GIB GATE • FRENSHAM • STURT
TERM 4 NO 1 - 16 OCTOBER 2008

As we start Term 4 there is always a sense of 'New Year' in the air... by the end of Term 3, most of what we are committed to achieving in 2009 is already in place and all publications for next year are almost complete.  As I noted to Frensham students on Monday morning, it is proven that writing down goals adds to the likelihood of achievement and sharing them with others adds even further.  At the Student Leaders Service this week, Year 12 2008 supported the induction of Year 12, 2009 into the formal leadership positions of the School and I shared my goals for their growth over the next 12 months - goals that are now on paper and shared with the full school - that they will be known for their integrity, resilience and tenacity - personal qualities that this cohort discussed with me earlier this year, in the first stage of consideration of what it takes to be an effective student leader.  Will Year 12 step forward to undertake the challenging tasks of working with peers and younger students to share their talents and wisdom - to do the right thing 'when no one is looking' - to engender a level of enthusiasm and energy that lifts others' efforts - and will they model what it takes to bounce back from disappointments encountered along the way?  In the letters of acceptance of leadership appointments evidence of deep thinking about the task ahead and commitment to personal goals augurs well for the 2008-2009 year - I look forward to working alongside the new team as they experience the challenge of offering service through their efforts.

From a letter of acceptance of Prefect role:

'I am honoured (and, honestly, a little nervous) to have been given the opportunity to serve Frensham as a Prefect, and willingly accept this challenge....I understand the responsibilities and duties involved in this role and hope I can meet the needs of the School itself and the expectations of the students and staff, as well as my own....'

Enrichment and Inspiration
The final weekend and last week of Term 3 featured community events which are considered highlights on the annual Calendar:

• For the Parent Reunion Service where Mrs Cyganiewicz was acknowledged for her 23 years as Director of Boarding, members of Year 12 wrote a special tribute entitled Love Is…excerpts from which, appear below:

Love ensures everyone has a neat little tag above her bed welcoming her back at the start of each term.
Love bleaches your white shirts when you’ve dyed them pink.
Love traffics over one hundred girls across the state at the start and end of each term within the space of a day.
Therefore love is best friends with Country Link!
…
Love invites you into her own house in Year 9 to have Tim-Tams and hot Milo and a happy catch-up chat.
Love drives you to Mittagong Blockbuster on a Saturday night and has a knack for finding the greatest ‘G’ rated movies ever made.
Love knows the information booklet from the inside out, but love is still human.
…
Love is your Mum on Mothers’ Day – your Dad on Fathers’ Day.
Love cares.
Love worries.
Love knows when you’re happy.
Love knows when you’re sad.
Love smiles at you and makes you smile.
Love never fails you.
Love is irreplaceable.
Of all things, the greatest is love…

• Michael Spencer’s sensitive setting of the Lord’s Prayer was sung by the School for the first time in Clubbe Hall at the 21 September Service;
• Through  verbal and written feedback from those attending the 21 September 40-Year On Reunion  programme, we gained a strong sense of the quiet achievements and ongoing connection experienced by visitors since leaving Frensham in 1968 - and we really appreciated their contribution to the Sunday Service;
• Gib Gate’s Junior Production was fitting culmination to a term’s preparation of students for this special extension of studies in Music and Drama;
• Toasts at the Year 12 Dinner by Mrs Martine Carroll and Mr Chris Bowman set a perfect tone for what was a joyous evening for Year 12, parents and staff.  Responding on behalf of Year 12, Head Girl Alice Bowman represented her year with distinction, sharing a warmth, sensitivity and quiet strength for which she is highly regarded;
• Former Director of Studies at Frensham, Mrs Karon Di Francesco will conduct a four-week professional development programme with House Staff from Weeks 2-6 of this term.  Focusing on areas of policy and procedure surrounding safety and wellbeing within our boarding community, Mrs Di Francesco will work alongside staff for two days and two evenings each week;
• ‘Around the Kitchen Table’ this term will be for Year 12, 2009 each Tuesday evening – topics advised in advance, with dinner and discussion from 6.45-7.30pm weekly. (NB: Earlier start on 4 November for An Evening With…);
• Dr Mary Finsterer, internationally recognised composer and current teacher at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music, will be our guest for ‘An Evening With’ for Years 10 and 11 on Tuesday 4 November – all day boarders are encouraged to stay at school for the evening: 6.00pm – 6.45pm followed by Dinner in the Dining Room.

Staffing Update

• We welcome to commence as a full-time teacher within the HSIE Faculty, Mrs Jacqualine McCarroll, most recently Coordinator of Geography and Acting Head Teacher, Administration at Oak Flats High School.  Mrs McCarroll will be teaching Geography from Years 7 to 12 and, initially, will take over Mrs Wendy Elliott’s Geography classes, during her absence following recent surgery;
• We also welcome back from Maternity Leave, Year 7 and PDHPE Coordinator, Mrs Amanda Wansey.  For Term 4, Mrs Wansey will coordinate both Year 7 and Year 8 and Sport and will expand her role in Boarding.  Ms Jane Barrett will continue to coordinate PDHPE till the end of Term 4;
• From this term, Mr Geoff Marsh will assume overall responsibility for all matters relating to Studies for Years 7 to 11 (Year 12, 2009).  Mr McMahon, Director of Studies and Coordinator of HSIE, will be managing the School Certificate and Higher School Certificate Examinations and coordinating the School’s completion of documentation for 2009 Registration and Accreditation.

Acknowledgement to:

• Mrs Bronwyn Tregenza, Director of Teaching and Learning who accepted the invitation to work for three days in the vacation with the Independent Schools Teacher Accreditation Agency (ISTAA) on assessment of teacher accreditation applications at ‘Experienced Teacher’ level;
• Mrs Adrienne Bradney-Smith, Mrs Kate Chauncy and Mrs Anne Graham who led a highly successful Gib Gate Year 5/6 tour to Japan, for nine days of the vacation;
• Mr Shaun Shephard and the Property & Maintenance team who completed major projects over the vacation, to restore or improve facilities across all campuses;
• Student Heads of House for Term 4:
  - Kennedy: Antonia Cadell & Clara Lamond
  - Hartfield: Emily Milne & Christy Nochar
  - Linden: Lucy Hawker & Beatrice Osborne
  - Turner: Emily Holland & Marta Brandtman
  - Bryant: Victoria Macarthur-Stanham & Kate Scott
• Recent Girdle recipients: Katrina Weir (Drama), Harriet Royle (Academic Excellence), Charlotte Merz (Music Performance) andHarriet Pfeiffer (Service);
• Rachel Latimer, Year 8, who will appear with her equestrian invention on the 200th episode of The New Inventors scheduled for 8.00pm Wednesday 29 October;
• Teresa Santonastaso, Year 10, recipient of a Certificate of Merit from the Open High School for her studies in Higher School Certificate Italian;
• Amy Barnes, Tess Brennan, Emma Campbell, Katherine Evans, Lucy Hawker, Clara Lamond, Rosie Latimer, Sarah Loewy, Charlotte Midson, Lucinda Nicolls Small, Zoë Philip, Tamara Smart  and Jacklyn Wyer, who teamed up to entertain Nursing Home residents with a partly prepared, partly impromptu programme of music in their last visit at the end of Term 3;
• All who contributed to Frensham’s ‘Jeans for Goats’ fundraiser which raised $685 (enough to purchase up to five goats);
• Games Captains for Term 3, for their outstanding individual speeches capturing the essence of team sport at Frensham: Dominique Carroll, Netball; Rosie Hanbury, Skiing; Kate Rodgers, Equestrian and Lucinda Beak, Hockey;
• Combined Independent Schools Athletics team members competing successfully at state level: Grace Musgrove - 3rd in 3000m (15-16 years); Grace Ives - 5th in Shotput (12 years); Lucinda Beak - 3rd in 3000m & 5th in 18 years 800m.

Ahead
We wish Year 12, 2008 students every success as they commence their Higher School Certificate Examinations this week.

Year 12, 2009 Student Leaders - Positions of Responsibility as at 13 October 2008 »

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

AHEAD:

Parent / Community News

GIB GATE

In Term 4 there are many opportunities for parents to join the students at various special events, so please consult the Term Calendar for details.

The 25 students and staff who travelled to Japan during the holiday shared a wonderful experience with the children and staff of Hokuriku Gakuin School.  Thanks to Mrs Berzins for acting as the School’s parent-contact during the tour.  Parents are invited to attend Performance Assembly on Friday 17 October where the students will share some of their photographs of the trip.

Ms Sally Robson, Head of Gib Gate

Curriculum Insights
The trip to Japan proceeded smoothly with the group travelling by Japan Airlines to Osaka then by coach to a traditional Japanese style hotel in Kyoto.  Two full days of sightseeing in the Kyoto area included excursions to Nijo Castle, a number of Shrines and Temples, riding the rapids on a ‘pole boat’ down the Hozu River, strolling through the ancient streets of the city, sampling traditional Japanese food.

The group travelled by train to Kanazawa and then by coach to the magnificent World Heritage Area of Ainokura for a two night stay in traditional ‘thatched roof’ homes in the small village of Minshuku.  A full day of activities included making traditional Japanese paper and Sasara, a traditional instrument of the Gokayama area.

Leaving Minshuku, the group travelled by coach to Hokuriku Gakuin Elementary School in Kanazawa. A Welcome Assembly featuring a variety of speeches, musical items, unicycle demonstrations.  The Gib Gate performance of “Are We There Yet?” was followed by a shared lunch, tour of the school and afternoon of games.  Gib Gate students left for the evening with their host families while the teachers enjoyed afternoon tea and dinner with the staff of Hokuriku Gakuin.

During the students’ stay at the school they enjoyed a variety of activities including: making gold leaf treasure boxes; an excursion especially organised and led by Mr Takada, the Principal of Hokuriku Gakuin, to the world famous Kenroku Garden and Kanazawa Castle; and, exceptional musical performances by the children of the school followed by dancing (both traditional Japanese and Australian bush and line dancing).

Gib Gate students enjoying their trip to Japan

ICAS English Competition Results 2008
Seventy-one students from Years 3 to 6 participated in this year’s ICAS English Competition and were awarded High Distinction, Distinction, Credit and Participation Certificates.  Students were presented with their awards at Performance Assembly on Friday 19 September.

Year 3 – High Distinction: Lucinda Chambers, Matthew Worden; Distinction:  Liana Berzins, Cedric Hely; Credit: Lachlan Larney-Dawson, David Loewy, Georgia Saeck, Thea Horsley, Lucienne Ireland, Matilda Martin, Madeleine Massey. 
Year 4 – Distinction: Lydia Jupp, Airlie Kinross, Rosanna Scanlan, Monique Turczynski, Amelia Vidler; Credit: Charlotte Condon, Madeleine Conomos, Michael Duck, Mia Kroopin Andrea Tan.  
Year 5 – Distinction: Jonathan Chambers, Atalanta Mitchell, Robert O’Brien; Credit: Olivia Battcock, Alexandra Condon, Benjamin England, Michael Zawal.  Year 6 – Distinction: Livija Berzins, Georgina Harrington; Credit:  Lilli Jephcott, Emily Little, Caitlan Mahony, Jemima Purvis, Lachlan Vild,Charlotte Vidler, Adelaide Wallace.

Mrs Kate Chauncy, Curriculum Coordinator P-6
Coordinator Gifted and Talented Programmes K-12

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
Short Courses in November
The Advanced Digital Photography Course, 1-2 November, is for photographers who understand how to operate manual settings on digital cameras but who want the technical and aesthetic know-how to reach the next level.  Attention will be given to producing correctly exposed digital images and assessing natural & artificial lighting conditions.  Exposure compensation, bracketing, metering and histograms will be explained.  The principles of long exposure (night photography) and scanning will also be covered.  The course will combine classroom notes and illustrations with studio & outdoor practical shoots.  The tutor, Debra Pearson, is an arts photographer, tutor and writer who has produced photography for the media and corporate publications, as well as for exhibitions.

Weaving
Two weaving workshops will be held in November, over two weekends, 1-2 November and 22-23 November.  All levels of experience are welcome with tutor Melanie Olde.  The price for the two weekends is $320.  Tuition will formally be given for four hours each day, leaving several hours each afternoon for students to work on weavings.

Slide evenings at Sturt

7 November, Sturt Cottage 6 for 6.15pm
Toby Muir-Wilson will show images of his work and scenes from his home in northern Tasmania.  Mr Muir-Wilson is the teacher for the third Twelve-Week Fine Woodworking Course at Sturt.  He has been making furniture for over 30 years and believes that this must be based on a thorough understanding of hand skills, knowledge of structures and experience with materials, continuing the philosophy common to all teaching at Sturt.  In particular, he enjoys using wood sourced not only using sustainable practices, but also wherever possible using wood which has some kind of connection with the client.  Tasmanian timber is always a feature in Mr Muir-Wilson’s work.  A fine example, a huon pine blanket box, is displayed at Sturt Gallery.

21 November, Steve Harrison
Steve Harrison, will show images of recent ceramics at Sturt Cottage on Friday evening, 21 November.  He is as fascinated by the research which informs centuries of ceramics, as well as making the pieces themselves.  He has been particularly interested in developing clay, glaze and firing materials, sourced entirely from local materials.  In doing this, Mr Harrison feels he is building on the work started by Ivan McMeek at Sturt Pottery in 1954 making pots which represent the geology of the Southern Highlands.  He is one of the only potters in Australia working in this way, making his pots unique.  Mr Harrison’s work is displayed at Sturt Gallery, from 26 October till 23 November.

Sturt Summer School 3- 8 January 2009
Enrolments are being taken for the Summer School, with several courses filling quickly.  There are vacancies in the following courses: Calligraphy with Lexie Arlington; An Introduction to Drawing with Kit Bullivant; Making a Bodhran with Geoff Tonkin; Marquetry with Leo Huyghebaert; Millinery with Waltraud Reiner; Acrylic Painting with Sara Farmer; Pastels with Lynne Flemons; Soldering and Rivetting to make Rings with Marcello Zavala-Baeza and making an Upholstered Stool with John Gallagher.  Ring Sturt for about enrolment requirements, or visit the website www.sturt.nsw.edu.au

Sturt Gallery – extended evening hours
Sturt Gallery will be open umtil 7pm on Friday evenings of 21, 28 November and 5 December.  Mark these dates on your calendar and bring a friend to enjoy a glass of champagne on the lawn at Sturt, and have a relaxed opportunity for Christmas shopping.

For all enquiries regarding Sturt please ring 02 4860 2083.

Megan Patey, Head of Sturt

FRENSHAM

Deputy Head

During Term 4 students plan and make decisions for next year and for many this will include subject selection.

Year 7 girls will choose between French and Japanese as their Year 8 language.  Students are currently completing a Japanese unit as well as continuing with their French course, and this will give them a background in each subject, enabling them to make an informed decision.

Year 8 students will select three electives for study in Years 9 and 10.  The girls are given an explanation of each subject and the material and work to be covered.  Following the selection parents are sent a letter confirming the subjects chosen.

Year 10 girls have made an initial selection of subjects for the Preliminary Higher School Certificate.  This expression of interest is used to establish subject lines from which they will choose up to 14 Units of study.  A letter confirming subject selection will then be sent to parents.  The students undertake two weeks of Orientation in November (Monday 17-Friday 28), giving them the opportunity to sample the chosen subjects and helping them to prepare for the start of Year 11.

Mr Geoff Marsh, Deputy Head

Director of Studies

The NSW Government ensures that all schools within NSW meet its expectations and guidelines as outlined by the 1990 Education Act.  The NSW Board of Studies recommends to the Minister for Education and Training which schools comply and abide by these regulations and requirements.  The Board of Studies has clear processes in place to accredit and register Non-Government Schools.  New Schools undergo particular procedures to accredit their institutions and it also incumbent on established schools to prove regularly that they are following Board of Studies guidelines and deserving of an extension of their registration under the terms of the Education Act.

In 2009, Frensham will take part in the next registration of its curriculum, procedures and Boarding facilities.  Policies, educational practice, teaching programmes, work samples and boarding regulations and procedures will be some of the many areas which will be assessed by the Board of Studies.  While faculty documentation at Frensham is in place from year-to-year in accordance with guidelines set by the Board, faculties and staff will be reviewing current documentation and practice over the next year, in keeping with the requirements for Registration and Accreditation of non-government Schools (NSW).

On Thursday 16 October, Year 12 students will begin their written HSC Examinations.  The examinations at Frensham commence with Business Studies and with Paper 1 for English Advanced and Standard on Friday.  All students will have completed at least one examination by the end of the week. 

Mr Matthew McMahon, Director of Studies

English and Drama

In Term 4 the new text prescriptions for Advanced, Standard and Extension English in the HSC are implemented.  It is always an interesting and exciting time when the texts change and staff have been collaborating to develop the new teaching programmes.

In Advanced, two Modules remain: Critical study of text with the study of Cloudstreet by Tim Winton and Representation and Text with the non-fiction text The Fiftieth Gate by Mark Baker.  In the Module Comparative Study of Text and the Elective Transformations, students will compare the Shakespearian text Richard 111 and the documentary film Looking for Richard and the Area of Study is on Belonging using the poetry of Peter Skryznecki as a starting point.

The Standard class also study Belonging using the film Strictly Ballroom; Close Study of text with the poet Wilfred Owen; Distinctive Voices with Pygmalion and Into the World with the novel The Story of Tom Brennan.

In Extension 1, the new study in the Module Texts and Ways of Thinking is Romanticism with the study of the poetry of Coleridge, Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte and Possession by A.S. Byatt.

Year 10 will be preparing for their examinations in Week 2 and Year 9 in Week 4.  The Year 10 examination reflects the structure of the School Certificate Literacy test but with the addition of a Literature question assessing work completed in class.  In Year 9, students complete Reading tasks which are multiple-choice, a Writing task and a Literature section on the theme of Tolerance from Term 3 and Poetry.

On Thursday October 16, Lucinda Nicolls Small will compete in the next level of the Rotary 4 way Speaking Competition at Berry.

Frensham will attend a Debating Day at Nowra Anglican College on Tuesday 18 November.  Students in Years 7, 8 and 9 will be involved with this day and are discussing a number of debates in preparation.

Mrs Trish Symons, Director Language Arts

HSIE

Year 10 students are preparing for the upcoming Yearly Examinations and the subsequent School Certificate Examinations in Australian History, Geography and Civics and Citizenship.

Although students will complete both Australian History, Civics and Citizenship and Australian Geography, Civics and Citizenship Tests in the one examination, it should be noted that there are two distinct examination papers based on a similar format.  Each paper has 20 questions styled on the objective-response format, three to four short-response questions and one extended-response question.

Content for the examination is based on Year 10 coursework.  History is drawn from the topics: Australia in the Vietnam War Era; Changing Rights and Freedoms; People Power and Politics in the Post-war Period, and: Australia’s Social and Cultural History in the Post-war Period.  Geography stems from the topics: Issues in Australian Environments and Australia in its Regional and Global Contexts.

Across these topics students are required to display a range of skills and abilities.  History students are expected to: understand and use historical terms and concepts appropriately; show their ability to sequence key events; explain continuity and change; comprehend, use and evaluate sources as evidence; understand different perspectives and interpretations of the past; understand and apply skills of historical inquiry, and communicate historical information.  Geography skills include: being able to analyse and use geographical tools; gather, analyse and evaluate data from a variety of sources; critically assess the ideas and opinions of others, evaluating arguments, expressing their own ideas and arguments and presenting geographical information to different audiences, and understand geographical processes and inquiry through fieldwork.

Each paper allows students to demonstrate their understanding of citizenship and rights and responsibilities.

Mr Matthew McMahon, Coordinator of HSIE

Mathematics

Year 12 Mathematicians are preparing for the final examinations of their two years of HSC studies.  All of the four available Board of Studies’ courses are studied at Frensham: General Mathematics, Mathematics, Mathematics Extension 1 and Mathematics Extension 2.  Students can expect to be examined on content and skills studied in Year 11, as well as on all Year 12 content and applications, so need to have an extensive revision programme in place in the lead-up to the examinations.

General Mathematics is a more practical course with an examination lasting 2½ hours, while Mathematics is a calculus-based course with an examination time of 3 hours.  Students in the Mathematics Extension 1 course must undertake both the Mathematics 3-hour paper and an additional 2-hour Extension 1 paper.  Mathematics Extension 2 students who have studied all of the Mathematics and Extension 1 coursework in addition to Extension 2 topics, must undertake both the 2-hour Extension 1 paper and an additional 3-hour Extension 2 paper.  The teachers are available for individual assistance during this demanding time.

Mrs Sue Flaxman, Mathematics Coordinator

Music

In Term 4 Frensham musicians are preparing for the School’s major events such as the End of Year Production, the Carol Service and Final Prayers.  Students will soon be whistling tunes from The Pajama Game and the Senior Choir has already begun rehearsing the Carols repertoire.

There will be a Concert practice on Wednesday 5 November at 4.45pm.  This is an opportunity for students to develop their skills and confidence as performers in a supportive environment.

Mr Michael Spencer, Coordinator of Music

Science

The recent vacation has allowed some Frensham students to pursue a number of remarkable individual achievements in Science. 

Rachel Latimer has continued to excel with her invention that was initially conceived as part of the CSIRO Smart Moves programme.  Following her attendance at the Invention Convention in July of this year, Rachel attended the Henty Machinery Field Day in September with her ‘Easy-Girth’ and was awarded an encouragement prize in the 2008 Farm Inventor of the Year Competition.  Rachel’s achievements in an open invention category reflect her innovative idea and her ability to communicate the benefits and potential uses of her device.  Rachel will be featured as one of the contestants on the ABC television programme The New Inventors, to be shown on Wednesday 29 October at 8.00 pm.

In the first week of October, Antonia Cadell attended the University of Sydney, Gifted and Talented Science Discovery Program.  After successfully completing the Gifted and Talented qualifying examination, she was invited to participate in the three-day programme during the September vacation.  The aim of the programme is to provide talented high school students with additional challenges and stimulations in the areas of Science, specifically in Biology, Chemistry and Physics.  It provides students with an insight into Science after school as a potential university student and exposes students to the work of Scientists.  Current Year 9 students who are interested in participating in the 2009 programme are invited to sit the qualifying examination at Frensham in November this year.

Mr Jason Smith, Acting Coordinator of Science

Teaching and Learning

During the holiday, Mrs Bronwyn Tregenza acted as an assessor on the panel for accreditation of NSW Independent School teachers.  The Independent Schools Teacher Accreditation Agency (ISTAA), run by the Association of Independent Schools, convened the assessment panel for determining the level of Experienced Teacher.

In 2005 it became mandatory for all new teachers in NSW schools to submit evidence of having met Professional Competence level standards within the first years of teaching.  Independent Schools went further with many adopting salary agreements which linked progression to different pay scales to accreditation by ISTAA as Experienced Teacher and Classroom Excellence.   

The accreditation process for Experienced Teacher level requires teachers to provide documentary evidence, including accounts of their teaching by senior colleagues, references and testimonials, student work samples and planning and assessment documents, to ISTAA.  A panel of educators then assesses each teacher’s submission, verifying that all 46 standards have been substantiated twice over a period of 20 months.

Mrs Bronwyn Tregenza, Coordinator of Teaching and Learning

Sport

During Term 4 girls have chosen between Cricket, Tennis and Swimming.  Junior students have training on Tuesday afternoons, seniors on Thursday afternoon with match practice and Swimming training on Friday afternoon.  Cricket and Tennis players have matches on Saturday morning and swimmers have a training session.  Some girls have elected to swim as well as play cricket or tennis and therefore will attend swimming training on Wednesday and Friday morning before school.

IGSSA Gymnastics will be held in Sydney on Friday 24 October with a number of Frensham girls competing.

Mrs Amanda Wansey, Coordinator of 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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