Rising Star Winter 2021 by MoretonBayColleges

WINTER 2021

RISING STAR Breadth of mind, Depth of heart

Artwork by Chloe A 6C

Artwork by Lanie K 5K

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Mr Richard Henry CEO and Executive Principal The Moreton Bay Colleges

First Impressions In my first article for the Rising Star magazine, I thought it would be appropriate to share my first impressions of MBC with you. First impressions are important, and I can say that I have been genuinely pleased with what I have seen so far. The warm welcome which I have received from students, staff and parents is indicative of the caring and collaborative community we have at MBC. For the Board of Governors, I created a 30 day report which summarised my initial review of the College. I am pleased to say that in my report most findings were overwhelmingly positive. The College has clear and aspirational guiding statements which are underpinned by the College’s Values of Engagement, Character, Care and Teamwork. There is a clear commitment from the College Leadership and staff to the vision and mission. The respective roles and responsibilities of governance across the colleges are clearly defined and I was particularly pleased to see the Board has established a robust set of sub-committees which facilitate focused conversations and planned actions with respect to education, infrastructure, finance, risk and governance, along with The Moreton Bay Colleges’ Foundation. The curriculum on offer has great breadth which allows for a wide variety of pathways for students. Well structured programmes are in place to cater for a variety of intellectual, physical, social and emotional needs of students. A new feature of the College is the Teaching and Learning Approach which has been well thought through and underpinned by current research. The wellbeing of students is a tremendous strength of both Colleges. There are effective policies in place to identify the varied needs of students to meet the growing demand for students to develop wellbeing, resilience and a sense of belonging.

One change I have already initiated in consultation with the College Principals is the realignment of Leadership Teams so that our shared services and cross campus leaders are enabled to better meet the needs of their constituents. You may also have noticed that we have adjusted the communications to parents by now sending out a Weekly Bulletin to inform you as to what is taking place each week. The newsletter will no longer be sent out fortnightly but will be replaced by the College magazines which will be sent out each term. The creation of the Strategic Asset Management and Facility Plan is underway along with a 10 year financial plan. These are extremely positive steps forward and will ensure the strong alignment of financial planning and facilities development. The implementation of a healthy Foundation plan will also be of significant benefit for the long-term success of the Colleges. The most important factor in delivering a high-quality education experience is the relationship between the teacher and the student. The most successful schools have outstanding teachers.

“Ensuring high-quality teaching will always be my focus in collaboration with the College Leadership Teams.” I believe we have very strong foundation already in place which, with your support, augurs well for a bright and prosperous future in which we will ensure that we are preparing our students for tomorrow’s world.

Of course, this is not to say that we do not have areas for improvement…every school does. All educational institutions should always be striving to improve so that teaching and learning is delivered to the highest possible standards and students are engaged and happy.

Mrs Janet Stewart Principal

Discovering treasures from our past to prepare us for tomorrow Theodore Roosevelt famously said, ‘The more you know about the past, the better prepared you are for the future’. These words have resonated powerfully this year at MBC as we celebrated and discovered much about our rich history and looked to the future as we welcomed our new CEO and Executive Principal, Richard Henry. Our 120-year celebrations have encouraged many among the staff and students to re-visit our College Centenary History written by Noel Quirke and peruse the Archives spaces in the primary and secondary libraries. All these resources capture significant moments in our long and impressive history and affirm that it is important to remain informed by our past, as we look to the future. One exciting initiative led by our Art students during Founders’ week celebrations demonstrated this desire to uncover more of our past, as they interviewed four ‘old girls’ from different eras. The interviews were recorded and are fascinating viewing, and each one enhances our understanding of who we are today as a learning community. These are the women we come from and their interviews are powerful reminders of the positive impact an MBC education can have on a young woman. Diane Perkins (nee Beach - Class of 1962) proudly showed the girls her blazer ‘pocket’ and spoke of standards which demanded girls be ‘polite’ and ‘give everything to every new experience as it yields new learning’. Lynne Lominga (who started at the College in 1953, when she was just years old) brought her school prospectus and discussed the importance of uniform standards. Ms Lominga also highlighted that MBC girls were expected to be a ‘lady’ - not a ‘princess’ – who exhibited kindness and was expected to give of her best at all times. She also spoke with great passion about the enduring relevance of her school motto in her own life – reminding girls that courage and hope (the rock and the star) continue to be needed in today’s sometimes uncertain and bleak world. Telling the girls that ‘MBC is in my DNA’ she encouraged them to ‘look to the light at all times’. Equally inspiring were the insights of Cheryl Gray (nee Furlow – Class of 1986). Clutching her blazer with her Senior, House and Old Girl badges on it, she spoke of a school she ‘loved’. Having been at the ‘old school’ and part of the first cohort to graduate from the ‘new school’ on Wondall Road, she cherished memories not of the physical environment but of the ‘great

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feeling around the school’ borne of the friendships forged and the teamwork encouraged among the girls in small, connected cohorts. This teamwork was also highlighted by Laura Bergade (nee Desha – Class of 1994). Laura spoke of her fond memories of service work in Leos and of her appreciation for the staff who inspired her. Proudly embracing her cello, she spoke of her experiences in choirs, learning the cello in secondary and being able to ‘express her creativity’ through Music. One message that came through loud and clear from each memory of our past is that our values have remained constant. While the articulation and documentation of our four College Values – Care, Character, Teamwork, and Engagement – are from more recent times, they reflect the values which underpinned the Greene sisters’ approach to educating young women. The Greenes’ High School for Girls established a culture

of care for all who attended Bay Terrace - both the day and boarding students - and fostered the enduring vision that girls must engage broadly to educate the mind, body, heart and spirit. Moreover, as women of courage, resilience, and character the Greenes led by example, working collaboratively and nurturing a proud team spirit among their girls. The Greenes knew that these were skills and attributes of character which prepared students for their future and at MBC today they remain central to preparing our girls for tomorrow’s world. We know forging relationships built on respect and kindness will allow young women to work collaboratively and effectively in teams. There is no substitute for hard work, ‘giving everything’ to your passion and so realising your full potential. Similarly, the MBC spirit endures. The palpable sense of pride our interviewees articulated lives on in the loud and passionate Pink and White war cries heard at co-curricular events, and in the way

in which high uniform standards and personal conduct continue to be part of a raft of expectations which speak to the priority of forging personal integrity and responsibility. To study history is to study change, and studying the changes the Greenes, and our ‘old girls’ navigated, provide us with a wealth of lessons about how we can face the struggle, endure and overcome. Our motto remains our lodestar. It guides a core belief that courage, taking risks, being brave and bold will allow us to find and be our authentic selves; and hope, provides a ‘light’ and assures us we can contribute positively to make our communities and the world a better place. In this our 120th year, it is humbling to have learned more of our past and know that we follow in the footsteps of incredible MBC staff and alumnae; they are role models of how we can shape ourselves to be prepared for the future.

Reverend Peter Lockhart Chaplain

Dressed for the Day Throughout the year the Chapel team has pushed itself creatively to capture and share passages of the Bible in ways which might engage students, create curiosity, and connect them with God’s presence. One of the most creative was when the Chapel Team gave its take on Ephesians 6:10-20 in which Paul writes about the whole armour of God. The reading explores different elements of how we develop our faith and relationship with God using the analogy of ancient armour. Recognising this analogy as being anachronistic the Chapel team gave a fresh twist on the elements of faith through a presentation Fashionable Faith for the Twenty First Century. In the presentation the company “Put Faith First” were credited with bringing us the fashion line known as The Whole Armour of God. In the introduction our host declared, “This season we’re promoting our you range on the famous runways of the world - in Paris, in Milan, New York, London and right here at MBC.” And “We are pleased to say to you that this range is not an exclusive range but is a range of faith wear that will be available for everyone.” By bringing the analogy into our current context students were encouraged to think how engaging in spiritual disciplines can help prepare them every day to meet the challenges of life. The elements explored were the belt of truth, the breastplate of righteousness, the shoes of peace, the shield of faith, the helmet of salvation and the sword of God. Here is just a glimpse of what the students shared. With Jesus’ belt of truth, we can be empowered to be honest with ourselves and each other as we always carry Jesus’ truth with us.

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The breastplate of righteousness this garment comes to us as a gift through the miracle of love Holy Spirit knits together our lives with Jesus’ life and shares his righteousness with us. The shoes of peace remind us of God’s peace which tells us that whoever we are and whatever we might have done right, or wrong, God wants us to be part of God’s family. So, we have peace with God which leads us to seek peace within our own hearts and with each other. The shield of faith involves thinks like reading the Bible, listening to Christian music, and seeking the wisdom of other Christians. The more we work on our faith and develop this gift the stronger our shield becomes. The helmet of salvation helps to protects our minds from the doubts that we may have and encourages us to use our mind as we live in relationship with God and with other people. Finally, the sword of salvation which has two edges, and it can cut both ways. It can cause us to think there are issues with how ancient people interpreted their relationship with God, but it can also cause us to think there may be issues with the way we perceive our relationship with God. Growing a spiritual life and being dressed for the day as a person of faith involves taking some time and effort. As with anything else our relationship with God develops through commitment, energy and effort to spiritual disciplines. It is these disciplines that help open us to God’s presence within us and guidance as we move through each day.

30 plus years of faithful service In August, Mrs Jan Craig and Mrs Fran Easton joined the very exclusive 30+ years of service club, joining Mel McPhail (31 years of service), Robyn Vagg (33 years of service) and Carol Alcorn (35 years of service). The College is sincerely grateful for the dedication and unwavering support of these long-standing members of staff. Melody, Carol, Fran, Robyn and Jan have been faithful servants of our community and we are the richer for their commitment to forging relationships with generations of Bay girls and past and present colleagues.

Design Thinking guiding interdisciplinary learning at MBC

A Primary Perspective At Moreton Bay College we have been an IB (International Baccalaureate) World School, authorised to deliver the PYP (Primary Years Programme) since 2015. As an IB school delivering the PYP, our students are immersed in a curriculum framework where learning experiences that have relevance across subject areas and connect with the real world, are explored every day. Solving real world problems requires students to utilise design thinking – a dynamic, creative and collaborative approach to problem solving. Throughout 2020, key staff in the Primary School were involved in an ISQ (Independent Schools Queensland) project focused on developing STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, the Arts and Mathematics) opportunities within our Units of Inquiry. An outcome of this project was the collaborative development of a design thinking model by Primary Staff which was suited to our school context and provided opportunities for consistency in the language and approach modelled within classrooms. The IDEAS Model (Inquire, Design, Engineer, Analyse and Share) has been instrumental in opening up further possibilities for student agency and the use of design thinking within our Units of Inquiry. A cyclic model was chosen to highlight the importance of flexibility within the design thinking process – where different stages can be revisited as students analyse, reflect and evaluate progress and modifications. Our Prep students have engaged excitedly in the design thinking process as part of their How We Express Ourselves Unit of Inquiry. Strong connections between home and school were developed as the girls worked with their class teacher and parents using the IDEAS Model to design a presentation (through a medium of their choice) that communicated a message important to the individual student. The girls developed responsibility by taking ownership of this process and their 8

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confidence and communication skills were strengthened as a result of their interactions with the learning community. In Year 2, the Central Idea ‘Movement occurs when forces are applied to objects’ allowed for the exploration of forces and how simple machines, objects and materials interact when forces are applied. The culminating learning experience for this unit involved the girls bringing together the concepts and skills they had learned and utilizing the design process to create and build an interactive game to be included in a Year 2 Games Arcade. By being given the freedom to explore and the space to lead and create, the students learned by trial and error, thereby strengthening resilience and reinforcing the importance of a growth mindset. Students were empowered throughout this experience, with innovative designs shared with buddy classes and fellow students during a Games Arcade morning. The design thinking process has been explored further with Year 5 students during their Sharing the Planet Unit of Inquiry. Issues impacting organisms within different biomes around the world and the effectiveness of the living organism’s structural and/or behavioural adaptations were explored. The IDEAS Model was used to generate and create design solutions to these real-world issues, with proposed, personalised action shared with the school community. Special acknowledgement must go to Donna Vine and Kelsey Conlin for their work with the ISQ project and in working collaboratively with Primary staff to create the IDEAS Design Thinking Model. We are excited by the ongoing possibilities for our students to engage in this process, collaborating with others and creating design solutions to problems based on authentic experience and feedback. Mrs Nicole Bowers Deputy Head of Primary (Teaching and Learning)

A Secondary Perspective As Design Thinking continues to grow across the College, we are pleased to announce a new STEAM subject for the Year 9 cohort of 2022 – Project 8. This subject has been developed in response to student, teacher and parent requests. As a community, we are thrilled to offer this innovative approach to holistic learning within the STEAM environment. Project 8 is a multidisciplinary STEAM based Year 9 subject that invites students to innovate, create, educate, and advocate on self-directed projects. Centred around the United Nations 17 Goals for Sustainable Development, Project 8 encourages students to learn with agency, identifying and exploring an issue of interest and creating a solution in response to the issue. Throughout the course of study students will cultivate futurefocussed skills, develop proficiency using iterative problemsolving approaches and reflect meaningfully on their work and that of their peers to create lasting change. The integration of science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematical (STEAM) concepts, topics, standards, and assessments; is a powerful way to disrupt current pedagogical approaches and facilitate a learning environment that is fluid, dynamic and relevant. Project 8 generates opportunities for students to engage with real world application, creation and ingenuity. Project 8 provides opportunities for students to engage in meaningful learning beyond the bounds of traditional learning area approaches. Free of these constraints, students can develop solutions that weave together attributes of science, technologies, engineering, arts and mathematics as appropriate to their designed solutions. Students could be curating a digital

magazine to promote sustainable urban development, physically and digitally prototyping products that support more circular lifecycles, designing an online service that supports improved water management, or composing a song about a pertinent social issue and producing a music video, complete with visuals, costumes and choreography to share the piece with others. The possibilities are only limited by students’ innovation, drive and curiosity. In 2021, students in Year 9 Food and Textiles Technology (FTT) piloted a smaller scale version of Project 8, with students working within the Technologies learning area to develop diverse designed solutions. The agency cultivated through the scale of the project engaged student curiosity, with classrooms abuzz with the joy of delving deeper into issues of interest and learning fascinating and, at times challenging, information. In response to their exploration, students developed a range of solutions that creatively addressed their chosen issue. From experimenting with beauty product recipes to produce an eco-friendly beauty recipe book, to crafting an accessories line highlighting food packaging wastage, to challenging gender stereotypes and inequalities in sport through baking a ‘recipe for success’, students enthusiastically engaged in the iterative design thinking process to develop unique concepts. It will be exciting to see student innovation grow in 2022 with the broadening of the task to encompass a STEAM approach. We are looking forward to sharing with the community the learnings that the students engage in, as well as the outcomes of their projects. Ms Delia Stecher, Deputy Head of Secondary (Teaching and Learning)

INTERHOUSE EVENTS Years 3 - 6 Athletics

Prep - Year 2 Athletics

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INTERHOUSE EVENTS Secondary Athletics

Secondary Cross Country

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Reconciliation through Art - the creation of Girl on Country – Jundal Djara In 1901, the Greene sisters founded a school on Bay Terrace which prioritised an appreciation of, and engagement with, visual art as central to the holistic development and growth of the young women in their care. In 2021, the College sought to recognise the significance of the land on which the school was founded. In doing so, Moreton Bay College forged a relationship, and entered into an exciting project, with two local indigenous artists – Sonja and Leecee Carmichael - both Ngugi women belonging to the Quandamooka people, to create a commemorative bespoke cyanotype: Girl on Country – Jundal Djara. “We are honoured to work with Sonja and Leecee, two exceptional and inspiring artists who have so graciously shared with us the incredible art of Quandamooka weaving and have created with us this magnificent cyanotype to commemorate our 120th year,” said Principal Mrs Janet Stewart. It’s a very

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exciting time to be involved in contemporary indigenous art as it reflects our commitment toward strengthening the relationship with the local Aboriginal Community and the ongoing process of Reconciliation in Australia.” The cyanotype composition embodies the narrative of connection to people, place and objects. Panel one encompasses the idea of place as nature – land, sea and sky, using natural objects collected from around the College and woven items created by students, parents and staff during weaving workshops held at the College by Sonja and Leecee. Panel two represents place, people and objects, and includes significant archival objects from the College and two students, who are actually the Art Captains, Amalia Levick and Bella Callegari.

The weaving workshops were an opportunity for participants to engage with contemporary Quandamooka weaving. Weaving is central to connectedness to country and draws inspiration form the land and its stories. Participants at the weaving workshops created a woven piece which then become part of the larger body of work, the canotype. The weaving workshops were attended by current students, their mothers, aunts, grandmothers, females of significance to the students, and Old Girls of the College, affirming that the history of MBC is her story. “I think it is about documenting our weaving stories in new ways,” said Sonja Carmichael, “We were looking at ways we could bring our weaving alive on a large scale. By bringing images of our weaving into cyanotypes and using the very elements required for the growth of our natural weaving fibres on country – water, sun and salt – we are able to extend our practice.”

The final step in the process, the cyanotype creation workshop, was supported by photo media artist Renata Buziak. The items woven during the weaving workshops, as well as natural objects collected from around the College and artefacts which represent the life and history of the College were placed on the cyanotype fabric in low light and then exposed to UV light. The resulting ‘blueprint’ became the final artwork. The commissioned artwork - Girl on Country – Jundal Djara - was revealed during Founders’ Week and is now hung in the Music Centre foyer, where it takes pride of place. We are excited to acquire the work of Leecee and Sonya Carmichael at this seminal time in the school’s cultural history. It honours the Greene sisters’ legacy, affirms our commitment to our MBC Reconciliation Action Plan and places female and First Nations voices at the heart of our developing art collection.

STAFF PROFILES Mrs Sheryl MacKenzie Secondary Teacher Qualifications – DipT, BEd What’s unique about teaching Secondary? Teaching secondary students is unique in that my students are at a stage in their lives where they are really finding out who they are and what they want and helping them to do that is really rewarding. Their personalities are coming to the forefront, and they have opinions on just about everything – makes for some great discussions in Legal Studies. They also begin to see you as not just a teacher but a human being as well and I love that I can have real conversations with them. Who was your favourite teacher when you were in school and how did they impact you? The answer to this is very easy and perhaps predictable. My favourite teacher was my Year 9 and 10 Business teacher – and look at what I do today! I think that is testament to the impact she had on me. I had always wanted to be a teacher and being in her classes back then inspired me and led to me deciding what sort of a subject teacher I wanted to be. I don’t often think of her, but I probably should as I think I’ve got a lot to thank her for. She helped me find my passion. What have you discovered lately that led you to improve the way you teach? Being a teacher is a continual learning process and a process of trying new or different ways to do things in the classroom. Sometimes they work and sometimes they don’t but if we don’t try, we risk not capturing and leaving behind one of our students. Ironically, Remote at home learning led me to discovering or rediscovering some aspects about questioning and that’s an area I’ve been more conscious of lately in an effort to improve the way I teach. Like I said, it’s a continual learning process. What do you think makes MBC a special place to learn? I think MBC is a special place full stop. Our college glows with care and gratitude and that has helped us to build the learning environment that we now have. We all care about each other, staff and students alike. I have never worked with a more caring, dedicated, and collegial staff and when we all have agency like we do, only good things can ensue.

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Mr Lucan O’Brien Primary Teacher Qualifications - BHort, BTeach I completed a Bachelor of Horticulture at the University of Melbourne and have a fascination for science and the environment. I was interested in plants, biology and landscape design but I couldn’t avoid the feeling that I wanted to teach too. I worked in the Horticulture industry part time while I completed a Bachelor of Teaching, Primary and Secondary specialising in Science and Environmental Science. My interest in Inquiry pedagogy started when I took part in a program called the New Pedagogies of Deep Learning, since then my postgraduate studies have revolved around the concepts of Inquiry Based Learning. The Primary Years Programme (PYP) aligns with my teaching philosophies and after studying the PYP and working at an IB school in Indonesia, I wanted to continue my teaching in the PYP environment, and I was thrilled to get a position at Moreton Bay College this year. What’s unique about teaching Primary? Teaching in Primary is everchanging, complex, hectic, fun, and most importantly, extremely rewarding. A teacher wears many hats! This is especially true in teaching of the Primary years. I love to get my students excited about a concept or inspired to find out something new, but in between the ‘classroom teaching’ I am caring for all my students’ needs. It is equally important for me to sit down with my students and sort out a social problem, as it is to deliver a differentiated lesson. Who was your favourite teacher when you were in school and how did they impact you? I can remember many of my teachers in Primary School, the ones that stick out are the ones that I felt comfortable with. I can clearly remember a teacher (Mr Connis) who taught me how to hold a football properly. He always used to take us out into the yard for games which I especially liked. Another teacher (Mrs Pressi) read to us for hours and I can remember absolutely loving lying down and listening to the novels she read. Students are lucky to experience so many different teachers at school and the variety of teachers adds to the fulfilment in education.

the collegiality with teachers and how you can work together to improve. What do you think makes MBC a special place to learn? Initially, I was attracted to MBC because we offer the Primary Years Programme (PYP) that structures the way we teach the Australian Curriculum. Very shortly after arriving at MBC for the first time, I knew that it was a very special place to be. The culture within the organisation is extremely positive, something that you can just ‘feel’. The campus itself is stunning, I regularly stop in the gardens with the girls and teach them about many of the plants. I feel privileged to be part of this wonderful community.

What have you discovered lately that led you to improve the way you teach? My teaching partner, Mrs Tracy Boyd, has ignited my enjoyment of teaching spelling. Tracy is passionate about spelling and this passion has rubbed off! One of the greatest parts of teaching is

STAFF PROFILES There is also great scope to enrich the environment with provocations to learn and make new discoveries, setting up beautiful spaces is something which I love to do to extend the children’s interests and allow children to experience the world for themselves through open ended experiences. As an Educator, I value co-constructing learning alongside the children, that is, we research together. As such it’s very much a collaborative process, finding the answers to questions together and deciding what it is that we would like to learn more about. Who was your favourite teacher when you were in school and how did they impact you? My favourite teacher was called Ms Elliot, she taught home economics and I attended her classes in my first school-based qualification in Early Years learning. I remember her classroom being comfortable, welcoming, and safe and Ms Elliot was all those things too! Her lessons were engaging and fun - and she created a learning environment where risks were accepted. Even if I was wrong, she gave me the opportunity to have another go and try a different way. Her words and encouragement showed that she believed in me to succeed, and she saw me as an individual rather than a number in a group. Ms Elliot gave me a love of learning and a drive to become a teacher who could also have such an impact on the children that I teach. What have you discovered lately that led you to improve the way you teach?

Ms Paula Nicholls Early Years Educator Qualifications – Diploma in Early Education and Care and currently studying a Bachelor of Education (Early Childhood). What’s unique about teaching Early Years? In the early years the focus is on the child following their interests. This enables children to make new discoveries through engaging in experiences which involve creating a sense of wonder, curiosity, and inquiry in even the smallest things, which are sometimes taken for granted, e.g., our reflections on a sunny day, the way shadows are formed, ripples in water. I love the opportunities to engage children in this type of learning, it is exciting to see the way that children show their curiosity in the questions that they ask and the things that they do. No two days are the same as it’s an emergent and evolving program.

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Within the last three years I have become passionate about the Reggio Emilia approach to learning. Reggio is a child-cantered, progressive approach to early learning. The guiding principle is that children are viewed as strong, capable, and resilient, rich with wonder and knowledge. This has given me the drive to not only develop my thinking, but also to see the possibilities for learning which it allows children. It makes me feel excited every day to think about the opportunities that may emerge that day. Working in the way of the Reggio approach has allowed me to question my work, look at learning through a different lens and be part of something which is a very special way of working with children. What do you think makes MBC a special place to learn? The Early Learning Centre is a familiar place, a place where people come together, the teachers and educators, the families, the community, and the children. This gives the children a real sense of belonging, becoming and being. We are lucky to not only learn inside, but also learn outside. MBC has a campus which is explored regularly in Nature Play sessions where children are allowed to investigate, inquire, problem solve and make new discoveries. I believe that we are very lucky to have the space that we have and to be able to create a seamless flow to inside and outside learning.

CULTURAL Capturing Character

Year 9 student Tillie Moyle has already made an impact on the Brisbane art scene with entries into the 2021 Next Gen Brisbane Portrait Prize (where Little Paws achieved a Highly Commended award), the 2021 Young Archie Awards, The EKKA Painting & Drawing Competition and the 2020 Young Archie Awards. Discovering her love of art at the young age of five, she embarked on art classes outside of school, always enjoying the opportunity to lose herself in her art, finding joy in the calmness and tranquillity of being creative. In a recent interview with Willy Russo on his podcast Interview with an artist – she speaks of her subject matter changing from animals to people, describing a conversation with her Pa being a pivotal moment, realising that she wanted to depict people with character in her work. Tillies’ artworks tell stories, depicting people in her life who have made an impact on her. Little Paws, The Farmer and The Story Teller, are all Portraits, photo realistic in style representing human qualities. Each brush stroke and mark made with precision and intent. Beautifully applied tone, light and textures encompass the subject matter like a warm hug. You can really see the love in the work. Recently during art lessons at MBC, Tillie was challenged by creating a sculpture. This was out of her comfort zone and using a medium which she has not used before, so we caught up with Tillie to see how her sculpture was coming along. What was your first thought when Mrs Jones said your task was to make a life-sized clay self-portrait?

it would turn out, but I got more comfortable with it as I went along, however it did take some time to get used to the clay medium. What do you feel was the most challenging part of creating your sculpture, and why?  Sculpting the face was challenging because I wanted to make it realistic, I wanted to put more detail into it like I do with my drawings. The sizing was also a challenge, as I originally made the base too small and had to start again, and then when I made the new one it was a bigger than I had expected, and in the end the sculpture turned out to be bigger than life-sized. Were you happy with the overall success of the sculpture? Do you feel it captured the essence, features and characteristics of you? Overall, I am happy with how it turned out because even though it was a little off from realistically looking like me, I feel it represented my personality and loves. I think it captures my essence, as I love cats, so I decided to put my cat on my shoulder, also the flowers were a symbol used to show my personality as bright and happy; flowers remind me of this because they are beautiful and colourful. We’re excited to continue to follow Tillie’s artistic endeavours in the following years, and have no doubt she will continue to make her mark on Australia’s Art scene.

I thought it was a different and interesting task, it was outside of my comfort zone as I had never used clay before apart from a few small school projects. At first, I was nervous and unsure how 19

The Wiz takes us all the way to the Emerald City As continued lockdowns interrupted planning, auditions, and rehearsal schedules, our Arts community never lost hope that we would make it to the Emerald City in June this year. Students from both Colleges embarked on their musical journey through initial auditions in January which saw a plethora of talent come forward to sing, dance, act and play their way along the Yellow Brick Road. College staff were thrilled by the talent at the auditions which saw a cast of over 90 students engaged to be a part of the chorus, character roles, a student orchestra, crew and our first ever Pit Chorus singers. Students and staff engaged in weekly rehearsals and dedicated weekend intensives to develop and refine their skills in the Musical Theatre arena. Our wonderful Parent Arts Support Group (PASG) reinforced such commitment by ensuring all involved were fed and refreshed at each intensive, whilst also fundraising to support the wonderful work of our Arts students at the Colleges. As we waited with bated breath for restrictions to ease and theatre occupant density capacities to lift, our students and staff never wavered in their preparations. Such commitment was rewarded as we made it to Opening Night, with outstanding accolades of praise and great excitement. Of note was the outstanding performance of the student orchestra led by the Colleges’ Musical Director Mr Ben Langford. To play an entire two-hour show is a challenge in itself for professional musicians, however our students played night after night, some with blistering fingers, without falter. Exceptional student performances flooded the evening from the entire cast, however particular note must go to the outstanding lead characters. Taylah Jessen (Year 12), as Aunt Em, exhumed a gentle and revered approach to the motherly qualities of her character in which her opening song connected audience goers with the difficulties in raising young teenagers. Alexandra Dirié as the colourfully clumsy Addaperle conjured up hilariously unsuccessful spells while singing and dancing up a storm with the Munchkins. Sophia McBrien (Year 10) was the ever-playful Scarecrow, delightful in her performance bursting with energy from beginning to end. Shannon Dean (Year 11) as the cowardly Lion brought a powerful approach to the transformation of her character in which her duet with Dorothy was certainly a crowd pleaser.

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Abby Gauld and Abby Hyde (both Year 12) provided many hilarious one-liners with their bold performances of The Gatekeeper and Evillenne respectively, while Milana George (Year 11) graced the stage with her angelic approach to the role of Glinda and we saw showstopping performances came from Charli Mostert (Year 12) and Alexa Curtis (Year 12) in their roles as The Wiz and Dorothy respectively. Charli’s beautifully timed comedic nuances brought the house down, along with her soulful singing and dancing in which the audience rumbled in their seats with joyous laughter. Alexa’s professional performance from beginning to end amazed the audience in her ability to sustain such a high level of performance in which her character was on stage for the entire duration of the show. However, it was her spine-tingling vocal ability that left the audience with goosebumps and in particular her nuanced rendition of the closing song Home, in which a pin could have dropped in the auditorium through such captivation. Of special note was the wonderful work of our Understudies (Lily Kunin Year 12/Dorothy, Flo Farrar Year 9/Scarecrow), who were diligent in their application and performed so beautifully in their matinee show, along with calm and patient application of the Technical Crew who allowed for all rehearsals and performances to run with ease. None of this could have been possible without the wonderful directorial capabilities of Mrs Emma Pattemore. Her vision, passion, and dedication to providing our students with a professional approach and experience of Musical Theatre has no doubt enhanced every performer who took part, but also produced long-lasting memories that will live on in the hearts of all. The Wiz certainly proved to be a success and will live on in the memories of the College community for years to come, providing a steppingstone along the life-journey of our students’ own yellow brick road as they make their way to their desired home. Kate Fitzgerald Director of Dance and Drama

Ms Kate Fitzgerald Director of Dance and Drama and Drama

Moreton Bay College Dancers Defy COVID-19 by returning bigger and better than ever!

The Moreton Bay College Dance Troupes took to stage for the first time after a year off from competitive competition due to the pandemic. 2021 saw the cancellation of even more competitions due to the ever-increasing lockdowns, and our breaths were held in the week leading up to the competition. However, the DanceLife Unite competition held at St. John’s Anglican College on Saturday 24 July did not disappoint, with our dancers taking to the stage with enthusiasm and grace, coming away with outstanding results. The energy, grace and group work of our youngest performers was noted by the judges, with the Primary Dance Troupe receiving both 2nd and 4th place with their Jazz and Lyrical routines respectively in the ‘Any Style’ section. Our Senior Dance Troupe were in a class of their own, taking out 1st place in both the Lyrical and Contemporary troupe sections, with the judges noting the professionalism of the troupe. The Junior A Dance Troupe team placed just behind the Seniors, taking out 2nd and 3rd respectively in each of the sections. The success continued

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as the Junior A Dance Troupe team dominated the Secondary High School Jazz section, taking out 1st place in front of the Seniors who came in 4th. It was a wonderful moment for the Juniors who had worked so diligently on this routine and our Seniors were immensely proud of the younger dancers, giving them the biggest cheer as they received their award. A particular highlight of the day was the exceptional performance of our newly formed Junior B Dance Troupe who worked so diligently throughout the lead up to the competition. They performed so cohesively as a group and exuberated joy on the stage, earning them a Highly Commended for their Jazz routine. It’s safe to say that the Moreton Bay College Dance Troupes are back in fine form after such a long break from the competitive arena and they continue to present exceptional work that surpasses their competitors in such unknown and trying times.

Greene-ware Art Exhibition Greene-ware, the Moreton Bay College annual art exhibition, was another great success. In 2021, the exhibition was extended to include artwork from our youngest learners in The Moreton Bay Colleges’ Early Learning Centre. Our live launch via Facebook officially opened the event on Thursday August 26 with a solo performance from Year 12 Music Extension student Lily Kunin and guest speaker Ms Alison Kubler. Alison spoke of the importance of the Arts for our future and the privilege of being able to work in the Arts as a career, saying “A life filled with arts will only be richer…one needs to be agile, and nimble and be able to think outside the square…you also need to work hard…it is about endeavour.... but it is always worth it’”. The online exhibition is available to view on the college website.

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SPORT

MBC miles ahead in Cross Country Cross Country is one of the most challenging sports, both physically and mentally; a sport you either love or hate. At MBC, our athletes have, over a number of years, developed a positive attitude toward Cross Country and have created a running culture that has seen excellent results in the Andrews Cup and QGSSSA arenas. It takes the effort of all runners to secure a team win, and both our Primary and Secondary teams have taken this very individual sport and turned it into whole team successes in 2021. Both events were held in May, with the QGSSSA competition held at Rivermount. The Secondary team showed much improvement and determination after limited preparation. Overall results reflected this mindset and performance. MBC held 2nd place in both the Aggregate Cup and the Joan Benson Percentage Trophy- a much better result after a number of years reaching 4th place. The differening age groups also contributed to this improvement, of note 12 years placing 3rd, and 15 and 16 years placing 2nd . This result was admirably supported by the MBC Primary Cross Country team, which over a hilly course in Toowoomba secured the Andrews Cup Aggregate Trophy from a number of hard chasing Schools. The MBC team stormed home with wins in the 9, 10 and 12 years age groups, and the 11 years placing a close 2nd. This win can also be contributed to the positive running culture at the College and the focus our coaches are putting into nurturing our younger runners. Along with the QGSSSA and Andrews Cup school events, a number of Athletes from our programme have gone on to recent success at the District and Regional level, with Harper Greer, Kobi Walker and Kaya Agnew selected in Queensland Merit Teams.

Core Sports Success Most successful Andrews Cup School in 2021

1st

2nd

Cross Country Athletics Swimming

Mountain Biking After an exciting weekend filled with thrills and spills, The Moreton Bay Colleges’ Mountain Bike Club have defended their title of Most EPIC School at the 99 Bikes Cycle Epic for an amazing 6th year in a row. With over 300 metres of elevation, riders faced long climbs and steep, root-filled descents that were even more treacherous than usual. Head Coach Mark Watts has continued to work with the riders to develop fitness and technical skills, so that these young athletes are in the best possible condition come race day. In the ALLCHASER 22km U16 female race Annie Mayne finished in second place after a crash at the 19km mark – an outstanding achievement, while Sophie Donohue placed in 5th in the same race, which was an excellent result given this was her in her first competition race! In the MINOR EPIC 11.5km U14 race Millie French was also on the podium, coming third in her event after some exceptional riding. Together with the boys at MBBC, the team brought home prize money to the value of $1000, which will be used to support the growth of the Colleges’ Mountain Biking programme.

Most successful QGSSSA School in 2021

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Athletics Cross Country Swimming

MBC Gymnasts Soar MBC gymnasts have been excelling in all disciplines of the sport and competed strongly at the 2021 Australian Gymnastics Championships which saw our girls score many PB’s and claim a number of National medals. In Rhythmic Gymnastics, eight gold medals were won by MBC gymnasts. 2021 Rhythmic Gymnastics Co-Captain Ainsley Barker won the level 10 All round Individual Gold and all four apparatus individual gold medals. Eileen Chiang won the gold in the Level 10 teams event. Year 7 student Polina Leonova (Pre Junior) won silver and three bronze medals and 2021 Rhythmic Gymnastics CoCaptain Saskia Broedelet won a silver and a bronze at Senior International level. Jasmine Riechhart was also on the podium with two silvers and a bronze medal in the Junior International competition. In Aerobic Gymnastics Lily Bock, Skye McKibben, Loralie Gould, Abbey Johnson and Jema Gilchrist represented Queensland at the Australian Championships. The girls competed in individual and team events and placed strongly. Skye McKibben placed second in the International Age Group 1 Division, while Tessa Boardman placed second in the Senior Individual Aerodance.

In May, MBC students attended the Australian National Artistic Championships with great results. Ruby Walker was part of the Queensland team crowned Level 9 National Champions, and Ava Costa was part of the Junior International Queensland Team who were crowned National Champions. She also secured gold in the Beam, Bronze in AllAround, and 5th in the floor event. Past students Alannah Mathews and Himeka Onoda were part of the rhythmic team which won the National and Continental Championships, achieving a qualifying score to secure a place in the Australian team for the 2021 Tokyo Olympics, along with past student and Artistic Gymnast, Georgia Godwin, who also qualified to compete at the Tokyo Olympics.

Correction of Omission In the article Athletics Champions published in the previous edition of the Rising Star, athletes who represented Queensland at the Age Nationals were omitted from the list. Congratulations to Kaya Agnew, Olivia Luckensmeyer and Roxie Place who competed at these Australian Championships.

High Achievers Mountain Biking | Annabelle Mayne Placed second in the 99 Bikes Cycle Epic ALLCHASER 22km U16 female race

Mountain Biking | Millie French Placed third in the 99 Bikes Cycle Epic MINOR EPIC 11.5km U14 female race

Triathlon| Charlotte Kane Named in Queensland team

Cross Country | Harper Greer Named in Queensland Merit team

Cross Country | Kobi Walker Named in Queensland Merit team

Cross Country | Kaya Agnew Named in Queensland Merit team

Athletics | Claudia Chapman Selected to compete in the Oceania Games

Athletics | Nyree Hamilton Selected to complete in the Oceania Games

Touch | Lily Neill Named in Queensland School Sport Merit team

Touch | Ella Searston Named in Queensland School Sport Merit team

Touch | Kaya Hillman Named in Queensland School Sport Merit team

Hockey | Lily Richardson Named in Queensland School Sport Merit team

Hockey | Charli Woosnam Named in Queensland School Sport Merit team

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P&F Association

The P&F Association is incredibly lucky to have a long line of volunteers to support the interests of our girls and would like to extend a heartfelt thanks to our parents. Your efforts have contributed in some wonderful outcomes which positively impact the daily lives of our girls. Some of the most significant events recently have included:

P&F High Tea In June, the P&F hosted its annual High Tea Fundraiser event at Victoria Park. The afternoon featured exquisite food and drinks, a fantastic fashion installation from Brisbane Arcade, raffles and silent auctions and an inspiring conversation hosted by Georgie Lewis, starring our Principal Mrs Janet Stewart and MBC Old Girl, and major sponsor of the event, Keryn Osgerby. This event raised an amazing $30,784. Part of this amount ($10,000) will assist the P&F in purchasing resources from the College’s Wish List.

Mother’s and Father’s Day stalls We had a very profitable Mother’s and Father’s Day stalls this year. With only a few volunteers being able to attend the school grounds due to Covid, it was astounding to see how our girls got provided with shopping advice and how they were helped through the difficult decisions to spend their precious dollars.

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P&F Colour Run The P&F is extremely proud that the P&F Colour Run has been a huge success and was so well received by the MBC Community. We enjoyed seeing our girls, parents and staff members having so much fun together. We raised a total amount of just over $20,000. This great result allows us to support the school by providing the following items for their wish list: -

Supporting Solar Buddies, with 50% of the money raised by the P&F Colour Run: $10,000

Resources from the College’s Wish List (in total: $20,600), consisting of

- Early Learners cubby house:

- Revamp the picture books Primary Library:

- Secondary STEM equipment:

- Flagpoles for both Primary and Secondary:

- Baritone Sax for Music Department

Mrs Alex Givney Foundation Manager

Giving, brings us together

In 2020, when COVID-19 hit, our community connected like never before. While face-to-face engagement has been limited at times, we have embraced online learning, working remotely and using Teams and Zoom for extra-curricular activities. During this challenging time, the Foundation joined forces with the Colleges and both P&F Associations to collaboratively fund a project that would best support students, families and the broader colleges’ community. Given the increasing reliance on online platforms, it made sense to invest in technology projects that would improve online engagement. Collectively, $80,000 was committed by the groups: $25,000 from the MBC P&F, $5,000 from the MBBC P&F, $25,000 from the Colleges and $25,000 from The Moreton Bay Colleges’ Foundation. The Colleges’ IT team identified three targeted information technology projects that would deliver the greatest improvement in our online engagement and the funding was committed to these initiatives. One of the activities families and the broader community mentioned they missed most during COVID restrictions was attending college events. Even during ‘more normal times’ it is becoming increasingly challenging for busy families to attend every important event. Live streaming these events provides opportunities for the broader community to conveniently attend and feel engaged and involved. For this reason, one of the key projects funded involved purchasing online streaming equipment; two transportable sets, one each for MBC and MBBC, and a permanently fixed set up in the MBC Music Centre. Already this equipment is being utilised and allows MBC and MBBC to engage more effectively with students, families (including grandparents), staff, Alumni, and the wider community. The second project funded relates to the sharing and management of photos within the Colleges. The Colleges’ IT team have selected a new system that will enable us to share photos from events and key activities with families easily and safely. Our hope is to have this implemented and ready for launch in 2022.

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The third technology project involves setting up two virtual classrooms to support cross college collaboration, with the potential to share ideas and resources. One classroom will be set up at MBC and another at MBBC. This will allow our students to better interact, share ideas and engage not just locally, but potentially globally too. We asked the leaders of the donating stakeholder groups to share why they thought this project was a worthy opportunity to give. Here is what they had to say: “The Foundation is passionate about helping deliver improved educational experiences for our children and helping parents juggle their busy lifestyles and many commitments. It is our hope that by contributing to this project, parents will be able to engage with their children’s activities at the Colleges in a more flexible manner.”

“Societally, we’re experiencing step change in how we leverage technology to collaborate and communicate. It’s the way of the future so it’s wonderful that MBC is on the front foot here. An exciting example is the virtual classroom which will leverage a range of digital solutions to expand the girls’ curiosity, learning and knowledge of the world. As parents, it’s terrific to see this strategy being invested in and coming to life for our daughters.” -Theresa Jory, MBC P&F Vice-President “The confident and responsible digital natives who will emerge from our schools in the years ahead will work and operate in spaces that they will have been well prepared for, thanks to contributions such as this technology project. We commend the Colleges for continuing to seek new and improved ways for our boys to learn and prosper.”

-Stephen Gray, MBBC P&F President

-Jason Titman, The Moreton Bay Colleges’ Foundation Chair. “Moreton Bay Boys’ College is committed to providing an outstanding student experience, and it is hoped that by contributing towards these innovative technology projects, the boys will be provided unique learning opportunities. Livestreaming our special events will also strengthen the connection with our community.”

-Andrew Holmes, MBBC Principal

“The College is excited to support these joint projects. Being able to livestream our assemblies, Chapels and special events engages our extended community, and ensures that students and families can remain connected in these sometimesdisconnected days. -Janet Stewart, MBC Principal

ALUMNAE Class of 2020 Homecoming In Term 3 we welcomed the class of 2020 from both Moreton Bay College and Moreton Bay Boys’ College back to the bay. This event is growing each year and we welcome all Old Girls’ to come to attend. It is a wonderful opportunity for our graduates to stay connected with each other and to start developing connections across the generations! Mrs Jemanda Hannouf, Community Development Officer

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Artwork by Jahli B 6D

Find out more Visit our website and download a Prospectus. www.mbc.qld.edu.au

Visit us Book a College Tour with our Enrolments team. registrar@mbc.qld.edu.au 07 3249 9322

450 Wondall Road Manly West, Queensland 4179 P 07 3390 8555 mail@mbc.qld.edu.au www.mbc.qld.edu.au An Early Years to Year 12 Uniting Church School for Girls CRICOS 03371K

Enrol online For your convenience our online enrolment process is now available. www.mbc.qld.edu.au/enrol