Middle School

MRS JAYE ROSS, HEAD OF MIDDLE SCHOOL

2020 was a very successful year for the Middle School girls. In Year 7 we welcomed 66 new students to the Middle School in January, and these girls quickly embraced the Fairholme culture and the many opportunities presented to them. Whilst the year presented challenges, the Middle School girls were still able to achieve academic successes. Additionally, the girls balanced their participation in Sport and The Arts effectively. We are pleased to present the following highlights:

ACADEMIC SUCCESS – ICAS

With the cancellation of NAPLAN this year, the participation of our Fairholme Year 7,8 and 9 girls who completed the International Competitions and Assessments for Schools (ICAS) held greater importance. The results are a credit to the girls and are proof of their hard work and exceptional attitude towards learning.

CO-CURRICULAR OPPORTUNITIES

• Debating: Four Year 7 teams, five Year 8 teams and three Year 9 teams. • Year 7/8 QAMT Maths Quiz: 21 girls and 7 teams competed successfully and one team made it through to the Regional Final (Brisbane West), where they placed • 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 try out performing in front of an audience; this was performed during Year Level Meetings.

SERVICE OPPORTUNITIES

It is important that Middle School girls 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 supported a number of charities such as Cancer Council – Daffodil Day, Indigenous Literacy Day and various fundraising activities. • Support for Hike for Homeless to help raise money for struggling Toowoomba families • Operation Christmas Child • Light the Night – raising awareness and hope for people with Blood Cancer • Letter writing to communities (aged care facilities, rural communities) to lift their spirits and raise connections during COVID-19 lockdown.

INCLUSIVE ACTIVITIES

Girls of Middle School age need to 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. • Year level camps at the beginning of the year • Socials and sporting afternoons with St Mary’s and Toowoomba Grammar School. • Competitions: Book Week Dress Up Day and Treasure Hunt, Cape Making, Just Dance • Lunch time activities: Trivia quizzes, Chalk Drawings, Hand Ball, Christmas Card writing, Mr Squiggle Competition, writing what they are grateful for on our Middle School chalkboard walls. • Middle School buddies: RAK buddies, where the girls were buddied with someone in their grade to provide Random Acts of Kindness for them.