GIB GATE • FRENSHAM • STURT
TERM 2 NO 1 - 1 MAY 2008

180 delegates attended the successful three-day conference, Sturt WoodFire 2008, held during the vacation and explored a wide range of issues central to wood fired ceramics.  This was an important event in Sturt’s 67-year history and the first conference to be held at Sturt.

Anzac Day 2008 - An excerpt from Sarah Hayes’ address at the Mittagong Anzac Service
On 25 April, the Frensham community supported the remembrance ceremony for Anzac Day in Mittagong and Sarah Hayes, Year 12, was privileged to speak on behalf of the youth of the community. In a powerful address, she discussed the relevance of Anzac to young people.

Sarah’s speech began:
Bravery, courage, determination, mateship, selflessness and the larrikin spirit: so often these are the terms with which we speak of the ANZACs’ legacy.  But why do stories of a war from over ninety years past still resonate so profoundly with today’s Australians?  Why is it that ANZAC Day is still relevant to me and to my generation?  After all, there are few tangible ties that bind the youth of today with those young men and women whose sacrifices we commemorate annually on this day.  Perhaps that is the crux of the matter.  At the heart of the current spirit of Australia, is a lingering sense of awe, which cannot easily be articulated in words, that ensures that the ANZAC legend endures.  And this is manifested in the pilgrimage of growing numbers of young Australians to Anzac Cove every year …..
And concluded:
Indeed there are innumerable tales of heroism, supreme sacrifice and the legacies of war that pervaded so many lives.  But for me, ANZAC day is best represented by the humble, generous and selfless acts of our soldiers like Alec Campbell and Marcel Caux.  This is what makes ANZAC day so relevant today. This is what speaks to us across the intervening years. Today we are not so much commemorating a war, a particular battle or the thousands of men and women who died before their time.  Today we remember an ideal that they so admirably embodied and the legacy that they left us.

Historian Phillip Knightly wrote ‘It was the birth of a nation, and one can only hope that this thought provided some comfort to the parents of the Anzacs whose very Australian headstone stands where the first landing took place.  It reads:

Died aged 18 near this spot
April 25, 1915
Did his best’

Let there be no illusions.  ANZAC day is not about the glory, not about the failed campaigns and not about the ultimate allied victory.  It is not about the cost to millions of families throughout the world who lost parents, siblings, husbands, wives, sons or daughters, friends or neighbours.  When the years have erased the Australian names from the headstones at Gallipoli, a profoundly indelible legacy will remain.  That image of Australia forged by the ANZACs continues to shape each successive generation.  This is the importance of ANZAC Day for the youth who cannot fathom such loss nor comprehend such slaughter as that of the First World War.  The ideals we commemorate have become perennial facets of the Australian identity and character – bravery, courage, determination, mateship, selflessness and the larrikin spirit.  Lest we forget.

Enrichment & Inspiration:

• A special screening of A Walk to Beautiful was held in Clubbe Hall on Saturday 5 April.  This award-winning film featured the work of Frensham Old Girl Dr Catherine Hamlin AC [Nicholson, 1940] who, with her late husband, founded the Addis Ababa Fistula Hospital in Ethiopia.  More than 250 students and members of the WWS community attended the screening, with the proceeds raised being directed to The Hamlin Fistula Relief and Aid Fund;
• The Global Warming public forum held in Clubbe Hall on Saturday 5 April was attended by more than 300 people from around Australia.  The data presented and the ensuing discussion were of the highest quality.  Participants left with a greater understanding of the complexity of the factors causing global warming and the political agenda influencing the debate;
• Parents and friends are urged to support the Song Company’s performance of Utopia in School Hall this weekend.  The Song Company is the only full-time professional vocal ensemble in Australia which regularly tours in Australia and abroad.  The six-voice ensemble is noted for its flawless singing, virtuosity and versatility and performs at the highest level in virtually all musical genres.  The performance starts at 7.30pm and tickets can be obtained by calling 02 82729500 or via the website www.songcompany.com.au

Acknowledgement to:

• Frensham Junior As Softball Team and the 4ths Tennis Team who were both successful in the IGSSA Finals held in Sydney on the final weekend of Term 1;
• Gold Duke of Edinburgh’s Award participants Amelia Caspers, Emily Alison, Saskia Dumas, Gemma Moran-Gibson, Sally Newton and Grace Nelson,  who completed a four-day expedition during the vacation in the Burrrinjuck National Park along the Murrumbidgee River.  Sarah Hayes, Alice Bowman, Jessica Kennedy, Isabelle Reynolds, Matilda Reynolds, Sophie Bligh and Annika Rookyard completed a four-day expedition in the Nattai National Park along the Nattai River Gorge;
• Mr and Mrs Evans for their tireless work in the Games Field Pavilion over the past four years;
• The Cattle Show Team for their success in the Hoof & Hook section of the Sydney Royal Easter Show (see further details in this newsletter);
• Dr Ken Davidson and Mrs Merilee Harris for their support with the treatment of Cyclops after his recent traffic accident.  Cyclops is now recuperating at Dr Davidson’s Veterinary Clinic after undergoing an operation on his broken leg.  We expect to see him back supporting the Frensham girls at the Games Field in the very near future;
• Frensham Cross-Country Team who competed against Ravenswood in a Relay event at Frensham on the last Sunday of Term 1.  Frensham then hosted the Ravenswood runners for a dinner at the Pavilion.  Both teams gained valuable race experience before the IGSSA Cross-Country to be held this Term;
• Gib Gate and Frensham students who competed in the 2008 New South Wales Interschools’ Equestrian Event at the Sydney International Equestrian Centre, with some excellent results being achieved (see further details in this newsletter);
• Gifted and Talented Music students selected to be mentored by Ms Madden this term: Jessica Blackmore, Chloe Andrews, Hannah Beith, Mary Bokey, Ashleigh Syme, Jordan Ashby, Charlotte Midson, Adrianna Bond and Samantha Hawker;
• Sarah Hayes, Year 12, recipient of an Iris for All-Round Excellence;
• All who attended the ANZAC Day Service in Mittagong – Frensham and Gib Gate were appropriately well represented by students, staff and parents at this year’s Mittagong Service and parents are thanked for supporting the event on the final day of the vacation.

Staffing
Welcomed to Winifred West Schools

• Ms Tracy Samuels who will be joining the Frensham staff as Teacher of English as of Week 2 this term.  Ms Samuels is a highly experienced teacher of English (and History) who leaves her position as Head Teacher, English at Ambervale High School to join the Frensham staff.  She has a strong interest in literature and has been a highly valued member of her school’s leadership team.
• Ms Rose Massey joins the Administration staff of the School as School Secretary (in the office with Mrs Jenny Martin) from Monday 12 May.  Rose has recently returned from the UK where she has worked mostly for publishing businesses.
• Mrs Jennifer Armida commenced as a Classroom Teacher at Gib Gate this week, with responsibility for Kindergarten till the end of this year.

Ahead:

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: http://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.

Parent / Community News

Frensham Fellowship News

GIB GATE

Towards the end of Term 1, students in Transition to Year 2 were joined by their grandparents for the morning.  Grandparents were treated to a dancing presentation from each class and enjoyed listening to some of the students’ favourite songs.  T-2 students were particularly keen to offer grandparents a tour of the classrooms and share their class work with them.  The morning concluded with morning tea provided by T-2 parents.

During the last week of Term 1, students in Years 1, 2 and 4 acted as hosts for Gib Gate Preschool students and their parents during the Transition Tour of Gib Gate.  The tour is the first stage in the Gib Gate Transition to School programme and allows parents and their children the opportunity to gain an insight into the Gib Gate curriculum and classrooms.  Older students enjoyed the opportunity to act as hosts and guided the younger students through sample Science, Mathematics, Computer and PE activities.

Thanks go to the Gib Gate students and parents who joined Winifred West Schools at the Mittagong ANZAC Day ceremony during the vacation.  It was encouraging to see so many of the students eager to participate in the parade and conscious of the significance of the occasion. The involvement of parents who acted as volunteer Legacy collectors during the service was also appreciated.

Ms Sally Robson, Head of Gib Gate

Curriculum Insights
Term 2 at Gib Gate offers students from Kindergarten to Year 6 many new learning opportunities across the curriculum, which teachers have been preparing during the vacation period.

In addition to the engaging classroom programmes offered in each Key Learning Area, a number of co-curricular opportunities is available to students to enrich their learning.  In collaboration with class teachers, Mrs Anne Graham, Ms Noriko Sensei and Mrs LeeAnn Marsh, Teacher Librarian, will teach a unit of work entitled  Konnichiwa Hokiruku Gakuin to prepare the children for the bi-annual cross-cultural visit with students from Gib Gate’s sister school in Kanazawa, Japan.  This programme aims to provide students with a meaningful context to gain greater cross-cultural awareness and develop their Japanese language skills.  Students will learn about the daily lives of children in Japan, their families, schools, homes and cultural festivals and events and compare these with their own lives.  More specifically, they will be ‘introduced’ to the visiting students before their arrival in Term 3 and share in the preparation and planning for their three-day visit.  Mrs Marsh has also prepared a unit of work on the books written by Richard Tulloch, an award-winning Australian children’s author, who will be the School’s visiting speaker during Book Week in Term 3.  Students will be able to enjoy reading and sharing his humorous picture books, novels and play scripts, most notably his famous Barry the Burglar series as they prepare for the annual literary event.

Students have the opportunity to become involved in school debating and the Tournament of the Minds programmes during lunchtimes in Term 2.  Those who are enthusiastic and talented in Robotics will be joining the School’s Robocup team to design and make a group robot for the 2008 Robocup Challenge at the University of NSW, Kensington in Term 3.  A group of Year 5 and 6 students will take part in the national Maths Olympiad Competition run over Terms 2 and 3, which aims to develop and challenge their mathematical problem-solving skills to the highest level.  This programme is conducted during timetabled Mathematics sessions in Years 5 and 6.

Students in Years 3 and 5 will take part in the National Assessment Programme during Week 3 this term.  A large number of Gib Gate students from Years 3 to 6 have also opted to test their skills in the 2008 International Competitions for Australian Schools (ICAS) in the variety of subjects offered at Gib Gate.  This term, students will sit for the Science and Writing Competitions.  Mathematics and English Competitions will take place in Term 3.

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

Extra-Curricular Activities
A full selection of extra-curricular activities is being offered this term.  Places in many of the activities were filled very quickly at the end of last term.  Activities include: Ceramics (3 classes); Woodwork; Robotics; Gymnastics (2 classes); Tennis (3 classes); Printmaking; Puppetry; Martial Arts (2 classes); Fencing and Toy Shops.  Alongside these activities Debating, Robocup Team, Tournament of the Minds and Madrigals are also being run during lunch times.

Music
Parents are reminded of the importance of ensuring regular practice is scheduled into a child's week.  A minimum of five short practices each week is recommended.  Students will only make progress on their musical instrument with a commitment to a regular practice routine, which is their music homework.

Mrs Anne Graham, Gib Gate Coordinator

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
Sturt WoodFire 2008
One hundred and eighty delegates attended the three-day conference, Sturt WoodFire 2008, held during the middle weekend of the recent April vacation.  Delegates attended forums and individual presentations which explored the full range of issues central to wood fired ceramics.  These included environmental concerns, marketing, technical expertise, creative expression and cultural identity.  Speakers included: Robert Bell, Curator of Decorative Arts and Design from the Australian National University; Anthony Bond, Head Curator of International Art, Art Gallery of New South Wales; Ron Meyers, artist from USA; Yasuo Terada, fourth generation potter from Seto, Japan; Janet Mansfield, President of the International Academy of Ceramics; Dr Gary Hill, Lecturer, La Trobe University, Melbourne and many more.  Also, delegates saw presentations including surveys of wood firing from a diverse range of countries including Egypt, Canada, West Timor, Germany, the USA and Japan.  Demonstrations included: firing the anagama kiln, performing tea ceremony, raku firing and three of the key presenters demonstrated their making methods.

The forums and individual presentations were held concurrently in Clubbe Hall and in Frensham Drama Theatre.  Over 70 artists exhibited work in a range of exhibitions held at Sturt in the Gallery and Shop, in the foyer of Clubbe Hall, in School Hall and in the Archives building.  Significantly, two items of work by Neil Hoffmann (Tasmania) and Chester Nealie (Gulgong, NSW) were purchased for the collection at the Australian National Gallery, Canberra.

This was an important event for Sturt.  Although wood conferences are held approximately every three years in Australia, this is the first wood firing conference and, indeed, the first conference of any kind to be held at Sturt.  The combination of high quality exhibition spaces, excellent conference facilities and a sense of historical significance touched many delegates, marking this conference with a distinct character and depth which will be remembered by all those who attended and providing an important event in the 67-year history of Sturt.

Sturt Gallery
Twenty-six local printmakers are exhibiting recent work at Sturt Gallery until 18 May.  A large crowd heard Marianne Newman (from Marianne Newman Gallery Sydney) speak about the value of printmaking at the opening of this exhibition, on Sunday 27.  The Southern Highlands Printmakers is a group of local artists formed in 1993 to provide support for local printmakers.  This group exhibits regularly and presents work at Sturt Gallery every two years.  The current show reveals a wide range of printmaking techniques including collagraphs, etching, screen printing, book making, unique-state prints, lino-cuts and digital printing.

Sturt Winter School
There are vacancies in all 18 courses in the Winter School.  If anyone is interested in taking part in a week-long course in a range of art and craft disciplines, please ring Sturt on 02 4860 2083 or view the website, which has full details regarding the Winter School to be held from 7–11 July 2008.  Courses include: basketry, bookbinding, botanical illustration, printing onto clay, etching for jewellery, fabric printing, weaving, knitting, ikebana, life drawing, mosaics, gouache, pastels, photography, tapestry weaving, art for kids and clay for kids.

Megan Patey, Head of Sturt

FRENSHAM

Director of Studies

National Assessment Programme – Literacy and Numeracy (NAPLAN)
In Week 3 the NAPLAN Tests will be conducted across the nation in Years 3, 5, 7 and 9.  As highlighted in a previous newsletter, the NAPLAN tests are federal initiatives aimed at providing diagnostic information about how students are progressing against national benchmarks.  In Semester 2, schools and parents will receive detailed information about student performance and Frensham faculties will then look at the implications of this data for teaching and learning.

In the lead up to these tests, students in both English and Mathematics classes will be given specific information about the test formats and access to practice samples.  The timetable for the tests is as follows:

The following information about each component comes from the NAPLAN (http://www.naplan.edu.au) website:

Language Conventions
At Years 7 and 9 in the Language Conventions test there will be approximately 50 to 60 questions.  Half will be questions on spelling and half on grammar and punctuation.

Writing
This year students will be asked to write a narrative based on a stimulus sheet to be provided.  Students in Years 7 and 9 will be given five minutes’ planning time, 30 minutes’ writing time and five minutes’ editing time.  Students will be assessed on 10 areas: audience, text structure, ideas, character and setting, vocabulary, cohesion, paragraphing, sentence structure, punctuation and spelling.

Reading
Students in Years 7 and 9 will receive a booklet of material containing eight passages which illustrate different writing styles.  There will be between 45 and 50 questions, which the student will answer in the 65 minutes allowed for the test.

Most of the answers required will be in multiple-choice format although sometimes students will be asked to write a short answer in the space provided in their own words.

Numeracy
Students in Years 7 and 9 will sit two tests for Numeracy.  One test will permit them to use a calculator for assistance and the other test will not permit calculator use.  There will be a total of approximately 60 questions (30 questions x 2 sessions) with students having 40 minutes to answer the questions from each test (80 minutes in total).

Tests will be conducted in Kennedy Annexe and where two components are completed on the same day students will be allowed a 20-minute break.

Mr Matthew McMahon, Director of Studies

Director of Boarding

Two new students are welcomed to Frensham and there are also other girls who are boarding for the first time this term.  It is good to see students returning from holidays, greeting friends and exchanging news, with most House Staff welcoming new students as Years 10 and 11 move Houses.  Staff are looking forward to working with the new Heads of House who were announced last term as they play an integral role in the running of the Houses and are a vital part of the leadership development programme.  

This Closed Weekend there will be a full programme including Sport, Activities, Senior Study and a Barista Course.

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

Agriculture

In Term 1, Year 9 Agricultural Technology students began the year planting vegetables such as peas, lettuce and radish.  They have also been studying the Beef Industry and completing practical activities at the cattle yards with the School’s steers.  Twenty, one-day-old chickens arrived during the term in preparation for the class to study in Term 2 and these provided an enjoyable distraction, with a new poultry shed installed over the Christmas vacation to house the chickens.

In Year 10 Agricultural Technology students have been studying two new topics in the Frensham Agriculture programme – Sheep and Hydroponics.  The first day of Term 2 saw the arrival of three first cross ewes kindly donated by David and Clarissa Mort (Constance, Year 11).  They were soon joined by three more Corriedale ewes, two of which have since given birth to ewe lambs.  The ewes were donated by Helen and Warwick Ashby (Jordan, Year 10).  The final member of the flock, a Poll Dorset ram, also arrived during the vacation.  Year 10 students have been observing events as they unfold.  The Hydroponics unit was installed in Week 1 of Term 1.  It is a 96-plant unit set up for growing herbs and lettuce.  The class will conduct growth trials this term using the unit versus conventional growing practices and the produce will be available for sale.

Year 11 Agriculture is underway with the Preliminary component of the HSC course.  Students have completed an Overview of the Agricultural Industry as well as studying Animal Production, observing the beef cattle, chickens and sheep at the School.  This term will include a trip to Mudgee to undertake a Farm Case Study.

Year 12 Agriculture students have been completing the HSC course and assessments, with the class researching land degradation problems in Australia and presenting a slide show and oral presentation on their findings.

A new Farm Management Team has been set up to assist in running the many enterprises which are now part of the Frensham Agricultural Department.  Each week, interested Year 9 girls receive a list of tasks which need to be completed by the end of the week.  The girls choose their task and team members, completing the task in their own time.  Tasks so far have included feeding cattle, cleaning water troughs and weed management.  Many girls use this as a Service component for the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Scheme.

Show Cattle Team

The Show Cattle Team from Term 4 2007 and Term 1 2008 has been preparing for the Term 1 Shows.  In Term 4, the girls began preparing two Angus steers donated by local breeder Mr Steve Simpson of Wylarah Angus Stud at Wingello, the School’s Murray Grey steer which was born at Easter last year, a cross-bred steer and two heifers donated by Jane and Alan Kent (Laura, Year 11).  Most of the term was spent grooming, washing and quietening the cattle down in preparation for breaking them in.  The breaking in began this year and the girls concentrated on the steers which included a new cross-bred steer from Mr and Mrs Kent.

The Show Team did not compete at the Robertson Show this year, as it coincided with Open Day.  The Moss Vale Show, however, allowed the Team to put all their efforts into practice.  ‘Harry’, the Murray Grey steer received a 1st place in the steer competition.  In the Paraders’ Competition, Olivia Luff (Year 8) and Tillia Withers (Year 9) both qualified for the Finals in their age groups.  Georgina Kelly, Victoria Sanderson and Georgina MacDiarmid (Year 8) and Harriet Robertson and Georgina Milne (Year 9) competed in the Paraders’ Competition for the first time and are to be commended for their efforts.

From Easter Saturday for a week the Senior members of the team, Ellyse O’Leary-Sims (Year 12), Laura Kent and Hannah Burrows (Year 11) attended the Sydney Royal Easter Show with the four steers.  ‘Conan’, a cross-bred steer donated by Mr and Mrs Kent, competed in the Trade Steer Competition sponsored by Woolworths.  He was unplaced in a very high quality field of mainly commercially feedlotted steers.  ‘Zorro’ and ‘Fabio’ competed in the Angus steer and Open steer competitions.  ‘Harry’ competed in the School Steer competition.

The Sydney Royal Easter Show steer competitions are judged on both ‘Hoof’ and ‘Hook’ so the steers were loaded onto trucks at the end of the week to be judged again.  ‘Zorro’ was placed 3rd in his class in the Virtual Taste Test Competition which is based on a series of eating quality criteria.  ‘Harry’, the School grown Murray Grey steer, received a Silver Medal in the School section for receiving over 87 points.  This again is a set of criteria to determine eating quality.  He gained the highest points not only in his middleweight class but also in all classes in the Schools’ section therefore winning Champion School Carcase.  This is a major achievement as he was the only steer bred by a school entered in the Competition.  He was only half a point behind the Grand Champion steer and this placed Frensham 3rd overall out of about 150 steers.

The Cattle Show Team must be thanked for their time and effort preparing the steers for competition and Ellyse O’Leary-Sims, in her role as Head of Cattle Team, for instructing and leading the team so effectively.

Mrs Leonie Harris, Coordinator Agriculture/Show Cattle Team

Career News

Throughout last term, Year 12 students had individual interviews to discuss their options and planning for the future.  From these discussions, tertiary and other information is tailored to each student and distributed as appropriate.  Information has begun arriving, including the 2009 Directory Undergraduate (a preliminary universities guide) which will be discussed in Form before being given to Year 12.  The Directory is very useful as it lists current courses and availability across all Australian universities, unlike the UAC Guide which only lists NSW and ACT universities.  The 2009 UAC Guide is not published until August, thus the Directory Undergraduate is a useful guide in the meantime and parents are strongly encouraged to discuss and share in this information with their daughter.

Those students considering medicine as a career are required to undertake the UMAT (Undergraduate Medicine & Health Sciences Admission Test).  Each of these students has been briefed and reminded that the closing date to register is Friday 6 June 2008.

Year 10 Work Experience
The mail out to employers has commenced and we are awaiting responses, which will include an information sheet for each student informing them of work hours, dress code, meal arrangements and work experience duties.  Once all the information sheets are received from employers, they will be handed to students together with the Work Experience Journals, two weeks prior to the commencement of Work Experience.  On Wednesday 18 June, Career Testing will be conducted and detailed information about this testing will be sent home mid-term.

The 2008 National Careers & Employment Expo will be held at the Sydney Convention & Exhibition Centre, 9-10 May, 9am–4pm.  All Senior students who are able to attend are encouraged to do so.  Visit www.eocexpo.com.au

Mrs Cherylynne Williams, Careers Adviser

English and Drama

In Week 2, Ms Anthea Faulkner, a Frensham Old Girl, joins the faculty for 4 weeks as a Practicum.  She is currently studying for her Diploma of Education at the University of New England.  Ms Faulkner will be working with classes in Years 7- 11.

In Term 2, all classes in Years 8-11 complete their Shakespearean study for the Year, with a range of other activities also programmed to coincide with these modules.  Please note that Year 7 students will do their unit on the introduction to Shakespeare and A Midsummer Night’s Dream in Term 3.

Year 8 students continue looking at Shakespearean comedy with a module on Much Ado About Nothing; girls in Year 9 study the romantic tragedy of Romeo and Juliet in both drama and film text, with their assessment linked to the Stage performance at the Bell Theatre in Sydney; Year 10 students focus on the construction of tragedy in Macbeth, also with a theatre performance planned; girls in Year 11 study Othello, with an introduction to critical study.  Each of these units is designed to build on the knowledge and skills from the previous year, with the study always focused on making Shakespeare accessible in the modern world.

The Bell Shakespeare Actors at Work programme has already performed in Term 1 as an introduction to this study in Term 2.  This year the Drama Department will also be entering in a Shakespeare Festival in June.

On Friday 9 May, two students from Year 11, Emma Campbell and Victoria Macarthur-Stanham, will be speaking in the regional Semi-Final of the Plain English speaking Competition, this year to be held in Nowra.

Mrs Trish Symons, Director Language/Arts

French News

Year 9 Visit to the Alliance Française de Sydney
On Wednesday 2 April, 25 Year 9 French students spent the day participating in two workshops at the Alliance Française de Sydney.  The Alliance offers unique educational visits which provide an opportunity for students to immerse themselves in a French environment right in the heart of Sydney.

The first workshop, Atelier Chasse au Trésor, introduced the students to the Alliance through authentic French experiences – games, activities and a treasure hunt in French.  The second workshop, Atelier Phonétique, was designed to help students with pronunciation through games, songs, rhymes and tongue twisters.

The students are to be commended on the way in which they participated in the activities with enthusiasm, finishing the experience with a delicious morning tea of hot chocolate and croissants and a lunch of crêpes, salad and chocolate cake.

Year 10 Food Tasting
At the end of Term 1, having completed a unit on French food, the Year 10 class was treated to a dégustation française.  On offer were baguettes and croissants, served with jam, ham and a variety of cheeses such as camembert and brie, as well as delicious pâtés made and donated by Monsieur Cosyn.  Thank you to Monsieur Cosyn for his kind contribution to the tasting.  Merci Monsieur!

Madame Heininger, French Teacher

Equestrian

The EFA NSW Mitavite Interschools’ Championships were held at the Sydney International Equestrian Centre from 23-25 April.  The team of Frensham and Gib Gate students which competed in every aspect of the Championships was not deterred by the poor weather leading up to, and during, the competition.  The team gained strong results in Dressage, Showing, Hacking and also Vaulting, with some excellent results attained by first time competitors.  Some students braved the mud on the Cross-country course and in the Show Jumping rings to achieve admirable scores and times.  The whole team is to be congratulated on its effort, and parents are thanked for their role in making the competition possible.

Frensham riders have also competed at a high level in Showing and Hacking events recently, including the Horse of the Year Show and a variety of classes at the Royal Easter Show.  These classes require dedicated preparation and detailed presentation and the girls are to be commended.  Full results available on http://home.swiftdsl.com.au/~lever/enic/2008schools.htm

Miss Amanda Sharpe

The Frensham Equestrian Team participated in the 2008 Interschools’ Championships from 23-25 April at the Sydney International Equestrian Centre.

The first day of competition consisted of two events: Combined Training and Eventing.  It was a very wet, muddy day, which made it quite a challenge!  The Cross-Country phase was initially cancelled because the ground was so wet and slippery but, after having a meeting with the riders, it was decided that the course could be ridden at a safe speed, threatening elimination for anyone galloping.
Day two consisted of Showjumping, Dressage and Vaulting.  The ground was still muddy but the sun was shining and Frensham was extremely successful, achieving many places and also some spills, thankfully with no broken bones.  Girls competed at all levels and it was good to see Frensham being represented in high level Showjumping and Dressage.  The vaulting was held in the indoor arena during the day and on Wednesday night the Showjumping Equitation phase was held in the indoor arena under lights.

Frensham competed in the Hacking and the Showman.  The Hacking was very competitive because the Horse of the Year competition was being held the next day.  It was good to see the riders being well placed in all the rings. 

D’Arcy Bush (Year 9)

Music

The Music Department is looking forward to hosting a performance by one of the most respected vocal ensembles in Australia on Saturday 3 May at 7.30pm.  The Song Company is giving the first of two performances at Frensham, Utopia, in School Hall, with their programme ranging from Renaissance to contemporary pieces.

Senior Music students and the Madrigals are expected to make every effort to attend and tickets will be available at the door for family and friends.

Mr Michael Spencer, Coordinator of Music

Sport

Soccer and Basketball trials ran smoothly last term and girls are looking forward to the IGSSA competition.  Training commences this week and games start on Saturday.  Please find attached the draws.  Shin pads and mouth guards are compulsory for Soccer.

Cross-Country is underway with girls continuing training from Term 1.  The Cross-Country Carnival will be held at Frensham on Friday 16 May, commencing with ‘walk the course’ at 9am finishing at 2pm.  Twelve-year-olds and 13-year-olds will run 3km, 14-17 year-olds 4km and 18-year-olds will run 6km.  Age is counted as at 31 December 2008.

Athletics training will commence this week, in preparation for the IGSSA invitational carnivals held on 9 May, 23 May and 13 June and the IGSSA Carnival held on 20 June. 

Miss Jacqui Longworth, Teacher of PDHPE/Sport

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