GIB GATE • FRENSHAM • STURT
TERM 1 NO 2 - 19 FEBRUARY 2009

What are the daily messages that our students are hearing?  Who delivers the messages?  Who are the most powerful shapers of young people’s lives?

Mrs Symons, Director of Language Arts at Frensham modelled for students the process of reflection that deepens understanding when she spoke about her interpretation of the messages shared by poet Peter Skrzynecki who had visited in support of Year 12 English last week.  Drawing links for students between the newly constructed walls in the St Francis Courtyard and Skrzynecki’s reference to walls in our imagination (‘It is a wall that is only in your imagination. But it feels as strong and real as a stone wall’) she said as part of her message at Morning Prayers: ‘Robert Frost considered the idea that people build walls because they don’t want to communicate with others – or because they are denying progress – not wanting to move forward into a new world…..think about whether any of (the ideas presented this morning)…apply to you – if you have constructed a barrier between you and others for any reason, think about how you may dismantle that wall.  Will you climb over it as you feel more confident or will you gradually remove a stone or a section at a time?’ 

We know that time to reflect and to consider ideas and to gain feedback from others about the quality of thinking or direction we are planning to take are essential components of the learning process.  I urge parents to encourage your children to discuss what they are learning and to help them make connections that will deepen their understanding. 

With Year 12 at Frensham invited each week to ‘Around the kitchen-table discussion’ about current events or shared concerns – or to reflect on a Tuesday night presentation of ‘An Evening With…’ it has been exciting to witness both a growth of confidence and humility fostered by what is a very simple but structured opportunity to discuss ideas – the confidence to express an opinion when you are not sure that you have an adequate grasp on the topic under discussion and the humility that grows from awareness that others have a better understanding or, at times, that none of us knows enough yet to make informed decisions. 

Educational philosopher and Resident at the Harvard Graduate School of Education, Professor Howard Gardner’s recently published ‘essentials for future-oriented education’ align directly with what has always been core to a Gib Gate and Frensham education: the need to cultivate, in addition to three minds related to intellect (disciplined, synthesising and creative minds), two minds that emphasise character – the respectful and ethical minds.  We can all share responsibility for nurture of the respectful and ethical minds of young people.

Staffing:
The School is pleased to welcome Ms Michele Scamps to the staff of WWS as Director of the Centenary Appeal.  Ms Scamps will be working closely with Mrs Elizabeth Rule, in support of the WWS Foundation’s efforts to meet its fundraising target of $10million.  ...the first major events for Foundation are the Welcome Dinner for parents of new students (28 February) and the Opening of the Library (1 March)...

Student Responsibilities
Heads of Form and Forum representatives for Semester 1:

Stage 4 Heads of Form:  Grace Ives, Emma Murphy, Lauren Zawal, Georgia Duncan, Catherine Hall, Isabeau Gavel, Jasmine Talbot.  Forum Representatives:  Molly Macqueen, Freya Spencer, Hannah Buschman, Genevieve Maslin, Georgina Whatmore, India Doyle, Meg Stranger.
Stage 5 Heads of Form:  Charlotte Alley, Hannah Beith, Harriet Robertson, Eleanor Davies, Isabel Faulkner, Hannah Forbes, Victoria Livingston, Amelia Pavitt, Georgina Milne.  Forum Representatives:  D’Arcy Bush, Emma Gorman, Emily Meredith, Emma Pfeiffer, Matilda Street, Kirby Delamont, Ashleigh Mulé, Anna Healy, Cassandra Perry.
Stage 6 Heads of Form:  Nicola Forrest, Beatriz Grattan-Smith, Alice Lee-Warner, Georgia Fairbairn, Lucy Hawker, Constance Mort, Jessica Nagel, Sarah-Jane Smeeth.  Forum Representatives:   Claudia Ablett, Arabella Kilmartin, Isabelle Gillespie, Lilly Ashworth, Isis Oliver, Amy Wyer, (Forum Head), Emma Campbell, Olivia Stewart (Forum Secretary).

Acknowledgement to:

• FOGG members who hosted, with staff, the FOGG Welcome Drinks at Gib Gate on Friday 6 February.  We also thank our professional caterers, Alliance, for their expert preparation of refreshments for what was a most enjoyable evening;
• Monitors at Gib Gate and Community Service leaders at Frensham who responded quickly to involve the entire School in fundraising support for the devastated families whose lives were so deeply affected by the recent bushfires in Victoria;
• Ms Alana Bush and Mrs Alison Lalak who have been working closely with WWS Equestrian Coordinator Ms Amanda Sharpe and Executive staff for several months on the preparations for this year’s major Equestrian event that will be held at Bong Bong Racecourse on Sunday 3 May.  Combining the best of our previous separate programmes for Gib Gate and Frensham, the 2009 Event will involve riders from primary and secondary schools across New South Wales and the ACT;
• Sophie Bligh (Sculpture), Emily Cameron (Sculpture), Olivia Stewart (Printmaking), for their excellent results, just to hand, in the Board of Studies’ endorsed Visual Arts extension course - Intensive Studio Practice Course;
• Year 12 2008: Harriet Pfeiffer awarded a Certificate of Excellence for her HSC Extension History essay, ‘Shedding Light on the Dark Continent’, the Historiography of Mau Mau in Kenya; and Sarah Hayes, recipient of 2nd place for her essay ‘Walled History: The Politics of Constructing the Holocaust and National Identity in Divided German Master Narratives’.
• Emily Holland, Year 12, for her preparation of resource material and focus questions to guide ‘Around the kitchen-table discussion’ this week;
• Lucinda Reynolds, Year 12, who recently accepted appointment to the position of Vice Captain of Frensham Softball, to support the Term 1 season;

Special Thanks:

• …to all who have worked with such professionalism for and on behalf of the School, to finalise the construction of our new facilities at both Frensham and Gib Gate.  Particularly, we note the attention to detail and the consideration shown by contractors working within a school setting.  Whilst there is excitement in anticipation of the completion of projects we will also miss the daily interaction with the team on site.

Ahead:
Through the major events of the next two weeks: Gib Gate’s Swimming Carnival (Infants), Frensham Open Day, Year 7 Parent Weekend, Opening of the new Esther Tuckey Library, Sturt Gallery’s Opening, the Year 7 and 8 Family Picnic and the Welcome Dinner for parents of new students at Gib Gate and Frensham, I hope all who visit our campuses or who share in events with students will feel warmly welcomed.  Please let us know directly if clarification is needed to make easier your involvement in these special events.

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

AHEAD:

Parent / Community News

GIB GATE

The FOGG (Families of Gib Gate) Class Representatives for 2009 and the Gib Gate Advisory Committee have both held their first meetings this week.  FOGG Class Representatives will be contacting parents in the near future to ask for support for upcoming School events as well as notifying them of class social events.  One important event on the 2009 calendar for which the School will require the support of the whole Gib Gate community is the Winifred West Schools Equestrian Event on Sunday 3 May at the Bong Bong Racecourse.  This event, which in 2009 will combine Frensham Equitation and the Gib Gate Gymkhana, will be the major FOGG fundraising event for the year, with the School benefiting from proceeds.

The Equestrian Day, unique to Winifred West Schools, is a tremendous spectator event for all members of the Gib Gate community as well as extended families and friends.  We encourage as many Gib Gate parents and children to support the event as possible.

Outdoor Education experiences planned for Term 1 are now approaching, with Year 3 and Year 4 due to attend Adventure Days at Mount Alexander and Welby on 25 and 26 February.  Year 3 students will take part in Bush Walking, Orienteering and Abseiling sessions and Year 4 will be Mountain Biking and learning to use the outdoor cooking equipment used on camp in Year 5 and Year 6.

Students in Years 3-6 have been briefed by professional staff of the Outdoor Education Group (OEG).  A camp briefing for parents of students in Years 5 and 6 will be held in the Gib Gate Hall at 7pm Thursday 19 February.

Your attention is drawn to The Gib Gate Student Code of Conduct for the Use of Information and Communication Technology which every student in Years 1-6 has brought home.  This important document which is to be signed by each student and parent, outlines safe protocols for the use of the internet at School and sets guidelines for the ethical use of email/text between Gib Gate students outside of School.  Parents should go through this document with students and return the signed agreement page to class teachers.

Ms Sally Robson, Head of Gib Gate

Curriculum Insights: Differentiation in the Classroom at Gib Gate 2009
This year the major focus for teachers continues to be differentiating the core curriculum in all areas of English and Mathematics and within the integrated units in Science and Technology and HSIE (Human Society and its Environment) to meet the needs of individual students within each classroom.  At the Parent Information Night last Thursday parents were informed about the content of each curriculum area and delivery of their child’s learning programme for this term and beyond.

Following on from recent work with curriculum consultants Ms Bronwyn MacLeod and Ms Ruth Targett from Gateways Education, units have been developed to engage, challenge and support all children with differentiation of content, learning processes and activities.  Enhancement and evaluation of the teaching and learning programmes, with support from our consultants, will be ongoing.

In addition to this outside support, a number of specialised staff are timetabled into K-6 classrooms to collaborate and team teach with class teachers, allowing greater flexibility in grouping for teaching and learning activities.  Mrs Bronwyn Tregenza, Mrs Kate Chauncy, Mrs LeeAnn Marsh, Mrs Belinda Hill, Mrs Alicia Cardwell and Mr Paul Sheehan work with small groups and individual children throughout the week in specialised literacy and numeracy programmes and in Science and HSIE.

One of our programme additions for 2009 - the Jason Project – an international online learning project for Stage 3 students – has continued to enthuse and engage senior students since implementation at the beginning of this term.  The Jason Project has been fully integrated into English, Science, HSIE and the upcoming Outdoor Education Camp, to allow maximum time for students to explore the topic for 2009 – The Resilient Planet. Last week’s field trip to Mt Annan Botanical Gardens allowed students the opportunity to develop their scientific investigative skills and provided real data from the local Australian environment to compare and contrast with the international environments studied in the online programme.

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

Extra Curricular activities have now commenced for Term 1 with Martial Arts, Ceramics, Tennis, Gymnastics, Animation and Woodwork are all on offer.  Limited places are still available in Woodwork (Mondays Year 4-6) and Ceramics (Wednesday or Thursday).  Please contact Mrs Graham for more information.

Music tuition has begun for 2009 and places are available for the Cello and Violin, with instruments also available for hire.

This week, Gib Gate had its annual visit from the CSIRO with classes participating in presentations on “Physical Phenomena” and “Electricity & Magnetism”.  The Life Education Van with Healthy Harold also visited, with students learning about various aspects of Health.

Mrs Anne Graham, Extra Curricular Coordinator

Sport – Swimming: A successful but cold House Swimming Carnival was held at Bowral Pool last Friday for all children in Years 3 – 6.   Children were asked to nominate at least three events in which to participate.  Most nominated at least four with many taking the opportunity to participate in every possible event.  A sincere thank you is offered to all those parents who volunteered as timekeepers and recorders on the day. 

A team of approximately 35 swimmers will compete at the Southern Highlands Independent Schools (SHIPS) Twilight Carnival to be held at Bowral Pool on Tuesday 24 February and the Independent Primary Schools Heads Association (IPSHA) Carnival to be held at Homebush on Wednesday 4 March.

Summer Sports – Water Polo, Cricket, Basketball and Tee-Ball are heading into their final weeks with all teams training and competing strongly.  Winter sports nomination forms have gone out to all Gib Gate families and the School will soon be entering teams for winter competitions in Netball, Netta, Hockey, Minkey, Soccer and Small-Sided Soccer.
 
Mrs Sally Musgrove, Coordinator of PE and Sport

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

Canadian furniture designer Mr Michael Fortune is teaching at Sturt until April 24.  Hailed as one of North America’s most significant furniture makers, Mr Fortune was awarded the Award of Distinction from the Furniture Society of America in 2007.  In 1993 he received the prestigious Prix Saidye Bronfman, Canada’s highest award in the crafts.  As well as making large commissioned pieces for clients, Mr Fortune teaches at a selection of top American craft centres.  He consulted to the government in Trinidad and Tobago when the Commonwealth Fund for Technical Assistance contacted him to assess its manufacturing potential and ultimately to design a range of outdoor furniture to be produced by five manufacturers.  He was an active trustee of the Furniture Society based in North Carolina, an organisation which encourages innovative studio furniture making across North America.  With this organisation, Mr Fortune spearheaded a contemporary internship programme which gives emerging craftspeople opportunities to work alongside established makers throughout North America. 

For the short time that he is at Sturt, several events have been planned to allow the general public to benefit from his knowledge and experience as a teacher, designer, photographer and maker.

• Sunday March 15, Mr Fortune will demonstrate the construction of a simple soft box construction which allows people to assemble their own flash photographic equipment for around $150.  Participants will also be shown how to photograph craft pieces.  This demonstration will be held from 9–1pm at the Photographic Studio in Sturt Cottage. Cost $55.00.  Morning teas provided.  Bookings essential
• Sunday March 15 at 5pm Friends of Sturt will host an evening with Mr Fortune.  This will include a visual presentation and discussion of his work, studio, and teaching experiences, as well as light refreshments.  The evening will be held in the Frensham Drama Studio.  Cost $15.00.  Bookings essential.
• Saturday March 28, Mr Fortune will be demonstrating a range of intricate making techniques for fine furniture, accompanied by showing images of his work.  This demonstration will be from 10–4pm, at Sturt.  The cost is $75 for the day, includes morning tea and lunch.  Bookings essential.

To book any of these events, ring Sturt Gallery 02 4860 2083 or email shop@sturt.nsw.edu.au

Sturt Gallery
Returning, the next exhibition of tapestries and prints by Ms Valerie Kirk will be opened on Sunday 22 February at 11am, by Diana Wood Conroy, Professor of Visual Arts, Wollongong University.  Ms Kirk, a respected contemporary textile artist, is a Scottish-born emigrant to Australia whose migratory experience provides an essential focus for her work.  She is a consummate tapestry weaver.  In the present exhibition at Sturt Gallery, she traces memories, complexities, losses, adaptive challenges and rewards inherent in migration and the construction of self-identity.  The journey of acculturation into Australian society is explored in woven tapestry, digital prints and drawings on slate.

Short Courses and Sturt Winter School
Information regarding the Short Course and Winter School programme for 2009, is available on the website www.sturt.nsw.edu.au or by phoning Sturt Gallery 02 4860 2083.

Megan Patey, Head of Sturt

FRENSHAM

Deputy Head

Preparations for Outdoor Education Week and Senior Studies Seminars have now been finalised and meeting and departure times are detailed below.

Parents of girls in Years 7-10 should have already completed the Outdoor Education Group Medical Form and an outline of the programme has been included with this newsletter.  OEG has briefed students about each camp and girls should be in the process of collecting the equipment and clothing they need for Week 6.

Parents of girls in Years 11 and 12 should have completed their permission slips and returned these to the School.

Staff have been briefed and are preparing for their camps or seminar programmes.

Please note that all girls are required to be at School by 8.00am on Tuesday 3 March and all girls will be either on Camp, at a Senior Studies Programme or on campus during the three days. 

Day Boarders who are off campus on Thursday will be back at School no later than 5.00pm and should be collected from their Boarding House.  Normal classes will resume on Friday 6 March.

Please Note:

• Students need to bring their gear in overnight bags; gear is then packed into backpacks at the starting site. 
• Day Boarders in years 7, 8, 9, 10 and 12 need to collect their lunch for Day 1 from the kitchen before their scheduled meeting time.

Mr Geoff Marsh, Deputy Head

Director of Studies

Years 11 and 12 students were given information about assessment procedures in the senior years. Year 12 students and parents have been provided with a pamphlet from the Board of Studies giving advice on students’ obligations and rights in regard to school-based assessments and submitted works. In addition, Year 12 students were given a formal document from the NSW Board of Studies called “Rules and Procedures for Candidates for the HSC 2009” and, while various parts of this document have been highlighted with them, it is their responsibility as HSC students to be familiar with its contents. This document is also available on the Board of Studies website at:
http://www.boardofstudies.nsw.edu.au/hsc_assessment_policies/#hsc_rules_procedures

Shortly, each Year 12 student will be required to check and sign an HSC Confirmation of Entry form and Student Declaration form stating that she has read, understood and accepted these rules.  Parents can view examples of these forms and the text of the Student Declaration form on the above website page.

Students in Year 10 will shortly receive a booklet from the Board of Studies called “Studying for the NSW Higher School Certificate”.  Individual meetings are about to commence with each girl in Year 10 to discuss progress, goals and any support needed.

Mrs Sue Flaxman, Director of Studies

Director of Boarding

On Friday night, Year 12 transformed the Dining Room into a St Valentine’s themed Dinner and Disco with pink and red balloons hanging from every vantage point.  All the girls enjoyed the occasion and there was much singing and dancing.

The weekend change in weather restricted the boarders to indoor activities on Saturday but the Jamberoo trip on Sunday went ahead with all enjoying the day.

Reminders

• Weekend Travel – Parents and students are reminded that all weekend travel arrangements need to be finalised by Thursday, morning tea, to allow for adequate time for the purchase of tickets.  If assistance is required, please contact Mrs Wansey or refer to page 23 of the Frensham Information Book.
• Central Station - Parents are also reminded to ensure that they are at Central Station punctually to pick up or drop off their daughters, as the time allowed for the bus to park is limited.
• Exeat Forms – a) Full Boarders require Exeat Forms which must be faxed or posted to the School to arrive by 12noon on Friday.  This allows for the Houses to be informed of student plans and to avoid confusion and disappointment.  The School Office is not open at the weekend and emails may not be read after School hours.

b)  Weekly Boarders not going to their own home after Sport on Saturday must also have an Exeat Form, completed by 12noon on Fridays.

Please direct Exeat Enquiries to the Director of Boarding Mrs Ros Buick. 

Mrs Ros Buick, Director of Boarding

Teaching and Learning

The preferred model for Professional Development at Gib Gate and Frensham is a Mentoring Model where Teachers work regularly with experts in a particular field of education over an extended period of time.  Some of that work occurs during Whole Staff Professional Development Days and at other times, the format is for individual and small group meetings during term time to work on specific resources and learning sequences immediately prior to their implementation.  

This week on Wednesday 18 February AIS Consultant, Mrs Karen Stapleton, will work with the Frensham English Faculty on the use of Interactive Whiteboards (IWBs) to facilitate the teaching of Grammar.  On Thursday 19 February Ms Bronwyn MacLeod, Lecturer in Gifted Education at the University of NSW, will return to continue her collaboration with HSIE teachers and Year 5 and 6 Teachers.  Both Ms MacLeod and Ms Stapleton will return to facilitate further professional learning sessions during the Whole Staff Professional Development Days on 9 and 27 April.

Mrs Bronwyn Tregenza, Director of Teaching and Learning

English and Drama

On Thursday 12 February, Peter Skrzynecki, author of a collection of poems called The Immigrant Chronicle, visited Frensham and gave a two-hour workshop for the Year 12 Advanced English students.

In this session, he discussed the Area of Study Belonging and gave an overview of his family and cultural context.  He then worked through the poems set for study and shared his ideas on these with the group.  This was a very valuable way for the students to begin their study and in the following weeks groups will be preparing and presenting seminars on each poem in class.

This week students in Years 7-10 will begin to discuss the Wide Reading activities which are set for Semester 1 with their class teachers.

Members of the English faculty are continuing with professional development over the next two weeks.  The whole faculty is working with Ms Karen Stapleton from AIS on the use of Interactive Whiteboards in the English classroom and Ms Samuels and Mrs Symons are attending a Conference at the University of Sydney on Saturday 21 February on the new Prescriptions for the 2009-2012 HSC course in English.

Mrs Trish Symons, Director Language Arts

HSIE

Year 11 students have had initial meetings with Mrs Bradley regarding Mock Trial organisation for 2009 and it is encouraging to see so many students interested in participating in this activity. 

On the 26 February, Mrs Trish Grice of Young Achievement Australia will be visiting Frensham to speak to Year 11 regarding the Business Skills Programme.

During the last week of March, all students from Years 7-10 will be participating in the National Geographic Geography Competition.  This competition allows students to demonstrate their knowledge of geographical issues.  During this term, various fieldwork activities are planned for Year 10 Mandatory History and Geography, Year 11 Geography and Year 12 Geography.  This fieldwork will reinforce work covered in lessons and for Years 10 and 11 and will be used as part of their assessments for this term.

Mrs Jacqualine McCarroll, Coordinator of HSIE

Music

There are numerous events and excursions for Music students and the community this term.  On Saturday 7 March in Clubbe Hall, The Song Company will perform the first of two concerts at Frensham, Kalkadunga Man, a collaboration between the Song Company and celebrated didgeridoo player William Barton.  Photographer Allan Chawner’s images of the Kalkadunga land will provide a backdrop to the evening.  The concert features works by Ross Edwards, William Barton, Sarah Hopkins, Dan Walker, Rosalind Page, Guilliaume Dufay and Bernard de Cluni. 

On Thursday 13 March, Year 9 Music students will travel to the Opera House to hear vocal music by Bach and Mendelssohn performed by the St Thomas Choir, Leipzig.  On Monday 16 March, Year 10-12 Music students will see a selection of the best performances and compositions from the 2008 HSC candidature in the Encore Concert.  

Mr Michael Spencer, Coordinator of Music

Science

Science teaching programmes at Frensham are always planned to motivate students, with the intention of increasing the potential for learning.  Research indicates that students favour learning environments which provide immediate relevance to their lives.  The importance of making these connections in a conceptual subject such as Science cannot be underestimated.  Students develop a greater understanding of the many concepts used in Science if they can easily make links between the things with which they are already familiar (the known) and the knowledge and understanding being presented (the unknown).

To assist students in doing this, teaching contexts are chosen to motivate students and increase their potential for learning.  Using contexts as a means of making connections, either to other scientific concepts or to real-life situations, allows students to develop networks of concepts within the context, thus reinforcing their learning.  The teaching units being undertaken at Frensham in Years 7-10 Science provide good examples of this process.
At present, Year 7 students are studying ‘The Elements of Science’ and will follow this with ‘Keeping Warm in Winter’, investigating skills and scientific processes which are fundamental to Science. 

Girls in Year 8 are engaged in the popular ‘Cosmetic Chemistry’ unit, which allows them to form an understanding of new concepts such as elements, compounds and mixtures in the familiar area of cosmetics. 

‘Bodily Functions’, the current Year 9 topic allows students to expand and incorporate their own knowledge of the human body into areas such as reproductive technologies, cloning, body systems and disease. 

Year 10 students are studying the provocative unit, ‘Nuclear Energy: Good or Bad?’ where they are challenged to make informed and substantiated decisions in evaluating the use of nuclear energy which will incorporate their own knowledge of societal and environmental concerns. 

Mr Jason Smith, Coordinator of Science

Visual Arts

Application Forms for the National Art School - Intensive Studio Practice courses were distributed to interested Year 11 Visual Arts students during Week 3.  The courses provide opportunities for Year 11 Visual Arts students to develop skills in specific media in a stimulating creative environment.  The courses consist of 3 Modules:
Module 1: Tuesday 21 July - Friday 24 July 2009, Studio Workshop - Students complete one of the following disciplines:  Ceramics, Photography, Digital Photo Studio: Lightroom, Drawing, Painting, Sculpture, Printmaking. 
Module 2:  Monday 12 October - Friday 16 October 2009, Studio Workshop, Students complete Stage II of their chosen discipline. 
Module 3:  Saturday 17 October 2009, Assessment, Critique and Exhibition.

Application Forms, signed by the student, parents/guardians, Ms Gillick and Mr Alldis, together with specific examples of a student's artmaking practice, must be handed in to the School no later than Friday 27 March (Week 9).  Successful applications will be forwarded to the NAS in Week 10 to meet the due date of Monday 6 April (Week 11).  Please note, students must be achieving at an excellent standard in Year 11 Visual Arts for an Application Form to be signed by the School and forwarded to the NAS.

Mr Philip Alldis, Coordinator of Visual Arts

Sport

Wet Weather arrangements for Saturday Sport
Owing 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 WEBSITE  http://igssa.ahigs.nsw.edu.au
Boarding Houses
All the above are updated throughout the morning.

Current information for Softball, Tennis and Swimming can be found on the IGSSA website.

Swimming 2008
Friday evening Mittagong Swimming Club date: 20 February.
Carnival dates:

• Twighlight Carnival 23 February Bowral Pool 4.00pm
• IGSSA Swimming Carnival all day event 13 March

Softball and Tennis
All Softball and Tennis players are to be congratulated on the positive start to the season.  

While Week 2 IGSSA matches were cancelled due to excessive rain in Sydney, we look forward to all teams playing in Week 3.  Parents should consult the Frensham website for draw for times and check with their daughters each week if changes have occurred.  All information regarding point scores and draw information is made available on the IGSSA website.

Mrs Amanda Wansey, Coordinator of Sport

Equestrian News
The 2009 Frensham and Gib Gate Equestrian Day will be held on Sunday 3 May.  Volunteers for either membership of the Committee or help on the day should contact Mrs Alana Delamont on 0412225011 orMs Alison Lalak on 0414593883.  No horse experience is required.

PLEASE NOTE THAT ENTRY FORMS WILL BE PUBLISHED ON THE FRENSHAM and GIB GATE Websites by the end of this week. See the link at: www.frensham.nsw.edu.au/current.htm
(Limited Entries means acceptance in Receipt Order.)

Ms Amanda Sharpe, Equestrian Coordinator

Nursing Home Visits

Week 3 saw the beginning of visits to the local nursing homes for the year with forty-five girls electing to be part of the programme.  There are four groups, each of which stays with the one facility, enabling friendships to grow and in many cases strong connections to be made.  Visits to Bowral House Nursing Home and HarbisonCare occur once a week and two groups visit The Abbey Nursing Home on separate days.  During these visits the girls may play board games or cards with the residents, read aloud, play the piano or sing to entertain them or simply engage in conversation sharing stories of school, home and holidays.  The girls are interested by the tales of times past and enjoy the visits.

Mrs Jenny Booth, Teacher of Science & Nursing Home Visits Coordinator

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