12 Find Your Mountain - Lauriston Girls' School

8 Poet-in-residenceLyrical literacy with Lia Hills

10 Solo artist and teacherCampbell Reither hits the right note

12Find Your MountainNew student portraits

20 Junior School updateThe joy of music-making

EDITION 3 | SEPTEMBER 2017

Lauriston LifeThe magazine of Lauriston Girls’ School

Lauriston Girls’ School38 Huntingtower RoadArmadale VIC 3143 Australia

t: +61 3 9864 7555e: [email protected]

CRICOS number 00152FABN 15 004 264 402

1. Dana Boden 2. Sally de Guingand 3. Fiona Ireland 4. Susan Just (Principal) 5. Kate Nixon 6. Sam Ridley 7. Chris Toms 8. Louise Torney 9. Katrina Walter 10. Tim Watson 11. Di Wood

ON THE COVER: Georgie Burgess Photographer: Jesse MarlowDESIGN: Actual Size PRINTING: New Artworx

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6 7 8

CONTRIBUTORS

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CONTENTS.

FEATURED STORIES

6 In their own wordsMusic Captain, Dana Boden, wraps up the Gala Concert

24 Prep literacy programFinding the fun in spelling

8 Poetry in actionYears 5-8 masterpieces

THIS ISSUE

4 From the Principal Positive relationships are the key to life

20 Junior School The joy of music-making

16 Follow your passions and strengthsWise words for senior students preparing to leave

22 The third teacherNature’s role in the Kindergarten program

28 Feeding bodies and minds Alumna Jackie Bowker on eating smarter

14 Learning and InnovationTargeting teaching to student readiness

12 New portfolio of images Lauriston girls find their difference

COVER STORY

FROM THE PRINCIPAL

Positive relationships, the key to a happy lifeIn 1938 the Harvard Study of Adult Development began tracking the health of 268 sophomores and 456 disadvantaged boys from Boston during the Great Depression and beyond. The research study was intended to plot the health

trajectories of these men, along with their broader lives.

The study has gone on to include their families in the

research. Nineteen of the original group are still alive

and now in their 90s.

What fascinates me about this study is

the key finding that our relationships

and how happy we are in our

relationships has a powerful influence

on our health. Those who were able

to form close relationships, even with

a small number of people, maintained

positive levels of happiness

throughout their lives. Those close

friendships supported these men through times of

discontent and helped delay both mental and physical

decline.

The research highlighted that close relationships protect

our bodies and our minds. While there will inevitably be

conflicts in any relationship, the knowledge that each

person in that relationship can count on the other when

things become challenging is a predictor of happiness,

as well as good physical and mental health.

The importance of relationships has long been a

focus of curriculum development for our Strength,

Health, Inspire, Nurture and Engage (SHINE)

wellbeing program at Lauriston. Positive relationships

are one of the eight domains that form part of this

curriculum, which you can learn more about at

lauriston.vic.edu.au/learning/wellbeing.

Through building positive relationships with others,

we are fulfilled, and feel supported and connected.

The topics covered by our students in this domain

include building healthy relationships, learning about

empathy, and developing the qualities of forgiveness

and kindness.

Relationships are one of our School values, and lie at

the heart of what we do every day. We understand

the importance of building relationships with peers,

teachers and parents. Building positive and lasting

relationships enables us to feel a strong connection with

each other and a sense of belonging to a community.

When relationships are strong, we are able to overcome

conflicts that arise and are empowered to challenge

the views and assumptions of others in a manner which

promotes robust thinking.

‘Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much.’ HELEN KELLER

EDITION 03 | SEP 2017

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The performances of our choirs and instrumental

groups reflected the sense of accomplishment that can

be achieved when fully engaged and collaborating. As

Music Director of the San Francisco Symphony Michael

Tilson Thomas says, what remains in people when the

music ends is important. What remains for me is pride

in our students and the talents they can develop and

share through music, and pride in our teachers who

impart their love of music and skills as musicians to our

students, investing them with a lifelong love of making

music. The strong and lasting relationships formed

between students and teachers are evident to the

audience watching our Gala Concert.

SUSAN JUST

Principal

Our young women will be entering a dynamic and

competitive workforce in the coming years, and while it

is difficult to predict the exact skills that will be needed

in another 10 to 15 years, we know that interpersonal

skills will be an important attribute for job recruitment.

The ability to collaborate with others is an essential

element in our interpersonal toolkit. When we have

strong and positive relationships with others, we are

more capable of managing a collaborative group

process that requires us to listen actively, accept the

ideas of others and challenge these ideas with a view to

achieving new ideas and solutions.

While there are many opportunities for our students

to collaborate and build positive relationships, our

recent biannual Gala Concert, held at the Melbourne

Recital Centre, provides one example of the importance

of collaborating and mutual reliance. Our Director of

Music, Kellie Ryan, and our wonderful music teachers

have developed strong working relationships over

the years. This enables them to work effectively with

students and to create a repertoire of music for the Gala

Concert that reflects their musical development and

engages their interest in performing together.

Talking resilienceSusan with Dr Genevieve Bell and Jaymes Dec at the Hackathon

Teachers Kristen Hebden and Owen Flattery with Susan (middle)

Lauriston LifeEDITION 03 | SEP 2017

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IN THEIR OWN WORDS

Conviction and passion underpin Gala Concert On 10 August Lauriston held its biannual Gala Concert at the Melbourne Recital Centre. The concert was a huge success with performances

from choirs and instrumental ensembles featuring

students from Prep to Year 12, many of whom have

participated in choirs throughout their years at school.

The evening was filled with beautiful music and an

amazing finale number, a Sesame Street medley sung

by girls from choirs from all years. The childhood tunes

brought tears to some parents’ eyes.

The performance styles at the Gala Concert were varied,

with the choral group Lauriana performing traditional

pieces from Norway and Finland, to Laurietta voices

performing pop singer Lorde’s famous song ‘Royals’.

The incredible part of the concert, besides the

performances themselves, was seeing the progression

a Lauriston girl could undergo throughout the music

program. Starting at Blairholme in the choir, moving

on to the Montrose and years 3 and 4 choirs, then the

years 5 to 8 string orchestra, all the way up to Senior

Orchestra and Anthem Choir. This concert was an

opportunity for all the girls to showcase their dedication

and talent, and an opportunity for the Junior girls to

work with the Senior girls and see how hard work and

dedication can bring about amazing results.

All students and staff must be congratulated for their

persistence and commitment to the music program, not

only over the past year preparing for this concert, but

also for the many years spent rehearsing, auditioning

and practicing. Without the level of passion and love for

music that was evident at the Gala Concert, the music

program would not be where it is today.

Ms Kellie Ryan and all the music staff instil this passion

in the girls, as well as a can-do attitude that gives all

the girls the conviction to try hard and succeed or fail

with confidence. Something that I have seen in my

year as Music Captain is the courage girls have to put

themselves forward, push themselves outside their

comfort zones and perform in front of large audiences

with pride in their work, and an absence of fear. This

absence of fear is the greatest gift the Lauriston music

program has given me, and a gift that I am sure will

continue to inspire and motivate all girls involved in the

music program.

Congratulations to all the staff and students involved.

Without this love for music that is ever present in all

girls at Lauriston, performances like the Gala Concert

would not be possible. Thank you to all the parents for

attending the concert and for your unwavering support

throughout the rehearsal and preparation process. I am

sure that Lauriston’s music department will continue to

thrive.

I look forward to seeing many more concerts that excel

and astound in the future due to the conviction and

passion of all involved.

DANA BODEN

Music Captain


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POET-IN-RESIDENCE

Acclaimed poet inspires risk-taking and creativity in languageStudents from years 5 to 8 recently discovered the creative possibilities of poetry with acclaimed poet and author Lia Hills as part of the Poet-in-Residence program. Lia was extremely flexible, catering to the different

needs and interests of the students and tailoring

her lessons to what students at each year level were

learning this term.

Students in Year 5 were asked to think about gold after

their trip to Sovereign Hill. Poetic responses ranged

from the excitement of discovering gold to the dark

side of gold and its impact on society.

Year 6 students studying migration were asked to write

about their home or a favourite place, while Year 7s

studying Alice in Wonderland were encouraged to use

the line ‘it was the most curious thing I ever saw in

my life’ as the basis for their poems. Year 8, which is

studying Shakespeare, had the prompt of Sonnet 60

which focuses on the passing of time.

Lia made poetry exciting and accessible, welcoming the

unusual ideas presented in class and making students

feel comfortable playing with language and taking risks

in their poetry creations. She inspired the students with

her deep knowledge and imagination and empowered

them to find their voices.

Here are just a few of the fantastic poems from students

across each of the year levels.

The Unspoken Properties of GoldThe branches sway as if reaching out

Light dances along twigs.

Within the dense foliage

The leaves gleam like precious metal

Mesmerising in the soft moonlight.

Men brawl to get their hands on it

Fighting to the death.

Invaluable,

Perilous,

Bringing out the worst in men,

The creator of war

Of feuds

And of loathing.

As the gun is loaded,

And the blood spilt,

Only one may hold the heavy prize.

BY PIPPA CAILLARD (5P)

This is a place where…This is a place where

Soft sand perfectly dusts the paving,

Palm trees calmly sway in unison,

The sound of the balmy wind fuses with the subtle live

music,

The millennial pink strawberry ice cream dissolves in my

mouth,

The palm trees cradle the wind,

Sand absorbs the fresh sea water.

BY FREYA ALBRECHT (6O)


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Insomnia We sleep to recharge

But my charger is broken

It seems, as sleep does not take me

For thoughts still run rampant

And worries for tomorrow—

What it shall steal,

Not what it shall bring

As yet again I am tricked

Into thinking sleep wants me

In its grasp

For I have discovered the hole of weary growing wearier

And thoughts get deeper

And body grows empty

But my mind is all the more full

Because in the end

It is mind over body

And my mind is not sleep’s friend.

BY CHLOE MORGAN (8W)

The violinHow I wish I could describe

The sound of it;

Sad but content

Light but serious

Thrilling but calm.

It is different:

Unlike piano, it is touching,

Unlike trumpet, it is magical,

Unlike drums, it is affectionate.

Placing my fingers on the string

Stroking it with my bow,

It comes to life.

Vibrating strings told

A movingly beautiful story.

Whispering through staves of leaves,

The notes touch the moon at night.

The sound of a violin

Swirls around

And fills the starry sky

BY ABIGALE FU (7K)

Lia Hills encourages students to play with language


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STAFF PROFILE

Solo artist and teacher, Campbell ReitherLauriston’s new Head of Choral and Vocal Studies is enjoying exploring the possibilities that have come with his new role. Campbell Reither is an accomplished teacher and

artist who joined Lauriston in early 2017. He has been

impressed by the new teaching opportunities that have

opened up for him.

‘Working within both the curricular and co-curricular

programs of the School, I have relished the chance to

explore new areas of music curriculum and teaching

pedagogy.’

Campbell brings a wealth of experience to our School.

He has 15 years of classroom teaching experience in

a variety of educational settings. Campbell has held

teaching positions at Trafalgar High School and St

Leonard’s College, Brighton.

Prior to his appointment as Head of Choral and Vocal

Studies, Campbell taught at Mentone Girls’ Grammar

School for 11 years where he was responsible for the

direction of the Senior School choral program. During

this time, he also taught classical voice to students

studying AMEB and VCE examinations.

At Mentone, Campbell performed the roles of Musical

Director for The Wiz and Choral Director for the

musicals A Little Princess, Alice and Fame. In addition

to teaching, he has worked as a piano accompanist and

choral tutor for the Australian Youth Choir (AYC) and

the Australian Children’s Choir (ACC) for seven years

part-time.

His lifelong love of music started as a child living in

Ballarat. ‘Ever since I commenced voice lessons at the

age of seven, music has been a very big part of my life,’

he said. A gifted boy soprano, Campbell competed on

the Victorian eisteddfod circuit for many years with

great success. He was the youngest ever recipient to

be awarded the R.H. Young Memorial Cup at Royal

South Street. Campbell was televised performing ‘You’ll

Never Walk Alone’ as part of the 1994 Royal Children’s

Hospital Good Friday Appeal. This performance

coincided with the release of his first solo album

entitled, A Touch of Heaven. Campbell was also heavily

involved in the musical theatre scene, playing the lead

role in both Peter Pan and Tom Sawyer, through the

Ballarat Light Opera Company (BLOC). Keen to perfect

his keyboard studies, Campbell was awarded the

prestigious Belhausen Pipe Organ Scholarship through

the City of Ballarat.

Campbell continues to be a sought after solo artist;

his prowess as a performer has been proven through

his collaboration with a number of Australia’s premier

vocal ensembles including the Australian Boys Choir, St

Mark’s Choir Fitzroy, St Mary’s Schola West Melbourne,

St Patrick’s Cathedral Singers, the West Gippsland

Chorale and the alumni choir of Australian Catholic

University. He has performed some of the great pieces

of the established concert repertoire including Messiah

(Handel), The Lamb (Britten), Carmina Burana (Orff)

and Chichester Psalms (Bernstein). In 2013, Campbell

released a second solo album, The Hour of Dreaming,

which showcases his mastery as a countertenor. This

album is available through www.campbellreither.com.


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As a talented musician, Campbell offers a great deal of

technical expertise and experience to his students, but

it is his attitude towards life, learning and the pursuit

of excellence that makes him an exceptional teacher. ‘I

think it is very important for students to see that their

teachers have passions and projects outside school.

Often by working towards our big dreams, we are

extending ourselves past our comfort zone. Through

these challenges we learn new skills and knowledge,’

he said.

Since commencing at Lauriston earlier this year,

Campbell has actively contributed to major School

events such as the Jazz Cabaret Night, the Autumn

Concert, the Boroondara Eisteddfod and the Gala

Concert. Already Campbell has established himself as

a choral leader and is enjoying working with the girls

under his care.


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COVER STORY

Find your difference at LauristonGeorgie Burgess (Year 8) plays competitive netball for Lauriston and is our cover girl for this issue. This intense and powerful photo of Georgie is part

of a suite of images that Lauriston commissioned to

portray different aspects of the School and which will

be incorporated across a range of platforms. Look out

for these photos in Lauriston’s advertising, website,

strategic plans and school banners.

The theme for the campaign is Find Your Difference,

a concept that was developed in conjunction with

Lauriston’s advertising agency, Girl. The black and

white, natural look is a deliberate move away from

traditional school imagery.

FIND YOUR DIFFERENCE.

We all go to school to learn.

Good schools produce solid academic results.

Great schools teach you life skills to go along with that.

At Lauriston we do both, but we don’t stop at just

putting in.

Our difference is what we bring out.

We help every student find their difference.

Hearty thanks to all the students who were involved in

the photos including Isabel Farronato (Year 11), Bridie

Noonan (Year 11), Chloe Xu (Year 6), Chloe Brownell

(Kindergarten), Stella Maddocks (Year 1), Estelle

Joiner (Year 10), Daisy Le Deux (Year 7), Shreya Mishra

(Year 10), Kezia Vecchiet (Year 7) and the many other

students across the School who feature in group shots.

Many of the shots also feature in the School’s three new

long-term plans: Strategic Plan, Sports Strategic Plan

and Community Service and Action Plan, which can all

be viewed on Lauriston’s website. These plans have

been developed by Principal Susan Just in consultation

with Lauriston staff. They reference the latest research

and insights across key educational themes such

as student wellbeing, growing skills in Science,

Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM), and

entrepreneurship and teaching best practice.

The School’s proposed new buildings plans will also

play a key role in ensuring Lauriston is a leading

learning environment for decades to come. We’d like

to thank everyone in our community for showing

their support and writing letters to the Victorian Civil

and Administrative Tribunal and Stonnington Council

regarding our building plans. Lauriston continues to

work through the planning process but the community

support will have considerable impact and influence.

KATRINA WALTER

PR Manager


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LEARNING AND INNOVATION

Targeting teaching to student readinessIt was a pleasure to attend the Gala Concert recently and to see our girls perform with such confidence and assurance on the Melbourne Recital Centre stage. To witness teachers and students working together to

accomplish a polished and engaging performance, such

as they did, was a well-needed reminder about how

learning journeys are partnerships. Ms Sidley, playing

the violin next to the girls, and Mr Baird, performing on

the xylophone during the percussion ensemble, were

there to guide and coach, but were also full participants.

Watching the staff and girls perform reminded me of

a recent article I read written by Geoff Masters, the

Chief Executive of the Australian Council of Educational

Research. In his article titled ‘Promoting Long-term

Learning Progress’, he surmised that we need to stop

teaching students at pre-determined levels and adopt a

way of working more akin to how students learn music,

based on readiness not year levels.

As I watched a Grade 5 girl struggle to the stage with a

cello nearly the same size as her then play it with such

elegance and poise, this notion was made starkly clear.

Her music teacher never prevented her from moving to

the next level of learning because of her age; instead,

clear targets were made and when she reached a point

of readiness, she was able to progress to the next level

of competence. But how can we adopt this model in our

classrooms?

This year Lauriston Girls’ School has been lucky to be

invited into the University of Melbourne Network of

Schools 2017 (UMNOS). The university has created a

research arm for Victorian schools to learn from each

other and to work together with world-class researchers

on strategies to improve student learning.

Along with a group of other schools from around

the region, we meet regularly to talk about the latest

research in education and to work on our own target.

Our target is to better use data so that we can ensure

that we are always targeting our teaching to student

readiness, much like the AMEB teacher who ensures his

or her students are being challenged.

This is not easy. A class of 20 girls is different from an

individual lesson, but it is something that we think is

vital. We want our girls to flourish, to be challenged,

extended and supported. Masters makes the point that

what is important is ‘that students, parents and teachers

have a clear roadmap for establishing where individuals

are’ and that this knowledge is used to develop a clear

learning journey.

As I think of our talented violinists, cellists, flautists,

drummers, singers, pianists and so on, and how far

beyond their expected year level they were able to

perform, I know that we can achieve the same in our

classrooms.

If we continue to focus on knowing every girl and where

they are in their learning journey, we can assist them to

meet their own individual goals.

TIM WATSON

Vice Principal – Learning and Innovation


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SENIOR SCHOOL

Follow your passions and strengthsWhat is a balanced life? What brings harmony to your world? The answer to these questions will vary from person to

person as they consider what it is that fulfils them.

From my point of view, education, family and a career

needed to be in the mix, along with physical fitness

and a sense of purpose. Having been first a girl in the

classroom, then a student at university, a mother, and

a teacher in front of the class, I understand only too

well that sometimes life can feel like a never-ending

treadmill. Driving me as Head of Senior School is a

desire to see us help our students achieve a more

sustainable and fulfilling life by providing them with the

support and resources they need before they embark

on the next chapter in their lives.

In part, finding a career pathway that resonates strongly

with an individual’s strengths and passions may hold

the answer. Fortunately, at Lauriston there are many

opportunities for students to identify the direction they

wish to follow. Our students undertake the Morrisby

career profiling report, career counselling, and work

experience, and are encouraged to attend university

open days. This information is intended to help a

student, with the support of their families, embark on a

path that fills them with joy and excitement.

Service to the community is an integral part of our

School life and, by helping those less fortunate and

being responsible for facilitating positive outcomes,

students can experience great satisfaction. Our

community service calendar is full of opportunities for

students to find an activity or cause that they can relate

and contribute to. We encourage each girl to move out

of their comfort zone and commit to a service activity.

From this experience, they will learn to appreciate what

they have and just what a difference they can make to

others.

Having a clear path, with goals to be achieved, is

helpful but we believe that a more holistic approach is

necessary for long-term happiness. At School, we model

and teach our students to be mindful of their wellbeing,

while striving for a life-balance. Their experiences at

Howqua, and our outstanding Strength, Health, Inspire,

Nurture and Engage (SHINE) program, house system

and co-curricular offerings help provide them with

the tools they need to achieve this balance. Through

trial and error, and involvement in sport, music and

wellbeing activities, we believe they can each find what

brings harmony to their world.

A Lauriston girl is strong and resilient. She can cope

with the pressures of life, including social media

‘likes’, demands to achieve an outstanding ATAR and

eventually the expectation to get that job. What we can

do as the adults in her life is to ensure she follows her

passions and strengths, and takes the time to enjoy all

the aspects of her life that fulfil her as a person.

DI WOOD

Vice Principal – Head of Senior School


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HOWQUA

Year of adventure includes musical risk-taking

Music is an intrinsic part of Howqua. Whether it’s selecting the best tune to play

while cleaning the house, banding together in

song pushing through a tough mountain climb,

or working together as a year level to create an

original song that sums up their experience, each

girl’s time at Howqua would be a little emptier if it

were devoid of music.

Academically, every student participates in

classroom music and takes part in regular music

battles, where each class is given a song to

interpret, arrange and perform. This occurs once

every term and includes a wide variety of music,

ranging from animated musicals to modern pop

songs. The girls approach these opportunities with

real enthusiasm, and the performances include

costumes, choreographed dances, individual

and group instrumental pieces along with some

wonderful group and individual singing.

Classroom music also encourages students to

record original compositions, developing a song

from scratch that is composed and performed by

the whole campus for the end-of year album. This

song forms the centrepiece for our end-of-year

assembly and is an emotional closure to the end of

their Howqua experience.

Outside of the classroom, 80 of the 98 Howqua

girls have chosen to undertake instrumental or

voice lessons with the music department. From

girls taking their AMEB exams to those who have

never held an instrument before, every student is

encouraged to try something new, and we nurture

the learning of every student, regardless of her

skill-base.

We also have a lively ensemble program, with

groups rehearsing and performing regularly on

campus and in the wider Mansfield-Jamieson

community. These ensembles include the brass

woodwind band, string ensemble, guitar ensemble

and choir. We also have a first this year: a

ukulele club, with 15 very enthusiastic students

participating.

The Music Captains are instrumental in facilitating

a great range of events across the year, along with

creating and promoting a whole range of musical

opportunities and experiences. These include the

Cabaret evening and House Music, along with open

day performances which are widely enjoyed by our

parents, visitors and the girls’ own peers.

It would be difficult to find a more diverse,

entertaining, challenging and enjoyable program

for a single year group in any school.

Music brings our students together as they work to

play, create and compose every day.

SAM RIDLEY

Vice Principal –

Howqua Campus

MARIA LIEBERTH

Music Teacher


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JUNIOR SCHOOL

The power and joy of music-makingIn the Junior School, our students are constantly thinking and making new or different connections in order to generate new ideas. This creativity extends to all areas of our curriculum,

and can be found most visibly in our performing arts

department.

Within our music program, each girl has the opportunity

to explore, create and express new ideas in solo,

ensemble, choral and orchestral settings. The program

is based on the Kodály and Orff philosophies of music

education.

The Kodály philosophy was developed by the Hungarian

composer and educator Zoltán Kodály. He believed

that the voice and singing should be the foundation

of all music education. Kodaly also believed that

musical instruction should reflect the way children

learn naturally and developed the ‘sound to symbol’

approach.

The Orff philosophy was pioneered by German

composer Carl Orff. It is focused on the needs of the

child, and the emphasis is on nourishing the musicality

of each child through elemental activities in music and

movement. Inclusivity, improvisation, flexibility and

adaptability are encouraged by this approach to music.

Thus, our classroom music program involves singing,

body percussion, playing a variety of both tuned and

untuned instruments, movement and dancing, and

speech activities to encourage active music-making.

Through all of these, girls develop aural and vocal

skills, beat, rhythm, improvisation, composition and

performance skills.

An instrumental string program is introduced in

Year 3, which the girls may also continue in Year 4,

while the girls are involved in a band program during

Year 5. Students can also take part in the School’s

comprehensive co-curricular program, which includes

guitar ensemble, flute ensemble, Montrose percussion,

Blairholme strings, string orchestra, concert band, and a

variety of choirs.

The empirical evidence relating to the powerfully

educative effects of music education on the personal

and academic development of the child is expansive

and compelling. Recent research suggests that music

training improves literacy, increases brain function

and leaves a lasting mark on the adult brain, while a

significant amount of research conducted nationally

and internationally over many years has shown that

music education also has emotional, therapeutic and

motivational benefits for children.

The transfer-effects of music benefit the development

of the whole child in personal, social and intellectual

domains as well as the development of creativity, social

skills, concentration and fine motor coordination.


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Our girls have the opportunity to perform at a wide

range of events from lunchtime recitals and Friday

concerts to major events such as the Gala Concert,

Autumn Concert, Montrose Recital, music assemblies

and Presentation Night. Our girls are fortunate to be

provided with such a comprehensive and rich music

program as an integral part of their broad education at

Lauriston.

Our Junior School music department, capably led

by Ms Emma McKillop, works tirelessly to provide

opportunities for our girls to share their talents. I

congratulate each of our staff members on the quality of

the learning experiences and opportunities they provide

for our students, and for the courage and vision they

demonstrate in allowing us to celebrate music, to move

us, to awaken our senses and to develop our sense of

pride and joy in both our students and our School.

CHRIS TOMS

Vice Principal – Head of Junior School

Music education also enhances teamwork skills and

discipline. All players must work together harmoniously

towards a single goal, the performance, and must

commit to learning music, attending rehearsals, and

regularly practising.

Music performances teach children to overcome fear,

develop self-confidence and to take risks. Risk-taking is

essential if a child is to develop his or her potential fully.

It is important that children experience nerves before

performances as anxiety before events will often occur

in later life.

All of this evidence for music’s numerous benefits

emphasises the importance of music education.

However, they should not overshadow the sheer

joy people experience when making and performing

music.


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KINDERGARTEN

The environment, our third teacherAt the Kindergarten, we know that children learn best through play. However, play needs to be thoughtfully planned and

constructed so that children reach their full potential.

By using the environment as the ‘third teacher’, we

can create an environment where children investigate,

problem-solve, create ideas about the world in which

they live, and collaborate with others.

By constructing beautiful environments in which

children can test their theories, children are encouraged

to curious and motivated to investigate further.

These investigations prompt the children to explore

on a deeper level. Behind

educators and families,

physical spaces hold the

potential to influence how

and what children learn.

The physical environment

is not simply a backdrop

to the curriculum; it is an

integral part. An aesthetic

environment provides

rich and built-in learning

opportunities, and gives

educators many openings

to engage with children.

When children engage with

beautiful environments,

they not only deepen their

understandings, they learn

to respect and take ownership of each space. Our

intention is, at the close of their engagement with it,

that children will leave the space as they found it or

improved upon, inviting others to come and play.

Environments that are respectful to children’s

emerging skills and competencies invite children to

make independent decisions and to act autonomously.

Children are encouraged to make choices about

how they will organise the play space, who will work

with them and what materials they may need to add.

Allowing children to do things for themselves supports

them to feel secure.

In Reggio Emilia, the educators believe that the

springboard of knowledge and learning is generated

by curiosity. Carla Rinaldi has observed, ‘Children are

active protagonists of their growth and development

processes’. Reggio Emilia educators refer to the

metaphor of Alice in Wonderland, as Alice had a desire

to take journeys down other roads.

We need to encourage children not to be afraid to

shift their point of view and perspective, and to be

able to encounter new ways of doing. By creating

rich environments with countless possibilities, we

are facilitating children to find different viewpoints,

to explore different meanings and come to different

conclusions.

Nature is unsurpassed as a beautiful and harmonious

teaching environment. Being in our outdoor

environment is an immersive experience, engaging

and challenging the whole child, physically,

socially, cognitively and emotionally. Complex and

unexpected—a shower of rain, wind, birds flying, mud

squelching and leaves falling—nature sparks curiosity

even as it provides an arena for free play.

The way we design the environment creates a desire

in children to ‘cross borders’; to find the unexpected;

and to challenge their own theories. A rich environment

should reflect a whole made up of different parts in

harmony.

FIONA IRELAND

Director of Kindergarten

‘We place enormous value on the role of the environment as a motivating and animating force in creating spaces for relations, options, and emotional and cognitive situations that produce a sense of well-being and security.’LORIS MALAGUZZI


23

LITERACY

New program spells excitementAn innovative new literacy program is injecting new fun into spelling for Lauriston Preps.And the early results are promising, with students

already tracking ahead of where they would normally

be for this time of year.

The program is based on phonetics and includes

students learning a ‘word of the week’, which is used in

a rap to kick off the day.

Teachers help the girls break the words into phonemes

and sound them out using the phoneme first. For

example, feather is f/ea/th/er. The class then recites a

sentence with the word in it and completes a daily task

which may focus on a number of areas such as rhyme,

sentence structure and punctuation.

With more than 25 years’ experience across all levels

of primary school, Prep teacher Andrea Walter thinks

the new Prep literacy program being implemented at

Lauriston is the best she has ever used in a classroom.

‘The phonetic approach gives the girls a real grounding

for their literacy skills. It is sequential so it builds upon

their skill base each week. It makes sense to me, my

colleague Jane Curran and to the girls,’ says Andrea.

‘The girls love the structure of the program and are

enthusiastic about its repetitive nature because they

know what to expect but they also look forward to

what new challenge each day brings. Jane and I use a

number of techniques to keep their interest—currently

karate hands is a popular game to break the words into

syllables,’ Andrea explains.

During the investigations program the teachers also

create a fun creative art activity to complement the

word. There are posters to remind the girls of the word

of the week and its accompanying sentence so that

literacy is always being reinforced.

The Prep literacy program is based on professional

development which Jane and Andrea completed over

two years with lecturer, researcher and former teacher,

Michelle Hutchison. Michelle is dyslexic but that hasn’t

held her back from pioneering SMART spelling, a clever

and thorough way to teach spelling.

Jane and Andrea received many great teaching tips in

the sessions with Michelle. This knowledge has allowed

them to teach more explicitly and have a deeper

understanding of the foundations of literacy.

‘Our program also incorporates THRASS [Teaching

Handwriting, Reading and Spelling Skills] which is

another literacy tool we have been using, so we feel like

we have built on what we have been doing with some

added reinforcement and tools. We have made a good

literacy program into a great one,’ says Andrea.

The Prep teachers are seeing wonderful results with the

students with the development of solid foundations for

their future literacy skills.

‘We can see the success of the program in the girls’

reading, spelling and writing. They are confident

learners and the program has empowered them,’

explains Andrea.

‘Every Friday the girls ask what the new word will be for

Monday. We love this excitement and anticipation for

knowledge,’ says Andrea.

KATRINA WALTER

PR Manager


24

Lauriston Life


25

FOUNDATION NEWS

Making a difference togetherAs the Director of Advancement, my team and I work to connect our community across the many facets of our School. So many groups, including our associations, alumnae,

and past and present community and family networks,

work hard for the advancement of our girls and School.

Another area we have focused on is working closely

with the Lauriston Foundation, the School’s primary

fundraising arm. It is a privilege to help play a part in

ensuring we can all make an impact on the future of

Lauriston and the girls who attend our School.

The Lauriston Foundation not only gives attention

to raising valuable funds for the benefit of educating

girls but also to the careful management of those

funds to maximise the impact of every single dollar

that is donated. With good governance since 1983, the

Foundation has been able to provide means-tested

scholarships, build outstanding facilities, contribute

towards the development of the Howqua campus,

and support many innovative educational programs

including the FabLearn Lab. I encourage you to

read the Foundation annual report for 2016 at

lauriston.vic.edu.au/community/the-lauriston-foundation

to see in detail the everyday impact the Foundation has,

and will continue to have, for our girls.

One of the new initiatives the Foundation has been

working towards is the Creative and Performing Arts

Scholarship. Lauriston is a leader in the area of visual

and performing arts and offering a girl the opportunity

to learn and grow with some of the very best teachers

and programs in creative and performing arts presents

a life-changing experience. This year, through the

Lauriston Foundation’s 2017 Annual Appeal and the

voluntary levy program, we started working towards

this aim and whilst the journey has only just begun,

we at the School, and in the Foundation, will continue

to work hard so we can offer this opportunity to a

deserving young woman.

Thank you to those who help advance Lauriston with

your contribution of time and energy, and thanks

to our donors who make an impact in ensuring we

can continue to provide the very best educational

opportunities to our girls. We are grateful to the

Foundation for making an impact every day.

Together we can make a big impact.

SALLY DE GUINGAND

Director of Advancement


26

Lauriston Life

Donors make an impact to the Lauriston FoundationThank you to everyone in the community for your ongoing support of the Lauriston Foundation. This generosity enables us to work towards our long-term vision and continue to offer scholarships, provide advanced library programs and ensure the continued renewal and upgrade of our facilities.

The Foundation Giving Pyramid

Donations received 1/1/2015 – 1/8/2017

Donation level

Number of donors

Value

$0-99 7 $312.60

$100-201 226 $42,825.00

$202-499 115 $43,460.00

$500-999 97 $63,961.00

$1000-4999 145 $231,556.10

$5000-9999 12 $76,761.00

$10000+ 20 $579,467.07

Totals 622 $1,038,342.77

Lauriston Foundation Voluntary Levy Scholarship Donors:

Voluntary Levy 2017 to date (Starts 1 Oct 2016):

$86,000Total Amount

246 familiesTotal Donors

Lauriston Foundation Annual Appeal by the numbers:

$112,223 Total Annual Appeal Donations

$54,315Building

$28,603Foundation Scholarship

$16,155Creative and

Performing Arts Scholarship

$11,130Library

$2,020Education fund – non

tax deductible

Annual Appeal Donors

35 Current families

22 Lauriston Old Girls

19

Foundation Members

17

Past families

3

Staff


27

ALUMNAE NEWS

The life-changing properties of food Those of you who attended the OLA Health and Wellbeing Breakfast earlier this year will have been captivated by alumna Jackie Bowker (Cook, 1995). Jackie is a functional nutritionist and nutritional therapy

practitioner, and spoke to members of the Lauriston

community, including alumnae, as well as current

parents and students.

At School, Jackie was the Andrews House Captain and

was really into sports, especially cross-country running

and netball. She studied both French and Chinese and

was at School when Ruth Tideman was the Principal.

She has had a lifelong passion for wellness, and was a

scientist both at School and university.

After a long career in corporate digital marketing,

living and working overseas, she fell very ill and

regained her health using food and lifestyle changes.

Since doing so, she has followed her heart and turned

to wellness as a career and is on a mission to spread

the word to the world.

Jackie has a postgraduate degree in Human Nutrition

from Deakin University and is a nutritional therapy

practitioner and a certified gluten and Gut and

Psychology Syndrome (GAPS) practitioner. She is

passionate about a holistic approach to health. Jackie

has been trained by some of the world’s leading experts

on nutrition, including Dr Natasha Campbell-McBride

and Dr Tom O’Bryan. She believes that nutrition plays

a critical role in helping children and adults overcome

disease and disabilities. Her work is focused on healing

the digestive system and looks closely at the link

between physical and mental health, the food and drink

we consume, and the condition of the digestive system.

Functional nutrition identifies the underlying causes

of symptoms in the body, and corrects the imbalance

through diet and lifestyle changes. Listening to Jackie

talk about what science now knows, the human body

and how to truly feed it was so interesting.

‘Processed food is lifeless and devoid of nutritional

value,’ said Jackie. ‘In fact, our organs—like the brain,

heart and adrenal glands—feed off fat. Unless we are

consuming really good quality (animal is the preferred

source of fat) we are literally starving the body, which

leads to it breaking down.

‘By healing and sealing the “leaky” gut lining and

restoring the gut flora, you will absorb the nutrients

from food, the cells are able to renew and you can

achieve your health goals no matter what they are.

These goals may be shedding excess weight, or

combating arthritis, hormonal dysregulation, metabolic

disorders, digestive discomfort or getting more sleep.

The list goes on.

‘We are so lucky these days—there are thousands of

great quality, nutrient-dense recipes available that are

so nourishing for the body. There’s really no excuse to

eat processed food anymore which causes inflammation

of the body,’ explained Jackie.

Jackie is married to Mark and has two small children

Hudson and Coco.

Jackie runs a busy clinic called Hello Happy, designed

to restore you to optimal health, upstairs at the

Beatt Wellness Centre in Armadale. Jackie offers

complimentary 15-minute consultations to introduce you

to nutritional therapy and see if it’s the right fit for your

health goals. To find out more about Jackie please visit

www.myhellohappy.com or call her on 0403 419 745.

KATE NIXON

Alumnae Relations Coordinator


28

Lauriston Life

Jackie Bowker – Nutritional Therapist - Hello Happy

www.myhellohappy.com - 0403419745

Hello Happy Muffin Frittatas

Yields one dozen, trust me you will want that many!

Buy organic where possible

Ingredients

• 12 eggs • 12 slices very good quality smoked ham or bacon (I love Boucher

ham as they bake it themselves, no nasties). If using bacon

remove rind.

• 1 teaspoon sea salt

• 4 tbs flat leaf parsley (or whatever herbs you have on hand)

• Generous dash of cumin

• 1 cup milk of choice (I use almond)

• Generous cup or two of spinach

• Sun dried tomatoes (optional)

• 100g Feta (more or less as desired)

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 180 degrees and either grease with coconut

oil/butter or line muffin pan with squares of baking paper.

2. Line each muffin mould with a rasher of the ham or bacon

3. In large bowl, lightly whisk eggs, parsley, cumin, salt and milk.

4. Add spinach, sprinkle through feta in chunks and sun dried

tomatoes (if using)

5. Divide egg mix between 12 muffin moulds.

6. Bake for 25 minutes, until ham/bacon is crisp and egg is just set.

7. Enjoy as a meal or snack and be happy – these are so delicious!


29

ALUMNAE NEWS

Reunions and events

Class of 1987 30 Year ReunionOn Friday 28 July, over 60 girls attended their 30

Year Reunion at Lauriston. A lot of work was done

to locate the girls and a special shout out to Tammy

Zanchi (Blahovec) for all her hard work in rallying

the troops. Afterwards, they kept the Malvern Hotel

busy with everyone heading there to continue

their lively catch up. Thank you also to Loreen

Chambers, Helen Drummond, Jenny O’Neill and

Heather Ellis (all former teachers) who attended.

The girls were so chuffed that you could come.

Class of 1992 25 Year ReunionOn Friday, 26 May, 22 girls attended their 25 Year

Reunion in the Mountain Room. It had been a while

since many of these girls had caught up and it was

a pleasure meeting them all.


30

Lauriston Life

OLA Lauriston Life Series breakfast with The Hon. Jane Hume (Exell, 1988)We held our second Lauriston Life Series breakfast at

Kooyong on Friday, 4 August and we were so inspired

to hear Senator Jane Hume (Lauriston parent and Old

Lauristonian) tell her story in her words. The morning

was funny (hysterical), emotional (a few tears) and so

very interesting.

It is lovely to see such a diverse section of the Lauriston

community attending the breakfasts. We welcome

everyone who is keen to attend. They are not only open

to members of the OLA but to family, parents and

friends of the School.

Please also remember to update your details so we can

invite you to reunions and events.

Class of 1962 55 Year ReunionFifteen Old Lauristonians from the Class of 1962

joined us for an afternoon tea on Wednesday,

26 July. Our current School captain, Isobel

Nakonieczny, came to talk to the girls about life

at Lauriston these days and what’s involved with

being a School leader—a lot it seems. It was really

wonderful to have these old Lauristonians join us

for a lovely afternoon.

Jane Hume


31

ALUMNAE NEWS

EventsClass of 1965 Lunch at Hobba in Prahran The Class of 1965 organise a catch up annually and

this year their lunch was at Hobba in Prahran. They

met during the school holidays and so many of

the girls were babysitting grandchildren and quite

a few were away. They look forward to lunching

again in 2018.

Thanks to Jillian Veal for keeping us in the loop.

Left to right: Lindy Green (Hooper); Pamela Turner

(Jones); Carlene Tovey (Nankervis); Jillian Veal

(Dineen); Jenny Gaylard (Plenderleith); Berres

Thom (Ogilvie); Margaret Huntington (Carpenter);

Janet Derham (Swann); Margaret Bugge (Perry);

Jenny Morison (Turnbull)

Margaret Smith (Roberts 1957)Margaret is still in touch with her Lauriston

friends. She recently retired from the position of

Chief Assessor for the Victorian Curriculum and

Assessment Authority’s, Literature Review Panel.

Margaret is kept busy with 16 grandchildren

although four are living overseas. Margaret’s

daughters, Belinda, Jacqueline and Madeleine all

attended Lauriston.

She lives between Melbourne and Blairgowrie with

her husband Geoff.

Old Lauristonians at ChoirThe Open Door Singers is a choir that meets

for rehearsals in Canterbury and six are Old

Lauristonians. All of these women can trace their

enthusiasm for, and participation in, music back to

their excellent music education at Lauriston.

Update courtesy of Margaret Batten AM.

Left to right: Margaret Batten AM (Braithwaite);

Jan Carden (Webb); Pat Ritter OAM (Sandral);

Elizabeth Howcroft (Bradley); Helen Gibbins

(Officer); Fiona Tartakover (Couch)

Left to right: Margaret Smith with daughter,

Madeleine Smith (1980)


32

Lauriston Life

ValeAnn Phyllis Braithwaite (Dalgliesh, 1947)

Sincere condolences are conveyed to the family and

friends of Old Lauristonian Ann Braithwaite (Dalgliesh).

Ann was born in Melbourne in 1931. Her father was a

New Zealander, an All Black, who fought at Gallipoli,

the Somme and Paschendale. After the war, he was

employed as a Surveyor for the NSW water authority

and lived with his family, including Ann, in tented

accommodation on the banks of the Murray River.

Ann attended Lauriston as a boarder from 1945 to 1947.

The highlight of Ann’s time at Lauriston was the long

journey home at holiday time when she had a long wait

by herself between trains in Sydney.

She sat her Matriculation in 1947 in three subjects,

English expression, modern history and British

history along with 16 other girls and passed her

Leaving Certificate in 1946 in four subjects. Ann was a

probationer and the chief librarian in her final year.

Ann married Tony Braithwaite at Picton, New

Zealand on 29 January 1999 and died in London from

Alzheimer’s disease on 8 June 2017, aged 86 years.

MarriagesGeorgie Overend (2007)Last edition we shared with you the news of Georgie

Overend’s marriage to Edmund Wittich in February. This

edition we are delighted to include a photo of the many

Old Lauristonians in attendance at Georgie’s wedding.

Left to right: Luisa Bradshaw, Tash Barnett, Tori

Etherington, Rebecca Lemon, Georgie Overend,

Catherine Jansen, Carlie Scher, Sarah Fletcher


33

ALUMNAE NEWS

World Masters Games success Lauriston connections abounded when Sally Lobely (Davey, 1980) and Sue Peden (current mother of Lauriston student Saskia Clifford) competed recently in the World Masters Games in Cambridge, New Zealand with friends, Janet Connor and Sally Richards.The thrill of competing took an unexpected turn

when Saskia (Grade 6) Skyped her mum, Sue Peden,

while they were at the Games in New Zealand. Saskia

was bursting with the news that Ms Collins (Grade 5

teacher) and Ms Jessup (Social Service Co-ordinator)

went to school with Sally Lobely, who was in her mum’s

rowing team.

Saskia was proud of her mum competing for her

country in New Zealand. The three sons of Sally

Lobely had a similar reaction to their mum’s

achievement. Sally had experienced a revelation that

reinvention can happen at any time, that training in

pursuit of your goals is a reward and that anything is

possible at any age.

It’s been 37 years since Sally felt the bonds so strong

as when competing for Lauriston in netball, tennis,

long jump and the 100m. ‘It all came back to me like

the starting gun at Olympic Park, looking over at the

girl you wanted to beat, training at Scotch College, the

thrill, the heartache’, explains Sally Lobely.

The women have competed three times in Victoria,

receiving a gold medal in Geelong on another proud day.

The foursome got the idea to compete in the Games

after seeing a flyer. ‘We trained hard, we learnt so

much about ourselves and each other, we went, we are

sixteenth in the world, we rowed a Personal Best—we

did it,’ says Sally.

Sally Lobely also came home with a bronze for the

triathlon, another personal best, and with the thrill of

receiving a medal.

The women will now prepare to tackle their next

mountain: the World Masters Games in Japan in 2021.

Left to Right - Sue Peden, Sally Richards, Janet Connor, Andrew (manager) and Sally Lobely.


34

Lauriston Life

Mary’s life of loveAt 102, alumna, Mary Harrison has seen her fair share.Having lived through three wars, seen three

generations come into being and chalked up a truckload

of experiences to boot, Mary’s story could take up a

whole book.

And in fact, it has.

Her history has been compiled into a volume by one of

her granddaughters, titled A Legacy of Love.

A title which, according to daughter Patti Harrison,

summarises Mary perfectly.

‘She always looks on the positive side of life and is very

forgiving and loving to all, even if they are hard to love,’

Patti said.

Mary was born in the midst of a world war in August

1915.Her great-great grandmother was Mary Reibey, an

Australian pioneering businesswomen who features on

the Australian $20 note.

She attended Lauriston in the later 1920s and early

1930s and worked as a secretary at Swinburne before

meeting and marrying her husband, William Harrison.

A bank manager at English, Scottish and Australian

Bank (now ANZ Bank), William gave 25 years to the role

and was eventually awarded an Order of Australia Medal

for his service to the community. .

While William received the medal, Patti said her mother

played a major role behind the scenes.

‘She was a huge support to my father over the years

and was actively involved in all the fundraising he did

around town,’ she said.

‘She was also involved in church activities, gardening

clubs, meals on wheels and guides–she’s always loved

community service.’

Although the world has altered dramatically since she

was young, she has adapted easily to changes.

‘She’s a very clever lady,’ Patti said.

‘She was driving until she was 94 and was using an iPad

and Skyping her grandkids until recently. She hasn’t

hesitated to adapt to the changes.’

Originally living in Malvern East for 42 years, Mary

then moved to Ringwood to be near her sister and

then to Kyabram after suffering a stroke. Mary recently

celebrated her 102nd birthday with a high tea and four

generations of her family, friends and valued aged care

staff around her.

Happy Birthday Mary.

Originally published in the Kyabram Free Press,

30 August 2017.

Upcoming OLA eventsWednesday 11 OctoberSenior Old Girls Music Lunch

Sunday 22 October Class of 2010, 10 Year Howqua Reunion (Howqua year

2007)

Monday 30 OctoberLPA and OLA Golf Day

Friday 17 November Class of 1967 50 Year Reunion

Monday 20 November OLA Committee Meeting


35

Term 4 2017 Events

Lauriston Life is digitalLauriston Life is distributed to more than 5000 families, both in Australia and overseas. In order to reduce our environmental footprint, we are now offering the Lauriston community the option of receiving this magazine via email.

If you would like to receive future issues of Lauriston Life electronically, please email our Communications Officer at [email protected].

Advertising in Lauriston LifeIf you have a business or service that you would like to promote, consider placing an advertisement in Lauriston Life, which goes out to more than 5000 readers—alumnae, Lauriston parents, current and past staff, and all of our donors—and can also be viewed online. Our advertising rates are: full page $800, half page $500.

For further information, please contact our Communications Officer at [email protected].

38 Huntingtower RoadArmadale VIC 3143 AustraliaCRICOS number 00152F ABN 15 004 264 402

t: +61 3 9864 7555e: [email protected]

facebook.com/LauristonArmadaletwitter.com/LauristonGirlswww.lauriston.vic.edu.au

Lauriston Girls’ School

Tuesday 10 OctoberFirst day back for Term 4— all students

Friday 20 October The Huntingtower Lunch with Mariam Issa

Sunday 22 October Experience Howqua

Wednesday 25 October VCE/IB Art Exhibition opening

Wednesday 1 November VCE examinations commence

Thursday 2 NovemberExperience Lauriston: Meet the Principal and students

Thursday 23 November Niall House Christmas Concert

Monday 27 November Michael House Christmas Concert

Thursday 30 November Montrose Years 5-6 Presentation Evening

Tuesday 5 December Valedictory Evening

Find us on Social Media/LauristonArmadale

/LauristonGirls

/lauristongs

/company/lauriston-girls’-school

/LauristonGS

/LauristonGirlsSchool (user-386275683)

Experience HowquaLearn more about Lauriston’s unique Year 9 experience, Howqua, at our next open day on Sunday, 22 October. The day will include an information session featuring key members of staff and a guided tour of the campus by current Howqua students. To learn more and book online visit lauriston.vic.edu.au/howqua-open-day.

12 Find Your Mountain - Lauriston Girls' School

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