GIB GATE • FRENSHAM • STURT
TERM 1 NO 3 - 6 MARCH 2008

Enrichment & Inspiration:

• Olympian Shelley Oates-Wilding, guest presenter this week as part of the 2008 Year 11 Senior Studies programme will compete in the Olympic Trials this weekend in kayaking, in her quest to represent Australia in her third Olympic Games.  A former Australian team member in Track and Field, Surf Life Saving and Netball prior to her involvement in kayaking,  Shelley shared her personal story in a way that challenged all present to consider the opportunities that flow from positive thinking and the decision to make a difference for ourselves and for others.
• Year 12 Design and Technology students met recently with the Sturt Resident jewellers, Kimberley Williams and Rhonda Dwyer, to gain an understanding of what it takes to move from tertiary design education to manufacture.
• At the invitation of the English faculty, Mrs Suzannah Fullerton visited recently to lecture Years 10 and 11 on Jane Austen and her work;
• For the Year 12 Senior Studies programme in Canberra, Alex Sloan, journalist and long-time broadcaster with ABC 666 offered an Address as part of the Tuesday evening programme.
• We are pleased to be hosting in Clubbe Hall this term two live concerts in the ABC Classic FM Series: Sunday 16 March and Sunday 23 March.  Prior to the 3.00pm start for both Concerts, Frensham will be presenting a half hour Concert (2.00-2.30pm) with full recording of all items performed.  For the 16 March Concert, the Madrigals will be featured and for Easter Sunday, 23 March, the programme includes Frensham tutor and professional guitarist Luke O’Neill with Sabine Madden on piano (Weber’s Divertimenti, Opus 38), Mary Bokey on violin with Sabine Madden (Massenet’s Meditation), flute trio, Mary Bokey, Emily Maker and Emma Quinn (Tchaikovsky’s Nutcracker) and Charlotte Moss (Irish Folk song, a capella).
• We acknowledge the dedication of staff arranging evening and weekend excursions for students to experience high quality theatre, art exhibitions and special movie screenings – see the Faculty Reports in this Newsletter.

Acknowledgement to:

• Hosts of the WWS Welcome Dinner held last Saturday evening, 1 March.  Guests were introduced to the Convenor of the Company of WWS, Chair and members of the Board of Governors, Chair and members of the Foundation Board, the President of Fellowship, members of the Advisory Committees of Gib Gate and Frensham and senior staff of Frensham, Gib Gate and Sturt.  We were also greatly appreciative of the support of the Madrigals and the Year 11 students who offered their time in support;
• All staff and students of Frensham for their efforts in relation to the preparation for and hosting of our annual Open Day and Year 7 Parent Weekend;
• Frensham and Gib Gate Swim team members who have competed in local and Sydney carnivals over the past two weeks, with some strong results at all levels;
• Duke of Edinburgh’s Award recipients: Bronze - Amy Barnes, Jordan Ashby and Polly Paradice; Silver: Tamara Smart and Emily Alison;
• Frensham’s Community Service team of Amelia Forrest (Head), Alexandra Thomas, Stephanie Coffey and Adelaide Lang who continue to be so active in their efforts to raise awareness and funds for particular organisations or charities:
  • The Games Field Cake Stall raised an additional $350 for Amnesty International
  • A team of 80 girls represented Frensham at the Relay for Life  for Cancer Research
  • In support of The Hamlin Fistula Relief and Aid Fund we are pleased to be presenting a special Clubbe Hall screening of A Walk to Beautiful on Saturday 5 April at 7.00pm.  With tickets priced at $5 for adults and a gold coin donation for students, we urge all to bring friends and family along to support the cause.  (No bookings necessary.  The film will start promptly at 7.00pm and runs for 84 minutes.)
• Staff of Frensham and Gib Gate for their contribution to the Outdoor Education and Senior Studies Programmes.  Over the two-week period from 4 – 15 March, most teaching staff have been involved in extended day or overnight expeditions, with students.

Career and Studies News of Former Students:

• Resulting from Amy Minahan’s (Year 12, 2006) excellent contribution as a GAP student in Edgeborough, UK, Frensham has been invited to select a student on an annual basis for this opportunity;
• Anna Lochhead (Year 12, 2007) has been invited to speak and the Madrigals and String Quartet have been asked to perform at the Reception for distinguished Old Girl, Catherine Hamlin AC, at Sydney University on Saturday afternoon 15 March, 2.00-3.00pm.  Please also note in this Newsletter details for the special Clubbe Hall screening of A Walk to Beautiful, in support of her work;
• Over the Year 10 Parent Weekend of 15-16 March, we will be welcoming Old Girls who left Frensham in 1958, here to celebrate their 50-year Reunion.

Staffing:
We are pleased to advise that Ms Jane Barrett is returning to Frensham from Term 2, to replace Mrs Wansey during the period of her Maternity Leave.  Ms Barrett has been appointed Acting Head of PDHPE & Sport during Mrs Wansey’s absence. 

Mrs Pat Farrugia is also welcomed back to Frensham to a part-time position in French, commencing this week.  Well known within the School for her outstanding work in the past, Mrs Farrugia will teach Year 7 with Ms Heininger and will also take specialist classes in speaking and listening for each of Years 10, 11 and 12.  We thank Ms Beveley Peet for her role in French over the past two years and wish her well with her continued work at Wollongong University. 

Ahead:
Term Dates 2009
Frensham and Gib Gate term dates are based on dates agreed to by AHISA Schools, which are based on guidelines set by the NSW State Schools.

For those planning ahead for June/July and October vacations, please note that the end date for Term 2 will be early July (not June) and the end date for Term 3 will be early October (not September). Please note that the term dates for 2009 are now being finalised for publication before the end this term.

Reminders:

• Lockers for Day Boarders at Frensham are located both in the Boarding Houses and in the centre of the School.  For details or advice students should approach Mr Geoff Marsh, Deputy Head.
• Dates for Term travel decisions will be published in future on the Term Calendar, in addition to being advised to boarders directly.  See the Boarding News for Term 1 details.

WWS Foundation
At the recent Welcome Dinner for parents of new students, I acknowledged the significant growth in membership of the Foundation over the past three years (325 members in 2005 – 431 members in 2008).  A major commitment by the current Directors of Foundation, led by Chair, the Hon John Sharp was to enhance the understanding of Foundation’s work through events to encourage support and through communication of Foundation’s achievements and their impact on the Schools.  With the Esther Tuckey Library project progressing rapidly, Sturt’s Wood School Extension facilitating a whole new programme of courses in Wood at Sturt and the expansion of resources for teaching and learning resulting from the recent major expenditure on IT resources at both Gib Gate and Frensham, it is timely to offer our warmest appreciation to the Foundation for their ongoing efforts to meet their goal of providing Excellence in Education.  [A copy of the latest Foundation brochure and details of the Centenary Appeal will be posted prior to the end of this term.]

Communication… The WWS Newsletter is posted on our website on the date of publication of each fortnightly Newsletter and archived copies of the Newsletter are also accessible on-line. See: www.frensham.nsw.edu.au/newsletter.htm or visit the websites of Gib Gate or Frensham and click on the Newsletter icon.  Sturt’s site is updated regularly with Sturt-specific information.

Above: Frensham musicians perform on Open Day

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

L-R: Kurt, Sturt School for Wood student with Rhonda Dwyer and Kimberley Williams	Kimberley Williams working with Laura Thompson, Year 11

AHEAD:

Parent / Community News

With the support of Frensham Fellowship: A Walk to Beautiful Special screening Saturday 5 April at 7.00pm A Walk to Beautiful follows five women in Ethiopia who suffer from devastating childbirth injuries.  Shunned by their communities, these women spend their lives in utter misery, loneliness and shame. The film follows their journey to Dr Catherine Hamlin AC, at the Addis Ababa Fistula Hospital, where their lives are transformed because of the work of this outstanding Australian doctor. Clubbe Hall, Waverley Parade, Mittagong Tickets available at the door – no bookings necessary. Adults: $5.00 per person. Students: Gold coin donation. Proceeds to The Hamlin Fistula Relief and Aid Fund (film runs for 84 minutes)

GIB GATE

Students in Kindergarten, Year 1 and Year 2 enjoyed the recent K-2 Swimming Carnival held at the Bowral Pool.  Mr Standen and Mrs Lomax, together with Year 6 Monitors, ensured that all students were able to take part and that every child finished the Carnival with a sense of personal achievement.  Thanks are extended to all parents who assisted staff on the day and to the FOGG Class Representatives who organised a special treat at the end of the Carnival.

Students in Kindergarten and Year 1 will be joining Years 3-6 at the Gib Gate Cross-Country Carnival on Friday 7 March.  Younger students will take part in a modified Fun-Run followed by age races for students in Years 2-6.  Parents are welcome to come along in support of students in this event.

As part of their studies in HSIE, students in Years 5 and 6 recently participated in excursions to State and Federal Parliaments where they were congratulated by staff from both institutions on their level of knowledge and exemplary behaviour.  The module ‘Studies in Democracy’ forms an important part of the K-6 HSIE syllabus at Gib Gate and is introduced to students through units of work which focus on individual and collective rights and responsibilities as Australian and global citizens.  Students in Kindergarten and Years 1 and 2 explore rights and responsibilities at home, at school and within the local community.  Students in Years 3 and 4 build on these understandings through exploring the fictional world of Cockatoo Island where they experience the principles of a democratic society through role play and drama.  As part of the focus on Local Government, Year 4 students are looking forward to an excursion to the local Council Chambers and to a visit from Wingecarribee Shire Mayor, Mr Gordon Lewis, with a question and answer session planned for class time.

Ms Sally Robson, Head of Gib Gate

Madrigals
Congratulations to Year 5 and 6 students who auditioned for the Madrigals.  The quality of the singing and the support which students have given one another throughout this process have been commendable.

Orchestra
Notice will be given in the green Weekly Bulletin if rehearsals are cancelled for any reason.

Extra curricular activities
There is a full programme of activities after school this term and finishing times will be listed in the green Weekly Bulletin.  If your child is not collected from the activity at the advertised finishing time, please be aware that After School Care charges will apply.

Mrs Anne Graham, Coordinator

Sport

Tennis
Congratulations to Cristina Schulz and Jemima Purvis (Year 6)  who were recently selected to trial for the JSHAA Tennis Team to compete at the CIS competition later this term.  Both girls performed very well and Cristina was named as a Reserve for the team.

Swimming
The Southern Highlands’ Independent Primary Schools’ Carnival was cancelled on Tuesday 26 February due to the weather.  However, a strong team of Gib Gate swimmers will compete at the JSHAA Carnival at Homebush this week.

The Kindergarten to Year 2 Swimming Carnival was held at Bowral Pool on Wednesday 27 February.  Children competed in a series of fun activities ranging from formal freestyle and breaststroke events to novelty kickboard, dive objects and noodle events.  Year 6 monitors assisted on the day and their contribution was invaluable.  

Mr Michael Standen, Coordinator of PE and Sport

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
Graduate Residents
Jewellers, Kimberley Williams and Rhonda Dwyer are displaying work completed at Sturt in the past six weeks, at Sturt Gallery.  This presentation includes a large range of jewellery as well as work previously made, alongside writing to explain the inspirations for the current work.  Both jewellers have used their time at Sturt productively, spending some time in the weaving and wood workshops, and incorporating the techniques gained from these other disciplines into their metal work.  This presentation will be on display at Sturt Gallery for the next three weeks.

Courses
Sturt Winter School 7–11 July is now open for enrolments.  For information and enrolment procedures, please see: www.sturt.nsw.edu.au

A one-day basketry course with tutor Meri Peach, will be held on Sunday 4 May from 9am-4pm.  Students will learn how to use natural plant materials to make rustic nest-like baskets.  This course is suitable for beginners and will be held in the weaving room at Sturt.

There are still vacancies in a wood-firing course with tutor Ron Meyers from America, to be held in conjunction with Sturt WoodFire 2008.  In this course, students will bring bisque-fired work, pack the anagama kiln, and fire this kiln over four days.  For details, please view www.sturt.nsw.edu.au/events or phone Sturt on 4860 2083.

Sturt School for Wood
Enrolments are open for the full-time Certificate IV in Fine Woodworking for 2009.  For further details please contact Tom Harrington on 4860 2090, email tharrington@sturt.nsw.edu.au or view details on www.sturt.nsw.edu.au.  There are still vacancies in the third 12-week Fine Woodworking Course, with tutor Toby Muir Wilson, to be held from 29 September till 19 December 2008.  For enquiries regarding all courses and events to be held at Sturt, please phone 02 4860 2083 or view  www.sturt.nsw.edu.au

Megan Patey, Head of Sturt

FRENSHAM

Deputy Head

With the Year 7 Weekend, Open Day and the Welcome Dinner concluded and Outdoor Education Week almost over, the School has commenced preparations for the Year 10 Parent Weekend on 15-16 March.  Other events of note scheduled to occur in the next fortnight include:

• IGSSA Swimming Carnival – Year 9 to attend as spectators
• The Cattle Show Team at the Moss Vale Show
• The ABC Classic FM Concert live from Clubbe Hall

Over the next few weeks girls will be discussing extra-curricular involvement in their Form Groups.  Year Coordinators will be keen to ensure that the involvement of each student is varied and at an appropriate level, corresponding to the ethos of the School.

If you are concerned about the involvement of your daughter in the extra-curricular life of the School please do not hesitate to contact Year Coordinators or Form Tutors.

Mr Geoff Marsh, Deputy Head

Director of Studies

Recently, Year 11 and 12 students discussed the importance of goals.  It was stressed that whether they are short, mid or long-term, goals provide a necessary frame-work for action in the Senior Years.

The way in which an individual’s goals may be structured/devised obviously differs between individuals. Research shows realistic goals that aid focus, lead to an increase in work output and/or academic endeavour.

The Entrepreneur Richard Branson’s belief about the importance of goals aided some students to see that mapped-out goals and schedules (and in the case of students, ‘study timetables’) have real-world applications.  Branson says … “I believe in goals.  It’s never a bad thing to have a dream, but I’m practical about it.  I don’t sit daydreaming about things that are impossible.  I set goals and then work out how to achieve them.  Anything I want to do in life I want to do well and not half-heartedly” (Branson, R. (2006), Lessons in Life, Virgin Books: London).

One must always be careful about how goals are stressed.  In Character, Strengths and Values, Christopher Peterson’s and Martin Seligman’s belief that … “the individual who sets no goals – someone who is not future-minded – cannot be optimistic or hopeful” (Peterson, C. and Seligman, M. (2004), Character, Strengths and Values, OUP: Oxford) is rather grim for those who have not completed goal creation or schedule mapping as yet.

One difficulty which has been observed is that some students who find it very difficult to write goals, have often confused them with being specific “life plans”.  It is quite natural for a student in Year 12 to be uncertain as to the precise direction in which her future may lie.  Indeed, some forecasters predict that members of Generation Y may have well over 20 jobs in their lifetime (in perhaps as many as five different industries).  A Year 12 goal therefore may be rather broad – such as to achieve the highest personal UAI possible, or to enter each class with enjoyment and positivity – or to complete the required amount of Prep (we recommend 3 to 4 hours across a day including study periods) with an allowance for revision time.

Ongoing work with scheduling and study-timetables will be an area for focus in Form over the course of the year.  Experiences like the Open Day at the University of Wollongong and the Senior Studies Week offer options for consideration.  Mrs Williams provides ongoing support and guidance in the area of Careers.

Mr Matthew McMahon, Director of Studies

Director of Boarding

The showcasing of the Boarding Houses was a highlight of Open Day and the Year 7 Parent Weekend, with many families escorted through the Houses by the Tour Guides.  Year 12 students made the tidying up a fun activity on Friday night and the Dining Room was transformed as benches were replaced by chairs for the Welcome Dinner for Parents of New Students.

The logistics of transporting girls to the Relay for Life at Eridge Park throughout the day and night went smoothly and we were pleased to support this major community event.

Girls must check their Easter travel plans and end of term travel also needs to be organised.  Confirmation date for Easter travel is Friday 7 March.  Final date for end of Term 1 travel requests is Tuesday 11 March.  Could parents please ensure that your daughters are aware of their travel arrangements.

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

Teaching and Learning

The upcoming Easter break presents a special opportunity this year for professional learning.  Staff of Winifred West Schools will spend Thursday 20 March and Tuesday 25 March in workshops and presentations.

House Staff will work with Dr Andrew Martin, International Research Fellow in the Faculty of Education and Social Work, The University of Sydney.  Dr Martin is the author of How to Motivate Your Child for School and Beyond and How to Help Your Child Fly through Life.  Dr Martin has written over 130 peer reviewed journal articles, chapters and papers and is Associate Editor of the British Journal of Educational Psychology.  He will work closely with Frensham House Staff exploring the factors which affect motivation and achievement in teenage girls and the specific opportunities the Boarding environment offers to maximise individual achievement.

Mrs Bronwyn Tregenza, Coordinator of Teaching and Learning

English and Drama

Open Day is an opportunity to inform a wider audience of the many opportunities girls have in Public Speaking and Debating at Frensham.  This year Lauren Zawal, Georgina Witt, Rebecca McCreath, Julia Aspinall, Emma Murphy and Hannah Buschman from Year 7, shared their thoughts on beginning their secondary education at Frensham.  One of the strengths of the speaking programme at School is that  all girls are supported with planning and practice when asked to speak, so that they gain confidence in addressing an audience, whether just in class or in a wider community context.  In every year group in English, girls have to complete a speaking assessment and the teaching programme highlights speaking in learning activities.

The Open Day Programme also included two speeches by Emma Campbell in Year 11 and Sarah Hayes in Year 12, which had been presented in 2007 in competitions.

Jesse Ambler, Emily Holland and Sally Newton in Year 11 gave a demonstration of the Current Affairs section of the AHIGS Festival of Speech with two differing perspectives on an issue on the topic ‘A Moment in History.’  They chose to consider the ‘Sorry’ statement which they viewed from a political perspective and an indigenous viewpoint with Emily as the Moderator.

Jordan Ashby then recited the poem The Annunciation by Crivelli, which she had also prepared for the AHIGS Festival.

‘Girls in class’ in Year 8 English was managed by Mrs Chauncy who developed their understanding of narrative, with a game requiring them to collaborate on a story in an impromptu way.  This reflected the work being undertaken at present in both Year 8 classes on the features of narrative.

On Wednesday 27 February all students in Years 11 and 12 Drama attended the Sydney Theatre Company production of The 7 Stages of Grieving.  This was an extraordinarily eloquent show, simple in its storytelling and its theatrical effects but strong in what it has to say about growing up black in Australia, grieving for what has been lost and hoping for the future.  The show, created by Deborah Mailman and writer-director Wesley Enoch, was first produced by the Kooemba Jdarra company in Brisbane in 1995 and has since toured widely and been adapted several times to incorporate the social, political and cultural changes in the Australian landscape.  The text is currently being studied by Year 12 Drama students for the Higher School Certificate as part of their core content in Australian Drama, focusing on Contemporary Australian Theatre Practices.

On 12 March, all girls in Years 9-11 will have the opportunity of attending workshops in Clubbe Hall from the Bell Shakespeare Actors at Work programme.  This year the sessions are entitled Love’s Magic, (Years 7-9), The Macbeth Intensive (Years 9-10) and The Conspirators (Years 10-11).

Mrs Trish Symons, Director of Language Arts

French

French Film Festival
The annual French Film Festival is on in Sydney from Wednesday 5 March till Wednesday 19 March.  Senior students will be viewing Le Ballon Rouge and Crin Blanc (The Red Balloon and White Mane) on Saturday 8 March.  Both films have had excellent reviews and we anticipate an entertaining afternoon.

Year 12 Conversation Classes
Year 12 French students are preparing for their French Oral examination which will take place on 9 August.  On Monday evenings they attend a French Conversation class with Madame Heininger and Monsieur de St Guillaume.  The girls are gaining confidence and are discussing topics ranging from their own personal world to sport and cinema.

Madame Liliane Heininger, French Teacher

Latin

In the second last week of the summer holidays, three current Year 12 students, Sarah Hayes, Olivia Pirie-Griffiths and Edwina Meyer, travelled to the University of Sydney each morning for five days to attend the Latin Summer School.  This is held each year under the auspices of the Classical Association of New South Wales and has classes for all levels, from raw beginners to scholars reading and discussing Latin texts.  Approximately 250 people of every age attended the School including around 60 Year 12 HSC 2008 students.  The School has become so popular with this group that three tutor groups are required to teach them all and the level which they attend is specifically designed with them in mind.

The girls translated a variety of texts: Cicero’s famous speech against Catiline, Ovid’s Ars Amatoria, seemingly a collection of love poems but considered by some as a social satire of the time and Solinus, a Roman grammarian and writer known as ‘the teller of varied tales’.  During morning tea and lunch time, Sarah, Olivia and Edwina completed Latin mind puzzles (a daily competition), perused the many Latin texts at the Abbey’s Bookstore stall such as A A Milne’s Willie Ille Pu, or just became familiar with the University of Sydney campus.  The girls found the course extremely beneficial: it gave them a great appreciation of the Latin language, helped their preparation for their HSC year and reaffirmed what they already knew – Latin is not dead, it is immortal!

Ms Liz Stephenson, Senior Teacher in Latin

Music

Open Day presented Frensham musicians with a range of performance opportunities.  In the Music Centre, Ms Christine Jarczewski conducted the Kennedy Strings in an open rehearsal while other musicians practised in the private studios.  The Glenn Strings provided music for the Café in front of the Schavemaker Centre for Science and Technology, as did a variety of other performers ranging from Years 8–12.  In School Hall, the Junior Choir, Senior Choir, String Quartet, Flute Trio and a special Trio comprising keyboard, violin and recorder presented workshop performances.  The Madrigals performed in Clubbe Hall followed by an appearance at the Welcome Dinner later that evening where they sang the Non Nobis grace.  All of these performances were greeted enthusiastically by parents and visitors to the School.

The Senior Choir gave a polished performance of Bach’s Sleepers Wake chorale from Cantata No 140 at the Year 7 Service on Sunday.  This was followed by a concert which included The Junior Choir singing an arrangement by Mr Bunyan with accompaniment provided by the String Quartet.  Jessica Blackmore performed the second movement from Robert Woodcock’s Concerto for Descant Recorder, accompanied by Mary Bokey on violin and Ms Madden on the harpsichord.  The Madrigals sang two Renaissance madrigals: Fine Knacks for Ladies and Gush Forth My Tears.

The final item in the concert featured all of Year 7 singing and accompanying the choral prelude setting of the Sleepers Wake tune which the Senior Choir introduced in the Service.

Mr Michael Spencer, Coordinator of Music

Sport

Tennis and Cross-Country
Tennis players are training in preparation for the Tildesley tournament held in the first week of April.  Frensham will be entering three Singles players and three Doubles teams.  The Tildesley team would not be complete without the support of the lines girls and umpires.  Mr Barry Ling is running a seminar for lines girls and umpires with Senior girls on Friday 7 March, which will assist them to be accredited and attend the Tildesley tournament.

Cross-Country is underway with training every Wednesday and Friday morning from 6.30-7.15am.  Cross-Country is open to all Year groups and various fitness levels, and girls are encouraged to attend.  As well as morning training for the IGSSA competition held at Frensham on Friday 16 May, there will be a Cross-Country relay against Ravenswood at Frensham in April.

Miss Jacqueline Longworth, Teacher of PDHPE/Sport

Softball
On Friday 22 February, Senior Softball and Tennis players were given the opportunity to witness the skill and talent of two of the finest teams in Australian Women’s National Softball league at the Olympic Softball complex in Blacktown.  Thirty-five girls attended the match between NSW and Victoria.  The high standard of skill and dedication of the players created enthusiasm for games played the following day.  Thanks go to all who attended and supported this worthwhile experience.

Sophie Hutchinson, Captain of Softball

Swimming
Despite a chilly afternoon for the Secondary Schools’ Twilight Swimming Carnival on Monday 25 February at Bowral Pool, the Frensham Swim team warmed to the occasion with some fine performances and personal bests.

Grace Musgrove opened the Carnival in great style for Frensham by winning the 200m Freestyle event.  Sophie Meredith followed with 1st place in the 50m 12 years Freestyle and Tatiana Kiewa won the 13 years Freestyle.  Other swimmers who performed well on the night were Georgina Milne, Nina McGrath, Miriam Carr, Emma Gorman, Caitlin McDougall, Nerida Leahy and Eleanor Davies, for whom this was her first season of training and competitive event.

Congratulations to Lyreda Bennetts who was the 12 years runner-up Age Champion and Grace Musgrove who was the 16 years Age Champion.

The team has been training consistently, the emphasis being on speed and fitness.  The team for the IGSSA Carnival will be announced on 7 March and the event will be held on 14 March at the Sydney Aquatic Centre.  The bus will depart from the School at 6.30am.

Mrs Wendy Elliott

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

Visual Arts

Visual Arts classes from Years 8 to 12 have begun the year in earnest, beginning practical tasks and engaging in the study of art criticism and history.  During the first four weeks, Visual Arts students in Years 8, 11 and 12 attended excursions to extend and develop their understanding, knowledge and skills in specific aspects of the curriculum.

On Wednesday 13 February, Visual Arts students in Years 11 and 12 visited the Museum of Contemporary Art and the Art Gallery of NSW.  Students viewed Tim Hawkinson: Mapping the Marvellous, featuring artworks spanning approximately 15 years.  The artworks demonstrated the artist’s scope and variety, both in terms of media and materials and themes and concepts explored.  The Year 11 students were taken through the exhibition by Museum Educators, who focused their discussion concerning Hawkinson’s work around Practice and the Postmodern frame from the syllabus.  The Year 12 students viewed the exhibition independently, making critical judgements concerning Hawkinson’s practice in order to complete a comprehensive review of his work.  This forms their second assessment task.

In the early evening, the students attended the AGNSW to view Artexpress which showcased some of the outstanding Bodies of Work submitted by students across NSW in 2007.  They were able to see the technical and conceptual accomplishment required to achieve a Band 6 in artmaking.  It was good for students to view Genevieve Williams’ (2007 cohort) video The End of Art as part of Artexpress.  This gave the students a sense that being part of future Artexpress exhibitions and reaching the highest level is an achievable goal. 

On Tuesday 19 February, all Year 8 students spent the day in the Upper Holt as part of the Landscape programme in Term 1.  The students completed various workshops on the day, such as the preparation of collograph printing plates using a variety of natural objects collected, some detailed, intimate drawings of small objects and extended views of the landscape.  Whilst the students were challenged by the difficulty in observing and visually recording aspects of the landscape first-hand, they produced intuitive works and strengthened their skills.  The work completed on the day is used to develop resolved paintings and prints.  The students were fortunate to explore aspects of the Visual Arts curriculum in beautiful bushland without leaving the School.

Mr Phil Alldis, Coordinator of Visual Arts

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