Humanities and Social Sciences

Learning humanities equips students to better understand the complexities of what it means to be human and how we can achieve our goals taking into account our history and environment.

In History, Year 7 and 8 students explored the Ancient and Medieval world. They experienced an archaeological dig, examined the mysteries of Ancient Egypt, the rise of the Chinese Empire and the triumphs of the Renaissance. In Year 9 and 10 we studied a survey course of early modern History which included the wonders of the Industrial Revolution, followed by emergence in the Chinese and Japanese empires. Students investigated the accomplishment of the Australian federation and uncovered the confronting tragedy of the Great War. Meanwhile, the Senior historians surveyed the great revolutions of the world: America, France, Russia, and China, followed the rise of the Nazi Party and investigated the battle against fascism in WWII. The Cold War was the focus of the last part of the year and the Year 12 students approached their final exam on the Vietnam War with justified confidence in the knowledge and skills they had acquired. In Geography, students learnt how our environment has shaped our society and future.

Year 7 Geography students participated in a class role play to suggest how the Murray Darling River could be managed for the future. By experimenting with spatial mapping and ArcGIS using ‘StoryMaps’, they discovered how the water cycle works in their everyday lives. As part of their studies of ‘Landforms and Landscapes’ and ‘Changing Nations’, the Year 8 Geography classes travelled to Mt Tamborine and completed a variety of field trip activities. Year 10 Geography girls explored natural geological, geomorphic, and atmospheric hazard zones and discussed their impact on the world.

In Year 9 and 10 Business, students developed their entrepreneurial and financial literacy skills by learning about budgeting, investing, and participating in the Share Market Game and the Buy Smart Competition. Accounting students learnt the fundamental roles of organisations in our economy and extended their skills by developing problem-solving and evaluating accounting practices. They also participated in the Accounting Forum presented by QUT and BEAQ. In Senior Economics, students interrogated a range of data and applied economic models and theory to evaluate current economic decision making in the economy.

Mrs Marcia Forness Head

Aidan’s Anglican Girls’ School

Year 7 and 9 Chinese students enjoyed an excursion to the annual Buddha Birthday Celebration held in Chung Tian Temple. Students had the opportunity to learn about Chinese cultural activities such as martial arts, the lion dance, a tea ceremony and writing Chinese calligraphy. At the end of Term 3, Chinese cooking lessons were held for each class. Students sipped Chinese tea and tasted Chinese buns, dumplings, and spring rolls. Apart from learning Chinese dining etiquette, students also viewed the intricate design of Chinese tea pots. Students across all grades participated in the annual Education Perfect Global Language Championship which made learning fun.

Throughout the year, French students had the opportunity to experience French culture. Students in Years 10, 11 and 12 enjoyed a delightful meal at local French restaurant, Boucher, with a menu of French classics such as cheese soufflé, agneau and tarte tatin. Students in Years 7, 8 and 9 enjoyed warm French pastries to celebrate the end of their exams, while in the Junior School, students rehearsed and presented short French-language plays. Students from Years 7 to 12 were invited to a Cancan workshop to celebrate Bastille Day with a professional ex-Moulin Rouge dancer. Students (and staff) enjoyed learning the meaning and intricacy of the dance and how this high-energy and physically demanding dance was often punctuated by loud screams.

Each week, Junior and Senior students attended Wasabi Club and Sensei Says Clubs and continued to learn about different cultural aspects of Japan, including the wearing of the yukata/kimono, writing calligraphy, and playing traditional Japanese games. In Term 4, Year 8 and 9 students enjoyed restaurant visits to the Bishamon Japanese restaurant. Japanese language students continued to achieve high standards in the annual online Education Perfect Global Language Championships. A student was a recipient of the Iwasaki Sangyo Prize and will travel to Japan for 4 weeks in January to experience a cultural and linguistic immersion program.

St Aidan’s continues to offer an inclusive and vibrant sporting program with a proud tradition of participation and performance.

The weather event earlier in the year provided some significant challenges to our program. Flooding at Ambiwerra wiped out all of our sporting equipment and the playing fields were unavailable for several months. Despite this set back, the St Aidan’s community came together to ensure our girls didn’t miss any sporting opportunities. There were reschedules, reschedules of reschedules, but one thing COVID taught all of us was how to pivot! And so we did, and adapted with grace. I commend all students and staff for their patience, resilience and positive mindset during this period.

2022 saw the introduction of two new sports at St Aidan’s –Australian Football and Golf. AFL Queensland, in conjunction with QGSSSA, launched the inaugural Senior Australian Football competition in Term 1 with students in Year 10-12 playing over four Saturday mornings. In Term 4, girls in Year 7-9 had their opportunity. St Aidan’s was well represented and very competitive across all divisions and our Year 9 team finished the season undefeated.

In partnership with the Brisbane Golf Club, St Aidan’s introduced a Golf program for Senior School students. Focusing on the fundamentals, skill development, etiquette and course strategy; the program provides a clear pathway from the complete beginner through to competitive play.

A refurbishment of the Athlete Performance Centre within the Christine Hartland Centre saw the addition of five lifting platforms and squat racks, new gym flooring and new strength equipment. The revised layout maximises the space and allows more girls to train together. We also added fresh decals to the walls with photos that signify perseverance, teamwork, and joy.

A new leader board created some healthy competition between the girls in a range of challenges and it’s been wonderful to hear the girl’s excitement over these new additions.

Over the last 12 months we have transitioned to a Summer Rowing Program, and are pleased to see a renewed interest in the sport.

We had over 40 students participate in the Learn to Row Program on Saturday mornings in Term 4 and a further 20 training in the Pathways Program which will compete at various regattas over the summer. We have also included Para-rowing and we thank Rowing QLD for their support in this space.

I would like to congratulate all students for embracing the opportunities available to them and representing St Aidan’s with spirit and humility.

2022 Sporting Highlights:

Representative Honours

• 48 Metropolitan West Representatives | 12 sports (13 students represented the region in 2 or more sports)

• 27 Queensland Representatives | 13 sports (5 students represented Queensland in 2 or more sports)

• 14 National Representatives | 9 sports (A student represented Australia in 2 sports – Touch Football and Rugby 7s)

QGSSSA Premierships

• Touch Football – Open, 10A, 8A, 8B and 7A

• Soccer – Junior

• Volleyball – 9A

• Athletics – 17 years Age Champions

QLD All Schools Touch Football

• Open Girls (Champions) | U13 (Semi-Finalists)

Mr Andy McGregor-Lowndes Head of Senior School Sport BEd

(Secondary)

Governance and Leadership

SCHOOL FOUNDERS

Sisters of the Society of the Sacred Advent

SCHOOL COUNCIL

Mr Stephen Green (Chair) BE Civil (Uni NSW)

Ms Rachael Cronin BCom, LLB, MBA

Mr Scott Douglas BUrbDev(ProEc), BEcon, GAICD

Dr Chelsea Ho MD, BMedSci

The Rev’d Michael Stalley DipAppliedSc – Pod, BTh, GradDipMin (Distinction)

Mr Reece Walker LLB, GradDipAppFin, FFin, GAICD

Mr Simon Petie BArts(Politics), Grad.Dip (Strat.Leadership), FAIM

The Rev’d Canon Dr Marian Free BA, Dip.Ed, PhD

Ms Toni Riordan BEd, MEd (Leadership), GAICD, FACEL Qld, MACE, FIML (Ex-officio)

Ms Holly O’Sullivan Williams BA (Drama), BEd (Secondary), MEd (Research), MEd (Leadership and Management), MACE, MACEL, ACEL Qld Fellow (Observer)

Mrs Toni Williams (Company Secretary) BBus (Accounting), BBus (Information Systems), GAICD, GIA Affiliated (Ex-officio)

Educational Leadership Team

Ms Toni Riordan BEd, MEd (Leadership), FACEL, MACE, GAICD, FIML

Reverend Gillian Moses BA, LLB (Hons), BTh (Hons)

Ms Holly O’Sullivan Williams BA (Drama), BEd (Secondary), MEd (Research), MEd (Leadership and Management), MACE, FACEL

Mrs Joanne Butterworth BSc (App-HMSEd)

Mrs Meg Bishop BEd (Science), MEnv (Hons)

Ms Karen Madden BTeach, GradDipEd (RE), MEd (Leadership)

Ms Jennie Robinson DipT, BEd, MEd (Guidance and Counselling)

Mrs Jenny Crome, BA, MEd (Leadership & Mgt), Grad DipEd (Primary), Grad DipEd (Early Childhood), Cert IV (Business)

ST AIDAN’S FOUNDATION

Mrs Rachel Condos-Fields (Chair) GAICD, AdvDip (Japanese), AdvDip (International Bus), GradDip Finance

Mr Christopher Johnstone BA(Hons) LLB, LLM Degree in Military Law ANU

Dr Anne Kruger PhD (HKU), MA Research (QUT)

Mr Craig Lennon CAANZ, AICD, GradDipGovInst, FINISIA

Mrs Susan McDonald BA, DipEd

Mr Patrick O’Connor BA, LLB, Chartered Institute of Secretaries, JP

Mrs Kim Wiegand BBus

Ms Rachael Cronin BCom, LLB, MBA

Ms Toni Riordan BEd, MEd (Leadership), GAICD, FACEL Qld, MACE, FIML

Mrs Leah Saul (Company Secretary), BComm, CA, Dip Mgmt

P&F ASSOCIATION EXECUTIVES

Mr Reuben Saayman (President) B Com, B Com (Hons), CA

Ms Kate Thomas (Vice President) BEd (Secondary)

Ms Tara Fitzsimmons (Treasurer) B Health Sciences, Grad Dip of Midwifery, Cert IV Accounting

Ms Tanya Angus (Secretary) B Com, Grad Dip of Project Mgmt

Mr Simon Petie (Member) BArts(Politics), Grad.Dip (Strat.Leadership), FAIM