The Importance of Wellbeing
March 23, 2022
Fairholme’s new Wellness Coach Cassie Walton is helping our girls understand the importance of health and wellbeing at school and what it means to thrive.
Cassie Walton is the lady with the beautiful smile who radiates a sense of calm and warmth. She loves playing tennis, baking, andis known to enjoy a ‘chick flick’ or two.
Cassie is also our newest member of the Fairholme Wellness team.
‘It’s extremely important to have a wellness team in a school. Students are facing more and more challenges and complexities that contribute towellbeing issues and dilemmas,’ Cassie says.
A typical wellbeing session takes place in Cassie’s office, a warm and inviting space, located next door to our Head of Ministry, Cath Butler.
Cassie says issues discussed can range from anxiety around school exams, assignments, or relationship struggles.
‘A wellbeing session is guided by the girl’s need or desire. If a student is having friendship issues or wanting to gain some organisationskills or a safe place to talk about anything, I’m available to sit and listen.’
Growing up on a farm near Dalby and attending Boarding School herself, Cassie also understands the complexities our Boarderscan face when leaving home and starting at a new school.
Some tips that Cassie suggests include, ‘Talk to someone, whether it is a trusted friend, parent or teacher, or making a wellbeing appointment to see me. It is always good to talk to someone. ‘Keeping active, getting adequate sleep, drinking water, eatinghealthily, staying connected with others and doing things that one enjoys are some tips to support one’s day-to-day wellbeing.’
After working as an accounting administrator, Cassie changed paths, taking up roles as a School Chaplain at Jandowae State School and Dalby State High School, before deciding to study Social Work, a challenge she said she was ready for.
‘I wanted to learn, grow and gain some new skills. Social work promotes the empowerment of people and I enjoy journeying with people and encouraging them to draw on their skills, abilities, resources and solutions to solve problems. Social work is very person led and directed, which Ilove.’
In Cassie’s spare time she enjoys travelling and seeing new sights, albeit prior to COVID-19 restrictions of course, but her favourite countries to visit are Switzerland and Germany.
She also shares a love for tennis and says her favourite time of the year is the Australian Open - she even has Roger Federer’s autograph! Cassie is looking forward to meeting parents and getting to know the girls. ‘I’m thoroughly enjoying working with theteam here to support the girls’ wellbeing, helping them achieve their potential and to thrive.’
Students can book in to see Cassie for a wellbeing appointment through the link on the wellbeing page on myFairholme or by emailing [email protected]
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This year’s Queensland Debating Union (QDU) Toowoomba Secondary Schools Competition saw Fairholme teams deliver an outstanding season of debating, showcasing sharp thinking, quick wit, and true Fairholme spirit. ‘We have such a wonderful culture of debating at Fairholme, with a great number of students keen to participate every year. The growth I observe in our debaters is extraordinary, from their confidence in speaking, to their exceptional teamwork and critical reasoning when preparing arguments on a wide range of contemporary issues’, says our Debating Co-ordinator, Mrs Kim Scudamore. A special congratulations goes to our Year 7.4 team, who claimed the Grand Final victory against Toowoomba Grammar School. They successfully argued the affirmative on the topic: ‘That we should actively encourage the use of Artificial Intelligence in classrooms.’ Their ability to build persuasive cases and respond confidently to rebuttals was a testament to their hard work and teamwork throughout the season. Our Year 8, Year 10 and Senior teams also impressed, each reaching their respective Grand Finals and finishing as runners-up after tightly contested debates. Their efforts reflected not only strong debating skills but also resilience and camaraderie in high-pressure settings. In total, 16 Fairholme teams competed this season, with 12 teams making it through to the finals. Congratulations to every debater who took part in this year’s competition. The future of debating at Fairholme is certainly in good hands. Fairholme Grand Final Debaters: Team 7.4 - Sophie Cussons, Suzana Yusaf, Abigail Walker, Norah Joseph and Bella Cherry Team 8.2 - Tanishka Chaudhary, Annabelle King, Claire Fischer and Elaine Mutsando Team 10.1 - Sophie Haller, Richa Vimal, Brooke Johnson, Caitlin Schultheiss, Isabella Kentish and Georgia Nicholls Team 12.1 - Ayesha Saleh, Rori Zimmerman, Chanudi Dissanayake and Mabel Galbraith
Year 8 student Ella Phillips has returned holme after an unforgettable tour of the United States, where she proudly represented Australia in the Babe Ruth Softball World Series as part of the Aussie Drop Bears team. Ella’s journey began in Dallas, Texas, before heading to Hot Springs, Arkansas, where she participated in a high-level training camp with local college softball coaches. The team also competed in warm-up matches to prepare for the main event in Florence, Alabama. Competing in the Under 14 division, Ella and her Australian team made it all the way to the double elimination final, narrowly missing out on the championship title by just one run in a nail-biting 8 - 9 loss. Despite the result, their second-place finish is a highlight achievement for Ella. Ella’s individual performance was nothing short of outstanding. During the closing ceremony, she was named in the Under 14 All World Series Team and the Under 14 All Defensive Team, a testament to her talent and consistency on the field. She also ranked in the top 10 for both batting and fielding statistics across the entire tournament. Reflecting on her journey, Ella shared that her softball career began humbly at home in Taroom encouraged by her mum and PE teachers to trial for the South West state team. That experience sparked a passion for the sport and she now plays for Dodgers Softball Club in Toowoomba. ‘I’ve been really lucky with the support I’ve had,’ Ella said. ‘The stats don’t say everything, but they’re the best I’ve ever had. I’m really proud of how I played in America.’ Boarding since Year 7, Ella has ambitions to study veterinary science but also has her sights set on a softball career. With aspirations to play in the Brisbane 2032 Olympics, Ella is already planning her next steps, including a trip to Japan in 2026 to further develop her skills.
Preparing the next generation of athletes for success both on and off the field. Fairholme is proud to be part of an exciting new partnership with the University of Southern Queensland (UniSQ), through their 2032 Brisbane Olympics Student-Athlete Empowerment Project. This forward-thinking initiative aims to educate and support student athletes across all areas of sport, health, and performance. As part of this project, our High Performance Sport athletes and Sport Physiology students are taking part in ‘Girls 2 Win’, a specialised program dedicated to the education and empowerment of young female athletes. Led by UniSQ experts in female health and performance, Girls 2 Win focuses on the unique aspects of female physiology and how these can influence wellbeing and sporting success. Students are gaining vital knowledge about the menstrual cycle, hormonal contraception and the ways in which physiology can impact athletic performance. Fairholme’s Head of High Performance, Miss Casey Reynoldson, said the benefits of the program reach far beyond the sporting field. ‘By equipping our Middle and Senior School athletes with tailored strategies and practical tools, the program ensures they are empowered to make informed choices - supporting their health, confidence, and performance in every arena.’ With the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games on the horizon, initiatives like Girls 2 Win play a key role in shaping and inspiring athletes of tomorrow. In addition, our Sport Physiology students are also involved in the UniSQ’s ‘Mind 2 Win’ program. This program explores the crucial role of the mind in health, wellbeing and performance. Through interactive workshops and practical exercises, students are developing key psychological skills such as focus, resilience, self-awareness, and mindset strategies. These tools will help them manage stress, build confidence and perform under pressure, while also supporting their mental health and long-term success. ‘At Fairholme, we are delighted to provide our students with access to world-class education and research in partnership with UniSQ - helping our young athletes take bold steps towards their sporting goals, and perhaps even towards the Olympic stage in 2032.’
