GIB GATE • FRENSHAM • STURT
TERM 3 NO 3 - 27 AUGUST 2009

The Parents We Mean To Be
Increasingly I find myself engaged in discussion with parents about how to raise children who have the capacity to think through moral dilemmas and make good choices or who have the maturity to appreciate others, despite conflicts of interest and differences in perspective.  What I try to emphasise is that this is one of our greatest, shared challenges and that good habits can be acquired but are not fixed - the challenge is lifelong.  Also, it is a well-researched topic and one on which there is extremely valuable advice readily available. 

For example, in research for his latest book ‘The Parents We Mean To Be’ Richard Weissbourd, child and family psychologist in the faculty of Harvard's Kennedy School of Government and School of Education, warns against the kind of intense focus by parents on children’s happiness and achievements that can turn children into ‘self-involved, fragile conformists’.  He addresses the following questions:

Should we be telling our children to be nice to others because then others will be nice to them, or to be good because it will make them happy in the end?  What happened to morality for its own sake?  Why don't we tell children to be good because it's right, because other people's needs are as important as their own?  How did we get to this point? When did our intention to be ‘positive parents’ go too far? Why are parents praising their kids constantly? Is all this praise good for a child's moral and emotional growth?

In my daily discussions with parents and teachers about the behaviour of their children or students, I continue to be heartened by the serious effort made by Gib Gate and Frensham parents and teachers to raise young people who are morally intelligent.  However, I am also mindful of Weissbourd’s messages for us as adult role models:

‘the reality is that every stage of adult life can bring new moral strengths and weaknesses, and that these changes have profound consequences for children’s moral growth.  If we parents work at it, we can greatly increase our own capacity for fairness, caring, and idealism, and our developing morality will be deeply interwoven with our children’s developing morality...’

For consideration also, I include, following, part of Weissbourd’s thinking:

Our research uncovered, for example, that many parents are narrowly focused on their children’s happiness and believe that happiness and self-esteem are at the root of morality.  We may be the first generation of parents in history who hold that belief.  We think that a child who feels good, and who feels good about himself/herself, is more likely to be good.  Historically, parents have thought that suffering, burdens, and sacrifices were an important basis of morality; that through suffering children learned empathy.  But in many day-to-day ways, we as parents place our children’s happiness above their caring about others.  We are too quick to let our kids write off friends they find annoying.  We fail to insist that they return phone calls from friends, or give credit to other children for their achievements, or reach out to friendless children at the playground.  Or we fail to interrupt our children when they talk too much when they’re around other kids or adults.

and – from his advice…:

 ‘...if I could give just one piece of advice to adults, it would be to focus not on children’s happiness or self-esteem but on their maturity.  Maturity, including the ability to manage destructive feelings, to balance and coordinate our needs with those of others, to receive feedback constructively, to be reflective and self-critical - to fairly and generously assess our behaviour is the basis of both morality and lasting well-being.  It is these capacities that enable children and adults to appreciate others despite conflicts of interest and differences in perspective, to adhere to important principles and to engage in sturdy, meaningful relationships and endeavours that create lasting self-worth.’
[‘The Parents We Mean To Be’ by Richard Weissbourd 13 March 2009: ISBN: 978-0-618-62617-5]

Acknowledgment to:

• Gib Gate parents who worked so hard to support Book Week, including those in the FOGG team who prepared the special Book Day lunch, those assisting with costuming and those who once again purchased new books for the Library, during last week’s Book Week celebrations;
• Ms Megan Patey, Head of Sturt and Ms Slavica Zivkovic, Manager of Sturt Shop and Gallery who are assisting with preparations for the annual HSC Visual Arts, Design and Technology and Photography Exhibition that opens on Friday evening at 6.00pm in Sturt Gallery.  After the Opening, works remain on display in the Gallery and in School Hall till 8pm Friday and from 10am-3pm on Saturday 29 August;
• Mrs Muir-Smith and the cast and crew of the Year 8/9 Production that has a ‘one-only’ performance in Clubbe Hall at 5.00pm this Saturday of Shakespeare’s Vignettes. *Please note that family and friends of the cast and all Gib Gate and Frensham families are most welcome to attend the one-hour performance;
• Mrs Alison Marcolin, (Gabriella, Year 11), a YAA participant in her own high school days, for her generous sponsorship of Frensham’s 2009 Young Achievement Australia (YAA) team ‘Junkyard’;
• The Gib Gate and Frensham Athletics Teams competing at the recent SHIPS and IGSSA Carnivals, respectively;
• All who accepted our invitation to the recent Father-Daughter Ball.  It was truly a night of celebration and great fun, with some notes of appreciation highlighting the joyous tone of the night: ‘..faultless...’; ‘...we all loved the event - watching everyone have so much fun was very special!’;  ‘...from what I am hearing all the fathers had a wonderful time...’; ‘the Stage Band should be congratulated on the choice of music and their performance’....; ‘I would like to extend my heartfelt thanks…..and, a common thread: ‘…appreciation that (attendance at the Ball) actually proved that I am not the worst Dad at dancing and I am not the most embarrassing…’;
• Recent Year 12 Girdle recipients: Victoria Macarthur-Stanham - Netball and Annika Rookyard - Service;
• Adriana Bond, Year 12, who hosted family and friends for an excellent final rehearsal of her Extension HSC performance programme, on violin and piano;
• HSC Drama students for their skilled performances of individual and group-devised pieces last Friday evening, in preparation for their final practical examination on Monday 7 September;
• Frensham’s Mock Trial team for reaching the final 16 within a keenly contested 240-team, statewide competition.  The next Trial against Bega High School will be scheduled prior to the end of this term;
• Year 9 and the guest presenters at this year’s Global Forum.  Through final reflection statements and review and observed in their on-campus efforts since the Forum, Year 9 has risen strongly to the challenges set for them within the intensive three-day residential experience.  Please see the detailed Report by Coordinator of this year’s Forum, Mrs Jacky McCarroll, noting the generous contribution to the programme by teaching staff and volunteer presenters and facilitators;
• Mrs Anna Hayes [Litchfield, 1986] for the donation of a still-life painting of flowers and vases by the late Tasha de Salis [1982-1986].  The colour oil-painting is currently featured in the corridor of the Main House;
• Mrs Cherylynne Williams on the extensive preparation undertaken in support of the Career Guidance programmes in place this term for Years 10, 11 and 12.  Beyond her daily provision of general and personalised information, Mrs Williams schedules individual interviews.

STOP PRESS

CAN WE SUPPORT ADFAS – THIS WEEK?
Girl with a Pearl Earring by Jan Vermeer, is being screened for a fundraising event for ADFAS [Association of Decorative & Fine Arts Societies] on Thursday 27 August at the Empire Theatre, Bowral.  Tickets are available to Frensham and Gib Gate families for a reduced price of $12 [refreshments included].  The Programme commences at 5pm for 5.30pm. (ADFAS are huge ongoing supporters of the Sturt School for Wood Bursary)

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

AHEAD:

Parent / Community News

GIB GATE

The Gib Gate Robocup team recently represented the School at the Robocup Junior competition at the Australian National University, Canberra.  The team is commended for its preparation and in its performance on the day.  Robocup allows students to pursue interests and strengths in a team environment with an emphasis on problem solving and collaboration.  Miss Chalmers is thanked for her dedication in preparing the students for the competition and the enthusiastic support of the parents is greatly appreciated.  A report from the team is provided below and parents are invited to attend Performance Assembly on Friday 28 August where the team will present an item.

Gib Gate students, families and teachers enjoyed the Book Safari Parade last Friday.  The students looked wonderful in their costumes and it is evident how much enjoyment they experience through reading and sharing stories.  FOGG Class representatives and parent volunteers organised a ‘Safari’ lunch served on the front lawn area at Gib Gate which was transformed into a jungle with bamboo and friendly wild animals.  The lunch concluded with the students enjoying a Jungle Jelly treat.  Thank you to Mrs Marsh, FOGG and to all of the parents and helpers who assisted by preparing food and serving the students.  The Gib Gate Book Fair was well supported by families with students enjoying the opportunity to browse and purchase new books. I would like to thank parents for the generous donations of books for the new Gib Gate Library.

Ms Sally Robson, Head of Gib Gate

Robocup
Two teams represented Gib Gate at the 2009 Robocup Junior Competition and both teams were entered in the Junior Dance Theatre section.  The teams were ‘The Whip Crackerz’: Liana Berzins, Lucinda Chambers, David Loewy and Matthew Worden (Year 4) and ‘The Republic’: Michael Duck (Year 5), Olivia Battcock, Livija Berzins and Michael Zawal (Year 6).  

The teams were given the following brief in preparation for the competition:

• Design a robot or team of robots to perform to music for a minimum of one minute and not more than two minutes. 
• The stage consisted of a marked 3x3m boundary. The aim of the performance was to programme the robot/s to dance within this boundary.
• Robots could be decorated and team members were encouraged to dress up in a costume which reflected the theme of their dance theme, or a team uniform.

The performances were well received and of a high standard in the competition with the teams performing with enthusiasm and determination after having watched 20 of the 23 other junior teams.  The judges commended both teams on their performances and placed ‘The Whip Crackerz’ third on the day. ‘The Whip Crackerz’ were awarded trophies and members of both teams will be presented with a certificate at Assembly on Friday 28 August.

Miss Kelly Chalmers, Robocup Teacher

Curriculum Insights
Students from Kindergarten to Year 6 were inspired by the presentations given to each group by the Book Week visiting author Sue Whiting last Monday.  A successful and popular published children’s book author, Sue is also an experienced primary school teacher and her sessions were highly interactive and engaging for all.  Allowing the younger children to role-play ‘firefighters’ and ‘Sugar Plum fairies’ brought her storytelling and characters to life and older students were particularly interested in her current job description and the relationship which an author can have with the illustrator of the draft of a picture book.

On Tuesday, Gib Gate writing enthusiasts from Year 3 to Year 6 developed their creative skills in using words to ‘paint a picture’ for the reader in 60-minute workshops with Sue.  In these sessions, they learned about creating their own ‘sizzling starts’ to heighten reader’s interest and using their imagination to describe settings and characters.  Sue helped them to expand and use what she describes as their ‘writer’s toolbox’ by sparking their interest through the use of engaging visual aids.  The participating students felt excited about their ability to use their talents at the conclusion of each session.  There will be many stories to work on during the next few weeks.  

Parents are reminded that the ICAS Science Competition Awards will be presented to participating students in Years 3-6 at Performance Assembly on Friday 28 August.  Gib Gate students have also performed strongly in the annual ICAS Writing Competition.  Sixty-eight students participated and achieved three High Distinctions, eight Distinctions, 25 Credits and 32 Participation Certificates. Writing Awards will be presented at Performance Assembly on Friday 11 September.

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

Athletics
A team of approximately 45 Gib Gate athletes competed at the Southern Highlands Independent Schools (SHIPS) Carnival held at Tudor House School on Friday 14 August. 

The following athletes were placed in their respective events:
First Place Sally Montgomery 100m & 200m, Adelaide Bailey 800m & High Jump, Atalanta Mitchell 100m, 200m, 800m & High Jump, William Duncan 800m, Valentina Aliprandi High Jump, Madeleine Massey Long Jump, Jasmin Wikramanayake  Discus.  Senior Girls Relay Team - Sally Montgomery, Adelaide Bailey, Atalanta Mitchell and Monique Turczynski.
Second Place Sally Montgomery 800m, Annabel Hay  200m, 800m & Discus, Claudia Graves Discus, Atalanta Mitchell Long Jump, Robert O’Brien 100m, Alexandra Roach Long Jump, Madeleine Massey Discus, Jasmin Wikramanayake Shot Put.  Junior Girls Relay Team - Madeleine Massey, Valentina Aliprandi, Airlie Kinross and Andrea Tan.
Third Place Adelaide Bailey 200m, Atalanta Mitchell Shot Put, Caitlyn Bellis Discus, Matthew Worden Discus, Valentina Aliprandi  Long Jump, Madeleine Massey High Jump & Shot Put.  Senior Boys Relay Team - Jonathan Chambers, William Duncan, Robert O’Brien and Michael Zawal.

Summer Sports
Forms have gone out to all Gib Gate students offering them a wide selection of summer sports from which to choose.  This summer students can elect to be involved in Cricket, Basketball, Touch Football, Water Polo and Tee-Ball.  Tennis, Athletics and Swimming are also available through local Southern Highlands clubs.  All summer team sports will begin in Term 4 and carry over to Term 1 2010.

Mrs Sally Musgrove, Coordinator of PE and Sport

STURT

FRIENDS OF STURT Christine Hurditch (President), Joan Dinning (Secretary), Julie Musgrove, Henrietta and Ralph Ierace, Ruth Wright, Bill Dinning (Ex-officio members: Megan Patey, Melanie Olde).

Sturt Gallery
To celebrate the high calibre of teaching staff at the Sturt School for Wood, Sturt Gallery will present an exhibition of furniture made by all five teachers for 2009 – John Gallagher, James Carr, Niklavs Rubenis, David Upfill-Brown and Michael Fortune.  The exhibition entitled Teach (13 September-18 October), will include display cabinets, small and large tables, boxes, chairs and other items in wood, all displaying the high level of design and craftsmanship characteristic of Sturt.  The exhibition will be opened by Brian Parkes, Associate Director and Senior Curator at Object: Australian Centre for Craft and Design at 11am, Sunday 13 September.

Threads of Influence–Celebrating 50 years at Sturt Weaving
October 2009, celebrates the 50th year of Elisabeth Nagel’s teaching at Sturt.  To mark this occasion Sturt Gallery will present an exhibition of recent weavings by Elisabeth, to be accompanied by works from others who have worked either alongside Elisabeth or who have completed recent residencies in the Weaving Room.  These include Jeannine Binoth, Kay Faulkner, Julie Monro-Allison, Melanie Olde, Monique van Nieuwland and Liz Williamson.  The exhibition will be opened by Grace Cochrane, curator and writer of contemporary Australian craft, at 11am on Sunday 25 October.  The exhibition runs until 22 November.  Preceding the opening, Monique van Nieuwland will conduct a conversation with Elisabeth Nagel in the Weaving Studio from 9-10.30am.  Morning tea will be served and bookings are essential as places are limited.  The same evening from 5.30pm, Gillian McCracken, curator and writer, will give an illustrated talk in Sturt Cottage on The History of Sturt textiles in the context of Australian textile practice. Refreshments will be served. (Phone 02 4860 2083 for bookings.)

Residencies
From 2010, there will be a change in focus for the artist-in-residence programme.  Four residents will be chosen annually, specifically to develop a body of work which can be developed and produced in completed form while resident at Sturt.  This line of work will be a unique product, only available from the Gallery.  The emphasis of the residency programme will be to support craftspeople and designer-makers who are sympathetic to this philosophy, as a way or stimulating small scale production within the studios at Sturt.

In the last four months of 2009, three more residents will take up positions at Sturt.  These include Danielle Butters, from Sydney, who will work on jewellery to be exhibited in Japan in March 2010; Philip Jarvis and Madeleine Child from New Zealand, who will work at Sturt Pottery on a  series of new sculptures in ceramics incorporating other materials; and Kate Heaslip, photographer from Western Australia, who will work on a series of projects featuring the people at Sturt, as well as photographing residents of the Southern Highlands.

An Evening with Caroline Jones at Sturt Gallery
ABC TV presenter, Caroline Jones will talk about her new book Through a Glass Darkly: a journey of love and grief with my father.  This is her first book for ten years and is the follow-up to her bestseller An Authentic Life: finding meaning and spirituality in everyday life.  Books will be available for sale on the night for signing by the author and refreshments will be served.  This event will be held at Sturt Gallery on Friday 6 November evening at 5.30pm.  Bookings are essential for this event as places are limited. Tickets available at Sturt Gallery for $15.  (Phone 02 4860 2083 for bookings.)

Courses – Weekend Courses
There are still positions available in the September weekend courses 12-13 September.  Mosaics for intermediate and advanced students with Ellen Nolet and Coiled Basketry with Meri Peach.  Enrolments are made through Sturt Gallery, phone 02 4860 2083.  For details see our website:  www.sturt.nsw.edu.au/course_short.htm

New Six-Week Woodworking Course –
2 November-11 December
James Carr will hold an Intermediate course - Make a Piece of Furniture.  The focus of the workshop is to design, prototype and then complete a piece of furniture of your choice. To enrol in the course, students need some experience of fine woodworking.  The class will be limited to six, allowing for a high level of support and guidance from the tutor.  For further details ring Sturt on 4860 2080, or view the website www.sturt.nsw.edu.au

James Carr graduated from the Sturt School for Wood in 2003.  Following this, with three others he formed the small enterprise 4Wood, where he made commissioned pieces for clients and for sale at Sturt Gallery.  James now works from his own workshop in Mittagong and teaches evening classes, Summer School and on a casual basis at the Sturt School for Wood. 

Summer School 2010
Enrolments are now open for the Sturt Summer School (4-9 January) with 20 courses for adults and four for children.  All information is on the website with fact sheets for each course. 

Ms Megan Patey, Head of Sturt

FRENSHAM

Deputy Head

Year 12 students have completed their Trial Examinations and are now in the process of finishing courses in preparation for the HSC.

Year 11 girls are preparing for their Year weekend.  They have approximately a month until their Preliminary Course Examinations and will also be confirming their final HSC course load which involves an interview with the Director of Studies.

Aside from their preparation for the School Certificate examinations early in Term 4, Year 10 students have also begun to consider subject choices for Years 11 and 12.  Their initial choices are used to structure the subject lines and they will make their final choices late in Term 4.  They will be given extra information about HSC subjects over the next few weeks.

Year 9 girls have completed the Global Forum and Years 7 and 8 have their examination period in Week 7 of Term 3.

The Hockey and Netball seasons are approaching the half way mark.  A number of teams are vying for finals positions and the results in the next few weeks will be crucial.

Mr Geoff Marsh, Deputy Head

Director of Studies

Year 12 students recently completed two weeks of HSC Trial examinations in an engaged and appropriate fashion.  On the Monday following the examinations, the year group participated enthusiastically in the annual Year 12 Development Day which comprised three very different sessions. The purpose of the day was to provide a break from study and the chance to re-focus and develop strategies for coping with the months ahead, as the students complete their secondary schooling and prepare for their final examinations.  The programme for the day was in three parts: Ms Joanne Parsons, a popular presenter with Frensham students, looked at issues relating to a healthy lifestyle; Mr Paul Cox provided relaxation therapy in his session on staying calm; and excellent techniques for examination preparation were discussed by Gemma Craig from Elevate Education.  The day culminated in a ‘Mystery Evening’ which was a surprise trip to the nearby restaurant Vin Santo.  The consensus was that the day was greatly appreciated by Year 12.

On Saturday 29 August, Year 11 parents will have the opportunity to discuss their daughter’s progress with her teachers and should have received, by email, an interim report to prepare for those interviews.

Students in Years 7 and 8 have received their examination timetables and are preparing for these examinations (to commence on Monday 7 September) under the guidance of their teachers.  Year 11 students have their examinations in the last two weeks of this term, while Years 9 and 10 examinations are held in Term 4. 

Mrs Sue Flaxman, Director of Studies

Director of Boarding

At the recent Boarding School Conference, several sessions were centred on Emotional Intelligence in the Boarding House.  The following may be of interest to parents:
Mayer and Salovey [1997] suggest there are four critical components to emotional intelligence:

• The accurate perception and expression of emotions.  Being able to read the emotions of others enables you to anticipate possible threats they might pose.
• The ability to access and generate emotions in the service of thinking and problem solving.  We often ask ourselves, “How do I feel about this?”  in trying to make an important decision.
• The understanding of emotions and emotional meanings.  We may accurately perceive we are anxious, but if we do not know why we are anxious, we cannot do much about it.  We often make incorrect attributions for our emotions, which can lead us to take unwise steps.
• The emotional regulation – being able to manage and regulate your emotions appropriately.  This does not mean completely controlling the emotions you feel or express.  Indeed, such emotional over-control is unhealthy.  But letting your emotions rage unabated can also be unhealthy.

Emotional Intelligence is the appropriate expression of your emotions.

In a Chicago Emotional Intelligence Conference in September 1999, David Caruso wrote:
“…Heart and Heart combined
It is important to understand that Emotional Intelligence is not the opposite of intelligence, it is not the triumph of head over heart – it is the unique intersection of both, Emotional Intelligence combines emotion with intelligence …
In this view, emotion and thinking work together: emotion assists thinking, and thinking can be used to analyse emotion.  Emotional Intelligence then is the ability to use your emotions to help serve problems and live a more effective life…
…Emotions are nagging thoughts.  Emotions are very often unwelcome guests in our lives.  Yet, emotions provide us with information, which if ignored, can cause serious problems.  If we are aware of our emotions, if we act on our emotions in a rational way, then we will increase the odds in our favour …”

Thank you to all who made the Father/Daughter Ball such a fun occasion.  The decorations in all the houses were a joint effort by girls and House Staff.  The next event is the Year 11 Weekend when we look forward to meeting many parents.

Mrs Ros Buick, Director of Boarding

Teaching and Learning

Planning is underway for the Professional Development Day for Frensham and Gib Gate Staff on 2 October.  A guest speaker for both campuses will be Dr Michael Nagel, Senior Lecturer in Education at the University of Sunshine Coast.  Dr Nagel is best known for his research on the neurological development of children and adolescents and speaks internationally about how current brain research can guide our work with students.

Dr Michael Nagel has taught in Canada and Australia and was the director of a foreign language institute in Japan.  He has published two books on the neurological similarities and differences between the brains of boys and girl and how high quality learning experiences can be constructed to meet the needs of both.  Dr Nagel is keenly interested in most facets of education but his primary motivation is helping to ensure that schools and 'schooling' are positive and enriching experiences for students and teachers alike.  

Mrs Bronwyn Tregenza, Director of Teaching and Learning

Career News

Attention Parents of Year 12
During the next six weeks, Year 12 will be conducting research and thinking about university and course choices.  Students have received the 2010 UAC Guide which lists over 1000 courses on offer next year at NSW and ACT universities.  All Year 12 students will be interviewed and offered support over this period but it is important that parents also have discussions with their daughters.  One change is that the UAI score is now called an ATAR score and a conversion table is provided within the UAC Guide.  The implications of this have been discussed with Year 12.

Please note that while students are required to make an online application to UAC by the 30 September, they can change any course/university choice as many times as they like until the first week of January 2010.  The Frensham Careers Newsletter will be published and emailed fortnightly for the remainder of this term and students are urged to read these carefully.

Scholarship applications should be prepared over the next few weeks as the closing date for many of these is the end of September (between the 26 and 30).  Parents are reminded to view the website http://www.myfuture.edu.au which has an extensive listing of scholarships available not only in NSW but nationally, as well as looking at the Scholarships link on specific university sites.

Early Entry applications and the Educational Access Scheme have similar closing dates but must be handed in to the School for final processing no later than Wednesday 16 September.  Any queries about these applications should be made to Mrs Williams as soon as possible as some of the supporting documentation (from Specialists etc) can be time-consuming to obtain.

Year 10 Work Experience Programme - employer evaluation forms have been returned to Year 10 students with follow up comments.  The placements this year were diverse and the experiences gained worthwhile. 

Attention Year 9 Parents – please begin the process of seeking a work experience placement for your daughter now as many of the popular choices have 12-month waiting lists.  The 2010 Work Experience dates are 21 to 25 June.

The recent An Evening with … featured Kirsten Cunningham from the Antipodean Abroad organisation, who gave a presentation to Years 11 and 12 about the programmes they run across the world.  Numerous Frensham Old Girls have used Antipodeans in their organisation of volunteer work in places like India, Tanzania, Kenya, Ghana, Ecuador, Argentina, India, Nepal, Peru and Thailand where they live and work in a developing community teaching English, working in orphanages, building schools or doing environmental conservation. 

Two Old Girls, Edwina Davison and Samantha Augeard, gave accounts of their experiences in Ecuador and Peru, showing slides and offering advice to the girls considering undertaking a volunteer placement. Recent Old Girls who have volunteered through Antipodeans include: Sarah Madigan, Peru; Olivia Boyce, Peru; Samantha Augeard, Peru; Edwina Davison, Ecuador (2006); Zoë Savill, Tanzania; Anna Lochhead, India; Clélia Simart, Tanzania (2007).

Mrs Cherylynne Williams, Careers Adviser

English and Drama

Congratulations must be given to the team of public speakers and supporters who attended the South Coast Public Speaking Competition on Tuesday 18 August accompanied by Mrs Falkiner and Mrs Chauncy.  This year, the team included: Caitlan Mahony and Adelaide Wallace, Year 7; Freya Spencer and Rebecca McCreath, Year 8; Emma Gorman and Emily Maker, Year 10 and Zoë Philip and Katherine Porter, Year 11.  Both Katherine Porter and Rebecca McCreath achieved third place in their sections and Emily Maker placed first in her section.

Planning for Debating continues with Mrs Vink as Debating Coach.  The Year 9 debaters are hosting a Debating Day with Nowra Anglican College on 2 September with students involved in the enrichment class having the opportunity to practise their skills.  The Year 10 team for AHIGS is also beginning formal preparations with after school workshops beginning on Monday 31 August for four weeks in which Mrs Vink will conduct some intensive skills training.

Students interested in entering the Berkeleow Writing Competition are reminded that the closing date for entries is this coming Friday 28 August.  These are to be submitted to Mrs Chauncy.
Students in Extension 2 English have put the finishing touches to their Major Works which were submitted on Wednesday this week.  Part of the work is a Reflection Statement which charts the process for each student and is marked as a significant part of the work itself.

The girls in HSC Drama presented both their Individual and Group Performances in a Public performance on Friday evening in Clubbe Hall.  There was a range of interesting and challenging monologues which reflected their expertise and preparation and some very thought-provoking Group Devised works.

Mrs Trish Symons, Director Language Arts

French HSC Oral Examinations
On Saturday 15 August and Saturday 22 August, the French students sat for their Continuers and Extension Oral Examinations worth 20% of their final mark.  The girls were well prepared, having spent many hours talking about their personal world, their family, their friends, their school and their future aspirations.

A visit from Oxley College in the week leading to the exam also gave the students the opportunity to be interviewed by an ‘unknown examiner’.

Madame Liliane Heininger, French Teacher

HSIE

Year 9 students participated in the annual Frensham Global Forum from Tuesday 18 August to Thursday 20 August held at the Ba’Hai Conference Centre at Yerrinbool.  The girls participated in a range of activities including presentations, workshops, group discussions and drama.  Topics covered included the UN Millennium Goals, self-help initiatives for people of less developed nations, the role of charity organisations and environmental sustainability.  

The School would like to acknowledge and thank the following presenters:  Mr Andrew and Mrs Susie Forrest (current parents), Australian Business Volunteers; Ms Annie Crawford, Opportunity International; Ms Annabel Chauncy (2003), An African Experience; Ms Skye McGregor (1999), working with voluntary groups; Mr Peter Anderson, University of Wollongong; Ms Nina Darcy, Wingecarribee Shire Council; Ms Lucinda Watson, policy unit, Department of Defence and Ms Elizabeth Wighton, World Vision.  The focus for Year 9 students is “What’s next?” “How can we take on leadership roles within our community?”

Year 10 Australian Studies Excursion ­ Last week Year 10 students participated in a field trip for Australian Studies.  Students presently studying History visited the Australian War Memorial and experienced a facilitated programme on the Vietnam War.  They also explored the exhibits which relate to their current study of Australia’s involvement in the Vietnam conflict.  All students found the day beneficial and a worthwhile supplement to their classroom activities.  
The Geography students went to Werri Beach at Gerringong and investigated the effects of rural and urban development on the water systems of the coast and inland.  They were fortunate to be instructed by the environmental scientists from Conservation Volunteers Australia and gained a greater appreciation of the work of such organisations.  The students will use the data gathered on the day to complete a Research Action Plan of one of the issues related to the area.

Mrs Jacqualine McCarroll, Coordinator of HISE

Mock Trial - The Frensham Mock Trial team travelled to Canberra last Friday to compete in the Second Elimination Round of the Law Society’s State Mock Trial competition.  This competition was comprised initially of 240 teams across the state.  Sixteen successful teams progressed to the second Round which included Frensham.  Having achieved success in Round Two the Frensham Mock Trial Team will face Bega High School in two weeks’ time to decide Round Three.

The Round Two case was a criminal one, where the defendant, Ms Toni Greenwood, Charlotte Midson, was accused of stealing a five-year diary from her place of employment.  The Frensham barrister, Sarah Loewy, had the task of defending Charlotte against the prosecution’s questions during cross-examination and did so successfully.  Toni (Charlotte) was most dramatic, playing the role of a budding actress who only worked in the store whilst getting her acting career going.  The ‘magistrate’ on this occasion was a local Canberra solicitor who was most complimentary regarding Charlotte’s recitation of her witness statement and the way in which she fielded questions from the prosecution.  Guislaine Allen was Frensham’s Court Officer.  Isis Oliver, as solicitor was a most active participant who supported the barristers well in their respective roles.  Rosie Latimer was the second witness and performed very well, ably defended by Jacklyn Wyer.  Frensham’s closing address was made by second barrister, Jacklyn Wyer who outlined and summarised the case, citing precedents and pointing out the weaknesses in the prosecution’s case.  Frensham emerged from the trial winning by six (259-253) points.  The team is looking forward to the next Trial where the standard will be even more testing.

Mrs Judy Bradley, Mock Trial Coordinator

Music

The AMEB Examinations recently began with Frensham hosting visiting examiners for flute, clarinet, saxophone, trumpet, piano, guitar, violin, cello, double bass and singing.  There are also written papers testing skills in Musicianship.
 
Year 10 Music students enjoyed a recent excursion to the Opera House where they heard the SSO perform a programme of Brahms, Richard Strauss and Bartok.  The students were fortunate to have Simone Young as the conductor, they were able to see the command she had over the orchestra and to hear the product of her extremely high standard of musicianship.  The young pianist who performed the Bartok Piano Concerto No 2 had stunning technique and the Strauss tone poem was particularly exciting to watch and to hear.

Mr Michael Spencer, Music Coordinator

Sport

Snowsports
The State Competition is on this week Wednesday 26-Sunday 30 August.  Frensham has a team of 13 skiers representing the school in Moguls, Skiercross and Alpine events.  The girls will be competing against the top performers from the previous Northern, Sydney and Southern rounds and are expecting a challenging competition.  The School extends it appreciation to the Team Managers who will accompany the girls and the Volunteer Course Officials, Mr Martin Fenaughty, Mrs Virginia Griffiths and Mr Simon Murphy. 

Division 1 – Moguls – Team Manager: Mrs S Hooke.  Harriet Hooke and Beatriz Grattan-Smith.  Skiercross A – Team Manager: Mrs J Kilmartin.  Arabella Kilmartin, Beatrice Osborne, Harriet Hooke.  Division 2 – Moguls – Team Manager: Mrs A Gemmell-Smith.  Anna Gemmell-Smith, Victoria Sanderson.  Skiercross A – Team Manager: Mr B Quinn.  Emma Quinn, Victoria Sanderson, Madeleine Quinn.  Alpine A – Team Manager: Mr M Fenaughty.  Emma Quinn, Anna Gemmell-Smith, Madeleine Quinn, Victoria Sanderson.  Alpine B – Team Manager: Mr A Burns.  Jessica Burns, Nicola Fenaughty, Miriam Carr, Jarra Robinson.  Division 3 – Moguls – Team Manager: Mr A Burns.  Jessica Burns, Emma Murphy.  Skiercross A – Jessica Burns (placed 8th individually).

Ms Joanne Allison, Snowsports Coordinator

Wet Weather arrangements for Saturday Sport
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.

Mrs Amanda Wansey, Coordinator of Sport

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