From the Middle School
Happy Box Update
Many of our Middle School girls are continuing to actively contribute to the Happy Box Project service initiative that provides remote Indigenous girls with items they may not easily get access to. Alongside the sanitary items requested, we have crafted a variety of handmade gifts to send: fabric scrunchies, origami paper cranes, felt animals to name just a few. We are asking the girls who have committed to this project to please bring in the sanitary items in a plastic bag with their names clearly marked by tomorrow Friday 4 August. Our intention is to continue crafting on Wednesdays and Fridays across the term, culminating in packing the Happy Boxes into beautifully designed and printed calico bags for delivery over the next term break. We are encouraging the girls to log their Service hours and are signing off on many student record sheets each week. Great work girls!
It is never too late to get involved!! We would like to be able to send as many Happy Boxes as possible so please encourage your daughters to join the craft sessions and as importantly, to drop off any sanitary items to the Middle School office as soon as possible (all late items will be graciously accepted). We would love all our Middle School families to be involved.
Below, is a list of suggested items and a link to the organisation for your further information. Sanitary items: period pants, pads, tampons, roll on deodorant, sheet-face masks, soap, shampoo, conditioner, toothpaste, toothbrush, mouthwash, face cleanser, moisturiser, hand sanitiser, shower gel, face washer and heat packs.
Congratulations to Isis Li (Year 8) whose essay has been shortlisted for the Junior Category of the John Locke Institute 2023 Global Essay Prize. Isis has now been invited to Oxford for the awards ceremony, at which the winners will be announced
The MMG Survey was completed by our Year 7 and Year 8 students this week. Parents would have received via a Portal notification, information about the MMG Wellbeing Surveys which parents have also been encouraged to complete via the Portal.
On Thursday 3 March, Year 8 students attended a workshop run by guest presenter Michelle Chevalley Hedge. Michelle is a nutritionist and sleep expert, who shared information to help the girls consolidate their wellbeing. Please encourage your daughters to share their insights with you. Year 7 will hear from Michelle on Thursday 24 August.
This week we launched the Transition Leadership positions with our Year 7 cohort during Year assembly on Tuesday. This is an opportunity for the girls to work with our Year 6 Junior School students on a program to assist with their transition to high school. We are asking the girls to write a letter of application to be considered for this position of responsibility and to submit here. More information regarding this role and other formal leadership positions is available on the Leadership Website. In Term 3 we will be launching the full suite of leadership positions for 2024 and would like to encourage all girls to consider applying.
Our First Nations students held a bake sale during our NAIDOC Week celebrations. They raised over $500. All proceeds are going to support sporting groups with indigenous students.
Our Da Vinci Decathalon State Championship winners were presented with their certificates during assembly. They will be presented with their winning medals during the school combined assembly.
Year 8 Forensics Excursion – Student Reflections
On Monday Year 8 took part in a problem solving forensics activity hosted by Education Interactive. We were given a crime scene photo and information about the mystery murder. Including the 4 possible suspects. The drug dealer, the couple and the accused. We used clues from evidence stations set up in the room including DNA, ballistics, arson, tyre tracks and more. From these clues we gathered information and solved the murder.
We had to use our minds to uncover the motives of the different peoples’ actions, because the clues didn’t tell us. This activity was a fun and interesting way to learn some of the ways people use science in the real world. Some of us solved the crime and others didn’t. Josh, the leader of the activity, was very helpful and taught us how to do beginner forensic science. We got to bond with other classes while having fun solving a mystery. We would love to take part in another activity like this as it was a fun and interesting way to learn.
Written by Sophie Rigg and Eloise Fisher (Year 8)
Year 8 Outdoor Education communications have been sent to parents on the Parent Portal. Please ensure you complete the consent forms by Friday 18 August.
Key Dates in Term 3
13 to 19 August – Year 8 National Exchange
Friday 25 August – Year 7 to 12 igsa Athletics
11 to 15 September – Year 8 Outdoor Education
Saturday 16 September – Garden Party
Jenny O’Donnell
Head of Middle School