GIB GATE • FRENSHAM • STURT
TERM 1 NO 1 - 7 FEBRUARY 2008

In welcoming new families and new students to Gib Gate, Frensham and Sturt for 2008, we also noted the sense of newness that is experienced by returning members of the School community, given so much has changed to the physical environment of the School in preparation for the start of term.  In a series of photographs in this Newsletter we have tried to capture some of the progress but we urge parents to request a tour by their children when they are next on campus or, for visitors to Frensham, as part of our 1 March Open Day programme. (For a view in colour we remind all that the fortnightly Newsletters are published on the School’s website on the Wednesday of Newsletter week and then moved to the Archived copies on the same site: http://www.frensham.nsw.edu.au/newsletter.htm or via Newsletter in Current Happenings or via Newsletter on the Gib Gate home page.)

Professional Learning
Prepared by the Coordinator of Teaching and Learning Mrs Bronwyn Tregenza, a full six-day programme of meetings, discussion groups, workshops and briefings was attended by various groups of the WWS staff in the last week of January.  Additionally, earlier in the vacation at both Gib Gate and Frensham, a full review of the Studies and Curriculum Policies was completed by a senior staff team, in preparation for the new school year.

For part of the programme we revisited priorities for attention, in the education of a global citizen:

1. Education for a student who values academic rigour and
2. Education for a student who models human compassion and cultural sensitivity.
3. Education for a student who models emotional and intellectual maturity and is inspired to make a positive contribution to the world.

• Students who value academic rigour are willing to engage in critical examination and not only examine ideas which challenge their own but enjoy the complexity of that process.
• Students who model human compassion and cultural sensitivity seek to create threads of affiliation and see themselves as bound to all other human beings by ties of recognition and concern.
• And - we believe that it is not enough for students to know what to do - we need to challenge and nurture students to act. 

For staff this means we continue to:

• educate for the realisation of maximum human potential, not vocation
• nurture the courage to stand up and speak out and take action
• nurture the spirit of endurance and foster tenacity and the spirit of service above lack of commitment
• celebrate simplicity and beauty and nurture imagination
• operate as a team of dedicated, energetic, experienced staff, who reflect seriously on teaching practice and generate a highly professional sharing of expertise and knowledge.

Career and Studies news – former students

• An AO (Medal of the Order of Australia) was awarded to Petrina Balmain (Old Girl Petrina Gordon who attended Frensham from 1966 to 1970) as part of the Australia Day Awards on 26 January 2008.  The Citation:  For service to the community as a foster carer with Barnardos Australia;
• Selena Bateman (2007) received the Australian National University (ANU) Region Scholarship.

Acknowledgement to:

• The entire staff team at Sturt for the 2008 Summer School held early in January and to Tom Harrington, Director of the Sturt School for Wood, with Head of Sturt Megan Patey, for the establishment of three new short courses in Wood, additional to the 12-month Certificate IV Course;
• Duke of Edinburgh’s Award recipients – Bronze: Emma Bowman, Tess Brennan, Rosemary Fairfield-Smith, Nicola Forrest, Beatriz Grattan-Smith, Lucy Hawker, Harriet Hooke, Arabella Kilmartin, Rosie Latimer, Sarah Loewy, Grace Musgrove, Jaleesa Newell, Zoë Philip, Sally Stafford and Silver: Harriet King, Victoria Macarthur-Stanham, Gemma Moran-Gibson and Grace Nelson;
• Sarah Hayes, Olivia Pirie-Griffiths and Edwina Meyer who attended the Latin Summer School at the University of Sydney from 14-18 January, with 240 people of all ages.  The programme is organised by the Classical Association of NSW;
• Emma Campbell, Year 11, nominated for the 2008 Award of Young Citizen of the Year and successful in being named Camden’s Young Citizen of the Year: ‘for commitment to a variety of charities, community and environmental projects, for contribution to fund raising for drought relief, through Woolworth’s National Day of Action as a junior member of the CWA’;
• Antonia Cadell and Jordan Ashby, Year 10, who attended University Science Week programmes over the recent vacation and Stephanie Wright, Year 12, who attended the January Science Forum run by the University of Western Sydney;
• Student Shadows and Prefects for their efforts in the welcome of new students and their families at Orientation.

Vacation Works / New Resources - Summary
Gib Gate:

• New vehicle entrance for pick-up and drop-off almost complete, with pavilion yet to be constructed
• Painting and carpeting of classrooms and the Library
• Maintenance to the outdoor games facilities mostly completed
• Installation of new information technology resources in all classrooms and in the Library

Frensham:

• 2008 ‘temporary Esther Tuckey Library’ ready for full usage, on the top floor of the West Wing, with all technology and book resources in place plus an adjacent senior studies seminar and study room
• Bathroom upgrades for Linden House
• Installation of computers and central projection facilities for Mathematics: Rooms 12, 13, 14
• Expansion of the Art Theory room and installation of an interactive whiteboard
• Hanging in School Hall of the first items that form the ‘Permanent Collection’ of student works
• Installation of interactive whiteboards for HSIE in Rooms 1, 2, 3

Sturt:

• Computer upgrade for the School for Wood
• Renovation of Lower Wood School rooms to cater for the new Short Courses commencing March 2008

Academic Highlights
By separate letter we forwarded to parents the initial summary of Higher School Certificate results for Year 12, 2007.  Currently, we are awaiting news of the final round of University Offers, with considerable support still being offered to the most recent leavers who are applying for courses, scholarships or college placements. 

School Certificate results for Year 10, 2007 will be published in full in the 2007 Chronicle but some of the highlights are noted here:

• At the top end of the results (Band 6 level) the percentage of Frensham results in all subjects (English, Mathematics, Science, History, Geography) was well above state average (up to four times higher);
• Averages for the entire cohort were also well above State Mean in all subjects, as noted in the table below;
• Gemma Moran-Gibson gained an Examination result of 99 in Mathematics;
• Eight girls gained a School Certificate Examination average of more than 90: Lucinda Nicolls Small, Gemma Moran-Gibson, Emma Campbell, Sally Newton, Constance Mort and Madeleine Maslin, with Jesse Ambler and Katherine Evans estimated at this level also but absent on Exchange;
• 45% of the cohort gained a School Certificate Examination average of more than 80;
• In English, the only mandatory subject for girls when they continue with Years 11 and 12, 90% of the cohort gained a result of 75 or greater.

Staffing

• Welcomed to Winifred West Schools from the start of 2008 are Ms Liliane Heininger (French teacher, replacing Ms Kidner for 2008), Mrs Joanne Ismay (Kindergarten Class teacher, replacing Miss Chalmers for 2008), Mrs Jayme Rafferty (Mathematics teacher & Senior Teacher in Boarding in Hartfield), Mrs Juliet Chester (House Staff member for Kennedy and Hartfield), Mrs Darrya Foster (Nurse, Frensham Health Centre) and Mrs Annabel Lomax (Preschool Assistant, Reception).
• Seniors in Boarding – location for 2008
  • Kennedy: Mrs Amanda Wansey & Mr Ben Harris
  • Hartfield: Mrs Trish Symons & Mrs Jayme Rafferty
  • McCarthy: Mrs Leonie Harris (& Director of Boarding, Mrs Ros Buick)
  • Linden/Turner: (Director of Boarding, Mrs Sue Cyganiewicz)
  • Bryant: Miss Amanda Sharpe
• House Staff teams for 2008
  • Kennedy: Ms Jeannette Gibson, Mrs Janet Hart, Mrs Juliet Chester and Mrs Robyn Parsons
  • Hartfield: Mrs Julie Beasley, Mrs Jan Poppitt, Mrs Juliet Chester and Mrs Sheila Whyte
  • McCarthy: Mrs Judy Rose and Ms Jacqueline Buchanan
  • Bryant: Mrs Helen French and Mrs Ilma Campbell
  • Linden/Turner: Ms Sophie Piper, Ms Lola Lindley

Uniform
Please see details for attention in Frensham and Gib Gate News.
Parents are thanked for their support of preparation of students for the new term. 

Students
Whilst the full listing of Frensham Student Leaders was published at the start of Term 4 last year, the following positions were confirmed at Final Prayers, December 2007:
Heads of House – Term 1 2008
Hartfield: Annabel Hyles & Zoë Philip
Kennedy: Nicola Forrest & Rosie Latimer
Year 12 Heads of Hartfield:  Isabelle Small & Georgina Davies
Year 12 Heads of Kennedy:  Amy Cavill & Rachael Fisher
Bryant: Victoria Steadman-Towell & Isabella Walker-Smith
Turner: Emily Cameron & Constance Mort
McCarthy: Lucinda Beak & Margot Gemmell-Smith
Year Prefects
Year 7 Odetta Davison, Adelaide Lang, Katrina Weir
Year 8 Sarah Hayes, Alison Murphy
Year 9 Lucy Brennan, Phillipa Daniel, Harriet King
Year 10 Sophie Hutchinson & Diana Nielsen
Year 11 Samantha Hawker & Eve Hoskins
Year 12 & Vice Head Girl - Amelia Forrest
Year 12 & Head Girl - Alice Bowman

Ahead

• Welcome Drinks – Gib Gate – for all parents of Gib Gate – an opportunity for returning parents to help us welcome those new to the School
• WWS Foundation Welcome Dinner – for parents of all new students at Gib Gate and Frensham.  This is an important annual event which provides an opportunity to meet all whose children are new members of the School this year and to be hosted by representatives of the Board, Foundation, Advisory Committee, Fellowship and senior staff.

Communication
In the interests of open, positive communication, please contact the School to clarify understanding, query practices or seek support. 

Confidential e-mail contacts:

Head of Frensham: frensham@frensham.nsw.edu.au  or jstewart@frensham.nsw.edu.au
Head of Sturt: sturt@sturt.nsw.edu.au or mpatey@sturt.nsw.edu.au
Head of Gib Gate: gibgate@gibgate.nsw.edu.au or krussell@gibate.nsw.edu.au
Business Manager of WWS: business@frensham.nsw.edu.au

We look forward to working with you in 2008! 

Ms J A Gillick
Head of Frensham
Head of Winifred West School

AHEAD:

Parent / Community News

GIB GATE

Welcome back to all returning and new Gib Gate families.  We are pleased to see the children back at school, catching up with friends and getting to know their new teachers and classmates and also welcoming 38 new students to Gib Gate in 2008, from Preschool to Year 6.  Families of Gib Gate (FOGG) Welcome Drinks on Friday 8 February will be an opportunity for the Gib Gate community to welcome new parents to the School and I look forward to catching up with you at this event.

We also welcome two new members of the teaching staff to Gib Gate in 2008.  Mrs Joanne Ismay joins us as the teacher of Kindergarten for 2008 and Mrs Annabel Lomax as a Preschool Assistant in Transition.  Mrs Ismay has been working alongside the Winifred West Executive staff for several weeks in preparation for the commencement of term.  The expertise Mrs Ismay and Mrs Lomax bring to the school will further enhance the high standard of teaching and learning at Gib Gate.

Winifred West Schools’ Property Manager, Mr Shaun Shephard, and the maintenance team and contractors, have worked tirelessly to prepare the school for Term 1 2008.  Stage one of the car park project has been completed over the break.  The extensive work has improved the safety of children being dropped off and picked up from school and each family has received additional information today regarding car park procedures.

Thank you to parents who have volunteered to be FOGG Class representatives for 2008.  I am looking forward to working alongside the Gib Gate Advisory Committee and FOGG class representatives (Gib Gate Advisory Members’ details are listed in the Parent/Community News section of the Newsletter).  We aim to give Gib Gate parents the opportunity to get together for social functions and to share the load in supporting school events.  The first FOGG Class Representative meeting will be held on Monday 18 February (8.45am, Gib Gate Library).  After this meeting, class representatives will be contacting parents with news of upcoming events and how you can become involved.

At tomorrow’s Performance Assembly, Year 6 students will be presented with their monitor’s roles and badges for 2008.  At this special Assembly, Ms Gillick will present each student with a Monitor’s badge and all students pledge to serve the School to the best of their ability.  The awarding of monitor roles in Year 6 is part of the Young Leaders’ Programme.  During 2008, Year 6 students will meet with the Head on a weekly basis to focus on the skills and attitude needed for effective student and youth leadership.  The programme consists of class lessons, activities and community-based projects and is centred on the five building blocks of Responsibility, Public speaking, Confidence, Organisation and Team skills.  Year 6 students started the leadership programme during Term 4 2007 and over the next few weeks we will be working together to finalise job descriptions for the monitors’ positions, to set appropriate goals and put procedures in place which will assist students in fulfilling their roles.  The major emphasis is for Year 6 students to work as a leadership team within the School and to experience the personal growth associated with such a role.

I trust that all Gib Gate families have enjoyed a smooth transition to the 2008 school year.  However, if you do have any questions or concerns please contact your child’s teacher or myself.

Ms Sally Robson, Head of Gib Gate

Curriculum Insights
Teachers have used the vacation to design innovative and stimulating teaching and learning programmes for students across all years to complement the work completed by technology and maintenance staff  for the ‘new look’ classrooms.  Perhaps the most exciting thing about commencing a new year for teachers is when the children arrive on the first day of the new school year and demonstrate their high levels of enthusiasm for everything which is new to learn, use and discover.

In HSIE, students from Kindergarten to Year 6 are involved in learning about social systems and structures within their families, at school, the local community and their country.  This allows a whole school common understanding to develop, a continuity of learning across all stages and the opportunity for students to learn from each other and share their findings across the School.  While Kindergarten and Stage 1 children focus their research inquiry at a more personal level, students in Stages 2 and 3 deepen their existing knowledge by extending their inquiries to encompass local, State and Federal levels of Government in Australia.  Year 5 visit State Parliament in Sydney and Year 6 Federal Parliament in Canberra.

K-6 Science and Technology units focus on the broad curriculum content area of ‘The Earth and Its Surroundings’.  Scientific investigations involve what causes day and night to occur; how can we measure weather and what causes different weather patterns; how shadows form and how can we ‘make’ shadows using a light source other than the sun.  Years 3 and 4 are learning about astronomy in specific studies of the sun, stars and moon.  Year 6 students have the exciting opportunity this term to investigate the use of Robotics in our lives and will be designing a computer programme to make the robot they will build perform specific functions.  All students from Kindergarten to Year 6 are eagerly anticipating the annual visit of the CSIRO education team to participate in a variety of hands-on scientific activities on Monday 18 February.

Mathematics programmes in all classes offer students a stimulating range of activities across all the various strands including patterns, number, 3D and 2D space and measurement.  Problem-solving tasks in all areas involve the children in both individual and group work challenges designed to allow them to apply new knowledge to everyday situations.  The new technology now available to teachers and students in all classrooms has allowed the opportunity to develop innovative and stimulating teaching and learning experiences in Mathematics and all other Key Learning Areas this year.

In English, the School continues to maintain and develop the love of, and joy in reading and writing for pleasure, for information and to broaden and deepen our understanding of the world.  Wide selections of literary and factual texts have been purchased for classrooms and the ‘new look’ Library and students are enthusiastic about every new reading opportunity.  We look forward to continuing to consolidate writing skills this term, with Australian author, Jane Carroll, working with students for three days in Week 10 to complement the programme in Term 4 last year.

Exciting challenges and activities abound for children in Sport, PE, Music, Art, Japanese and Outdoor Education throughout this semester and we will share many of these experiences with each other and the school community at weekly Performance Assemblies and the variety of whole school events programmed specifically to allow this important opportunity.

Mrs Kate Chauncy, Curriculum Coordinator K-6,
Coordinator of Gifted and Talented Programmes

Extra Curricular Activities
This term there is a full programme of extra-curricular activities, with Ceramics, Fencing, Tennis and Gymnastics.  Outdoor Education, Martial Arts, Robotics, Medieval Craft and Tree of Life are also being offered this term.  There are new courses in Printmaking and Puppetry.  Enrolments as per the Enrolment Form were due by Tuesday 5 February and enquiries can be made to Mrs Graham.

Music Tuition
All students who intend to have music lessons in 2008 must return an Enrolment Form before lessons can commence.  This includes continuing students as well as new music students.  Please contact Mrs Graham with any enquiries.

Mrs Anne Graham, Gib Gate Coordinator

Gib Gate Sport
Summer Sport commitments have recommenced after the vacation and all teams have been showing steady improvement.
Aquatic pursuits also begin in earnest with all classes from Kindergarten to Year 6 being involved in a swimming development programme which runs for four days beginning Wednesday 6 February.  Kindergarten, Year 1 and Year 2 have their swimming carnival at Bowral Pool on Wednesday 27 February and a fun activity-based programme has been prepared for them.  The Year 3 to Year 6 inter-house carnival will be held at Bowral Pool on Friday 15 February.  Parents are invited to come along as spectators and assist at either of these carnivals.

In preparation for the Years 3-6 swimming carnival students have received a letter and form asking them to nominate themselves for at least three events which are commensurate with their skills.  This system has been put in place in an effort to ensure that all students actively participate in the carnival and that each individual performs to the best of his/her ability.

Representative swimming commences on the evening of Tuesday 26 February when the qualifying swimmers compete against swimmers from the other Independent Primary schools in the Southern Highlands (SHIPS).  On Tuesday 5 March, qualifying swimmers will then compete at the JSHAA (Junior School Heads Association of Australia) Carnival at The State Aquatic Centre at Homebush Bay.  Outstanding swimmers go on as representatives at the Combined Independent Schools (CIS) Carnivals later in the term.

Mr Michael Standent, Gib Gate Coordinator of Sport and PDHPE

STURT

FRIENDS OF STURT Ruth Wright (President), Joan Dinning (Secretary), Denise Sumner, Chris Hurdtich, Julie Musgrave, Helen Jones, Bill Dinning.  (Ex-officio members: Tom Harrington, Melanie Olde, Paul Davis, Megan Patey).

Sturt News
The Sturt Summer School for 2008 was a great success, with 241 students taking part in 24 courses.  Of particular interest this year was the puppetry course.  Under the professional guidance of Michaela Bartoňová, from the Czech Republic, students carved puppet heads, constructed costumes and performed in a memorable concert under the spotlights at Clubbe Hall to a packed audience.

Sturt Winter School 7–11 July 2008
Enrolments are open for all courses.  Details of courses will be available on the website as they are confirmed.  Courses: Wood carving with Nick Statham, Botanical Painting with Belinda Briggs, Basketry with Virginia Kaiser, Bookmaking with Caren Florence, Life Drawing with Linley Davis, Etching for Jewellery with Barbara Ryman, Fabric Printing with Annie Trevillian, Mosaics with Helen Factor, Pastels with Veronica O’Leary, Black and White photography with Debra Pearson, Tapestry with Dimity Kidston, Watercolour with Noel Ford, Weaving with Monique van Nieuwland and Ikebana with Sandy Markus.

Part-time Classes at Sturt
Classes have commenced in weaving, ceramics, jewellery and fine woodworking.  Vacancies still exist in some courses.  Please ring Sturt Gallery for details on 4860 2083.

Sturt School for Wood
Eight students have commenced the year with study in the Certificate IV in Fine Woodworking, the full time course which they will complete in December 2008.  Enrolments are still open for this course.  Please ring Sturt Gallery on 4860 2083 or Tom Harrington on 4860 2090.

New for 2008 is a series of 12-week fine woodworking courses to be held from 3 March–24 May, 3 June–19 September and 29 September–19 December.  The first two courses are full but names are being taken for waiting lists and enrolments are open for the last course to commence on 29 September.

In order to help accommodate students taking these 12-week courses, Sturt is asking for contact from anyone who may have a spare room, small flat or house which might be of interest to students.  Once received, we pass on your details to students and they make direct arrangements with you.  If this is of interest, please contact Sturt Gallery on 4860 2083 or email shop@sturt.nsw.edu.au

Sturt Gallery
The Meroogal Women’s Art Prize opened on 3 February at Sturt Gallery.  This selected exhibition continues until 24 February and includes work from Southern Highlands’ artists, as well as the winners of the Meroogal awards, in celebration of the 10th anniversary of this annual prize.

Paul Davis showed new work in a large exhibition from December 2007 till January 26 2008.  Sculptural pieces, platters, vases and paintings were included, which attracted many visitors and sales.  Details of 2008 exhibitions may be seen on www.sturt.nsw.edu.au

Friends of Sturt AGM
Everyone is invited to the FOS AGM to be held at 5.00pm on Sunday 17 February 2008 in Sturt Cottage.  If you would like to become more involved in the activities of Sturt and meet new people while working as a group come along to the meeting.  We welcome new committee members.

Graduate Residents
Congratulations to Rhonda Dwyer and Kimberley Williams - selected from a wide range of applicants to become the Sturt Graduate Residents for 2008.  Both are working in the Sturt jewellery workshop until 8 March.  Graduates from Sydney College of the Arts and Enmore College of Design respectively, Rhonda and Kimberley welcome visitors to their workshop or, to view finished pieces, at Sturt Gallery.

Sturt WoodFire 2008 18-21 April
This large conference which examines all the latest trends and developments in wood firing ceramics will be held at Sturt and Frensham from 18–21 April 2008.  More details of this important conference will be included in subsequent newsletters.

Megan Patey, Head of Sturt

FRENSHAM

Deputy Head

The girls have returned to school with a positive attitude and they are well prepared for the year ahead.

The first round of IGSSA Sport has been completed and we are looking forward to Year 7 having their first IGSSA matches this weekend.  Most Extra-subjects and Co-curricular activities began in Week 2.  Timetables for Tennis lessons and Music lessons are now finalised.  Dance classes are being finalised and the timetable for dance will be available in Week 3.

Medical forms for Outdoor Education Week for girls in Years 7-10 have been sent to parents for completion.  If you have been unable to complete the form you can print a new one directly from the OEG website (www.oeg.net.au ).  The username is frensham and the password west.  You can also find information about each of the camps on the site.  Equipment lists for Outdoor Education Week are located on pages 43-44 of the Frensham Information Book.  Detailed information about the programme for each year group will be included in the next newsletter

Mr Geoff Marsh, Deputy Head

Director of Studies

The beginning of any academic year is always an exciting time.  Associated with it are considerable fresh energy and enthusiasm and, in preparation for 2008, this has been amplified by significant staff planning and numerous professional discussions and development opportunities.

Each phase of schooling is important, whether it is the first year of High School; Year 8, the year where students move away from being the juniors of the school; Stage 5 (Years 9 and 10) and the path towards a School Certificate or the senior years, the beginning or the culmination of formal schooling with the award of the Higher School Certificate.  All stages are significant in a student’s social development and academic growth.  At Frensham, staff are familiar with the varying developmental needs of students and have been working in faculties to ensure procedures and practice aim to produce the very best outcomes for all students. 

To achieve this goal, differentiation has been a focal point for discussion and action.  Differentiation at Frensham refers to the planned, deliberate meeting of individual student needs in different ways.  The aim is for students to feel supported and also appropriately challenged.  Most importantly this means that students should feel comfortable to access the considerable support network of staff and other resources.

Mr Matthew McMahon, Director of Studies

Director of Boarding

New and returning Boarders were welcomed last week and the first Closed Weekend had a full programme for Boarders and any Day Boarders who joined in the activities.

The settling in process is different for each student and all are facing the challenge of change.  For Year 7 students it is a change to a whole new system of schooling and they are coping with two diverse elements.  The House Staff are there to support the girls and help them to adjust quickly to the exciting new challenges ahead.

On the weekend there was a lot of fun between Sport, bike riding, expedition to the Upper Holt as well as study and leadership opportunities.  Perhaps the highlight of the weekend was Saturday night at Mittagong Pool and seeing the amazing costumes of the Year 12 cohort.  All year groups dressed as different fish species.  School Service on Sunday, led by Year 12, was also a high point of the weekend where the whole community joined together in School Hall.

We also welcomed Mrs Juliet Chester as a member of the House Staff.

Mrs Susan Cyganiewicz & Mrs Ros Buick, Co-Directors of Boarding

Teaching and Learning

The vacation presented a wonderful opportunity for staff professional learning.  The nine staff days of formal professional development included a renewal of formal qualifications in First Aid for all House Staff with support from the three registered nurses on staff; workshops for House staff on the latest communications technology and how to ensure ‘cyber safety’; training in the operation and application of Interactive Whiteboards for Gib Gate, English, HSIE, Creative Arts and Mathematics staff; training for LOTE staff in how multimedia tools can be used for language learning, including new CD-ROMs from the Japan Foundation, scanning and presentation software and revision and development of teaching programmes.

As well as the formal Professional Development days, many staff took the opportunity to extend their skills in informal meetings and independent learning sessions.  LOTE staff spent many days preparing resources using skills acquired during the formal Professional Development days and Music staff scheduled several days of meetings with Ms Linda Magson, the consultant with whom they have been working over the past six months.  Executive staff met to review policy and adjust documentation and many hours were spent by individual staff reviewing student files and assessment documents to determine the most suitable strategies to meet student needs this term.

It is important to acknowledge the number of staff who, while enjoying a welcome break, also invested many hours in learning, improving, planning and preparing to serve our community in 2008.

Mrs Bronwyn Tregenza, Coordinator of Teaching and Learning

English and Drama

In 2009, the Prescriptions for texts in English in the HSC are changing.  As a consequence the programme for Preliminary has been rewritten as many of the texts studied at Frensham in Year 11 are now set for Year 12, 2009.

In Term 1 students in Advanced English in Year 11 will follow the Introduction to the Course with an Area of Study based on the concept of Change.  They will use the Drama text Away by Michael Gow as their core text, and Looking for Alibrandi by Melina Marchetta and the film Pleasantville as related reading/viewing.

In Term 2 a Critical Study of text of Othello by William Shakespeare will be followed by Through the Poet’s Eye – a study of the poetry of T S Eliot and then in Term 3 The Art of Transformation with Emma by Jane Austen and the film Clueless.
 
In Standard English, the Area of Study text is the Drama text Small Poppies; followed by Exploring Workplace Texts with the fiction text Shelf Life; Looking at Indigenous Texts with Papunya School of Country and History and related texts and Through the Poet’s Eye which focuses on imagery as demonstrated through a range of Australian poets.

On Tuesday 5 February, Years 11 and 12 Senior Drama students attended OnStage at the Seymour Centre in Sydney to see a selection of the HSC Drama Projects from 2007.  These include Individual and Group performance, Set design, Costume design, Critical analysis and Video.  The excursion is an invaluable experience for those girls embarking on Drama for the HSC.

Girls in Years 7-9 will be encouraged to enter the Write Now Competition which is presented by The Sydney Morning Herald.  Students complete a short story from a choice of beginnings from three noted composers.  The closing date is Friday 11 April and girls will be working in class on the activity.

On 20 February, Suzannah Fullerton will present a lecture to the girls in Years 10 and 11 in the Drama Studio on Jane Austen and her work.  She is speaking at a Literary function in Bowral and has offered to spend some time at Frensham in the afternoon.  This is very opportune as both Year groups are studying Jane Austen texts this year.

Mrs Trish Symons, Director of Language Arts

HSIE

There were a number of highlights from the 2007 HSC results in the HSIE Faculty.  Having each subject above state average was notable as was the high number of top band results (some 15 in all).  A top ranking in the State (5th place in History Extension) and strong results by Modern History accelerants (Year 12, 2008 students, Sarah Hayes and Alice Bowman) all added to results which were indicative of the efforts of both students and staff.

While independent analysis of the results has not been completed yet, it is clear that the Value Added Analysis of Year 12 students (result improvement compared to the level of those students in Year 10) is very impressive.

As 2008 begins there is considerable enthusiasm and passion for both subject matter and education within the faculty.  Mrs Leonie Harris is welcomed back to teach Geography and all staff are committed to ensuring quality teaching is at the forefront of all planning and documentation.

This year the faculty is introducing a new profiling system which will involve an extension of work sample collections.

Mr Matthew McMahon, Coordinator of HSIE

Music

The Co-Curricular Music programme at Frensham offers students learning experiences in a variety of choral and instrumental ensembles.  Girls entering Year 7 are encouraged to join the Junior Choir and, in Year 9, they may audition for the Senior Choir.  A small number of singers who display strong aural and vocal skills are then invited to join the Madrigals.  All of these choirs play an important role in the musical life of the School by supporting the singing of hymns in Morning Prayers, singing liturgical works at School Services, performing in Year Weekend Concerts and representing the School at external events such as Choral Festivals.

Wednesday afternoon has been set aside for Instrumental Ensemble rehearsals.  At this time the Music Centre and Clubbe Hall are used for rehearsals.  All students who play wind instruments are encouraged to join the Concert Band and string students are highly valued in the Glenn and Kennedy String Ensembles.  Advanced instrumentalists are given additional opportunities as members of various chamber groups.  These quartets, trios and duos are tailored to suit the particular combinations of students and abilities year by year and they are an important means of extending and challenging talented musicians.

Any student interested in learning the Clarinet, Saxophone, Trumpet, Trombone or French Horn would be given every encouragement, with some instruments available for hire.

Mr Michael Spencer, Coordinator of Music

Sport

WET WEATHER
Due to the short season for all IGSSA Sports, every attempt is made to play the inter-school matches and cancellations of Saturday Sport are rarely made before Saturday morning, unless a venue notifies IGSSA that the facilities will not be playable prior to this.  For information:
IGSSA Wet Weather Line 1900 922 834
IGSSA WEBSITE  http://igssa.ahigs.nsw.edu.au
Boarding house
Current information in relation to Softball, Tennis and Swimming can be found on the IGSSA website.

Softball
Frensham has a total of 13 teams with all teams playing their first match on Saturday 2 February except Year 7.  All Softball players are to be congratulated on a very positive start to the season.  Please see attached the term draw but a reminder changes may occur at late notice.

All students including Year 7 will wear brown knickerbockers, available from the clothing shop.

All information in relation to results and draw changes is updated on the website
http://igssa.ahigs.nsw.edu.au

Tennis
This year there are 18 Tennis teams in the IGSSA competition and a team of coaches who work with them during training sessions to improve their technique and skill level.  Years 7-9 will train on Tuesday from 4-5.30pm and Friday from 4-4.45pm.  Years 10-12 will train on Thursday from 4-5.30pm and Friday from 4.45-5.30pm.

On Sunday 3 February girls were offered the opportunity to attend a sports clinic.  In small groups girls rotated through a variety of stations with experienced coaches and learnt new techniques and practised skills to improve play.
Tennis Lessons: Extra-curricular Tennis lessons began on 4 February.  Girls who are interested attend a half hour lesson on Monday, Tuesday or Wednesday afternoon.  Any girls who would like to join Tennis lessons please see Miss Longworth.

Mrs Amanda Wansey, Coordinator of PDHPE/Sport

Swimming (Training Schedule)
Tuesday afternoon
Participants - Junior swimmers and Senior Softball and Tennis players participating in Swimming.
3.50-5.15pm at Mittagong Pool

Wednesday morning
Participants - All swimmers playing Tennis or Softball.
6.15-7.00am at Mittagong Pool
Thursday afternoon
Participants - Senior swimmers and Junior Softball and Tennis players participating in swimming.
3.50-5.15pm at Mittagong Pool
Friday morning
Participants - All swimmers playing Tennis or Softball.
6.15-7.00am at Mittagong Pool
Saturday morning
Participants - Swimmers not playing Tennis or Softball.
9.00-10.00am at Mittagong Pool
Carnivals
Southern Highlands 25 February Bowral Pool 3.30-8.00pm
St Catherine’s Invitational 26 February
PLC Invitational 7 March
IGSSA 14 March Homebush Departure 6am return 4pm
All squad members will be invited to attend carnivals whether they are competitors or not.

Mrs Wendy Elliott

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