Last weekend I attended the Alliance of Girls’ Schools Conference in Melbourne. There was a range of interesting speakers and I returned with useful ideas for implementation.

One of the keynote speakers was Mark McCrindle, a psychologist whose topic was: Changing Generations, Emerging Trends: Engaging with today’s students.

Mr McCrindle pointed out four big shifts in our changing times:

1. We have an ageing population in Australia. In 1960 the population was 10 million and in 2007 the population is 20.7 million. There has been significant growth in the 60 years of age plus members of our population. In 1960 the number of births was was 261,000 and currently for this year there have been 254,000 births. The median age in 1960 was 29 years and the median age in 2007 is 37 years. Life expectancy in 1960 was 69 years and in 2007 it is 80 years. In 1977 the population of 15 to 19 year olds was 1.2 million and in 2020 it will be 1.3 million. In 1977 the population of 65 year olds was 0.4 million and in 2020 it will be 1.3 million. The population shifts and generational shifts are challenging.

2. Mark McCrindle pointed out the transitional generations:

Builders -  Currently these individuals have a median age of 65.42 years and make up 14% of the population.
Boomers - Currently these individuals have a median age of 43.4 years and make up 25% of the population.
Generation X -  Currently these individuals have a median age of 28.42 years and make up 21% of the population.
Generation Y -  Currently these individuals have a median age of 13.27 years and make up 19% of the population.
Generation Z -  Currently these individuals have a median age of under 13 years and make up 18% of the population.

Mr McCrindle commented that many Generation X parents will send their children to independent schools because they want to provide what they consider to be the best education for them. The same parents are also seeking structure within these independent schools.

Generation Y young people are well supported by their families and schools. They need to develop higher order thinking skills because they live with and use technology. These young people are skilled at using technology in order to communicate with their friends, but they may not be as skilled in face to face interactions. These young people are better educated but they are not prepared to rise up through the ranks in their chosen careers. These young people do not think as much about social and political issues.

3. Shifting perspectives - we are seeing the drifting of perspectives by the generations:

Perspectives of the past	Perspectives of the today
Tradition	Innovation
Empirical	Observable
Participation	Ownership
Hierarchy	Empowerment
Technical	Relational
Options	Outcomes
Regional	Global

Mr McCrindle noted that there will be a mix of ages in any workplace, therefore we need to blend the skills and qualities to be found in each generation. He commented that young people have less general knowledge than older people and would prefer to go to the computer to find the information when it is required. He said that young people need to understand existing knowledge and history in order to understand their place in the world.

4. Emerging Expectations:

Mr McCrindle made interesting observations about education for the Generation Y and Z children:

	C20th Boomers and Generation X	Generation Y and Z
WHO	Teacher	Facilitator
	Learned	Learner
HOW	Positional	Relational
	Factual	Practical
WHAT	Monologue	Multi-modal
	Long term needs	Short term needs
WHERE	Sit and Listen	Try and See
	Classroom style	Café style

Clearly in education, we need to change the style and process of learning. We do not want to change the content of what is learned but the process of how we teach and learn.

Mr McCrindle concluded by pointing out the three key drivers for young people.

Young people need to be part of a community where they feel they belong to something bigger than themselves.

Young people need to get involved and own their educational outcomes.

Young people need to gain meaning from their lives through making a contribution to their community and society.

As we move closer to the end of term a number of our students are giving less consideration to their uniform and general presentation. As I have stated in previous Newsletters, no member of staff should need to speak with students about their uniform or their presentation. Wearing the School uniform is part of attending CGGS and therefore, we should expect students to follow the guidelines which are clearly set out for them.

My expectation is that all students look neat and tidy in their uniform. This means that blazers are worn to and from school each day. Shirts should not be hanging out beneath jumpers and students should check that the hems of their skirts are in good order.

We have a current fad for wearing tights and white socks. The students have been asked to wear either the School navy tights or white socks.

Many students are wearing jewellery that is not acceptable under the guidelines. One pair of sleepers or studs, one in each year, is permissible and there should be no additional studs, bracelets or necklaces. A number of students are wearing more than one pair of earrings, or large diamond studs which are not permissible.

Wearing of make up is not necessary at School and neither is coloured nail polish.

For the most part the students wear their uniform well and when we undertake excursions and activities, the students wear their School uniform with pride. I would encourage all parents to speak with their daughters and to check that they leave home without additional items which are not part of the uniform.

Susan Just
Principal

This week marked the end of assessments for Semester 1 with examinations concluding at the beginning of the week and Checking Day on Wednesday. Reports for all Year levels are now being finalised and parents can expect to receive them by post early in the second week of the holidays. Semester 2 classes began today for all students except those in Year 7, who will not change language and creative arts classes until the start of Term 3. Senior students are reminded to make sure they have submitted their English choices for Semester 2.

During the week I had the pleasure of being involved in the launch of Australian Jobs 2007 at Parliament House. The publication, released on an annual basis by the Department of Employment and Workplace Relations, is an excellent resource not only for students planning subject selection and career paths but people entering or re-entering the job market.

Australian Jobs 2007 clearly defines the changing nature of the Australian labour market. In the last 20 years we have witnessed an increased participation of women in the workforce, a much greater focus on skilled jobs, an associated increase in educational participation of youth and an ageing work force population. As a strong advocate for girls’ education, I find the increasing participation of women in the work force very heartening particularly when a large number are able to balance work and family responsibilities. Statistically, it is interesting to note, that more women in the 15-24 age group now hold vocational or higher education qualifications than their male counterparts. In a labour market,where there is a greater reliance on skilled jobs, this trend may lead to a significant change in gender numbers in some occupations in the future.

Sound guidance and advice is essential for students as they move through school and eventually into the work force. While resources such as this are invaluable for schools in providing information and direction to teachers, students and parents, on a more strategic level, the sort of information detailed in this publication, allows educational strategists and planners to gain an insight into the curriculum refinements required to develop ‘employability skills’. The employability skills outlined in Australian Jobs 2007 provide a framework for curriculum planning. In the ACT, where the majority of course development occurs at a school level, at both the pre and post compulsory schooling level, the eight identified employability skills can be imbedded into the curriculum. The eight skills are defined as:

Fiona Godfrey with Senior students and the Hon Joe Hockey, Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations

Communication

• Team work
• Problem solving
• Initiative and planning
• Self-management
• Learning
• Technology

Whilst each of the skills listed here would at first glance appear to be rudimentary skills for job seekers, for many adolescents these skills need to be taught in a sequential manner over a number of years. Schools and tertiary institutions are able to reinforce these generic skills in the assessments they set and their pedagogical approach both inside and outside of the classroom.

So how will Australian Jobs 2007 be used at our school? All students currently in Year 10 will receive a copy of the publication and structured lessons using Australian Jobs 2007 along with a number of other government resources including Job Guide 2007, Getting a Job - Future Directions and websites including Job Juice, My Future and Australian Job Search. The use of these resources have and will continue to be taught to Year 10 students in CCCC (Civics, Citizenship, Careers and Community Service).

In addition to what is formally done in class, our Careers Advisor, Mrs Teresa Bubear, will use this document when counselling individual students or in meetings with students and their parents. While we always encourage our students to follow their passion, aptitude and interests when considering career choices, it is helpful to look at those areas where there is a strong demand for skills or where the prospects are good.

We have been contacted by ACTION about the feasibility of running a school bus service from the new suburb of Majura Rise. ACTION would like to hear from any parents whose children may be interested in using this service on 6207 7707. They need to know the number of students who are likely to use such a service and the name of the street in which they reside.

Congratulations to Kate Gilmore (8D) and Ros Quincey-O’Neill (10D) who have both been selected in the ACT 16 years and under Secondary Girls Hockey Team to play in Melbourne from 4 to 11 August. We wish them well.

	Good luck to Hannah Bragg who will be representing the ACT at the Australian Secondary Schools Orienteering Championships in Dubbo from 7 to 15 July.
	Congratulations to Sarah Dobbie (9W) on being selected to represent the ACT at the Australian National Cross Country Championships in Perth in August. Great work Sarah, we wish you well.

Fiona Godfrey
Deputy Principal/Head of Senior School

As the term draws to a close there is a sense of excitement building steadily. I expect by next week it will be nearly at fever pitch. All semester the Drama Club has been rehearsing for the annual musical, this year Alice - The Musical.

For the whole semester a team of dedicated staff has guided and supported the students as they have practised and practised, whilst at the same time learning their words and the songs. There are more than one hundred students from Years 5 and 6 in the cast so this has been a huge undertaking.

It is interesting over the last couple of weeks to observe the many indications that the process is moving to climax. Weekly rehearsals that have served so well for most of the year have more recently been supplemented with additional weekend practices. Rehearsals have moved from the Junior School Gym to CGGS Hall at the Senior School. I have also noticed many costumes, or parts of costumes, appearing in and around the School. Just this morning it was an elaborate hat that I was advised was for the Mad Hatter. There have been other weird and wonderful props as well. In the Staffroom I saw some flamingos – "For croquet!" I was told most emphatically by a colleague who is much more involved than I. In the Undercroft I noticed some peacock feathers. I am not sure where the peacock feathers fit in but all will be revealed next week.

In all parts of the School, intense small group discussions are occurring and it’s the topic on everyone’s mind. This production is certainly not to be missed and is recommended for all ages.

The performances of Alice -The Musical are on Wednesday 27 June and Thursday 28 June. The show starts at 7pm. Tickets can be pre-purchased at the Junior School: adults $10, students $5.00. Tickets will be available at the door each night.

Congratulations to Bronte Carlin (6H) who has been selected to represent the ACT at the School Sport Australia football (soccer) exchange to be held in Brisbane from 16 to 21 September.

Heather Ablett
Head of Junior School

• 25 Jun Blue Mountains Grammar School visit and concert, CGGS Hall, 6pm
• 26 Jun Around the World in 60 Minutes Modern Languages students’ performances, Drama Centre, 7pm
• 27 & 28 Jun Alice - The Musical, Junior School performance, CGGS Hall, 7pm
• 28 Jun Year 4 Convict Capers
• Visit by Annette Ellis, MP to Year 6 Students
• 29 Jun Red Nose Day - Junior School SIDS ‘Coin Line’ Fundraiser
• Junior School End of Term Chapel Service, Chapel of the Annunciation, 2pm
• End of Term 2
• 1 Jul ‘Life to the Full’ Family and Friends’ Chapel Service, Chapel of the Annunciation, 9am
• 23 Jul Start of Term 3
• 25-26 Jul ACT Prep Health Screening
  25-27 Jul ACT Snowsports, Perisher Blue

Tuesdays 8.15am to 2.00pm
Wednesdays 8.15am to 2.00pm
Thursdays 12noon to 5.30pm

Thursday 19 July 12noon to 4.00pm
Friday 20 July 10.00am to 4.00pm
Monday 23 July (Day 1, Term 3) 8.30am to 2.00pm

Normal hours resume from Tuesday 24 July