Illumine

If the global pandemic has taught us anything, it’s that young people in this world are a lot more adaptable than we give them credit for. Our students want to learn. However when forced to learn from home for weeks or months at a time,  vulnerability can surface in many ways—the most common of which is disengagement. 

Rather than responding with frustration, this is where teachers need to be understanding and  incorporate a wider range of learning techniques.

In this episode, Principal, Ms Jacinda Euler, speaks to passionate Technologies Teacher, Ms Nisha Swanston, about the challenges of remote teaching, and resisting the ‘chalk and talk’ which can often take over Zoom lessons.

Principal, Ms Jacinda Euler, talks to Director of Student Counselling, Mrs Jody Forbes, about they psychology of adolescent girls: how can we as parents work with our child’s teachers and school to make sure that together, our daughters can navigate the ups and downs of the teenage years with all of the developmental, social and emotional challenges they bring ?

Women have been, and are continuing to be, left behind in financial wellbeing. 

More than 40 per cent of women find money decisions overwhelming and stressful,  and a recent survey experiment undertaken by the Global Financial Literacy Excellence Centre found that about one third of the financial literacy gender gap can be attributed to women’s lower confidence levels.

In this episode, Principal, Ms Jacinda Euler, sits down with Chief Financial Officer and BGGS alumna, Ms Rachel Fraser, to discuss a topic close to her heart: how we can empower girls and young women to find a sense of confidence, and even excitement, in becoming financially independent. 

The past months have revealed that more work needs to be done in homes, schools and communities to educate and empower young people regarding sexual consent. Chanel Contos’ sexual assault petition highlighted that abuse happens within school years, and many young people are confused about consent and their rights and responsibilities.

Principal, Ms Jacinda Euler, believes this issue requires ongoing, transparent discussion and that students should contribute to school-based solutions, and broader conversations. 

In this episode, Ms Euler sat down with six Year 12 students to discuss sexual consent, and respectful behaviour more generally.

‘Thousands of tired, nerve shaken, over-civilised people are beginning to find out that going to the mountains is going home.’ (Muir, 1901)

We live in a world that has become increasingly complex and fast paced. Our modern-day society has embraced an unrelenting momentum that energises us and drives us. It can also challenge us, and if this challenge becomes too great it can interfere with our wellbeing.

In this episode, Principal, Ms Jacinda Euler, speaks to Deputy Principal, Mrs Anne Ingram, about the restorative power of nature and its pivotal place in secondary school education. 

The United Nations theme for International Women’s Day in 2021 is Women in leadership: Achieving an equal future in a COVID-19 world.

In the latest episode, Principal of Brisbane Girls Grammar School, Ms Jacinda Euler, speaks with Ms Julie McKay (BGGS 2000), Chair of the Board of Trustees and Chief Diversity, Inclusion and Wellbeing Officer at pwc, about the pivotal role schools play in encouraging and developing women leaders.

Brisbane Girls Grammar School opened its seven-storey Science Learning Centre in October 2020. In this episode, Principal, Ms Jacinda Euler, speaks to the building's architect, Michael Banney, about designing spaces that surprise, delight, and facilitate deep learning. 

Many teachers grew up believing that world history followed an upward trajectory—toward a more free, liberal and democratic future. However, our secondary school students live in a world that is not neatly defined by power blocks, and in which democracy—once a beacon of hope—has failed in 25 countries since the turn of the century. 

In this episode our host and Principal of Brisbane Girls Grammar School, Ms Jacinda Euler, interviews Ms Alison Dare, Director of Humanities, about how students are learning about democracy, history and increasingly complex world events. 

No one is sure who first supposed ‘talking about music is like dancing about architecture’. How can Creative Arts teachers effectively teach students to respond to arts stimuli? 

In this episode, our host and Principal of Brisbane Girls Grammar School, Ms Jacinda Euler, interviews Director of Creative Arts, Mr Andrew Pennay, about the challenges and joys of teaching students to be arts-literate audiences. 

‘Why?’ Although it may not be the first question that a young child asks, any parent can attest to the fact that it soon becomes one of the most frequent. How can educators harness students' innate curiosity to develop their scientific literacy skills?

In this episode our host and Principal of Brisbane Girls Grammar School, Ms Jacinda Euler, interviews Head of Science Curriculum Development, Ms Gerri Bernard, about how she introduces and encourages the critical skills of forming hypotheses, analysing credible evidence and justifying conclusions. 

The conversation covers:

• How do you nurture students' curiosity?
• Can Science teachers empower students to make good decisions?
• Why do you love Astronomy, and how is it taught?
• What inspired you to teach science?

Read Ms Gerri Bernard's article about building on curiosity to encourage deep scientific knowledge.