As we move into the middle of Term 1 and the assignments and tests start to increase, I have been thinking more about one of our core values: Adventurous Learning. Rather than just ticking off the tasks, thinking about what and why we are learning is core to our values. Being an adventurous learner means engaging in deeper thinking and considering broader perspectives. In Adam Grant’s book, Hidden Potential, he titles a chapter ‘Deliberately Awkward’. He says that when we see ‘discomfort as a mark of growth, [we are] motivated to stretch beyond [our] comfort zones’. Not only do we need to accept some discomfort, but we also need to be ‘brave enough to make more mistakes’. It is through this feeling that our girls will grow and stretch in their learning journeys.

International Women’s Day

Week 6 started with the International Women’s Day assembly, with guest speaker, Claire Pocock (2000). Her inspirational and thought-provoking address was connected to this year’s theme, ‘Count her in: Invest in Women. Accelerate Progress’. On Friday 8 March, our SRC attended the International Women’s Day breakfast hosted at the Adelaide Convention Centre.

Alongside these events, the SRC are running a donut drive for International Women’s Day on Wednesday in Week 7. Purple donuts can be ordered via Flexischools (preferred) with a small number also available on the day. Funds raised will be used to continue our support of girls’ education in Nepal.

Chess Achievements

Congratulations to Athena-Malar Retnaraja (Year 10), who participated in three weeks of intense chess over the summer holidays including two national chess championships held in Adelaide during January. As a result of these competitions, Athena has been named the National Champion of Under 18 Girls for Blitz (fast chess) and the runner-up in the Under 16 Girls for classic chess. This is an outstanding result and the product of many hours of practice and dedication.

Ms Lorraine Gormly, who runs our lunchtime Chess Club, frequently visited during the two championships and was present to see Athena receive these awards.

Intercol Ribbon

To show our support for the students participating in Summer Intercol during Week 8, the Intercol Gold Ribbon will be for sale from the Uniform Shop on Flexischools. Girls are encouraged to purchase the ribbon for $1.50 before Friday of Week 7, which will then be distributed on Monday of Week 8. Girls are able to wear the ribbon to school and all fixtures during Intercol week.

Security of Personal Property

The girls have been reminded recently by email, in the interest of the protection and security of their personal property, to not leave bags at the Front Gate on Hawkers Road when they are in music rehearsals or at sports training. This is a very accessible area for someone to walk off the street and steal personal items. It is also important that they do not leave their school laptop lying around unattended outside.

Please note that the School’s insurance, as is common with all insurance cover, does not cover personal phones and laptops that are left unattended—whether they are on school grounds or not. Under the current Student ICT Responsible Use Policy, should a school-allocated device be lost, stolen or irreparably damaged, the School reserves the right to pass on the full replacement cost of the device to the parents/caregivers.

Upcoming

Over the next few weeks, we have the following events:

• Get Home Safe Parent Session: Tuesday 12 March, 6.30pm – 7.30pm in Hender Hall
• International Women’s Day – donuts are available for pre-order via Flexischools
• Head of the River: Saturday 16 March.

Jewellery

Parents are asked for their support in ensuring that girls are adhering to our uniform policy. The policy, which can be found in the school diary on page 28, states:

• one pair of earrings in each ear lobe (no cartilage earrings) of either plain silver, gold or pearl studs no larger than 5mm in diameter or standard-size sleepers are permitted
• watches are permitted in an unobtrusive design
• no other visible jewellery is permitted.

Committee for Economic Development of Australia (CEDA)

Immersed in a rich tapestry of expertise and experience, four students from Wilderness were invited to participate in a Defence/Innovation Convention hosted by the Committee for Economic Development of Australia (CEDA). This event offered us the privilege of engaging with professionals representing diverse fields within the Australian Defence Force (ADF), providing us with a distinctive perspective and invaluable overview.

From insightful discussions on foreign affairs to enlightening talks by Heads of Departments and esteemed professors, each interaction with these distinguished guests left us both inspired and eager for further knowledge. Among the most rewarding aspects was the chance to forge connections with individuals who have dedicated their careers to supporting the Defence Force or undertaking crucial behind-the-scenes work.

The convention served as a pivotal platform for us to gain firsthand insights into the complexities of defence operations and the significance of cross-sector collaboration—one of them being education. It instilled a newfound sense of purpose and direction, encouraging continuous learning and igniting the desire to pursue careers where we can effect meaningful societal change.

Looking back, this convention stands as an invaluable experience that not only broadened our understanding, but also motivated us to strive for success in our future endeavours and contribute meaningfully to the betterment of society.

Ann Nguyen
Year 11