AT Holme
FROM THE PRINCIPAL’S PEN: Beginnings...
The hope of the new, the sadness of letting go and the relief of routine
We begin again within the preciouse hopefulness of a new school year. But, to do so, we have to let go of the bliss of holidays. I love holidays – and the sense of their endlessness - from a December perspective, anyway. I equate them with a feeling of too much time: a blend of ocean swims, sunshine, cricket and tennis watching, and the joy of too many books. Even though this time, I was blessed to be in Japan for a couple of weeks, with a quantum of snow, a joy in the aesthetic beauty of the place, and my fill of tonkatsu, ramen and tempura: there was a delicious sense of distance between work and life.
Thus, unsurprisingly, the reality of January always bites a little hard and beginning again, requires its own special energy. For families, the start of a new school year holds a mixture of feelings too – the hope of the new, the sadness of letting go and the relief of routine. For us all, a new school year involves starting all over again. Beginnings matter. Beginnings imply a separation
from that which has passed.
Separation is easier for some, rather than for others, but it is part of the role of parents: the constant preparation of our child for an independent life.
‘I am not counting down the days, rather looking forward to the term ahead and the intentionality of beginning well...’
- Dr Linda Evans
Thus, it is important that we do not metaphorically insert ourselves into our child’s lunchbox. Engagement in school life looks very different from over-involvement. We cannot do their work for them, nor can we be their problem solvers and trouble
shooters in every situation, lest we rob them of this vital skill for life beyond the Fairholme gates. We can be interested, supportive, present. Having said all that, I know it isn’t easy. I know we want to hold on for just a little longer. I feel for our boarder parents, always, caught, as they are, in the ultimate of letting go moments. But starting anew is also ripe with possibilities.
At the beginning of next term, you will also have a new principal – and Dr Leigh Hobart will spend time with us in March, to begin one of many introductions to the College. She and I met together in the holidays, and I have been corresponding with Dr Hobart, since her announcement – to smooth her entry. Her enthusiasm for this role, for Fairholme, along with her substantial experience in education, most recently in a Deputy role at BBC in Brisbane, gives great confidence for the changeover, and I know that she will be well supported by you. This is an exciting time for the College.
For now, I will relish every Fairholme moment. I am not counting down the days, rather looking forward to the term ahead and the intentionality of beginning well … yes, every bit as important as finishing well. I do look forward to seeing many of you at the Interhouse swimming carnivals and the Principal’s Welcome Function on Friday 21 February.
Let us begin well. With rich anticipation and also with patience: the calm acceptance that things can happen in a different order than that which we expected.
Best wishes
Dr Linda Evans | Principal
‘I feel for our boarder parents, always, caught, as they are, in the ultimate of letting go moments. But starting anew is ripe with possibilities..’ - Dr Linda Evans
technology use at Fairholme
BRINGING OUR CHILDREN ‘HOME’
Jonathon Haidt, author of ‘The Anxious Generation’ writes of contemporary psychological and biological research which indicates the four primary ways in which a phone-based childhood disrupts development – sleep deprivation, social deprivation, cognitive fragmentation and addiction. This was one of the most ‘read’ books and most acclaimed books across America in 2024.
Notably, amongst many accolades it was a ‘New York Times’ Bestseller, A ‘Wall Street Journal’ Top 10 Book of 2024 - A New York Times and Washington Post Notable Book and a TIME 100 Must-Read Book of 2024. Many Fairholme staff have read or listened to this important text.
His words have weight in this contentious, opinion-laden site of technology use amongst teens and young people, in a place where anxiety, isolation and loneliness have risen. It is time, in the words of Haidt to ‘bring our children home’.
Thus, in 2025 Fairholme will continue to support the ‘phones (and all other smart devices, including watches, air pods etc) away for the day’ policy.
We saw a marked change in the nature of student interactions during 2024, as well as a heightened quality of learning within the classroom. When workmen are able to identify a palpable shift in student lunchtime culture as a result, it is clear that such a change makes sense, is positive for wellbeing and is important to support and continue.
Students do not need phones during the school day, many do not need them for travel arrangements either. A large proportion of students have successfully attended school without mobile phones or other ‘smart’ devices in person, in bags or lockers – for a full school year.
Further to this, we now find ourselves anticipating pending legislated changes to social media access, courtesy of bipartisan political support.
Whilst the implementation of this is both complex and problematic, the decision is data-informed and points to the research that indicates that unfiltered, unmonitored or
dysregulated use of social media has a detrimental impact upon young people’s wellbeing. There can be no equivocation in relation to that.
Haidt writes of four reforms that are vital to provide a foundation for a healthier childhood in the digital age:
1. No smart phones before high school and he recommends none before Year 9
2. No social media before the age of 16
3. Phone-free schools
4. Far more unsupervised play and childhood independence (Haidt, 2024, p. 15)
Haidt, in his text, draws from an essay written by a fourteenyear-old girl, Isobel Hogben, entitled ‘The Free Press’. In her essay, Hogben describes her mother as attentive and as being: ‘nearly a helicopter parent.’
Despite this, Isobel found porn anyway, aged ten, whilst her mother was “in the next room, making sure [Isobel] was eating nine differently coloured fruits and vegetables on a daily basis” (Haidt, 2024, p. 68).
With a clear view of Fairholme’s responsibility to support student online safety as well as enriching learning, the College is making changes to laptop use, from the start of this school year, particularly the way the internet is filtered on all student learning devices. The laptop is a learning device first and foremost – that is its purpose.
Changes include:
1. Class Monitoring, Internet Pause, and Focus Time: Upgrades on all student learning devices will provide teachers with the ability to pause the internet for their class, to create focus on just one webpage during class (limiting access to others), and, if required, to see what each student has on their screen at any time, while they are on campus. These features may also be used during Boarder Prep time.
2. Consistent filtering rules between school and home:
The most significant switch the College is making is to have consistent filtering rules applied to the College learning device, no matter where the internet is being accessed from, or how it is accessed.
Where students may previously have had open access from their Fairholme learning device to such platforms at home including (Netflix, Binge, etc.), social media (Instagram, Snapchat, etc.) this will no longer be the case. Further, online gaming platforms will be blocked and inaccessible to students at all times whether on or off campus.
Filtering now sits on the laptop, rather than the internet connection, therefore it won’t matter whether students use their phone as a hotspot, a public or private or school based internet connection, the same filtering rules and restrictions will apply.
Parents are able to choose what their daughters can access through their privately-owned devices that the school is unable monitor.
3. Youtube is blocked on campus for all students in Years 7-10. However, teachers and/or boarding supervisors are able to provide students with a bypass code to override restrictions if/when a video needs to be watched as a part of a curriculum task.
Due to the fact that students may need to watch a Youtube clip to support their learning at home, Youtube will be unblocked outside school hours for all day students, given that parents are able to monitor its use and log on to their account through the Fairholme Internet Safety Hub and restrict or allow access for their daughter, at any time.
* Again, boarding supervisors are able to provide students with a bypass code to override restrictions where use is appropriate for students between Years 7 and 10.
4. Further features available to parents. We continue to partner with the international group, Linewize, whose full work focus is in providing digital solutions for both home and school. To understand the scope of monitoring and filtering available to you, we invite you to log in to your Qustodio account through Fairholme’s digital safety hub.
Through this, you will gain access to the full suite of free features available to you as a Fairholme parent. This includes your ability to provide screen-free time in the evening
/ weekends/holidays, limit your daughter’s access to Youtube, and upskill on everything from VPNs to gaming sites, and social media, thus becoming more aware of the digital world that your children inhabit.
We encourage all Day and Boarding parents to familiarise themselves with the online safety hub and their Qustodio account, accessed through the Fairholme Parent Portal here: https://fairholme.onlinesafetyhub.com.au/
Parents will receive an email invitation from Family Zone starting this Friday.
Ultimately, how we regulate and support safe student digital access is a complex matter for parents, schools and governments. Supporting one another as a collective, matters – even when there are things we see differently as individuals in relation to technology monitoring and access. The end point for us all is to develop environments of safety and thriving. As a College we will continue to educate ourselves in this space, examine practice and provide what we believe are safe and fair options for our students. Invariably, this means changing parameters as we go – it is a fluid and transitory space, never stationary.
Our IT Department will be in communique with parents, early next week, regarding Login and account creation with Qustodio.
Thank you for supporting changes which are first and foremost about a healthier childhood in the digital age.
This includes, ensuring College laptops are devices for the purpose of learning via a digital platform and backing the ‘phones, air pods, smart watches and any other technology that ‘connects’ to the cyber world away for the day’ approach in practice within the day school – from arrival at school until departure.
Let’s bring our children home.
across the College Refurbishments
As is typical of the holiday period, significant refurbishment and upgrades to buildings and grounds have occurred.
This has included renovation of all Middle School classrooms – and the creation of two new classrooms to meet the needs of our expanding student population, a refurbishment of the Performing Arts Building which has afforded a huge upperlevel performance space with stage, as well as a large practice
room downstairs, better storage, and a return to the original features of the building.
There have been additions to the Boarding House including an office for Mrs Vicki Anderson – our second deputy in boarding as well as a new student room in the homestead area. We are grateful to the facilities and maintenance staff for their hard work throughout the process.
STAFFING MATTERS
We welcome back Ms Mary Timmer and Ms Karen Wighton after Term 4 long service leave along with Mrs Kristen Sessarago who returns to Fairholme for most of first semester – replacing Kristen Currie who is overseas until mid-May.
There are a lot of new staff who join us, including Georgie Scouller and Taleah Ackland - past Fairholme students.
Samantha Costello:
Samantha Judd
Thomas Lebsanft
Emma Russell
Bianca Willis
Katie Hobbs
Elisabeth (Lis) Irwin
Ryan Cavanough
Georgie Scouller
Lara Paltridge
Jordyn Herrmann
Paula Ellis
Stephen Payton
Georgia-Lee Meise
Taleah Ackland
Lisa Walters
Melanie Nilon: Casual Nurse
Hollie Burke, Haylee Campbell, Gabbie Pike, Sophie Knauth
Madeleine Lange
Sue-Ellen Paulsen
Junior School Learning Enhancement Teacher
Teacher of Humanities
Teacher of Humanities and English
Junior School Teacher
Junior School Teacher
Teacher of Science and Mathematics
Sports Co-Ordinator and Teacher of Physical Education
Teacher of Business
Teacher of Humanities and English
Teacher of Dance
Equestrian Co-ordinator
Arts Administration Assistant
Teacher of English and Humanities
Teacher of Design, English and PE
Teacher Aide
Boarding Supervisor
Casual Nurse
Step Forward to Teach Scholarship Recipients
Learn to Swim Teacher
Visiting Cello Teacher
ATAR results: Fairholme Top of Toowoomba
Year 12 plays to is its own rhythm – there simply is no other year so filled with peaks, valleys and … commas.
The release of ATARS revealed yet another life comma – and our seniors found, quite quickly that life does actually continue after their release.
Irrespective of results, they have found themselves as the same person, not wholly defined by this arbitrary number that may have been anticipated, dreamt of and even dreaded. The time to fret has passed, and for them, life has moved into travel, GAP years, university and job offers - all beyond the pause of this weighty comma. There is so much to look forward to for our senior cohort of 2024 – for whom we are so grateful.
Thank you to the village that supported them to finish well. Mr McCormick would say that statistically, the top results this year would have indicated 8 OP 1s in the old measurement: impressive. I loved that our top achievers acknowledged so warmly, their teachers who provided support and guidance. Despite the fact that these girls were innately motivated,
intelligent and independent learners – they have taken away so much more because of the passion and skill of their teachers. And whilst we are wont to look just to these top results – for each and every result there is a personal story and the distance travelled is significant.
There is so much to celebrate. A beautiful letter from a Year 12 student – included this reflection … “I have been allowed to fail, but never given up on, even when I’ve done nothing to deserve it. Thank you Fairholme for never making things easy.”
Additionally, there were other top shelf achievements over the holidays from a range of students, including …
> Rachel Yap – accepted into NIDA
> Lilli Hamilton playing in the U19 Qld Cricket team at the national titles and subsequent selection into Queensland Heat
> Alex Edwards competing for Australia in Orienteering
> Scarlett Sippell vying for a spot in the under 18 national Touch team
An exchange of a lifetime
Fairholme College student Zoe Hurford is currently living the dream as part of an exchange program with the prestigious Rugby School in England.
Her time abroad has been filled with memorable moments, cultural discoveries, and an appreciation for the warmth and support of the Rugby School community.
‘The Rugby School is incredible,’ Zoe shares enthusiastically. ‘My time here is disintegrating far too quickly, and there is so much more I want to do. Everyone is really welcoming and supportive—staff and students— and I cannot wait to make more memories with them all.’
Zoe recently had the chance to address the entire school during Chapel. In her speech, she highlighted Fairholme’s rich history and shared some amusing observations about differences between Australia and the UK.
Her witty recount of answering common questions about Australia had the audience in stitches.
‘Yes, I’ve seen a kangaroo. No, I don’t look under every chair in case something is sitting under it. Yes, there are spiders. No, I wouldn’t recommend trying to beat up a kangaroo,’ she joked, bringing a taste of Aussie humour to the English school.
As part of her exchange, Zoe has embraced Rugby 7s as her chosen sport and is relishing every muddy moment on the pitch. ‘I am absolutely loving it, even though the
pitches are always muddy—it’s too cold for them to dry. Returning to Bradley covered in mud has become a ritual. I’ve loved learning more about the game and am excited to improve my skills in the coming weeks.’
Adjusting to the academic life at Rugby School has been a challenge Zoe has embraced with determination. ‘My classes have been really good, more so now that I can actually find them,’ she laughs.
‘There’s a clear distinction between the work I’ve done and what they are doing here, but with my classmates’ help, I’m getting fairly comfortable with the topics.’
No update about England would be complete without a mention of the weather. Zoe finds it surprisingly manageable. ‘It’s definitely cold, some days more than others, but it isn’t as cold as I was expecting. It doesn’t have Toowoomba’s harsh winds, so that makes a big difference,’ she says. However, the shorter daylight hours have been a noticeable change. ‘By 4 p.m., it’s dark, which makes doing afternoon activities a lot harder. And sadly, my farmer’s tan is slowly disappearing—a reality I’m still coming to terms with.’
As Zoe continues to immerse herself in this transformative experience, she remains grateful for the opportunity to represent Fairholme College and explore all that Rugby School has to offer.
From holme Boarders at Holme
2024 CAMBODIA TRIP
The impact is real, and the memories have been unforgettable.
For 11 days, 35 Fairholme students from Years 10 and 11 - along with five staff - explored the wonders of Cambodia, and worked alongside Raw Impact, learning about and supporting generational change for vulnerable communities.
Each of the girls who journeyed to Cambodia fundraised over $1000 which went towards RAW Impact projects that the students were involved in, which included constructing a home out of bamboo, building a playground, and laying the foundations for an educational centre. Fairholme students travelled alongside a similarly-sized team from Toowoomba Grammar School, offering students the opportunity to work together, to achieve a common purpose.
DREAMS CAN COME TRUE
Rachel Yap’s journey from the Fairholme stage to the National Institute of Dramatic Art
For many aspiring actors, the dream of stepping into the world of performing arts often feels like a distant fantasy. For 2024 Fairholme College Head Girl Rachel Yap, however, that dream is now one step closer to reality.
In December, Rachel received the thrilling news that she had been accepted into the Bachelor of Fine Arts in Acting program at the National Institute of Dramatic Art (NIDA). This opportunity marks a major milestone in her long-held dream to pursue acting professionally.
‘I’ve wanted to become an actor for as long as I can remember, and I’ve found comfort in the creative arts my entire life. While I’ve always dreamed about becoming an actor, it felt more like a dream than a reality for so long. It wasn’t until quite recently, probably the last year or two, that I realised that this passion could actually become my career in the future, I just had to work for it.’
The NIDA program Rachel has been accepted into is a
three-year, full-time Bachelor of Fine Arts in Acting. Designed to prepare students for a career in acting, the program offers a comprehensive curriculum that includes performance technique, voice and movement classes, and even stage combat, voiceover work, and screen and TV acting.
With more than 1,000 applicants vying for just 24 coveted NIDA spots, Rachel admits that she had no idea whether she’d be accepted. ‘They don’t usually take people straight out of school. The whole experience of making it to the final round was insane to me so I just tried to appreciate each step of the way and not fantasise about getting accepted too much,’ she says. ‘But overall, I had a really positive audition experience and learnt so much, so I was feeling hopeful.’
The audition process for NIDA’s highly competitive program is rigorous, involving three stages. First, Rachel submitted an online video application featuring her performance of two
monologues—one heightened text and language piece (i.e, Shakespeare) and one contemporary piece.
‘I submitted that video in mid-September and then in November I got an email saying I’d made it into the second round which was an in-person audition in Brisbane.
‘During my in-person audition, I performed my first two monologues again and then made it to the third round later that day where I performed and workshopped a third monologue. Finally, I participated in a short ten-minute interview.’
When the call came, the news was overwhelming. ‘It was surreal,’ she recalls. ‘I kept walking around the house thinking, ‘I can’t believe I got in.’ I had spent so much time stalking the NIDA website and Instagram, imagining that I would get to go there one day, and now it has finally happened.’
Rachel immediately shared the good news with her family and close friends, including Fairholme Speech and Drama Teacher, Mrs Katrina Bailey, who had played a key role in supporting her through the audition process.
‘She helped me pull together my applications and offered her creative guidance and expertise. But what really meant the most was the belief she had in me every step of the way.’
Looking ahead, Rachel has big plans for her future. While she has a deep love for the stage, her ultimate goal is to break into the film and TV industry. ‘Once I finish the course, I hope I can fully support myself through my acting’, she says. ‘I’m keen to learn all that I can about art and humanity through acting and hopefully elevate the voice and stories of marginalised people through my creative endeavours.’
As for what inspired Rachel to pursue acting, she credits a childhood favourite: Dorothy the Dinosaur. ‘I like to say that Dorothy the Dinosaur inspired me to pursue a creative career,’ she laughs. But in all seriousness,
Rachel has drawn inspiration from a wide range of actors, including Bella Ramsey, Anna Sawai, Michelle Yeoh, and Saoirse Ronan. ‘These are all people who are pioneers in the acting industry and who are brimming with talent, humility and compassion.’
Throughout her time at school, Rachel’s passion for the arts has been nurtured and supported by both her teachers and peers. ‘I am so grateful that Fairholme provided me with so many opportunities to develop not only my acting skills but also my creative skills through activities like the school musical, choir and instrumental groups,’ she says.
‘But most of all, it was the people at Fairholme who really helped me get here. Regardless of whether they were involved in the creative arts of not, all my teachers and peers were so supportive and enthusiastic about me pursuing acting and I am so grateful for that.’
Now, with her future at NIDA on the horizon, Rachel’s acting career is truly just beginning. Her journey is proof that with hard work, dedication, and a little bit of belief, dreams really can come true.
Sports Program High Performance
Fairholme College has officially launched its High Performance Sport Program, an innovative initiative aimed at supporting student athletes in achieving their sporting and academic goals.
The launch marked a significant milestone in the College’s ongoing commitment to empowering young women through both education and sport.
Olympian and Fairholme Old Girl Tatum Stewart was the guest of honour, returning to her alma mater to help unveil the program.
‘It’s super exciting for these Fairholme students to have the exposure to this High-Performance Program. Looking back, if I had an opportunity like this, it definitely would have catapulted me even sooner into the highperformance sporting world,’ said Tatum.
Casey Reynoldson, Fairholme’s newly appointed Head of High Performance, also sharing her vision for the program and her extensive experience in elite sports.
Casey brings a wealth of expertise to the program, having studied Exercise Science, a Bachelor of Exercise Physiology, and completed a Masters of Secondary Teaching. She recently returned from the University of Yale, where she conducted a research project, adding further depth to her leadership of the program.
‘I’m incredibly excited to lead this new chapter for Fairholme’s athletes,’ said Casey. ‘The program is designed to help them enhance their athletic performance while providing them with the tools needed to balance the challenges of sport and academics.’
The program includes tailored strength and conditioning plans, load management strategies, recovery programs, fitness testing, and academic support. A highlight of the launch was the live demonstration of the program’s stateof-the-art timing gates, which will help athletes track and improve their performance. Fairholme has a proud legacy of athletic excellence, producing Olympians like Tatum Stewart, Dom Du Toit, Emilee Cherry, Cathy Freeman, and Dannielle Leisch.
This year alone, over 130 Fairholme teams competed locally, with 450+ girls excelling in individual sports, 127 Darling Downs Representatives, and 21 Queensland Representatives!
This new program is set to propel Fairholme’s athletes to even greater success, reinforcing the College’s commitment to fostering the next generation of sporting champions.
Term 1 Date Claimers
31 January – Junior School Welcome Evening
5 February – Year 7 Camp
10 February – House Day
10 February – Year 10 Camp
11 February – Year 9 Camp 14 February – Year 8 -12 Fairholme and Toowoomba Grammar Social 20 February – Year 3 - 6 Swimming Carnival 21 February – Middle and Senior School Swimming Carnival 21 February – Principal’s Welcome Function 21 February – Year 7 Parent Information Session 5 March – Year 8 Camp 7 March – International Women’s Day Celebration Jimbour House
March – Interhouse Cross Country 20 March – Fairholme Girl for a Day 21 March – Dr Linda Evans all Staff and Student Farewell 27 March – Year 7 Cora-Scope Day 28 March – Toowoomba Show Holiday 30 March – Dr Linda Evans Community Farewell
3 April – Year 9 Mother and Daughter Breakfast 3 April – Year 7 Gabfest
3 April – Year 12 Soiree and Formal
3 April – Term 1 Concludes