I am sure students, their families and all staff are looking forward to the end of term next week. What an enormous amount we all manage to achieve in such a short time.

Progress Reports
As I read progress reports for senior school students I am reminded again of the strong learning environment which is at the heart of St Hilda’s. We acknowledge that students come with different aptitudes, gifts and talents. What we expect from them at St Hilda’s is that they learn to appreciate their individual strengths and weaknesses, to set themselves challenging goals and work hard to achieve them. St Hilda’s teachers are highly skilled at supporting students where they are with their learning. They are wonderfully enthusiastic and give generously of their time and wisdom to help students achieve their goals.

Year 12 Production
The Year 12 Production was one of the term’s highlights. Entitled An Audit of Life, the evening comprised a series of six original student devised pieces. Students wrote, designed, produced and directed the short plays using Beckett’s absurdist text Waiting for Godot as a springboard. The pieces were all quite different and provided a fascinating insight to our Year 12s’ critique of contemporary society. I was stunned by the quality.

IGGSA Swimming
The IGSSA Swimming Carnival was held at Challenge Stadium on 14 March. The change of venue from Beatty Park meant student spectators were not part of the carnival as in the past. It did mean that all interested parents and staff could attend. The standard of competition was extremely high with many new records being set. The St Hilda’s team had been training since Term 4 and was a force to be reckoned with throughout the Carnival. We finished a strong 3rd (775) behind Penrhos (796) and Iona (865).

Year Camps
Term 1 has also been a busy term for camps with Years 6, 7, 8 and 9 enjoying a range of off-campus activities. Year 6 enjoyed three days at Woodman Point, Year 7 returned from Kalgoorlie last weekend, Year 8 stayed closer to home at the Ern Halliday camp and Year 9s spent four days based around Collie and four days at school completing a positive thinking skills program. At St Hilda’s, the camp program is carefully sequenced to build a range of skills including team work, leadership, resilience and positive coping strategies. The goals are clearly articulated and interrogated by students. Their learning is transferred back to everyday school life through the tutorial program in the senior school and the leadership program in Year 6. The camps are a crucial part of the St Hilda’s experience rather than a fun add-on.

Contemporary Art Fair 27 – 29 March
Congratulations and thank you to Mandy McFarland and her staff and the Art Fair Committee of dedicated parents who transformed the Chidley Cortile into a stunning art gallery last weekend. This new approach to St Hilda’s well-established Art Exhibition was a huge success showcasing St Hilda’s as a progressive, modern and professional organization.

I look forward to seeing many families on Arts Festival Day – Thursday 9 April for the culmination of our term-long celebration of the performing arts.

Enjoy the holidays

As Term 1 draws to a close, we approach the Christian festival of Easter. On the same day we celebrate one of the climaxes of the annual Arts Festival and the Christian Church in the West commemorates the Last Supper and the betrayal of Jesus.

What is being celebrated on both occasions is the fellowship of communities.  Our own School community recently demonstrated this by raising nearly $7000 for the Bushfire Appeal, and on behalf of the Red Cross I thank you for your contributions.

The community gathered at the first Last Supper nearly 2000 years ago had little idea of the impact their shared meal would have on the world. Judas’s betrayal and the death of Jesus the next day would bring victory over death and hope in the face of suffering.  As they comforted each other in the days after Good Friday, by sharing their stories of Jesus, the presence of the risen Christ was giving new energy and direction to the small group of fearful men and women who would go on to offer this story to the world.  When they began once again to break bread together, Jesus was there among them.

Events which draw us together us a community, whether Arts Festival, the Bush Fire appeal, or the Easter service at the start if Term 2, demonstrate the message of the Last Supper and the Resurrection stories in the gospels: in the realisation of our belonging to communities we discover our true humanity, our connectedness with each other and our ultimate dependence on each other to be who we are meant to be. In the Resurrection at Easter, Jesus’ interconnectedness with humanity and with God offers the possibility of true fellowship which leads us to God’s purposes for our lives.

As we face some of the consequences of global financial events and their effects on individual families and livelihoods, this message of Easter is perhaps more pertinent than it has been for generations. Canon Vanstone describes the meaning of ‘Good’ Friday and Easter, the meaning of life, in these haunting words:

Drained is love in making full,
Bound in setting others free,
Poor in making many rich,
Weak in giving power to be.

Therefore he who shows us God
Helpless hangs upon the tree;
And the nails and crown of thorns
Tell of what God’s love must be

Here is God: no monarch he,
Throned in easy state to reign;
Here is God, whose arms of love
Aching, spent, the world sustain.

I wish you and your family a joyful celebration of the Easter season.
Father Toby

Uniform Notice
St Hilda's has a distinctive uniform and we encourage all students to wear it with pride.  Parents are asked to check all uniform items, especially shoes, for correct size and condition to ensure winter uniform items are clean and ready for next term.  It was noticeable on Senior School Photo Day that some blazers were far too small and many were in need of dry cleaning.  The holiday period provides an ideal opportunity to address these points.  Winter uniform will be required to be worn from April 29 with no change-over period.

2009 St Hilda’s 20s Club
20s Club application are available from outside the Physical Education Department. See Miss Williams in the Physical Education Department. 20s Club applications close on 27 July. If a student was inducted in 2008 she still needs to apply in 2009.

2009 State and National Representatives
If you have represented Western Australia and/or Australia at a sports tournament this year please come and see Miss Williams in the Physical Education Department to discuss your invitation to the Sports Dinner.

Entertainment Books
This year’s Entertainment Books will arrive on May. Still $65 and packed with great deals. Buy yours from St Hilda’s to support the students through the Parents’ and Friends’ Association. Download an order form here. Books will be available from both Junior and Senior Schools’ Receptions.

Stephanie Tucker has been selected to compete in the National Young Riders’ Showjumping Squad at the Sydney Royal Show.

Cristabel Dowland has been selected to represent Western Australia in the 2009 Optus 14s Tennis Autumn Nationals which will be held in Mildura, Victoria during the April school holidays.

Georgia Prendergast has been selected to represent Western Australia in the 2009 State Schools’ Tennis Team in Hobart from 2 – 9 May.

Susannah Stockwell was 1st in the U-16 3000m and 2000m steeplechase and 2nd in the U-16 1500m steeplechase at the WA State Championships held at Perry Lakes.

Hannah Castle came 1st in the Open 3km Steeple Chase and 2nd in the U-18 1500m.

Well done to our Year 12 swimmers who participated in the IGSSA Carnival and did us proud by winning the Year 12 pennant.  Thank you for your dedication and for representing us so well – many girls have participated since Year 8 and deserve special recognition for their long-term commitment to this sport. 

Congratulations too to the Arts Captains and conductors for their work preparing houses for the House Choir Competition. They were rewarded with excellent performances and it was a joy to listen to each energetic and well-rehearsed choir. It requires much time, organisation, patience and team-building skills to reach such a high standard, so well done to all those who were involved.

I very much enjoyed the Year 12 Drama Production, An Audit of Life, written and presented by the Year 12 Drama Studies students. I commend them for their mature, entertaining and intelligent writing on the theme of absurdism and their wonderful characterisations.  It proved to be a very entertaining evening.

Many girls are very busy organising and rehearsing items for Arts Festival and we are all looking forward to an enjoyable day.  I hope that all the 12s will enter into the spirit of the occasion and dress up for the last time.

Please check to see that you have received the information about the Year 12 Parent/Teacher evening on Tuesday April 28 and that you have returned the slip if you wish to attend.  Those parents who have requested interviews will receive confirmation of their allocated times for seeing individual teachers.  Please remember that each interview is scheduled to last for five minutes.  Should you require a longer period, this can be arranged for you at another time that is mutually convenient for you and the teacher concerned.

I wish everyone an enjoyable Easter break and hope that the students return refreshed and ready to tackle Term 2 in a positive and organised manner.

Mrs Jane Putigny
Head of Year 12

Term 1 has been a very productive time for the Year 11 girls.  It has been pleasing to see the girls settle quickly into their Year 11 courses and adjust to the academic demands of this year.  It is encouraging to see so many of the Year 11 girls use the Tutoring Centre after school on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday afternoons to seek support from their various subject teachers.   The girls are also heavily involved in the cocurricular activities of the School and are now busily preparing for Arts Festival on Thursday 9 April.

Congratulations to Chloe Hayes who represented Australia in the LA Lights Gymnastics Competition in January.  There were 24 countries represented in the Competition and Chloe obtained 13th place which is a tremendous achievement.  During the holidays Chloe will be travelling to Sydney for National Selection Trials and we wish her all the best for this trip.

As part of the Year 11 Tutorial Programme for 2009 the girls have had a variety of guest speakers this term including Chris Hodson from GoZone. Chris spoke on the topic of Study Success and one of the purposes of his presentation was to help the girls establish effective study routines to assist with their learning and academic progress throughout the year.  The girls were provided with some useful strategies to assist with their own revision programmes, complementing the study skills work they are currently doing in Career Education.

 Please be advised that during Weeks 5 and 6 of Term 2 all Year 11 girls will have a significant testing period in each of their subject areas.  It is essential that the girls are well prepared for this time by revising in advance.  The girls have been advised to prepare effective study schedules and put revision strategies in place over the first term holidays and into the commencement of Term 2.  Please encourage your daughter to see her various subject teachers, her Tutor or me if she needs guidance or assistance.

Term 1 Progress Reports will be distributed shortly for all Year 11 girls and will provide you with feedback on your daughter’s progress and application in each subject area.   Please note in your diaries that a Year 11 Parent/Teacher Evening is scheduled for Tuesday 5 May which will provide you with an opportunity to discuss your daughter’s progress with individual subject teachers.

Finally, as we move towards the end of this term I would like to take this opportunity to wish you all a Happy Easter.  I hope the girls have a restful break in the holidays and take the time to prepare for a busy and successful second term.

Kathryn Paul

Term 1 has been a busy and successful beginning for all Year 10 students.  Our focus this term has been to increase personal awareness and show more care and concern for other’s in our Year group, school, family and community.  The saying Pay it forward has been added to Year 10s’ vocabulary. It is based on a concept of doing good for others and, instead of expecting a reward, simply ask the person to pay forward the favour and do good to others.  In this way it creates a chain of awareness and helpful behaviours.  This will be a constant theme throughout the year.

The adjustment to the increase in academic workload from Year 9 has been challenging but rewarding for all.  The focus in Term 2 will be on subject selection for Year 11.  During year time on Mondays, there will be presentations on the many different subjects available.  There is also a parent and student information evening in the Roger Goode Centre on Monday 15 June.  There will be displays and information available on Year 11 subjects and staff will attend to assist with specific enquiries on the many subjects available.  There will also be a formal address on the prerequisites for tertiary education and out-of-school programmes. Information given during this session is imperative in terms of subject selection. It is important that the girls see the process as a positive one, where they look to follow their interests, build on their strengths and realise that many paths lead to future careers. 

Week 7, Tuesday 9 June is Year 10 Evensong.  This is a church service from 5:00-6:00pm, where all Year 10 students’ attendance is compulsory.  Parents are also welcome to attend and the relevant details will be mailed to you closer to the time. 

The girls have been busily practising for Arts Festival events and their enthusiasm and high spirits have been praised by the older Year groups.  On the sporting field the Junior Teams have performed brilliantly in tennis and volleyball and achieved amazing results at IGSSA swimming.  Many girls are also involved in numerous bands and choirs that have been rehearsing and performing throughout the term.  I wish all the girls and families a relaxing and fun holiday and look forward to a successful Term 2.

It is has been a very busy and exciting month for Year 9 Students. Thank you to all the Year 9 Tutors,  The Outdoor Education Staff,  Ms Board, Mrs Stanley, Mr Latawski and Mr Psanoudakis for all their hard work and support in making the Year 9 Good Thinking Skills Program and the Year 9 Camp such memorable and worthwhile experiences for the girls. This time round, I have left the writing of the Year 9 report in the capable hands of Year 9 students.  The girls presented reports on the program and camp to their peers at a Year meeting – enjoy reading the excerpts here.

Tony Hughes - Head of Year 9

After a busy and at times hectic term, the girls are looking forward to a well-deserved break. I have been impressed by the way the girls have handled the transition into Year 8; they are coping well with the increased homework and assessment schedule.  I would like to congratulate all of the students who represented their House in the Arts Festival throughout the term.

At Year 8 Parent/Teacher evening the staff enjoyed the opportunity of meeting many parents. It is important that the girls get you to sign their diaries each week.  This helps us to monitor the girls’ work loads and is an alternative means of communication between parents and staff.  If you were unable to attend the Parent/Teacher meeting and have any concerns or worries please contact your daughter’s Tutor or me.  Parents of Year 8 Boarders who missed the Parent Teacher Night will have the opportunity to meet with teachers prior to the mid-term break on Thursday 28 May.

In the Pastoral Care program next term, the girls will complete the Aussie Optimism course. Having moved on from the identification of thoughts and feelings, the students will learn to develop strategies to challenge unhelpful thoughts, decatastrophise and develop resilience. I encourage you to talk to your daughters about what they have discussed during the course.

Last year I attended a seminar presented by Professor Michael Carr-Gregg on the topics of Youth Mental Health and Cyberbullying.  Carr-Gregg is a leading Australian psychologist and many of you may be familiar with him from his regular appearance on the “Sunrise” television show.  The seminar was very enlightening and much of the information gathered has helped to form the basis of the Year 8 Pastoral Care programme.  I thoroughly recommend that you have a look at his website at www.michaelcarr-gregg.com.au/ , the website provides a host of links to other websites and a section for parents on issues facing teenagers and parenting in the cyber age.  On the issue of cyberbullying, three recommendations were provided for all families:

• Never allow computers in the bedroom
•  Negotiate an on-line contract with your daughters
• Install a filter like the K9 filter.

Next term too promises to be very busy and exciting with a variety of sporting and academic events.  Year 8s will be invited to nominate for the School’s Da Vinci Decathlon team which will compete in 10 challenging academic events at Wesley.

Girls are reminded that they should return in Term 2 wearing their winter uniform, and remember to wear their blazers to and from school.

My best wishes to you all for a safe and happy holiday.

Luke Bostelman - Head of Year 8

The Year 7 Camp to Kalgoorlie was a successful venture for staff and students alike.  After an early morning start at East Perth Train Station, we boarded the new Prospector for our seven-hour journey to Kalgoorlie.  The on-board video presentations kept us all entertained during the long journey. 

The highlights of the week were: watching a blast at the Super Pit; prospecting for gold in the bush; watching a gold pour; visiting an underground mine; a day trip to Coolgardie and of course Disco Bowling and Line Dancing!  The bush breakfast of kangaroo and jaffles was an interesting experience for the girls.  Thank you to Mr Babbage, Miss Martinez, Mr Carlton, and Mrs McAlinden for their care and guidance during the camp.  Anna and Emma, from the Outdoor Education Department, also joined us for the last day to look at activities we may be able to include in future.

It was wonderful to have an opportunity to meet so many parents at the Year 7 Parent Teacher Evening.  The ongoing support of parents is vital and very much appreciated by the staff.  If you have any concerns about either the academic or social progress of your daughter please do not hesitate to contact the relevant staff member.
 
As Term 1 draws to a close we are looking forward to watching the students perform their Lip Sync at Arts Festival.  Although we have been very busy, the students have coped extremely well with the new routines and have approached all challenges in a very mature way.
I take this opportunity to wish all staff, students and their families Happy Easter and a safe and restful holiday.

Allison Stralow - Head of Year 7

English
Creative Writing
Year 12 English students and a group of creative writers enjoyed a great opportunity to listen to established writers at the All Saints Literature Festival on 27 March.  Young Melbourne writer, Alice Pung, inspired and entertained with her account of the writing and publishing of her book Stolen Gem, about growing up Asian in Australia.  She provided all the budding writers in attendance with good advice; Write what you know.
 
Hetty Velrome, another speaker about life stories, also spoke movingly about the children of Belsen, reinforcing the importance of recording memories, even painful ones.
Other sessions included a discussion of the process of writing by local author Amanda Betts, and sessions on the graphic novel and illustrating.   It was an enjoyable day and the girls really benefited from being immersed in a culture of writing.

For the Year 12s it provided another perspective on writing about life stories.  Earlier in the term, they attended a talk by Li Cunxin, author of Mao’s Last Dancer at the Perth Convention Centre.

He recounted his extraordinary rags-to- riches story with humour and pathos and punctuated his account with life lessons that will be hard to forget.

The Creative Writing Club reminds all our creative writers to look out for entry forms for three important creative writing competitions.  The West Australian newspaper’s Young Writers’ Competition seeks entries of prose and poetry from all age groups, and the Tim Winton Competition for short stories is also open to Years 7-12.  The combined local council competition Then and Now invites entries with a local flavour.  Entries will be called for early in Term 2.  Everybody is welcome to submit an entry.  

Visual Arts
Congratulations to all art students and staff who produced works to exhibit works at the recent St Hilda’s Contemporary Art Fair.  There was a positive response from visitors to The Paint Box gallery with lots of artworks sold.  Thank you to staff and members of the Student Visual Arts Committee for their time and assistance over the weekend.  If you did purchase an artwork and have not picked it up, please come to the Senior School Art Centre, or contact Ms Leano to make arrangements.

Fashion Drawing 1 Workshop is now finished.  This was a huge success with girls learning to illustrate the human figure for the fashion industry advertising. For girls who expressed an interest and missed these workshops, they will be repeated in Term 2, every Monday for three weeks starting in Week 2.   For students who completed Fashion Drawing 1, Fashion Drawing Workshop 2 will run every Wednesday from 3.45pm -5.45pm for at least three weeks starting in Week 2.  The focus is to build on skills and techniques already learnt and develop skills in texture rendering and story-boarding. 

Students who are interested in either workshop should give their names to Ms Leano as soon as possible, eliza.leano@sthildas.wa.edu.au as there can only be a maximum of 12 students for each workshop.

Music
Head Choristers 2009
Congratulations to the following girls who have been voted by their peers to lead their respective groups. These girls have already shown great leadership and initiative and their work so far has been very much appreciated.

St Hilda's Chorale: Head Chorister: Isadora Bogle, Deputy Head Chorister: Charlotte Goodlet
Animando: Head Chorister: Lois Pickering, Deputy Head Chorister:  Jessica Cummins
Barbershop: Head Chorister: Annabella la Pegna, Deputy Head Chorister: Cassandra Dunn

Music Committee 2009
The following girls were elected by their peers – Congratulations!
Year 8: Alexandra Mehl, Hope Leech
Year 9: Anasha Flintoff, Katherine Cranfield
Year 10: Amy Ford, Genevieve Woods
Year 11: Ting Ting Han, Sarah Cranfield
Year 12: Music Captain: CharlotteGoodlet, Vice Captain: Julia Watts, Cindy Feng, Bonny Rawson

PMH Memorial Service - Remembering Together, Sunday, March 22, 2009
Well done to the Senior Flute Ensemble, directed by Kristen Morrissey, for your beautiful playing at this important and moving occasion.

CD Recording    -    Western Australia for Me (and other Australian songs)
This was completed at the end of Term 1 and we will let you know when a copies are available for purchase. It features St Hilda’s Chorale, Animando, Barbershop and the Year 7 Choir. 
Jazz Combo
Well done to the following outstanding jazz musicians for their four gigs in 10 days – two Music Scholarship Lunchtime Recitals and performances at Mosman Park (Picnic in the Park) and Claremont Park Lifestyle Fair.  All four performances demonstrated excellent contributions to our local community.
Adelaide Irish, Fiona Walsh, Bonny Rawson, Dominique Le Miere, Alix Manolas,  Georgina McLeod, Amy Ford, Sarah Appleyard, Ashley Slabbert, Madeleine Chappell, Morgan Owen, Chloe Hayes, Amber Tang, Eloise Foskett, Julia Burvill, Emily Templeton-Knight, Renita Whittle and Zoe Golovoda.

Barbershop
Well done to the 12 girls in Years 11 and 12 who performed on the last two Sundays of Term 1 at the same venues as the Jazz combo (see above). As usual their singing was thoroughly professional and very polished.

Orchestra and Bands Concert  - 1 April
150 girls in Years 7-12 presented a brilliant concert on 1 April to a packed School Hall full of appreciative parents and friends. Well done to the Concert Band, Saintly Jazz, Senior String Orchestra and Symphony Orchestra. Every girl contributed to the band or orchestra so well, and, dare I say, much more impressively than they usually sound at 7am in rehearsals!

Please return School Instruments to Nancy Ellis now!
There are still instruments from 2008 which have not been returned.  Please send them to the Music Department as soon as possible.

Dates for your Diary
Music Camp to Margaret River
The 40 girls coming on camp have a rehearsal at school on Thursday 23 April during the day. We leave for MR at 7am on Friday 24 April and stay at Surf Point Resort for two nights. If you wish to see us perform, we will be in the following beautiful wineries and restaurants:
Friday 24 April 12.30pm-3pm - Colonial Brewing Company
Saturday 25 April 12.30pm-3pm - Watershed Winery and Restaurant
(Barbershop will also travel to Cape Clairault and sing there around 2pm as well)
Sunday 26 April 12.30pm-3pm -Cullens Wines –Barbershop, Clarinet Ensemble and Flute Ensemble
Sunday 26 April - Vasse Felix – Jazz Bands and Barbershop

Term 2
Friday 8 May 7.30pm – 10pm Christ Church Grammar School Chapel (FREE)
St Hilda’s and Christ Church Grammar School Combined Concert
Featuring musicians from Years 7-12 who are members of the Symphony Orchestra,
String Orchestra, Concert Band, Saintly Jazz, Choirs and Barbershop
Rehearsals – Term 2 – Week 1
Thursday 30 April – Combined Concert Band at SH 7am
Friday 1 May – Combined Jazz Band at SH 7am
Week 2 – all rehearsals are in CCGS Chapel
Monday 4 May
6-7pm Rutter Gloria, 7-8pm Symphony Orchestra, 8-9pm String Orchestra
Tuesday 5 May
6-7pm Rutter Gloria, 7-8pm Concert Band, 8-9pm Jazz Band        
Wednesday 6 May
6-7pm Rutter Gloria, 7-8pm Symphony Orchestra, 8-9pm String Orchestra
Thursday 7 May
6-7pm Rutter Gloria, 7-8pm Symphony Orchestra, 8-9pm String Orchestra

Wednesday 14 May 7pm - Ensembles Concert

See you at a gig soon!

Career Education
Dates for your calendar

• Wednesday 13 May, 1pm, Melbourne University visit – Gallery
• Saturday and Sunday 15 -17 May Careers Education and Employment Expo, Perth Convention Centre
• Thursday 28 May, 7pm, Parents as Career Partners seminar – MLC
• Wednesday 24 June,1pm  Bond University visit – Gallery
• Sunday 3 May,Vet for the Day for Years 10 and 11 students at Murdoch University
• Monday 6 July, Vet for the Day for Year 12 students at Murdoch University

      
The University of Melbourne is holding an evening information session on Thursday May 14, 2009 at the Duxton Hotel in Perth.  Interested students who are considering studying at the University of Melbourne and their parents are invited to attend. Please note that the event is free-of-charge however registration is required. Registration should be made online www.futurestudents.unimelb.edu.au/events/interstate/wa.html

Are you considering a career in Law?  At Murdoch, we believe in giving you the opportunity to try things out before signing on the dotted line. We are extending an invitation to all Year 10, 11 and 12 students to attend Be A Law Student For A Day to see what it is all about.  Date: Sunday 3 May Time: 9.00am
Registration closing date:  Friday 24 April 2009 (early submission is advised as places fill quickly). For more information or to RSVP please contact Chelsea Little on
9360 6279 or email: c.little@murdoch.edu.au

Umat 2009
Online registration deadline is Friday 5 June. The test date is Wednesday 29 July .The website is http://umat.acer.edu.au
This website gives details of participating universities, how to register, prepare for the test and identification requirements.
Please note the only acceptable forms of ID are:
Current passport issued within two years
Current driver’s licence or learner’s permit (photo bearing)
Current (photo bearing) Keypass, Proof of Age Card or 18+ card.
Student cards and/or documents that have expired will NOT be accepted under any circumstances.
If you do not possess any of the above forms of identification you must obtain a certified letter of identification from the School. This must be done by the first week of next term.

Rural Student Recruitment Program for Medicine and Dentistry
Year 10,11 and 12 rural students attending boarding school  are invited to a special workshop on 12 May  from 4.30 -7pm at QEII Medical Centre. See Ms Arrowsmith for an application form or contact Sue Pougnault  on 9346 7323 or 0419 174 860.

Psychology Workshop Friday 1 May 2009 
The Psychology Workshop is a new initiative for school students from Years 10, 11 and 12 who would like to find out more about Psychology.

The workshop will take place between 11.30am – 1pm and students will attend two short lectures on “How to beat exam stress” and “Why MySpace and Facebook are So Important to Young People”.Students will then have the opportunity to tour the Psychology Clinic and watch some physiological demonstrations. A BBQ lunch will be provided following the workshop.
This opportunity will give students the chance to see more of Murdoch’s School of Psychology than the public would normally see, and provide insight into the life of a university student. The workshop will also offer a glimpse of the prospective career paths that a psychology degree can offer. For further information please contact Jo Hulme 08 9360 6078 or email j.hulme@murdoch.edu.au.

This is a free event; however, places are limited so please RSVP by Tuesday 28 April to reserve a place.

Science
The Science Department will host the Triple S Science Fair on Tuesday 12 May from
5.30 pm to 8.30pm in the Roger Goode Centre, Tutoring Centre and the Great Court. 
The event is for students in Years 7 to 10, teachers and all interested members of the public.  There will be hands-on activities and information about careers in Science by scientists who know cool stuff. All of the universities will be represented, as well as other interest groups.  A sausage sizzle and a coffee van will be available. 

Physical Education
Tennis
The 2009 tennis season has been a busy and high spirited competition.  St Hilda’s has once again shone with many fantastic team and individual performances against terrific opposition.  There are still fixtures to be played against St Mary’s before final results will be announced and it is a tight race to the finish.  Congratulations to all teams on such an excellent season and thank you to all the captains for their hard work at trainings and game days.

Interhouse Tennis and Volleyball
Well done to all of the students who represented their Houses for Tennis or Volleyball. The final overall results were:
Interhouse Tennis:Blackwood and Fitzroy = 1st, De Grey- 3rd, Gascoyne-4th
Interhouse Volleyball: Degrey-1st, Fitzroy and Gascoyne =2nd, Blackwood-4th

2009 PE Committee
Congratulations to the following students who have been selected for the Physical Education Committee. They will be working with the Physical Education Department and Sports Captains to manage interhouse events.

Year 7: Maria Poole, Daisy Coffey, Stefanela Amidzic
Year 8: Madeline O’Sullivan, India Borshoff, Krista Blankenburgs
Year 9: Chelsea Badger, Susannah Stockwell, Olivia Terpkos
Year 10: Caroline Connolly, Sophie Kelly, Gabrielle Sumich, Caitlin Gooch
Years 11/12: Eloise McLeod, Chloe Hayes, Alice Vandermeiren, Jemma Beardsley

IGSSA Netball
Congratulations to all students who have been selected to represent St Hilda’s in Netball this year. Please note attendance at training and matches is compulsory for those selected in teams. If students are unable to attend, Miss Williams or Miss Swain must be informed prior to these scheduled sessions.

Training will commence Wednesday 29 April Week 1 of Term 2 for the Years 7/8 and Senior Teams and Thursday 30 April for Junior Teams.

Training and Match Information:

• Years 7/8: Monday 3:45 – 5:15pm, Wednesday 3:30 – 5:15pm
• Juniors:  Tuesday 3:45 – 5:15pm, Thursday 3:30 – 5:15pm
• Seniors:  Monday 3:45 – 5:15pm, Wednesday 3:30 – 5:15pm

Fixtures are available for collection from the physical education office or alternatively can be viewed on the St Hilda’s website. Please refer to these fixtures for match venues and bus information.

All girls are required to wear the correct netball uniform which consists of the blue physical education shorts, blue physical education polo shirt, blue socks, trainers and blue hair ribbon. It is also advisable that they bring their physical education tracksuit, and a water bottle is essential for all games.

If you are collecting your daughter at the completion of an away game, the accompanying teacher must be given a note prior to departure. Each game is scheduled to finish by 5:15pm, therefore please be there to collect your daughter, otherwise she will travel on the bus back to school.

Matches can take place on Mondays and Wednesdays for Years 7 and 8 and Seniors, and Tuesdays and Thursdays for Juniors.

Interhouse Athletics Carnival
The St Hilda’s Senior School Athletics Carnival will be on Thursday 25 June at Perry Lakes Stadium from 8.30am-3pm. See Term 2 Newsletters for details.

Hockey
The hockey season has started positively in 2009 with strong numbers at trials for each of the Year groups. Trials were held during Weeks 7, 8 and 9 of Term 1 and the standard of play was excellent.  The hockey squads have been named for each Year group and placed on the hockey notice boards.  Amendments to the squads will be made throughout the season. 

Please note: attendance at training and matches is compulsory for those selected in teams. If students are unable to attend, Mrs Brown must be informed prior to these scheduled sessions.

Training and Match Information:

Training schedules and fixtures are available for collection from the physical education office or alternatively can be viewed on the St Hilda’s website. Please refer to these fixtures for match venues and bus information.

The fixtures begin Week 2, Wednesday 6 May against Perth College.  Students are required to wear mouthguards, shin pads, school sports shirt, school sports shorts, blue hockey socks and appropriate footwear. 
We look forward to another successful hockey season ahead.  If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact Mrs Brown in the PE Department.

IGSSA Volleyball
It has been a great season of IGSSA volleyball; we have seen our girls come so close to winning the sets and matches and all the while they stay happy and supportive of each other.  The seniors throughout the season fought hard to five set games every week.  Our last games of the season for the juniors were very successful this week with amazing wins from the E and F teams.  The Years 7 and 8 girls improved in skill and tactics every week and trained very hard. During the season the captains of the team were asked to write a paragraph about the game to be pinned up outside the physical education office for all to see. The girls stepped up into their roles very well and did a great job.

Congratulations to all teams! We’ve had a fantastic season and everyone should be proud of themselves and their achievements; well done girls!  A big thanks to all our coaches and referees; without your invaluable help our season would not be possible.

IGSSA Cross Country
Last week, as a little starter and taste test, the girls had a week of aerobics with the rowers, but now the serious training has begun.  Cross Country Coach, Courtney Carter, has the girls working hard in the mornings, running our Interhouse course, and all the girls are working well. The training schedule for Term 2 is available from the PE Department or online via Studywiz.

Rowing
Excitement is in the air as the girls prepare to compete at the new international- standard rowing course at Champion Lakes for the final two regattas of the season. They will make history in the inaugural year for schoolgirl crews to compete there.
St Hilda’s will host the first regatta to take place at Champion Lakes on 1 August. We still have room to accommodate more girls into the rowing program so please contact Miss Reeson in the PE Department if you are interested in trying out this wonderful sport.

Training times
For all weekday morning trainings the bus departs from outside the Chapel at 5.25am; on Saturdays the bus departs at 6.10am.
Seniors           Monday, Wednesday, Friday 5.45-7.45am, Saturday 6.30-9.00am, Land Session Thursday 3.45pm-5pm
Year 10s         Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday 5.45-7.45am, Saturday 6.30-9.00am, Land Session Monday 3.45pm-5pm
Year 9s           Tuesday, Thursday 5.45-7.45am, Saturday 6.30-9.00am
Freshies         Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday 5.45-7.45am, Saturday 6.30-9.00am

Important Rowing Dates
RSG Meeting - May 4
Rowing Breakfast - May 23
Regatta 1 - June 6
Regatta 2 - June 13
RSG Meeting - June 16
Regatta 3 - June 27
Rowing Camp - July 16 – July 19 (Compulsory Attendance)
RSG Meeting - July 27
Regatta 4 (Host Regatta) - August 1 at Champion Lakes
Head of the river Regatta - August 15 at Champion Lakes
RSG AGM - August 31

IGSSA Swimming
St Hilda’s swimmers had another outstanding swimming season, finishing 3rd overall in an exciting carnival in the Years 8 - 12 events; 1st Iona 861, 2nd Penrhos 796,
3rd St Hilda's 775, 4th Santa Maria 719, 5th St Mary's 689, 6th PLC 674, 7th MLC 663,
8th Perth College 633.

The Year 12s won their Year pennant, a feat they have achieved in four of their five years in the IGSSA competition. The Year 12 swimmers are: Claudia Etherington, Alix Etherington, Tonje Holm, Zjana Allan, Grace Oliver, Merecedes Naera, Jolin Edmondson, Isobel Downie, Hannah Castle, Marisa Fatouros, Shen Lyn Bolton, Alexandra Eller, Holly Sullivan and Hannah Smith.

Many other Year groups were also close in their divisions and can set this as a realistic aim for next year. The Year 7s competed in their own competition and achieved the amazing result of 1st place in this division. The Year 7 swimmers are Beatrice Ho, Chandler Pyke, Imogen Everist, Jessica Beaman, Amy Johnston, Madeline Robinett, Sienna Zimpel, Sophie Sowerby, Maria Poole, Alice Watts, Tess Hosking, Annie Lester and Alice Campbell. We look forward to their continued success in the coming years.

These results were achieved through the girls’ wonderful dedication to training and commitment to the team. School training started in October and continued through the summer holidays and the first six weeks of Term 1.  Many girls pushed themselves to achieve many personal best times. One great example of having a positive attitude to racing and commitment to training was set by Olivia Whitaker in Year 10 who was able to take 10secs off her personal best time for 50m freestyle by the end of the season – an excellent effort. 

The IGSSA carnival was held at Challenge Stadium for the first time this year, which meant for the first time the whole school was not in attendance to cheer our swimmers on. Thank you very much to the parents, especially Mrs Edmondson, who arrived with cheer sheets and loud voices to help support our swimmers – we appreciated your enthusiasm and the girls were spurred on to good results.

Some outstanding results from the evening include:
1st place
Year 7 50m Freestyle A - Beatrice Ho
Year 7 50m Freestyle B - Chandler Pyke
Year 7 50m Backstroke B - Imogen Everist
Year 7 50m Backstroke C - Amy Johnston
Year 7 50m Breaststroke C - Amy Johnston
Year 8 50m Backstroke A - Alisha Hodgetts
Year 8 50m Backstroke C - Natalie Griffiths
Year 9 50m Butterfly A - Sarah Flores-Vargas
Year 10 50m Backstroke B - Ellen Tydeman
Year 10 50m Backstroke C - Gabrielle Sumich
Year 12 100m Freestyle - Claudia Etherington (setting a new record time)
Year 12 50m Backstroke B - Claudia Etherington
Year 12 50m Backstroke C - Grace Oliver
Year 7 4x50m Freestyle Relay A - Imogen Everist, Amy Johnston, Chandler Pyke, Beatric Ho
Year 7 4x50m Freestyle Relay B - Madeline Robinett, Jessica Beaman, Sophie Sowerby, Sienna Zimpel
Year 8 4x50m Freestyle Relay A - Alisha Hodgetts, Katherine Langford, Chloe Barnden, India Zimpel (new record)
Year 10 4x50m Freestyle Relay A  - Emma Levendoski, Rachel Kohan, Gabrielle David, Ellen Tydeman
Year 12  4x50m Freestyle Relay B - ShenLyn Bolton, Holly Sullivan, Hannah Castle, Marisa Fatouros

2nd place
Year 7 50m Backstroke A - Beatrice Ho
Year 9 50m Freestyle B - Emma Bryant
Year 9 50m Freestyle C  -Jessica Zimmerman
Year 10 50m Freestyle B  - Ellen Tydeman
Year 10 50m Freestyle C - Coraleigh Abrams
Year 10 50m Backstroke A - Emma Levendoski
Year 10 100m Freestyle - Emma Levendoski
Year 9 4x50m Freestyle Relay A  - Emma Bryant, Jemma McFarland, Jessica Zimmerman, Olivia Wareing
Year 12 50m Backstroke A  - Alix Etherington
Year 12 50m Freestyle C - Zjana Allan
Year 12 50m Butterfly A  - Alix Etherington
Year 12 50m Breaststroke B  - Jolin Edmondson
Year 11  4x50m Freestyle Relay B - Valentina Barron, Laura Jacobs, Katie Fairclough, Eleanor Whitaker
Year 12 4x50m Freestyle Relay A - Tonje Holm, Grace Oliver, Isobel Downie, Mercedes Naera
Year 12 4x50m Medley Relay - Alix Etherington, Jolin Edmondson, Claudia Etherington, Zjana Allan

3rd Place
Year 7 50m Breaststroke A - Chandler Pyke
Year 7 50m Breaststroke B - Sienna Zimpel
Year 7 50m Freestyle  - Imogen Everist
Year 8 50m Freestyle A  - India Zimpel
Year 8 50m Butterfly A - Katherine Langford
Year 8 50m Breaststroke A - Alisha Hodgetts
Year 8 50m Breaststroke B - Chloe Barnden
Year 8 50m Backstroke B  - India Zimpel
Year 9 50m Backstroke A - Emma Bryant
Year 9 50m Backstroke C - Olivia Wareing
Year 10 50m Breaststroke C - Gabby Sumich
Year 12 50m Breaststroke A - Tonje Holm
Year 12 50m Breaststroke C - Alexandra Eller
Year 12 50m Freestyle B  - Tonje Holm
Year 8 4x50m Freestyle Relay B - Vivienne Stekette, Karen Zwingmann, Sophie Johnson, Grace Allen
Year 9 4x50m Freestyle Relay B - Chloe Green, Catherine Lau, Victoria Lau, Isabella Hancock

Congratulations to all of the girls on this fabulous result and we look forward to continued success next year. Thank you to our magnificent coaches Adrian, Francis, Dan, Glen, Naomi, Keellee and Nat who have given their time and advice and we look forward to their return at training in Term 4. All swimmers are encouraged to keep up their fitness levels over the winter months by joining a swimming club to train at least one session a week and by participating in the Terms 2 and 3 IGSSA sports. Please see Miss Reeson for details of local swimming clubs.

Changing a successful and well-supported event is never easy or without risk. Thanks to the insight of Sally Everist who planted the seed of the new-look Art Fair, we would never have contemplated that a very different approach would be possible after successfully hosting the same event for 23 years! Change was necessary and change we certainly did – a new format, new partners, a new time of year and a new venue! The Contemporary Art Fair was held at the end of March at the Chidley campus and was very positively embraced by the 1000 people who visited the Art Fair during the course of the weekend. It was so successful that we will certainly be hosting it again next year as many of the current galleries and artists have already committed for another year.
Hosting an event of this size requires meticulous planning and the hard work of many people with different skills. The School is deeply appreciative of the support and work of the following St Hilda’s people:

• The Art Fair Committee, in particular Sally Everist, Ingrid Puzey, Catherine Clegg, Caro Kay and Shereen Rindel for their creativity and the tireless efforts they put into making the event a success
• Glenda and Julian Goddard, Miranda Smith and Caroline Christie who are current parents but also gallery owners or artists and who supported us in this first year by exhibiting in the Art Fair
• Jenny and Jon Petelcyzc for the enormous job of coordinating the raffle and the sale of cocktail tickets
• Tina Jacobs and Treffina Dowland for presenting such an elegant and stylish Opening Cocktail Party and to the gorgeous girls who served the food or sold raffle tickets
• Caroline Christie for generously donating a beautiful piece entitled Underwater Love for the door prize at the Opening Cocktail Party
• Rod Russell from Western Meat Packers and Darren O’Donnell for donating the beef for the Opening Cocktail Party
• Angie Edmands and Tanya Sumich and their wonderful team of St Hilda’s girls for coordinating the Art Fair Café over the weekend
• the Hillam family and Majool Subiaco, Cynthia Lim and Bianca Tan and the Simpson-Thomas family for generously donating the fantastic prizes for the raffle

 
and the many parents and friends who volunteered their time and expertise to make this event a success, particularly the mums and dads who served at the Cocktail Party, who manned booths over the weekend or sold programs, and those dedicated people who cleaned up on Sunday evening.

Thank you!

The Development Office Team

Parents’ and Friends’ Association
Thank you to all the P & F members who supported the Art Fair either by purchasing a ticket to the Cocktail Party, buying a piece of art or by helping with the logistics at the weekend. The community support for an event such as this can never be underestimated so your help is greatly appreciated.

The Raffle is  running until 9 April so we sincerely hope you will purchase a book of tickets to support the P & F. The prizes are fabulous and the proceeds all go back to the students. Tickets are available at Reception at $20 per book of 10 tickets.

The next meeting of the P & F takes place on 19 May 2009 at 7.30pm in the June Jones Teaching and Learning Centre.

Tony Connolly - P & F President

St Hilda’s Auxiliary
Arts Festival Day is held on the last day of Term 1 (9 April) and the Auxiliary is provides the refreshments for this day, both for students and parents. Refreshments for parents include coffee and muffins served outside the June Jones Teaching and Learning Centre prior to the Fancy Dress Parade. Grab a coffee and watch the fantastic array of colour and clever interpretations of the themes in the Parade. Morning tea and light lunches are served to parents who stay to watch the performances in the Roger Goode. These are served by Year 8 parent volunteers from the Café later in the morning.
Refreshments for kids include a Kids’ Refreshments stall where a variety of yummy treats are on sale after the Parade. Please ensure your child has some money if she would like to purchase a morning snack. The stall is set up next to the swimming pool and is run by Year 3 parents.

The Auxiliary also provides a free sausage sizzle for the students at lunch time (served by the Year 4 parents) and the Petelcyzc family serves ice-creams and cold drinks from a van in the Great Court. All the proceeds from the van also go towards the Auxiliary.

Thank you, in advance, to all the Class Parents and volunteers who make it possible to provide such an enjoyable day for everyone involved. The senior students rehearse for months in anticipation of this day and it is a pleasure for the Auxiliary to support them. Good luck girls!

We are still seeking Class Parent volunteers for Year 9. If you would like to get involved for 2009 please contact your current Class Parent or Kiran Veerapathiran in the Development Office.

Our next meeting will take place on 12 May 2009 at 9.00am at the Bay View Campus

Shereen Rindel – Auxiliary President

FOLASH News
FOLASH invites all members of the St Hilda’s community to attend a film morning as first event of Term 2. The film shown will be The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas
Venue : Windsor Cinema, Stirling Highway, Nedlands
Date : Wednesday 13 May at 9.45am Cost $11.50 which includes morning tea.
Remember that you do not need to be a member of FOLASH to attend. Everyone is welcome.

For enquiries contact Helen Carr on 9479 6345 email stevencarr@optusnet.net.au or the library staff.

Other dates for Term 2 are: 2 June am - Preparation of the Year 12 photo display and fiction shelf-reading, followed by morning tea.
30 July – End-of-term shelf-reading followed by morning tea.

Old Scholars Autumn Bazaar 3 May 2009, Chidley Campus, 10am – 2pm
The Old Scholars host an annual Bazaar each year on the Sunday prior to Mothers’ Day. We have 23 stall holders this year with a range of products and crafts including handbags, jewellery, fresh flowers, scarves and hand-made stationery.

Fabulous refreshments are also sold during the day and the proceeds go directly to Scholarships. We hope you will bring your children to purchase something for Mum or just come along to purchase a little something for yourself!!

We look forward to seeing you there!

Learn to Dive Holiday Program - Challenge Stadium. three or five session clinics during school holidays. Please contact info@wadiving.com.au or call 9287 2000 for more information. Term 2 Enrolments also being taken.  

Invitation to attend an April School Holidays Water Polo Camp, Years 4 - 9
Challenge Stadium April 20-24 , hosted by: City Beach Water Polo Club
 
This is a fantastic opportunity for new and old players to have fun in the holidays
playing water polo with friends...no experience necessary for those wishing to have a go. The camp will be coached by three-time Olympian Andrei Kovalenko and will cater for all levels of players from beginners to experienced. 
Details and Registration go to:  www.citybeachwpclub.com.au
 
Helping others call Western Australia home
Why not host an AFS exchange student?

Arriving in July and staying for 6 months on an AFS exchange program we have high school students coming from different countries in Europe, Asia, the Americas and Africa.  In addition, AFS will be welcoming AFS Community Service volunteers who have chosen to spend 6 months of their life helping community, educational and governmental organisations throughout WA.

Volunteer host families are needed to provide these students with the unique opportunity to discover and experience the ‘real’ Australia.  So, to establish life-long friendships, gain a new family member or touch up on a foreign language why not seize the opportunity and become an AFS host family?

AFS ensures peace of mind for host parents and students before, during and after the experience. In 1989, the United Nations awarded AFS a special testimonial citation for outstanding services to youth. AFS is the only student exchange organisation to be recognised by the United Nations for services to world youth.