Who are we not to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous?

Mrs Emma Lowry, Head of England House “We ask ourselves, who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be?” (Williamson, 1992) The last day of a school term is always filled with anticipation. This year, Year 11 students are particularly excited, as the last day coincides with the Combined Brisbane Grammar School and Brisbane Girls Grammar School Charity Social. There is a tangible buzz at this opportunity to socialise with the boys, to wear semi-formal dresses, and to don high heels and makeup. “I’m excited about wearing pretty new clothes and feeling special” said one student. It is an enjoyable night, on which girls readily compliment each another and they feel good about themselves. The Social is a significant milestone for Year 11; the perfect opportunity to feel confident and special. Such feelings however, are far from universal amongst the girls, and may in some cases run only as…

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Nourishing the Arts – personal and public capital

Ms Lorraine Thornquist, Director of Creative Arts “…the life of the arts, far from being an interruption, a distraction, in the life of the nation, is very close to the center of a nation's purpose- and is a test of the quality of a nation's civilization."—John F Kennedy. (35th US President (1961-63), 1917-1963) In his World Theatre Day message (27 March 2012), actor John Malkovich went to the heart of the matter of the role of the Arts: it is about framing the question ‘how do we live?’(Malkovich, 2012). Artistic nourishment is fundamental to our humanness, not only for us as the artist, but also for our interactions with the Arts as audience and in the utilisation of our creative skills, derived from the study of the Arts, which inform our personal and professional lives. How is this nourishment channeled and who ensures that it is not only available but clearly articulated and delivered? As an integral…

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Marrapatta—Celebrating 25 Years

Mr James McIntosh, Director of Marrapatta On Sunday 10 June Brisbane Girls Grammar School will celebrate the twenty-fifth year of Marrapatta—Memorial Outdoor Education Centre.  This facility was opened in 1987 by the then Chairman of the Board of Trustees, Dr A S Gehrmann and was the result of committed and  determined contributions from the Girls Grammar community. The early curriculum initiatives at the Centre were designed to broaden and integrate a range of learning experiences and contribute to the needs of the whole person (Dale, 2000).  The programme at Marrapatta reflected the responsiveness of the School to the changing educational climate of the 1980s, which acknowledged the imperative to move beyond purely academic realms and consider more holistic learning approaches. Outdoor Education had been operating within the School for many years prior to the development of this dedicated campus. However, such a facility enabled a concentrated approach to new curriculum and programme initiatives.  The foundation of Marrapatta’s…

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