs of society and then how the resultant consequence is determined. The second unit covered the topic of Civil Obligations, focusing on Contract

Law and the Tort of Negligence. Law, governance and change was the focus of their first summative piece of assessment.

Year 12 students studied law reform in different jurisdictions; looking at pivotal events and the criteria of making laws more equitable, modern, fair and efficient. Students chose a specific area in need of legal change within the state or federal jurisdiction, and proposed recommendations for law reform.

Students also explored the global and domestic context for human rights and how international laws and institutions affect Australia. Students looked at the role of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the International Bill of Human Rights, numerous International Conventions and Treaties and the Australian Constitution, and analysed their effectiveness. The students were given the opportunity to hear from the University of Queensland’s Law Faculty on the following topics: Domestic and Family Violence, Refugees and Asylum Seekers and International Humanitarian Law.

33

Careers

MRS LAURA ANDERSON, CAREERS ADVISOR As our Year 12s celebrated the completion of their formal secondary education, Queensland formally said goodbye to the OP system and embarked on a the National ATAR system. Anyone who has been privileged enough to hear Dr Evans speak, knows she is passionate about inspiring us all to finish well, and our 2020 graduands results certainly did that. So, thank you to our Year 12s, we are so very proud of your academic achievements and even more proud of the character, grit and care you displayed throughout your final year with us at Fairholme College. As our 2020 cohort embark on a world of firsts, well know they are well equipped to manage the rewards and challenges that they will encounter.

As in previous years, the university application results reflect the dedication and hard work of our Year 12 students, with all who applied receiving an offer.

This year, students also displayed their knowledge of how to manage a complex application process with care and diligence. They were also very good at seeking clarification when they were unsure about what their next step should be, which is indicative of their

34

well-structured decision-making skills and ability to remain focused and calm under pressure.

leading universities to expand their knowledge of tertiary education and life as a university student.

The major universities in Brisbane continue to be the most popular tertiary choice, largely due to the broad range of degrees available that are not offered locally. The University of New England also continues to be a popular choice for students, with the Health Sciences, Law and Psychology continuing to be the leading degrees of choice. Degrees in Science, Maths and Education were more popular than in previous years.

Year 10s completed their Career Avenues profiling and Work Experience.

Opportunities of this nature allow our Year 10s to develop an understanding of themselves and the world of work so they feel prepared for their Senior studies.

Year 11s were offered an opportunity to prepare for their Senior year through their participation in the Year 11 Career Engagement Day. In 2020 they were also encouraged to develop an understanding of goal setting through vision boards to assist them with their long-term personal and career aspirations. Each Year 11 student participated in a mock interview, which is an invaluable opportunity to assist with developing an understanding of industry and employability. Earlier this year, our Year 11s also enjoyed a full day in Brisbane or the Gold Coast, visiting

Year 9 students were introduced into the concept of career development in the later part of Term 4. During this session, students completed the My Future Finder activity and were also given information to help them begin their exploration into their 2021 Work Experience Placement.

In 2020, Senior students enjoyed the additional challenges of participating in the University of Southern Queensland Headstart Program, Central Queensland University SUN Program, UCAT preparation and the University of Queensland’s Young Scholars Program.

TRENDS OF YEAR 12 APPLICANTS PREFERRED STUDY AREAS

5+2+610730429

Agriculture,Environmental and Related studies Architecture and Building

Society and Culture

Natural and Physical Sciences

Management and Commerce

Health

Outcomes for our Year 12 cohort 2020

Number of students awarded a Senior Education Profile

80

Number of students awarded a Queensland Certificate of Education

76

Number of students awarded a Queensland Certificate of Individual Achievement

0

Number of students awarded an International Baccalaureate Diploma

0

Number of students who received an ATAR Number of students or are completing or completed a School-based Apprenticeship or Traineeship (SAT)

11

Number of students awarded one or more Vocational Education and Training (VET) qualifications

57

35

Creative Arts

Education

Engineering

English

MR ROHAN DAVIS, HEAD OF DEPARTMENT - ENGLISH A DROLL DEBATE In the words of Hubert Humphrey, ‘Freedom is hammered out on the anvil of discussion, dissent, and debate.’

Social combat is the result – not debate. On one side we have autocrats.

Outrage, and name calling with policy reduced to tweets. On the other, we have the high priests of Woke. Equally - outrage, intolerance and virtue signalling.

cancel or tweet before you think seems to be the norm.

Social media and the 24-hour news cycle have become our world, and as the old religions and ideologies of Christianity and liberalism are slandered and shut away in the back rooms of cathedrals, schools and universities, new ideologies and religions are filling the void.

Students of English and Literature Extension, Literature, English, and Essential English are encouraged to think, articulate that thinking and substantiate their thinking. This often results in myriad opinions, dissenting views and lively debates.

So without adding to the despair, perhaps there is one more word to add to the opening quote – drollery. (that’s a fancy word for humour/being funny or comical) Freedom is hammered out on the anvil of discussion, dissent, debate and drollery. We have enjoyed the freedom to express opinions, to disagree, to argue and to laugh, even in 2020!

Diversity of opinion and the art of persuasion have lost favour and are unfashionable. Nobody wants to be branded, outed, othered, or vilified for voicing a personal opinion that is heretical or out of step.

Some would say that there is little room allowed for debate in the brave new worlds of COVID-19, twittersphere, facebook and whichever other social media platform you favour. Protest,

Academic Results

31.1+56.3+11.71I 31.2+65.6+3.2I 36+48.8+15.1I 28.4+49.6+17.64.4I 76.2+23.8+I 4.8+54+38.13.3I 0+90+100I 0+66.7+33.30I 70+30+0I 64+24+12I 19+58.6+22.4I LA 1%

SA 11.7%

SA 3.2%

VHA 31.1%

HA 56.3%

HA 23.8%

SA 31.1%

Year 11 Literature

LA VHA 3.2% 4.8%

Year 11

SA 10.5%

HA 30%

HA 26.3%

Year 12 Lit.Ext.

VHA 70%

HA 49.5%

SA 10%

SA 33.3%

Year 12

Year 11

English

VHA 76.2%

English

HA 48.8%

HA 65.6%

Essential

Essential

HA 54%

HA 90%

SA 22.4%

VHA 19%

Year 12

Year 12

English

Literature

VHA 63.2%

VHA 28.6%

Year 10

English

English

English

VHA 36%

LA 4.4% SA 17.6%

Year 9

Year 8

Year 7

36

VHA 31.2%

SA 15.1%

HA 58.6%

HA 66.7%

Co-curricular Achievements

The Evatt Competition UN Youth Australia Regional finalists: Georgie Scouller, Evie Mason

Sport and Activities

MR TONY TREGASKIS, HEAD OF SPORT AND ACTIVITIES Well, what a tumultuous year we have had! Who would have thought in 2019 that the world would be turned upside down by a pandemic? Borders shut, places in lockdown, shortages of toilet paper, restrictions on gatherings, people standing a minimum of 1.5 meters apart and the sporting world thrown into chaos with historic events being cancelled, like Wimbledon, and postponed, like the Tokyo Summer Olympics and the Tour de France.

It wasn't just the big-ticket sporting events; a number of local, Regional, Queensland and Australian School Sport events were also axed.

Community sport suffered, with some seasons failing to make it through to finals while other sports cancelled entire seasons and some sports came up with revised competitions, with significant restrictions on numbers at events, social distancing, regular use of hand sanitiser and disinfecting of equipment.

Our girls agonised with all of these but still they craved the physical activity, competition and friendly social interaction that sport supplies.

The Interhouse sporting calendar that Fairholme College supplies yearly has been significant in developing in our students a strong culture based on participation, loyalty to their House and often fierce rivalry. The energy and passion from a March Past, Boarders verse Day Girls or a Tug ‘o’ War is something that needs to be seen to be believed; even bottled.

Given the disruption to the Fairholme College sporting calendar, our sport staff and the school believed that it was highly important for our girls to still be involved in these activities in a COVID-safe environment. The continuation of Fairholme's strong culture was evident in our COVID Cup Virtual Cross Country and then the COVID Cup Athletics Carnival. There were no records, no age champions, no staff-versus-student relays and, unfortunately, no parents or spectators.

What we did have was passion, gusto, heaps of participation, energy, House loyalty and a fierce rivalry for the 2020 COVID Cup; hopefully for the one

and only year.

Fairholme College set the tone for another outstanding year of achievements in Sport, including being named Sports Darling Downs Secondary School of the Year for 2019.

Unfortunately, within two months a significant number of our athletes' hopes were dashed. The number of School Sport representative players dropped significantly from previous years, as many sports simply had no pathway in which to compete. For those that did have an opportunity, they represented Fairholme proudly.

Remarkably, 53 girls represented the Darling Downs and 8 were selected in Queensland teams.

TEAM HIGHLIGHTS AND ACHIEVEMENTS • Senior and Junior Vicki Wilson number 1 teams were invited to State finals. The Junior team finishing 9th.

• Queensland All Schools Touch Football – U13 and Open teams made the finals.

• Toowoomba Secondary School Sport Swimming Champions INDIVIDUAL HIGHLIGHTS AND ACHIEVEMENTS • Basketball: 3 Darling Downs Representatives • Cricket: 5 Darling Downs Representatives • Equestrian: 4 Queensland Representatives • Golf: 1 Darling Downs Representative • Hockey: 2 Darling Downs Representatives • Netball: 6 Darling Downs Representatives

• • • • • • • • • • AFL

•

Rugby Union 7s: 4 Representatives Swimming: 9 Darling Downs Representatives Tennis: 1 Darling Downs Representative Touch: 7 Darling Downs Representatives Triathlon: 11 Darling Downs and 3 Queensland Representatives Track and Field: 1 Queensland Representative Volleyball: 3 Darling Downs Representatives Water Polo: 2 Darling Downs Representatives Medals at Darling Downs Swimming: 20 Gold, 12 Silver, 5 Bronze Medals at National Track and Field Championships: 1 Bronze AFL Queensland Schools Cup competition cancelled

BASKETBALL • 3 Friday Night TSSS teams – competition was cancelled at Semi-Finals. All 3 teams (Yr 7/8, Yr 9/10 and Yr 11/12) made it through to Semi-Finals.

• U18 Darling Downs Armstrong Automotive Basketball Challenge Champions • Year 7/8 and Year 10 Darling Downs Armstrong Automotive Basketball Challenge cancelled.

• Darling Downs Representatives: 1 in 10-12yrs and 1 in 13-15yrs competitions CHESS • Teams and individuals competing at Toowoomba schools tournament

37

CRICKET • StreetSmart Secondary Schools T20 Queensland cancelled • 5 Darling Downs Representatives CROSS COUNTRY • Interhouse Carnival: Cancelled.

Virtual Cross Country run from home. Champions: Black House • Toowoomba Secondary School and Darling Downs events cancelled EQUESTRIAN • Convenors of Fairholme IQ Show Jumping, Pittsworth • Darling Downs Championships cancelled • 4 Queensland Certificate of Merit members (no official Queensland Team) – Phoebe Riordan, Kaida MacDonald, Charlotte Ostwald, Torra MacDonald • Queensland Interschool results for Fairholme - Champion Secondary Show Jumping School, Champion Primary Show Jumping School, The Harry Lebherz Trophy for Champion Primary School and Reserve Champion Show Horse Team FUTSAL • 3 Association Teams • 2 SWQ Futsal Teams • 3 Term 4 Competition Teams GOLF • 1 Darling Downs Representative

38

HOCKEY 1 Association Team – School Club link with North’s Hockey Club • 2 Darling Downs Representatives • Darling Downs Schools Cup and Queensland All Schools Cup cancelled

•

NETBALL • 27 Association Teams – Saturday and Wednesday nights – 6 Association Teams Grand Finalists in respective divisions, 4 Teams Premiers.

• Junior Vicki Wilson and Senior Vicki Wilson Regionals cancelled • Senior Vicki Wilson Team 16th in Queensland finals • Junior Vicki Wilson Team 9th in Queensland finals • Laura Geitz Shield Competition – Champions • 6 Darling Downs Representatives ORIENTEERING • Darling Downs and Queensland Championships cancelled RUGBY LEAGUE • Darling Downs Trials cancelled RUGBY UNION 7s • Over 50 girls training and playing in U13, U15 and U18 • Scots PGC 7s - U15 Champions and U18 Runners Up • South West 7s Competition – U13 Champions, U15 – Runners Up, U18 – Semi-Finalists SOFTBALL • Golden Glove Darling Downs cancelled

SWIMMING Interhouse Carnival Champions – Black House • Toowoomba Secondary School Sport Swimming Trophies – Overall Champion School, Age Champions 13s, 14s, 16s, U19 and Open, and 3rd in 15s and Relay Champions (winning every relay) • 9 Darling Downs Representatives • Medals – Darling Downs – 20 x Gold, 12 x Silver, 5 x Bronze • Naia Anderson announced Darling Downs Swimming Captain • Senior, Middle and Junior School Swimming Tournaments

TENNIS • Knowles Cup Tournament • Sacre Coeur Tournament cancelled • 1 Darling Downs Representative • Queensland Secondary School Cup – Regional Champions, 7th in State

•

TOUCH 61 players participating in Queensland Performance Academy at Fairholme • 7 Association Teams – competition cancelled • 5 Summer Touch Teams • 7 Darling Downs Representatives • Queensland All Schools Tournament – 3 teams, U13 top eight, U15 narrowly missing round of 16 and Open top-16 finish • SWQ Tournament cancelled • All Hallows’ Tournament cancelled • A Grade Summer Competition semi-finalists

•

TRACK AND FIELD • COVID Interhouse Champions – Black House • Toowoomba Secondary School Sport Athletics cancelled • Darling Downs School Sport Athletics cancelled • 1 Queensland Representative – Layn Arnold 3rd in National Triple Jump (December 2019) • Nitro Athletics (previous Knockout competition) cancelled TRIATHLON • 11 Darling Downs Representatives • 3 Queensland Representatives – Celeste Pratt, Hannah Pollock and Georgia Sloss • Queensland School Sport Triathlon Championships cancelled

• •

Queensland Schools Cup participation in Senior (7th in State) Darling Downs Senior Schools Cup cancelled

WATER POLO • 1 Association Team • 2 Darling Downs Representatives OLYMPIC CHANGE MAKER AWARD 2020 Awarded by Queensland Olympic Council for outstanding sporting achievements, commendable sporting behaviour and exemplary leadership to: Paige Carpenter.

INTERHOUSE OVERALL CHAMPION HOUSE: Black House

VOLLEYBALL • 4 Association Teams • 3 Darling Downs Representative • Semester 2 TVA Women’s Reserve competition - 1st place, Women’s B - 3rd place • Semester 1 TVA competition cancelled

39

Design Technologies - Food and Fibre MRS MANDI-JOY MEISE, HEAD OF SUBJECT HOME ECONOMICS AND DESIGN TECHNOLOGIES

The wealth of nations and the well-being of individuals now depend on having artists in the room. In a world enriched by abundance but disrupted by automation and outstanding white-collar work, everyone, regardless of profession, must cultivate an artistic sensibility. We may not all be Dali or Degas. But we must all be DESIGNERS. Daniel H. Pink It is easy to disregard Design but that would be to neglect what Design is and why it matters. John Heskett, a scholar of the subject, explains it well, 'Design, stripped to its essence, can be defined as the human nature to shape and make our environment in ways without precedent in nature, to serve our needs and give meaning to our lives.' Within any space we inhabit are objects that have been designed – from the clothes we wear to the chairs we sit on. All these objects are important aspects of our life, they enhance and add value to everyday tasks, and all thanks to someone who imagined and initiated their ideas. Design is in the aesthetics we appreciate and the functionality of significant features of a product that make our lives that much easier; it is the extension of creative minds. As the world cries out for change, Design will become the key element in shifting the world we presently know.

‘I think designers are the alchemist of the future.’

Richard Koshalek

Designers are holistic thinkers and collaborators, and here at Fairholme, within the Design Technology Food and Fibre Department, we aim to build an awareness within the students of what Design is and how it can affect

40

their lives, regardless of what discipline or career they follow. Students appreciated that Design and the thinking skills applied enhanced their ability to solve problems, respect the opinions of others and stay connected to the ever-evolving world around them.

HIGHLIGHTS Years 11 and 12 Fashion Collections – Fairholme Spring Parade Pattern Development Photoshop for Fashion Design Fashion Watch Magazine Article Individually You

‘Good design is a renaissance attitude that combines technology, cognitive science, human need, and beauty to produce something that the world didn’t know it was missing.’

Years 8 – 10 Design Technologies Food and Fibre Individual sustainable design challenges and products developed Food Technology

Paola Antonelli

Within the Design classroom, students were encouraged to create solutions – and appreciate that the simplest solution is in essence a design solution.

The solving of one problem, in turn, changes the world and the reality for people wherever the situation is happening. From Year 7 Design all the way through to Year 12 Fashion, students developed their designthinking skills and creative adaptation thought processes. Designing with specific consideration for the human and environmental costs of the choices they make, students were further encouraged at various levels to appreciate Design as a form of Art; as a regeneration of ideas. They were encouraged to look at the world around them and think how they could make it better, to visualise, brainstorm and then implement. In Year 12 Fashion, students took Design a step further - it became an artistic self-expression of their individualism in a sustainable world.

Year 7 Design Design challenges around the fundamentals of Design Production of aesthetic cushion and functional apron

This year the Year 12 cohort continued their journey in seeking excellence.

Academic Results

40+60+0I

HA 60%

Year 12

VHA 40%

Humanities

MS KIM SCUDAMORE, HEAD OF HUMANITIES 2020 was a year where students became increasingly aware that they were not just studying history, but were part of a major historical event, and where geographical borders became something more than simply abstract concepts on a map.

A direct impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on Humanities students was the shift to ‘Learning from Holme’ at the end of Term 1 and for the first half of Term 2, where both teachers and students moved to learning online through the myFairholme platform, with live lessons occurring via Microsoft Teams or Zoom video conferences. Other adaptations included the implementation of virtual performances, and Geography field work moving to a more local context, studying the Toowoomba Central Business District in Year 11, while the Year 11/12 Geography camp to Stradbroke Island was postponed until 2021.

For Year 12 Humanities students, in the first year of the new Queensland Certificate of Education (QCE) system, this meant the cancellation of one of their internal assessment tasks, a decision made by the Queensland Curriculum Assessment Authority (QCAA) in response to the extreme circumstances. This then provided students, both while learning remotely and after transitioning back to on-campus classes, with ample opportunities to prepare for their external examinations, which they successfully undertook in October.

HIGHLIGHTS • • • •

Chorascape Enrichment Day (Year 7 English and Humanities) ‘Fightin’ the Kaiser’ World War 1 Virtual Performance (Year 9 Humanities) Toowoomba Urban Study Field Trip (Year 11 Geography) ‘I Was Only Nineteen’ Vietnam War Virtual Performance (Year 12 Modern History)

Academic Results

27+56+17I 31+60+9I 36+44+20I 29++121I58 20+54+233I 50+50+I SA 17%

SA 9%

VHA 27%

Year 7

Year 8

Humanities

Humanities

HA 60%

HA 56%

SA 20%

SA 12%

VHA 36%

Year 9

LA 1%

VHA 29%

Year 10

Humanities

Humanities

HA 58%

HA 44%

SA 23%

VHA 31%

LA 3%

VHA 20%

Year 11

SA 50%

Modern History

Year 11 Ancient History

HA 50%

HA 54%

5+32+5310I 23+54+23I LA VHA 10% 5%

Year 11

SA 23%

HA 32%

VHA 23%

Year 12 Ancient History

SA Geography 53%

HA 54%

19+70+11I 37+25+38I SA 11%

Year 12 Modern History

HA 70%

VHA 19%

SA 38%

Year 12

LA 37%

Geography HA 25%

41

Information Technology Faculty MR CHAU CHUC, HEAD OF INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY

Fairholme’s first cohort of Year 12 Information and Communication Technology students graduated at the end of 2020, under the new QCE system using the Australian Tertiary Admission Rank (ATAR) mechanism for tertiary admissions. Congratulations to all graduating girls and remember, 'worthwhile education never ends and is never complete without the skills and knowledge to master the technology of the day.'

The Year 7 Digital Technologies course encouraged students to explore electronics and coding. The Year 8 Digital Technologies course extended these experiences.

The Year 10 Information Technology Studies course further extended the Year 7 and 8 IT skills with more coding, mechatronics, Operating Systems, Graphic Design, Animation, Multimedia Production, 3D Modelling and Cyber Safety.

The Year 11/12 ICT course was designed to allow students to develop general IT skills and to prepare them for their initial year of tertiary studies. To achieve this, the subject includes core knowledge, understanding and skills relating to: • hardware • software • ICT in society.

The core knowledge is explored through elective contexts that provide the flexibility needed to accommodate new technology and the wide range of interests and abilities of the students who study it. The elective in 2019/2020 included:

42

• • • • • •

Academic Results Digital Technologies

Graphic Design Managing Data Multimedia Production 3D Modelling The Science of Animation Mechatronics.

(End Semester 2 Results)

48.5+45.6+5I 100I SA 5.8%

The 2020 cohort of Year 12 Information Technology Systems achieved excellent results. Of the six students completing the course, five students received an A, and one received a B. Congratulations to all students who completed an IT course this year. Your efforts and results were outstanding.

ITS Award Recipient: 2020 Year 12 ICT Natalie Kehoe

VHA 48.5%

Year 7

HA 45.5%

Year 8

VHA 100%

Academic Results Information Technologies

100I 40+60I 83.3+16.7I VHA 100%

Year 10

(End Semester 2 Results)

Year 11

HA 60%

(Result for Whole Year)

VHA 40%

HA 16.7%

Year 12

(Result for Whole Year)

VHA 83.3%

Languages

MRS JODY FRIEND, HEAD OF LOTE, HEAD OF BLACK HOUSE HIGHLIGHTS We welcomed three Japanese students from Keisen Girls’ School in Tokyo into the College and Boarding House for Term 1 of 2020.

Teachers developed new resources and practices during the Learning from Holme period to maintain student engagement in Language classes.

Staff ran a successful session with incoming students as part of the Orientation Program in Term 4.

PROFESSIONAL LEARNING The new Senior Syllabus is fully implemented and students finishing Year 12 this year completed the first External Assessments.

Senior teachers of French, German and Japanese have taken on the following roles as part of the new QCAA system: Jody Friend Lead Endorser, Confirmer, Lead Marker (EA)

Dorothy Erdelyi Endorser, Confirmer An Van Cauwenberge Confirmer, Marker As such, staff have undertaken training and professional development to

carry out these roles. We regard such opportunities as good professional learning and we use the information we acquire to inform our teaching practices and to prepare students for assessment.

Academic Results FRENCH 39 40 15 +20 390+ 240 +150 35 22 14 350+ 220 +140 11 60 6 +404 +10 4 1 110+ 8 60 6 +10 1 80+ 30+3303

Year 7 Year 8 Year 9 Year 10 Year 11

2

GERMAN Year 7 Year 8 Year 9 Year 10 Year 11

9 26 22 +90 260+ 220 16 190 19 +80 8 160+ 10 303+10 1 100+ 50+5 10 1 202

v

JAPANESE

Year 7 Year 8 Year 9 Year 10 Year 11

29 120 13 +150 4 +30 3 210+ 15 180 18 +40 4 200+ 2 30+320+10 1 303 302

A

B

C

D 43

Mathematics

CAITLIN GREENHALGH, HEAD OF MATHEMATICS Recognising the importance of the skills learnt in Mathematics for active participation in society, the Mathematics Department endeavours to cater for the needs of all students.

As such, we have created Mathematical pathways that lead to four destinations: Essential Mathematics, General Mathematics, Mathematical Methods and Specialist Mathematics.

THE AUSTRALIAN CURRICULUM Mathematics provides students with essential mathematical skills and knowledge in Number and Algebra, Measurement and Geometry, and Statistics and Probability. It develops the numeracy capabilities that all students need in their personal, work and civic life, and provides the fundamentals on which mathematical specialties and professional applications of mathematics are built.

With the advent of COVID-19, the

mathematical learning continued for many girls from home. Students were very resilient and continued to engage with their mathematics teachers via Zoom and other online learning platforms.

Students are offered opportunities to participate in a number of extracurricular activities which are fun and challenging. They may also seek support in Maths Tutorial sessions which are offered weekly in the Mathematics Department in both the Middle and Senior School.

QAMT YEAR 7/8 QUIZ A competition especially for Year 7 and 8 students, the QAMT Quiz consists of sections which test students’ ability to do mental calculations and problemsolve, individually and as a part of team.

Twenty-one of our girls competed this year. For Round 1 of the quiz, we

had seven teams participate. Our two top teams progressed to the Regional Finals, where our top team placed 2nd – a wonderful effort.

Well done to Ariel Qiu, Sophie Khan and Sruthi Gandu on placing 2nd in the Region (Brisbane West).

2019 INTERNATIONAL COMPETITIONS AND ASSESSMENTS FOR SCHOOLS Mathematics This year, 28 students elected to participate in the ICAS Mathematics Competition. Four Distinctions were awarded to Chanudi Dissanayake, Lilly Biernoff, Mali Brennan and Chloe Ecroyd. We also acknowledge eleven credits: Mabel Gailbraith, Lara Ecroyd, Lilli Hamilton, Ankita Sajjan, Rachel Yap, Janithya Dharmawardhane, Gabby Pellow, Isabelle Watts and India Bailey.

25.5+42.5+27.4+4.7 30.9+50+17+2.1 27.4+35.6+30.1+6.8 5.4+37.8+45.9+10.8 24+50+26 11.4+50+38 70+50 12+12+3 5+22+12+1 7+17+4 46+38+15 34+30+34 11+55+32 Academic Results

25% 43% 27% 5%

Year 7 General Maths

58% 42%

31% 50% 17%

2%

Year 8 General Maths

44% 44% 12%

Year 11 Specialist Year 11 Mathematical Methods Mathematics

27% 36% 30% 7%

Year 9 Mathematical Methods

13% 55% 30% 2%

Year 11 General Mathematics

25%

61% 14%

Year 11 Essential Mathematics

5% 38% 46% 11%

Year 9 General Mathematics

47% 38% 15%

Year 12 Specialist Mathematics

24% 50% 26%

Year 10 Mathematical Mathematics

35% 30% 35%

Year 12 Mathematical Methods

A

44

11%

B

50% 39%

Year 10 General Mathematics

12% 55% 33%

Year 12 General Mathematics

C

D

Greta Centre

MS LIBBY HOBSON, CO-ORDINATOR GRETA SENIOR LIBRARY 2020 the year that nearly was… well it was a year when the library faced the very real possibility, like everyone else in education, of going completely online after Easter. The abrupt end of Term 1 saw a rush on physical borrowing when we faced the possibility of not returning to the classroom for some time. The reality of online and distance learning saw the digital services of the library coming to the fore and assisting in keeping the College learning services relevant and diverse. When students returned to the campus in Term 2, it was to a library environment of quarantining books and strict cleaning regimes.

Many of the single study carrels in the Library were off limits for Terms 2 and 3; they were then reintroduced in Term 4. So, while the eBook borrowing saw an unprecedented increase in loans for 2020, the Library as a place to study, browse and meet in, was back in force.

The introduction of Book Club in Term 4 revealed the passion and excitement the girls experienced while connecting, reflecting upon and discussing their reading. Book Club was such a social success that the girls complained it did not meet often enough, and they are enjoying their meetings in 2021.

The Greta Senior Library could be viewed as the personification of the educational lessons learned in 2020 – while the Digital Age provides us with endless possibilities in experiences and information, the reality of quality education is about meaningful relationships and connecting with others, which the Greta Senior Library provides.

POPULAR READS Our most popular books this year in Fiction was Fault in Our Stars by John Green, which was the second most read book in 2019. This year the second most borrowed book was Wonder by

RJ Palacio, followed by The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins. The most popular author from the Senior Fiction shelves was Sarah J Maas, with four of her novels making the top ten and occupying the top two positions. In 2019 the most popular Biography was Unmasked by Turia Pitt and in 2020 it was the second most popular, being toppled from the top spot by Bethany Hamilton’s Soul Surfer.

time frame. At Year-Level meetings, girls who completed the challenge were awarded a certificate signed by the Premier.

USE OF OUR SUBSCRIPTION SERVICES: RESEARCH DATABASES Our students are able to access academic research directly via database subscriptions such as EBSCO and Jstor; or they may indirectly search through There was a 160% increase in borrowings these databases using the Onesearch for eBooks from Wheelers in 2020, function within our Library Catalogue compared to 2019, and a 110% increase AccessIT. There were more than 1000 in eAudiobook borrowing. Whether requests for full-text documents to be COVID-19 and Learning from Holme downloaded in 2020, using Onesearch was the reason for this huge increase, through the Library catalogue. The most or whether it was because we has a searched journals were: New Scientist, cohort of Grade 8s who were voracious Science News and History Today. readers, perhaps only 2021 statistics will tell. Of the Top 10 Borrowers for CLICKVIEW 2020, 6 out of the 10 were from Grade In 2019 almost 3,000 videos were 8, and the Grade 8 cohort was the Year viewed and in 2020 this number level with the most books borrowed. The rose to a staggering 7,342 – again, most borrowed eAudiobook was Five Learning From Holme may have made Feet Apart by Rachel Lippincott and the a difference to the way girls had to most borrowed eBook was Divergent by interact with learning and resources in Virgina Roth.

2020. The most watched videos were What is Judaism (Year 10 Humanities), PASTORAL CARE READING followed by Skill Acquisition for Sports In 2020, Cameron House girls Performance ( Year 10 Health & PE ) borrowed the most books, and Middle and then Life in Ancient Egypt (Year 7 Cameron 5 was the Holme Group who Humanities). borrowed the most books.

I must conclude by thanking Ms Joanne PREMIER’S READING Andrews, who left us in Term 2 after her CHALLENGE many years of work in the Senior Greta The Middle School participated in Centre. The smooth running of the the 2020 Queensland Premier’s library in the Greta Senior Library can Reading Challenge, which requires be attributed to the experience of our students to read 15 books in a period continuing staff: Mrs Antoinette Porter, of three months. This year we had and Mrs Ann Peacock who joined us in more than three times the numbers of Term 4. girls complete it compared to 2019, by reading a minimum of 15 books; however, special mention must be made of Year 9 students Gabby Pellow who managed to read over 120 books in this

God | Respect | Enjoyment | Teamwork | Aspiration

45

Greta Junior MRS PAM STAINS, HEAD OF GRETA JUNIOR Reading gives us someplace to go when we have to stay where we are.

Mason Cooley

In what was a challenging year for many, it was heart-warming to see the way our Junior School girls embraced these uncertain times with determination and positivity. This was evident in the way our girls not only adapted to, but also found a way to thrive in, online learning.

This new way of thinking and learning also included the opportunity to enjoy reading books in an online platform.

Our eBook borrowing statistics increased dramatically, proving that our girls will always find a way to read!

Even though we were not able to welcome our Book Fair or Visiting Performers, it was fantastic to see our Junior School once again come alive with our celebration of Book Week. The girls and teachers enjoyed the opportunity to dress-up as their favourite book characters, and it was

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wonderful to witness the creativity in the range of costumes this year.

2020 HIGHLIGHTS: • National Simultaneous Story Time where all students from Kindy – Year 2 enjoyed listening to Whitney and Britney Chicken Divas • Book Week ‘Curious Creatures, Wild Minds’

MOST POPULAR BOOKS BORROWED IN 2020 Kindy N Cat in the hat comes back Kindy W Fancy Nancy Prep Whitney and Britney Chicken Divas Year 1 Pig the Star Year 2 Pig the Star Year 3 Diary of a wimpy kid (1) Year 4.1 Tales from a not-so-dorky

drama queen Year 4.2 Diary of a wimpy kid (1) Year 5.1 Smile Year 5.2 The Fellowship of the Ring (1) Year 6.1 Parvana’s journey Year 6.2 Sick Bay

TOP 10 BORROWERS IN 2020 Richa Vimal (5.2) 191 Serah Vimal (6.2) 182 Mia Loughlin (6.1) 161 Sandili Phaltane (5.2) 160 Peppa Munn (3) 145 Grace Carrigan (4.1) 140 Rhea Desai (6.1) 139 Nethuli Weerasooriya (4.1) 139 Mia Geise (3) 138 Katelyn Morey (4.1) 124 We look forward to 2021, comforted in the knowledge that our Junior School girls will continue to enjoy and celebrate the simple pleasure that comes from sitting in quietness and losing themselves in a great book.

Science

MRS FRAN BRAZIER, HEAD OF SCIENCE 2020 began with the implementation of the new QCAA Senior Curriculum for Year 12. The Science Department staff were kept busy with professional learning for unit and assessment planning. The decision to develop assessment tasks in Year 8, 9 and 10, to reflect those in the new senior syllabuses, will help better prepare students for what lies ahead in senior Science subjects.

In 2021 the re-development of the Year 10 Science program gives students a ‘taste’ of each of the Senior Sciences offered by the College (Agriculture, Biology, Chemistry, Physics and Psychology). This will assist students with subject choices for their senior years of schooling. The department has also introduced a Year 9 Agriculture elective and expanded the Agriculture facilities at the College.

A Year 8 Robotics extra-curricula opportunity continued again in 2020 with Ms Timmer. The Middle School Robotics Club initiative focuses on • developing the interest and enjoyment of girls in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) subjects • teaching coding

•

promoting innovative design and construction.

This project was in response to the Australian Government Department of Education and Training ‘Restoring the focus on STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) in schools initiative’.

The department continues to utilise more Information and Communications Technology, specifically the MyFairholme Learning Management System platform, for the improved design and delivery of engaging learning across Science subjects and to enhance student-teacher communications within these subjects, in addition to the extensive use of data loggers that enable in-depth data analysis of student experiments.

As always, our aim is to immerse the students in the Engineering Design Process that incorporates innovative, analytical and critical thinking, to solve problems in collaborative teams.

Seventy-five per cent of students in classrooms now, will work in a Science and Technology-related field in their lifetime. The Science Department’s focus is to develop and consolidate the

skills necessary to achieve success in STEM-related subjects and careers.

Learning experiences beyond the classroom included: • Year 8 Science Excursion to the Old Toowoomba Basalt Quarry in order to examine the Toowoomba Regional Council’s Bridge Street Quarry Feasibility Study outlining the site's proposed rehabilitation/ redevelopment. This formed part of the Year 8. Earth Science unit.

• SolarBuddy School Program. Year 9 Science students investigated whether small solar panels are a feasible option to help solve energy poverty. The project culminated in students providing SolarBuddy solar lights to students living in energy poverty throughout the South Pacific, South-East Asia and Africa, to study after dusk.

• The three-day Year 9 Camp at Hastings Point in Northern NSW, to study rocky shore, beach, and mangrove ecosystems and human impact on these areas. The Camp provided students with the opportunity to practise field skills used in Senior Biology (e.g. data loggers, organism distribution patterns and field sketches).

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25+54+21 38+45+17+ 43+41+15+1 27+48+25+ Junior Academic Results

Year 7

Year 8

Year 9

A B C D

Year 10

Senior Academic Results

23+31+388I 7+36+21I 15+70+15I D 8%

A 23%

D 21%

Year 11 Agricultural Science

C 38%

B 31%

10+80+10I 11+39+33611I A 10%

B 80%

•

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Year 11 Chemistry

B 36%

C 36%

C 10%

Students also enjoyed a morning of beach safety activities organised by the Cabarita Surf Life Saving Club.

Year 11 Biology students undertook field studies in the local area. These field studies are mandatory in the new Senior Biology Syllabus and involve using and analysing authentic data. The studies included the classification of ecosystems and determining species diversity.

Laura Craft, Zoe Crooke and Olivia Ross attended the National Youth Science Forum in January in Canberra. This Forum provides valuable opportunities for students interested in a career in Science, Technology and/ or Engineering. The girls visited laboratories, industry and research sites, talked to researchers, debated that impacts of science on our community and formed friendships with students from all

•

•

A 15%

C 15%

Year 11 Biology

Year 11 Physics

•

A 7%

D 6%

E 11%

A 11%

Year 11 Psychology

C 38%

over Australia.

Kayla Belford was selected to participate in a week-long SPARQ-ed program (Students Performing Advanced Research Queensland) at the Translational Research Institute at the University of Queensland. The project investigated antibodies in cystic fibrosis and lung transplant patients and their inhibition of the human immune response to certain species of bacteria.

In this year’s International Competitions and Assessments for Schools – Science Competition, 1 High Distinction, 5 Distinctions, 9 Credits and 3 Merit Certificates were awarded to Fairholme students. Again, 2020 participation was on a volunteer basis.

B 70%

B 39%

Certificate of High Distinction Year 7 Chanudi Dissanayake Certificates of Distinction Year 7 Ariel Qui Year 8 Ankita Sajjan

Rachel Yap Year 9 Lilly Beirnoff Chloe Ecroyd

Service

MS CATRINA SHARP, DEPUTY PRINCIPAL/HEAD OF SENIOR SCHOOL Holding one’s hand out to others was, metaphorically, the most important aspect of our 2020 experience. In doing so, some peace was certainly experienced.

I will hold my hand out to you speak the peace you long to hear.

'The Servant Song' by

Richard Gillard

SERVICE LEARNING Our Year 12 Leadership Committees made significant contributions in some new ways during 2020. Focused on their area of College life, impressive collaboration was demonstrated by the committees, under the guidance of staff mentors from across the College.

Their momentum was not halted by world events. The importance of their service to the community was heightened during these times and our leaders rose to that important occasion.

We thank the girls sincerely for work in their fields: Communication, Culture, Innovation, Junior School, Middle School, Ministry, Environment, Restorative Practice, Pastoral Care in each House, Wellness and Teaching and Learning.

THE COLLEGE INTERACT CLUB The College Interact Club Board, headed by President and Prefect for Service, Hayley Finch, led many activities which raised awareness and funds to support a variety of organisations. The following groups were among those supported by the Club: Queensland Medical Research Institute, Rosies Friends on the Street, our three young international sponsor children, and our newest friend – an Indigenous child from Queensland.

WORLD’S GREATEST SHAVE The Senior Leaders again formed a strong team of participants in the Leukaemia Foundation’s World’s Greatest Shave campaign. Raising in excess of $50,000, the girls were thrilled to know that in 2020, when vulnerable people became even more vulnerable, they were able to remain steadfast in their support for the Foundation.

ROSIES FRIENDS ON THE STREET 2020 marked the fourth year of our association with Rosies Friends on the Street. Our regular visits halted early in the year; however, our girls and staff ensured that our donation of food meant the Rosies staff were able to maintain good support to those who needed care. Furthermore, the Great Stationery Race proved to be a very success Holme Group challenge.

Thousands of items were donated by our girls to ensure our young friends

from Rosies were able to gather all that they need for a timely return to school for 2021. After a year of challenge for these families, this was a great support for both the little ones and their folk.

SONY FOUNDATION’S CHILDREN’S HOLIDAY CAMP In September, a group of Year 11 girls supported young children with special needs over the four days of the annual Sony Foundation Holiday Camp. Four Year 12 girls assisted in leading the Year 11 group of carers during the camp.

The structure may have been a little different; however, the experiences of selflessness, unconditional love, humility and joy clearly remained as strong as ever before.

Selfless gestures are part of daily life; considered and intentional care of others is cultural.

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Pastoral Care All staff at the College are pastoral carers. In our many different roles and varied interactions with the girls, we strive to ensure the girls’ safety – physically and emotionally - to support the development of their identify and sense of belonging, whilst honouring their passions, strengths and personal journey. We acknowledge this is key to allowing them to engage fully and successfully in their learning experiences.

‘A supportive and proactive learning environment promotes inclusion and collaboration’ and thus, in turn, effective care makes meaningful learning possible.

We recognise that effective pastoral care is important to the girls’ learning, and it is something they all deserve from our community. We purposefully craft small family units – Holme Groups - in which girls interact with others from their Middle or Senior School each day, in some fashion.

These small groups attend Assembly and Chapel together and work with their entire House each week.

Beyond that, they celebrate together, encourage, support and share the journey together, just like a family.

The College actively pursues excellence in this field in both the day school and within the boarding community. A purposeful approach to this care is led collaboratively by The Wellness Team - a staff group whose expertise spans emotional, academic, health, boarding and spiritual care.

Holme Groups undertake House-based projects throughout the year and devise their own activities to complement these. Groups work together towards our spirited Interhouse sport carnivals and cultural competitions each year.

These shared activities are critical to a strong sense of belonging and genuine connections across a broad range of girls in the Middle and Senior School.

In 2020, our Year 12 Leaders excelled in supporting an ongoing sense of connection during the months when

girls were engaged in the ‘Learning from Holme’ phase. In particular, the House-based Pastoral Care Leadership Committee members and the House Prefects worked very closely with Heads of House and Assistant Heads of House to encourage very meaningful interactions during that time. These activities ensured that whilst there was physical distance between members, all members felt a strong sense of those important relationships, and thus their connection to our community.

Our dynamic approach promotes inclusivity and finds foundation in a restorative approach to managing relationships within a community.

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Learning Pathways MS ARLIE HOLLINDALE, CO-ORDINATOR OF LEARNING PATHWAYS

‘Some of us have great runways already built for us. If you have one, take off! But if you don’t have one, realize it is your responsibility to grab a shovel and build one for yourself and for those who will follow after you.’

Amelia Earhart

What a ‘great runway’ the Fairholme College Specialist Elective and Pathway Programs was for our Year 10 and other Senior students in 2020. Our Fairholme girls were given the opportunity to travel to destinations beyond what we might have ever imagined possible.

They were able to bank an ATARcalculating subject, access direct tertiary-entrance pathways, gain almost half of their QCE points total and gain an employability advantage ahead of their counterparts at other schools, despite the COVID-19 challenges; all

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by completing a Certificate III, IV or Diploma, even before Years 11 and 12.

Almost half our Year 11 students have taken the opportunity to study a second qualification (some even a third) in Year 12, in over 25 varying areas of industry.

Each year, we expand our offerings, to assist our girls in exploring their most relevant and suitable pathway at this time in their learning journey. Aviation, Dance and Social Media Marketing (Virtual Reality) were introduced in 2020, to complement the existing areas of Health Services and Allied Health, Business, Hospitality, Fitness, Education Support, Early Education and Children’s Services, Crime and Justice, Nursing, Beauty, Tourism, Agriculture, Individual Support (Aged Care), Warehousing and Hairdressing, to name but a few programs of study. Our students gain invaluable, lifelong skill-sets through this unique program.

NEW DEVELOPMENTS IN 2021 In ‘grabbing a shovel’ and building new runways for our students who wanted to explore other destinations, Animal Studies and a unique Rural Allied Health program form part of the Fairholme College Pathway Program in 2021.

Perhaps you might also keep your eye on the development of a Dentistry and Automotive ‘runway’, whilst we revisit certification within the Music Industry.

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2020 Specialist Elective Enrolments (by demand)

23

Certificate III in Health Services Assistance (plus Certificate II in Health Support Services)

14

Certificate II/III in Hospitality

12

Certificate III in Fitness

10

Certificate IV in Crime and Justice

8

Diploma of Business

7

Certificate III in Allied Health Assistance (plus Certificate II in Health Support Services)

7

Certificate III in Education Support (Teacher Aide)

3

Recreation Pilot Licence

2

Certificate IV in Fitness

1

Certificate IV in Education Support

1

Certificate III in Early Education and Children’s Services (0-5years)

7

School-based Traineeship - Certificate III in Agriculture

2

School-based Traineeship - Certificate III in Early Education and Children’s Services (0-5years)

1

School-based Traineeship - Certificate III in Hospitality

1

School-based Traineeship - Certificate II in Hairdressing

1

TAFE - Diploma in Nursing

1

TAFE - Certificate III in Beauty

12

Alternate Program (no qualification) - Active Citizenship and Service *mid-year entry students

5

Alternate Program (no qualification) – STIMulAtED

5

Alternate Program (no qualification) - Music, Song, Dance, Drama

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Information Technology Services MR CHAU CHUC, HEAD OF INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY

Change is the law of life. And those who look only to the past or the present are certain to miss the future.

technology to cope with online learning and our workforce. We took actions to adapt College policies and deliver services online out of urgent necessity, but in the process, have brought in changes that promise future benefits.

The resilience and future readiness of Fairholme’s IT infrastructure and IT services were put to the test this year during the COVID-19 pandemic. IT ably adapted to changing demands and operating conditions. At short notice, our infrastructure and IT support allowed Fairholme students and staff to cope with the transition from a traditional face-to-face educational environment to online.

The infrastructure and services allowed flexibility and agility to utilise alternative platforms when specific platforms were not available or could not cope with the increased load.

With COVID-19 restrictions lifting, there is one aspect of education that stands out and is unlikely to ever be replaced in the P-12 learning environment, and that is the importance of friendly face-to-face learning to support our students.

John F Kennedy

Teachers were supported and had a choice of platforms to cater for their preferred pedagogy and students.

Online learning platforms including myFairholme, Microsoft 365 (Teams, Onenote, Sharepoint, Microsoft Stream) and Zoom.

Live streaming using Microsoft Stream, Teams, Zoom and Youtube allowed the Fairholme community to keep in contact and involved whilst staying in compliance with mandated COVID-19 restrictions. Internally, these included live streaming of Assemblies, Chapel services and House meetings.

Externally, these included classroom lessons, music lessons, Presenting Fairholme, Year 12 Final Assembly, Year 12 Formal walk-in and staff meetings.

The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated our online strategies, particularly using

This was the second year that Fairholme has had a one gigabit per second internet connection. It was critical to our success for online learning and video live streaming.

The Fairholme College Facebook page (http://www.facebook.com/ fairholmecollege) continues to be a vehicle for the Fairholme community to keep in touch. It has grown to 6117 followers, with an average weekly reach of 12,000 (how many times a post was viewed per week).

The Fairholme Laptop Program has been upgraded to the Dell Latitude 3310 Series laptops with toughened glass touch screens. Like all our previous Dell laptops purchased for student use, these were purposedesigned to meet student handling and needs in the full range of subjects on offer.

Fairholme College’s IT Helpdesk and in-house systems engineering and administering continue to meet demands of an educational environment. Listed below are some facts and figures for the technically minded.

Email and Internet Traffic: • Average number of emails sent and received per month: 325,000 • Average number of blocked incoming emails (spam or infected) per month: 181,000 • Average volume of data downloaded from the internet per month: 13TB Helpdesk Services: • Average number of Helpdesk jobs per month (separate from laptop services): 2,600 • Average number of battery swapand-go services per day: 22 • Average laptop and hardware services per month (free technical support such as data recovery, insurance claims or warranty claims): 260 Software infrastructure includes: • Adobe Creative Cloud 2020 • Adobe CS 6 Master Collection • Checkpoint (Firewall) • EVA Check In • Exchange 2016 • Exchange Online • Family Zone (Internet Management Platform) • Freshdesk (helpdesk software) • Hyper-V (server virtualisation) • myFairholme (4th year of deployment) • Office 2016 Professional Plus • Office 365 • Reach Boarding • Remote Desktop Gateway • Single Sign On • Sophos (antivirus) • Synergetic (school management software) • Windows 10 Education (64 bit) • Windows Server 2019 • Zoom

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Teachers as Learners and Staff Engagement STAFF COMPOSITION In 2020, teaching staff at the College numbered 63 full time and 12 part-time employees. Additionally, 34 full time and 56 part-time employees undertook non-teaching roles in the business, catering, maintenance, health, residential, Arts and Sporting facets of College operation.

PARTICIPATION IN PROFESSIONAL LEARNING Professional Learning opportunities at the College encourage continuous professional growth as there is a strong connection between teaching standards and teacher Professional Learning; the link to student learning is clear. Our staff endeavor to deepen their subject knowledge, develop their teaching skills and stay current with new research while striving to remain innovative and imaginative in their field. In addition to Professional Learning days, visiting experts, keynote speakers, collaborative work, seminars, workshops and conferences, for both academic and non-academic, staff covered a disparate range of fields and topics in the past year.

The College values the knowledge and commitment of its employees. We recognise teacher knowledge and skills contribute significantly to the quality of teaching and learning at the College. Therefore, Fairholme actively supports the professional development of our staff which included the following: Professional Learning Activity

Teacher Participation

Professional Standards/Code of Conduct

100%

Work Health and Safety Training

100%

Evacuation & Lockdown Training

100%

Principles of Learning and Teaching Training

100%

100% of the teaching staff participated in at least one Professional Learning activity in 2020.

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EXPENDITURE ON PROFESSIONAL LEARNING In summary, $34,379 was spent supporting Professional Learning for 75 teachers. Average expenditure per person sat at $458.39.

STAFF ATTENDANCE Average staff attendance for the school, based on unplanned absences of sick and emergency leave periods of up to 5 days: Average staff attendance for permanent staff, temporary staff and school leaders – 94.67% STAFF ATTENDANCE Number of Staff

Number of School Days

Total Number of Absences

Average Attendance Rate

165

190

807.4

97.42%

PROPORTION OF TEACHING STAFF RETAINED FROM PREVIOUS YEAR 100% of permanent teaching staff from 2019 retained for the 2020 school year.

Teaching Staff, Staff Retained Retention Rate end 2020 in to 2020 75

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94.67%

QUALIFICATIONS OF ALL TEACHERS Qualification

Number

Doctorate

1

Masters

11

Bachelor Degree

71

Diploma

56

Certificate

6