Middle School

Middle School MRS JAYE ROSS, HEAD OF MIDDLE SCHOOL

2019 has been a very positive year for the Middle School girls. In January, we welcomed 95 new Year 7 girls, our largest group so far, and they quickly became part of the Fairholme family. There have been many academic successes throughout the year as well as sporting successes and participation in The Arts. We are pleased to present the following highlights:

ACADEMIC SUCCESS – NAPLAN

Once again, Fairholme girls have achieved well above State and National averages in all areas of the NAPLAN test. The results are a result of the girls’ hard work and commitment to learning as well as the excellent teaching they receive at Fairholme.

CO-CURRICULAR OPPORTUNITIES

• Debating: Five Year 7 teams, two Year 8 teams and two Year 9 teams. Seven of these teams made it through to the Finals of the Queensland Debating Union competition Year 7/8 Maths Quiz: Two teams competed successfully and one team made it through to the Regional Final Robotics: Year 7 and Year 8 students enjoyed a specialist STEM subject throughout the year and also a lunchtime club The Arts attracted many girls to the wide range of opportunities available to them in Dance, Music, Drama and Visual Art Middle School Box of Chocolates Concert: an opportunity for Middle School girls to perform in front of an audience.

SERVICE OPPORTUNITIES

Service to the Fairholme community or the wider community is important for Middle School girls. It helps them to develop an understanding of how they can contribute to society through helping others. The following highlights demonstrate the work of the girls in this area: • Middle School girls have supported a number of charities, such as Cancer Council and RSPCA, through various fundraising activities as part of the Year 9 Business subject • High participation in Peak to Park

Charity Fun Run • Face painting at a local nursing home (Tricare) Family Fete • Support for Hike for Homeless to help raise money for struggling

Toowoomba families • Major support for Shave for a

Cure fundraising activities • Great Stationery Race.

INCLUSIVE ACTIVITIES

Middle School girls develop best when they feel valued, known and welcomed in their school community. Fairholme Middle School fosters this through a variety of fun activities

designed to make every girl feel like she belongs. These activities are mostly organised by our Year 9 Leaders and their committees of Year 9 girls: • Year-level camps at the beginning of the year • yLead team building activities for Year 7 and Year 9 • Father and Daughter games afternoon to foster strong relationships between girls and their Dads Socials and sporting afternoons with St Mary’s and Toowoomba Grammar School Yr 7 Day and Boarder Sleepover weekend Competitions including Book Week Dress Up Day and Treasure Hunt, Bible story drawings, Obstacle Course, Just Dance and Christmas Card making Lunchtime activities such as Trivia quizzes, Chalk Drawing,

Middle School NAPLAN RESULTS 2019 MEAN SCORE Comparison

Hand Ball, Pictionary, Middle School Dodge Ball, Treasure Hunts, Middle School Zumba, and Teddy Bear Picnic Middle School buddies: games such as the Easter Egg hunt and games and morning teas together.