GIB GATE • FRENSHAM • STURT
TERM 2 NO 2 - 15 MAY 2008

Boarding: Education in the Round was the theme of the 2008 Boarding Schools’ Association (BSA) Conference for Heads of School held in York in the first week of our term. 

Through my attendance there was valuable opportunity to discuss with colleague Heads of more than 120 Boarding Schools the particular challenges for and the proposed direction being taken in residential education within the United Kingdom.  Boarding numbers in the UK grew by just over 10% in 2007 with the rise considered to be a reflection of the increased understanding of what is offered within a modern boarding school environment, particularly in terms of the focus on values and community and the direct linkage of positive personal relationships to strong achievement, in the broadest sense. 

As the only delegate from Australia, I was warmly welcomed by 2007-2008 Chair of the Head’s Association and Chair of the 2008 Conference Mr Geoffrey Boult, Head of Giggleswick School, who visited Frensham after the 2005 Conference and facilitated meetings with Heads of Schools in which I had a particular interest.  I was also able to renew acquaintance with the Heads of Downe House, St Catherine’s, Malvern St James, St Mary’s Calne, Cheltenham Girls, Cobham Hall and Tudor Hall and meet the recently appointed Heads of Schools of schools I had visited in 2003 or 2004.

Speakers at the Conference included Gervase Phinn, Former teacher, Inspector of Schools and writer, Dr Martin Stephen - High Master of St Paul’s School in London, Mr Matthew Burgess of the Independent Schools Council and Mr Tim Holgate, retiring Director of Training for the BSA.  In a field of strong speakers, it was the address by Professor Bart McGetttrick, Emeritus Professor of Education at Glasgow University that resonated most powerfully for me.  Speaking directly to the Conference theme he asserted the possibilities for boarding schools to foster personal and social well-being and skill and high quality achievement – not as alternatives but as the two essentials of our work, noting that ‘No greater good can a school do than prepare the inner self of its students for a life of change in a world that sorely needs their gifts.’

It was particularly interesting to note the UK response to the recent work in Australian schools on ‘happiness and well being’ by such as Professor Martin Seligman and Dr Toni Noble.  Much is being written for education and for the general community about wellness and positive psychology and parents of Year 7 will note the work that has been undertaken by Deputy Head, Mr Geoff Marsh, with Year 10 as mentors, using a programme designed to strengthen self-awareness and the ability to relate well to others.

Career and Studies news of Former Students

• On the Sunday prior to the BSA Conference I enjoyed an informal meeting in London with a group of 2007 leavers: Chevaune Aldridge, Liberty Bell, Georgia Kirkpatrick Elizabeth MacDiarmid, Clementine Robertson, Rowena Shannon, Annabelle Westmacott, Rachel Guttler and Sarah Winter-Irving.  Stories of study, GAP and work placements were shared and I was offered warm wishes to take back to the School, particularly for staff and for current Year 12.  There was a significant positive energy around the café table!
• Phoebe Williams (1999) has been awarded the Clarendon Scholarship by Oxford University and will commence study for her Master of Science Degree in Global Health when she completes her studies in Medicine at Sydney University later this year.  Phoebe’s Honours paper in Medicine was based on the field work she initiated in Uganda on malaria issues in Sub-Saharan Africa. [Sydney University now gives a Credit Point in the Medical Degree if a first year student completes a field study in Africa with ‘Hands of Help’, the charity established by Phoebe.]

Recent thanks received:

• School of St Jude, Tanzania
   ‘Thank you so much for your donation that we used to help pay our weekly market bills of food for students and staff.  We say thank you so much because we did not live any day without eating food…’
• Simran Desai, Havergal School, Canada
  ‘…The opportunity you gave me has given memories, knowledge and confidence that simply cannot be bought…it is far more priceless than that.  I want to thank each and every person for making my time at Frensham so enriching.’

Acknowledgement to:

• Gib Gate competitors and Year 10 Frensham students who were involved in Monday’s Southern Highlands Primary Schools’ Cross Country event on the Frensham Games Field.  Particular thanks to Rosie Latimer (Year 10) who acted as student photographer to assist Ms Robson;
• Coaches involved in the start of Term 2 Sport at both Gib Gate and Frensham; the keenness and skill of students is nurtured by enthusiastic, skilled coaches;
• Gib Gate staff and students for the warm hospitality offered to mothers at the Mothers’ Day Breakfast;
• Year 9 Parents for their willing acceptance of responsibility for the management of the Games Field Pavilion on Saturday mornings;
• Members of Year 12 who prepared a moving service with the theme Man’s Inhumanity to Man’ for the first Sunday of term;
• Senior members of Music Elective classes and Senior Choir on their attendance at the remarkable Saturday evening performance in School Hall by the Song Company – Utopia.  We look forward with great anticipation to the Song Company’s return for the Foundation Fundraiser on Saturday 26 July;
• All students of Year 10, for their work with Year 7 on the Bounce Back (Peer Relations) programme over the last few weeks of Term 1 and again this term;
• Year 8 students who are preparing to host their parents and lead the School Service and Concert over their Parent Weekend 16-18 May;
• Lucinda Beak, Eve Hoskins and Constance Mort on being selected for the IGSSA Invitational Hockey team, before going on to compete in the NSWCIS competition on Friday 16 May;
• Property Manager Mr Shaun Shephard and the Property team for their efforts to prepare the Sturt Campus for WoodFire 2008; recent visitors will note the transformation of the campus;
• Editor of the Chronicle Ms Liz Stephenson, Assistant Editor, Mrs Liz Rule, Designer, Indra Deigan and Events Photographer, Ms Sabine Madden for their outstanding work to complete the 2007 Frensham Chronicle.  Copies for current students will be distributed this week and mailed copies were posted last Friday. (Please contact the School immediately if your copy has not been received.)

Year 8 Weekend
As part of the plenary session for the Year 8 Parent Weekend discussions, Ms Joanne Parsons will present to parents and staff an important message about education of teenagers in the areas of Drugs and Alcohol. The shared understanding that should result from this half-hour seminar forms an essential component of the Personal Development programme for Year 8.

Uniform Shop and Clothing Pool

Uniform Shop

• Please note in the Community News the details for contact of the Uniform Shop to place orders. 
• Gib Gate parents are able to arrange for delivery of purchased items to the Gib Gate campus by contacting the Shop by phone, fax or e-mail.
• Frensham parents are able to arrange for delivery of purchased items to Company Office, for collection by students.
• Order Forms are also being finalised for distribution and addition to the School’s website, to facilitate this process.

We continue to source a replacement for the green Rainbird coat for Gib Gate students.

Clothing Pool

• With the rapid transition to the new uniform, we expect to have sufficient supplies of second-hand clothing for Clothing Pool for sale at the end of this winter season, for wear in 2009. 
• Further advice about the re-establishment of the Clothing Pool to service Gib Gate and Frensham will be included in the Newsletter before the end of this term. 

AHEAD - BIRTHDAY EVENTS:
Please see the flier with details of the 95th Birthday Events.  Highlights for the parent community include:

• The Winifred West Schools Birthday Service, involving Frensham, Gib Gate and Sturt staff and students commencing in Clubbe Hall at 10.00am on Friday 30 May.  Parents are welcome to attend and are asked to be seated by 9.50am.
• WWS Foundation Annual Golf Day at the Bowral Country Club - Friday 30 May.
• Saturday 31 May – full programme of events for students and parents from 12noon, culminating in The Birthday Play Arsenic and Old Lace.
• Frensham’s 95th Birthday Service on Sunday 1 June in Clubbe Hall, commencing at 10.00am [Doors open at 9: 00am]
• Wednesday 11 June: The Annual General Meeting of Fellowship – Royal Sydney Golf Club.

I look forward to meeting parents, grandparents, Old Girls and former parents and staff, in the context of our 95th Birthday!

AHEAD:

Parent / Community News

GIB GATE

A beautiful morning provided the perfect setting for the Gib Gate Mothers’ Day Breakfast held on Friday 9 May. Origami flower making and Monster drawing provided challenges and lots of laughs and the beaded bookmarks appealed to all creative mothers and children. Everyone enjoyed the opportunity to join in a sing along in the Music Centre with old favourites such as Hey Jude and Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious, proving to be very popular.  Line dancing in Preschool was a success with all age groups and we thank Mrs Lomax (Preschool Transition Teacher) for leading the dancing for the whole hour!

The Cross-Country team which represented Gib Gate at the SHIPS Carnival on Monday 12 May was an exceptionally fit and determined group of competitors and all participated with enthusiasm and perseverance.  I would like to thank Mrs Caroline Wikramanayake, Mrs Lisa Macqueen and the Year 4 parents for organising and running the FOGG Barbeque and cake stall.

A Mothers’ Day Thank You Message
I just quickly wanted to write to let you know how much we enjoyed the Mothers’ Day breakfast last week.  I thought it was really well organised and we managed to get around most activities in the hour.  There were lots of giggles in the line dancing and a few teary eyes in the sing along and my daughter was so proud of her school and loved showing off her work.  Please pass on “well dones” to those involved and I look forward to next year’s.

Written by a Mother to her child
Words cannot express how proud of you I am and how much I love you.  Every day I watch you grow up and take your place as a wonderful member of the family and the community.  Keep up the good work.

Ms Sally Robson, Head of Gib Gate

STURT

FRIENDS OF STURT Ruth Wright (President), Joan Dinning (Secretary), Denise Sumner, Julie Musgrave, Bill Dinning, Henrietta & Ralph Ierace, Angela Jones (Ex-officio members: Tom Harrington, Melanie Olde, Paul Davis, Megan Patey)

Sturt News
Sturt Winter School
Seventy students have enrolled in the Winter School, attracted to the wide range of new courses being offered this year.  The Winter School will run over five days, from 7-11 July.  Some of these new courses:

• Annie Trevillian will teach screen printing and help students develop individual approaches to their image development and designing, before creating prints screened onto fabric.
• Bookmaking tutor, Caren Florance, will guide students through learning a range of structures and techniques for book making, from a simple concertina fold through to more complex formats.
• Belinda Biggs will teach botanical painting, commencing with tonal drawing and moving onto learning about types of paints, paper and techniques used for botanical painting.
• Petra Svoboda will teach printing techniques onto clay
• The Ikebana course will show students how to discover artistic talent using plants and flowers through the art of Sogetsu Ikebana, making this traditional craft more than just flower arranging.
• Knitting with Liz Gemmell, is suitable for students with basic knitting ability who would like to extend their expertise.  Participants will learn to push traditional patterns into the modern era of wearable art by exploring colour and using left over yarns.
• Noel Ford, teaching painting with gouache, will take students through colour mixing exercises before moving onto painting still life subjects, making this course ideal for those who wish to expand their knowledge of colour and to paint expressive and personal still life subject matter.
• See tapestry weaving done in a completely new way.  Dimity Kidstone will show students how to blend colours and textures using a variety of materials, including wool, cotton rags, string, plastic bags and other recycled materials.
• Monique van Nieuwland from Canberra, will take weaving at the Winter School and show students how to work with light weight gauze weaves - the open stable gauze structure allows for speedy weaving.  Participants will also learn the supplementary warp technique and make several items of woven cloth during this course.

12-Week Fine Woodworking courses
Students are just about to complete the first of three 12-week fine woodworking courses.  The second course commences with tutor Roy Schack on 30 June and continues until 19 September.  There is still one position available in this course.

Enrolments are being taken for the full-time Certificate IV in Fine Woodworking for 2009.  For details ring Sturt on 4860 2083 or Tom Harrington on 02 4860 2090.

Sturt Gallery
Annie Trevillian will be Artist-in-Residence at Sturt from 9 June – 19 July this year.  A textile artist for over 23 years, Annie breathes fresh life into the art of screen printing.  Known for her individual approach to printmaking, she creates personal imagery, combining this with a fine colour sense and exquisite command of design to create artful fabrics and prints on paper.  Annie will be showing a large collection of her printed pieces at Sturt Gallery for two months, opening at 11am on Sunday 25 May, when Annie will be present to talk about her work.  The exhibition, entitled Annie Trevillian, A Printed Life, ends on 13 July.

For information regarding all of the above, please ring Sturt on 02 4860 2083 or view the website on www.sturt.nsw.edu.au

Megan Patey, Head of Sturt

FRENSHAM

Deputy Head

On Friday 30 May, Winifred West Schools, Gib Gate, Frensham and Sturt, have their combined Birthday Service in Clubbe Hall.  The Birthday celebrations for Winifred West Schools are an important part of the yearly calendar, offering the community a chance to reflect on what we have and where we are heading as well as the opportunity to celebrate what we have achieved.  The information below outlines the programme for Friday 30 May and the expectations for girls.

Winifred West Schools’ Birthday Service:

• Friday 30 May 10-11am in Clubbe Hall.
• Dress for the Birthday Service is full school uniform with blazers and hats.

Birthday Lunch:

• Friday 30 May 12.45- 2pm in the Dining Room.
• Dress for Lunch should be appropriate – smart casual for the party.
• Each table hosts a member of Staff and during lunch the girls assume the role of hosts.

Mr Geoff Marsh, Deputy Head

Director of Studies

Education in Australia has reached a crossroads as schools across the nation wait to hear whether changes will occur in terms of a Federal curriculum and the possible structures which these might necessitate.  This week’s National Assessment Programme (NAP) Tests in Years 7 and 9 are part of the first step towards consideration of a National Curriculum.

The AHISA Director of Studies Conference (Sunday 4 – Monday 5 May) at Trinity Grammar School provided an opportunity for curriculum leaders to speak and hear about such matters.  Apart from an update on the National Curriculum, John O’Brien, Director of Curriculum and Paul Hewitt, Inspector School Registration, provided a Board of Studies Curriculum update and they both spoke about the procedures which schools face in terms of School Registration.  Every five years, established schools need to update their registration and therefore it was useful to hear about ways in which the Board of Studies has developed its online and face-to-face processes.

Professor George Cooney spoke about Myths and Misconceptions pertaining to the Universities Admissions Index (UAI).  He believes that there is still great misunderstanding about how the UAI works, with many people still regarding it as a mark (when in fact it is a number linked to a rank).  It was useful to hear that Frensham’s approach to subject selections was reflected in his recommendations.

Dr Toni Noble spoke about Wellness as well as the use of Multiple Intelligences in the classroom.  Dr Noble, working from the premise of catering for various learning styles, linked this to the work of pre-eminent psychologists such as Martin Seligman.  There has been a great move towards ‘thinking about thinking’ in recent years and she cited numerous studies which stress how ideas such as ‘flow’ (that feeling of total involvement and absorption in an activity), stem from intellectual challenge.  While not new, we know that such ideas can have a strong impact in the classroom and on the development of students.

Mr Matthew McMahon, Director of Studies

Director of Boarding

The establishment of a real rapport with students is one of the tenets of a Boarding House.  It is knowing that children do not, as it said in a recent article, ‘come out of the cradle wise and adult’ and it is in the skill of listening and providing a sounding board that House Staff are so important.  They are a consistent presence and help children learn from their mistakes.  Mrs Vicky Tuck, Principal of Cheltenham Ladies’ College in England was reported in The Times as saying that ‘helicopter parents’, who hover constantly over their children, are blighting the development of their offspring.  She believes that the ‘trend towards parents confiding in their children and treating them like mini-counsellors is preventing children from being carefree and learning from their mistakes.  Boarding offers a wonderful opportunity for children.  Just living in a community, being part of communal living, is an incredibly good thing.’

It is being part of a community that the Friday night activities especially foster.  These activities are usually initiated by Prefects and Senior girls, assisted by staff.  The objective is that the activity will involve all students together regardless of their year group.  Weekend activities during the day are often more year group specific and Saturday nights can either be whole School or House activities.

Time for individual pursuits or periods of quiet and relaxation are also important parts of any weekend programme.  Students need to be able to use their imagination, have time to read, time to reflect, time to talk.  Every minute of the day does not need to be timetabled or structured.  Learning to enjoy one’s own company and create amusements for oneself are important skills to learn.

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

Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Scheme

The Silver expedition was very successful at the end of Term 1, with 35 students completing their qualifying adventure.  The weather was good and, even though some were anxious about climbing Kingpin Mountain at Tallong, all walked it quite comfortably, with groups completing the hike in less time than was expected.

During the holidays, two Gold expeditions were also completed by students.  One group was hiking sections of the Hume and Hovell track near Tumbarumba and the other group was closer to home, completing the arduous Nattai Gorge walk.  The excerpt below from Sally Newton’s report gives some idea of the experiences.

‘As the sun fell we lit a fire and boiled some water to cook our spaghetti and chicken curry.  The weather had also started to get cool so the hot food warmed us up.  After our hot chocolate, we washed up, put on our thermals and piled into the tents by seven o’clock.  I was very warm and woke occasionally to the rather loud ballads of the owls.  However, one girl who found it very hard to sleep commented ‘I think I’m sleeping in an Esky.  It’s warmer outside than in my sleeping bag.’

The next trip will be a Bronze qualifier on 21 and 22 June.  At this stage it will consist of canoeing and hiking, which are expected to challenge the 50 students who will be taking part.

English and Drama

Over the next two weeks, girls will attend a number of performances, all of which relate to the units studied in class.  On Thursday 15 May, students in Years 7-9 will see the stage production in Clubbe Hall of Soldier Boy, a non-fiction text studied in Year 8.  In the following week, on Thursday 22 May, all girls in Year 9 will travel to Sydney for the Sydney Theatre Production of Romeo and Juliet.  This year, the appraisal of this production will be incorporated into the assessment programme for Year 9. That evening, the Year 12 Extension English class will also travel to Sydney to Star of the Sea Theatre to watch David Williamson’s Dead White Males.  The opportunity to attend this is fortuitous as this play is their final set text in the HSC Course, with study to begin towards the end of Term 2.

Preparation is under way in Year 11 Drama for a Shakespeare Festival to be held at St Mary’s Star of the Sea in Wollongong on Wednesday 25 June.  Entries will be made in both the dualogue and the small group sections of this competition.

Auditions for the Junior Production of Small Poppies begin this week under the direction of Mrs Hannah and assisted by Mrs McClay.

Rehearsals for the Birthday production of Arsenic and Old Lace continue in the weeks leading up to the Birthday Weekend, as per the published schedule.

In most years, the assessment in Term 2 is an oral task and work on developing these presentations should begin when the assessment notifications are issued. It is important that students become confident in communicating clearly with an audience.

Students working on Extension 2 Major Works are reaching the final stages of the project with drafts needing to be completed before the end of Term 2 for editing.

Mrs Trish Symons, Director Language/Arts

Music

Senior Frensham Music students and choristers attended an inspirational concert by The Song Company on Saturday 3 May.  This pre-eminent vocal ensemble performed a programme ranging from Medieval organum, through Renaissance motets, to a contemporary Australian work by Nigel Butterly (who was in attendance) in School Hall where the intimate setting and resonant acoustic made for a memorable occasion.  On the same day, the Madrigals were given a masterclass in vocal technique and the interpretation of text by Roland Peelman, the The Song Company’s artistic director.

The Song Company returns to Frensham on Saturday 26 July to give a second programme entitled Waltzing Matilda. 

Music students and ensembles are preparing for major performance opportunities in the upcoming Year 8 and Year 12 Parent Weekends.  Another important goal for the Senior Choir and Madrigals is the approaching Choral Festival, hosted by Frensham, on Wednesday 4 June.  There will be a massed choir comprising visiting schools from Sydney and Canberra, individual choral items as well as a guest performance by a professional female ensemble in the style of Bulgarian choral work, Trio Pippero with Mara and Llew Kiek.  Please add this date to your diaries.

Mr Michael Spencer, Coordinator of Music

Science

On Sunday 4 May, a Year 12 Chemistry Workshop was conducted by Mrs Bronwen Hegarty.  Mrs Hegarty is an experienced Board of Studies marker, question writer and textbook author who provided the class with many valuable insights into answering HSC questions and maximising marks.  The four-hour intensive workshop also revised the first module The Production of Materials.  It is encouraging that Mrs Hegarty found that the group demonstrated a very good understanding of the concepts presented in this course and this allowed her to provide specific advice on answering questions.

Initial feedback from the Chemistry class indicates that it found this a highly worthwhile experience, with many students taking the opportunity to ask for specific advice on examination style, trends in questions and marking schemes.  Another Chemistry Workshop will be held later in the term and students will now need to build on the strong foundation which has been provided to ensure they reach their potential in Chemistry.

Mr Jason Smith, Senior Teacher in Science

Sport

On Sunday 4 May, the Basketball squad was given the opportunity to participate in a Basketball clinic which offered girls the chance to improve their skills for the season ahead.  Team members from the Moss Vale Magic State League Team coached the girls, taking them through many drills, teaching skills and sharing pointers which they can apply in game situations. 

The Athletics season is off to a good start, through the first IGSSA invitational carnival.  On Friday 9 May the team competed at the Sydney International Athletic Centre.  The invitational carnivals provide the team with valuable race experience as well as practice on the tartan track.

The Junior Dance class, consisting of Eleanor Davies, Lauren Zawal, Genevieve Maslin, Lily Stewart, Ava Martin-Cansick, Hannah Buschman, Ashleigh Mulé and Molly Macqueen, has been practising on Thursday afternoons in the Dance Studio.  Led by Miss Cay, girls have composed two dances - a lyrical hip hop dance to Bleeding Love and a funk hip hop to Low.  We are looking forward to the class performing soon.

Good luck to the Cross-Country team which is competing on Friday 16 May.  The day will run as follows:

The first 15 girls in each section will be selected in the IGSSA team for the NSWCIS Cross-Country Championships, which will be held at Eastern Creek Raceway on Friday 30 May.

Miss Jacqui Longworth, Cross-Country Coordinator

Soccer
Soccer has had a good start to the season.  The fields are in good condition and the teams are keen to play.  Clinics were held on Sunday 4 May and the girls had the opportunity to be trained by some experienced coaches.  Girls are reminded that shin guards and mouth guards are compulsory for all training sessions and games.

Miss Jane Barrett, Teacher of PDHPE/Sport

Wet Weather arrangements for Saturday Sport
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.
Means of gaining information concerning play: -

IGSSA Wet Weather Line 1900 922 834
IGSSA WEBSITE  http://igssa.ahigs.nsw.edu.au
Boarding Houses
All the above are updated throughout the morning

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