The Junior School Music Ensembles Concert last week highlighted the musical development of girls in choirs and instrumental ensembles. The audience enjoyed performances by the Years 3 and 4 Choir, Years 5 and 6 Choir, Wind Ensemble, String Orchestra, Junior Band, Junior Chamber Strings, Year 6 Orchestra, Percussion Ensemble and Jazz Band.

There is a vast body of music education research that highlights the cognitive and social benefits of learning music.

In The Music Advantage (2020), Dr Anita Collins explores neurological research that shows how playing an instrument enhances language skills, social development, impulse regulation, emotional growth, working memory, and planning and strategic skills from early childhood through adolescence. Of course, music also builds cultural understanding, brings communities together and helps develop aesthetic appreciation. The number of Junior School girls engaging in ensembles and choirs is extraordinary, and we sincerely thank Ms Jodie Spooner-Ryan, Ms Melinda Bryant and all the Music staff for their work with our musicians this year.

Gratitude Week

The Prefects recently facilitated Gratitude Week activities to help the girls reflect on gratitude, including writing thank you messages to supportive people. Gratitude is a response to the goodness of God that can prompt us to share with others. With this in mind, we are collecting items to donate to Anglicare’s Toys-n-Tucker appeal from Monday 18 November until Friday 29 November. Boxes will be placed in each classroom for donations of food and unused gifts that Anglicare will distribute to share the joy of Christmas with those in need.