Thank you for what has been a tremendous year at St Ursula’s College. The end of 2018 was heralded by the distinguished exit of our Year 12s as they completed their final year of schooling which culminated in ‘last events’ that characterised their grand hurrah. These girls impressed me with their welcoming nature, keen sense of humour and ability to ‘get on with the job’. We wish them well as they begin the next phase of their journey.
However, I would be remiss if I did not acknowledge the recent Year 7-11 celebration of learning held at the majestic Empire Theatre. This event, in my mind, demonstrates what can be achieved when students strive for excellence in a range of domains. It was so pleasing to see so many girls achieving success and paying tribute to others.
As this is the final newsletter for the year, I wish to recognise our former Principal, Mrs Ann Marie Pawsey, and thank her for her service and dedication to the College. I especially acknowledge the seminal work undertaken and her vision of building Global Connections so that our girls are forevermore able to gain opportunities to travel abroad and meet their sister Ursulines in Europe, Asia and America- Thank you Mrs Pawsey!
To help parents and guardians have a better understanding of what lies ahead for 2019, I thought that I would provide a summary of some of our projected new undertakings.
Ignite Gifted and Talented Scholars Program - Open invitation to Apply
Ignite Gifted and Talented Scholars are students from Years 7-9 who are invited to gain a place in the unique Gifted and Talented Program at St Ursula’s College. This program targets the development of an individual sustained project of interest that is complex, student-derived and challenging.
Ignite projects are cross-curricular in nature and encourage high-levels of independence, creativity, critical thinking in literacy and/or numeracy and resilience in learning. Students, as part of this program, are fast-tracked in skills that support self-directed learning, including accelerated skills in research, referencing, essay writing, data analysis and design development.
Ignite students are also invited to participate in external gifted and talented group competitions and additional enrichment opportunities.
Access to this program is by a selection process which includes:
* data informed academic achievement
* student developed application
* parent reflection
* teacher recommendation
Additional information about the Ignite Gifted and Talented Program will be released in Week 3 of Term 1, 2019.
Applications open Week 4 of Term 1, 2019.
St Ursula’s College Academic Scholarships
Having achieved Board approval, the College now offers Academic Scholarships to either enrolled or prospective students. It is envisaged that with continued financial patronage, we will be able to offer other generous scholarships at the College. Please note that further information about scholarships will be made available in 2019 to prospective and current students enrolled at the College.
Further to this, as part of this new scholarship program, we have also introduced The Principal’s Mentorship Program, which is a unique new program designed to provide sustained individual coaching and mentorship for Academic Scholarship recipients to develop skills in:
* goal setting mentorship
* growth coaching
* resilience in learning
* academic and wellbeing alignment
* faith and spiritual formation
* aspirational leadership formation
Embedded in rich research on how girls learn best, this individualised program is specifically designed to enhance the self-efficacy of young women as leaders in a contemporary changing world (Archard, 2013). Constructed to provide ongoing support and feedback to enhance individual development, the Principal’s Mentorship Program is founded on the premise that collaborative and sustained effort can ensure accountability and personal growth (Goldsmith & Morgan, 2004). The program forms part of a two-year cyclical program comprising of regular individual meetings with the Principal for growth coaching and mentorship sessions.
Parents/guardians are also invited to be part of their child’s progress over the two-year cycle and therefore, become part of the Parents as Partners in Learning initiative that will commence in 2019.
Reference List
Archard, Nicole. Female leadership framework: Developing adolescent girls as future women leaders through the formation of a female leadership identity [online]. Leading and Managing, Vol. 19, No. 1, Autumn/Winter 2013: 51-71. Availability:<https://search.informit.com.au/documentSummary;dn=569463423607984;res=IELHSS> ISSN: 1329-4539.
Goldsmith, M., & Morgan, H. (2004). Leadership is a Contact Sport: The 'Follow up Factor' in Management Development. Retrieved July 2011, from http://www.marshallgoldsmithlibrary.com/docs/articles/LeaderContactSport.pdf
Elite Athlete Program
We are very fortunate at St Ursula’s College to have many talented elite athletes. To ensure that these athletes are recognised for their achievements, and supported through our academic and pastoral care, we have developed a program to support rising talent and achievement.
As part of this, girls from any year group who represent at a state, or national level, are eligible to apply. The program is focused on the following areas:
* Goal setting program
* Developing individual assessment plan to support their pattern of assessments especially during training or representative competitions
* Nutrition program
* Strength and conditioning program
* Sport psychologist to support mental health and wellbeing
* Media training
This amazing program is also facilitated by a skilled educator who was a former elite athlete.
More information about the program will be available in 2019.
Aspire Leadership Program
At St Ursula’s College, we recognise that girls of all year groups need to be exposed to greater opportunities to experience leadership. As a result of this, we are currently re-invigorating our leadership program to ensure that a greater proportion of our girls have opportunity to lead in different ways.
Part of this program will involve direct instruction on leadership building skills, goals development, emotional intelligence and resilience training that will be provided to all our students. In addition, new roles and groups will be formed that will invite girls from Year 7 onwards to lead by example. These will be badged positions with portfolios and added responsibilities at the College. We believe that leadership skills development is necessary for all our girls. It is important that girls, especially those who aspire to be leaders beyond school in roles such as CEOs, Chairs of Boards, financial leaders, politicians, leaders in their own organisations and businesses have the skills that they need to best position them for an ever-changing world.
Girls will be informed of the new leadership opportunities in 2019.
Blended Learning- Aviation Project Year 7 and 8
As part of our drive to offer further challenging, innovative learning that establishes high-expectations, critical thinking and collaboration, we have developed a program focusing on aviation. Due to our proximity to Wellcamp Airport and eagerly awaiting the Qantas Pilot School Program in Toowoomba, we will focus our blended learning study on a comprehensive study of aviation. Supported by USQ as a partner in our learning, we have committed ourselves to learning about how girls can inform the future of aviation. The work developed here will be collaborative in nature and the girls will design, create and re-conceptualise all aspects of the Aviation Industry.
Blended Learning- Young Entrepreneurs Year 9 and 10
In the spirit of innovation, challenge and critical and creative thinking, we will launch our Young Entrepreneurs Program to students in Years 9 and 10. This blended learning program will target skills that girls need to develop a small business. It is critical in the contemporary age, that girls have the financial know-how, literacy skills and ability to test their designs and ideas. It is also important for them to have the know-how to get a business off the ground and secure their own finances. We have been supported by a number of community groups including USQ and the Foundation for Young Australians and the Commonwealth Back to drive this new initiative.
Parents as Partners in Learning
We welcome the opportunity to invite our parents and friends of the College to help us in the learning process. As part of the Young Entrepreneur Program, we are looking for parents who own their own businesses, or perhaps hold positions in companies to help teach our girls about the ‘joys and drama’ of building a business and working with employees. We ask if you can spare 30-45 minutes of your time to offer a one-off ‘masterclass’ where students can learn from your experiences. We would be so grateful.
We are also seeking parents who would like to act as a panel of judges to help us identify our rising entrepreneurs. If you would like to assist in any way, please contact Mrs Maria Gibson at the college on
mag@st-ursula.qld.edu.au
Sponsorship
I am delighted to invite our parents to help support our many projects at the College. We are currently inviting sponsorship from families to help promote our College Calendar and Year Book. If your family would like to help, you can sponsor part of the Calendar or Year Book from as little as $25 to $1,000.
Any help here is mutually beneficial as we can support your sponsorship through advertising your business. Please contact Mrs Mary-Lou Coorey–
marketing@st-ursula.qld.edu.au to see how you can help us.
Bequests, Financial donations and Awards to the College
Recently, we were blessed to have received a most generous bequest from a past Ursuline student, who had sadly passed away. This bequest money (as promised) has been reserved to support a 2019-2020 scholarship and a perpetual award that will recognise academic achievement. I thank the family of our past student and acknowledge the legacy of this generous gift.
How can my family sponsor an Award, Trophy or Shield?
Families do not have to be rich or well-off to sponsor an award, trophy or shield. Perhaps, your family has had a long association with the College or you would just like to thank the College in a tangible way. Then why not consider sponsoring an award, trophy or shield to encourage future generations of Ursuline students.
For example, you may like to donate a trophy or a shield that is given out at final year assembly to recognise any aspect of education at St Ursula’s College. It may include your family name or your child’s name. Some examples may include:
* The Jones Family Award given to a Year 7-8 student who has overcome adversity to improve their academic results
* The Mendez Family Shield which recognises the best result in Year 10 English.
* The Miller Trophy for consistent effort and improvement in the areas of Music.
* The Smith Family Shield awarded to a Year 9 student for conscientious improvement in NAPLAN
* The Sarah Dulhunty Trophy for Excellence in Year 9 Science.
* The Everest Family Shield given to a boarder who has shown leadership in Boarding and academic consistency.
If any family would like to make a financial donation, bequest or support an award, please do not hesitate to contact Mary-Lou Coorey on
marketing@st-ursula.qld.edu.au
I thank all those staff who have served our College and especially those retiring from our profession. I sincerely thank Jenny Sardoni, Linda Hutton, Narelle Wiseman, Wendy Collins, Katrina Sharpe, Peter Klein, Cathryn Zarnke and Shayne Hayes.
I also say thank you to Mrs Kay Gleeson for service to the College as Deputy Principal. I wish her well in her new leadership role.
Christmas Message
Finally, as Christians begin the Advent journey, let us all take the time to pray that we will take the gifts of the infant Jesus into our lives as we prepare for Christmas:
God of hope, who brought love into this world, be the love that dwells between us. God of hope, who brought peace into this world, be the peace that dwells between us. God of hope, who brought joy into this world, be the joy that dwells between us. God of hope, the rock we stand upon, be the centre, the focus of our lives always, and particularly this Advent time. (http://www.faithandworship.com/prayers_Advent.htm)
I wish each of you a happy and holy Christmas. May God keep you in his care, until we meet again next year. In the meantime, be kind to each other and enjoy the spirit of Christmas.
God Bless.