St Hilda's Ammonite Spring 2017

Ammonite Spring 2017

Galleries

Contents 1: 2: 4: 5: 6: 8: 9: 10: 12: 14: 16: 18: 20: 22: 24: 26: 28: 30: 32: 34: 36: 38: 40: 43: 44: 46: 48: 50: 53: 54:

From the Chair of Council From the Principal Professional Development Donation Wide Angle NAIDOC Flag raising Cross country success Netball club exceeds its goals Kindness goes a long way Music lasts a lifetime Gala Dinner Wizard of Oz Wiz Biz IGSSA Athletics IGSSA Cross Country Junior School Grandparents’ Day Senior School Grandparents’ Day Father’s Day Fashion parade 70+ Morning Tea Wooleen Year 12 Father Daughter Dinner First Communion Boarding Life in the 1930s Friendships forever at St Hilda’s NASA Space School Diabetes & Loving Life Affinity Art Exhibition Creative writing pieces Food technology recipe Sporting excellence and pennant winners

From the Chair of Council

Ms Deidre Willmott Chair of Council

Council update Living our St Hilda’s values is probably the most important aspect of our school community. Our capacity to do this with the day to day challenges of busy lives and the ups and downs that occur, can sometimes mean we lose sight of how we should be working together whether parents, students or staff.

In many ways I believe the simplest approach to being part of any community is to be kind and remember to say thank you.

Kindness is something I clearly remember being encouraged to demonstrate throughout my school days.

It has many facets but if you are kind then you are being gentle, caring and helpful to others.

I was delighted to hear of the Junior School’s recent participation in the Kindness Lunch Program. This is kindness in action on a large scale with our students actively thinking of others and making small sacrifices to be kind to young people they will never meet. It is also kindness when we support our school families in times of need, when our parents volunteer to support the myriad of student activities undertaken each year and when we receive donations and support for the school and other charities.

Throughout my career I have consciously thanked the many people who have supported me and worked with me in a wide variety of teams and groups. Very few of us achieve anything alone and nowhere is this more true than in a school community. I encourage everyone to remember and thank those who have supported or helped our students in whatever way. Raising problems or concerns is important but it is so easy for this to become our only point of contact.

Being kind and being thankful are small things that help build strong relationships. They are behaviours we need to model for our students so they adopt them as they move through their school days and into their careers ahead.

OUR VALUES EXCELLENCE

INCLUSION

We encourage the pursuit of personal best in all areas and respect the achievements of others. We have a lifelong commitment to the quest for knowledge.

We acknowledge that we are a diverse community and must have regard for the feelings, wishes and rights of others in everything we do. We value diversity of cultural expression.

RESPECT

JUSTICE

We value sensitivity and concern for the well being of others. This means being caring, compassionate and honest. We learn in a safe and supportive school environment, while respecting our natural environment and cultural heritage.

We are committed to participation and citizenship. We promote democratic processes and social justice. We believe in fairness and equity for the achievement of a just responsible society.

1

From the Principal Mrs Kim Kiepe Principal

Appreciation for Teachers There is no doubt that a school is a cognitive centre first and a social centre second. However, it is important to create a climate within the School that allows and encourages meaningful educational outcomes for its students.

Encouraging a sense of belonging and providing activities which engage and challenge young people are important in creating an environment conducive to learning. The success of St Hilda’s is its focus on learning, not just in terms of assessment and results, but in the broadening experiences it offers for the development of the whole child. This includes aspects such as our tutorial program, our Outdoor Education program and our leadership development process.

While our Strategic Focus 2020 puts Student Wellbeing at the centre of our thinking and decision making, there is also a focus on our Professional Staff. Comedian and musician Tim Minchin has a high regard for teachers as highlighted in a Pinterest post from World Teachers’ Day in October, 2013. The black and white image of Tim’s serious gaze looking at the reader with the caption “Be a teacher. Please be a teacher. Teachers are the most admirable and important people in the world.” Tim’s occasional address, to graduates of the University of Western Australia in Perth, is really worth a read. In the speech, Tim offers nine life lessons to the graduates. All of the nine life lessons resonate – and I wish to draw the reader’s attention to number six.

2

St Hilda’s Ammonite

Capturing the essence of the importance of teachers, Tim said: # 6 - Be a teacher. Please, please be a teacher! Teachers are the most admirable people in the world. You don’t have to do it forever, but if you’re in doubt about what to do, be an amazing teacher. Just through your twenties, be a teacher. Be a primary school teacher, especially if you’re a bloke — we need male primary school teachers. Even if you’re not a teacher, be a teacher. Share your ideas, don’t take for granted your education, rejoice in what you learned, and spray it.

I also value his advice to the students about standing up for one’s opinions and beliefs. He offers “# 5 - Be hard on your opinions. We must think critically, and not just about the ideas of others. Be hard on your beliefs — take them out on the veranda and hit them with a cricket bat.” Tim’s metaphorical image really has impact and the encouragement of critically thinking and evaluating ideas, in lieu of passive acceptance of information, is important for the growth of society.

Back to the start – great teachers do not teach. They stack the deck so that students have a reason to learn and in the process can’t help but learn mainly by teaching themselves. This knowledge then becomes permanent and valued, rather than imagined and unconnected. I acknowledge all St Hilda’s teachers and thank them for their willingness to be “learning engineers” and extend appreciation to all our staff for all that they do to help students have a reason to learn.

In acknowledging the attributes of a St Hilda’s teacher, I share the following characteristics, as determined by our Junior and Senior School Teachers • Experts in their field • Exceptional educators • Lifelong learners • Passionate • Professional • Dedicated and committed • Inspiring • Motivating • Dynamic • Innovative • Inquiring • Methodical • Creative • Reflective • Personalised approach • Empathetic • Encouraging • Genuinely caring • Supportive • Patient • Kind • Resilient • Flexible and accommodating • Outstanding communication skills

3

Left to right: Emily Wickens, John Rigg and Alison Rigg.

Professional Development Donation Passionate about the Professional Development of our teachers, John and Alison Rigg – grandparents of Year 6 student Zoe Thornley – made a significant contribution last term to support Junior School teacher Emily Wickens to attend a conference in Sydney.

Old Scholar and 1975 Head Girl, Alison said she was pleased with the way the School had continued its high level of education.

“We are exceptionally impressed with the Junior School and all the teachers Zoe has had.

“I think part of the excellence we have at this School is from a strong commitment to professional development.”

The donation made by Mr and Mrs Rigg enabled Emily to represent St Hilda’s in July at a STEM (Science, Technology, Enterprise and Maths) Conference in Sydney.

“I am extremely grateful,” Ms Wickens said.

“I’ve been quite passionate about St Hilda’s all my life; it was a very positive experience for me,” Mrs Rigg said.

“Our daughter attended as well and we are very pleased the school has been as positive as it has for Zoe.” Mr Rigg – a former university lecturer – said it was essential teachers were given opportunities to develop further.

“I look back on my school days at Scotch College and it was my teachers who influenced me to pursue education as a career,” he said.

4

St Hilda’s Ammonite

“To continue tradition of St Hilda’s being in the forefront of education, it was a great opportunity for me to go to the conference and really be able to encourage and push the girls from a Junior School level.

“As girls, they quite often lack the skills and courage to take on careers in Science and Maths, so it was really important for them to be able to see STEM subjects as opportunities to take careers in those fields.

“Most careers in the future will have elements of Science and Maths, so it’s really important girls are encouraged so they are able to reach their full potential.”

(L-R): Ruby Stammers and Wendy Wu, winners of the Year 9 category and Indira Devenish (L) winner of both the Year 12 category and Overall People’s Choice with Tahtyana Gaudieri, the President of the Media Committee for 2017.

Wide Angle The Wide Angle Media Festival held in September is a People’s Choice event that showcases the work created by the Media students across Years 8 to 12 at St Hilda’s.

The categories and People’s Choice winners were:

From stop motion short films, to original film trailers, students submit their work to be screened on the night and the audience then has the opportunity to vote for their favourite production in each category. This year marked the event’s third year and was the most well attended media festival so far. With free entry, a popcorn & candy buffet, props filled photo booth and great movies, the afternoon was fun-filled and entertaining.

Year 9 Lyrical Music Video - Modest Reflection by Wendy Wu and Ruby Stammers

Year 8 Stop Motion - The Godzilla Returns by Asia Peel and Momoka Okabe

Year 10 Original Film Trailers - CODE BLUE by Felicity Palmer and Shani Chalumuri Year 11 Commercial Music Video - Feels like We Only Go Backwards by Tayla Kolln Year 12 Short Film - Art film: Bent Not Broken by Indira Devenish Overall People’s Choice (this is the perpetual shield that takes pride and place in the Media Room and goes to the production that receives the most votes overall) – Indira Devenish for Bent Not Broken.

5

6

St Hilda’s Ammonite

NAIDOC flag raising Flying proudly in the wind, the Aboriginal flag became a permanent fixture at the front of St Hilda’s on Wednesday (26/7) after a special ceremony celebrating NAIDOC Week.

After the encouragement of current Indigenous students, a fourth flagpole was recently installed, allowing the Aboriginal flag to fly alongside the Australian, West Australian and St Hilda’s flags.

Principal Kim Kiepe said it was a significant day in the School’s history.

“Today we raised the Aboriginal flag at St Hilda’s in acknowledgement of the land on which our school is built, our support for all our indigenous students – current, past or future – and as another way of demonstrating our commitment to be an inclusive school and community,” she said.

“It is a nationally-recognised flag which supports and acknowledges the significant role of Australian Aboriginals,” Mr Muir said.

“By St Hilda’s flying the flag, it is demonstrating commitment to the reconciliation process.”

After raising the flag, Ammbigai read the speech that saw her win first place at the recent Reconciliation WA Sorry Day, which was based on this year’s NAIDOC Week theme of ‘our language matters’.

“NAIDOC gives us an opportunity to acknowledge and understand the culture of Aboriginal people and Torres Strait Islanders,” she said.

“My speech was based on reconciliation through language; achieving equality between non-Indigenous and Indigenous people through dialogue.”

The flag was donated by Kado Muir, Ngalia man and father of current Year 12 student Ammbigai Muir, who raised the flag in front of students, staff and special guests.

Left to right: Kado Muir and Ammbigai Muir

7

Our Junior School Cross Country champions

Cross Country success after hard work Our Junior School cross runners have consolidated and built on last year’s results by winning both the SSWA Champion Schools Cross Country, and Champion School at the Junior Independent Girls’ Schools Sports Association (JIGSSA) competition.

The training program has evolved over time to include both distance and interval sessions which challenged and pushed the students like never before. A focus of training is to learn what it feels like to push our bodies, persevere when our mind tells us it is too hard to see what we are all capable of achieving. This developed a depth of talent in all age groups which we believe enabled these results.

8

St Hilda’s Ammonite

SSWA Champion School’s Cross Country 1st

Champion Girls School 2017

1st

Girls Year 4 and Under

2nd

Girls Year 5

3rd

Girls Year 6

JIGSSA Cross Country 1st

Champion School 2017

1st

Year 3

1st

Year 4

1st

Year 5

2nd

Year 6

One of our Year 5/6 pennant-winning teams

Netball Club exceeds its goals The St Hilda’s Netball Club is only two years old, but has quickly become a force to be reckoned with on the courts at the Matthews Netball Centre each winter Saturday.

Already fielding 11 teams across the competition, the Club has had early success thanks to a dedicated band of parent volunteers, coaches and of course, the players.

“We have had teams in the competition for many years,” Junior School PE teacher Lara Clarke said.

“But as the sport grew in popularity, we had to find another way to manage the number of girls who wanted to participate. Forming a club was a logical next step and we haven’t looked back.”

The Club caters for players from Year 3 and this year we included teams up to Year 8.

We are progressively adding teams as the girls move through their school years, and our top Year 7/8 team plays in Division 1 and has for the past two years.

“This is a huge achievement, as there are 18 divisions with eight teams in each division - 144 teams - and we are in the top eight,” Ms Clarke said.

This year, St Hilda’s also won three pennants out of five in the Year 5/6 competition, and in the Year 7/8 competition, four out of five teams played in the finals with the Division 1 team making the grand final.

“We are also very proud of our new umpire development program, which has been recognised by the Perth Netball Association as one of the most successful mentor programs they have seen,” Ms Clarke said.

“Six umpires achieved a National C Level badge this year, which means we now have eight girls umpiring at this level.

“These umpires now give back by mentoring the Year 8 up and coming umpires each Saturday in preparation for umpiring in 2018.

“We also introduced an Umpire Award this year, which went to Sophie Wheeler.”

Ms Clarke said the results could not have been achieved without parent support.

“Anyone involved in children’s sport will appreciate the huge number of parent volunteers needed and we cannot thank our parents enough,” she said.

“As part of our recognition, we have introduced a Service Award.

“The inaugural and well-deserved winner was Sidonie Cox, who has led the Club as Club Coordinator through its first two phenomenal years, laying a solid ground for the future of our Club.”

9

10

St Hilda’s Ammonite

Kindness goes a long way Recently our Junior School gave a helping hand to those in need, getting involved in the School Kindness Lunches program for the first time. Philanthropist and OAM Ros Worthington visited to explain the concept to Year 1 to 6 students and staff, which involves making and delivering lunch for primary school students who often don’t have lunch at school. Everyone was inspired and in late August the first delivery was made to Brookman Primary School.

“In a first world city like Perth, poverty and hardship can be hidden but there is real need in our community,” says Ros. “It brings joy to my heart when young students so easily embrace the concept that people need help and can get themselves organised to do something with genuine interest and concern.”

Community Service Coordinator and Year 5 teacher Ms Sharne Clayton said a parent inspired her to get the Junior School to participate in the program. “The girls here are very fortunate they come to school each day with lunch,” she said. “This is an opportunity to give back to the community, and give the students a challenge, rather than just the usual fundraising activities we take part in.”

Students wrote letters to a local IGA store asking for sponsorship in the form of food donations, to which IGA generously obliged.

The girls have eagerly taken on the task, with Year 1, 2 and 3 students decorating the lunch bags, Year 4 and 5 students making kindness cards to place into the bags, and Year 6 creating joke cards to make the recipients smile. They worked enthusiastically to make 104 packed lunches including a chicken or ham and salad roll, a snack item, one piece of fruit and a drink for each. The bags were beautifully decorated by our Years 1, 2 and 3 students and the Years 4 to 6s created riddle and kindness cards for each bag.

Year 6 Service Committee Co-Captain Ava La Ferla said “We are lucky to come to school with lunch, but it is sad to think many kids in primary school don’t,” she said.

“It is important to do things that help out those less fortunate and make a difference.”

Ms Clayton said she was impressed with the way the girls had risen to the challenge.

“Already they were quite surprised that kids their ages don’t always get lunch provided from home, so already they have come to realise the difference between themselves and others, which is important. “Also, realising that small gestures of kindness can make such a big impact on others’ lives.”

Year 5 students also gave up a treat they would usually purchase from the Junior School canteen, and donated that money to the program.

11

Music lasts a lifetime

12

St Hilda’s Ammonite

With another Music Tour, School Production, Jazz Night, Strings Night, Spring Concert and Concerto Concert now a distant memory for our Year 12s, we thought we would reflect on the musical journey of Music Captain, Charli Goodwin.

“It’s been such a great year, but the definite highlight was Concerto,” Charli said.

“Of our large Year 12 musical cohort his year, a number of students play more than one instrument and/or sing and most of them perform in more than one group,” he said.

“With rehearsals in the early hours and numerous enjoyable opportunities to perform it is an incredible commitment for most weeks of the year.”

“It was the last big goodbye for the Year 12s – we all performed and the younger girls backed us up, with Mr Chapman as the conductor.

Mr Chapman said he believed students manage to maintain the pace because music is an important part of their life, and they enjoy being part of a fun-loving, close knit family and community.

“There was 17 of us in Year 12, which is quite a strong number of musicians.

“They also learn how to balance a rigorous academic schedule,” Mr Chapman said.

“It’s quite emotional – we rehearse so hard for it, then celebrate all the work that goes into the biggest night of the year, which also symbolises the end of our musical journey at St Hilda’s.

“At the end of each year, the musicians feel an enormous sense of achievement, pride and belonging. They keep in touch via music-making for many years after school.”

“We would not have been able to do it without the support and hard work of Mr Chapman and the Music Department, which we are very grateful for.”

Head of Music Tim Chapman is incredibly proud of all the students who take class music or co-curricular music, and he actively follows their musical careers beyond school.

“Beyond school some students continue to tertiary study, but just as many keep developing their talents in orchestras, choirs, bands and ensembles alongside their academic lives.

“When I hear from Old Scholars about how music continues to be part of their lives, it makes me extremely happy and I appreciate, along with many parents, the magnificent team of music staff that is St Hilda’s.”

“During their school years music students are massively busy and none more so than those who take part in the eclectic program – there really is something for everyone, for all year groups and for all levels.”

13

Gallery Gala Dinner

The inaugural Parents’ and Friends’ Association Gala Dinner was held at Crown Towers on 1 September. More than $29,000 ($29,351) was raised through ticket sales, a silent auction, a live auction and a raffle, with prizes generously donated by St Hilda’s families and local businesses. Half of the proceeds were donated to The Esther Foundation, which provides accommodation and support for women in need.

PLATINUM SPONSOR ($3,500 cash):

THANK YOU TO OUR GENEROUS SPONSORS: 14

Gallery Gala Dinner

GOLD SPONSOR ($2,500 cash):

SILVER SPONSOR ($1,500 cash):

RAFFLE ($1,850 retail value):

15

Gallery Wizard of Oz 16

More than 100 students were involved in the annual Senior School production in June. The Wizard of Oz was performed over three packed out nights to an audience of more than 2000 at the Joy Shepherd Performing Arts Centre. The production was one of the highlights of the School year and a testament to the hard work of the cast, crew, orchestra and creative team involved.

Gallery Wizard of Oz

17

Gallery Wiz Biz 18

In August, the Year 6 students presented The Wiz Biz, the sequel to The Wizard of Oz. The Wiz Biz tells the tale of what happened to Dorothy after she returned to Kansas with her new found friends, Scarecrow, Tinman and Lion. The enthusiastic Year 6 cast danced and sung their hearts out over three performances, one of which local elderly residents were delighted to watch.

Gallery Wiz Biz

19

Gallery IGSSA Athletics 20

The atmosphere at the WA Athletics stadium was electric and it was a very close competition between all schools. Many of our girls achieved personal best results across both track and field events. Our girls represented St Hilda’s with great pride and enthusiasm.

We are very proud of each and every athlete.

Gallery IGSSA Athletics

21

Gallery IGSSA Cross Country 22

Our Cross Country team completed a very successful season and finished fourth overall at IGSSA. Congratulations to all girls and coaches for an incredible team effort. The attendance at training has been outstanding and the way all students supported and encouraged each other at training and competitions was key to their success.

Gallery IGSSA Cross Country

23

Gallery Junior School Grandparents Day 24

The Junior School celebrated the relationships between grandparents and their grandchildren in September, with girls inviting their grandparents to enjoy a morning tea, classroom activities and a performance at the Chidley Campus.

Gallery Junior School Grandparents Day

25

Gallery Senior School Grandparents Day 26

Around 300 grandparents attended Grandparents’ Day on a sunny spring day in September, where they were treated to Jazz Band performances and morning tea in the Great Court with their grandchildren. Grandparents were also welcomed into the girls’ classrooms, where they were reminded of their school days and even participated in the lessons!

Gallery Senior School Grandparents Day

27

Gallery Fathers Day 28

Fathers of our Junior School students dropped in to their daughters’ classrooms and took part in some fun activities. We enjoy welcoming our Fathers into the Junior School every year to celebrate this special day, and we hope our Fathers enjoy the day just as much.

Gallery Fathers Day

29

Gallery Fashion Parade 30

Year 10-12 Materials Design and Technology students showed off their talent at the annual St Hilda’s Fashion Parade, walking their garments down the runway to an excited audience of staff, parents and fellow students. The Year 10 classes demonstrated their eyecatching embellishment techniques on the canvas of a simple dress, the Year 11 students showcased their projects of the ‘Little Black Dress’ and a group project consisting of creating a costume with an Australian theme suitable for the Country Costume section of the Miss Universe Pageant. Finally, the Year 12s displayed their WACE garments to the school community.

Gallery Fashion Parade

31

Gallery 70+ Morning Tea 32

Principal Kim Kiepe took great pleasure in welcoming Old Scholars back to school to attend the 2017 OSA 70+ Morning Tea, and in particular those from the Class of 1964 who were attending for the first time. This wonderful occasion provided an opportunity for friends to catch up to share fond memories of school days. We were delighted to have Vivienne Jackson, one of our Old Scholars from the Class of 1942 who reminisced about her time at school.

Gallery 70+ Morning Tea

33

Gallery Wooleen 34

Year 10 students participated in a six-day camp at Wooleen Station in August as part of the School’s Outdoor Education program. The girls hiked through beautiful Gascoyne scenery, made their own damper and food and participated in painting and other activities.

Gallery Wooleen

35

Gallery Father Daughter Dinner 36

Year 12 students let their hair down ahead of the business end of the year at the Year 12 Father Daughter Dinner Dance. It was great to see our Year 12s enjoying some welldeserved relaxation during a busy learning period. The Class of 2017 and Dads and special family friends tore up the dance floor with a lot of energy!

Gallery Father Daughter Dinner

37

First Communion The Annual First Communion Service was held on Thursday, 29 June 2017 in the Chapel of St Hilda of Whitby. After joining in a series of preparation lessons throughout Term 2 the following girls in Year 5 and 6 made their First Communion: Alex Boyder, Harriet Burt, Indiana French, Anna Hutchison, Indiana McDonald, Annika Robbie, Gabrielle Sayer, Laura Williams.

Unfortunately Rosie Ball was absent on this date, but she will be making her First Communion in Term 4.

Each of these girls have spent time reflecting on what the Christian faith means to them and are continuing to grow in their understanding of the biblical stories and traditions of the Church.

38

St Hilda’s Ammonite

39

Boarding life in the 1930s

Audrey Horley (Burt ’35) remembers 40

St Hilda’s Ammonite

Old Scholar Audrey Horley was recently interviewed by her Great Great Nieces and current students Phoebe and Claudia McIntosh. We share some of her insights into life at St Hilda’s 86 years ago: I was 10 when I went to school in 1931. It was the first day the Girls’ High School became St Hilda’s. I understand there were 89 girls on that day at the school.

I started off as a ‘day bug’ as my family were down south here in Perth for a few weeks before they went home to the station. A few weeks after I had settled in, I became a boarder when my parents went back to the station.

There were five of us in the nursery as boarders, and I kept friends with those five all my life, just amazing. The school was only the one building in those days and the boarders lived upstairs (Catherine House). The nursery was at one end where all the showers were. The House mistress was old Nursie - she was a real battle axe! She lived in a room next door to the nursery.

I wasn’t worried about boarding - I was thrilled! I hadn’t been to school before and it was something new. I was never scared or homesick or anything, it never occurred to me. It was all a big adventure for me! I loved it. I loved playing with all the other girls because I had never had much contact with a lot of children before.

I was in Fitzroy House as all the boarders had to be in Fitzroy. I always thought I should have been in Gascoyne as we lived on the Gascoyne River.

41

We stayed in touch with our parents by writing letters.

Every Sunday evening we had to sit down and write to our parents. It was quite a ritual and we had to do it.

We wrote these letters with pen and ink. A nib and you dipped it in a bottle of black ink. You had blotting paper in case you took too much ink on the nib and splodged it all!

Sport was my life and I loved it! And I was very good at it, luckily I excelled at most things I did in the sporting line. I could have joined any of the teams. I was better at athletics than any other sport. I got colours for athletics, swimming, basketball and hockey. This wasn’t bad as I left St Hilda’s at the age of 14. This was unfortunate as I was sent to Clyde in Victoria (a finishing school). I really missed St Hilda’s as Clyde at the time didn’t offer a competitive sporting environment and I was the only West Australian at the school during my first year.

I won all my age group things. I was never beaten. My sports mistress was very keen about the Olympics for me and one day she met with my parents to see if they were interested in letting me join a class of training for the 1940 Olympics. Although it was only 1934/1935 then, the 1936 Olympics was in Berlin and that was too soon. They were taking names for potential runners for the 1940 Olympics. Of course it never happened as the war was on but my parents weren’t very keen about it.

My sister was horrified! Mary thought it was the most terrible thing to want to do. ‘My goodness sake she’ll be all muscles!! She’ll all be fat and huge muscles all over!’ I think that scared my mother having a grotesque daughter … and that perhaps clinched it I never went! I went to Clyde instead to try to make me into a ‘lady’!

During school hours I liked Maths. I liked the challenge and it was something you had to work out. I liked reading too. Reading is important. We were not offered Science.

We were offered History, Geography, English, French, Maths. That was about it. Just the basics.

I think there might have been 25 or 30 students in every class. Perhaps I’m over estimating as there were only 89 in the whole school. The classrooms were in all the rooms around Catherine House. There was a big assembly hall in the middle with classrooms all around. The Principal’s office was on the left, Miss Small. Then the stairway went up and you went through double doors into the assembly hall which had a stage at one end.

42

St Hilda’s Ammonite

Back then there was a driveway at the front of Catherine House with a tennis court that went down to Bay View Terrace. There was a sloped lawn which led to the big wide entrance steps of Catherine House. Around the back of Catherine House of course were gum trees and open earth. No lawns or anything. There was a big open area we called The Quad which was directly out of the back door of the Hall. The Quad was paved. On the right were the day bug’s lockers. No one wanted to be a day bug everyone wanted to be a boarder!

On the weekends we played tennis and mucked around.

We were never allowed to leave the school grounds. Not down to the river unless we had a teacher with us, then we used to go down and swim. There used to be small baths at Freshwater Bay. This is also where we had swim classes at school. No swimming pools of course in those days. We used to walk down to the baths. It was free, you didn’t have to pay anything. Most of the weekends we’d have one swim down there. One of the teachers would feel sorry for us, gather us up and walk down. We’d have a couple of hours of swimming if it was very hot.

Of course Sundays was church. That filled the morning void as we had to walk down to St Luke’s. This was a long walk. I was very lucky as my friend Winnis Oakley fainted and fell like a lump during one of the services. We had marched down fully clothed in white dresses with long sleeves, with thick white stockings and hats, gloves, big thick bloomers and we’d arrived at the church absolutely wet through with sweat and poor Winnis passed out. I happened to be standing next to her and carried her out to the teacher’s car who immediately drove us back to the school. And after that Winnis was never allowed to walk. Winnis used to say “I can’t walk without her, she saved my life!” So I’d get a lift down too in the teacher’s car! I was very lucky as they seemed to swallow her story that we couldn’t be without each other! So I escaped that walk, not all the time, but a lot of times.

Winnis was my main friend and her parents had a station up in the Gascoyne next door to ours and so all my life I had known Winnis and then we went to the same school.

We were friends all the time until the day she died about 10 years ago. Most of my friends during my life were friends that I had been at school with. I had about three or four really good friends that I’d made at school and we continued to be friends. If we didn’t live in the same city or country sometimes we’d still keep in touch which was lovely. You make good friends when you are young.

I think boarding is marvellous, I wish my grandchildren went to boarding school as it develops independence.

Left to right: Anu van Hattem, Vivienne Jackson and Kim Kiepe

Friendships forever at St Hilda’s Many of us are lucky to be living active and healthy lives well beyond the age previous generations were viewed as being old. Nowhere is that more apparent than the annual St Hilda’s Old Scholars’ Association morning tea for alumni aged 70 plus years.

According to President Anu van Hattem, the event is growing in popularity every year and this year more than 200 women filled the School Hall to catch up and reminisce.

“It is wonderful to see so many old scholars continuing their friendships forged decades ago. Their vibrancy creates a real energy in the room and it is wonderful to see them.”

This year’s oldest guest was 92 year old Vivienne Jackson from Swanbourne who left St Hilda’s in 1942. “I was sad when I left school, I cried and cried and cried. I had a lovely time boarding here. My older sister attended as

well and our younger brother boarded at Christ Church Grammar.

“The school was already St Hilda’s when I attended – it had recently changed from the Girls’ High School. Our Principal was Miss Catherine Small, she was brilliant and shaped the way St Hilda’s is today. She was very young, only about 26 when she became Principal.

“We grew up in a small settlement near Carnarvon, but we moved to Perth when I was in high school however we still boarded as it was a family tradition.

“When I finished school the war was on and there was not much opportunity career-wise. I went into ballet and that was my career – it was fantastic.

“St Hilda’s is a lovely school, I love coming back here and seeing old friends and new faces. It has changed a bit but it is lovely to see the smiling faces of the girls today.”

43

Left to right: Lydia Matthews, Sofia Bekir Fuente, Ava Quartermaine, Prianka Behari and Indi Tinsley-Ellison

NASA Space School 44

St Hilda’s Ammonite

Year 12 student Lydia Matthews has always been curious about life in space.

“I also study Biology, Human Biology, Physics and Chemistry, with Physics being one of my favourite subjects.”

“I’d love to go to space one day.

“To walk on the moon would be pretty cool.”

In December, Lydia will get as close to space as possible on Earth, when she attends a two-week program at the Houston Association for Space and Science Education (HASSE) Space School with 25 other girls from Year 7-12.

Facilitated by the Alliance of Girls Schools Australasia, a combined-schools expedition for member schools in NSW, ACT, Victoria, Queensland and WA was organised, with 2017 being the first year girls from WA attend the Program.

The St Hilda’s group is the equal largest attending from WA, and will be accompanied by Maths teacher and Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Maths (STEAM) Coordinator Mrs Cora Algie.

“The HASSE Space School promises to be a fantastically valuable academic and holistic experience,” she said.

The program will be broken up into Junior and Senior, with 18 Year 7-9 students spending one week in Houston, Texas at the Space School, and one week at the US Space and Rocket Centre in Huntsville, Alabama. The eight attending Year 10-12 students will spend both weeks at the Senior Space School.

Expedition members have unique opportunity to meet experts such as astronauts, engineers and scientists at NASA’s human spaceflight centre, as well as participating in a variety of other fascinating activities.

Year 7 student Indi Tinsley-Ellison said she was most looking forward to the zero gravity simulator.

“I’m really intrigued by and interested in space,” she said.

“When I heard about this opportunity I thought I had to go, because offers like this don’t come around every day.

“I hope our girls will be inspired to continue their study of the STEAM subjects and appreciate their importance to our world and beyond.

“We also get to dissect a shark and go in a machine that simulates a rocket that is out of control heading towards earth.”

“I look forward to witnessing their curiosity, confidence and enthusiasm sky rocket!”

Lydia said she was proud to be part of a program that supported women in the science field.

A strong science student with an interest in the aerospace industry, Lydia was awarded the only WA Alliance Senior School Scholarship, covering the cost of the trip.

“I have an interest in aviation and I am thinking of going into the air force, which I outlined in my application letter,” Lydia said.

“Over the last 50 years, it’s become more common place to see women in science, but it still could become even more common,” she said.

“Roles need to be based on intelligence and merit, rather than gender.”

45

Managing diabetes & loving life It is not so long ago that the prospect of taking four students with Type 1 (T1) diabetes on a remote school camp let alone a New Zealand ski trip, would have been unthinkable. But not so for our Year 11s Sophie, Maya, Alex and Lauren.

With the support of their parents, our Outdoor Education team and paramedic Emmie Potter, the girls fully enjoyed the Wooleen Odyssey last year and the ski trip this winter.

Emmie reflects on their journey together: It has been a pleasure working with the girls. Firstly on the Year 10 Wooleen camp and then the Year 11 ski trip to Cardrona. Living with T1 diabetes is challenging but working closely with these students has given me a greater understanding of these challenges, and a respect for the condition as well as the girls who live with diabetes.

Basically Type 1 diabetics don’t produce insulin, usually produced by the pancreas. Insulin essentially acts as a ferry service transporting glucose (energy) from the blood stream, into the cells where it is required for metabolism.

Without a constant supply of glucose, the human body cannot function.

Although diabetics eat carbohydrates which break down to glucose, they don’t have a functioning ‘ferry service’ (insulin) to use the energy. Therefore they manually inject insulin to allow their bodies to function normally. Think of it like a see-saw. In non diabetic people, our bodies are constantly adjusting our levels of insulin and glucose to keep the glucose in our blood between approximately 4-8mmol/L. Diabetics must do this manually, constantly balancing their glucose and insulin to have just the right amount of each to survive. Too high and they become hyperglycaemic, too low and they become hypoglycaemic.

All this I knew before working with the girls as I have worked with diabetics many times in my outdoor

46

St Hilda’s Ammonite

education career and now as a Paramedic with St John Ambulance. What I didn’t know, and now have the girls to thank for teaching me, was what life is like living with a pump.

The words on the pump are gibberish to the uninitiated but vital for a diabetic. Basal, bolus, bolus wizard, active insulin, dual waves, square waves, corrections, sensors, carb counting, easy bolus, temp basal rate, 1 hour delivery, 3 hour delivery, pump suspension… just to name a few. Essentially these pumps contain a vial of insulin which is used to give a hit of insulin to either counteract a meal, or as a correction when glucose is too high in the body.

The St Hilda’s outdoor education experiences are filled with physical, mental, and emotional challenges. All of which require constant monitoring of levels and adjustments of insulin and food intake. What the girls taught me, is that diabetes is unique to each student.

There is no routine or pattern, no guidebook on what is right for each person. Some individuals are more sensitive to insulin and therefore don’t require as much to process their carbs, others will have a greater tolerance for insulin. Their pumps, while very impressive, are still not fool proof. They will alarm and stop insulin from going into the system, but cannot withdraw insulin already active within their bodies, thus they can still become hypoglycaemic relatively quickly. Lines can also become blocked stopping insulin from getting into their systems and causing the opposite, high blood glucose, or hyperglycaemia.

Therefore the trips camps were a balancing act, with the girls controlling their see-saw and me standing in the middle just to make sure they didn’t get distracted with all the excitement thrown their way. The pumps are a part of their lives, sleeping with them, swimming and showering with them, and basically having them in their pocket the whole time.

I have walked away with a great deal of respect for these girls. It’s not easy. It’s constant. It can be a hassle. It’s life threatening. It’s trial and error. But it doesn’t need to hold you back, and it certainly doesn’t seem to with Sophie, Maya, Alex, and Lauren. With maturity beyond their years, and the support of each other they have experienced Western Australia’s remote north west, hiking 50 kilometres over five days, sitting around the campfire at night and sharing stories with their peers, and swimming in the Murchison River. I have great memories of watching them experience this amazing and challenging trip, particularly their smiles of relief when the bus came to pick them up! Three of them more recently experienced six days skiing beautiful conditions at Cardrona New Zealand, and managed (with minimal support from me) an international trip with memories to last a life-time. I feel privileged to have spent that time with them and would like to thank them all for being so patient and tolerant of educating others on what they live with every day.

In 2016 Diabetes WA worked with the St Hilda’s Outdoor Education team to develop new guidelines to enable students with T1 diabetes to go on school camps. The checklist and management plan for families and school staff is publicly available and can be downloaded from the Diabetes WA website.

47

48

St Hilda’s Ammonite

Affinity

2017 JK – Y12 Student Art Exhibition Inspiring, invigorating, astonishing are just some of the words heard amongst visitors to, “Affinity”. Well done to all our budding creatives who contributed to the annual student art exhibition. Week 9 was a celebration of the vibrant Visual Arts, Photography and Design Programs taking place on St Hilda’s Chidley and Bay View Campuses. A special congratulations to prize winners who were acknowledged on Opening and Awards Evening.

Year 10 Art Chloe Fretwell Electra Goodwin

Year 11 Visual Arts Olivia Egerton-Warburton

Year 9 Photography

Year 5 The Johneen Beilby Encouragement Award Harriet Burt Rosalie Wilson Milana Cook

The Senior School Encouragement Awards

Josianne Belyea

Year 10 Photography Daisy Higham

Year 11 Design Charlotte Romberg

Year 8 Art Ava Quartermaine Shea Rafferty Maddy Eggleston Olivia Gherbaz Lauren Pudney

Year 12 Design

Year 9 Art and Design

Debra Tong

Angela Perry Ali Jensen Annabelle Lovegrove

Year 12 Student Art Acquisition Prize

Left: Fragmentation, Isobel Ferguson, Year 12.

Annie Sutherland

Year 12 Artemisia Award for Outstanding Commitment to Art

Isobel Ferguson, Artwork: Fragmentation.

49

Die Mauer Creative Writing Mia Dorsett Sawyer, Year 12 Winner of the Peter Cowan Novice Poet Award

a wall. barren. desolate thing. not for keeping out, but keeping in. a wall is only built after all, when the wall between, is already greater. division actualised; a haphazard, 20ft, concrete monstrosity. hadrian nor huang could have envisioned its barbarity. khrushchev’s ‘peace lines’ anything but. false labels cannot make it so. pale figures; stark contrasts against the obsidian, await their chance for flight. hazy blurs prompt the shriek of the metal; shrill against the dark silence. cold. artificial. guttural. youthful crimson seeping into the night, contrasts the pallor of the boy; left to bleed.

139 one – three – nine. comatose cities watch on. is this what it takes, to bring down a wall?

50

St Hilda’s Ammonite

Student spotlight

: dritte Creative Writing Ariella Steinberg, Year 12 I’m standing before a stein museums are made of them graveyards are filled with them in Berlin you can stumble over them or be humbled upon them like a memory you didn’t know you had until it was a bruise on the incurve of your foot (your sole, your old soul) as if you had walked shoeless, unlaced unwilling to a place to be unkempt and unkindled.

I have not walked not bruised not burned only been (typed out, wiped out) by Streicher not branded just styled no ink-striped script beneath the sleeve.

Oh grandmother, she opened the door for Elijah and his Scharführer friends -

I sink in this sedentary, stooping sentimentality that sits in its own pale-grave Lingers clear-cold beyond the stretch of this unbruised arm. my pastiche of pictures and fictions cultivated to crawl and mark the mind.

My inherited memory.

The colon is the most violent form of punctuation: it regiments, sorts, separates: child: mother: father: it’s violent.

It divides changes the way we: read.

It makes something a part of a whole A piece.

A shard that without its predecessorrefracts no more than its own miserable incompleteness.

It fractures the sentence.

A crack in the stone. who am I to know what came before.

I misremember the stiff jawed and rigid lipped the black boned and booted the red banded and Aryan iris.

The Luftwaffe grin that dipped-slipped between the wings and spread its firm feathered edge and pecked away at you, Jew.

51

MY LĂO LAO

As a child, my Lao Lao was a gracious woman, full of tales of her youth, “Oh, my Sha Sha,” she would gush.

“Come over here and talk to me — I have so many stories to tell you. So come sit over here.”

She would tell me of her climbing mountains, back arched with straw sewn baskets plucking and picking till the yolk of light disappeared, and ebony splayed above.

She told me of these stories, Once, or twice; or maybe three times more.

But never did she tell me, of what she had left behind.

How strange — It was for me to find, how she left her home, her marriage, to give lending hand.

But even stranger now, how her hobbled figure; frail and angled and wan still casts a shadow that echoes: Grace, grace, grace.

Creative Writing Lisa Quin, Year 11

Lăo Lao: The pinyin, or phonetics for pronouncing Grandma (on maternal side).

Shā Shā : My Chinese name; meaning sand. (To this day, my parents haven’t given me an acceptable explanation for naming me this).

52

St Hilda’s Ammonite

Salmon tom kha pla Photo Year 11 Food Technology The Year 11s chose some nutritious recipes to prepare for a recent Food Technology class. One of the highlights was this delicious salmon dish.

Salmon tom kha pla (Serves 1) Ingredients 1 cup water 1 t chicken stock 60ml coconut cream 2 button mushrooms, halved 1cm ginger, cut into matchsticks 1 stem basil Âź lemongrass stem, bruised 15ml lime juice

Method: 1. Combine the stock, coconut cream, mushroom, ginger, basil, lemongrass, lime juice, brown sugar and fish sauce in a saucepan over medium-high heat. Bring to boil, stirring occasionally. Reduce heat to low.

2. Add salmon. Simmer gently for 6 minutes for medium or until cooked to your liking.

Transfer to a plate. Set aside for

1 t brown sugar 15ml fish sauce 1 small salmon fillet 60gm rice Âź bunch pak choy Âź red chilli, thinly sliced coriander and basil to serve

2 minutes to rest. Remove skin.

Flake into large pieces.

3. Meanwhile, stir in rice and pak choy stems for 1 minute or until stems are tender crisp. Stir in leaves for 1 minute or until just wilted and rice is tender.

Discard lemongrass and basil stem. Serve soup in bowl.

4. Top with salmon, chilli, coriander and basil.

53

Sporting excellence and pennant winners This year, 14 girls became members of the 24s club, 3 girls became members of the 30s club and 25 girls across Years 7 – 12 were recognized for their sporting performances both at a State and National level. In addition, 19 teams won pennants in their IGSSA sports.

30s Club Year 11 Jessica Allan Year 11 Sarah Knox Year 12 Amy Vanderhor

24s CLUB The following 14 girls have competed in 24 or more IGSSA sports over their years at St Hilda’s.

24s Club Year 11 Georgie Atkins Year 12 Ailish Dey Year 12 Georgie Higgins Year 11 Sophie Mahon Year 12 Olivia McFarland Year 11 Ali Parker Year 11 Lucy Prasser-Jones Year 12 Ella Berson Year 11 Olympia Chiaramonte Year 12 Mariella Panegyres Year 11 Grace Foley Year 12 Charlotte Salom Year 11 Kate Storm Year 12 Martha Mellor

54

St Hilda’s Ammonite

States/National Representatives The following 28 girls have competed either for their State and / or Country their chosen sport.

In Year 7 Jessica-Monique Bojanjac Competed in the WA Junior State Calisthenics Team and achieved second place, and represented in the Junior Calisthenics Graceful Solo where she was awarded 3rd place In Year 8 Trinity Chisholm Competed in the U13 State Girls’ Hockey Team in Perth, finishing in the top 10.

Mia Lovelady Competed in the State WA Optimist Sailing Team in Adelaide. In the State event, Mia finished as the 3rd Australian female and the 28th Australian out of 262 entries.

Kate Taylor - BMX Competed in the BMX Sports WA State Championships in Perth and was ranked 2nd in the state for 20” and 2nd for Cruiser.

Sienna Eddy – Dance Competed in both 2017 State Dance Life Unite and Get the Beat National Finals, where she was awarded 3rd and 4th place in Dance Life Unite and 1st, two 2nds and 3rd in Get the Beat National Finals Christine Aitken - Hockey Represented WA in the U15 Hockey championships in Moorebank, NSW, placing 5th Paris Chisholm - Hockey Paris competed in this U15 hockey championship, placing 5th alongside Christine.

Ruby Culley - Tennis Achieved 2nd place in the WA Schools Pizzey Cup Tennis Team in the 18 and Under Australia Cup Singles Championships in Shepparton, Victoria Sophie Lloyd – Surf Life Saving Was selected for the WA Western Suns State Development Team at Maroochydore, Qld, where WA finished 3rd Lucie Lodge – Equestrian Competed in the Equestrian WA Australian Interschool Championships at Toowoomba Show Grounds, Qld. She place: •

6th Place Secondary Preliminary Dressage

•

9th Place Secondary Novice Dressage

•

4th Place Overall Secondary Championship Dressage Team

Jolie Sertorio – Hockey Selected for the WA U18 Women’s Hockey Team

competed in Hobart, finishing in 3rd place, and was also chosen for the U21s WA Hockey Team in Wollongong NSW and finished in 2nd place.

Sophie Skirving – Hockey Represented WA in the U15 Hockey championships in Moorebank, NSW, finishing in 5th place.

Victoria Wright – Futsal Victoria captained the State WA Black Swans Girls’ U15 Junior Futsal National Championships in Sydney where WA finished 5th overall.

In Year 11 Holly Allen - Trampolining Selected for the WA Trampoline Gymnastics State Team at Hisense Arena, Melbourne, and placed 8th.

Alyssa George – Swimming Competed in the open water swimming championships in Girl’s 15/16 open water individual where she finished in 28th place with a time of 1 hour and 11 minutes.

Alyssa also competed in the Mixed 14 and over 4 x 1.25km Relay where St Hilda’s A Team finished in 17th place.

Lucy Gibson – Volleyball Selected to WA Australian Junior Volleyball team, competing at the Gold Coast – finishing in 5th place Alexandra Ho - Swimming Represented WA in the Georgina Hope Swimmers Foundation Australian Age Swimming Championships in Brisbane, where she placed 15th in the 50m freestyle and 18th in the 100m freestyle.

Sarah Knox – Athletics / Cross Country Competed in the Athletics WA Australian All Schools Athletics Championships in Canberra and Sydney, where she placed 5th in the U16 2000m steeplechase, 14th place in the U17 800m and 12th place in the U17 1500m. In the Cross Country, Sarah finished in 42nd place.

Siena McQuillan – Athletics / Cross Country Competed for Athletics WA at National Athletics Championships at Sydney Olympic Park and placed 3rd in the U20 Women’s 5000m. Siena also competed for Athletics WA at the National Cross Country Championships in Wollongong NSW and finished in 7th place in the U18 Girls’ 4km run.

Elise Michael – Athletics Selected for the WA State Team for 2017 Australian Athletics Championships at Sydney Olympic Park, where she placed 3rd in U17 Long Jump and 4th in Triple Jump. As a result of this, Elise has been selected in the 2017 Target Talent Program, a high performance squad with Athletics WA.

55

In Year 12 Olivia Caldow – Athletics Competed for the WA State Team for 2017 Australian Athletics Championships at Sydney Olympic Park Athletics Centre, where she placed 2nd in U18 Women’s Pole Vault and 4th in U20 Women’s Pole Vault.

Lara Donaldson - Golf Qualified for the School Sport WA Golf Team at School Sport Australia National Championships in Adelaide. We wish her every success.

Sophie Fenna - Swimming Represented WA in Georgina Hope Swimmers Foundation Australian Age Swimming Championships in Brisbane. Sophie achieved the Bronze medal in U16 4 x 100 Medley Relay (backstroke), and placed 5th in Australia in her age group in 200m backstroke, and 6th in Australia in her age group in 100m backstroke.

Underwater Hockey Championships in Hobart, where Australia won the Silver medal.

2017 Pennant Winning Teams IGSSA Swimming Competition

•

Year 9

•

Year 11

•

Year 12

IGSSA Tennis Competition

•

Senior B

•

Senior C

IGSSA Hockey Competition

•

Senior A

IGSSA Netball Competition

•

Year 7/8 B

IGSSA Rowing Competition

•

Year 9 Quad A: HOR Winner & Consistency Pennant

•

Year 9 Quad B: Consistency Pennant

•

Year 9 Quad C: HOR Winner & Consistency Pennant

•

Year 9 Quad D: HOR Winner

•

Freshman Quad A: HOR Winner & Consistency Pennant

•

Freshman Quad B: HOR Winner & Consistency Pennant

•

Freshman Quad C: Consistency Pennant

•

Junior Scull B: HOR Winner & Consistency Pennant

IGSSA Basketball Competition

•

Junior D

•

Junior E

IGSSA Soccer Competition

•

Junior A

Elizabeth Middleton - Hockey Selected for the Northern Territory Under 18 Women’s State Team at the National Hockey Championships in Hobart. Her team finished in 9th place.

Caitlin Ward - Rowing Selected for the Rowing WA and WA Institute of Sport 2017 WA State Pathway VIII Squad. Caitlin competed at the Australian National Team Selection Regatta in Sydney and finished 3rd in Coxless Quad and 5th in the WA and Tasmanian Composite Eight.

National Representatives Representing your country is one of the greatest honours bestowed on an athlete. The following three girls were selected to compete for Australia: In Year 8 - Mia Lovelady - Sailing Competed at a National Level in the Australian Optimist Sailing Team in Hong Kong with 16 countries in the event. She finished: •

6th in the blue flight

•

3rd placed Oceanian girl

•

24th girl overall

In Year 8 - Kate Taylor – BMX Represented Australia in the BMX World Championships in South Carolina, USA and placed 24th. She also competed in the National Championships 2017 (Brisbane) 3 Australia (Cruiser) & 7 Australia (20”) In Year 10 - Emma Horak – Underwater Hockey Selected to represent Australia in the U19 Women’s Underwater Hockey Team at the CMAS Age Group World

56

St Hilda’s Ammonite

We continue to promote ‘being active’ through our Fitness Centre offering Strength and Conditioning training, Running Club, Pilates, Zumba, Yoga and Swim for Fitness classes. These activities are varied to allow enjoyment for all our students, complement our IGSSA program and provide valuable cross training. The Fitness Centre will continue to feature in 2018. Activities will run all year round for students who like to train in this way and assist with rehabilitation programs for our girls.

Stay connected Our students and Old Scholars are leading busy and vibrant lives.

Keep up to date with the latest news with: St Hilda’s Website www.sthildas.wa.edu.au St Hilda’s on Facebook www.facebook.com/sthildaswa GHS and St Hilda’s Old Scholars Association on Facebook www.facebook.com/sthildasosa Chronicle Post Quarterly Newsletter for Old Scholars

Postal

PO Box 34 Mosman Park WA 6912

Bay View Campus

Bay View Terrace Mosman Park

Telephone

08 9285 4100

Chidley Campus

McCabe Street Mosman Park

Email sthildas@sthildas.wa.edu.au St Hilda’s CRICOS Provider Code 00452E