Beginning The First Quarter

February 22, 2022
Eliza Mack

“Give me six hours to chop down a tree and I will spend the first four sharpening the axe.”  Abraham Lincoln 

The first quarter at Fairholme has begun – Term One, special, unique and entirely different from any term that has come before. We began with remote learning and a hybrid model of staff professional learning prior to that. It’s interesting the way that we begin, isn’t it? Meticulously planned or chaotically random – we all sit somewhere on that continuum. Some of us thirst for order whilst others thrive on the newness of things. Yet, it’s hard to imagine any accomplished musician or athlete entering their performance arena without the gift of an eternity of practice and a clear game plan. Their metaphoric first quarter would follow a path of intention and be bolstered by a commitment to perform at their best. Is that how we begin our school year, our first quarter – with intention and commitment to do our best?


Listening to Australia’s winter Olympic gold medalist Jakara Anthony speak, was a reminder of the value of preparation and the possession of a clear game plan. When asked what seemed a fatuous question, ‘When you finished fourth at the Olympics in Pyeongchang, did you start talking about what you needed to do differently to reach a podium finish?’ It was unsurprising that she answered, ‘Of course.’ But she also said that she was happy with that fourth, not tortured in the way we might predict. She said something to the effect of, ‘that was my personal best at the time, and I skied at my best at that time. I have no disappointment whatsoever that I came fourth there, I couldn't have asked any more of myself at the time.’


There’s something refreshingly ‘Ash Bartyesque’ in her ability to enjoy the moment, to step away from public opinion and audience scrutiny, and revel in the moment, to fully immerse in the sport she loves. Impressively, this is how she described the thirty seconds that led to her gold medal finish. ‘In that 30 seconds [of that run], I couldn't hear the crowd. I felt no pressure, I wasn't thinking about the competition. I was just in the moment loving mogul skiing just like I did as a kid. Some people call that the flow. I am in search of that every day.’ What a gift: in an Olympic final there was the absence of pressure and the invisibility of spectators. Imagine if students could step into an exam room seeking flow, enjoying the moment and without the feeling of pressure. Imagine.


And imagine if students learned for the joy of learning. Jakara says that ‘winning’ her first Olympic competition was not about a medal, or a podium finish, and that ‘medals are great, but they aren’t what drive me.’ Yet she is driven. She is driven in the pursuit of excellence. She is driven to practice, prepare, and then practice some more in the quest for ‘flow’, the ability to be in the moment with her sport. Jakara had been preparing for this golden moment for almost her whole life, from the time she donned her first skis at the age of four. If we knew more of her story we would invariably know about hard, hard work, setbacks, disappointments and a steely determination to perfect the ‘imperfectable’. Nothing worthwhile ever happens without effort.


I wonder what thoughts were in her mind when she stood at the top of the snowy mogul run and readied herself to begin. Perhaps her head was clear, unfettered by pressure and full of the view in front of her … perhaps. That’s because she had begun planning and preparation long before that moment. Her ‘axe was sharpened’ and she was ready to attack the slopes. Could we say the same about the way in which we have begun our first quarter at Fairholme in 2022? I have done some reading on first quarters (of course) – research has found that those that win the first quarter are more likely to be the winner at the final whistle. It seems a self-evident truth, doesn’t it?


Beginning matters, but the preparation that occurs before we begin, matters even more. Can we say that we are as prepared as we can be to achieve our goals for the term? The essence of an effective first quarter will see these elements:

  • Showing up, and showing up on time, prepared
  • Goals set and goals shared with those we trust. 
  • The establishment of small victories or milestones along the way – 
  • A commitment to do the small things well. 


Let us view each term, each quarter as important. No athlete wins an important race without success in each quarter of that race. And, I suspect, that our most successful students - on any measure, are prepared, intentional, committed and self-aware enough to set milestones along the way. Let us begin, with axe sharpened for all that lies ahead.




Kind regards,


Dr Linda Evans | Principal



References

Hytner, M. (2022). Gold medal puts Jakara Anthony in exclusive Australian club after realising childhood Olympic dream ›  The Guardian. 7 February 2022.


McGarry, A & Smale, S. (2022). Jakara Anthony wins Australia's first gold at Beijing Winter Olympics with women's moguls victory › ABC News. 6 February. 2022



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How long have you been involved in The Arts at Fairholme? Since I began here in Year 7, but before then I started playing piano and violin in Year 5. I have participated in a number of ensembles within the school and greatly enjoyed each of these. What does being the Prefect for The Arts mean to you? Personally, I think that being the Prefect for The Arts is primarily a role in which I can help to support other girls. I’m a designated person that girls can come to if they have any questions or concerns with anything regarding extracurricular artistic involvement, and I do a little to help with running some of the artistic aspects around the school, such as finding girls to volunteer for busking at events. But mostly, I think it is about being a positive promoter for the arts, and encouraging other girls to expand their world view to include creativity. Which art form do you enjoy most (e.g. music, drama, visual art, dance etc)? My main art form that I participate in is instrumental music, through my involvement in a few ensembles within the school on violin and piano. However, other art forms, like dancing during March Pasts or singing Shine Jesus Shine are pretty fun too. Do you have a most memorable Arts experience? I think that one of the most memorable Arts experiences that I have had has been at events where I have accompanied my grade, like when all the Year 11’s last year sung at the Valedictorian dinner and I played piano along with other instrumentalists in my grade, Tilly Anderson and Emma Salter. However, I think the most enjoyable Arts experience that I have had is playing Jingle Bell Rock at the boarding Christmas dinner last year, when the rest of my cohort stood around the piano singing. I felt that this was one of those excellent examples of how music can bring people together. What advice would you give to students who might be nervous about joining an arts activity? I would say that it is always worth giving something new a go. You’re much more likely to regret the chances you never took than the ones you do. I’m a strong believer that being involved in any form of extra-curricular activity is so beneficial for everyone; it expands your world view, you meet new people, and get outside your comfort zone. Each individual has something they are good at, and how are you going to find out what that is if you don’t try? Do you hope to continue with The Arts after school? Definitely. It has become such a big part of my life, and I honestly get so much enjoyment out of it. The great thing about the arts is that they are things that you can do at any time of your life. You’re never too old, that’s a skill you have for life. Other people can also get so much enjoyment out of the artistic abilities of others. Who doesn’t love to have someone who can sit around the camp-fire and play guitar, or create a beautiful piece of artwork?
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What inspired you to apply for the Prefect for Sport position? I was inspired to go for this position as I have seen the passion that Fairholme as a community has for sport, and the true love and respect the staff have for athletes at the college. I wanted to work closely with the girls and staff to help progressing sport at Fairholme. Do you have a favourite sport? My favourite sport is touch football. It has given me so very much and I am forever grateful. What has been your proudest sporting moment so far? My proudest sporting moment so far was being fortunate enough to represent my country in the sport I love most. Who has been your biggest influence or role model in sport? My biggest role model in sport has to my parents. They never fail to push me towards things that might seem out of my comfort zone or scary. They constantly support me through everything and influence me to be the best version of myself on and off the field. What are you hoping to achieve this year as Prefect for Sport? I aim to inspire everyone to just have a go. By the end of my final year at Fairholme I hope I can inspire people to just get o ut of their comfort zones and try something new. What advice would you give your Year 7 self? I would tell my Year 7 self that in the big picture no one is going to judge you for trying your hardest and giving things ago! And not to put too much pressure on yourself! Do you hope to pursue sport after school? I wish to continue to play sport at a high level after school. whether that is through touch or rugby. Sport is a very important part of my life that will hopefully continue well after I leave school.

Meet 2026 Prefect for The Arts: Claire Murphy

March 4, 2026
How long have you been involved in The Arts at Fairholme? Since I began here in Year 7, but before then I started playing piano and violin in Year 5. I have participated in a number of ensembles within the school and greatly enjoyed each of these. What does being the Prefect for The Arts mean to you? Personally, I think that being the Prefect for The Arts is primarily a role in which I can help to support other girls. I’m a designated person that girls can come to if they have any questions or concerns with anything regarding extracurricular artistic involvement, and I do a little to help with running some of the artistic aspects around the school, such as finding girls to volunteer for busking at events. But mostly, I think it is about being a positive promoter for the arts, and encouraging other girls to expand their world view to include creativity. Which art form do you enjoy most (e.g. music, drama, visual art, dance etc)? My main art form that I participate in is instrumental music, through my involvement in a few ensembles within the school on violin and piano. However, other art forms, like dancing during March Pasts or singing Shine Jesus Shine are pretty fun too. Do you have a most memorable Arts experience? I think that one of the most memorable Arts experiences that I have had has been at events where I have accompanied my grade, like when all the Year 11’s last year sung at the Valedictorian dinner and I played piano along with other instrumentalists in my grade, Tilly Anderson and Emma Salter. However, I think the most enjoyable Arts experience that I have had is playing Jingle Bell Rock at the boarding Christmas dinner last year, when the rest of my cohort stood around the piano singing. I felt that this was one of those excellent examples of how music can bring people together. What advice would you give to students who might be nervous about joining an arts activity? I would say that it is always worth giving something new a go. You’re much more likely to regret the chances you never took than the ones you do. I’m a strong believer that being involved in any form of extra-curricular activity is so beneficial for everyone; it expands your world view, you meet new people, and get outside your comfort zone. Each individual has something they are good at, and how are you going to find out what that is if you don’t try? Do you hope to continue with The Arts after school? Definitely. It has become such a big part of my life, and I honestly get so much enjoyment out of it. The great thing about the arts is that they are things that you can do at any time of your life. You’re never too old, that’s a skill you have for life. Other people can also get so much enjoyment out of the artistic abilities of others. Who doesn’t love to have someone who can sit around the camp-fire and play guitar, or create a beautiful piece of artwork?
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