At assembly last week, the Clare School House Leaders were announced. I was very pleased to see so many Year 10 girls put themselves forward and nominate for a position. Each of these girls showed her individual effort to raise the bar. Congratulations to the following girls for being selected.

Belle Prairie	Erin King
Greccio	Sophie Mitchell
Perugia	Teliah Allen
Rieti	Molly Browne
Spoleto	Molly O'Brien
Villa Spada	Charli Ryan

I look forward to the dedication and initiative of these girls throughout the year. Thank you to parents who came to support their daughters and present them with their badges.

Camp is a perfect opportunity for students to swap the classroom and daily routine with the outdoors. You would have received another email recently with important information of the Year 10 Camp, held Monday 3 to Wednesday 5 June at Marantha Camp, Yandina. This camp exemplifies our theme for this year, Thinking Beyond Yourself, where girls discover that, in order to support others, a certain degree of personal sacrifice must be made. Over the three days, girls will be challenged to participate in activities outside their comfort zones, foster relationships, and work collaboratively with students outside their friendship group, while building resilience and tolerance. These activities address the General Capabilities in the Australian Curriculum: Personal and Social Competence, Intercultural Understanding, Sustainability, and Critical & Creative Thinking. On that note, thank you to those families who have already submitted their daughter's permission/medical/dietary form. There are still outstanding forms that need to be submitted to Student Services. Can I please ask that this is completed this week, to enable the administration procedures to be completed.

During Personal Development lessons over the next few weeks, Year 10 students will receive information from a variety of relevant guest speakers to assist them to develop their SET (Senior Education and Training) Plans. This information will assist you and your daughter to make the correct decision for choosing senior subjects and future career. With all this in mind, this is a perfect time for girls to reflect on their personal goals and make any necessary changes to their individual study plans and extra-curricular or work commitments, to focus on their studies.

Nothing is impossible, even the word itself says, I’m possible.

Audrey Hepburn

Happy Mother’s Day to all the mothers and female role models in our community. Please enjoy a few reflections written by Clare School leaders.

Teena Christofis

On 12 May, in a lot of places around the world, people celebrated Mother’s Day. Mother’s Day is a day to celebrate and thank our mothers or a special woman in our life for all their achievements and efforts. All around the world there are many different traditions.

In Brazil it is considered the second most commercial holiday after Christmas and, in Serbia, mothers are tied up until they give their children small treats or gifts. Just like the rope that ties the mothers in Serbia, there is an invisible rope that ties my mum and me together. We have a strong bond, and it is a bond that I cannot replicate with anyone else. My mum inspires me every day to be the best I can be and always gives me the best advice. She is one of my most influential role models. Even if we do argue sometimes, it just helps us get closer and helps us know each other better. Ever since I was little she’s always been there to help me through life’s most difficult challenges, to lend a shoulder to cry on, and to celebrate my successes. The importance of Mother’s Day is to cherish, remember and, most of all, thank your mothers for all the things they have done for you.

Sneha Reju

For me, my mum has always been a really huge inspiration and a large reason I try to do my best in everything I do. Her constant enthusiasm to attempt new things (such as crocheting blankets for my entire family) and her drive to always achieve the most in even the simplest activities makes her one of the main role models I have in my life today. I cannot thank my mum enough for constantly making such amazing memories with me; whether it be travelling or going to a Taylor Swift concert nothing with Kellie O’Brien is ever boring. Words cannot express how eternally grateful I am to have my mum in my life.

Molly O’Brien

My family and I organised an afternoon tea on Mother’s Day so we could be together as a family for Mum. Mother’s Day is a special day to celebrate all of the women who have a major influence on all of us, especially the mothers who have sacrificed so much for us. This day is an important day for me, as my mum is like my best friend, and I love her so much. I believe that sometimes we forget how much our mothers mean to us, and how much they do for us. I am so grateful to have her in my life, and I honestly couldn’t ask for a better person to dance around and blast my favourite music with. She has helped me my whole life, and I can’t even imagine what I would do without her. That is why, whenever it is Mother’s Day or her birthday, I try my best to let her know that I appreciate what she does for me, and that she could not be a better, or a more incredibly beautiful, mum. Love you, Mum, Erin x

* * * * *

Last Sunday, 12 May, was Mother’s Day. Mother’s Day is defined as a day of the year on which mothers are particularly honoured by their children; however, it means so much more than that. To me personally, it is a day of the year where people can gather together to celebrate not just their mothers but all women who have influenced them.

This year, I celebrated with my family by gathering for a dinner to celebrate three generations of mothers, all of whom have made a difference in my life. For me, my mum has made the biggest difference in my life as she is my personal role model and is who I strive to be.

Mother’s Day is a way to thank the female role models in our lives for everything they have done for us and everything they will do in the future. Mother’s Day shouldn’t be an annual occurrence; it should happen every day. Every day, the women in our lives need to be acknowledged and know that other people look up to them and know the tremendous impact they have on us and our future.

Samantha Maguire

Read Like a Girl

Read Like a Girl with Your Dad