From the PDHPE classroom to history, science and beyond, teachers at Queenwood School are working to raise the bar in discipline-specific writing skills – and an instructional framework is paving the way.
The award-winning Smart Study program is now in its third year, and has been expanded to cater to the self-regulated learning needs of all senior school students from Year 7 to 12. In consultation with teachers and the students themselves, the Smart Study program has been adapted to meet students where they need support the most.
The internet was once a burgeoning phenomenon. It introduced us to the vast possibilities of instant communication, global connectivity and a new realm of learning resources. These innovations laid were both a promise and a potential problem for our children, and us as parents and educators.
Schools are not only centres for academic learning; they’re also the breeding ground for future leaders. For young women, schools hold the potential to shape leadership skills that will guide them throughout their lives. Queenwood is dedicated to fostering this potential, creating an environment where each student can discover her strengths, explore diverse leadership styles, and develop the skills that will empower her to make a difference.
Smartphone use is banned within the gates of the Junior School at Queenwood in Mosman. “I don’t think we’ve really had an issue. Girls have brought phones and put them in a box,” says Head of Junior School Anni Sandwell. “But it has meant, after school, we don’t know what they’re doing.” Last year, Sandwell decided to change that.
With the end of the 2024 school year just days away, I want to finish the year the way I began: by thanking you for being so welcoming. I have had many ‘first days’ at schools. Depending on the culture I’m walking into, they can be a little cool, and occasionally even confrontational. At Queenwood, I sensed only the warmth of welcome.
Daily, we juggle a lot—school, work, chores, and friends. It can be hard to find time for a cause or hobby. But often, making a positive impact is about making small, conscious choices in our lives, and it doesn’t have to take up much time or effort. As 2025 Sustainability Captain, my goal is to make sustainability a more accessible cause that everyone can be involved in.
As we approach the long summer holiday, we’re continually receiving reminders about the necessity for restrictions on digital devices to enhance the health and wellbeing of our children. Recently, I took the opportunity to canvass a cross-section of Year 1 – 6 girls about the summer holiday activities they were most looking forward to. The girls discussed beach trips, swimming, walks, family, friends, pets, art, reading, dancing, good food, celebrations, and travel. Not one girl said her preference over the summer break was to spend time on a digital device.
This time a century ago, excitement was no doubt building in the hearts and minds of our founders as they anticipated Queenwood’s opening. As 2024 draws ever nearer to a close, excitement around next year’s centenary celebrations is also building. Over the course of 2025, our community will enjoy many opportunities to celebrate our first 100 years.
Queenwood is embarking on an exciting new chapter with the acquisition of land at Oxford Falls, where we will build a state-of-the-art Sports Precinct. This bold move represents not only a significant investment in our facilities but also a forward-thinking commitment to preparing our students for the future.
In the life of every student should be defining moments of exuberance and achievement they remember for life. For the 75 students of Legally Blonde, last weekend’s performances delivered moments they’ll never forget. The musical was, in a word, a triumph. As a leader in 3 schools, I’ve enjoyed more than my fair share of musicals. Legally Blonde counts as one of the best I’ve seen.