With half-term come and gone, we should all now be well settled into the rhythm of the school year. New students will be increasingly confident about where to go and who to ask when they have questions. They will feel part of their class or form group and be developing lasting friendships. All students should have set themselves goals for the year and should be relishing the challenges ahead.

Several events are deliberately scheduled early in the year to hasten the settling in process for new and old students. The Year 6 camp was held in Week 2 so all students could spend some time together beyond the classroom prior to the election of Junior School Officials. Year 8 camp was held in Week 3 so new students could be integrated quickly and the newly divided tutor groups could engage in some team-building activities. The bush dance held on the last night under the direction of the Mucky Duck Bush Band proved a popular innovation and produced some interesting choreography. The Year 12 Ball was held at Challenge Stadium on Friday 27 March. It was a delightful occasion and, now it is over, all Year 12 students can focus on their academic work. Years 7-12 House Choirs culminates Thursday 5 March after a short, sharp rehearsal schedule. Student leaders have worked well with their Houses.

Achieving a balance between academic work and the vast cocurricular program offered at St Hilda’s requires some thought. Teachers and parents will be sensitive to avoiding over-commitment, yet every year, there are some students who do not fully explore the opportunities. Their school experience is the poorer for it. Research confirms our observation that students who participate in a range of cocurricular activities are more engaged with their learning and their peers. They are more confident and positive about the School and their future directions. The possibilities range from the arts, music and sport to outdoor pursuits – even bell ringing. Just a few of the activities are mentioned in this Newsletter. Please talk to your daughter’s classroom teacher, tutor or Head of Year, if you would like some help in getting her started in a suitable activity.

There are also many opportunities for parents to become involved in school life in ways which suit their interests and their schedules. See the support groups’ news in the newsletter or call Mandy McFarland in the Development office for more details. There are many ways for vital home/school partnerships to be established and strengthened.

With every good wish

When Abraham saw the burning bush, and heard the voice of God speaking, it did not burn away. In this mysterious event was the beginning of three monotheistic world religions: Christianity, Islam and Judaism. Abraham realised the enormity of his calling and took off his shoes as a sign of reverence for the holy ground on which he stood.

At the other end of the Christian story, the book of Revelation describes one man’s vision of the end times, when Christ the King comes to reign over all creation. His eyes are described as flaming fire. 

Fire is used throughout the Bible as a sign of God’s power, but we must be careful not to interpret the Victorian Bushfires, as some religious people have already tried to do, as judgements from God.

There is no doubt that God’s power becomes more noticeable in the face of such tragedies.  In his presentation to a recent Senior School assembly, Steve Joske, the Director of the Red Cross, commented on the loving, humanitarian way in which people had responded with so many offers of help, both financial and practical.

It sometimes takes tragedies like this to remind us how wrapped-up we are in our own very small worlds of family and close friends. Here we find support and comfort, and it is not a bad thing. But when we see those whose own support and comfort has been destroyed we remember our common life as humans and our common responsibility. 

As Abraham experienced, we stand on holy ground when God speaks to us. In the recent tragedies God has spoken, as so many times before, through the faces of the homeless and the bereaved, just as God spoke to us through the suffering of his Son on the cross. The ground on which relief workers stand is indeed holy, and the message from this burning bush is that the terrible suffering inherent in the natural life cycle has the power to transform us into loving human beings: our response of giving and empathy is a sign of God’s transformation of suffering into joy, of highly-developed animals into the children of God, of people of the cross into people of Easter hope.

We continue to think of people affected by the Bushfires. Lent begins with Ash Wednesday, when the faithful are told Remember that you are dust and to dust you shall return. Repent, and believe the good news. This bushfire prayer, by the Dean of Melbourne, draws out the current implication of this ancient Lenten tradition:

O God, you know of what we are made – you remember that we are but dust.  Look now on our fragility, and hear the cries of a scorched and wounded land: to those whose pain and grief are beyond our imagining, give unimagined comfort; to those whose lives and dreams have turned to ashes, give the hope of new beginnings; to those whose weariness is deeper than their bones, give new resolve and strength; to those who offer the embrace of human compassion, give new depths of love. 
O God, hear the groaning of your creation, and come, renew the earth; through Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen.

I look forward to conversing with you during the year. Please contact me if you would like to speak with me privately about any spiritual matter. During the Lenten season, should you wish to make your confession, please contact me for an appointment.

Father Toby

Pilgrimage of Hope Nepal 2009 - Opportunity for students and parents
Students in Years 9 and 10 are invited to apply to participate in the 2009 Pilgrimage of Hope to Nepal (23 September – 11 October).
St Hilda’s has been allocated 14 student places. For the first time four parent places are also available.The approximate cost will be $4,800.

The Education Tax Refund – Get 50% back
Under the new Education Tax Refund, parents and others who are eligible can now claim 50% of their eligible education expenses up to $750 for primary students and $1500 for secondary students.

This means you could receive a refund each year of up to $375 for each primary and $750 for each secondary school student in your care.

Are you eligible?
To be eligible you must have received Family Tax Benefit Part A for each child whose education expenses you wish to claim. You can also claim the Education Tax Refund if you were stopped from receiving Family Tax Benefit Part A because your child received any of the following:

• Youth Allowance (student) aged 18
• Disability Support Pension
• ABSTUDY
• the Veterans’ Children Education Scheme
• the Student Financial Supplement Scheme
• a scheme under s258 of the Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 2004
• an Australian Postgraduate Award.

Independent students are also eligible to claim.

What can you claim?
You can claim the purchase, lease, hire or hire-purchase costs, repairs and running costs of: 

• laptops, home computers and associated costs — for example, internet and paper
• educational software, printers, USB flash drives, disability aids to assist in the use of computer equipment for students with special needs
• stationery and art supplies
• school textbooks and associated learning materials
• trade tools and safety equipment for secondary school trade courses.

Some of the expenses you cannot claim include school fees or the cost of school uniforms, school excursions or travel to and from school, musical instruments or sporting equipment, clothing or footwear. For a more comprehensive list visit www.educationtaxrefund.gov.au

When can you claim?
You can claim your education expenses in your 2009 tax return. If you do not have to lodge a tax return, you will be able to lodge a separate claim with the Tax Office from 1 July 2009. Remember, you need to keep all receipts for expenses you claim.

If your education expenses in one year are more than the claim limit for your children, you can add the excess to your education expenses for the following year.

For more information:

• visit www.educationtaxrefund.gov.au
• phone the Tax Office on 13 28 61.

Arts Festival News
In 2009 there will be two Arts Festivals.  The traditional Performing Arts Festival of music, drama and dance will run during Term 1 culminating on the last day of term.  The Visual Arts Festival of wearable art, short film, bake-off, photography and textiles will run during Terms 2 and 3. This arrangement will provide opportunities for all girls to showcase their creative talents.

 The schedule of events for the Performing Arts Festival (with order of House performances) is as follows:

Fancy Dress themes
Year 6 - Storybook stereotypes
Year 5 - The Good, the Bad and the Ugly
Year 4 - Saving the World
Year 3 - Tantalising your tastebuds
Year 2 - Practical hats for all occasions
Year 1 - Favourite Storybook characters
PP - My favourite place
K - Alphabet sounds
JK - Nursery Rhymes
Year 7 - Wonderful world of Walt
Year 8 - “I wish I was …”
Year 9 - Best Before
Year 10 - So you wanna be a hero kid
Year 11 - Fashion that made History
Year 12 - Fiction or Fact
Staff - Aussie Icons

The Tutoring Centre
The Tutoring Centre is available for all students Year 7 -12 in Semester 1 beginning Tuesday of week 2.  The roster is as follows:
The following teachers will be available in the Tutoring Centre on these days to provide assistance in their subject area. Everyone is welcome!

Tuesday

Wednesday

Thursday

*English Staff Roster
Week 1           Ms Hewett
Week 2           Ms Johnson
Week 3           Mr Hughes
Week 4           Mr Latawski
Week 5           Mr Babbage
Week 6           Miss Gale
Week 7           Ms Paul
Week 8           Ms Hewett
Week 9           Miss Martinez

Art Staff Roster (Art Rooms 3:30pm to 5:30pm)

The roster will also be posted on the noticeboard outside the Tutoring Centre.  Please take advantage of this incredibly useful teaching and learning resource.  Staff will be available from 3.30 and we would ask if you are intending to come, please be on time because staff volunteers time generously.

Home-Stay/Guardian Required
An overseas family is desperately looking for an occasional home stay/guardian for long weekends, and arrivals and departure times at the beginning and end of terms for a Year 8 girl from Thailand.

No News This Issue

The Year 12 Ball is now a memory and girls will soon be poring over the beautiful photos to select which ones to keep as mementoes of the evening.  It was a splendid occasion and Challenge Stadium was transformed into a ‘Night with the Pharaohs’.  Both the venue and the girls (and their partners!) looked magnificent and an enjoyable evening was had by all.  Thank you to all the students for conducting themselves in a manner befitting such a special and formal social occasion.

Well done to our Year 12 swimmers who are training hard for the IGSSA Carnival.  Sport is a wonderful way to release the pressures and tensions that can build up in Year 12, as it has benefits for physical, mental and emotional well-being.  We encourage all students to participate in a school sport or some form of physical activity offered by the School. 

Mrs Jane Putigny – Head of Year 12

The Year 11 students have been extremely busy during the first few weeks of this year and it is impressive to see the girls settle in so quickly to their new courses.  The girls have already excelled in their involvement and participation in many areas of the School, including preparation for Arts Festival activities.  I commend the Year 11 swimmers for their outstanding efforts at the recent Interhouse Swimming Carnival.

Congratulations to Aimee Reghupathy and Sophie Nash who were elected as the Year 11 Representatives for 2009 and to those girls who were elected as tutor group officals.  We wish them well as they accept their leadership roles and work to coordinate tutorial activities.  Congratulations and best wishes also go to Claudia Perry who has been selected for the State diving team. She will compete in the Australian National Age Championships in Victoria in April.

It is very pleasing to see so many of the girls establish good study routines from the commencement of the year.  The transition from Year 10 can be challenging for many Year 11 students and I encourage all of the girls to seek assistance when they need it.  Interim reports will be posted towards the end of Term 1 for Year 11 students and will identify any concern in subject areas.  The girls should be frequenting the Tutoring Centre, approaching their subject teachers for assistance or asking their tutors, school counsellor or me for guidance and support. With a testing period approaching early in Term 2, it is important that the girls start preparing and revising work covered so far in their various subjects. All girls should aim for a balance between their academic studies and their cocurricular commitments.  

Year 11 girls seeking extra assistance with study skills, including study planners and organisational strategies, are encouraged to make an appointment to see the Year 11 Career Education staff in the Tutoring Centre on a Wednesday or Thursday afternoon.  Girls should contact me via email to make an appointment time if they require additional help in these areas.

I remind you that all girls are required to be in tutor groups by 8.25 am.  Please note that the tutors and I will also be closely monitoring uniform standards.

I look forward to talking with many of you throughout the year. Please contact me at school by email (kathryn.paul@sthildas.wa.edu.au) or phone, if I can help with any queries or concerns.

2009 has begun with pace and enthusiasm for the current Year 10 group.  The girls have embraced their double digit step up and are ready for the wonderful things the year will bring, including camp, work experience, community service, exchanges, extra leadership responsibilities and academic changes. 

The academic work will bring new challenges and students will need to adjust to the greater demands in various subjects. The Tutoring Centre is an excellent place to revise with teachers and develop good study skills. The St Hilda’s student planners are also an excellent tool for students to take control of their own learning and organise their assessments and revision programs. Input from home in helping students fulfil their work commitments is vital and much appreciated. 

This year, the students can experience a great variety of academic and cocurricular activities and I encourage them to relish these amazing opportunities. Whether their interests are drama, music, outdoor education, physical education, astronomy, debating, mock trials or community service activities, there is something for everyone. 

The tutor group is the most vital link in the pastoral care program. It allows each girl to be part of a group of students and build a friendships over a number of years. The tutor sees the girls everyday and is always there to assist and guide them.

The Year 10 tutors are:
10B1               Mrs Annie Warburton - Annie.Warburton@sthildas.wa.edu.au
10B2               Ms Alex Moreton - Alexandra.Moreton@sthildas.wa.edu.au
10D1               Mr Trevor Davies - Trevor.Davies@sthildas.wa.edu.au
10 D2              Ms Sharon Williams - Sharon.Williams@sthildas.wa.edu.au
10 F1               Mrs Vicki McAlinden - Vicki.McAlinden@sthildas.wa.edu.au
10 F2               Mr David Craig - David.Craig@sthildas.wa.edu.au
10G1               Mr David Kyle - David.Kyle@sthildas.wa.edu.au
10G2               Ms Charlotte Board - Charlotte.Board@sthildas.wa.edu.au

Congratulations to Olivia Whitaker and Ashley Broadway who were voted as Year Representatives.  I look forward to working with them and incorporating their ideas into the year. Please feel free to contact me at any time on Jo.swain@sthilda.wa.edu.au.  I look forward to my involvement throughout the year with girls and their families and wish you all a happy and successful time.

The first few weeks of term have been a very busy and productive time as new students settle into their new school and the whole Year group adjusts to the demands of the Year 9 program.  It is very good to see the girls settle quickly into their academic and cocurricular programs and to observe their positive attitude and demeanour.

It is very pleasing to announce that the girls have elected Dinithi Caldera and Sarah Flores-Vargus as Year Representatives for 2009.  Both girls had very strong support from the Year group and I look forward to working with them to help facilitate the Pastoral Care program and to represent Year 9 at events throughout the year.  They are supported by a very strong team of tutor group and deputy tutor group Captains.  I take this opportunity to congratulate the following girls who secured these prestigious positions of responsibility for Semester 1:

9B1     Captain - Louisa Lee                        Deputy - Rachel Hair
9B2     Captain - Lucy Johnston                 Deputy - Ashton Pyke
9D1     Captain - Georgia Thompson          Deputy - Maddison Jones
9D2     Captain - Morgan Young                 Deputy - Olivia Pavy           
9F1      Captain - Chelsea Badger               Deputy - Adelaide Irish      
9F2      Captain - Katie Cranfield               Deputy - Kelsey Holtzhausen
9G1     Captain - Chloe Manford                 Deputy - Anouck Da Silva Rosa    
9G2     Captain - Evangeline Harris          Deputy - Olivia Wareing

I also take this opportunity to thank the Year 9 tutors for their support in making the process of transition from Year 8 to Year 9 a smooth one for the students in their care.  It is also pleasing to see how quickly our new students have established themselves in the school and this is greatly attributable to the support and guidance provided by their tutors.  Should you wish to contact your daughter’s tutor on any issues, they can be contacted at the following addresses:
Ms Nina Alldis - nina.alldis@sthildas.wa.edu.au
Ms Nicola Dunn - nicola.dunn@sthildas.wa.edu.au
Mr Christopher  Kelley - christopher.kelley@sthildas.wa.edu.au
Ms Donna Roberts - donna.roberts@sthildas.wa.edu.au
Mr Craig Paskett - craig.paskett@sthildas.wa.edu.au
Dr John Adams - john.adams@sthildas.wa.edu.au
Mr Steve Petsos - steve.petsos@sthildas.wa.edu.au
Ms Liz Hille - elizabeth.hille@sthildas.wa.edu.au

Please also feel free to contact me on any student related matters:
Mr Tony Hughes - tony.hughes@sthildas.wa.edu.au

It was very pleasing to witness the high level of participation in the Interhouse Swimming Carnival held at Challenge Stadium on 12 February. Particular congratulations go to Eliza Noske who was Year 9 Runner-up and Year 9 Champions Sarah Flores Vargas and Emma Bryant.

Year 9 girls are now looking forward to the camp and the Good Thinking Workshops in Week 7.  On the Year 9 Camp, the students will develop a range of outdoor skills including back-packing, navigation, expedition-style camping techniques, sea kayaking, white-water rafting and camp cooking skills.  In addition, life skills such as conflict resolution, risk taking, and group cohesion will be developed in the context of the outdoors.

To coincide with the Year 9 Camp, The Good Thinking Program is part of our pastoral care initiative.  It focuses on themes such as the development of coping skills, problem solving and positive thinking, and social development.  Parents who would like to know more about the program are invited to an informal chat over coffee with Mrs Stanley, Dean of Students, on Thursday 19 March at 11.00am in the Gallery.  This is an exciting and innovative program and one your daughter will benefit greatly from being involved in.  Please contact main reception if you would like to attend the session with Mrs Stanley.

Tony Hughes - Head of Year 9

Year 8
The Year 8 Camp was a great success.  The girls enjoyed the opportunity to take on new challenges, meet new friends and experience a taste of future Outdoor Education activities. The Bush Dance on the last night was a highlight and was enjoyed by all. Thank you to all of the Year 8 Tutors and Outdoor Education staff for their wonderful efforts and enthusiasm. The girls were very well behaved and I was really pleased with the attitude, enthusiasm and the general maturity of the Year group.
The Aussie Optimism program began on camp and two sessions were completed: Understanding Feelings and Awareness of Self-Talk.  I encourage you to discuss with your daughters what they learnt in these sessions; parental involvement is a key component of the course and, in the coming newsletters, I will provide more detailed information to facilitate your involvement. 

The students have elected their tutor group Captains and Deputy Captains for the semester. I congratulate the following students on their roles:

I hope the girls enjoyed the long weekend and I look forward to a smooth Term 1

I take this opportunity to welcome all families to Year 7.  This year we have a number of students who have come from near and far.  I look forward to getting to know them all and learning about their past experiences.  The first four weeks of term have been very busy for the Year 7 staff and students.  As Senior School students they now have to prepare for a number of lessons with different teachers and move to different classrooms for various lessons.  A challenge for all, but they are coping extremely well.
Congratulations to all of the students who swam for their House at the Interhouse Carnival, and to Beatrice Ho who was Year 7 Champion and Chandler Pike who was Runner-up.

The following girls have been elected Year 7 tutor group Officials for Term 1
7B1 - Captain, Katherine Manderson - Deputy,Madeline Robinet
7D2 - Captain, Amy Johnston - Deputy, Ellie Hamill
7F1 - Captain, Su-Yin Lew - Deputy, Tithi (teetee) Kulkarni
7G1 - Captain, Georgia Norgard - Deputy, Tess Hosking

Congratulations also to the following girls who have been elected Year 7 representatives for Semester 1: Thea Kurniawan and Chandler Pyke

Thank you to all parents who have returned forms for the Kalgoorlie camp, Canberra expression of interest, and vaccinations.   More information on the Kalgoorlie camp will be emailed to parents in the coming weeks.

Dates for your diary:
March 9 - Interhouse Volleyball and Tennis
March 13 - IGSSA Swimming, Beatty Park Aquatic Centre
                        Competitors only to attend
March 16 - Year 7/8 Chapel
March 20 - Year 7 Immunisation
March 23 - Kalgoorlie camp
March 31 - School photos
April 1 - School photos
April 2 - Year 7 Parent/Teacher Meeting (by appointment)
April 10 - Arts Festival and end of Term 1
April 29 - Start of Term 2
Miss Martinez, Mr Babbage, Mr Carlton and I have been very impressed with the positive start the students have made to Year 7.  We are looking forward to helping the girls have a very successful first year as senior school students. 

Music
Congratulations to the following musicians!

• our wonderful Jazz Combo which entertained the new parents and guests on Sunday 1 February at the Sundowner for over an hour.  Not a bad effort, considering that we had not played together since November! 

• all the amazingly talented music staff at St Hilda’s (altogether a delightful team of 33 peripatetic staff), who gave their time and skills to perform in a Staff Concert on 6 Februarty to encourage JS girls to take up or pursue an instrument.  Such was their success that we have recently had to employ more music staff.

• Sophie Clapin (Year 10) attended the Gondwana Voices Choral School in Sydney in January for two weeks and she received a highly prestigious Gondwana Silver Award.  Fantastic, Sophie!

• Eloise Fudge (Year 10) received a Grade A, Honours for her AMEB on piano

• Louisa Lee (Year 9) received a High Distinction for AMEB Grade 8 on piano

 New Music Staff members 2009: Claire  Sambell – guitar, Daniel McMillan – piano, and Ruby Philogene -  classical voice

PLEASE RETURN your hired instruments NOW!
All students who have a hired instrument (and who are no longer learning an instruments in 2009), please return it immediately to the Music Department. In particular, we need the return of three steel-string Seagull guitars.

Cancellation of a Music Lesson
Please contact the music staff member directly with as much notice as possible, if your daughter is unable to attend the allocated lesson.

Dates for Your Diary

• Thursday 5 March – House Choirs, 12noon. RGC
• Tuesday 24 March – Interhouse Solo Classical Song, 8.35am. RGC
• Friday 27 March – Music Scholarship Auditions for Years 7 and 8 (2010)
• Sunday 29 March – Mosman Park Picnic, Mann Oval 3-6pm for Jazz Combo and Barbershop
• Monday 30 March – Music Scholarship auditions for Years 10 and 11 (2010)
• Wednesday 1 April – Orchestra and Band Concert, 7.00pm. School Hall      
• Sunday 5 April – Claremont Lifestyle Fair 1.30pm-2.30pm for Jazz Combo and Barbershop ( Claremont Park)
• Tuesday 7 April – Interhouse Instrumental Solo, 8.35am. RGC

Drama Department
2009 promises to be an exciting year for the Drama Department and we are already well into the preparation for the first two events.

With the introduction of the new Year 12 course, we have added a twist to the Year 12 production this year.  Students will create exciting and original pieces of theatre using the text Waiting for Godot by Samuel Beckett as a springboard. This Absurdist text is not only very challenging, but it presents a metaphor of uncertainty and questions human existence and purpose.  This play provides wonderful opportunities for our Year 12 Drama students to reflect on and question their own society and purpose for being, whilst building on the craft of performance.  So, if you have ever wanted to know how the 17-year-olds of 2009 see their world, then come to the Year 12 production!   Entitled An Audit of Life this show includes short episodes of original works devised by the Year 12 students themselves, which explore and critique the world in which we live.  Tickets are available from the Drama Department each recess for $8.00 for performances on 17 and 18 March, commencing at 6:30pm.  Seating is unreserved. 

Planning for the major school production is underway and we are fortunate enough to have secured the rights to the ever-popular, Sound of Music.  We welcome back Ms Sharon Wisniewski who will direct the show with Musical Director, Mr Tim Chapman, and his talented student orchestra.  The Sound of Music will be performed at the Octagon Theatre in Term 3.  The show will no doubt provide many opportunities for our students and showcase the incredible talent at St Hilda’s. 

We always need parent support when we work on a large scale project.  You do not need to be able to sew to join our team. We are seeking parents with great organisational skills to help us source costumes and props, organise and catalogue, paint sets, assist with hair and make-up or assist backstage. Anyone who can help in any capacity should contact sharon.wisniewski@sthildas.wa.edu.au to register interest.

Dr Lea Logie’s excellent after-school Speech and Drama program has commenced.  We are very fortunate to have this program operating in the School, and we look forward to all that it offers our students.  It is designed for students who wish to extend their performance techniques and knowledge, and improve their confidence.  For further information please contact lea.logie@sthildas.wa.edu.au.

Visual Arts
Congratulations to the following girls who will make up the 2009 Visual Arts Committee.
Year 12
Danielle O’Sullivan, Annabella La Pegna, Grace Lee-Tuck, Simone Goddard, Cindy Dwianjani, Yulia Ho
Year 11
Zoe Timms, Sophia Falco, Amber Tang, Natasha Harris, Lillian Agerup
Year 10
Lucinda Green, Juliana La Pegna
 
The Visual Arts Committee is made up of Photography and Art students.  The role of the Committee is to promote Visual Arts at school and in the wider community.  Some activities carried out in the past are:

• Regular displays of student artwork around the School
• Maintaining an Art News Board
• Participation in art workshops with CCGS Art Committee
• Fundraising by making and selling colourful cupcakes
• Assisting at the annual Student Art Exhibition
• Interhouse Wearable Art
• Participation in community-based art and photography competitions

Activities in the pipeline this year are creating artworks for the St Hilda’s Art Fair and participating in the Kings Park Festival.  The Visual Arts Committee can only be as vibrant and ‘arty’ as its members make it, and I am looking forward to each member’s creative input.

Budding Fashion Designers
The Art Department has the opportunity to organise a series of after-school Fashion Drawing Workshops with a professional fashion designer/lecturer. Workshops will run on Tuesday or Wednesday after school for 4-5 hours in Term 1.  We will need 15 students to be able offer the workshops, so, if you are interested, please email Ms Leano by the end of the Week 5 eliza.leano@sthildas.wa.edu.au.  Year 7 to 12 girls are all welcome.

Studio Workshops Year 12 Art, Years 11 and 12 Art and Design, and Year11 Visual Arts
Studio workshops for painting and textiles students will be conducted on Saturday 7 March.  This is in the school calendar.  Workshops will be held at school in the senior school art rooms from 9.00am to 3.00pm. The painting tutor will be Mr Richard Coldicutt and the textiles tutor is Mrs Michelle Pike.

Physical Education
Congratulations to Claudia Perry who finished 4th in the platform event and 5th in the three- meter diving at the Pacific School Games. She also went on to the Australian Gymsports championships where she finished 6th overall and has been selected in the State Diving team to compete in the Australian National Age Championships in Victoria during April.

IGSSA Sport
Attendance at training and games
For students to be eligible for awards and considered for the Sports Dinner and 20s Club they must attend 80% of trainings and matches.  Students are responsible for informing the teacher-in-charge of the sport about their non-attendance at training and matches.  The same applies if they arrive late to training and miss roll call.

Away venue and student collection
If parents would like their daughters to leave from an ‘away’ game Term 2, a note must be given to the Physical Education Department.  Students must be collected promptly at 5.15pm from the ‘away’ venue.  If students are not collected on time they will be brought back to St Hilda’s.

IGSSA Netball and Hockey trial information
We are seeking enthusiastic, motivated and knowledgeable parents to assist with our netball and hockey teams this year.  If you are available from 3.45 – 5.15pm on either Monday, Tuesday Wednesday or Thursday afternoons and you are interested in helping coach or umpire a team please contact Simone Brown on 9285 4100 or email simone.brown@sthildas.wa.edu.au  in the Physical Education Department. 

Trial Dates
Sign up sheets are now up in the Physical Education Department. Students must ensure they are available for both training and match days.

Trial dates are held during Weeks 7 to 10 as follows:
Netball
Seniors (Years 11 and 12) Tuesday 24 March 6.45 - 8.00am
                                            Thursday 26 March 6.45 - 8.00am

Juniors (Years 9 and 10) Tuesday 31 March 6.45 - 8.00am
                                         Wednesday 1 April 6.45 - 8.00am
                                         Thursdsay 2 April 6.45 - 8.00am

Years 7 and 8                    Tuesday 17 March 6.45 - 8.00am
                                          Thursday 19 March 6.45 - 8.00am
                                          Friday 20 March 6.45 - 8.00am

Hockey
Seniors (Years 11 and 12)Wednesday 18  March 6.45 - 8.00am
                                           Thursday 19 March 6.45 - 8.00am

Juniors (Years 9 and 10)  Wednesday 25 March 6.45 - 8.00am
                                           Thursday 26 March 6.45 - 8.00am

Year 8                                 Wednesday 1 April 6.45 - 8.00am
                                            Thursday 2 April 6.45 - 8.00am      
                                             Friday 3 April 6.45 - 8.00am

If you are unable to attend a trial due to music commitments, you must see the teacher-in-charge prior to the trial date to discuss alternative arrangements. 
Hockey Coordinators – Simone Brown and Michelle Higgins
Netball Coordinator – Sharon Williams

Training will commence Wednesday 29 April, Week 1 of Term 2, for those teams which train on this day. 

Netball
Years 7/8 - Monday and Wednesday 3.45 - 5.15pm
Seniors (Years 11/12) - Monday and Wednesday 3.45 - 5.15pm
Juniors (Years 9/10) - Tuesday and Thursday 3.45 - 5.15pm

Hockey
Years 7/ 8 – Training Monday 6.45 – 8.00am and Wednesday 3.45-5.15pm
Seniors (Years 11/12) - Monday and Wednesday 3.45 - 5.15pm
Juniors (Years 9/10) - Tuesday and Thursday 3.45 - 5.15pm

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

Playing uniform for hockey is blue polo shirt, blue shorts, hockey socks, white sandshoes/hockey shoes, shin pads, mouth guard (students will not be permitted to play if they do not have this), blue ribbon and water bottle.  Students may wish to bring their tracksuit for added warmth.

Fixtures will be available from outside the PE office and on Studywiz at the start of Term 2.

Cross Country Training Information
Cross Country will be starting up again soon and the staff is looking forward to a bigger and better season in 2009. 

Similar to last year we will be competing in a few of the WA Marathon Club & Athletica relay events to gain some vital race practice in preparation for the IGSSA event.  There will be seven weekend events for the girls to compete in.  These events are listed in the Cross Country Training Schedule which will be available from the Physical Education Department in Week 7.  Training details are as follows:

Training times:        
Monday, Wednesday and Friday mornings 6.30 – 7.30am
Term 2 training will be Monday, Wednesday and Friday at various locations.  Please refer to training schedule for bus times and locations. 

Pre-Season Fitness Sessions for Cross Country/Rowers and interested students
There will be aerobic fitness sessions commencing on Wednesday 18 March in the RGC from 7.00 – 8.00am.  These sessions will continue every Monday, Wednesday and Friday until Wednesday April 8.  We would love to see as many students participating as possible. 

IGSSA Volleyball
Another season of IGSSA Volleyball has commenced for Juniors and will soon commence for Seniors.  All of the girls are training really well. Training sessions start at 3:45pm and finish at 5:15pm on respective training days

We remind parents that games finish at 5:30pm, so please that ensure you are punctual in picking up your daughters afterwards.
 
Details of Fixtures are placed in the pigeon holes in the Physical Education Department.
Good luck to all the girls for the season and keep up the good work.

2009 Swimming Captains
Congratulations to the following students were elected as the swimming captains for this year.
Year 7: Captain Chandler Pyke, Deputy Madeline Robinett
Year 8:  Captain Alisha Hodgetts, Deputy Vivienne Steketee
Year 9:  Captain Ashton Pyke, Deputy Sarah Flores-Vargas
Year 10 Captain Emma Levendoski, Deputy Ashley Broadway
Year 11 Captain Eleanor Whitaker, Deputy Louise Poole
Year 12 Co-Captains Alix and Claudia Etherington,, Deputy Hannah Castle

2008 Schools’ and Colleges’ State Swimming Relays Championships
St Hilda’s entered 40 teams from Year 7 to 12 into the recent Schools’ and Colleges’ State Swimming Relays Championships to provide a chance to practise relays in preparation for the IGSSA carnival.  All girls swam extremely well with many personal best times being achieved. 

Some outstanding results are as follows:
St Hilda’s won the silver medal in the Open 6x50m freestyle relay in a thrilling race, just beaten by Iona. Team members were Year 12 girls Tonje Holm, Alix Etherington and Claudia Etherington, and Year 10s Ellen Tydeman, Rachel Kohan and Emma Levendoski.

The Year 12 combination of Zjana Allan, Tonje Holm, Alix Etherington and Claudia Etherington was spectacular in the Open 4x50m freestyle relay winning the gold medal. Tonje, Alix and Claudia won gold again when they combined with Jolin Edmondson in the Year 12 medley relay.
 
Theear 10 combination of Ellen Tydeman, Coraleigh Abrams, Rachel Kohan and Emma Levendoski had a highly successful day, recording impressive times and winning the gold medal for the 4x50m freestyle relay and the silver medal in the 4x50m medley relay event.
The Year 9 combination of Sarah Flores-Vargas, Emma Bryant, Jessica Zimmerman and Olivia Wareing won the silver medal in the Year 9 4x50mfreestyle relay. Sarah, Emma and Jessica teamed up with Ashton Pyke to win the bronze medal in the Year 9 medley relay.

Year 8 swimmers India Zimpel, Alisha Hodgetts, Katherine Langford and Chloe Barnden were silver medalists in the year 8 4x50m freestyle relay. The Year 7 freestyle relay of Beatrice Ho, Chandler Pyke, Imogen Everist and Jessica Beaman achieved 3rd  place. 

This was a very successful meet and all swimmers had the opportunity to improve their race plans and relay changeover skills in preparation for the IGSSA carnival. All members of the swim squad have been training well which is reflected in these results and the numerous personal best times achieved at all of the swim meets this term. We wish all swimmers every success for 13 March

Tennis
Congratulations to all tennis players on a fantastic start to the 2009 season.   We have played Santa Maria and PLC and so far are looking very strong and competitive.  The following girls have been selected as captains and we thank them for all the hard work they do each week preparing for the games:

ixtures are available from the Physical Education Department and on Studywiz.

Parents’ and Friends’ Association
On your Term 1 fee account, you will have noticed a P & F levy of $60. Thank you to the large majority of parents who have paid this voluntary contribution. Those of you who are new to St Hilda’s may be wondering what this money is used for. The income from the levy is not the only income to the P & F as various fundraising events are held during the year to supplement our funds. Every year the P & F makes a significant contribution to one (or more) projects at the School and the bulk of our funds go towards this project. The list below indicates some of the projects we have funded over the past five years:
A grand piano, air-conditioning to a few smaller rooms, the playing fields at Chidley, shade sails, the refurbishment of the new Shop, sports’ equipment to create a gymnasium for senior students, seating and design features in the new Information and Technology Centre and a yet-to-be-designated aspect of the new pool complex for 2009.
The funds we contribute directly benefit the students and allow us to escalate projects which may not be on the School’s list of priorities for that particular year.

We also contribute funds towards individual Year group activities, the SupPORT breakfasts for girls doing early morning sport, FOLASH, MASH and DASH activities and we fund the Artist-in-Residence program each year. Your contribution makes a significant difference to the students and allows us to assist the School in a meaningful way. It also allows us to fund events such as the Sundowner.

Keep your eye out for the Art Fair correspondence which should reach you this week. The proceeds from the Cocktail Party, the refreshments sold over the weekend and the Raffle go directly to the P & F, so please support this event, as it is our only fundraiser this term.

Our next meeting of the P & F is the Annual General meeting which takes place on 31 March at 7.30pm. I hope to see you there.

Tony Connolly
P & F President

St Hilda’s Auxiliary
Arts Festival Day is held on the last day of Term 1 (9 April) and is a celebration of the performing arts, in all its forms. Competition amongst the Houses is fierce and continues throughout the term, culminating on Arts Festival Day with the announcement of the winning House.

The day begins with a Fancy Dress Parade of each Year group, dressed according to a different theme. It is a wonderful spectacle and parents are most welcome to attend. It is a lot of fun as the staff also dress up to a specific theme and are adjudicated by a tough panel of parents! 

The Auxiliary provides the refreshments for this day, both for students and parents, and the proceeds go towards funding an Auxiliary project which will benefit all the students. Your support is needed and greatly appreciated so do mark this date in your diary.

We are still seeking Class Parent volunteers for Years 4, 8,9,10 and 11. If you would like to get involved this year please contact your current Class parent or Kiran Veerapathiran in the Development Office.

Our next meeting will take place on 19 March 2009 at 9.00am at Chidley.

Shereen Rindel
Auxiliary President

Meningococcal B Vaccination Study
The Vaccine Trials group at the Telethon Institute for Child Health Research invites healthy 11-18 year-olds to participate in a Meningococcal B vaccine study.

Meningococcal disease is a severe, rapid-onset infection which can result in death within hours. The bacteria are commonly found in the noses and throats of humans. This study will look at a new vaccine to protect against Meningococcal B disease. The vaccine has already been used in clinical trials in young adults and teenagers with promising results.

For more information please contact Vaccine Trials group 9340 8542 or vtg@ichr.uwa.edu.au

Cervical Cancer Vaccine
This is a reminder that girls aged 12 or older that they can get the HPV vaccine free from their GP or from the family immunisation clinic in West Perth. The vaccine is a series of three injections over six months. 

Photographic Workshop, Exhibition and Free Film Screening
Calling all budding photographers

A free photographic workshop, presented by master photographer Dale Neill, will be held on Sunday 22 March. Young people aged 12 to 25 are invited to register.

Presented by the Towns of Mosman Park and Claremont, the City of Nedlands and the Shire of Peppermint Grove, the workshop will provide instructional tutoring on how to take quality digital photographs. Participants will need to bring a fully-charged digital camera, a clear memory card and the camera’s instruction booklet.

The workshop will be held in preparation for National Youth Week which runs from Sunday 29 March to Sunday 5 April 2009. Young people are encouraged to take photographs of the things that are important to them in their local community. Exhibitions of the young people’s photos will be held in the Nedlands Library, the Claremont Library and the Cottesloe – Peppermint Grove – Mosman Park Library. Prizes will be offered.

The week of exhibitions will be capped off with a free evening at Windsor Cinema on Sunday 5 April. The digital photographs will be projected onto the cinema screen and the awards will be presented. The presentations will be followed by a free screening of the award winning Australian film The Black Balloon, rated M.

For further information about the workshop, competition or film screening please contact Laura Garside at the Town of Mosman Park on 9384 1633 or scdo@mosmanpark.wa.gov.au by Monday 16 March. 

Westcoast Youth
Westcoast Youth is a safe, friendly and caring environment for youth on a Friday night. We are associated with St. Lawrence’s Anglican Church and are an officially recognised group of Methodist Ladies College.

This year, we will meet weekly, instead of fortnightly. Two groups will meet on a Friday night: a junior group (Years 7-9), and a senior group (Years 10-12). Juniors will meet from 6-7:30pm, and the seniors from 8-9:30pm. There will also be one or two social a term and a camp from 13 to 15 April at Woodman Point for both juniors and seniors. Seniors are also invited to be involved in the State Youth Games in Bunbury from 29May to 1 June.

Please go to the website for more information www.westcoastyouth.com for more information and for the current program of events. You can also contact David Skirving on 0416 007 621.

St Thomas Catholic Parish Religious Education Classes 2009
Parents of Catholic children in non-Catholic schools who wish their child to receive a sacrament are invited to enrol their child for the Parish Religious Education Program for this year. Parents can notify the Catechist team about a child that they wish to enrol by contacting Maria Watt on claremont@perthcatholic.org.au . Please state the subject of the email as Maria Watt: Enrolments and include

• the name and age of the child (or children),
• what sacrament they are to receive,
• what school the child attends
• all contact information.

Classes will commence on Thursday 5 March at 4:15pm. All parents are required to attend on that day in order to sign enrolment forms and pay the enrolment fee. Also all Baptism certificates and other certificates of Sacraments received must be presented on that day. Fees are $20 for a single child or $35 per family.  Further information will be given regarding classes on that day.

Attached Documents
Invite for St Hilda's Students to attend a Study skills course at Scotch College (.pdf 30Kb)