Illumine

It's no secret that true crime podcasts are hugely popular, but why do we find historical murders so interesting? 

In this episode of Illumine—Grammar Women, host and Principal of Brisbane Girls Grammar School, Ms Jacinda Euler Welsh, interviews two alumnae of the School: Rosalind Crone (1998) and Anna Whip (2016). Both graduates share a love and keen interest in the study of history, having each forged unique career paths following their time at Brisbane Girls Grammar School. Reflecting on these experiences, Professor Crone and Anna share some of their fascinating discoveries and offer advice for budding historians.

Choosing subjects for Years 11 and 12 can be a challenge for many students, as they balance subjects they are passionate about with the need to fill prerequisites for certain tertiary degrees.

 Although at BGGS we value the Creative Arts as part of our broad, liberal approach to education, sometimes external pressures, misconceptions, and worries about scaling can lead students to hesitate before committing to studying Art, Music or Drama in the senior years.

In this episode of Illumine: from the students, Ms Jacinda Euler Welsh speaks to Music student, Jacqueline Trappett (12O), Drama student, Chloe Martin (12W), and Visual Art student, Melissa Bucknill (12W), about why they adore their studies in the Creative Arts, and what benefits it brings them.

What makes an excellent teacher? According to acclaimed educational researcher, Professor Dylan Wiliam, it’s about regularly checking for student understanding.

Professor Wiliam is passionate about the practice of formative assessment—the assessment that many people say ‘doesn’t count’. Over the course of many decades of research, Professor Wiliam has established that there is nothing teachers can do that has a greater impact on student achievement than by making teaching more responsive to students’ needs through consistent, formative feedback. This is a particular focus in Year 7 at Girls Grammar, with students undertaking a ‘Philosophy of Teaching’ course that sets a foundation for students to embrace academic challenges and benefit from struggles they may encounter. 

Professor Wiliam sat down with Principal, Ms Jacinda Euler Welsh, to discuss how teachers can prioritise formative feedback.

Have you ever wanted to be an astronaut? 

Here at Girls Grammar, one of our most popular and longest-running international programs is Space Camp, where students get the chance to take one step closer to that dream.

In this episode, Principal, Ms Jacinda Euler, speaks with three students who recently returned from Space Camp—about what they encountered, learned, and hope to achieve in aerospace and aeronautics.  

In early 2023, social media furore erupted after publisher, Puffin, employed sensitivity editors to rewrite parts of Roald Dahl's books deemed offensive.

Throughout history,  artists, authors and musicians have been censored by various authority figures, but in recent decades, activists and social media campaigns have called for pieces to be edited, 'cancelled', or removed from exhibitions.

How do we decide when—or if—it is appropriate to change or remove a published work? 

To discuss this complicated issue, Principal, Ms Jacinda Euler, is joined by Deputy Principal (Academic), Dr Bruce Addison, Director of English, Ms Jo Genders, and Visual Arts teacher, Ms Kirsten Eadie.

In recognition of NAIDOC Week 2023, Illumine shares Part 2 of Principal, Ms Jacinda Euler Welsh, in discussion with Professor Adam Shoemaker, Vice Chancellor of Victoria University.

Much of Professor Shoemaker’s past three decades has been spent listening to, recording and sharing the work of Indigenous Australians. As one of Australia’s foremost researchers in Indigenous literature and culture, Professor Shoemaker has written nine books on the subject.

In this conversation, Professor Shoemaker shares some of the lessons he has learned through hearing the stories, wisdom and history of First Nations People. Year 12 students and members of the School’s Uralla Club—Liza, Tung-Hi and Katie—also share their thoughts about being involved in the development of the School’s Reconciliation Action Plan.

In the critical developmental years of secondary school, students need safe spaces to explore and debate the important issues affecting their lives, identity, and understanding of the world. In this episode, Principal, Ms Jacinda Euler Welsh, sat down with three senior students—Sophie, Yasmin and Sophie—who have all participated in one such forum at Brisbane Girls Grammar School: the Educate and Empower group.

Listen to the students' conversation about the group's coverage of topics such as religion, identity, and how the School can encourage diverse student voices.

With so many exceptional tertiary options available in Australia, it’s no wonder the idea of international study may not always be top of mind. However, the benefits of studying overseas—for your whole degree or only for a semester or two—are endless.

To explore why overseas tertiary study can be so enriching, Principal, Ms Jacinda Euler Welsh, spoke to Director of Tertiary Pathways, Ms Louise Walls, and Head of Ancient History, Dr Rashna Taraporewalla, as well as current Year 12 student, Lily Blanshard (12R), who received a unique opportunity with IE University in Madrid, Spain.

Year after year, research shows that young Australians rate body image as an important concern. So, how do our students feel about their bodies, and what are they doing to promote body acceptance?

In this episode of Illumine from the Students, Principal, Ms Jacinda Euler Welsh, speaks to two Year 12 students, Emma and Liza, who have presented to the School's Educate and Empower student club on the topic of body image.

‘In this country we have the oldest continuing civilisation in the world, and that’s something really unique that I think we should celebrate… that’s the one thing that is truly Australian.’ —Ms Sophie Mynott, BGGS Deputy Principal (Co-curriculum).

In this episode of Illumine: For Parents, we discuss the School’s Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP), which will be launched next week during National Reconciliation Week. 

Ms Sophie Mynott has a passion for engaging with indigenous people and communities, as well as previous experience in developing RAPs.

Listen to Sophie in conversation with our Host and Principal of Brisbane Girls Grammar School, Ms Jacinda Euler Welsh, as they discuss opportunities for action, learning and developing relationships with First Nations people, which characterise the School’s RAP.