Do you remember your first day of secondary school? Your nervousness and excitement? Fast forward six-years—you are now in Year 12, your secondary school days almost behind you, about to embark on your final exams with your future stretching out ahead of you. What would you like to say to your younger self to reassure her, it is all going to be OK? In this episode of Illumine: From the Students, Principal of Brisbane Girls Grammar School, Ms Jacinda Euler is joined by four Year 12 students, Maya...
Nov 04, 2022•17 min•Season 4Ep. 8
Of the many uni students that graduate in medicine each year, few dedicate their lives to working in remote and underserviced communities—committing time and resources to studying less well-known tropical illnesses and working to ensure that ‘community health’, really does include ‘working together’ with the peoples from that community. In this episode of Illumine—Grammar Women , Principal of Brisbane Girls Grammar School, Ms Jacinda Euler speaks with alumnae, Dr Wendy Page (1972), who has worke...
Oct 26, 2022•30 min•Season 1Ep. 5
Have you ever wondered what your child’s school support group does—is it fundraising and deciding what new equipment should be purchased for the school? Running the Uniform Shop? Or is it much, much more than that? At Girls Grammar parent support groups take many forms—the Parents and Friends (P&F) Association, Mothers Group, Fathers Group, various other co-curricular support groups. What these groups have in common is a willingness from the parent members to donate their time for the benefi...
Oct 20, 2022•27 min•Season 4Ep. 8
How many Australians have worked with some of the greatest classical musicians of our time? In fact, how many people can say that they were passionate and brave enough to pursue a successful, forty-plus-year career in classical music—performing and composing music all over the world in operas, chamber music, theatre and film projects? In this episode of Illumine—Grammar Women, Principal of Brisbane Girls Grammar School, Ms Jacinda Euler, hosts renowned oboist, composer, and music educator, Ms Ca...
Oct 12, 2022•40 min•Season 1Ep. 4
It is largely undisputed that spending time outdoors and in nature is physically and mentally beneficial. School camps are often designed to take these outdoor experiences one step further by inviting students to truly step outside their comfort zone, embrace the environment and explore parts of themselves that are not as easily accessible in our everyday lives. But getting out of our comfort zone and embracing the unfamiliar can also bring some anxiety and apprehension—for both students and the...
Oct 04, 2022•17 min•Season 4Ep. 7
How many of us have looked in the mirror and not liked what we see? The focus girls place on their appearance as a measure of self-worth can be an issue for many adolescents, and even younger children. Research confirms girls can develop dissatisfaction with their appearance at age five. So how do we foster in our girls and young women body appreciation rather than dissatisfaction, in a world that continues to espouse beauty ideals that are naturally unrealistic for the vast majority? In this ep...
Sep 14, 2022•19 min•Season 4Ep. 7
Why is it that many of the greatest visionaries and influential leaders remind us that success is not measured in monetary terms, but rather should be based on the contribution you make to society? That in putting the needs of others before your own, you will find a deeper, personal fulfilment than any pay cheque or Board position can give you? Welcome to another episode of Illumine from the Students . Host, Ms Jacinda Euler, Principal of Brisbane Girls Grammar School, is joined by the 2022 Serv...
Sep 01, 2022•19 min•Season 4Ep. 6
Onsite from 8 am until 5 pm with four weeks of annual leave, a 40 per cent increase for ‘highly accomplished’ or ‘lead’ teachers, ‘paid internships’ for career-changers, and $40 000 bursaries to encourage school leavers to enroll in teaching. These are all ideas currently being considered by policy makers to address the nationwide teacher shortage. But many of these are temporary incentives, designed to attract and retain teachers in the short-term, and fail to address the complex issues contrib...
Aug 19, 2022•49 min•Season 3Ep. 6
In Part 2 of their discussion, psychologist and New York Times best-selling author and columnist, Dr Lisa Damour, and Principal of Brisbane Girls Grammar School, Ms Jacinda Euler, explore how to navigate through negative online behaviours, discuss why adolescents can have such powerful emotions, and reminisce and reflect on how parenting teens, although hard at times, can be such a joyous and connected time for families.
Aug 11, 2022•24 min•Season 4Ep. 6
How many people have trekked the whole way across Australia—from Shark Bay in Western Australia to the most eastern tip of Byron Bay in New South Wales? And not only that, but to also bring along five camels as company for the five-thousand-kilometre-long journey that spanned two years? In this episode of Illumine—Grammar Women host and Principal of Brisbane Girls Grammar School, Ms Jacinda Euler, interviews alumnae and former Head Girl, Sophie Matterson (2006) about her amazing journey across A...
Jul 28, 2022•43 min•Season 1Ep. 3
Parenting adolescents can be a challenging time, and the difficult conversations that parents need to have today are markedly different from those of even ten years ago. Mobile phones, social media and a global pandemic may well have changed these conversations with our daughters, but they remain vitally important no matter how uncomfortable they might make us as parents. Host Ms Jacinda Euler, Principal of Brisbane Girls Grammar School, discusses how to navigate and approach a variety of comple...
Jul 19, 2022•29 min•Season 4Ep. 5
We hear the terms ‘self-care’ and ‘wellbeing’ often—even more so since the pandemic turned our lives upside down—yet what do these concepts mean, and how are they related to each other? Why has it never been more important for us to prioritise acts of ‘self-care’ in our daily lives, and in the lives of our children? In this episode of Illumine for Parents , host Jacinda Euler, Principal of Brisbane Girls Grammar School, discusses the importance of self-care and looking after your own wellbeing, ...
Jul 14, 2022•14 min•Season 4Ep. 4
Test scores and measures of achievement tell you where a student is at, but they don’t tell you where that student could end up. - Dr Dr Carol Dweck, Psychologist and Stanford Professor In a society that tends to measure success on results and scores, rather than on the development of characteristics that are often far more important to our students’ lives beyond school, what makes a ‘good teacher’? And perhaps equally as important, what characteristics do we think a ‘good student’ has? In this ...
Jul 12, 2022•29 min•Season 3Ep. 5
We all must write at times—whether for a school assessment as a student, a presentation for work, or a speech at a wedding. Yet, many claim that they don’t know how to write—they weren’t ‘blessed with this gift’, or they ‘aren’t creative enough’. But what if we treated the skill of writing like we do, learning to drive a car, for example? Understanding that it takes practice, getting out of our comfort zone, and risking failure in order to succeed? In this episode of Illumine , Principal of Bris...
Jun 16, 2022•32 min•Season 3Ep. 4
How many of us have seen an opening in the market, had an idea for a new product, or identified a sector that was struggling, and thought, I know what might help to solve this issue? Now think about how many of us have followed through on this idea—taken the plunge and pursued a dream, or passion—only for it to fail, or flourish? Welcome to the second episode of Illumine—Grammar Women, a podcast that highlights the fascinating stories and achievements of Brisbane Girls Grammar School alumnae. Ho...
Jun 08, 2022•20 min•Season 1Ep. 2
There is no escaping the increasing concern about the impacts of climate change on our planet and of course on our lives, and the many lives around us. Are we doing enough to address its impacts? Or do we feel paralysed by a sense of hopelessness and overwhelm at the sheer magnitude of the problem? In this episode of Illumine from the Students , host Ms Jacinda Euler, Principal of Brisbane Girls Grammar School, discusses World Environment Day and climate change more generally with Science Teache...
May 31, 2022•19 min•Season 4Ep. 5
It’s undisputed that sports and physical activity are essential to our health and wellbeing, and research also tells us that the personal benefits go beyond the physical—helping us to sleep better, focus, and develop important skills such as teamwork and collaboration. In this fourth episode of Illumine—From the Students , Principal of Brisbane Girls Grammar School, Ms Jacinda Euler, is joined by students and accomplished athletes, Emily and Zoe to discuss how they balance their sporting commitm...
May 25, 2022•19 min•Season 4Ep. 4
Welcome to the second-half of our two-part series featuring Professor Deborah Terry AO, Vice-Chancellor and President of The University of Queensland (UQ). Hosted by Principal of Brisbane Girls Grammar School, Ms Jacinda Euler, this half of their conversation delves into Professor Terry's career in research and tertiary education, and looks at memorable moments that helped to set her on this path. Also discussed, are the many challenges facing young people today, and how educational institutions...
May 17, 2022•17 min•Season 3Ep. 3
In a world where Google gives us boundless information and answers instantaneously, a world where remote learning has become a norm and corporate sponsored think tanks just keep popping up, do we still need educational institutions? Welcome to a special episode of Illumine featuring Professor Deborah Terry AO, Vice-Chancellor and President of The University of Queensland. Hosted by Principal of Brisbane Girls Grammar School, Ms Jacinda Euler, this two-part conversation explores the role that edu...
May 09, 2022•20 min•Season 3Ep. 2
When it comes to selecting which co-curricular activities your child will participate in, do they want to over-commit themselves to the point that you fear that their grades could be compromised? Or do you have the opposite issue, with your child uninterested in participating in activities outside of the academic curriculum? In this latest episode of Illumine for Parents , Principal of Brisbane Girls Grammar School, Ms Jacinda Euler, discusses how to navigate your child's participation in co-cur...
Mar 22, 2022•16 min•Season 4Ep. 3
In this latest Illumine for Parents , Principal of Brisbane Girls Grammar School, Ms Jacinda Euler, discusses the topic of 'stress' with Deputy Principal, Mrs Anne Ingram, and School Mindfulness Coordinator and Head of Visual Art, Mr Donald Pincott. In this episode they consider stress —one of those unavoidable aspects of life as a secondary school student, and indeed, life in general, and how parents can help by modeling how they deal with their own stressors....
Mar 02, 2022•13 min•Season 4Ep. 2
Welcome to Illumine—Grammar Women , a podcast series that highlights the interesting stories and achievements of Brisbane Girls Grammar School alumnae. In this first episode, Principal, Ms Jacinda Euler, interviews former students, turned Olympic Water Polo athletes, Gabriella Palm and Abby Andrews. In this candid conversation, they discuss what it was like to compete at an Olympic Games amidst a global pandemic, the challenges and great rewards they each found by forging a sporting career overs...
Feb 25, 2022•31 min•Season 1Ep. 1
Principal, Ms Jacinda Euler, talks to Ms Ruth Jans, Head of Mackay House, and Mrs Hazel Boltman, Head of Gibson House, about how parents can work with their child to rechannel their anxiety into opportunities for bravery and growth.
Feb 18, 2022•17 min•Season 4Ep. 1
We all benefit from a learning community where students are open and responsive to feedback on their work, and where teachers expect to receive student feedback too. In this episode, Principal of Brisbane Girls Grammar School, Ms Jacinda Euler and Head of Department—English Curriculum Development, David Rawson, discuss how we can use feedback as a non-threatening tool to begin the process of dismantling students’ fears around imperfection and work towards subject mastery....
Feb 11, 2022•27 min•Season 3Ep. 1
In this third episode of Illumine—From the Students , Principal of Brisbane Girls Grammar School, Ms Jacinda Euler, is joined by 2022 Head Girls, Isabel Stephens (12M) and Gigi Souyave-Murphy (12W), to discuss remote learning. The 2022 academic year will begin remotely for the first time. In this discussion, our Head Girls share the joys and challenges of remote learning, and offer advice for Year 7 students starting secondary school for the first time.
Jan 25, 2022•8 min•Season 4Ep. 3
In this second episode of Illumine—From the Students, Principal of Brisbane Girls Grammar School, Ms Jacinda Euler, sits down with Year 11 students, Juliette, Maya and Bronte, to discuss the wild and wonderful world of social media. In this candid conversation they discuss which social media platforms they are using the most, how they are using the different channels, and comment on strategies they use to regulate their device usage. The episode also explores what it's like for Maya, who does no...
Dec 02, 2021•20 min•Season 4Ep. 2
Brisbane Girls Grammar School is steeped in tradition. Traditions are central to our success as they are expressions—things, events, activities, beliefs—passed on from generation to generation. They form our culture and demonstrate who we are. In this episode, Principal, Ms Jacinda Euler, speaks with School History and Culture Manager, Mrs Pauline Harvey-Short OAM, about why traditions are important to understand and retain, and how engaging with traditions both old and new can help define and u...
Nov 11, 2021•26 min•Season 2Ep. 5
In this first episode of Illumine—From the Students, Principal of Brisbane Girls Grammar School, Ms Jacinda Euler, sits down with Year 11 students, Elise, Leia and Gigi, to find out how they prepare for exams, manage stress, and approach their studies with confidence.
Oct 21, 2021•9 min•Season 4Ep. 1
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...
Oct 14, 2021•20 min•Season 2Ep. 5
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 ?
Sep 10, 2021•10 min•Season 3Ep. 1
