Upcoming Events

It has been wonderful to welcome students and staff back to campus for the beginning of Term 2, having had the opportunity to rest after quite an intense first term of 2022. The persistence and patience shown by staff, students and families alike was commendable, as we all managed the isolation requirements for positive COVID-19 cases and household contacts and the subsequent disruption to school life. Energy and enthusiasm levels are high and there is great anticipation for the term ahead and the opportunities for us to gather as a community and to welcome families back onto campus. This term sees, amongst other events, both IGSA and IPSHA Cross Country Carnivals, the Frensham Father-Daughter Ball, our major Reunion Weekend on 21 May, Year 8 and Year 12 Parent Weekends and of course, the Frensham Schools Birthday celebrations in June. Detailed arrangements for these events will generally be communicated via Schoolbox and parents and carers are asked to please note student attendance requirements in particular. Parents are urged to consult the published School Calendar when planning family occasions to ensure that full attendance on Closed Weekends is supported. Please refer to Schoolbox for additional detailed requirements around leave.

ANZAC DAY

Over a number of years, Frensham Schools has worked with the Mittagong RSL Sub-branch, to share in the planning and delivery of the best possible outcomes for the community for the Mittagong ANZAC Day Service. When ANZAC Day falls within the vacation we are particularly appreciative of the effort made by staff and parents from both Gib Gate and Frensham to support student attendance, allowing us to honour this opportunity to contribute. With special thanks to Mr Michael Spencer for the music organisation.

This year in Mittagong, Wreath Bearers - Matilda Arnott and Charlotte Hindmarsh (Year 12), Phoebe McLaughlin and Matilda Spong (Year 6); ANZAC Message on Behalf of the Youth of the Community – Lulu Duck and Eliza Hewson (Year 12); Banner Bearers – Charlotte and Emily Senior and Zoe Gallagher (Year 12); Flautists – Eliza Mulligan (Year 11), Sarah Hunter (Year 12); Vocalists – Lulu Duck, Eliza Hewson, Holly Horsfall (Year 12).

Gib Gate: Evie Bishop, Rosetta Rodgers (Kindergarten); Grace Camphin Florence Dalleywater, Jack Spong, Charlotte Vaille (Year 1); Carly Hughes, Samuel Robb, Chelsea Trudgeon (Year 3); Beatrix Dalleywater, Amelie Gardiner, Madeleine Hannah (Year 4); Emma Andrews, Emily Pattison, Olivia Pattison, (Year 5); Darcy Burrows, Gemma McInnes (Year 6).

Frensham: Amelia Blackshaw, Sophie McAndrew, Ruby Rodgers, Claire Sullivan, Victoria Trotter, Zali Walters (Year 7); Chloe Hannah, Henrietta Hayman, Jade Neilson, Lucia Semple, Skye Spong (Year 8); Hannah Day, Sophie Hanrahan, Amelia Hartnell, Willow Hindmarsh, Raphaela O'Neill'Siambis, Madison Walters (Year 9); Cate Horsfall, Maggie Ryan, Olivia Trotter (Year 10); Sarah-Joy Day, Gracie Hindmarsh, Freyjika Parker, Hilary Swan (Year 11); Matilda Arnott, Ankitha Avvari, Isolde Cochet, Zoe Gallagher (Year 12).

Staffing – joining us at the commencement of Term 2

We were pleased to welcome Deputy Head of Frensham, Frensham Schools Ms Sarah Tynan at Morning Prayers on Wednesday 27 April. Ms Tynan commences in her position on 16 May. (Pictured left with Ms McGarry)

Mr Imre Hirka, Director of ICT and a member of the Frensham Schools Executive.

Mr Malcolm Boyes, Head of Property across the three campuses of Frensham, Gib Gate and Sturt. As Malcolm joins the property team, we thank Stuart Macpherson for his contribution as Acting Facilities manager since the end of February.

Mrs Ellie Collins, Gib Gate PE and Sport Teacher

Ms Paula Collins, HSIE Teacher at Frensham

Welcome back

• Mrs Melissa Lamrock-George and Mr Keith Mitchell, who will be rejoining the Music Faculty
• Ms Jane Cavanough, who will be covering for Miss Sophie Piper during her Long Service Leave this term.

Heads of Houses for Term 2 (representing Boarders [Full and Weekly] and Day Boarders)

• Kennedy – Year 10: Kate Clifton (B), Sophie Simpson (WB), Cate Horsfall (DB)
• Hartfield – Year 10: Penny Hill (B), Isabel Kenneally (WB), Madeleine Charters (DB)
• Linden Turner – Year 11: Meg Jones (B), Rosie Mahony (WB), Sarah-Joy Day (DB)
• Linden Turner – Year 10: Georgia Squire-Wilson (B), Lucinda Colgan (WB), Amy Wimalaratne (DB)
• Bryant McCarthy – Year 11: Bella Cay (B), Araminta Scott (WB), Phoebe Rouse (DB)

Campus Safety

We remind all families that Frensham students should not be dropped off nor collected via the Topp Gates on Waverley Parade. Now that Houses are functioning fully, and as days become shorter and colder, students should be waiting at Houses to be collected rather than waiting in the dark on the street. Please do take care on the roads surrounding the campus as the wet weather of last term has caused some significant damage to roads across the Southern Highlands with large potholes or bitumen damage a common feature.

Boarding

It has been an active and fun-filled start to Term 2 with the girls enjoying reconnecting with each other over the weekend. Head Girl and Vice Head Girl, Phoebe Rowntree and Phoebe Lyne, have written a short piece to document the first closed weekend of Term 2.

At school the weekend truly begins not on Saturday but on Friday night!

So… off we went to dance the night away at Clubbe Hall. Girls dressed in their best 80s costume which looked more like a crazy-colour-bomb than Cyndi Lauper. The following morning there was a great turnout at basketball, it was difficult to manage to get a glimpse in the sea of girls supporting from the upstairs balcony of the gym. Obviously, the encouragement was successful with the new War Cry Fairies debut as all teams had a strong win against their opposition. Later in the afternoon the girls returned to the gym to try ballroom dancing in preparation for the up-and-coming Father-Daughter Ball. To end the fabulous day, a trivia night was put together consisting of girls finishing popular lyrics and plank challenges, both our minds and bodies were put to the test. 

After a well-deserved sleep-in, girls attended a short School Service before competing in the Frensham Annual Biathlon. Despite a muddy and sludgy Holt, everyone displayed their best efforts in running, swimming and covering themselves in mud! Even though it was a friendly competition, girls were reminded of the reality of how hard it is to run 3km and swim 300m (juniors), 400m (seniors). After this, we were all rewarded with a restful afternoon and evening.

What a great start to a term of activity, excitement and, of course, fun!

Ms Sally Edwards, Director of Student Life (Boarding)

Careers at Frensham

We are in the midst of “University Early Entry season” and the majority of Year 12 have now had individual meetings to discuss their tertiary and post-school opportunities. Students were emailed their UAC (University Admissions Centre) unique PIN and are now able to list their NSW preferences from 1 to 5. Please note – they can change these preferences at any time. Students have been encouraged to select Schools Recommendation Scheme to ensure that they automatically apply for Early Entry for participating universities via their UAC application. Frensham is considered to be a ‘rural school’ and students may automatically receive ‘adjustment factors’ from certain universities. Interstate admission centres will have similar early entry opportunities.

The second opportunity for Early Entry is directly, via a university’s website. The universities that are open for Early Entry right now include ANU, UNE and CSU.  Students will be advised as other tertiary institutions start to open their portals and they are encouraged to be mindful of closing dates.

There are many webinars, open days and information sessions open to students and parents alike. Year 12 are advised of events and important notices during ‘Tertiary Thursday’ Form sessions and the meeting notes are always saved on the Careers page Schoolbox  in the Files area, which parents can also access.

Year 11 students enjoyed a ‘Tertiary Tuesday’ session at the end of last term and I will continue to prepare the girls throughout the year.

Year 10 will undergo Careers Profiling on 6 June. These individually prepared Career profiles help provide a sound basis for careers exploration and decision making. It is never too early to start thinking about Senior studies. UAC have published a Year 10 subject selection advice booklet. Parents and students can click on this tile on the Careers Page on SchoolBox, Year 10 Careers - Schoolbox,  and we look forward to providing further discussion and advice Term 3 at the Year 10 Planning for Senior Studies session on Saturday 6 August.

Jamieson Programme

Year 7: In Frensham Studies, students explored our first character study, 'Confident & Self Assured', where the girls looked at what this meant in their context now, at Frensham and how this translates beyond school. They made 'Magic Slice', cooking an old classic Frensham Morning Tea, where they chose ingredients that represented a Frensham Girl. For example: The top layer of the Magic Slice will be freckles, as everyone is unique and colourful and always stick together. This term, we are considering what it is to be a 'Willing Contributor.'

Year 8: For the first time in two years, Year 8 students are now able to participate in Riding for the Disabled. This programme makes a huge difference to the lives of children and adults living with intellectual, physical, sensory and learning disabilities. Our students like chatting to the riders and supporting them to enjoy this wonderful experience.

Year 9:  A reminder to parents and students that attending the extended day Jamieson Programme Thursday Week A until 8.00pm, is compulsory for all Year 9 students. With a focus on health and fitness, critical and ethical thinking, service and leadership, the Jamieson Programme helps girls gain confidence and courage to deal with the unfamiliar territory ahead. It also challenges students to consider the difference they can make, individually and as part of a group, when exploring real social, political and environmental issues. Having a special afternoon and evening session dedicated just for Year 9 is unique to Frensham and helps to build important connections within the cohort and tends to awaken in the girls, a belief in themselves that will stay with them throughout their lives.

Students began the term with fitness activities, including a range of aerobic and strength/muscular endurance challenges. Students will have time to reflect on the achievement of their individual fitness goals, which have been an ongoing focus throughout last term.

Students in the Cambridge IGCSE interdisciplinary course ‘Global Perspectives’ will begin the second component of the course, the Group Project. Groups decide on an important global issue and work together to research the issue and come up with a way of either promoting or solving the problem. In the past, students have designed websites, written story books to educate younger children, designed promotional posters or produced an advertisement. The skills of collaboration, listening and being an integral team member are core to this component and we look forward to seeing what Year 9 come up with this year.

Year 10: Students are relishing taking on their role as leaders in the Junior Boarding Houses and being strong mentors as Cracks. They are crucial to our pastoral care programme in that they are often the first person a young student will talk to about problems they may be experiencing at School. Year 10 girls are congratulated on being important role models to our junior students.

Mrs Merrilee Harris, Director of Jamieson Programme and Head of Careers

Sport

NSWCIS Touch Football 18&U team as an IGSA Sport representative
Heidi Rowntree (Year 10), selected to represent IGSA in the U18 team Friday 29 April, where she played very well against the Senior players. Unfortunately, she just missed out on the opportunity to play in the NSWCIS U18 team.

U15 Netball IGSA Trials
Claudia Henderson (Year 9) was successful in being selected for the IGSA U15 Netball team. She will now take part in the U15 Netball Challenge Day, 9 August, in the bid to be selected for the NSWCIS U15 netball team.

U18 CIS Basketball Team
Mia Shakeshaft (Year 12) has been selected for the U18 IGSA Basketball team. She will play in the All Schools tournament, Thursday 5 May.

IGSA Cross Country Carnival Friday 13 May
The IGSA Cross Country Carnival will be taking place Friday 13 May. All parents of competitors are welcome to attend the event.

IGSA Pink Round Saturday 7 May
Round 2 of IGSA will be the Mother’s Day round with students supporting the BCNA. Students are encouraged to wear pink hair ribbons and pink playing socks. If supporters attending can wear a splash of pink on the day to support the cause it would be appreciated.

Frensham Biathlon
On Sunday 1 May Frensham held the Run/Swim Biathlon. Students had the opportunity to join a team and select the running leg of 3k or the swimming leg 300m for Year 7 and 400m for Juniors and Senior students.

Year 7

• 1st: Maisie Stanley, Amber Thomas, Chloe Worner-Tomlinson 17:26
• 2nd: Holly Fagan, Georgina Boag, Francesca Cay 18:37
• 3rd: Lili Bell, Genevieve McLelland 19:23

Juniors

• 1st: Sophie Hanrahan, Tia Thomas (Year 9) 18:25
• 2nd: Skye McLelland, Penny Cay (Year 9) 18:50
• 3rd: Camilla Ranken, Camilla Johnston (Year 9) 18:51

Seniors

• 1st: Phoebe Gilder, Lucy Molineux, Miliana Thompson (Year 10) 21:08
• 2nd: Mia Shakeshaft, Isobel Harrington (Year 12) 21:48
• 3rd: Maggie Ryan, Lottie Firth (Year 10) 22:05

Mr Shane Green, Acting Head of Sport

Visual Arts

In Term 1, Year 11 students studying Visual Arts explored social and political issues in the world as part of the “These are Desperate Times” unit. Employing printmaking as the primary medium to express ideas, the students used a range of specific techniques, such as dry-point etching, lino-printing, mono-printing and eucalyptus lift printing in varied ways. In addition to developing concepts for artmaking, working within the expressive form of printmaking gave students the opportunity to test aspects of this media ahead of the HSC Visual Arts course beginning in Term 4. The standard of work produced collectively by students was excellent, showcasing individually their diverse skills and interests.

Mr Phil Alldis, Head of Visual Arts and Design & Technology

Show Cattle Team – Sydney Royal Easter Show

State Paraders Final (qualified at Moss Vale Zone Finals): 1^st - Judith Hopkins (Year 12) and Rocky (Simmental); Reserve Champion - Judith Hopkins. School Paraders: 2^nd - Tia Thomas (Year 9) and Rocky (Simmental).

Herdsman Best Maintained Team competition: 1^st – Frensham. Judged on the stall area, cattle, students and display. Frensham’s display celebrated the 200 years of the Royal Agricultural Society showing old Easter Show beef cattle judging photos, old farm equipment and tools and past School Steer and School Paraders results.

The Simmental breed was the feature breed of the Show celebrating 50 years of Simmentals in Australia. Competing in the separate Simmental-only classes: Simmental Middleweight Led Steer: 4^th - Smiggle led by Tia Thomas; Intermediate Paraders (15 - 17 years): 2^nd - Judith Hopkins leading Rocky.

Steer Classes: Heavyweight School Led Steer: 3^rd - Rocky led by Judith Hopkins; Middleweight Open Led Steer: 4^th - Ringo (Angus) led by Maggie Waldren (Year 12). Class 3 Heavyweight School Steer Carcass: Bronze medal – Rocky (Simmental). Class 8 Middle weight Open Carcass: Bronze medal – Smiggle (Simmental); Class 10 Middleweight Open Carcass: 1^st – Virtual Taste Test – Ringo (Angus).

Acknowledgement to

• Frensham’s Show Cattle Team for their success at the Sydney Royal Easter Show. We would also like to thank Frensham parents, Nicole and John Hopkins (Wormbete Simmentals, Illabo) and Kate and Anthony Waldren (Nandawar, Nimmitabel), who bred Rocky (Simmental) and Ringo (Angus), respectively, for their wonderful support of Frensham and the Agricultural Programme over many years.
• Luca de Manincor (Year 10) for her selection to the University of Sydney’s under 16 Water Polo Team, the team went on to win Bronze at the National Water Polo Youth Championships, Brisbane, held during the vacation.
• Frensham students competing as IGSA team representatives: Heidi Rowntree (Year 10) U18 Touch Football, Claudia Henderson (Year 9) U15 Netball, Mia Shakeshaft (Year 12) U18 Basketball.

Ms Sarah McGarry
Head of Frensham
Head of Frensham Schools

The end of Term 1

When speaking with the School last week I encouraged students to finish well, to apply their best efforts to the final weeks of term – after all, musicians don’t just decide not to play to the double bar line at the end of a piece, distance runners don’t hear the final lap bell and slow down to take it easy, and actors don’t fade out on the last page of a script and back away off stage. Finishing well is as important in life as it is in Sport or the Arts, with the traits of persistence and commitment a determining factor in life satisfaction and success.

I wish to commend all students and staff for their fine efforts in what has been, at times, a challenging term. The grit and resilience shown by our community in the face of COVID-induced disruption and weather events has been admirable.

At Tuesday evening’s Sport Celebration we gathered as a community to celebrate and recognise individual and team achievements and efforts across the term, and those acknowledgements missed due to the cancellation of End of Term Prayers will be celebrated in our first Prayers back on Wednesday 27 April 2022. We celebrate the efforts of the team representing Frensham at the IGSA Swimming Carnival on Friday 25 March, for a very strong set of results and a fine culmination of the term’s training and preparation. Whilst we missed quite a bit of IGSA Sport fixtures as a result of inclement weather this term, when we did have the opportunity to welcome opponents to Frensham our teams played with skill and enthusiasm and it was so gratifying to welcome parents, families and their pet dogs to the Games Field. Our parent volunteers and student baristas have set a high bar with service at the Pavilion and we look forward with hope to some clearer weekends and a more consistent next season.

It has been thoroughly enjoyable this term to gather more frequently as a Frensham Schools community, and are looking ahead with enthusiasm to the events planned in Term Two. Last Friday’s Gib Gate Fair was a true delight (holding Caramello the Guinea Pig was my personal highlight) and a wonderful preview for the Gib Gate Open Day on Saturday 30 April. At Frensham I highlight in particular the Father-Daughter Ball on 14 May, our Fellowship Reunion Picnic on 21 May and our Year 12 and Birthday Weekend on 4 June.

ANZAC DAY

Frensham Schools has a strong tradition of participation and contribution in our local commemoration of Anzac Day. Students of Frensham and Gib Gate are invited to represent Frensham Schools at the Mittagong RSL Sub Branch ANZAC Day 2022 Memorial March and Ceremony.

Students, Parents and Carers are asked meet Ms McGarry and Ms Chauncy at the Carpark area behind Highlands Fresh (Albion St) at 10:15am. Students will need to wear their full winter uniform including blazers, stockings and hats (Frensham).

The March to the Cenotaph will commence at 10:35am and the Service will commence at 10:45am. Would you please advise if your child is able to participate in the ANZAC March via this link: ANZAC Day March (Mittagong) Attendance, response required by Thursday 21 April.

Gib Gate and Frensham students will march together for this event and we thank Parents and Carers in advance for your support for this significant annual community event.

Frensham will be holding an Anzac Day Prayer Reflection on Friday 29 April here at school, and students and staff with family connections to the Defence Forces who would like to participate have been asked to contact senior staff to express their interest. We welcome this involvement.

We wish all students, staff and families a restful vacation period and a joyful Easter. May this time together provide you with the opportunity for rest and reflection.

Staffing

• Ms Sally Fennell will be remaining as Year 12 Coordinator whilst stepping back from the role of Deputy Head of Boarding from the beginning of Term 2.
• Wishing Sophie Piper well for Long Service in Term 2

Acknowledgement to

• Zoe Gallagher (Year 12), Eliza Mulligan (Year 11), Maggie Ryan (Year 10) for selection to the Under 18’s Southern Highlands Representative Field Hockey Team, competing at the NSW State Field Championships in May.
• Zali Walters (Year 7) for selection to play representative Netball for the Southern Highlands Netball Association.
• Heidi Rowntree (Year 10) for selection to the IGSA Touch Team.
• Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award recipients, Silver: Sarah Partland, Jessica Savage (Year 11); Bronze: Poppy Carter, Emily Crawford, Jemima Sealy, Imogen Smith, Georgia Squire-Wilson, Miliana Thompson (Year 10).
• University of Sydney Year 10 (2021) Academic Achievement Award recipient: Bella Cay, Year 11 2022.
• Phoebe Clifton (Year 12) for qualifying to be part of the NSW Equestrian Team and competing at the Australasian Show Horse and Rider Championships (Nationals) in Child's Large Open Hack Class. Qualifying for the NSW Team, Phoebe was Reserve Champion at the NSW Horse of the Year event, October 2020.
• The Year 11 Mock Trial Team for their commitment to the programme and recent success in competition.

Ms Sarah McGarry
Head of Frensham
Head of Frensham Schools

Welcoming family and friends back to campus

It was delightful to be able to welcome family and friends back to campus for our Year Ten Parent Weekend, with Parent-Teacher interviews occurring on Saturday and a Service and Concert open to our whole community on Sunday morning. Thank you to staff and students for your efforts across the weekend, and to parents and carers for your warm support. Acknowledgement to student performances from Year Ten String quartet, Frensham Madrigals, Maggie Ryan on piano and the toe-tapping “You’ve Got a Friend in Me” from the entire year group. We enjoyed student illustrations for The Day the Crayons Quit, and the Senior Choir anthem Sing Gently.

Parent Weekends are some of the most significant times in our school calendar, and after two years of not being able to gather as an entire school community, we recognise how special these times are. As so many families travel long distances to meet their daughter’s teachers and other families, to watch Sport and to gather socially, we remind families that all students are required to attend Sunday Service and Concert – not just students in the nominated year level. Please refer to the School’s glossy calendar, and the published list of Important Dates, to ensure these important weekends are prioritised.

Parent Zoom Meetings

We are pleased to invite parents of students in Years 8, 9, 11 and 12 to Zoom meetings next Monday 28 March and Tuesday 29 March. Head Ms Sarah McGarry and other staff relevant to your daughter’s year group will be presenting, providing parents and carers with an update about what their daughters are working on in their learning and pastoral programmes, introducing staff who are working with each year group and providing guidance about how parents can best support their daughter at this stage of their development. Full details can be found on your daughter’s year level page on Schoolbox.

Student Accommodation Project

As our community may be aware, the Land and Environment Court has this week been hearing our case, seeking a decision on our development application for our Student Accommodation Project located in the Lower Holt. At the time of the publication of this newsletter, the hearing is ongoing. We look forward to being able to share updated information with our community following the conclusion of the hearing and the subsequent decision from the Court, the timing of which is uncertain at this point.

Staffing News

We are looking forward to welcoming our new Deputy Head, Ms Sarah Tynan, to Frensham Schools in Term Two. Ms Tynan will be visiting campus prior to the end of this term to meet students and staff. Ms van Gogh will continue in the role of Acting Deputy Head until Mrs Tynan commences in May.

We welcome Mrs Penelope Ellice-Flint, who commenced last week as Frensham Fellowship Liaison and Community Relations Coordinator, and Mrs Leanne Stone, who commences on Monday 28 March, as Communications and Publications Associate.

We farewell the following members of staff, and thank them sincerely for their service to Frensham Schools.

• Ms Jeannette Gibson joined the Boarding Staff in 2010 and over that time led Hartfield House and latterly was with Kennedy House. Mrs Gibson retires having given notable service to the Boarding programme in particular and we thank her for her contribution.
• Mrs Machelle Webb, who leaves the HSIE faculty after nearly 18 years of service. During this time Machelle lead the Young Achievers and MUNA teams to great success.
• Mr Andrew Lundy, joined the Frensham HSIE Faculty last year 
• Mrs Renae Pinazza from our Music Department will be heading off at the end of term to The King’s School, Tudor House, leading their Primary Music programme.
• Miss Nicky Fenaughty, our Gib Gate PE and Sport teacher, is moving to Sydney at the end of term, to Redlands School, overseeing their K-12 Snowsports and Cross Country programmes as well as teaching.

Pastoral Care

Confirmation programme and Baptism – Year 10, 11 and 12 2022 – with update to dates

As part of our Confirmation Programme, Frensham provides the opportunity for girls in Years 10-12 to be Confirmed by the Anglican Church. Girls will be prepared for Confirmation by Youth Minister Matt Jacobs. This involves six 50-minute sessions on Thursday mornings from 10.45am-11.35am on 9, 16, 23 June, 21 and 28 July and 4 August.

The Confirmation Service will be held on Sunday 7 August at St Jude’s, Bowral at 3.30pm and will be conducted by the Right Reverend Hayward, Bishop of Wollongong.

If you would like your daughter to be part of the Anglican Confirmation Programme, could you please complete the following form regarding Baptism information by Friday 1 April. Confirmation 2022

Youth Minister Matt Jacobs has also offered to support any girl wishing to be baptised in the Anglican faith. Please email Mrs Fawbert directly for further details.

Mrs Wendy Fawbert, Director of Character Education and Pastoral Care

Sport

Swimming Clinic with James Magnussen

On Saturday 12 March, James Magnussen ran a Swimming Development Programme. He discussed motivation, nutrition, mobility and injury prevention, and encouraged the girls to focus on developing all the areas. James commented “I hope everyone enjoyed the morning and I look forward to doing it again. Thank you for investing in yourself and I look forward to seeing more great swimming to come”. The girls that attended the programme were: Millie Moar, Phoebe Clifton, Sophie Hanrahan, Tia Thomas, Amber Thomas, Holly Fagan, Camilla Johnston and Lucy Arnott.

Mr Shane Green, Head of Sport (2022)

Tildesley Tennis Shield

The girls played exceptionally well and worked hard for every point. Our lines girls, who led each court, did an excellent job at representing Frensham.

Singles: progressing to the second round - Camilla Ranken (Year 9), Lucinda Colgan (Year 10), Elyse Caristo (Year 12), Ze McGrath (Year 12). Doubles: Olivia Laverty (Year 12) & Bridie Turner (Year 11); progressing to the third round - Emily Lenehan (Year 12) & Mia Greig (Year 12). Reserve player: Sophie Goodisson (Year 9).

The Lines Girls: Annabelle Studdy (Year 12), Charlotte Hopperton (Year 11), Matilda Chadwick (Year 11), Emilie McMurtrie (Year 11), Isabella Bernecker (Year 10), Elizabeth Shadbolt (Year 9), Claire Mitchell (Year 9).

Ms Molly Macqueen, Tildesley Tennis Coordinator and Year 8 Coordinator

Acknowledgement to

• Frensham Tildesley Tennis participants, players and lines girls for their commitment and success at the recent competition.
• NSW Parliament Art Competition - Regional category winner Years 3-6: Sammy Robb (Year 3)
• Gib Gate Swimming Team for its success at the IPSHA Swimming Carnival: Iliana Hercus, Camille Muir (Year 3); Archie Driver, Tara Gemell, Madeleine Hannah; Valentina Hercus, Zahra Nash, Sofia Wilson (Year 4); Madeline Conway, Emma Stedman (Year 5); Darcey Burrows, Sophie Chin, Mae Gilkeson, Gemma McInnes, Matilda Spong (Year 6).  (Details of individual results can be found in the Gib Gate section.)
• Gib Gate staff member, Mrs Lisa Gemell: presenting at the recent NSW Japanese Teachers’ Conference.

 

Ms Sarah McGarry
Head of Frensham
Head of Frensham Schools

What a week it has been! We thank all families for their support and understanding as we have experienced extraordinary weather in the Southern Highlands, impacting our community widely and reminding us all of the unstoppable forces of nature.

Right: Birthday Island (photo: Lulu Duck, Year 12)

Outdoor Education and Senior Studies Week

Our thanks go to all staff and students involved in last week’s programme. Despite some challenging weather conditions, and some necessary amendments, all year levels completed successful programmes with a visible impact on year group cohesion and confidence upon their return to classes on Friday. These programmes are designed carefully to provide age-appropriate, developmental activities which help students to develop vital skills of teamwork, independence, creative problem-solving and resilience – all aspects of our Character Education framework. It has been extremely rewarding to see students meet these challenges with optimism and confidence and to reflect on their experience so positively.

Research: Why choose a Boarding School?

Independent Schools Australia have engaged AEC to undertake an assessment of the socio-economic benefits of Boarding Schools to the state/territory and national economies. This information will be used in advocating for Boarding Schools to decision-makers and funders. In support of this assessment, Independent Schools Australia in collaboration with AISNSW, invite parent and carer input regarding the main reasons parents and caregivers opt to send children to Boarding School, the alternative educational outcomes/ experiences for these children were they not to attend Boarding School, and the benefits these children receive from attending Boarding School.

The survey will take less than five (5) minutes to complete. Your participation in this study is completely voluntary and all responses will be held confidentially with no way to identify respondents. Frensham does not receive any results of the survey and you may opt out at any time by exiting the survey. However, it is very important for the voices of Boarding School families to be included. The survey will be available for participation until Friday, 18 March 2022 – please click here to complete.

East Coast Flooding

As much of Australia’s East Coast has been affected by flooding events, it has been heartening to see that even despite the tragedy and disaster being experienced in some areas, the kindness of strangers and the generosity of humans towards each other in times of emergency, helping to provide hope and optimism even on very challenging days. We remain confident and hopeful that this same spirit will emerge again, as it has in communities affected by these floods and other disasters across our country. We have seen extraordinary examples of everyday leadership from people in our communities who may not considered traditional or formal leaders – but in times of crisis, we all lead in our own way. Examples include those citizens who used their own resources to rescue neighbours stranded on their properties, assisted them to move stock, housed people unable to stay in their own homes, contributed to cleanup efforts and generally extended a hand of compassion and support.

It can be difficult in situations such as this to feel as though we can make a practical impact from a distance. The coastal communities of NSW are home to over 100 regional Independent schools and tens of thousands of students, who are part of our wider Independent schools community. Many have experienced damage to their homes and have lost school equipment such as laptops, books and uniforms.

You can directly support affected students now by clicking on this link to donate to the Australian Independent Schools Fund’s (AISF) Flood Relief Appeal.

The AISF was established in 2017 by the Association of Independent Schools of NSW to provide tax deductable financial donations directly to disadvantaged students, including those needing emergency relief due to natural disasters such as bushfires, floods and storms. In 2020, the AISF distributed more than $600,000 directly within days to 176 families who had suffered catastrophe in the summer bushfires. A further $263,700 went directly to 76 families impacted by storms and floods the same year. This funding was delivered to affected families within days and their gratitude was overwhelming.

All donations over $2 are tax deductible and a receipt will be generated and emailed to you automatically. The AISF has no administrative costs; every dollar donated will go directly to supporting flood-affected students and will be distributed to families within days.

Gib Gate K-2 Swimming Carnival
We have postponed this exciting event in the Frensham Schools Calendar to Thursday 17 March, to allow as many students as possible to participate.

Frensham Creativity
It was with significant relief that we saw the clouds clear late on Wednesday afternoon, with blue skies appearing briefly to allow some much-anticipated sunshine through. Katerina Peniazeva (Year 8) was inspired to write this optimistic Haiku (Japanese poetic form) which we share with her permission.

Frensham hopeful mornings
A sunny clear day
Hymns are beautifully sung
The iris gives hope

Boarding

Boarding at Frensham has been utilising the Schoolbox platform with success over the past few terms and it is with great delight that we launch the new and improved Boarding at Frensham Schoolbox pages for parent and student use. Schoolbox is the place where all boarding information is found and where your questions should be answered through the vast array of information and documents that are available for reference. New and exciting editions to the pages will be posted over the coming weeks.

The overall Boarding Page has been restructured to also include the addition of House pages that contain contact details for the Houses, information about the Houses, the staff who work within the Houses, Daily and Weekly Routines, Jobs Rosters and phone times. In addition to these House Pages, you will find links to Boarding FAQs, Exeat and Leave forms, Bus Sign Up Forms, Friday Night Activities and Weekend Programmes. You will also find important contacts for members of the Boarding Team and Blog Posts that showcase our weekend activities. It is hoped that this will allow for further transparency of the Boarding Programme, allowing accessibility to be streamlined and provide a place where all of your boarding needs can be met in one location.

I would also like to take this opportunity to provide a friendly reminder that in order for all leave requests to be managed and approved, Exeats must be completed by midday on Wednesday each open weekend. Our team appreciates your support in meeting this deadline each weekend. 

You are encouraged to familiarise yourself with our Boarding and House pages on Schoolbox as all information will be provided there. Many of these updates will be available from Week 6. 

Boarding Status Change Requests
A reminder to all families, as previously communicated this week, of the request to please complete the following simple questionnaire, accessible by clicking here. Even if you have already submitted a direct request to change Boarding status we would appreciate you providing this information again to assist us in ensuring that we have captured all Boarding requests for Term 2. Please complete this information no later than Friday 11 March 2022.

Please note that approval of a change in Boarding status is subject to availability and that all places are offered in accordance with the School’s enrolment process.

Ms Sally Edwards, Director of Student Life (Boarding)

National Art School HSC Intensive Studio Practice courses for 2022

Information regarding National Art School HSC Intensive Studio Practice courses for 2022 is available online on the National Art School’s website (link below), and has been communicated to students studying Visual Arts in Year 11. The courses provide opportunities for students to develop skills in specific media in a stimulating creative environment. For several years, students have been offered and accepted places in these highly sought-after courses.  

Mrs Spencer and I can assist students in preparing applications, which will include examples of work (which will be uploaded to the NAS). Application Forms, signed by the student, parents/guardians, Mr Alldis/Mrs Spencer, together with specific examples of a student's artmaking practice, are to be submitted online by the deadline of Friday 8 April (Week 10 / Term 1). Offers of places will be made by the NAS to students in Term 2, usually by about Week 4.

To be eligible for entry applicants must:

• be in Year 11,
• be nominated by their Visual Arts teacher, and
• be achieving at a high level in their Visual Arts studies.

During the NAS HSC Intensive Studio Practice the student will:

• work within a specialised discipline using a broad range of media and art making processes
• refine their ability to interpret and evaluate their own and others’ artworks
• engage in sustained critical reflection and evaluation
• gain practical skills in preparing for, mounting and curating an exhibition

Course Overview

The NAS HSC Intensive Studio Practice is designed to enhance and extend students’ technical, conceptual and intellectual skills under the direction of experienced, practising artists, through intensive practical study in one of the following disciplines: black and white photography, ceramics, digital photography, life drawing*, painting, printmaking and sculpture*.

*In keeping with post-school degree course practice, drawing and sculpture classes will include undraped life models.

Course Modules and Dates (you must be available to complete both modules)

• Module 1: Tuesday 12 – Friday 15 July 2022
• Module 2: Monday 26 – Friday 30 September 2022

The NAS HSC Intensive Studio Practice will still appear on the student’s HSC certificate as a one Unit course but will not contribute to the student’s ATAR count. NAS will issue each student with a “Statement of Results” which will include a mark out of 50.

The fee for courses in 2022 is $400. Students requiring boarding accommodation are asked to pay an additional $400 ($800 total).

Note about Boarding: Boarding is strictly limited and will be offered only to regional students who have no other accommodation alternatives. Boarding students will be offered share accommodation at a nearby hotel and will be supervised at all times by two teachers. Students living within the Sydney Metropolitan and Blue Mountains area, the Central Coast and Wollongong will not be offered boarding facilities and will need to commute.  

For more detailed information, follow the link to the HSC Intensive Studio Practice Brochure and Application Forms. HSC Intensive Studio Practice: https://nas.edu.au/hsc-intensive-studio-practice

Mr Phil Alldis, Head Visual Arts and Design & Technology

Drama

After only four weeks of life at Frensham, Year 7 students displayed creativity and cohesion in the Year 7 Concert held as part of their Parent Year Weekend in Clubbe Hall. For their dramatic performances, both classes adapted a well-known picture book for the stage. Under the direction of Mrs Sally Hannah, 7G performed Liliana Stafford’s book, Amelia Ellicott’s Garden and 7P performed the much-loved children’s book, Princess Smartypants by Babette Cole. Year 7 enjoyed performing for their family members and staff. To celebrate Year 7’s success, both groups performed their work during Friday Prayers for the rest of the school community. The students were so proud of what they had achieved in such a short period of time. They had fun and demonstrated a strong ability to work as an ensemble while showcasing their acting skills. They entered the stage confidently and exited the stage with large smiles on their faces in response to the rapturous applause they received from the audience.

The Birthday Play for 2022 is Clue (High School Edition), adapted from the Screenplay by Jonathan Lynn. Based on the popular board game and adapted from the cult classic film, Clue is the comedy whodunit that will keep you guessing (and laughing) to the end. The comedy mystery features a range of eccentric characters. Directed by Mrs Sally Hannah, auditions started this week with Years 11 and 12 students in preparation for rehearsals, commencing in Week 7.

Mrs Sally Hannah, Head of Drama

Livestock Team Report

While the wet weather caused the cancellation of the Braidwood Show, the Sheep Team were able to attend the Goulburn Show on Saturday 5 March. Although a very humid day, the weather stayed dry up until our departure.

The results from the Sheep Competition:

Novice Poll Dorset Ewe Lamb: 1^st – Tag 880 led by Goldie Munro, 2^nd – tag 987 led by Sophie Hanrahan; Poll Dorset Ewe Lamb: 3^rd – tag 969 led by Maggie Maynard, 4^th – tag 786 led by Jemima Melki. Pair Poll Dorset Ewe Lambs: 1^st – tags 863 + 867 led by Leilani Palise and Lucia Semple, 2^nd – tags 696 + 873 led by Lucy Booth and Elyse Caristo. Poll Dorset ewe, 1 year and under 2 years: 3^rd – Purple tag 17 led by Lucy Arnott. Meat Breeds Sheep Young Judges Competition: Under 15 years: 4^th – Leilani Palise, 5^th – Maggie Maynard. Over 15 years: 3^rd - Ella van Egmond, 4^th – Lucy Arnott. Sheep Handlers Competition: Under 15 years: 1^st - Charlotte Cooper, 2^nd – Goldie Munro, 3^rd – Sophie Hanrahan, 5^th – Maggie Maynard. Over 15 years: 3^rd – Ella van Egmond.

In between the Beef Young Judges Competition and the Sheep Handlers Competition, a Senior Frensham Team and a Junior Frensham Team, of four students each, competed in the Young Farmers Challenge. The event was a timed with entrants completing a range of farm related tasks such as drenching sheep, moving hay bales, riding a motorbike through an obstacle course, milking a cow and constructing a length of fence. The girls performed very well against many other teams; the results were as follows – 2^nd Frensham Junior Team – Lucia Semple, Amelia Riddle, Sophie Hanrahan and Lucy Arnott; 3^rd – Frensham Senior Team – Elyse Caristo, Ella van Egmond, Jemima Melki and Lucy Arnott (with Lucy competing in both Teams).

The next event for the Sheep Team will be the Camden Show on Friday 1 April.

Unfortunately, the wet weather in the Highlands has caused the cancellation of the Robertson Show for the Cattle Team and for the students entered in the Grain and Fruit & Vegetable Young Judges Competitions, next weekend.

Ms Leonie Mutch, Coordinator of the Livestock Team

Sport – Southern Highlands High School Swimming Event

Frensham hosted the annual SHHS Swimming event Friday 25 February. Local community schools included Oxley College, Chevalier College and Southern Highlands Christian School.

Congratulations to all the students involved in the event. Students are now preparing for the IGSA Swimming carnival, Friday 25 March.

• Breaststroke – 50m: 12 years: 1^st Sophia Nesci; 13 years: 1^st Amber Thomas; 14 years: 1^st Tia Thomas; 15 years: 3^rd Sophie Hanrahan; 17 years: 1^st Lucy Arnott; 18 years: 2^nd Phoebe Clifton.
• Backstroke – 50m: 13 years: 2^nd Sienna Donat; 12 years: 1^st Sophia Nesci; 16 years: 1^st Sarah-Joy Day; 17 years: 1^st Millie Moar; 18 years: 2^nd Rosie Schmidt.
• Butterfly (50m): 13 years: 1^st Amber Thomas; 14 years: 1^st Tia Thomas; 17 years: 2^nd Millie Moar; 18 years: 1^st Rosie Schmidt, 2^nd Phoebe Clifton.
• Freestyle – 50m: 14 years: 1^st Claudia Maple Brown, 2^nd Tia Thomas; 17 years: 1^st Lucy Arnott; 18 years: 2^nd Jemima Graham-Wansey. (100m): 12 years: 2^nd Sophia Nesci; 14 years: 1^st Tia Thomas; 15 years: 3^rd Sophie Hanrahan; 16 years: Sarah-Joy Day.

Mr Shane Green, Head of Sport (2022)

Acknowledgement to

• Show Sheep team for competing at Goulburn Show.
• Frensham Swimming Team members for their successes at the Southern Highlands High School Swimming Event.

Ms Sarah McGarry
Head of Frensham
Head of Frensham Schools

Year 7 Parent Weekend and Welcome Function

It is with great delight that we received the news today that in the coming weeks, schools will be able to welcome visitors back onto campus and to host school community events with appropriate precautions in place. The ability to gather in person is just so vital as we reconnect as a community in 2022. We are looking forward to welcoming our Year 7 Parents to the upcoming Year Weekend, with Parent-Teacher Interviews on Saturday and the Year 7 Service and Concert on Sunday morning. We look also forward to meeting parents of new Gib Gate and Frensham students at Saturday evening’s Welcome Function, hosted by the Board of Governors, Foundation and Senior Staff, to be held at the Old Fitzroy Inn. With Frensham Fellowship and Frensham Advisory Committees also meeting this week, February is a big “Frensham Community” month here on campus.

Despite the challenging start to the term, and some disruption because of COVID-19, students and staff have settled well into the necessary routines and we are starting to see a wonderful energy about the campus once again. The sounds of singing as a school, War Cries on the Games Field, Saturday Holt Café coming back to life and, of course, the energy of learning in classrooms, in the Esther Tuckey Library and on our first excursions for some time. Thank you to families for your support and understanding over these first three weeks, particularly having to navigate periods of isolation for some students. Please do not hesitate to contact your daughter’s Year Coordinator or Form Tutor to discuss your daughter’s progress. A reminder that your daughter’s Year Level page on Schoolbox is a great place to start to understand what is happening in each year group and Form Programme.

This week we bid farewell to Ms Michele Scamps, our Facilities Manager - a passionate lifetime supporter of the Schools who has shown great commitment to high quality work. Commencing in February 2009 as the Director of the Winifred West Schools Foundation Centenary Appeal, Ms Scamps has contributed generously across several areas of Frensham Schools during her tenure, including (but certainly not limited to) the organisation of major school community events, the leadership of very successful fundraising programmes and functions, oversight of our Facilities and Maintenance operations and providing stewardship with her significant corporate knowledge of Frensham Schools. We acknowledge the extensive work Michele has led and overseen throughout these past two years as a result of COVID-19, and her incomparable work ethic and commitment, and wish her the very best in her retirement.

Pen & Ink 2021 Edition

A book is not completed till it’s read. ~ Salman Rushdie

The 2021 edition can be purchased from Company Office for $15.00 by students or can be posted to you. To order online, please follow this link.

Contributors to the 2021 Edition are:

YEAR 12 2021: Natasha Alexander, Grace Amos, Jessica Billett, Ella Clark, Meg Fairrie, Eliza Friend, Grace Lewis, Natasha Long, Madeleine Mulligan, Sophie Perkins, Isabelle Promnitz, Georgia Shakeshaft, Taylah Stoney, Jemima Storch, Eleanor Swan.

YEAR 12 2022: Ankitha Avvari, Maya Basson, Yusra Chalak, Isolde Cochet, Lulu Duck, Zoe Gallagher, Judith Hopkins, Holly Horsfall, Olivia Laverty, Emily Lenehan, Phoebe Lyne, Zé McGrath, Phoebe Rowntree, Charlotte Senior, Emily Senior, Matilda Walker.

YEAR 10 2022: Scarlett Alldis, Monique Andersson, Bella Cay, Ali Corbett, Sarah-Joy Day, Sissy Fairrie, Saskia Hilkemeijer, Charlotte Hopperton, Heidi Jervis, Meg Jones, Savannah Linde, Darcy Maple-Brown, Millie Moar, Eliza Mulligan, Freyjika Parker, Sarah Partland, Hannah Perkins, Phoebe Rouse.

YEAR 10 2022: Madeleine Charters, Kate Clifton, Charlie Delahunt-Higgins, Matilda Graham, Millie Gale, Claudia Hampson, Penelope Hill, Abbey Kuiper, Imogen Smith and Minnie Wiggins.

YEAR 9 2022: Sophie Chen, Jade Cox, Hannah Day, Lauren Fox, Sophie Hanrahan, Camilla Johnston, Elizabeth Laverty, Skye McLelland, Alice Mulligan, Raphaela O’Neill’Siambis, Chloe White.

YEAR 8 2022: Milly Debelle Hancock, York Doyle, Fran Gelonesi.

Ms Kate Chauncy, Director of Teaching and Learning P-12; Coordinator of Gifted and Talented Programmes P-12

Boarding

As we settle into the term, we would like to share some reflections from Year 7 students:

My first week at Frensham, was a rollercoaster full of emotions. Uplifted by the spirit of the beautiful melody at morning prayers, a sigh of relief goes through me as I’ve finally made it here. Obviously, I was very nervous, but was always comforted by the older girls. The roar of pride and competitiveness echoes through the campus during Friday war cries. I had no clue what to chant but it was so fun jumping around and clapping in excitement for Saturday Sport. The music bursts out of a speaker, knocks on our door – we all know what that is, war cry fairies! We all love the great fun, off to sport we go. Chants, cheers and encouragement, everyone is always down on the Games Field clapping, and cheering Frensham on. What is better than I thought it would be is the food. The delicious range of cold meats and vegetables for lunch is always very good, breakfast is full of hot food, cereals, and toast. All filling us for a big day ahead. Dinner is always delicious too. What I love most about campus is the huge areas for learning, sport, farming, creativity and recreation. It is beautifully designed and is always carefully looked after. I am really loving high school and have settled in amazingly; everyone is so supportive and helpful. I have really enjoyed the first few weeks and am looking forward to the weeks ahead. Frensham is such a positively spirited school, and I am so grateful to be a part of it. (Madeleine Houston)

My first few weeks have been truly wonderful! I am really enjoying going to morning prayers and singing hymns, doing war cries on Friday and Saturday mornings and enjoying being with friends all day and coming back to see Mrs Parsons. I love the food at school, I thought I wouldn’t like it, but I have really enjoyed it. Also, I thought that only 30 minutes on my phone would be horrible but I now realise that I don’t need my phone and prefer being with my new friends. My favourite place on campus is the deer pond. Going there at morning tea with my friends and talking about how we love school. I love Science because it is not like primary and we get to do actual fun stuff! I love Tech and learning to build and cut materials to make a toy. (Saffron Kable)

At school I enjoy always being busy, whether it be with school (which everyone is) or with sport and the Frensham spirit (which is exhilarating and exhausting) or maybe just getting to bed at night at the right time. I always have things to do and always with great friends. I was not looking forward to prayers, but it is not what I thought it was. We file in and a teacher tells us to sit. I enjoy the meaningful stories shared. I always enjoy the hymns, though I am not very good at singing. I love watching the older girls sing and hear them hitting those notes is crazy cool. The best thing about our school grounds are the red bridges. I have an awesome view of two of them from my window and I have attempted to draw them. Every time I look at them, I imagine a fairy land across them. My favourite class is Tech, I am getting better at cutting the wood and it is really fun seeing everything come together. I also love World Studies and Maths and I can’t wait for Visual Arts next term. I also love the vegie chips and Milo, which Mum should really try in our kitchen. (Chekka Cay)

It has been a wonderful first three weeks in boarding and these reflections are promising indication of how the girls are settling in to Frensham life.

End of Term Travel: From an administrative perspective, parents are encouraged to discuss with their daughter their end of term travel plans. Heads of Houses will be asking for this information shortly to allow for appropriate preparation.

We are looking forward to the Year 7 Parent Weekend and hope to see many of you around the campus.

Ms Sally Edwards, Director of Student Life (Boarding)

ICAS Medal 2021 Award Presentation

Prayers Friday 18 February 2022
Last year Frensham students from Year 7 to 11 elected to participate in the annual ICAS competition test papers across the full range of subjects. These included Mathematics, Science, Writing, Digital Technologies and English.

On the last day of Term 4 2021 the Head was notified that Year 11 student, Zoe Gallagher, had been awarded a Medal for her achievement in the Year 11 English Competition, which was announced at Final Prayers.

Students achieving the top score in each year level in each State are awarded an ICAS Medal. Zoe was one of two students in the NSW Year 11 English ICAS Competition to be awarded the medal and she was in the top 2% of Year 11 participants in Australia.

On Friday 18 February, Zoe was awarded her medal by Ms Sarah McGarry to celebrate her achievement with her parents, Mr Luke and Mrs Kate Gallagher and all her teachers and friends from Years 7 to 12 2022.

Zoe has been entering the ICAS Competitions since she was in Year 3 with notable results annually. As a Year 12 student, completing her HSC in 2022, this will be the last year she can compete and she is very excited to participate in her last year of school!

Ms Kate Chauncy, Director of Teaching and Learning P-12; Coordinator of Gifted and Talented Programmes P-12

Drama

On Wednesday 16 February, students from Years 11 and 12 Drama travelled to Sydney for Onstage, where exemplary performances and projects from the HSC Cohort of 2021 were presented at the Seymour Centre. Students were inspired by the calibre, creativity, and diversity of the work.

On Tuesday 22 February, Zeal Theatre duo Tom Lycos and Stefo Nantsou returned to Frensham with their production of Lucky Country. Lucky Country was created with the assistance of students from International Grammar School in Sydney in late 2015 and premiered in February 2016. Performed in Zeal’s trademark minimalist style and exuberance, Lucky Country is a timely look at multi-cultural Australia, current global debates on the refugee crisis and the role the media plays in shaping public opinion. Following the performance, Stage 5 Drama students participated in a workshop on playbuilding children’s theatre and Year 11 developed skills in group-devised work.

Year 11 Drama students have been studying the techniques of Greek Chorus in their Playbuilding Unit this term. This style is foundational to their preparation for the Group Performance, a mandatory component of the HSC Drama Course. At Friday Prayers on 18 February, they applied their understanding when interpreting the prologue of Beauty and the Beast in a class performance for the whole school to enjoy.

Mrs Sally Hannah, Head of Drama

Livestock Team Report

It was the Sheep Team’s turn to compete when they attended the Crookwell Show on Saturday 12 February. Ten students and ten ewes made the trip and had a very successful day. It was the first event for many of the students and the sheep and all performed well. The results were:

Novice Ewe Lamb - 1^st - led by Sophie Kennedy (Year 9), 2^nd - led by Goldie Munro (Year 8); Pair of Ewe Lambs - 1^st - led by Olivia Cowley & Chartlotte Cooper (Year 7), 2^nd - led by Jocie Corbett & Sophie Hanrahan (Year 9); Ewe, 1 year and under 2 years - 1^st - led by Ella van Egmond (Year 12), 2^nd - led by Lucy Arnott (Year 11).

• Champion Poll Dorset Ewe - by Sophie Kennedy
• Reserve Champion Poll Dorset Ewe - led by Oliva Cowley

Thank you to Mr McMillan for driving the bus and supervising the Team on the day. The next Show for the Sheep Team is the Goulburn Show on Saturday 5 March.

Ms Leonie Mutch, Coordinator of the Livestock Team

Sport – Term 1 Sport Activities

• Cross Country: The Cross Country team has been working extremely hard every Monday and Wednesday morning developing their endurance capacity, running technique and conditioning. Frensham looks forward to another successful season.
• Gymnastics: The Gymnastics team is keen to recommence training.
• Athletics:  Athletics is very popular this term with all girls involved eager to develop their Track and Field skills.

 

Mr Shane Green, Head of Sport (2022)

Acknowledgement to

• Term 4, 2021 Girdle award recipients: Yusra Chalak (Excellence in Public Speaking), Judith Hopkins (Service and Contribution to the School).
• Zoe Gallagher (Year 12) for her award of ICAS Medal for English, in the 2021 ICAS Competition.
• Frensham’s Debating Team for its success at the 2021 AISNSW/NGS National Virtual Debating competition – Winner of the Middle School Division. The team comprised - Year 8, 2021: Penelope Cay, Lauren Fox, Skye McLelland, Lucy Rouse, Sophia Windsor; Year 9, 2021: Bella Cay, Bea McDonald, Clara McDonald, Imogen Smith.
• Duke of Edinburgh’s International Awards recipients: Bronze: Matilda Arnott, Hilary Swan; Silver: Lucy Arnott, Bella Cay, Matilda Chadwick, Alexandra Corbett, Judith Hopkins, Hannah Perkins, Phoebe Rouse.
• Jessica Savage, Hilary Swan (Year 11); Phoebe Gilder, Heidi Rowntree (Year 10) for participating in the recent IGSA Softball Trials.
• Show Sheep team for its success at Crookwell Show: Champion Ewe Lamb - led by Sophie Kennedy; Reserve Champion Ewe Lamb - led by Oliva Cowley.

 

Ms Sarah McGarry
Head of Frensham
Head of Frensham Schools

Term 1 news and activities

We are so pleased to be back at school for 2022 after another unusual summer break. We hope that all families had some opportunity to rest and recharge and are feeling ready to face the year ahead. Students and staff have returned with enthusiasm and optimism for their work, and our campuses are humming with the energy and exuberance so characteristic of our community. As you will see from this newsletter, many aspects of school life are able to resume this term and we are very much looking forward to connecting with our community across the course of this year.

Our first opportunity to connect this is on our Year 7 Parent Weekend at the end of February. Our Open Day format will necessarily be adjusted, but Year 7 parents will still have the opportunity to meet senior staff, have interviews with their daughter’s teachers and to get to the know the campus a little better. We look forward to being able to gather with all families of new students from both Gib Gate and Frensham on Saturday 26 February, with a formal invitation to our Welcome function to be issued in the coming days.

We offer our most sincere congratulations to the Class of 2021, for their excellent results in the HSC and for their contribution to Frensham over their years at the school. Whilst there were opportunities they missed as a result of the global pandemic over their final two years at school, they demonstrated remarkable resilience and have developed a range of other beneficial skills as they move into their lives after school.

We warmly welcome new staff to Frensham Schools in 2022, and staff who are taking on new roles or additional responsibilities. These are listed later in today’s newsletter, as well as being contained in our Information Book and on Schoolbox.

Thank you to all families for your patience and understanding as we navigate updated COVID-19 guidelines and new requirements for school and families – like regular Rapid Antigen Tests. The positive and supportive way our community – staff, students and parents – have responded to these changing requirements is very encouraging indeed. We remind families of the information that is posted on our COVID-19 Information Page on Schoolbox. It can be easy to miss an email but Schoolbox will continue to be the central source for key school information – and if what you are seeking does not seem to be on Schoolbox, please let us know so that we can ensure our communication is timely and relevant for families and that information is readily available.

Activities and Absences

It has been an exciting and busy start to the year and we welcome all new parents and students. Many Co-curricular activities commenced on Monday of Week 2. We are ever-mindful of COVID-19 regulations and considerations and are endeavouring to ensure we conduct all activities safely.

We thank parents for your understanding that there may be some additional documentation required as part of our COVID-19 management plan. Camp information has been sent to parents and please note that the return of medical forms (with detailed information provided) are a priority.

Equipment lists for Outdoor Education Week are located on page 52 of the 2022 Frensham Information Book (located on Schoolbox A-Z Frensham) and information about the programme for each year group has been included in the email to parents and posted on Schoolbox News.

Absences from School
As noted on the staff list found on Schoolbox (A-Z of Frensham – Staff Contacts) and emailed to parents last week, if a student is absent from school due to medical/dental appointment (early advice would be appreciated), illness or injury, please forward an email to absence@frensham.nsw.edu.au The email should contain a note of explanation regarding the absence and an expected return time and/or date.

In accordance with our duty of care, if a student has an unexplained period of absence, a letter will be mailed to parents or guardians requesting written confirmation. Legislation requires that the School keep written documentation of all absences.  

All requests for Special Family Leave should be made in writing to the Head (frensham@frensham.nsw.edu.au), well in advance of the event, to allow consideration and a written response. Requests for Leave for Sport can be sent to jvangogh@frensham.nsw.edu.au

Ms Janene van Gogh, Deputy Head of Frensham (Acting, Term 1)

Boarding

Frensham has come back to life after the holiday season, with the sound of singing and laughter echoing throughout the grounds. It has been wonderful to welcome the girls back to Term 1. This term, we see a number of new students joining us in Years 8-11 and celebrate the beginning of a new chapter with our class of 2027 having arrived on Monday 31 January. Despite some natural homesickness and the challenges involved in the transition into secondary school, a new school and into a boarding environment, overwhelmingly the girls have had a wonderful first week and weekend at Frensham. Year 7 students are getting to know their way around Frensham, even meeting Philip the Donkey on a leisurely walk around the grounds. We have been pleased to see our Day Boarders joining for a range of activities after school and on our Closed Weekend.

This weekend saw the girls excited to participate in the Friday night activities organised by the senior girls. Years 7 and 8 played Bingo, while Years 9 and 10 enjoyed a ‘Just Dance’ event. The School was a hive of activity and energy setting a positive tone for the weekend. The girls were kept busy with Sports trials on Saturday morning followed by a fun-filled programme including mindfulness, games, study, yoga, craft, Crack meetings and movies. A very special activity that many girls were involved in was ‘Kindness Rocks’. This involved girls painting and creating art on rocks that will be placed around the school for other girls to find, brightening their day. A beautiful opportunity to spread kindness throughout our community. 

Despite COVID-19 still being a factor in the boarding environment we are thrilled to report that the girls are managing the situation with understanding and ease. Frensham Boarding is thankful to be embarking on another exciting term for our young women and we look forward to sharing the special Frensham spirit and culture of community between all students.

Ms Sally Edwards, Director of Student Life (Boarding)

ICAS Results 2021

Frensham students from Years 7 to 11 achieved excellent results for the 2021 ICAS Assessments. ICAS Assessments are online assessments, designed to recognise and reward academic excellence. The assessments are based on the curricula for the relevant year but students are asked to demonstrate a deeper, integrated, and thorough level of knowledge. ICAS assesses the higher order thinking and problem-solving skills needed for success in English, Mathematics, Science, Writing and Digital Technologies. Every year schools around the globe participate in ICAS which provides a robust international benchmark of student achievement.

Frensham students have been awarded certificates of Merit, Credit, Distinction and High Distinction. We congratulate all of them on the outstanding results.

Distinction Awards place students in the top 10% of the international cohort for 2021 and we highlight this achievement by:  Anouk Davies (English and Digital Technologies), Millicent Debelle Hancock (English) (Year 7); Sophie Goodisson (Writing), Sophie Hanrahan (Writing, Science and Mathematics), Georgina Lewis (Mathematics) (Year 8); Claudia Hampson (Writing), Cate Horsfall (English and Writing); Sophie Simpson (English, Science and  Mathematics); Imogen Smith (English); Sidney Wheeler (Mathematics and Writing) (Year 9); Hilary Swan (Mathematics) (Year 10) and Zoe Gallagher (English) (Year 11).

ICAS English

• Year 7: Distinction: Millicent Debelle Hancock; Anouk Davies. Credit: York Doyle; Lucia Semple; Jade Neilson; Lexi Wimalaratne.
• Year 8: Credit: Raphaela O’Neill’Siambis; Skye McLelland; Jade Cox.
• Year 9: Distinction: Sophie Simpson; Cate Horsfall; Imogen Smith. Credit: Emily Crawford; Sidney Wheeler; Claudia Hampson; Amy Wimalaratne.
• Year 10: Credit: Summer Oxley; Sophie Hassall; Sissy Fairrie; Augusta Muir; Hilary Swan.
• Year 11: Distinction: Zoe Gallagher. Credit: Matilda Arnott.

ICAS Writing

• Year 7: Credit: Holly Halloran; Alexandra Frith; Anouk Davies; Henrietta Hayman.
• Year 8: Distinction: Sophie Hanrahan; Sophie Goodisson. Credit: Lara Bentley; Sophie Kennedy; Skye McLelland.
• Year 9: Distinction: Claudia Hampson; Cate Horsfall; Sidney Wheeler. Credit: Lucinda Colgan; Sophie Simpson; Amy Wimalaratne.
• Year 10: Credit: Augusta Muir; Hilary Swan; Bella Cay; Sissy Fairrie; Sophie Hassall.
• Year 11: Credit: Maya Basson.

ICAS Science

• Year 7: Credit: Anouk Davies, Isabel Syme, Lexi Wimalaratne; Merit: York Doyle.
• Year 8: Distinction: Sophie Hanrahan; Credit: Camilla Johnston, Elizabeth Laverty.
• Year 9: Distinction: Sophie Simpson; Credit: Adelaide Ayling, Poppy Carter, Alice Fergusson, Claudia Hampson, Cate Horsfall, Sidney Wheeler; Merit: Amy Wimalaratne.
• Year 10: Credit: Lucy Arnott, Millie Moar, Summer Oxley, Hannah Perkins, Hilary Swan, Megan Syme; Merit: Sissy Fairrie.
• Year 11: Credit: Zoe Gallagher.

ICAS Digital Technologies

• Year 7: Distinction: Anouk Davies; Credit: York Doyle, Millicent Debelle Hancock, Jade Neilson and Scarlett Shadbolt.
• Year 8: Credit: Sophie Hanrahan; Merit: Camilla Johnston, Georgina Lewis and Elizabeth Shadbolt.,
• Year 9: Credit: Sophie Simpson, Amy Wimalaratne
• Year 10: Credit: Sissy Fairrie

ICAS Mathematics

• Year 7: Credit: Anouk Davies, York Doyle and Isabel Syme; Merit: Sophie Holland and Lexi Wimalaratne.
• Year 8: Distinction: Georgina Lewis, Sophie Hanrahan; Credit: Sophie Goodisson, Amelia Hartnell, Zara McMurtrie; Merit: Jade Cox, Camilla Johnston, Skye McLelland, Bliss Ow-Yang.
• Year 9: Distinction: Sophie Simpson and Sidney Wheeler; Merit: Poppy Carter and Amy Wimalaratne.
• Year 10: Distinction: Hilary Swan; Credit: Lucy Arnott; Summer Oxley; Hannah Perkins and Megan Syme; Merit: Alexandra Corbett and Elizabeth Nesci.

Ms Kate Chauncy, Director of Teaching and Learning P-12; Coordinator of Gifted and Talented Programmes P-12

Jamieson Programme

Frensham’s Jamieson Programme is built on the belief that exposure to challenges in a secure environment can awaken in young people a belief in themselves that will stay with them throughout their lives. 

With a focus on health and fitness, critical and ethical thinking, service and leadership, the Jamieson Programme helps girls in Years 7-10 gain confidence and courage to deal with the unfamiliar territory ahead. It also challenges students to consider the difference they can make, individually and as part of a group, when exploring real social, political and environmental issues.

There is a particular focus in Year 9 where every second Thursday, the programme begins at 1.45pm and extends into the evening. Thursday was our first extended Jamieson Programme day and girls were introduced to the Programme and provided with an overview of the different components. We started with some critical thinking skills that are required for the IGCSE Cambridge Global Perspectives course such as distinguishing between fact and opinion, including expert opinions, and identifying different types of bias. Students also received information about the fitness component from Mr Shane Green, who is developing individual fitness programmes for girls.  Every student in Year 9 will complete an exercise tracking document each week to view their progress. Ms Simone Lindsay also familiarised the group about the Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award, upcoming camps and the importance of giving back to the community. Most participated in Holting in the afternoon with some involved in the Sheep and Cattle teams. Many of the activities planned as part of Jamieson Programme conform to the spirit of the Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award so that, through participation in Jamieson activities, students may gain approval to complete Service and Skills components for the D of E programme.

We are looking forward to an exciting and immensely rewarding year ahead where girls learn to recognise the needs of others and respond with courage, generosity and integrity.

Mrs Merrilee Harris, Director of Jamieson Programme

Livestock Team Report

On Saturday 5 February, six members of the Cattle Team along with three steers travelled to the South Coast to compete at the Nowra Show. Although the weather was wet and humid and the steers have had minimal handling by the students, the Team performed very well. The results were as follows:

• ECM Livestock Junior Steer Competition: 1^st - Judith Hopkins leading ‘Rocky’ (Simmental), 2^nd - Tia Thomas leading ‘Smiggle’ (Simmental), 3^rd - Maggie Waldren leading ‘Ringo’ (Angus)
• Middleweight Steers 340 - 440kg: 1^st - ‘Smiggle’ (Simmental) led by Tia Thomas
• Heavyweight Steers >440kg: 1^st - ‘Rocky’ (Simmental) led by Judith Hopkins, 2^nd - ‘Ringo’ (Angus) led by Maggie Waldren
• Champion Steer: ‘Rocky’ (Simmental) led by Judith Hopkins
• Reserve Champion Steer: ‘Smiggle’ (Simmental) led by Tia Thomas
• Junior Paraders < 14 years: 1^st - Tia Thomas leading ‘Smiggle’ (Simmental)
• Senior Parader 17-25 years: 1^st - Judith Hopkins leading ‘Rocky’ (Simmental)
• Showmanship Award: Judith Hopkins

The next Show for the Cattle Team will be the Robertson Show on Saturday 12 March. The Sheep Team will compete at their first event of the year at the Crookwell Show on Saturday 12 February. In the meantime, more hours will be spent preparing the livestock for showing and ringcraft practice for the students.

Ms Leonie Mutch, Coordinator of the Livestock Team

Music

It is a pleasure to be able to advertise the recommencement of all our Choirs and Ensembles with, in most instances, “live” rehearsals for the first time in over six months. Here are some notes, on each of the ensembles, for both students and parents.

Junior Choir - This choir is open to all Years 7 and 8, with no audition. This is an opportunity to be grasped, regardless of whether a student feels confident vocally. The choir rehearses once a week on Tuesdays, just before lunch (12.50pm-1.15pm). The choir has begun rehearsing, as we are aiming to perform in four weeks, with the Senior Choir, in the Year 7 Service.

Senior Choir - New students in Years 9-12 should consider auditioning to join this 90-voice choir (ask your Shadow to arrange this with Mr Spencer). Currently, due to our COVID plan, there are no combined Wednesday night rehearsals.  Rather, sectional rehearsals are held in the mornings, seated in cohorts and spaced between Library and Cooper Hall. 

• 3rds – Monday 7.50-8.20am
• 2nds – Tuesday 7.50-8.20am
• 1sts – Wednesday 7.50-8.20am

Madrigals - New students in Years 9-12 might also consider auditioning for this selective chamber choir (ask your Shadow to arrange this with Mr Spencer). Currently, there are no Wednesday night rehearsals, just Friday mornings (7.50-8.20pm)

Kennedy Strings - Frensham is a relatively small school, and every one of instrumentalists are expected to use their gifts to enrich our ensembles. Any violinists, violists, cellists and double bass players, new to the school, should please make arrangements to attend the Kennedy Strings rehearsals in the Drama Theatre on Wednesday afternoons (3.50-5pm) or speak to Mrs Pinazza if they have any queries.

Concert Band - As above, all wind players and percussionists should come to meet Mr Spencer in the Glenn Music Centre on Wednesday afternoon, from where you will proceed to Clubbe Hall for the rehearsal with Mr Gillen and other instrumental tutors in support. Like Kennedy Strings, the Concert Band rehearses from 3.50-5pm.

Jazz Band - Members of the Concert Band may also be invited to join the selective Jazz Band. This ensemble follows Concert Band, rehearsing from 5-5.30pm on Wednesdays.

Mr Michael Spencer, Head of Music

Sport – Term 1 Sport Activities

Welcome back, we are delighted to have Sport operating and to offer students opportunities to learn new skills, develop their fitness levels and have fun with their peers. 

Along with Frensham’s traditional IGSA Sport training there will be additional Sports Activities offered:

• IGSA Swimming Squad Training - Monday-Friday 6:00-7:15am; Saturday 6:00-8:00am
  This programme is designed for experienced, skilled swimmers who are interested in competing in the IGSA Swimming Carnival. Secondly, for students who wish to develop their swimming skills for Water Polo. 
• Swim Development Training - Tuesday and Thursday 6:00-7:15am 
  This programme is designed for students who are developing their swimming skills and swimming competency.  
• IGSA Cross Country Training - Monday and Wednesday 6:05-7:10am
  This programme is suitable for students who wish to enhance their middle to long distance running skills and to become a member of the Frensham Cross Country team. 
• Senior Fitness - Years 10-12 Wednesday 6:15-7:15am
  Senior students who are interested in developing their strength and conditioning, mobility and athletic capacity should join this programme. 
• IGSA Gymnastics - Wednesday 4:00-5:15pm
  Is suited for students who wish to develop their Gymnastics skills and become a member of the Frensham Gymnastics team. 
• IGSA Athletics – Senior Training: Tuesday 4:00-5:30pm; Year 7 and Junior Training: Thursday 4:00-5:30pm
  This is suitable for students that enjoy athletics and would like to develop their skills to become a member of the Frensham Athletics team. 

The student sign on sheets have been sent via email. If you have any questions please email sgreen@frensham.nsw.edu.au

Mr Shane Green, Head of Sport (2022)

Studies

Year 12 students have commenced the term with the focus and application required to be successful learners. Vacation work submitted will be assessed to provide teachers and students valuable checkpoints as to areas for review. Additionally, the Term 1 assessment calendar has been published to Schoolbox.

Year 11 students are enjoying the opportunity to begin their Preliminary HSC courses. These courses are three terms in length, at which point girls confirm their subject choices in preparation for Year 12. As part of their studies, Year 11 students will discuss approaches to study, including expected Prep targets and responsibilities, organisational skills and assessment procedures. Some minor changes are still being made with subject choices.

Students in Years 7-10 are settling into the routines of School life. In Years 10-12, students complete Prep in the Houses, while in Years 8 and 9, Prep is in designated classrooms with teacher supervision. Year 7 students are using the Library for Prep and are appreciating the designated reading time, off -screen, as part of their transition.

Any queries regarding your daughter’s academic programme or wellbeing as an initial contact, can be made to the Year Coordinator found on Schoolbox (A-Z of Frensham – Staff Contacts). They will direct your call further, if required.

Ms Janene van Gogh, Director of Studies

Careers

As another year commences, it is important to reflect and celebrate the success of our previous 2021 Year 12 students. We are excited to share a few highlights:

• 62 out of 65 students applied for early entry in 2021
• ALL were offered either a conditional (ie they had to achieve a minimum ATAR) or unconditional (no ATAR requirement) offer via early entry programs.
• Some students had up to six different early entry offers and many knew about these offers prior to going into the HSC examinations.
• ALL students seeking a tertiary offer received an offer and 77% of Frensham students were offered their 1^st preference.

The Year 12 cohort of 2022 had their first “Tertiary Thursday” session. These weekly sessions are arranged to ensure students are aware of where they should be up to in the tertiary planning process and includes information on course updates, early entry deadlines, open days, webinars and the all-important Gap Year, for those wishing to take a year off in 2023. With the new extended Form time on a Thursday, I am looking forward to arranging Frensham Old Girls and industry experts to meet with the girls as guest speakers. Year 11 students will also be having regular Careers meetings so that they can establish tertiary goals and plans for the future.

All parents and students are encouraged to use the SchoolBox Careers page (Schoolbox) – it is a “one-stop shop” for all careers-related information and is designed to ensure that our girls are well prepared for their next steps post-School.

Mrs Merrilee Harris, Director of Jamieson Programme and Head of Careers

Acknowledgement to

• Term 4, 2021 Girdle award recipients: Jemima Graham-Wansey (Outstanding Commitment to Sport), Maya Basson (Excellence in Music Performance).
• Students sitting the 2021 ICAS Assessments at Frensham and Gib Gate: Frensham (Distinction) - Anouk Davies (English and Digital Technologies), Millicent Debelle Hancock (English) (Year 7); Sophie Goodisson (Writing), Sophie Hanrahan (Writing, Science and Mathematics), Georgina Lewis (Mathematics) (Year 8); Claudia Hampson (Writing), Cate Horsfall (English and Writing); Sophie Simpson (English, Science and  Mathematics); Imogen Smith (English); Sidney Wheeler (Mathematics and Writing) (Year 9); Hilary Swan (Mathematics) (Year 10) and Zoe Gallagher (English) (Year 11). Gib Gate (High Distinction) - Aliyah Mhanna (Digital Technologies) (Year 4); Amelie Gardiner (Writing and English) (Year 3); Iman Byrne (English) (Year 6). (Distinction) - Amelie Gardiner (Digital Technologies) (Year 3); Madeleine Hannah, Zahra Nash (Year 3), Madeline Conway, Aliyah Mhanna, Montana Molena (Year 4), Isla McVinish (Year 6) (Writing); Sofia Wilson, Lucia Braham (Year 3), Aliyah Mhanna, Emma Andrew, Mathilda Muir (Year 4) (English); Amelie Gardiner (Year 3), Elyssia Mason (Year 4), Annabelle Whyte-Cleaver (Year 5) Science.

Prefect Year Groups as appointed at Final Prayers, 2021

• Year 7: Jemima Graham-Wansey, Charlotte Hindmarsh, Holly Horsfall
• Year 8:  Emily Lenehan, Maggie Waldren, Matilda Walker
• Year 9: Matilda Arnott, Anna Collins, Lucy Waddell
• Year 10: Edwina Barton, Lulu Duck, Camilla Warner
• Year 11: Harriette Firth, Stella Hanan
• Year 12 and Head Girl: Phoebe Rowntree
• Year 12 and Vice Head Girl: Phoebe Lyne

Year 12 House Leaders

• Hartfield: Edwina Barton, Sophia Brooks, Mia Greig, Emily Lenehan, Jemima Melki, Coco Potgieter,
• Kennedy: Isabella Archbold, Harriette Frith, Sienna Fuller, Georgia Klem, Paris Ow-Yang, Charlotte Senior
• Linden Turner: Olivia Vertzayias, Matilda Walker
• Bryant McCarthy: Charlotte Hindmarsh, Lily Seaton-Cooper, Lucy Waddell

Heads of Houses for Term 1

• Hartfield – Year 10: Bella Bernecker, Scarlett Francis, Chloe Cowley
• Linden Turner – Year 11: Jana Martin-Cooley, Olivia Huggins, Hannah Perkins; Year 10: Juliet Henry, Neve Daugherty
• Bryant McCarthy – Year 11: Edie Staniforth, Julia Burge

Year Coordinators for 2022:

• Year 7: Mrs Amanda Metua – ametua@frensham.nsw.edu.au
• Year 8: Ms Molly Macqueen – mmacqueen@frensham.nsw.edu.au
• Year 9: Ms Lucy Thorne –  lthorne@frensham.nsw.edu.au
• Year 10: Mrs Trudi Spencer – tspencer@frensham.nsw.edu.au
• Year 11: Mrs Kate Gallagher – kgallagher@frensham.nsw.edu.au
• Year 12: Ms Sally Fennell – sfennell@frensham.nsw.edu.au

2022 Staffing update:

• Ms Amanda Graham moves to a new role of Event Coordinator
• Mr Shane Green, will be Head of Sport for 2022, while Miss Gray is on Maternity Leave
• Mr Matthew Selby, promotional position of Director of Activities and joins the Frensham Executive
• Ms Janene van Gogh has stepped into the role of Acting Deputy Head, Frensham for Term 1

This term, we have been pleased to welcome the following new staff members to Frensham Schools.

Gib Gate:

• Mrs Melissa Bartlett, BEd (Early Childhood) (UWS) – Preschool
• Miss Emily Wojcik, BEd (The Early Years) (UOW) – Preschool and Frensham Boarding House Staff
• Welcome back to Kaitlyn Williamson

Frensham:

• Mrs Deanna Benardos, M Teaching (Secondary) (UOW); B ICT (UOW) – Mathematics
• Mr Andrew Cox, B Teaching (CSU), BA (CSU) – English and HSIE
• Ms Sally Edwards, Dip Ed, BA (MacU) – Director of Student Life (Boarding)
• Ms Neva Law, BA (La Trobe), Teaching (UOS) – Boarding House Staff
• Ms Deborah Loughnan – Boarding House Staff
• Mrs Catherine Luker, M Teaching (Primary) (UNE), BA (UNSW), Cert of Nursing (RN) (Royal North Shore) – Learning Support Teacher
• Mr Andrew Lundy, Grad Dip Ed (Syd College Advanced Education), BA (Ed) (MacU) – HSIE
• Dr Mark Morrow, PG Certificate Ed (Queen’s Uni, Belfast), PhD Chemistry, B Sci (Edinburgh) – Science
• Mrs Bronwyn Tregenza, M Ed (CSU), Dip Ed, BA (MacU) – Boarding House Staff

Ms Sarah McGarry
Head of Frensham
Head of Frensham Schools

Join with Us in supporting the Bursary Fund

Following our communication with all families about Foundation’s Annual Appeal, I encourage you to ‘Join with Us’ in supporting the Bursary Fund. A Bursary provides up to 50% fee remission on tuition and/or boarding fees for the recipient to attend Frensham Schools, and gifts are fully tax deductible. Bursary support creates the opportunity for families to join the Frensham Schools community and to benefit from a Frensham education, when they would not have the financial means to do so otherwise. This support helps to preserve and enhance the characteristic diversity of our unique community and contributes strongly to the essence of a Frensham education. If you are in a position to assist, donations can be made online by clicking here. As always, we appreciate your consideration and for your support of our future students and families of Frensham Schools

Jamieson Week and End of Year Events

The full sequence of events for Jamieson Week has been published for parents and students on Schoolbox this afternoon, along with detailed dress and equipment requirements for the week’s activities. Please note the changes to the programme for the final day of term, Friday 10 December. When we announced our end of term event plans earlier this month we were anticipating eased restrictions in schools as NSW opened up. It now seems that this easing will not occur prior to mid December, requiring further adjustments to our plans. As a result of the continued limitations around visitors on campus, the planned Picnic on the Games Field will no longer be able to proceed.

We are able to welcome guests to Clubbe Hall for Final Prayers, given the format of the event, but the capacity limitations in Clubbe Hall mean further adjustments to the arrangements, with 1 guest per student able to be accommodated at each service. We recognise that this is not ideal for many families, but we have taken this decision with serious consideration of our health and safety obligations to our students, staff and families and in adherence to COVID-safe event requirements. We ask all families to read this information on Schoolbox carefully and to please contact feedback@frensham.nsw.edu.au should you have any queries whatsoever.

Staff and students are busily preparing for these events in their amended format, for which we are very grateful. We are also greatly looking forward to returning to the School’s ‘usual’ end of year sequence in 2022!

Boarding

"The doctor of the future will give no medicine but will involve the patient in the proper use of food, fresh air and exercise." - Thomas Edison

Sport plays an important part in the life of the Frensham boarders. Afternoon team training sessions, independent fitness routines, weekend programme pool activities, visits to The Holt, are just some of the many ways the girls incorporate exercise, fitness and fresh air into a balanced school programme.

The IGSA Sporting Competition is another important component of the school programme and it has been pleasing to watch girls participate and enjoy so enthusiastically the return of Saturday Sport - and to see the Games Field and courts busy again.

While the girls have been settling back into the routines of Boarding life and activities, the Boarding staff have also continued to learn and to develop skills to enrich their practice. Staff members from each of the four Boarding Houses have joined the ranks of current Boarding staff who have already completed The Certificate Course in Student Residential Care. The course focuses on outlining and explaining best practice in meeting the intellectual, social, emotional, physical, moral and spiritual needs of boarders. Course components were organised around Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs, which identifies Physical needs, Security and Safety, Sense of Belonging, Self-esteem and Self Realisation as key considerations in meeting the needs of boarders. The Course affirmed that at Frensham we are consistently working to ensure that each girl's individual needs are met and they are supported to flourish.

FACULTY FOCUS

HSIE

Searching for Truth in a Post-Truth World
How do you know what to believe? How do you know who to trust? More specifically, in a world where the internet allows for the easy publication and dissemination of content, how do you know that what you are reading is suitable to build your understanding of the world?

For many of us, we have underdeveloped strategies of information evaluation. In their 2016 paper Evaluating Information: The Cornerstone of Civic Online Reasoning, Wineberg, McGrew, Beakston and Ortega of the Stanford Graduate School of Education were shocked to find how many students failed to effectively evaluate the credibility of information provided to them. Middle school, high school and college students in 12 states were asked to evaluate the information presented in tweets, comments and articles. More than 7,800 student responses were collected. The paper reports that most school students cannot tell native advertising from articles, accepted without verification the veracity of photographic evidence, could not tell the difference between a real and fake news source on Facebook, could not detect bias in activist social media accounts and failed to identify the difference between a mainstream and fringe source.

"Many assume that because young people are fluent in social media, they are equally savvy about what they find there," the researchers wrote. "Our work shows the opposite."

As an HSIE Department at Frensham, our goal is to develop students who are orientated towards truth, as it is an essential characteristic of becoming positive change-makers. Taking in polluted information, like taking in polluted air, poisons our sense of citizenship and dulls our contributions to making a better world. We are working towards developing in our students better strategies for evaluating information and guarding themselves against lies and deception.

One key strategy that we are building into our programmes is developing the habit of ‘lateral reading’. Professional fact-checkers, when given the same information as the students in the above paper, scored a perfect evaluation of the information. Rather than reviewing the information on the site, they immediately opened new tabs on their browsers and investigated the source of the original information. Key strategies for developing skills in lateral reading include:

1. Open lots of tabs in your browser
2. Get off the site you are on
3. Do a deliberate Google search for the source or information you are evaluating
4. Read what trusted and reliable sources are saying about the claim. Try to find four or five other sources that discuss your source. (If you can’t find that many, that’s a sign your source might not be good)

In each HSIE class, our students are challenged to not only find new information but to evaluate it, pull it apart, challenge its findings and make connections. We believe it is a skill that will serve all our students well in every walk of life.

On Thursday 11 November the School paused to remember those who died serving their country in war and reflect on their sacrifice. The school was led in this service by our Year 12 2022 Modern History students Gabrielle Butcher, Phoebe Clifton, Isolde Cochet, Lulu Duck, Eliza Hewson, Olivia Laverty, Rosemary Schmidt and Polly Whitwell. This year marks the 103^rd anniversary of the end of World War 1, as well as the centenary of the establishment of the Royal Australian Air Force. The service also reflected on Australia’s involvement in the War in Afghanistan, which came to a close this year, as a moment to consider what a soldier’s sacrifice looks like when objectives have not been met. We ended with the following prayer, written by the author John Marsden and read by Olivia Laverty,

May the road be free for the journey,
May it lead where it promised it would,
May the stars that give ancient bearings
Be seen, still be understood.
May every aircraft fly safely,
May every traveller be found,
May sailors in crossing the ocean
Not hear the cries of the drowned.

May gardens be wild like jungles,
May nature never be tamed,
May dangers create of us heroes,
May fears always have names.
May the mountains stand to remind us
Of what it means to be young,
May we be outlived by our daughters,
May we be outlived by our sons.

May the bombs rust away in the bunkers,
And the doomsday clock be rewound,
May the solitary scientists, working,
Remember the holes in the ground.
May the knife remain in the holder,
May the bullet stay in the gun,
May those who live in the shadows
Be seen by those in the sun.

This year marks the first year that the school has undertaken the Cambridge IGCSE History and Geography courses. All Year 10 students have selected one of these courses and have been working all year towards a range of examinations that were to be sat in October this year. However, due to COVID-19 regulations, these examinations could not be held. Therefore, grades have been established through an assessment process outlined by Cambridge using tasks completed throughout the year. Students will still receive their grades early next year.

Mr Nathan Bessant, Head of HSIE

Music

It has been wonderful to see and hear the musical outcomes from the slight relaxation of COVID-19 restrictions this term.  While our choirs and wind bands are still unable to rehearse together, the Kennedy Strings have rejoiced at being able to play again – and their rich sound seems to reflect that. With Mrs Pinazza conducting, the Kennedy Strings are practising hymn accompaniments for Final Prayers as well as a musical item composed especially for the occasion.

This composition features selected instrumental and vocal soloists from all year groups who must, by necessity, perform from isolation. They are being filmed in order to be projected onto the screen in an allegory of our Term 3 lockdown experience. The multi-media piece is designed to move from this depiction of isolation to actual live performance as we all look with optimism to 2022.

Morning Prayers on ZOOM has presented similar challenges, with Mr Spencer playing the hymn accompaniment in the hallway of the Glenn Music Centre for two senior singers to sing, from separate rooms, using headphones and microphones. Despite these challenges, the outcomes have often been quite beautiful. Morning Prayers has also featured filmed excerpts from the AMEB Exam performances that Ms Madden has been processing and submitting for our many candidates.

It is sad to note that, for the first time in many years, the school is unable to present a Carol Service this year. The School will still get to enjoy our “Dress-Up” Carols in the outdoors but we will all have to wait another year to hear the next Carols offering from the much-loved Fathers’ Choir.

Mr Michael Spencer, Head of Music

Middle School Ethics Olympiad Competition

Last Friday, 19 November, Frensham entered, for the first time, two teams in the Middle School Ethics Olympiad Competition. We congratulate team members Poppy Carter, Alice Fergusson and Claudia Hampson (Year 9), Sophie Chen, Lauren Fox, Sophie Hanrahan, Camilla Johnston, Skye McLelland and Sophia Windsor (Year 8) who were selected to represent the School after submitting a carefully composed written application and attending training sessions every Friday afternoon since our return to face-to-face teaching earlier this term. Both teams were awarded Honourable Mentions by a panel of Australian and International judges. During the day the students were involved in a series of heats where they were scored according to set criteria which rewarded, clear, concise, respectful discourse around challenging ethical cases. The Ethics Olympiad provided them with a unique and rewarding experience as they engaged with other students from 25 NSW Independent, Catholic and State High Schools in a format that developed important skills in communication, sustained reasoning and critical thinking through civil, collaborative discourse – valuable life-long learning skills!

Clubbe Hall: Live Production and Services Certificate III Course

Sarah Hunter and Lara Kyriazis, Heads of Tech Training – Clubbe Hall, write:

With the technical upgrade of Clubbe Hall, Frensham has been able to formalise the technical training of students and provide them with an opportunity to attain a formal qualification through TAFE NSW.

The Live Production and Services Certificate III Course, taught by industry professional Leah Crockett, aims to teach the skills and techniques needed to run productions. Leah Crockett is an Arts, Theatre and Audio-Visual professional that has worked in the arts and events industry for over 16 years. She holds a Bachelor of Media Communications (Theatre Arts), Certificate IV in Training & Assessment as well as a Diploma of Event Management.

Throughout this year, students in Years 8 to 12 have been developing an understanding of the technical aspects associated with the theatre industry. The units of work studied include workplace health and safety practices, working effectively backstage and developing audio knowledge.

During training sessions in Clubbe Hall, students have learnt the theory part of the course while simultaneously developing the practical skills associated with services and productions. The students have developed technical skills for mock shows and practised emergency and evacuation drills to understand how to manage an audience in various situations. The skills taught are preparing students to be part of a technical team for real-world productions.

Students have developed an understanding of their rights in the industry and knowledge of workplace safety. They discuss the roles and responsibilities of the Technical crew and exciting opportunities for work experience and careers for the future.

Last term, students met Stage Manager, Marianne on Zoom who talked to them about her role as a Stage Manager for the show, Come From Away, who discussed the difference between school and professional productions. Most importantly, she encouraged students to understand the importance of collaboration when working with others in the production.

Mrs Sally Hannah, Head of Drama

Sport

Bowral Under 16s Girls Rugby Sevens Team, is made up of various local schools including Frensham team members Lucy Arnott, Charlotte Hopperton, Olivia Huggins, Darcy Maple-Brown, Jessica Savage, Edie Staniforth, Olivia Waugh (Year 10), Matilda Graham, Lydia Martin (Year 9).

The newly formed Under 16’s Bowral Girls Rugby 7s Team, played its first game in the Sydney Junior Rugby Union (SJRU) Gala Day at Centennial Park. Most of the team members are new to rugby with backgrounds in Touch, AFL and athletics. The girls have been training since June at the Frensham Games Field. Training the team have been current parents Scott Staniforth of Wallaby fame and Peter Walters, and Brendan Fannin. The girls have been quick in learning technical skills and safe tackling practices.

Up against the most experienced players from Randwick, the girls’ first game saw them go down seven tries to nil.  In their second match they finished strong and had a good win against Eastwood, winning three tries to one. The girls maintained the ball and saw some great team tries.

Of their play on the weekend Mr Staniforth said “the girls did amazingly well and can be very proud of their efforts. Having to play in the opens* and coming up against a very strong rep team the girls dug in and never gave up.”

The girls took a determined attitude towards Eastwood and had a very positive win. The girls had a great day and enjoyed, what was for most of them, their first competitive rugby games. The Rugby 7s Gala days are running for next three weekends with the girls excited about learning and improving their games.

*Played in the Opens category as competition combined the 16s-18s age groups

Mr Shane Green, Acting Head of Sport

Acknowledgement to

• Lucy Pernice (Year 11) for her selection to attend the National Youth Science Forum, January 2022. A forum that is open to Year 11 students from around Australia who have a passion for Science. The selection process included a written application and interview.
• Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award recipients: Silver – Monique Andersson, Matilda Chadwick, Alexandra Corbett, Sarah-Joy Day, Savannah Linde, Phoebe Rouse (Year 10); Bronze – Matilda Damiani, Hilary Swan (Year 10).
• Big Science Competition participants: High Distinction: Adelaide Ayling, Sophie Simpson, Sidney Wheeler (Year 9); Bella Cay, Sarah-Joy Day, Heidi Jervis (Year 10). Distinction: Penelope Hampson, Cara Sims, (Year 7); Georgie Lewis, Georgina McBride (Year 8); Poppy Carter, Alice Fergusson (Year 9); Summer Oxley (Year 10). Credit: York Doyle, Maggie Maynard, Scarlett Shadbolt, (Year 7); Imogen Smith (Year 9); Lucy Arnott, Abigail Jorgensen, Rose Mahony (Year 10).
• Frensham’s entrants in the Middle School Ethics Olympiad Competition for their success in this competition: Poppy Carter, Alice Fergusson and Claudia Hampson (Year 9), Sophie Chen, Lauren Fox, Sophie Hanrahan, Camilla Johnston, Skye McLelland and Sophia Windsor (Year 8).
• Cara Sims (Year 7) for her selection to the Macarthur Rams U14s Premier League Soccer team.

Staffing update
We are pleased to welcome Dr Mark Morrow to the Science Faculty, commencing January 2022. Dr Morrow was recently at St Paul’s International College, Moss Vale.

At the end of 2021 we farewell
We congratulate Olivia Scotting on her appointment to the position of Assistant Head of Science at St Francis Catholic College at Edmondson Park, part of Catholic Education, Diocese of Wollongong. We thank Ms Scotting for her contribution to Frensham Schools across multiple areas, including as Science Teacher, Year Coordinator and a passionate proponent of our Debating and Public Speaking programme, over the past 4 years.

Ms Sarah McGarry
Head of Frensham
Head of Frensham Schools

We commend our Year 12 students for their persistence, diligence and patience as they finally commence their long-awaited HSC this week. It has certainly been a marathon with a few additional laps for these girls, and they have carried themselves with maturity and determination during such a challenging time. We also thank staff for the ongoing support and guidance they are providing to Year 12.

Remembrance Day

This morning we held a very moving Remembrance Day Morning Prayers, with presentations from Year 12 2022 coordinated by Head of HSIE, Mr Nathan Bessant. We listened to powerful reflections on the service and sacrifice of our servicemen and women and their families, the poem Sunset Vigil by Andy McFarlane, the Last Post, Abide with Me and Australian John Marsden’s Prayer for the 21^st century. In this year, the Centenary of the Royal Australian Air Force and the end of our military operations in Afghanistan, we recognise and honour the service and sacrifice of Australians – for the first time in more than two decades, our nation commemorates Remembrance Day while not currently involved in an active conflict. We remember the courage and valour of all those who have served our nation in war, conflicts and peacekeeping operations.

Student Safety

All parents are reminded of the need to exercise caution in the streets around the Frensham campus.

We do not wish for cars to be making U-turns in the School’s driveways on Range Road, particularly in the busier periods in the morning.

Please continue to drive onto the campus to drop students off safely, via the Main Gate on Range Road.

Students should not be dropped off at Topp Gate or at the Dining Room Gate on Range Road, and there is no vehicular access via Stanley Street.

Keeping safe online

We have been speaking with year levels this week about the importance of protective behaviours online, the responsible use of technology and our expectations in terms of student interactions online. Many adolescents have what can only be described as a ‘complicated’ relationship with technology, perhaps amplified during the time spent in front of a screen alone during the past months of lockdown. Many girls are reporting that while it takes some adjustment to have device-free time required of them at school, they are also recognising the benefits of stepping back a little from technology and interacting with others in a more present and purposeful way – in person. It is sometimes difficult for adolescents to discern what is ‘real’ and ‘safe’ online and the eSafety commissioner has a range of exceptional research-based resources to inform and support young people, families and schools around safe and respectful online behaviour. At the beginning of each year, all girls and families agree to our Information Technology Contract outlining the School’s expectations. This can be found in the 2021 Information Book and in the ‘A-Z of Frensham’ on Schoolbox.

Saturday Sport – Round 1 IGSA Sport - Saturday 13 November

We are pleased to be hosting IGSA Sport again, with double vaccinated parents and spectators permitted to attend.

Touch will be played on the Games Field and Tennis on the Holt Courts.

To ensure that we keep our community safe we ask that all spectators abide by the following COVID-19 safe measures:

1. All vehicles enter the Games Field entrance on Range Road.
2. Upon arrival, check into one of the QR codes which will be displayed clearly at each playing location.
3. Present both your vaccination certificate and check in validation to the COVID safe Marshall.
4. If you are experiencing any flu-like symptoms please stay at home.
5. Remain socially distanced and avoid gathering in groups.
6. Please use the clearly signed visitor bathrooms.

We appreciate your support and care with adhering to our COVID safe plan.

In the event of poor weather conditions please check Schoolbox for a cancellation notification. Unfortunately, we will not be running the Holt Café, please arrange alternative refreshments.

If you have any further questions, please do not hesitate to email sgreen@frensham.nsw.edu.au

Mr Shane Green, Acting Head of Sport

Jamieson Week

Our final week of term, Jamieson Week, is designed to involve all students in a major Community Service contribution alongside activities for whole year participation and preparation for the end of year Services. The week’s programme has had to be adjusted significantly to adhere to COVID guidelines, but it is anticipated that most events will be able to proceed in altered format. At the time of printing the newsletter there are still final details to be confirmed, however this will be posted on Schoolbox shortly. We can confirm that the Christmas Lunch, Sports Presentation and Frensham Carols (outdoors) will be going ahead during this week, along with a Communion Service on Thursday 9 December.

Confirmation Classes 2022

Confirmation classes will be available for students in Years 10, 11 and 12 from Term 1, 2022. The classes will be delivered by the Rector of St Jude’s Anglican Church, Bowral, Reverend Gavin Perkins and Youth Minister, Matt Jacobs. Further information will be available early next year.

The Ranier Uniform Shop and Clothing Pool

The Ranier Uniform Shop and the Clothing Pool are open to visitors and parents must be double vaccinated and observe COVID-19 safety protocols (QR code sign in and wear mask). Orders can be made online for subsequent collection.

Ranier Uniform Shop: Parents can order uniforms online through the Ranier website: https://www.ranier.com.au/

Clothing Pool: The Clothing Pool will be open on Mondays 12.00pm-4.00pm. Parents who wish to buy second-hand uniform items are asked to email clothingpool@frensham.nsw.edu.au listing the item/s and the relevant size/s.

FACULTY FOCUS

Mathematics

Maybe the COVID-19 pandemic has made us all better mathematicians….. terms like “flattening the curve”, “increasing at an increasing rate” and then thankfully “increasing at a decreasing rate” have become common terminology. Even more so, we were all very aware of the daily “stats” or “statistics” and watching the various “graphical displays” on screens and now we are being updated daily with the latest vaccination “percentages” on our way to normality. But, the COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in much more than this one positive thing, using mathematical terms in normal everyday language: it has given us a reminder and a much greater appreciation for the importance of community, classroom and personal interactions. As young people struggled to learn from home, and teachers struggled with Zoom after Zoom, students and parents’ gratitude for teachers, their skills, and their invaluable role in student wellbeing, has risen. And, teachers’ gratitude for face-to-face teaching, the smiles (even though obscured by masks), the laughs and the orchestrated reactions is immeasurable or perhaps “infinite”.

The Maths classrooms are certainly alive and well. Year 7 students have been studying the topics of Probability, Percentages and extending their knowledge of Algebra through learning techniques for solving equations. Students in Year 8 are studying Volume and Statistics, and using their technology to input and analyse data. Year 9 classes are covering a variety of topics in different classes, including Linear and Non-Linear Relationships and Volume. Year 10 girls are transitioning or “pivoting” into Year 11 students, and have just started their Year 11 Orientation, where they are able to experience the different mathematics courses for the first cycle, and then settle into starting proper their Year 11 programme of study in the second cycle. Year 11 students, now the new Year 12 class of 2022, have been working diligently all term on their Year 12 topics and will be completing their first HSC assessment tasks by the end of this term. Of course, we are so pleased that the Class of 2021, will be finally doing their HSC, on Monday 15 November: Mathematics Advanced, Mathematics Standard and Mathematics Extension 2 Examinations. Students have managed well and worked with purpose and deserve this opportunity to formally complete their final year of study.

According to UNESCO, by the end of March 2020 over 1.5 billion pupils or 87 per cent of the world’s student population across 165 countries had been affected by school closures caused by COVID-19 and the pandemic has raised a number of questions about how education might look in the future. This experience has opened our eyes to a number of exciting possibilities; what role should technology play in the delivery of K-12 education and how will the technology landscape evolve to meet this role? What should schools, teachers, students and parents do to keep pace? How can student support, wellbeing and engagement continue to be improved? These are all questions being considered by teachers’ at Frensham as we are so pleased to be back in the classroom with our students.

Ms Joanne Alison, Head of Mathematics

Year 10 Senior Studies

On Wednesday 3 November, Year 10 finished their Stage 5 studies and moved into an exciting two-day Transition Programme, designed to celebrate the beginning of their senior studies, and give them an opportunity to be together, be creative and be future focussed. 

The programme included two half-day creative workshops at Sturt, the completion of NESA’s All My Own Work programme, time to focus on future opportunities reflecting on their strengths, grit and character for senior study and examining career opportunities, looking at courses for university study framed by the strengths identified by their careers testing. The finale culminated in fun, physical games in the gym.

Sturt Programme: At Sturt the students choose to engage in one of six of the courses offered, with some of their creative experts:

• MIXED MEDIA COLLAGE Students used the theme, portraits of the world, developing a work on paper using mixed media material. They also used collage techniques to construct a second work that enhanced the rich cultures of the world.
• STITCH UP BOOK: Students created “Stitch Up A Book” using fabric for pages and scraps of repurposed fabric with embroidery stitches and collage, to create a textile book. Students created sample books of simple stitching in creative ways, using various threads, lace scraps and found ephemera.
• CONTEMPORARY TEXTILES with Susan Walker. Students learned how to weave a wall hanging, purse and embroiderer a patch for a jacket or bag exploring contemporary textiles
• HAND BUILDING CERAMICS Students explored making contemporary vessel forms using terracotta clay and coil construction. Surfaces were marked with a range of stamping and incising techniques and finished with highlights of colour.
• JEWELLERY MAKING:  Nature provides endless inspiration for many artists. Whether it is plants, flowers, animals, or insects etc., using an element of nature as the inspiration, students created one jewellery piece that explored their chosen topic. Through the design process, students sketched their inspiration and explored the forms along with their new jewellery making skills of cutting, texturing and soldering to create a unique finished nature-inspired jewellery piece. 
• MAKING SHAKER BOXES Students learned how to bend wood with hot water to make traditional oval boxes in the style of the American Shakers while exploring hand-crafting techniques. The bending of timber, sanding, nailing and finishing created a final product that could be beautifully finished with shellac and wax or a colourful milk paint. 

The girls created beautiful handmade products and enjoyed the connection created through collaboration and creative endeavour.

NESA All my Own Work Programme
The girls completed the HSC: All My Own Work programme designed to help HSC students follow the principles and practices of good scholarship. The course develops their understanding, valuing and using ethical practices when locating and using information as part of their HSC studies.

The course is a requirement for eligibility for the HSC, and students must complete HSC: All My Own Work (or its equivalent) before they submit any work for Preliminary (Year 11) or HSC (Year 12) courses. The modules develop students' understanding of scholarship principles and practices, acknowledging sources, plagiarism, copyright and working with others - all essential skills for the HSC and beyond.

Future focussed self-reflection and career opportunities
The girls also completed the VIA strengths survey, Angela Duckworth’s Grit survey and a survey designed to help them reflect on their character and how this will help them with their senior studies. Each survey allowed girls to reflect on the strengths they can leverage for senior study and identify areas where they may need to work or require support.

Next, students considered their career testing results and the opportunities for tertiary study. They spent time with teachers asking questions and examining the possibilities for them in 2024. Finally, they finished the two days with some fun and physical exercise in the gym.

Year 10 students begin their orientation this week, giving them the opportunity to experience the subjects they have chosen to study in Year 11 and begin their life as senior students.

Congratulations to Year 10 on completing your junior studies; excitement and challenge await you in your senior studies.

Dr Ruth Phillips, Academic in Residence

Acknowledgements 

• Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award recipients: Silver – Monique Andersson, Sarah-Joy Day, Judith Hopkins, Savannah Linde.
• Frensham Debating Teams have progressed to the semi-finals of the AISNSW/NGS National Virtual Debating competition; the teams comprise - Year 8: Penelope Cay, Lauren Fox, Skye McLelland, Lucy Rouse, Sophia Windsor; Year 9: Bella Cay, Bea McDonald, Clara McDonald, Imogen Smith

Ms Sarah McGarry
Head of Frensham
Head of Frensham Schools

The sounds of togetherness

It was with joy and enthusiasm that staff welcomed students back onto Frensham and Gib Gate campuses and into Boarding Houses for the recommencement of face-to-face classes for all students on Monday 25 October. School campuses are vibrant, dynamic, energetic places, and they only feel ‘complete’ with the sounds of students learning and laughing together. We have spent time this week reflecting with gratitude, for the ‘silver linings’ of the time spent learning and working from home, but also recognising the aspects of campus life that have been missed acutely over these past months. We have been so fortunate to have been able to still engage over technology whilst learning on campus was not possible, but nothing replaces the energy and what almost everyone describes as the “buzz” when people are back together – and those micro-moments of connection and collegiality start to reappear.

We are thinking and talking a lot at the moment about transitions, back to on-campus learning, into high school (for our Year 6 students), into life beyond school (our Year 12 students) and beginning Preschool or Kindy (for our youngest students). We all experience transitions throughout our lives — big and small, planned and unplanned. Transitions may be centred around something exciting, such as starting a new job or an addition to your family. They can also be prompted by distressing situations, such as the serious illness or loss of a loved one or the onset or fallout of a pandemic. Transitions can involve exciting changes, distressing ones, or even just milestones. It is in these times that our strengths, our knowledge and our skills, the depth of support in our community and our inherent human ability to adapt really come to the fore. It is natural to feel fearful, or uncertain, or stuck, when the ‘big scary thing’ looms, but these life transitions are where we must choose to take the steps and go through the process of turning our fear and anxiety into renewal and growth. It takes time, and a team effort, to work through the necessary phases of transition to a new way of being – as our state and nation start to reopen and reawaken.

It is no coincidence that a remarkable number of people turn to creative pursuits whilst undergoing major life transitions – they learn to dance, crochet, cook, paint; write poems, handwritten cards and thank-you notes, start journaling, write songs, make ceramics and myriad other activities. And of course, we yearn to return to live music, theatre and dance, supporting our vital artists but also nurturing and nourishing our souls. We will be singing together before we know it (we hope)!

We are grateful that the necessary adjustments to help keep our community safe at this time are only temporary and sincerely thank all members of our community for keeping track of these as they change so regularly. We are working together to maximise the opportunities for our students to reconnect as they adjust back to life on campus, as both Mrs Robson and Mrs Fawbert outline in this newsletter. Our current focus is very much on supporting student wellbeing as an essential foundation of learning, and on providing timely feedback to parents about how students are managing this transition process.

We have also been planning ahead, anticipating what our end of year celebrations and orientation programmes will entail. These will be discussed with both Gib Gate and Frensham Advisory Committees this week, and then published to our community next week. 

The Ranier Uniform Shop and Clothing Pool: ordering uniform items

The Ranier Uniform Shop and the Clothing Pool are currently not open to visitors in person but orders are able to be made online for subsequent collection.

Ranier Uniform Shop: Parents can order uniforms online through the Ranier website: https://www.ranier.com.au/

Click and Collect orders will be distributed to students from Company Office and online delivery is also available.

Clothing Pool: Parents who wish to buy second-hand uniform items are asked to email clothingpool@frensham.nsw.edu.au listing the item/s and the relevant size/s. The manager of the Clothing Pool will be in touch regarding availability and collection.

Returning to Campus

Returning to Campus learning may be likened to the start of the academic year. Time is needed to reconnect with friends, before recommencing teaching and learning programmes. Establishing routines and connections with school staff is also important as this increases feelings of security and safety.

Year Coordinators and Form tutors have worked closely with students upon their return to campus, providing opportunities for students and staff to reconnect and re-establish their relationship. Connection Sessions were held on Monday, starting with time with Form Tutors and larger group activities scattered throughout the day focusing on engagement, laughter and of course, having FUN.

Years 7 and 8 students had fun creating a paper bag self-portrait. Working in groups and enjoying the company of friends, they happily chatted, reflecting on how they felt about being back at school. On the outside of the bag students drew and painted a caricature of themselves, emphasising notable features like hair colour and style. The inside of their paper bag was filled with written messages expressing their hopes and goals for the term ahead.

Year 9 girls participated in team building activities that include capture the Flag, getting-to-know-you Bingo and a range of team challenges. Year 10 students focused on working together and problem solving, using both verbal and non-verbal communication.

Year 11 created a Connection Tree – the tree was a place where all girls Years 7-12 girls hung a personalised leaf, on which they shared a positive message with the school community. The colourful tree stands outside the music rooms and provides words of kindness and thoughtfulness for all to enjoy through the course of our first few days back on campus.

Connection sessions will continue throughout the term in a variety of ways. Mental health and wellbeing will be supported through Year co-ordinator meetings, prefect peer support and mentoring sessions, and extended time given for student led activities. Explicit modelling and teaching of social and emotional learning skills will occur within the form programme, reminding girls of our school values and encouraging them to be part of the Frensham community once more.

Mrs Wendy Fawbert, Director of Character Education and Planning

FACULTY FOCUS

Languages

The Language classes have risen to the challenge of online working in Term 3, creating meaningful learning opportunities for all students. The interrelationship between correct pronunciation of letters, words and sounds, the ability to identify the beginning and end of sentences and the effect of all this on Listening skills has been a focus in all the French classrooms.

French

Visit a Year 7 class and you may see students rapping the French alphabet, while signing the letters, before undertaking some intensive vocabulary study on Quizlet and then a related Quiz on Schoolbox or sharing their knowledge of French foods on a group Padlet.

Students in Year 8 French have been learning how to describe people and their clothing and will record a video of themselves describing new friends, while the Year 9 French students are focusing on idiom, colloquialisms, and shopping in France.

The Year 10 French students started the term watching interviews on the streets of Paris where the locals were asked what they like to do on the weekend. They then collaborated on the Padlet platform to find similarities and differences with their own lives (there were more similarities).

The theme in the Year 12 2022 French class is the World of Work with a focus on building vocabulary and discerning grammatical differences through listening skills using the new listen function on the Kahoot! platform. In the new French Extension class we have started watching the prescribed film Intouchables.

We have spent quality time with the class of 2021 in focused workshops in French Continuers and Extension, working on authentic video and written texts, refining our skills in preparation for the HSC.

All French classes got cooking in the final week of Term 3 making crêpes and many families reaped the benefits. Here are a few images of our cooking classes:

Latin

Year 8 Latin students have been continuing their study of both English and Latin grammar, including personal pronouns, adverbs the imperative form of the verb.

The girls enjoy coming up with and learning English derivatives for their Latin vocabulary, which not only helps them remember the meaning of the words when translating but also expands their English vocabulary, enhancing the quality of their academic writing across all subjects. Some derivatives from this Chapter include pugnacious from pugno (I fight), invincible from vinco (I conquer) and fidelity from fidus (faithful).

The cultural focus for this chapter is Olympian Gods and Goddesses which always sparks much interest. The students enjoyed noticing that many products today use gods and goddesses for brand names such as Vulcan (God of Fire) for fireplaces, Apollo (God of the Sun) for blinds and Mercury (Messenger God) for a Courier.

The Year 9 students have been consolidating their geographical knowledge of the Roman Empire by labelling a map with important countries, islands, towns and seas and translating the Story Cicero finds the tomb of Archimedes. Archimedes, 287BC - 212BC, was the most famous mathematician and inventor in Ancient Greece.

Through the historical theme, The Gauls Invade Rome, we read the story about the Goddess Juno's sacred geese. The geese were the heroes of this story, as hearing the Gauls climb the Capitol hill, they started to cackle and beat their wings, waking one of the Romans who grabbed his sword and gave the alarm. The students were happy to discover that despite a great shortage of food, the geese had not been killed and eaten!

In Latin this term, Year 10 girls are revising complex grammatical structures such as the ablative absolute and translating passages about Horatius saving Rome from the last king of the Etruscans, Tarquinius Superbus. They are completing regular revision quizzes on grammar and vocabulary from the final chapters in the workbook via Schoolbox. Last term they presented well-researched and colourful video on Roman civilisations. Here are some maps of a typical Roman town:

Year 12 2022 has begun to study the prescribed prose text: Cicero's In Catilinam. This text is part of a set of speeches to the Roman Senate given in 63 BC by Marcus Tullius Cicero, one of the year's consuls, accusing a senator, Lucius Sergius Catilina (Catiline), of leading a plot to overthrow the Roman Senate. The Year 12 Extension 2022 class has begun its study of the prescribed poems of Catullus. The set of poems explores themes of friendship, rivalry, betrayal, love and relationships.

Mrs Kerry Lennon, Director of Languages

Acknowledgements 

• Girdle Award recipient, Emma Jancewicz (Academic Excellence – Visual Arts).
• Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award recipients: Silver – Pia D’Rozario, Elizabeth Nesci (Year 10).

Staffing

We are pleased to welcome Ms Sally Edwards, Director of Student Life (Boarding), commencing January 2022. Ms Edwards currently holds the position of Dean of Studies (Years 10-12) and Broughton Forrest House staff member at The King’s School, Parramatta. Spending many years with her family on their property on the outskirts of Mudgee, Sally is excited about combining her love of the semi-rural lifestyle with the community and spirit of Frensham.

At the end of 2021 we farewell:

• Ms Louise Davis, HSIE, her contribution has been across a wide range of areas during her chapters of work spanning more than 20 years at Frensham Schools.
• Ms Sara Farmer, Visual Arts, a talented artist, maker and teacher, has been working with Frensham Schools since 2012. Ms Farmer’s extended involvement includes Duke of Edinburgh’s International Awards expeditions and Jamieson Programme activities.  

Ms Sarah McGarry
Head of Frensham
Head of Frensham Schools

The delivery of this edition of the Frensham Schools Newsletter was hampered last week by a prolonged internet outage, and we thank all staff, students and families for their patience for the delay. Whilst not ideal for anyone, this experience prompted us here on campus to work differently, to adapt to the situation in which we suddenly found ourselves in on Wednesday morning, and to exercise those agility muscles in determining ‘workarounds’ to keep our teaching and learning happening as smoothly as possible.

Over the past month in particular these muscles have had quite a workout for the team at Frensham Schools, and our community, as return dates for schools and statewide restrictions have changed at a rapid rate. It was wonderful to welcome back our Year 12 students to face-to-face teaching this morning, with a celebratory “Mad Hatter’s Tea Party” at morning tea to reconnect with each other after last term’s absence. Year 12 will be continuing with their workshop programme with their teachers over the coming weeks before their Stu-Vac study period prior to the commencement of the HSC. Kindy and Year 1 joined their Preschool peers.

We are also looking forward to welcoming back students in remaining year levels to face-to-face learning on Monday 25 October. Our campus arrangements will necessarily be a little different for students and staff, but after such a prolonged absence it will be wonderful to be back in person – physically distanced but socially reconnected. Our focus upon students’ return will be on supporting them in the adjustment they will be making – emerging from dining rooms and bedrooms and the online learning realm and returning to life on campus. There will be a range of emotions your children are feeling about this transition process, and each young person copes with change and transitions in a different way. We encourage families to talk openly with your child about their strengths, interests and challenges, and to contact the school to discuss any additional supports your child may require in this process.

Frensham Parent Seminar, Tiny Habits – Developing the habits for independent learning and beyond

We were pleased to welcome many parents to our recent parent seminar, delivered by our Academic in Residence, Dr Ruth Phillips. For those who were unable to join us or those who would like to review the topic discussed, we have included a link to a recording of the meeting: Frensham Tiny Habits - Developing the habits for independent learning and beyond

Access Passcode: Frensham-2021

2022 Term Dates

For planning, please note that 2022 Term Dates below and these can also be found on the website via the link: 2022 Term Dates

Term 1 – Gib Gate & Frensham*
Monday 31 January - Thursday 7 April, 3.00pm

Term 2 – Gib Gate & Frensham*
Wednesday 27 April - Thursday 23 June, 3.00pm
Queen’s Birthday Long Weekend – Departure: Thursday 9 June, 3.00pm – all students

Term 3 – Gib Gate & Frensham*
Monday 18 July - Thursday 22 September, 3.00pm

Term 4 – Gib Gate & Frensham*
Gib Gate: Tuesday 11 October - Friday 9 December
Frensham: Tuesday 11 October - Sunday 11 December 12.00pm (after 11.00am Carol Service)

*Boarders always return evening before classes start

2022 Parents Weekend 

Confirmed dates for attendance of all students Years 7-12

Term 1
Year 7: Saturday 26 - Sunday 27 February; Frensham Open Day – Saturday 26 February
Year 10: Saturday 19 March - Sunday 20 March

Term 2
Year 8: Saturday 14 May - Sunday 15 May
Year 12: Saturday 4 June - Sunday 5 June
Frensham Schools Birthday: Friday 3 June
Frensham’s 109^th Birthday: Sunday 5 June

Term 3
Year 11: Saturday 6 August - Sunday 7 August
[Saturday 6 August: Year 10 planning for Senior Studies (with parents on Saturday)]
Year 9: Saturday 27 August - Sunday 28 August 

Reminder: all of Years 7-12 attend Open Day and attend all Parent Weekend Services

Message from Berrima Buslines regarding updating Student Details for Bus Pass Applications
Please note: Transport NSW has updated it site for School Bus Pass Applications and Updates. The portal will be open from mid-October for 2022. Changes to student address details can now be made via this link: https://transportnsw.info/tickets-opal/ticket-eligibility-concessions/school-student-travel

Parents are asked to update details during Term 4, in preparation for the start of Term 1, 2022.

FACULTY FOCUS

English

Shelfies – Girls sharing their love of books and reading

In Term 3, we asked students to upload a “shelfie” to their School Box English page. This is a picture of themselves with a book they love in front of a bookshelf. They were asked to write an accompanying explanation as to why they enjoyed that book so much. 

Some student samples include:

• The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller is my favourite book because it is a beautiful love story that explores many themes like love, fatal flaws, war and harsh truths. It reflects me as a reader because concepts like the ones above are my favourites to discuss. I'm a Greek mythology nerd and the two main protagonists have very in-depth personalities which is what I read books for.
• David Attenborough’s Adventures of A Young Naturalist, I like this book because it recounts incredible stories from David Attenborough’s many years studying wildlife and the natural world. It reflects my interest in the environment and my enjoyment of personal recounts and autobiographies. I enjoyed the phrase “we need to move beyond guilt and blame, and get on with the practical tasks at hand”.
• The Places We Swim by Caroline Clements and Dillon Seitchik-Reardon. I love this book because I am a lover of all things beachy, this book shows the reader some of Australia's greatest swimming spots. It gives me something to look forward to after lockdown and the images are photographed so well. I love sitting on my front balcony and reading over the descriptions again and again, making up a little road trip in my head.
• I like the Percy Jackson series, by Rick Riordan, because it is filled with action and adventure and sarcasm with mystery and light-hearted romance. It has characters with actual depth and morals. It brings in Greek mythology while making it entertaining. This series has an excellent story and is not rushed in the slightest! 
• The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern is about two young lovers who are able to make illusions. Their fate is to duel each other to death because of a 'game' that their caretakers have organised. I like this book because I can relate to Marco's personality. Also, I enjoy historical fiction; especially since this is set in late 19th Century London. I also heavily admire Erin Morgenstern's writing style and the effective use of third person. 

AHIGS Festival of Speech 

The Festival of Speech (then known as the Independent Girls Schools Speaking Competition) was first held in NSW in 1996. The inaugural Festival, spanning Friday evening and all-day Saturday, was hosted by Kincoppal, Rose Bay, and attended by 15 schools. Frensham was one of the earliest participants.

Today the Festival continues to be hosted annually by an AHIGS members’ school. Some 27 schools now participate, and students have the opportunity to perform in the areas of drama, debating, poetry, prose readings, current affairs and religious and ethical questions. The Festival is open to girls from Years 7 to 11 and offers an important focal point for skill development, personal expression, teamwork and friendship.

Continuing Frensham’s involvement in the competition, the English and Drama Faculties have been preparing the girls for the 2021 Virtual Competition which was hosted by Pymble Ladies College on the 15 and 16 October. Heidi Jervis is congratulated on her achievement of progressing to the top 10 finals for Senior Public Speaking.

This year’s participants: 

Seniors

• Senior Poetry: Sarah-Joy Day (Year 10). Coach: Ms Shannon
• Senior Public Speaking: Heidi Jervis (Year 10). Coach: Mrs Metua
• Religious and Ethical Questions: Yusra Chalak, Eliza Hewson (Year 11), Evelyn Doan (Year 10). Coach: Mrs Dalleywater
• Debating: Bella Cay, Clara McDonald, Bea McDonald, Rosie Mahony (reserve) (Year 10). Coach: Ms Scotting

Juniors

• Junior Public Speaking: Elizabeth Laverty (Year 8). Coach: Ms Arnold
• Junior Reading: Alice Fergusson (Year 9). Coach: Ms McGuinness
• Junior Poetry: Katherine Clifton (Year 9). Coach: Ms Shannon

Ms Lee McGuinness, Head of English

Science

Year 7 Science classes are continuing their study of the Life topic. From a study of classification systems and scientific names to cells and the organisation of multicellular organisms, students are introduced to the basics of the study of Biology. Their assessment task this term involves researching an Australian native animal and creating a poster using Canva or cardboard.

Year 8 students have just started the Living Sustainably unit and are discovering the different ways we currently produce energy and renewable resource technologies being developed, such as biofuels. They are going to apply this knowledge in a task where Grand Designs meets Greta Thunberg by creating their own sustainable house with architectural and design features that satisfy a sustainable development goal of their choosing. 

Year 9 students have started studying Communication, a topic about waves, the electromagnetic spectrum, light and sound. So far, they have modelled the two different types of waves and can calculate the speed of a wave using the wave equation. They will move on to investigating how scientists utilise the properties of the waves of the electromagnetic spectrum to development new technologies, which change the way we are able to communicate information. These technologies including satellites, mobile phones and the internet have had a major impact on our daily lives.

Year 10 classes are nearing the end of their final module. Each class has rotated through a Biology, Chemistry and Physics unit to help them make better informed decisions about their subject choices in Years 11 and 12. The Chemistry class has been focusing on the products of common chemical reactions. By studying these chemical reactions and the compounds formed, scientists can provide practical applications in rust prevention, combustion, precipitation, and decomposition reactions.

Year 12 2021 classes have been participating in seminars to revise different aspects of their HSC courses. Our Biologists have had a presentation on Gel Electrophoresis and its applications by Jeannette Tran from STEM Reactor. Dr Jeanette Hurst, academic and specialist Chemistry tutor, delivered a lecture to Year 12 Chemistry students on the analysis of organic compounds using the techniques of Mass Spectroscopy, Infra-Red Spectroscopy and Nuclear Magnetic Resonance. A key component of the HSC course.

Mrs Alison Andrew, Head of Science

Music

The recording of AMEB video repertoire examinations continue with recorded accompaniment parts at student homes, in conjunction with detailed guidance from their tutors. Some students recorded their examinations in the vacation, these were reviewed and submitted. Accompaniment tracks have been sourced and recorded for this to occur. 

25 further AMEB practical examinations have now been enrolled, which will allow students to record until the end of October, when the 2021 examining year finishes. Frensham has flute, horn, piano, saxophone and violin entries. Nine AMEB practical, and 7 Musicianship examinations have already been submitted this year, and at least seven Musicianship examinations are still to be completed. 

Resilience and determination have been demonstrated by tutors and students alike to reach this point, along with a notable amount of practice!

Mr Michael Spencer, Head of Music

Careers: important information for Year 12, 2021 and Year 12, 2022  

Year 12, 2021 students are commended for their hard work in applying for Early Entry courses. Almost all of the 2021 cohort have either applied directly to institutions’ early entry programmes or they have nominated for UAC’s Schools Recommendation Scheme, where offers will be made mid-November. Some students have already received offers and more will be following in the coming months.

It seems that Universities are being very generous due to the challenge of Covid with some notable last minute early entry schemes, for example:

UOW Alternative Entry students can:

• Apply for 1 UOW undergraduate course
• Be assessed on Year 11 academic results (not ATAR) and your unique skills and experiences
• Secure an offer to UOW before HSC exams commence in November** (**Applications close 24 October)
• They are hosting a dedicated UOW Alternative Entry webinar on 12 October at 6:00 pm. 

Western Sydney University

• Western’s HSC True Reward Early Offer Program provides students an early offer based on their HSC results instead of a scaled ATAR
• Students can apply by 11.59pm 28 November for the next True Reward based on Year 11 results with offers released on 9 December
• Find out more: Western Sydney Future Pathways  

Year 12 students are now in the process of exploring various scholarship opportunities. Students are encouraged to research these via each University’s website but some to note include:

• UOW Vice-Chancellor’s Elite Academic Scholarship
• Rural Pharmacy Scholarship Scheme
• University of Newcastle LGBTQIA+ Shaping Futures Scholarship
• UNSW Mike Cannon-Brookes Endowed Scholarship
• Macquarie Vinva Scholar Award (Macquarie University)
• Melbourne Chancellors Scholarship
• University of Sunshine Coast June Canavan Regional Scholarship
• James Cook University Cullinane Law Scholarship
• James Cook University Elite Athlete Scholarship

For the new Year 12, 2022 cohort

UNSW GIE FEAS Program: Launching in 2022 for high school girls in Years 11 and 12, the GIE FEAS (the Faculty of Engineering Admissions Scheme) Program is a new alternate pathway to UNSW Engineering that recognises students’ engagement with the UNSW Girls in Engineering Club and passion for engineering. For more information visit: UNSW GIE FEAS Programme (engineering)

Acknowledgement to: 

• Interschool Snowsports Honour Roll 2021 – award recipients Elke Arnott (Vice Captain of Snowsports), India Hicks, Georgia Hill, Sophia Pernice (Captain of Snowsports), Emily Shorthouse (Vice Captain of Snowsports) in recognition for their long term Interschool Snowsports participation and acknowledgement that they finished their schooling without the opportunity to compete in the 2021 Interschools Snowsport Championships.
• Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award recipients: Gold: Millicent Bolger (2020), Natasha Long, Ivy McGufficke (Year 12); Silver: Sarah Glanville (Year 12), Matilda Walker (Year 11); Bronze: Chloe Kennedy-Green (Year 10).
• We particularly congratulate Gold recipients from Year 12 2021 Natasha and Ivy, for the commitment required to complete all four elements, and the sustained effort and time investment required to receive this level of recognition.
• Frensham’s debating team for its participation in the AHIGS Festival of Speech, with Heidi Jervis (Year 10) progressing to the top 10 finals.
• Girdle Award recipient, Sarah Brown – Academic Excellence (Design and Technology).

SEE FULL LIST OF LEADERSHIP POSITIONS FOR TERM 4 2021 - 2022

Ms Sarah McGarry
Head of Frensham
Head of Frensham Schools

Reflecting upon the character of strengths

As we reach the end of Term 3, we reflect with gratitude and appreciation amidst the challenges brought about by COVID-19 restrictions, and the need for sacrifice and compromise in order to keep our state safe during this current outbreak. We have this term reflected upon the character strengths of persistence, resilience, patience, humility and gratitude, and explored their relevance for our current circumstances. 

Earlier this week, the US Open saw both Australian tennis superstar Dylan Alcott and Deide De Groot of the Netherlands achieve the “Golden Slam” – winning titles at the Australian and French Open, Wimbledon, an Olympic Gold for each player in their respective events, then topping it all off with a US Open win. What persistence, perseverance and resolve must these sportspeople have had to cultivate and demonstrate in order to reach the very top of their game in the world? How many times must they have thought that the journey ahead of them was too difficult, too long, or too arduous? How many times in their sport must they have had to re-commit to their goals, re-focus on the future after a disappointment or loss, strive and persist through difficult conditions or injury? It is inspiring to see such positive role models of the human spirit, 

We also very much enjoyed the video message shared by School for Life this week, a school we are closely connected with through Old Girl founder Annabelle Chauncy OAM. Girls in Uganda sharing their experiences of learning from home during COVID highlighted the significant work of School for Life in supporting girls’ education and was a powerful exercise in perspective for students and staff alike. 

Frensham students have persisted and persevered – particularly Year 12 in their final week of classes - and are finishing the term strongly and positively after a couple of challenging months. We recognise our student and staff determination to finish well, to reflect upon and recognise the lessons we have all learned over the course of this term. Year 12 are often told that their final year is a marathon, not a sprint - and this year there seem to be a few laps added by stealth at the end. We know Year 12 can do it, and they will strengthen and grow through the process. We look forward to being able to farewell and celebrate you in person next term. For now, we say thank you – and keep going – and we will be here with you, as your team, cheering you on.

We reflect with gratitude on the term that has been – for everyone’s efforts under trying circumstances, for our health, safety and access to education when so many in the world do not have the same. For the technology that lets us keep connected with friends, classmates, teachers and family members around Australia and around the world. For the sustained efforts of our teachers and staff, who have continued to pivot and flex at very short notice and have toiled in a most extraordinarily committed manner. 

Our term concludes this afternoon with the induction of our Student Leaders for 2022, where we will gather in a virtual space via Zoom instead of the usual Service format in our beloved Clubbe Hall. We invite all families to join us for the Leadership Induction Service which commences at 2.00pm on Zoom and requires attendance from all students. It is a formal recognition of Year 12, 2022 student leaders and is an important occasion, recognising and celebrating the role that these girls play in the leadership of the School in the year ahead. All students are required to wear their full Winter Uniform for this service and we ask for those attending to be online at 1.55pm to enable us to commence promptly. 

It is with great anticipation that we look forward to the return of students to campus during Term 4. Whilst it is not possible to confirm exact arrangements at this time, given the ever-changing status of LGA restrictions, we will be continuing to plan across the upcoming holiday period for the term ahead, in light of anticipated updated information and guidelines being provided. A draft schedule will be posted on Schoolbox today, along with a survey designed to provide the opportunity for feedback and suggestions for our planning. As the government announced earlier in August, school staff will be required to be fully vaccinated by 8 November and we encourage all families to pursue vaccinations for students aged 12 and above to assist us in keeping safe as a community and being able to return to full campus operations as soon as possible. 

We wish all students, staff and families a safe and restful vacation ahead.

FACULTY FOCUS

Music

Term 3 2021, with most of our community isolated at home, will be remembered as the term where we were unable to enjoy those powerful elements of the Frensham culture that are so reliant on us all being together on campus. One of the most memorable and most affected of those elements is our coming together for singing and music making, and yet, despite these challenging times, students and staff continue to make and enjoy music together.

While Morning Prayers on ZOOM regularly features Mr Spencer playing the keyboard and singing the daily hymn, musicians from Years 7-12 have also sent in videos of themselves playing their instruments for the “Processional” and singing the hymns. Similarly, the School Services for Years 9 and 11 featured video compilations of singers from those year groups delivering the hymns for us to enjoy, and currently, singers across the school are sending in videos of themselves singing the School Hymn for the Leadership Induction Service on Thursday.

Choir rehearsals and performances are always the first to be impacted by COVID-19 restrictions but, this term, the Madrigals achieved something they have not done since 2012; filmed at the close of Term 2, they submitted their videos and won both their sections in the Sydney Eisteddfod and then went on to be named Australasian Choral Champion for U/19 Choirs.

It was a sad moment for Frensham’s HSC Music students when they were told that they no longer needed to practise for their final performance examinations, as these were unable to be held this year. Despite this, our community was still able to enjoy their performances, filmed at their Trial Examinations at the beginning of the term, via Vimeo: 2021 HSC Music Performances.

While ZOOM is not ideal for musical sound, individual Music tuition has continued online again this term, reflecting the great goodwill and commitment of Frensham musicians and staff alike. We all look forward to coming out of lockdown and being able to enjoy the fruits of our musicians’ labours in person once more.

Mr Michael Spencer, Head of Music

Visual Arts and Design & Technology

A major focus for both Visual Arts and Design & Technology during Term 3 has been to reach the best possible outcomes for Year 12 students completing major projects in these subjects. During the term, both students and teachers had to navigate their way through changes made by NESA to the parameters of submission of both Visual Arts Bodies of Work and Design & Technology Major Design Projects. In normal circumstances, these projects are submitted by approximately mid Term 3; this year, the submission dates moved closer to the end of term.

While there have been some significant challenges for all in terms of resolving major projects, I would like to focus on things we must celebrate. Firstly, beyond the actual work, it is imperative that we acknowledge the resilience and determination of all students during this process. When faced with limited access to specialist materials and equipment, actual physical separation from their work, delays in sending or receiving packages of work, and of course, live one-to-one discussions with their teachers, our students stood tall. With the support of staff, every student took some personal responsibility for solving whatever issue they faced in terms of resolving their work, and in doing so, demonstrated great strength of character. One element that put our students in a good position to deal with the challenges of Term 3 was the sustained work undertaken throughout Semester 1 which meant that broadly, the essential frameworks of projects were in place. 

Taking into account many unavoidable barriers which negated full resolution of projects for some, I would like to commend the students for the outstanding collective standard of work produced in Year 12 Visual Arts and/or Design & Technology. Present in the major works of 38 students are exquisite skill, diversity, cleverness, sensitivity and refinement. 

Presently, the faculty is exploring ways to be able to share these projects with our wider community. Clearly, any physical exhibition under current restrictions appears to be problematic and therefore unlikely. Discussions at this point revolve around exploring effective ways to potentially share the work in a virtual format. 

Pivoting has become a familiar term during 2021, and subjects with a significant practical component have needed to pivot substantially. Many planned making tasks have needed to be adjusted or postponed to suit an online environment. In Visual Arts, Design & Technology and STEM classes throughout Years 7-11, we have adapted tasks where necessary to embrace or extend digital processes. Practical work in both Design & Technology and STEM is often underpinned by computer-based technologies, so much of planned Term 3 work has been possible. In Visual Arts, we have consistently used parts of the Adobe suite (particularly Photoshop) extensively as a tool to develop compositions for painting, printmaking and drawing. While many students possessed a good skills base with this software, moving to a making environment where programmes like Photoshop have been used not just as a tool, but as a way to make a resolved artwork, has been an opportunity, not a hinderance. It will be interesting to see whether we see an uptake in the exploration of Photomedia and Graphic Design as Expressive Forms in the HSC in 2022 and beyond. For some students, employing this software more extensively may well have opened a creative pathway for them moving forward.

Mr Phil Alldis, Head of VA & DAT

Drama

How will people remember the dramatic chaos of the Class of 2021? Through the poofy moustache of the Lorax bouncing onto the stage? Through the frustrated blehs, ahhs and stutterings made during truly intense scenes as the lines slipped our minds? In the dent made by Ms Shannon in the cupboard from a very believable session of method acting, or in the small dent in the drama studio floor made by a girl performing a very passionate monologue with a cricket bat? Or will it be through the notably attractive faces of characters in top hats, leather jackets and fake-male jawlines? Though the pandemic may have cast a shadow over the light of performers around the world, it certainly has not dimmed the legacy of our time here at Frensham. Now, at the conclusion of our final Act, the drama students from the Class of 2021 can take our bows and reflect on the rollercoaster of our experiences:

Scene One - Year 7: Zip, Zap, Zop!
Where it all began. As we stepped into the Drama Studio for the first time, there it was. The stage, clear. The lights, bright, and a room full of possibility. What we did not know was that we were now stepping into the place we would see as a second home for the next six years, a place where we felt most comfortable and a place, we have made some of our best memories. From our class games and story book staging in Year 7, this was the perfect introduction to a world of drama. Collaborative and creative games was the ultimate way to immediately get our interest and gave the best opportunity for all of us to get to know each other in a fun and exciting environment.

Scene Two - Year 8: Footstools and Foliage
Our starring roles in our first Junior Production: Roald Dahl’s Revolting Rhymes, were as large as footstools and the letter L in the word ‘love’, learning the importance of the ensemble in creating theatre. We longed to escape our roles as props in the End of Year Musical, only to play the forks, napkins and pepper shakers in Beauty and the Beast, a rather interesting experience playing a singing spoon, but one of our favourites so far.

Scene Three - Year 9: Green Eggs and Ham
This was even bigger and better as we were now the older ones in the junior productions, and suddenly had gone from looking up at the main parts to being luckily enough to take them on. As we tackled the masterpiece and all engaging works of Dr Seuss, we all worked together to our strengths to put on a funny, warm, and great show, and I think was perhaps a valuable time when we saw how worth it long practices and regular rehearsals truly are. 

Scene Four - Year 10: To Life!
We formed unbreakable bonds as we sang Amazing Grace and acted out our worst nightmares using Brecht, making Mrs Hannah cry, and having us all reaching for the tissues. We performed our first monologues to Jasper Jones. We nervously auditioned for our first lead roles and danced as Russians in the unexpected joy of Fiddler on the Roof, forever yelling out ‘Tradition!’ as we counted the steps; one, two, three, stop!

Scene Five - Year 11: Did Someone Say M@cb3th?
Now in our senior years, we started to find ourselves fully absorbed by the genius works of playwrights Chekhov and Brecht in class as we took on more challenging, and more absurdist pieces. As well as this we found ourselves absorbed by none other than Shakespeare himself, learning lines and doing table reads of his famous Macbeth. However, with a modern twist. This was our first time entering the world of a senior birthday play, where we would get to perform to staff, parents and girls for a once-a-year special event and the birthday of our school. And yet, the curse of the Scottish play meant that our access to the stage was limited, surrendering out first roles to the radio play and looking instead to our End of Year Production. Grease was an experience we will never forget, from fighting over who would be the five singers in each song, to flipping off cars to a screaming chorus, we will forever be grateful for the way this musical brought us closer and sparked joy in our peers during a time of COVID.

Scene Six - Year 12: ...and yet.
Hope. A year spent hoping. We hoped for opportunities as we organised musical theatre concerts and theatre sports competitions. We hoped until it hurt that I Have Five Daughters could go ahead without any pandemic hiccups. We hoped we would remember all our wordy lines about it being “prodigious hot”. We hoped our families would be able to see our Major Works. In vain we struggled against forces we could not change. A struggle which, at times, made it hard to keep a polished twinkle in our eyes. And yet we conjured lots of “oohs and ahhs” as we told stories to our friends, we fostered smiles which for a moment lost sight of the rising cases, we made hope in places where hope was hard to find. In a time of theatrics, we created hope through theatre, we made our own opportunities, forged our own paths; we organised film festivals and laughed as we tried to remember what happened to Scar in The Lion King, attempting to tell the story to our peers. 

We became living proof that no matter how dismal life becomes, art will always create an ‘and yet’. 

To conclude what has been a rollercoaster of six years, for us, there are perhaps very few words to describe drama at Frensham that could truly capture the infinite fun we have had, memories we will cherish forever, and lessons we have learnt as our passion for performance has only grown each year. 

It has certainly been one of a kind and we have loved every minute.  

So, to all the young stars, keen musical theatre singers and stage dancers, as your high school years continue, we hope that drama at Frensham can bring you just as much joy and fun as it has for us. 

Georgie Hill and Eleanor Swan, Heads of Drama 2021

Mrs Sally Hannah, Head of Drama 

Acknowledgement to: 

• Recent award recipients: Iris – Grace Lewis, Eleanor Swan, Jessica Billet, Madeleine Mulligan (All Round Excellence); Girdle – Alexandra Crawford (Academic Excellence), Sophie Rodwell (Sport), Georgia Hill (Academic Excellence and Service to Drama), Sophie Perkins (Service to Music).
• Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award recipients: Silver – Lara Kyriazis (Year 11), Darcy Maple-Brown, Edie Staniforth (Year 10); Bronze – Gracie Hindmarsh, Monique Andersson (Year 10).
• Gib Gate Tournament of Minds (TOMs) Team was awarded Primary School Honours at the recent online Ceremony.
• Gib Gate students as they said farewell to Year 12, 2021 Gib Gaters. This year, the annual celebration was held via Zoom.

Staffing update:

• Ms Janene van Gogh, Director of Studies, will be taking Long Service Leave during Term 4.
• We welcome: Mrs Katelyn Williamson returns to Gib Gate in 2022, as Maternity Leave cover for Miss Stefanie Klauer. 

Ms Sarah McGarry
Head of Frensham
Head of Frensham Schools

Embracing the sense of optimism and enthusiasm – a spring clean!

We wish all members of the Frensham Schools community a very happy Spring, and hope and trust that wherever you are at this time, there are signs of new growth, Spring warmth and blossom scent in the air. Spring is typically known as the season when new growth begins and changes happen all around us. Snowdrops, daffodils, and of course irises are starting to bloom. The magnolias at Sturt, the daffodils at Gib Gate and the blossoms are out on Range Road, lifting our emotions and signalling a new season ahead. It’s a reminder that the cycle of life is starting over again, trees are in bud, and blossom is starting to appear, so it’s not surprising that Spring is also seen as the start of better times. It’s an opportunity to be less lethargic and inclined to hibernate at home, becoming more open to changes, big and small, in our lives. Approaching September with a sense of possibility, renewal, and regrowth is an optimistic outlook to take, even if a positive outlook is something we must deliberately cultivate in these challenging circumstances.

Springtime has always been thought of as a time for change, as we can embrace that sense of optimism and enthusiasm by having a good clear out – a spring clean. Spring cleaning is valuable to us as a way of clearing out any clutter from our homes and lives and bringing in the new, symbolising new beginnings. These new beginnings can be tiny – little daily steps that help us build a new habit or reframe our mindset. It’s a great time for students to start being more active – even whilst spending more time in front of a computer than whilst on campus, to use their break times well and to get moving whenever possible. I’ve seen lots of photos shared and girls on Zoom who are obviously helping in their local community and at home, demonstrating their community spirit, their generosity, and their service mindset.

This is also an opportunity for us all to pause when we see the sunrise, or perhaps the sunset, to really name and notice the changes around us and within us as the light and smells change. To set our intention for the day or days ahead, to welcome the opportunity for the new beginning inherent in each day, to make a positive contribution in the small, individual ways each of us is able to during this time. These changes can be seen in the way that we work, how we organise ourselves, how we connect with other people and how we go about our day.

We appreciate all submissions to the various school surveys that have been undertaken over this past term to help inform our future planning. These surveys have included communications, catering, Stage 4 and 5 curriculum and online learning. In the coming days all parents will receive a further link to assist with some work we are currently undertaking with a consultancy firm around our school marketing and communications. This brief survey (10 minutes) will invite your views on the perceptions and value of a Frensham Schools education. All responses will remain anonymous and confidential. Thank you, in advance, for taking the time to provide your feedback.

Boarding

“When it comes to health and well-being, regular exercise is about as close to a magic potion as you can get.”
Thich Nhat Hanh

Before Breakfast, early morning signouts for swimming, running, team training, gym use, and a variety of other fitness activities are a regular feature and an important part of Boarding life. 

After a busy day of classes, the Boarders often race back to the Houses to quickly change in readiness for afternoon activities, either as part of team sports or for personal fitness. Saturday mornings are always a hive of activity, as all Boarders make their way to the Games Field and courts for the range of Saturday sport activities. The weekend programme often features swimming, bushwalking, physical fitness and outdoor games, so that exercise is also incorporated into the programme in a fun way. 

Although most Boarders are not on campus at the moment, we are enjoying hearing about how they are continuing to stay active - whether that be through the IGSA online Saturday competition, the Strava challenges set up by the PDHPE Faculty or the small group and individual initiatives such as bike riding, bush walking and horse riding. The activities built into our Boarding programme are an acknowledgment of the important role that exercise plays in our wellbeing, and we are delighted to know that girls are continuing to carry on the exercise habits, developed at school, into their learning from home routines. 

Ms Amanda Graham, Director of Boarding and Ms Sally Arnold & Ms Sally Fennell, Deputy Heads of Boarding

FACULTY FOCUS

Science

According to UNESCO “To face sustainable development challenges, governments and citizens alike must understand the language of science and must become scientifically literate.” This has never been more important than in the world today when we are bombarded with messages about Covid-19 and climate change. Through questioning and seeking solutions to problems, students develop an understanding of the relationship between science and technology and its importance in the current and future practice of science. By sifting through information from primary and secondary sources and evaluating its validity and reliability, students learn how to make informed decisions about issues affecting all of us, both locally and globally.   

Student Research Projects (SRPs) are an important part of Stages 4 and 5 Science. These involve investigating an area of interest, writing a hypothesis, designing and carrying out an experiment and writing a detailed report. Year 10 students have carried out their SRP as this term’s assessment task. It was more challenging than usual as most students were at home and so had to use whatever equipment was available. Despite this difficulty some excellent projects were carried out including 

• Has the use of PFAS during bushfire fighting had an impact on the water and soil quality in Shoalhaven? - Heidi Jervis
• Behavioural impacts of environmental enrichment on individual caged rabbits – Charlotte Hopperton
• Does altering surfboard volume have a measurable effect on paddle speed? – Clara McDonald
• Which natural antimicrobials inhibit bacterial growth? – Sarah-Joy Day
• How do different exercises affect heart rate? – Darcy Maple-Brown

Communicating scientific ideas and discoveries to the world is a complicated task, scientists and science enthusiasts like Dr Karl Kruszelnicki, Bill Nye and David Attenborough make every effort to share their passion for science to audiences worldwide. For the Year 9 assessment task for this term, students were required to make a short video (between 1 and 3 minutes) to communicate a scientific concept, finding or problem to the general public. They were assessed not only on their video but also on how they worked together as a team. Some of the topics included   

• Why is Covid-19 so contagious? 
• Wormholes in the Space/Time Continuum 
• How much water do you need to drink in a day? 
• What is one thing that you can do today to save the Great Barrier Reef? 
• What makes nuclear bombs so dangerous? 

Another way scientists communicate is through the use of models. Models can help us to understand concepts that are too small or too large to see. The process of building a model also helps students to remember concepts more easily. Year 9 students recently made models of isotopes using whatever materials they could find at home, from Scarlett Francis (left) and Susannah Gooden (right).

Mrs Alison Andrew, Head of Science

Agriculture

While learning@home has been challenging for many, any challenges that may have faced the Agriculture Faculty have been tempered by willing workers. There have been plenty of reports in the media recently, about a lack of farm workers who are critically needed during harvest times and to complete general farm work. COVID-19 related National and State border restrictions and restricted movement between LGAs has caused many problems in the Australian agriculture industry. Many producers have had to plough crops back into the soil or leave produce to rot on the trees due to a lack of staff to help with the harvest. This obviously has flow on effects due to the subsequent lack of income from sales of their produce. This situation is being replicated at Holt Farm and the Ag plot with all Agriculture students having returned home for the current lockdown. In a ‘normal’ year, the Year 10 Agriculture class are usually responsible for the care and welfare of the school sheep flock which includes feeding and lamb marking. Lamb marking includes vaccination, ear tagging, tail docking and castration and the students are involved with undertaking of or assistance in these animal husbandry practices. However, as the whole Year 10 Agriculture class is learning@home, I was in need of assistance recently to complete these tasks. Ms McGarry generously offered her time to not only assist in the feeding and checking of livestock on a weekend but also to catch and hold lambs and to vaccinate the lambs during lamb marking. Although a first-time experience for Ms McGarry, she quickly picked up the skills required and enthusiastically threw herself into the tasks. I would like to offer my thanks on behalf of myself and the Year 10 Ag class for her willing and generous efforts in helping out with the sheep flock.

Another group of keen workers who stepped up to fill a gap were Ruby Young and Chloe White (Year 8) and Emily Webb (Year 12) who, during Science Week, buried some underpants as part of the University of New England’s ‘Soil Your Undies’ challenge. In eight weeks’ time, the underpants will be dug up on National Cotton Day (hopefully by some returning Ag students) to investigate the decomposition rates of the school’s soils.

A small but eager group of Years 7, 8, 9 and 10 students, who are currently learning on campus, are collecting eggs daily and caring for the welfare of the laying hens and pullets at the AG plot. Again, these students do not study Agriculture but have generously offered their service each day to assist me and to ensure the animals are being well looked after.

My thanks and appreciation go to all who are ensuring the farm and AG plot are still productive at this time.

Ms Leonie Mutch, Coordinator of Agriculture

Careers

As Year 12 students move into their final weeks of School, they have been reminded of the following tertiary deadlines and notices (detailed information is also available in the Year 12 section of Schoolbox, Schoolbox Careers):

• Complete Early Entry applications as any remaining schemes are due in the next few weeks.  (See Schoolbox Careers or visit each institution's website for more information).
• Schools Recommendation Scheme - Closes Sunday 19 September.
• USYD E12 (early entry) application - see the webinar notes on how to best answer the three questions. Closes Sunday 19 September.
• If students are applying for the Education Access Scheme (via UAC) – they are reminded to start preparing supporting documents e.g. medical certificates/reports etc. This may take practitioners longer than usual given the current circumstances.
• Pay for their UAC application by Tuesday 28 September. After this date the fee increases.
• If students are applying interstate, please visit each state’s university admission centre to make their application and be aware of closing dates.
• Apply for a college if they intend to attend in 2022.
• Research and apply for scholarships (See Schoolbox Careers or visit each institution’s website).

Open Days are happening in every institution over the next few weeks. (See Schoolbox Careers or visit each institution’s website).

Jamieson Programme

Year 9 students are to be congratulated on their effort in submitting their Cambridge IGCSE Individual Research projects under the current conditions. The topics chosen explored some of the most challenging global issues, and it is notable the way in which students embraced learning about the different perspectives, whilst firmly articulating their own personal responses. The girls will now be embarking on preparation for the examination in Term 4, which will entail lessons to develop their critical-thinking skills - identifying bias, facts and opinion through a range of sources on important global issues and learning to reason with evidence. Students will also practice using past examination papers along with utilising a response scaffold that prepares them for the different types of questions asked.

Year 9 students enjoyed a presentation in Week 7 from Tom Carter who was the Strength and Conditioning Coach for the Women’s Rugby Sevens Team who played in the recent Tokyo Olympics. Girls were intrigued to hear about Mr Carter’s Olympic journey and experiences and the way in which he inspired the team to perform at the highest level. He also gave some candid advice on subject selection and university choices and how students should not be put off doing something just because they find an area challenging. 

Girls continue their community service efforts through knitting scarves and hand-warmers for local nursing home residents. Mrs Alison Andrew and Ms Jackie Dalton, Fellowship Liaison, have also arranged for Year 9 students to hand-write personal letters to the elderly Frensham alumni to cheer them up now that lockdown has been extended. 

Mrs Kate Gallagher is planning an exciting Term 4 for Year 9 with a focus on ethical consumerism and financial literacy workshops, and we look forward to catching up on some of the activities postponed because of Covid-19.

Mrs Merrilee Harris, Director of Jamieson Programme & Activities and Careers

IGSA Lockdown Tournament 

Over the past 5 weeks, Frensham students have been participating in an online fitness competition. IGSA schools were invited to participate in this event in an effort to break down the physical and social barriers created by the current lockdown environment and provide some healthy competition amongst schools. Sessions consisted of physical workouts as well as inspirational talks from current and past elite athletes. Students received individual points every week based on their participation, interaction and demonstration of school spirit.

The final results are in and it is exciting to note that we finished in first place! Congratulations to all girls who took up this challenge!

Ms Erin Gray, Head of Sport

Acknowledgement to: 

• Recent Iris award recipients Isabelle Promnitz (All Round Excellence) and Grace Amos (Service to Singing).
• Frensham Madrigals for their success at the Sydney Eisteddod by winning both their sections: Youth Choir for Females (U19) and Youth Vocal Ensemble (U19). The Madrigals then competed in the John Lamble Foundation Australasian Championships for Youth Choirs (U19), for which, with great excitement, they were placed first. The two winning performances included 'Tulit Ergo' by Michael Spencer and 'Since You've Been Gone' by Aretha Franklin.
• Shortlisted in the Whitlam Institute What Matters? Writing Competition 2021, from over 5,500 entries: Scarlett Alldis (The Endless Platter) and Phoebe Rouse (Fire) (Year 10). 
• Duke of Edinburgh's International Award participants: Gold: Madeleine Mulligan, Annabelle Ranken, Georgia Shakeshaft (Year 12); Silver: Zoe Gallagher, Mia Greig, Sarah Hunter (Year 11), Emilie McMurtrie (Year 10); Bronze: Poppy Jensen (Year 11); Olivia Faulkner, Meg Jones, Zoe Logan, Alice Mitchell, Jemima Mutton, Sarah Partland, Hannah Perkins, Jessica Savage, Inka Wilson (Year 10).
• Australian History Competition - High Distinction: Sophie Hassall, Millie Moar, Eliza Mulligan (Year 10); Elizabeth Laverty, Bliss Ow-Yang, Sophia Windsor (Year 8). Distinction: Matilda Damiani, Sarah-Joy Day, Bearte McDonald, Clara McDonald, Summer Oxley, Hannah Perkins, Amalia Scales (Year 10); Anna Fagan, Georgia Rapp, Ella Scott, Ruby Young (Year 8).
• Maya Basson (Year 11) competing at official Equestrian Australia/Eventing NSW events this year was placed third overall in the 1* class in the NSW Equestrian Interschools Eventing leaderboard and qualified for selection to National Interschools event 2021.
• Frensham achieved first place the IGSA Sport Lockdown Tournament.
• Gib Gate Tournament of Minds team members of Amelia Blackshaw, Ana McInnes, Isla McVinish, Sofia Nesci (Year 6), Matilda Spong, Edward Vilo and Annabelle Whyte-Cleaver (Year 5), who successfully completed and submitted their online team solution after creatively reworking their performance into digital format.
• Gib Gate students who are continuing to work on the whole school musical, The Aristocats, while Online Learning – singing, acting and dancing on Zoom.

Ms Sarah McGarry
Head of Frensham
Head of Frensham Schools

Flexibility, adaptability, creativity, persistence, resilience, grit and good humour

Gratitude must go to all members of our school community who have demonstrated such remarkable flexibility, adaptability, creativity, persistence, resilience, grit and good humour in the face of such challenging circumstances so far this term. We know that everyone is living, working and learning in ‘unusual’ contexts at the moment and that some level of disruption is, for the time being, a new normal. We also know the importance of remaining connected despite disruption and distance, with family and friends, neighbours and colleagues – and a number of our students and staff have initiated activities to help our community engage online. Whether it’s the Frensham Move Club on Strava, the Wrap with Love knitters, Year Seven girls handwriting letters to pen pals, girls writing letters to nursing home residents or thank-you notes to frontline workers, taking sunset selfies to share, sharing their book recommendations, making short films or sharing their inspirational quotes, we encourage all members of the Frensham community to continue getting involved in these kinds of activities from wherever you are. These small acts of kindness, generous actions and moments of levity help to boost oxytocin, serotonin and dopamine levels in our brains – reducing stress and blood pressure, increasing feelings of wellbeing and connection, lifting and stabilising our mood and improving wellbeing. When acts of kindness and service towards others are repeated, the oxytocin ‘boost’ that comes from a single act is prolonged, contributing to a happier self and a stronger community. 

Whilst some of our usual school celebrations and rituals can’t occur in person as they usually would, we hope that Frensham families are able to join in with some of the online versions of these events in the coming weeks. The Year 9 Service scheduled for next weekend will be proceeding in virtual format, with girls and staff filming their contributions remotely. We look forward to sharing this with you at the end of next week. Please check Schoolbox for further event details.

We are also inviting all Parents and Carers to join us for Friday Prayers, commencing this Friday 20th August. It will not be the same as being in Clubbe Hall together but it is a time where we gather together to reflect on the week and to celebrate accomplishment and contribution – and an important part of the Frensham daily experience. 

Ranier Uniform Shop – Limited Trading Hours

The Ranier Uniform Shop will open every 2nd and 4th Monday of the month for processing of online orders only. These limited hours will remain in place until COVID-19 restrictions ease. As parents will not be able to access the uniform shop during this time, we encourage the placement of online orders. 

Online Orders: Please place orders by 9.00am of each 2nd and 4th Monday of the month. https://shop.ranier.com.au/login 

Any online orders placed during this period will be taken to Company Office for distribution or posted, depending on the selection chosen at check out. 

For urgent matters, please contact Ranier head office:
E: custservice@ranier.com.au | P: 02 8337 7201

Boarding

Last Saturday was a whirlwind of activity as we were all thrown into disarray with the government lockdown announcement. This was disappointing news for all boarding staff who have have been committed to providing all girls able to be here at school with a wonderful boarding experience despite the circumstances. We focused on providing much fun and laughter whilst waiting to learn from the Government what it meant for us. Saturday night was pizza and ice cream in the Dining Room which proved to be (unsurprisingly) hugely popular. On Sunday, girls made garlands for their rooms, walked to visit and provide treats to Phillip, Frensham’s resident Donkey, and made crepes in the Bryant McCarthy kitchen. Girls also packed for their return home and the beginning of online learning. 

Boarding staff take pride in providing care and a great sense of community to all our students - it is certainly a challenging time. We are now focused on supporting those girls who need to stay at school and girls are happily ensconced in Bryant McCarthy House in the hope that life will return to normal soon. 

Frensham is a special place and in reflections girls always comment on the cold, winter mornings playing sport on the Games Field, the sound of music emanating from the Glenn Music Centre, Monday night’s Chicken Schnitzel and the fun and frivolity of Friday Night activities. We cannot wait until we have all our girls returned and Frensham is brimming with girls’ laughter, chat and endeavour. In the meantime, we continue to keep the spirit of Frensham alive, albeit via ZOOM. 

Ms Sally Arnold and Ms Sally Fennell, Deputy Heads of Boarding

Character Education/ Pastoral Care

Pastoral Care and Wellbeing

Whilst we are all working from home, unable to connect with extended family and friends in the usual ways, it is important to look after our mental health and wellbeing. We may have feelings of loneliness, frustration and anxiety – all these feelings are very normal. If you or your daughter require extra support, please reach out, we are here to assist.

Year Co-ordinators and members of the Pastoral Care team are always available as an initial point of contact should you have any concerns. Contact details are on Schoolbox, on each Year group page. There is also a link to the Character Education and Pastoral Care page, where you can find details for external services and wellbeing apps to support your daughter’s mental and physical health.

Services such as Headspace and Kids Helpline provide free online and telephone counselling support for young people ages 12-25 and families. Reach Out is the most accessed online mental service for young people and their parents in Australia, providing interactive activities and wellbeing advice.

Stay Healthy HSC site to help year 12 students stay healthy, stay active and keep connected.

Please contact Mrs Fawbert if you have any further questions or concerns.

Mrs Wendy Fawbert, Director of Character Education and Planning

FACULTY FOCUS

HSIE

In an era dominated by rapid change, technological advancements, and innovation, predicting our future needs might appear to be the task of our mathematicians, scientists, and engineers. Some may wonder about the place of history within a future-focused curriculum. At Frensham, its place is clear - the study of history is indispensable. 

Fundamentally, history is about change. Professor Peter Stearns, of Carnegie Mellon University, refers to history as the ‘laboratory of human experience’. Unlike science, we cannot test hypotheses for wide-scale social change through randomised controlled trials. Questions around privacy and security, expanding human rights, and developing a more equal and inclusive society are all challenges humanity is facing. It will be our students who will lead us through these challenges, and in doing so it will be helpful to look at this ‘laboratory of human experience’. Studying Ancient Rome in Year 7 and Year 12 is excellent field for evidence for expanding citizenship rights. Year 10 students have a firm understanding of the dangers of the state having unobstructed access to our private lives through their study of totalitarian regimes. While, Year 8 students, through their study of the Industrial Revolution, can make informed contributions to debates on how societies will be transformed when the relationship between labour and capital changes. 

History, at its best, provides a deeper understanding of where our societies have been, how we behave as communities, and how we perceive the world. It is the study of how we have grappled with our own humanity. And the question of what it means to be human has not been answered. No more is this true than in Year 9 students' study of Australia’s experience of war in the twentieth century. By exploring sources and histories of the First and Second World Wars, students are faced with questions about the value of life, the folly of man, and the complexity of honouring sacrifice while condemning conflict. As students step into their senior studies, they begin to recognise that conflict is a consistent and widespread aspect of the human experience, as demonstrated by Modern History students' study of the origins and progression of the Arab-Israeli conflict. By studying these conflicts, students may be able to contribute to solutions that reduce human conflict in the future. 

The study of history is essential. It provides greater scope for contemplation, provides us with our greatest role models and challenges our preconceived notions of truth. History is the greatest antidote to a binary world of good and evil, black and white, right and wrong. Our girls understand that to genuinely lead our communities into the next chapter, they must understand where we have been. And this is only possible through the study of history. 

Mr Nathan Bessant, Head of HSIE

LANGUAGES

French

Year 12 French students have returned from their Trials and are now into the final weeks of preparation for their HSC examination. I expected to be sharing anecdotes about the HSC French speaking examinations with you, which were planned for 31 July, but the girls have had to dig into their reserves of grit and resilience due to the rescheduling of this examination to 11 September. The silver lining of the Covid-related change in timing is that the girls have another month and a half to finesse their conversational skills while authentically manipulating language features. The French Extension speaking examination will be held as planned on 4 September and our focus is responding to feedback from the Trials to strengthen analytical and argumentative skills.

Year 11 students are currently studying Le plaisir des loisirs, the theme of free-time and leisure activities. Last week students researched and presented an exposé on their favourite extreme sport, introducing the class to such adventure sports as heli-skiing, skateboarding and white-water rafting. This is the last thematic focus for the year as we move into revision and examination technique later in the term.

Junior classes have been developing their communication skills through the use of process writing documents. The functionality of Google docs allows the student to share her writing with her teacher in real time, promoting and exchange of ideas and the opportunity for ongoing learning conversations to occur. Year 7 students are building on their ability to talk about themselves and their families, their pets and their likes and dislikes. In Year 8, the students are learning how to talk about their town and give directions. The Year 9 girls have moved on from daily routines to expressing past events using the passé composé. In Year 10, students are learning how to describe someone’s character and give advice. 

Mrs Kerry Lennon, Director of Languages

Latin

Senior Latin students also had to demonstrate resilience after the event of the year, the Latin Classics dinner at Newington, was cancelled. Students usually have a great time at this annual celebration dressing in togas or as centurions and vying for the coveted prize of costume of the evening.

As Year 12 return to normal classes after their Trial Examinations, students are considering and implementing feedback about their performance in the Trial Examinations. They have moved into pre-HSC mode, completing practice Examination style questions. In the Continuers class, students are studying the final sections of the prescribed text of Cicero In Catilinam. While in the Extension class, students are studying the final prescribed poems of Horace. 

Year 11 students are well underway in their study of Virgil's Aeneid Book 2 which will be the text assessed in their examinations later this term. Year 10 are nearing the end of the Part 3 Workbook, learning about complex grammatical constructions including the passive voice and the subjunctive mood.

The grammatical concepts encountered by Year 9 students this term are the future tense, irregular verbs, and possessive adjectives. As they build their skills in analysis and translation, they are also exploring the culture of ancient Rome through their readings about a visit to the seaside and life in the Roman army. 

After meeting the family of Marcus Cicero in Chapters 1 and 2, students in Year 8 focus on his daughter Tullia and her visit to Arpinum. Their grammatical skills are growing as they master verbs from the 3rd and 4th groups as well as adjectives and the irregular verb sum esse. The mythology of Gods and Goddesses is the civilisation focus for this term. 

Agriculture

While the AG classroom has been quiet over the last few weeks with many students learning@home, much has still been happening in the Agriculture Faculty. During the winter holiday, ten lambs were born including four sets of twins. A few of the Year 10 Agriculture students, who were still learning on campus have assisted in the care and general husbandry of these lambs as well as the other livestock at the farm.

Week 6 is National Science Week and this year’s theme is Food by Design with a focus on Agriculture and food production. The Agriculture classes have been joining in webinars presented by the NSW Department of Primary Industries on Innovation in Agriculture with topics such as precision agronomy, biosecurity, drones and ag-sensing technologies. A webinar from the University of Sydney on Future Plants and Food Security covered topics such as CRISPR technology, cotton production, plants as a source of protein, genetic research into controlling plant disease and urban agriculture.

Also, during National Science Week, the AG classes were involved in a programme conducted by the University of New England called ‘Soil your Undies’. The programme entails schools burying a pair of cotton underpants (supplied by UNE) for eight weeks and then digging them up on National Cotton Day to examine how much of the underpants are left. Data is collated from across the schools involved, to develop a database on decomposition rates of the soils.

While most of the Agriculture students have been working from home this term, they still have been able to be involved in some of the practical experiences covered in the courses. Year 10 AG has been studying crop production and recently was required to conduct soil tests to determine the texture of the soil, at home or at school. Year 9 students have been researching an integrated weed control strategy for a weed that they have found at school or around home.

Students in Year 11 unfortunately were unable to attend the AG on Tour excursion to complete their Farm Case Study. In its place, some of the students from farming backgrounds have been doing their own research at home and presenting their findings to the rest of the class. They were also fortunate to have Mr Ross Thompson (father of Millie, Year 9 and Ollie, year 8), from Millah Murrah Angus Stud, Bathurst, join a Zoom lesson to discuss with the class what happens on his farm as well as the impact of consumer trends on his production systems. Thank you to Ross for his time and considerable knowledge and in assisting the class to gain a different perspective of farm production.

Year 12 students have completed their Trial examination and are now finishing the HSC course and working on fine-tuning their examination technique in preparation for their HSC examination.

Ms Leonie Mutch, Head of Farm Management and Agriculture

Schoolbox

How do you currently use SchoolBox?

In the last 20 years educational institutions have subscribed to Learning Management Systems (LMS) as a platform for innovative practice: these include Google classroom, Canvas, Moodle, Sentral.  It is a competitive market. The Frensham Schools LMS, SchoolBox, is a superior product favoured by many independent schools as, not only does it support advanced methods of delivery and differentiation of P-12 education, but its primary goal is to ensure that learners thrive in a connected community, enhanced by their integrated communications system. This year has seen the initial stages of a plan to develop the use of SchoolBox at Frensham Schools to unite parents, students and staff in learning journeys. 

The first phase involved an aesthetic overhaul of the dashboard which occurred over the winter vacation. You will now find a dashboard with intuitive navigation and information customised to your role in the School community.  

The next phase involves the rollout of the communications system, which you may have noticed already in the form of instant messaging whenever priority News Headlines are posted. Soon this will include automated, customised News Digests which further streamline Frensham Schools’ communications. 

Following this you will see increased innovation and creativity of coursework across Frensham and Gib Gate campuses, as the students’ spirit of inquiry develops. Gib Gate staff have already begun building their online classrooms which are now being used by SchoolBox as exemplars of best practice in Primary Schools.

As we continue to rollout innovation and unify communication across Frensham Schools, please take the time to log in to SchoolBox and engage in a conversation with your children around how they currently use the LMS for learning and communicating. We look forward to bringing you more SchoolBox updates in the coming months. In the meantime, please peruse the SchoolBox focus pages.

SchoolBox Focus: A-Z of Frensham, A-Z of Gib Gate (Formerly the Frensham and Gib Gate Information books respectively)

Mrs Lucy Dalleywater, Head of Special Projects

Acknowledgement to: 

• Year 11 Mock Trial Team (NSW Law Society competition) and Frensham’s Debating Team (AISNSW NGS National Virtual Debating) for their continued success in their respective competitions. 

• Amelia Blackshaw, Iman Byrne, Imogen Diver, Sienna Donat, Isla McVinish, Ana McInnes, Sofia Nesci, Ruby Rodgers (Year 6) for their selection to the Southern Highlands Water Polo U14 Girls team.

Acknowledgement to:

• Frensham’s Year 8 Debating Team of Penelope Cay, Lauren Fox, Skye McLelland, Lucy Rouse and Sophia Windsor, competing in the AISNSW/NGS National Virtual Debating competition, for their recent top division achievement and progressing to the quarter finals, to be held in September. 
• Australian Mathematics Trust Maths Challenge participants - High Distinction: Sarah-Joy Day (Year 10), Sophie Goodisson, Georgina Lewis (Year 8); Distinction: Bella Cay (Year 10), Anna Fagan, Sophie Hanrahan (Year 8); Credit: Sidney Wheeler (Year 9), Isabella Barber, Hannah Day, Amelia Hartnell, Camilla Ranken (Year 8).

Ms Sarah McGarry
Head of Frensham
Head of Frensham Schools

As we head towards the halfway point of Term Three, we thank all families for their patience, encouragement and support over this difficult period. A student remarked to me last week that she thinks that times of challenge are when the Frensham community ‘shines’ – and we are seeing many examples of this spirit from staff, students and families alike as we work to remain connected despite circumstance and distance. We are thinking of students and teachers in Greater Sydney and we are currently working through our plans for a return to face-to-face teaching on campus in the coming weeks. We continue to encourage girls to return to campus if they are able to do so. Overwhelmingly students report that even though they are still learning online, being on campus helps to keep them feeling connected to their peers and teachers and the routine of the school day helps with their focus.

Students have been engaging very well in online learning overall, and staff have been working tirelessly to design and deliver engaging learning experiences. Mrs Fawbert has included information for parents in this newsletter – also on Schoolbox for students – to assist you in supporting your girls to participate meaningfully in their learning whilst online. It is a very common challenge, during periods of uncertainty and during COVID-19, to remain in the present, to focus our minds and to avoid our ‘monkey minds’ running away from us – catastrophising, getting stuck in negative thinking and the “what if” trap. This uncertainty can be difficult for most adults, and can lead to anxiety and a sense of hopelessness in young people. We need to remain sensitive to our young people’s emotional wellbeing and to try to shift the focus from what we cannot control to what we can. Routine and structure – whether at home or at school – bring comfort, stability and reassurance. Getting adequate sleep, maintaining regular sleep patterns, eating well and being physically active each day are simple but very effective foundational pillars of health and wellbeing.

Of course, the Olympics are proving to be a wonderful digression from the COVID news and are providing us as a community with some fine examples of character in action. The Australian team have achieved some wonderful successes, wins, personal bests and record-beating performances. Alongside these are numerous instances of resilience, tenacity, compassion and generosity which have been quite moving to watch.

One example is Italy’s Gianmarco Tamberi and Mutaz Barshim of Qatar. They were locked in first place after a tough few hours of competing in the High Jump on Sunday. The two athletes, who are also good friends, were then given the option to settle matters with a jump-off – but decided instead to share the gold medal, the first time this has occurred in 109 years. This really is the Frensham value - of the unselfish pursuit of excellence - writ large.

The efforts of our girls playing Table Tennis in the Gym at last week’s Friday night activities were admirable, and their enthusiasm commendable, but their form was nothing like Jian Fang Lay representing Australia in table tennis. The 48-year-old player is competing in her sixth consecutive Olympic Games — one of only two Australian women to do so. Her grit and determination, not to mention her speed, coordination and instinct, are quite joyful to witness.

What a memorable Olympic Games Tokyo 2020/1 will be for us all and no doubt each of you will have your favourite moments of the Games, an example of an athlete exhibiting strength of character and living the Olympic values of excellence, respect and friendship. I found the words of swimmer Cate Campbell, interviewed after her incredible performance in the final leg of the Women’s 4X100m relay, very uplifting as she spoke of the mindset and attitude she took towards what may be her last swim in an Olympic Games:

“That is an incredible effort by everyone. I think that obviously I was a little bit disappointed with my 50 freestyle earlier, but I just kind of told myself that you find out what you’re made of in the times when things don’t go your way, not when things go your way, not when things are working well for you. And I took that mindset into this race and I just thought, ‘You have to be brave and get back out there.’”

Parent Information Sessions

Over the coming weeks, we will be conducting Zoom meetings with parents of each year level. Please note the dates and times below as we hope to see as many parents on the screen as possible.

• Year 11 – Parent Plenary (usually part of Year 11 Weekend) – Thursday 5 August 6:30pm
• Year 10 – Planning for Senior Studies (usually held on Year 11 Weekend) – Wednesday 11 August 6.30pm
• Year 7 – Academic and Pastoral Focus – Tuesday 17 August 6.30pm
• Year 8 – Academic and Pastoral Focus – Thursday 19 August 6.30pm
• Year 9 – the time of this session is to be advised  

Boarding

Although the number of girls in Boarding over the last week has been smaller than usual, the sense of community has been very strong.

While Year 12 students have been highly focused on their studies over the course of the HSC trial examination period, their support of each other in Bryant McCarthy House has been in evidence daily. Year 11 boarders demonstrated their thoughtfulness by baking brownies for Year 12 and junior girls supported with smartie cookies and cupcakes to sustain the older girls over the examination period.

With Year 12 students studying, Year 11 has stepped up and taken on the responsibility of maintaining connections with junior girls. They have been achieving this through visits to Hartfield House, organising afternoon activities for junior girls and supervising the Friday night activity, including last week's Olympic-themed table tennis tournament. In addition to their regular afternoon sport activities, junior girls have also had the opportunity to enjoy the additional afternoon activities of modern dance and tennis fun.

The spirit of friendship is one that is certainly thriving amongst our girls on campus, as they find creative and collaborative ways to make the most of all our school has to offer in COVID-19 times. It is clear to see through their interactions that: 

A friend is one of the nicest things you can have and one of the best things you can be. – Winnie The Pooh, A A Milne

Character Education/ Pastoral Care

A Character Education/ Pastoral Care page has been added to Schoolbox. The link can be found on any year group page.

The page is updated regularly and has information about useful websites and apps to support student character, growth and wellbeing. We hope you find this tool useful.

Online Learning Guidelines for Parents

Schoolbox is the base for all student learning and everything students will need is linked through Schoolbox.

The day at home will follow the same timetable as the day at school, please note times have been adjusted to incorporate exercise throughout the day.

Online lessons in real-time will be via Zoom and links to each lesson will be posted on Schoolbox.

Establishing Routines and expectations
Establishing routines and expectations are critically important for students during online learning. Routine allows focus on the correct mindset - learning will occur just as it did in face-to-face teaching.

Establishing clear expectations also helps understanding the need to be organised, respectful, productive and considerate.

Start of the Day
Students begin the day at 8.25am joining the Prayers ‘Zoom’ link, which is emailed every morning. They are then expected to participate in the form programme. This involves a year meeting on Mondays with the year Co-ordinator and Character, Wellbeing and Pastoral care programmes with the Form tutor for the rest of the week.

Being ready and organised
Students should set up a place to work from, desk or table, not on a couch or bed, ‘Zoom in’ to each lesson, take notes and complete all classwork.Sports Uniform is to be worn every day - the wearing of uniform helps create the right frame of mind for learning. Mufti days have been scheduled to allow for casual clothes of a specific colour or theme to be worn.

Being considerate, productive and respectful
Students have been asked to contact their teachers directly if they cannot attend a class. Subject teachers are checking in with girls every lesson and considerate notification of absence is appreciated.

The aim is to be productive, getting the most out of each online session. Girls have been asked to remove any distractions that could impact on their learning - movie streaming, emails, music, games and chat apps.

Respectful online communication is of the utmost importance. Girls have been asked to have their cameras on and are muted, when beginning a lesson. Questions can be asked through the chat bar or directly, the raise your hand function can also be used. Students are asked to speak online in the same way they would in a classroom, respecting the point of view of others and contributing positively to class discussion.

Being active
All girls are encouraged to get up and move when they can. There has been extra time given for movement between each lesson and fitness lessons have been incorporated into the timetable for Years 7-10. Exercise time should be spent away from the screen and outside if possible. A few minutes walking outside can have a positive impact on learning outcomes. Stretching the back, neck, arms, and doing squats or lunges will also help with screen fatigue.

End of the Day
The school day will end at 3.35pm. Years 7-10 will only be required to complete prep for English and Mathematics. Years 11-12 will have prep from all subjects as normal.

IGSA Sport Lockdown Tournament – Years 7-12
Provided by NetFit, this is a five-week programme, with a 35-minute workout followed by 15 minutes of Inspire time. The fitness session will be Olympics-themed, with Inspire time composed of chats around mindset, wellbeing and leadership. Sessions will run from 9.30am-10.20am, with a Zoom link being distributed to schools each week.

After the first round of the tournament, Frensham was in first place. We are looking forward to seeing even more girls participating online this Saturday.

Mrs Wendy Fawbert, Director of Character Education and Planning

FACULTY FOCUS

Mathematics

“Do you know the difference between a mentor, coach, and a teacher?”

A mentor is the person who can show you the way because they have been there. For instance, if you want to be the greatest talk show host of all time, Oprah could be your mentor. Oprah would be able to give you a clear outline of the steps that she took, let you know what her motivations were, and also give you an idea about obstacles you may face along the way. The interactions could be informal or formal depending upon how well you know your mentor. I would also like to add that people can be mentors from a distance…you have never met them in person, or even spoken to them BUT you study their work. 

Teachers help you build a skill set. An excellent example of a teacher is one who gets you to a certain destination or to achieve a skill. That’s what teachers do – they help you build skills. The goal of coaching is to boost confidence and/or manage anxiety to improve performance. The coach is there to help you change your mindset around your goals.

Coaches can sometimes help with a very specific skill, but really they are there to answer questions and anticipate mental setbacks before they occur. Tony Robbins is one of the most well-known, transformational coaches. And, in some cases, this person doesn’t necessarily have to already be equally or more successful than the client. However, this does not mean that you need one coach, one mentor, and one teacher. But sometimes you might need the help from a mentor, teacher, or a coach.

This semester, the Mathematics Coaching Programme continues whilst online learning. The coaches are available during the school day for Seniors (scheduled during study lessons) and during some lessons or after school for Juniors (scheduled session times) and during Prep for all year groups (booked weekly on a rotating schedule). Students may like to have a permanent booking or an occasional help session. The programme is managed by the Mathematics Faculty (Ms Allison and Mr Selby) and the coaches include Mr Tarik Jeffcoat and Miss Mahime Watanabe, new to us from University of Wollongong. Please do not hesitate to contact me for more information or to request a coaching session for your daughter.

Ms Joanne Alison, Head of Mathematics

Careers - Important Notices & Key Dates

Students are aware of the following information via ‘Tertiary Thursday’ meetings and the Careers Page on Schoolbox  (Click on ACTIVITIES tab and then the CAREERS tab).

Early Entry CLOSING dates:

• University of Wollongong: Friday 13 August
• Charles Sturt University: Tuesday 31 August
• University of New England: Friday 17 September
• University of Sydney: E12 application via UAC: Sunday 19 September (online session: Tuesday 17 August)
• Schools Recommendation Scheme (Early Entry for a number of institutions): Sunday 19 September
• UAC: Early bird admissions, Tuesday 28 September

General reminders and information:

EXCITING NEWS: University of Technology Sydney (UTS) – just announced a new Early Entry Scheme: OPENS Tuesday 10 August; CLOSES Sunday 12 September. Please follow this Link to the UTS Early Entry information page.

Open Days: Many institutions have virtual tours and some are still going ahead with physical Open Days. Please see the Schoolbox Careers page for dates.

College: If not undertaking a Gap Year, it is time to start applying to university colleges online.

Scholarships: Are now open. Please go to the Careers Schoolbox page and click on the individual university, then click on Scholarships. Please note, there are many industry-based scholarships and college scholarships for consideration. Please encourage your daughter to make an appointment with Mrs Harris, if she requires assistance in completing early entry, UAC application, scholarship or college application.

Mrs Merrilee Harris, Director of Jamieson Programme, Activities and Careers

Jamieson Programme

Usually, I would be reporting on the highlights of Year 9 Global Forum. We were disappointed to have to postpone the event, Mrs Gallagher had organised a wonderful three-day residential programme with a special array of inspiring speakers and a trip to Sydney for a cultural tour. We do intend to reschedule this important event.

However, we were able to hold one of the Global Forum activities. We secured a private viewing of the documentary, Rosemary’s Way. The documentary celebrates the remarkable Rosemary Kariuki (Australian of the Year – Local Hero 2021) and the group of vulnerable migrant women of suburban Sydney whose lives she helped transform from isolation to connection, so they can better participate in Australian life. Over the course of the year, we witnessed Rosemary reaching out to isolated migrant women from cultures as diverse as Iraq, the Congo and Peru. Referred to by these women as a ‘charismatic change-maker’, our students and teachers were moved and inspired by all that Rosemary has achieved through her individual initiatives. We witnessed intimate revelations as women shared their experiences with other women.

After the film, students were able to engage in an interactive Q & A session with Rosemary. We, and Rosemary, were impressed by the quality of questions posed by the girls. Our hope is that the documentary will help to create empathy and understanding of migrants and that it might stimulate our students to think about what they themselves can do to make migrants feel welcome. It certainly promoted a deeper understanding of the nature of ‘multiculturalism’ in Australia and the various layers of which it is comprised.

Year 9 students are completing their Cambridge IGCSE Global Perspectives Independent Research Projects. They have been participating in Fitness programmes with Mr Green, remotely and on campus, and have been pursuing their Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award Community Service activities in a variety of ways. Individualised knitting kits have been sent home to willing students and I know the Nursing Home residents will enjoy a lovely surprise at Christmas with their beautifully knitted hand-warmers and scarves – never mind that it will be Summer!

Mrs Merrilee Harris, Director of Jamieson Programme, Activities and Careers

Teaching and Learning at Frensham: Professional Learning

Peer-to-Peer Learning and Sharing

Great things in business are never done by one person. They’re done by a team of people. – Steve Jobs
And schools are no different.

In the modern world you might think that Google, YouTube, or formal training programmes would be the place where most people start. But no, peers are our first port of call for most adults. When people want to learn a new skill, more people turn to their peers first (55%) than any other group and this is second only to asking their boss (Palmer & Blake, 2018). Using your peers to learn new skills is called Peer-to-Peer Learning.

Peer-to-peer learning is powerful because it builds skills, improves connection and community, and taps into the expertise that already exists in the organisation. It is also uniquely well suited to the way we learn because it allows us to gain knowledge; practice by application; obtain psychologically safe feedback; and reflect - all within context in which the learning will be used. 

And so, this week at Frensham our amazing team of teachers who always work together to develop new skills constantly, are focussing on online learning.

We have turned to our own experts to make online learning more effective and to give our staff the opportunity to add skills to their teaching. We have used the challenge that is COVID-19 to create unique learning opportunities for staff and students. So, thank you to the staff who have offered their time to share their skills with others and a thank you to those wanting to learn new skills to make the learning for our students even better.

We now accept the fact that learning is a lifelong process of keeping abreast of change. And the most pressing task is to teach people how to learn. – Peter Drucker

Dr Ruth Phillips, Acting Director of Teaching and Learning and Coordinator of Professional Learning

Acknowledgement to:

• Frensham’s Year 8 Debating Team of Penelope Cay, Lauren Fox, Skye McLelland, Lucy Rouse and Sophia Windsor, competing in the AISNSW/NGS National Virtual Debating competition, for their recent top division achievement and progressing to the quarter finals, to be held in September. 
• Australian Mathematics Trust Maths Challenge participants - High Distinction: Sarah-Joy Day (Year 10), Sophie Goodisson, Georgina Lewis (Year 8); Distinction: Bella Cay (Year 10), Anna Fagan, Sophie Hanrahan (Year 8); Credit: Sidney Wheeler (Year 9), Isabella Barber, Hannah Day, Amelia Hartnell, Camilla Ranken (Year 8).

Ms Sarah McGarry
Head of Frensham
Head of Frensham Schools

Term 3 Information

Term 3 has commenced in a most unusual way. We send our best wishes to all students and families currently in lockdown, either in Greater Sydney, the Central West or interstate. This is an extraordinary time in the life of our nation and our school community. We can take heart in the knowledge that we have managed challenging situations like this previously and we will be able to manage this current circumstance as well. For many of us, life is different from usual – movements are curtailed, we are unable to visit family and friends, we are missing out on special events, having to wear masks, undertaking testing, working from home as a family, all meetings on Zoom – as we work together to contain the spread of the virus. With approximately 1/3 of our students here on campus, we are working hard to remain connected as a community, through virtual and ‘IRL’ activities. We are reminded that from the moment when COVID-19 first burst into our lives, we've had to learn to deal with change, as each stage of the pandemic has changed the way we live, work and socialise.

Our school’s unique location and diverse community, distinguishing features of Frensham, set us apart from other schools. This means that we have some distinctive operational considerations to work through when lockdowns and restrictions apply to some Local Government Areas and not others. We do thank all members of our community for their patience and understanding.

It can sometimes feel stressful and overwhelming for young people and adults alike during an event like this current outbreak of COVID-19 and individuals are affected differently. You might feel overwhelmed by the information, conversations and the increased levels of stress in your community. It can be hard to know what information to trust, especially in a situation where things are changing so quickly. It can be helpful to keep up-to-date but it is also important to switch off from the 24-hour media cycle if this gets too much at times. Please do refer to our COVID-19 Information Page for useful support resources, fact sheets and relevant links, and do not hesitate to contact a member of staff should you wish to discuss support for your daughter during this time.

We have had to make the difficult but necessary decision to postpone, adjust or cancel many of our planned school events for the coming month. This is because of the current restrictions in place for schools and the proportion of our community who are not able to travel due to various restrictions in different parts of NSW. The full list can be found on the front page of Schoolbox and will be updated as decisions are made about further future events.

Families of girls in Year 10 and 11 are asked to note that the Year 11 Weekend and Year 10 Planning for Senior Studies sessions will be proceeding on the weekend of 7/8 August. At this stage we do not have clarity about whether we will be able to hold these on campus. If they are not able to occur in person we will conduct these in an online format to ensure all families have access to individual meetings with teachers and information about Senior Studies.

To assist further with your planning, please note the Term Dates for 2022

• Term 1 - Gib Gate & Frensham
  Monday 31 January - Thursday 7 April
  (Boarders always return the evening before classes start)
   
• Term 2 - Gib Gate & Frensham
  Wednesday 27 April - Thursday 23 June
  (Boarders always return the evening before classes start)
  *Queen’s Birthday Long Weekend* – Departure: Thursday 9 June, 3.00pm – Gib Gate and Frensham

• Term 3 - Gib Gate & Frensham
  Monday 18 July - Thursday 22 September
  (Boarders always return the evening before classes start)

• Term 4 - Gib Gate: Tuesday 11 October-Friday 9 December
  Term 4 - Frensham: Tuesday 11 October-Sunday 11 December 12.00pm (after 11.00am Carol Service)
  (Boarders always return the evening before classes start)

Boarding

Exciting news! This week we have launched our Boarding Page on Schoolbox, where you will find important boarding information. It is also a place where you are able to see photos that capture the many aspects of life at Frensham. Please take a moment to look at the page and see some images from our recent bonfire. This is updated each Wednesday and we hope that you enjoy the photos of girls having fun on the weekends here at Frensham.

What you will find:

Weekend Programme: This is a varied programme, changed weekly, with a range of activities organised over the school term. Some of these activities involve outside organisations coming to school to run sessions, such as yoga, whilst others are off-campus trips, like bowling or ice-skating. We also ensure that girls have a little quiet time as they would at home with ‘feet off the floor’.

Friday Night Activities: Each term senior girls organise the Friday night activities. Pop Concerts, Harry Potter nights and Valentine’s Day dinner are perennial favourites. We began this term with an exciting spotlight game with torches across the main campus. Lots of laughter could be heard when girls spotted each other with their torches in the dark!

Weekend Activities and Excursions: This details specific information about the upcoming weekend activities or excursions. Each year we aim to visit Jamberoo (Term 1), go ice skating, rock climbing and attend the theatre.

Exeat Forms and bus sign up: This contains links for weekend leave and transport arrangements.

Ms Amanda Graham, Director of Boarding

FACULTY FOCUS

Studies

The Trial HSC Examinations for Year 12 students commenced on Monday 19 July. These examinations are an important part of the learning programme and are excellent practice for what students can expect in the final HSC Examinations in Term 4. School-based assessment measures performance in a wide range of course outcomes and Trial Examinations are the final component of this HSC assessment programme. Student’s results will be posted on Schoolbox when marking has been completed.

The conditions for the Trial Examinations closely resemble those of the final HSC Examinations, with supervision carried out by the School’s current appointed Presiding Officer and her team of supervisors. Year 12 students have been provided with information highlighting the rules relating to the examination period and their responsibilities during this time. A reminder that all students should present for their HSC examinations where possible. If illness or accident prevents a student from attending, the appropriate Illness/Misadventure forms will need to be completed, accompanied by a medical certificate or other required documentation. This will be facilitated by the School and students should contact me as soon as possible in the event of any issues.

Year 11 students are in their third and final term of Preliminary studies, with their examinations commencing Friday 3 September and their HSC studies to commence at the beginning of Term 4. During Term 3, evaluating course progress and making initial decisions about modifications to their overall programme for the HSC are important. This may involve taking up an extension course or reducing their total units.

The end of the Preliminary Course should consolidate the skills and behaviours for success in studies into Year 12. Year 11 Parent Teacher interviews will provide parents with an up-to-date assessment of their daughter’s progress to assist in this decision-making process.

In Week 8, students in Years 7 and 8 will also undertake examinations as part of their Stage 4 skills development programme and will be guided by their teachers as to how to prepare for these examinations. Examinations for Years 9 and 10 will be held in Term 4.

Ms Janene van Gogh, Director of Studies

English

White Sheep, white sheep
On a blue hill,
When the wind stops
You all stand still.
When the wind blows
You walk away slow.
White sheep, white sheep
Where do you go?

Clouds by Christine Rossetti

The power of a vivid metaphor capturing the image succinctly in our mind is creativity at its finest. We have all gazed at clouds and wondered at their beauty. It is a challenge for many of us to find the words to represent the precise moment of what we see, (real or imaginary) and how we feel. Poetry can express the inexpressible.

For a student to gain a deeper understanding of a poem, in this case the beauty and mystery of the natural world, they need to be familiar with figurative language. They need to explore how its use can add to the meaning of the text. Explicit teaching of figurative language and studying authentic texts, are key.

For Year 12 students, their final HSC module is the study of the masterful works of TS Eliot. They are learning that a life “measured out in coffee spoons” is not the way “to disturb the universe” and as humans we should always be moved by the “infinitely gentle” and the “infinitely suffering”.

Year 8 students will embark on a unit this term which examines the Truth of War. They will explore a selection of texts which will include war poems. They will be moved by Owen's tragic Dulce et decorum and recognise that tales of the glory of war are indeed lies.

Year 10 girls, in their most recent unit of work, had a glimpse of Poetry Through the Ages from Shakespeare, to John Keats, Alfred Tennyson, Christine Rossetti, WH Auden and Maya Angelou. They composed their own poems, submitting accompanying annotations which informed us of their creative process and how they were inspired by the experts.

Some student samples which highlight just how skilled they are in the poetic form. 

A monochrome forest,
Identical leaves,
Geometric, greyscale canopies.

The Wise Old Owl stood tall and strong,
Narrating the phrases that emerge over the courses of our lives.

I love the story that doesn’t quite end,
Leaving you gasping and breathless.
You’ll never know what happens next as the narrator drops the pen,
Right in the middle of a-

Let me speak                                
And say my own words,         
The things I know                   
And the things I’ve heard.    

As quick as a dart,                     
As loud as a silent room,    
A voice is cut off                       
Another quiet doom.  

One day, we will all grow old,
And forget where we left our socks,
Confusion will warm when our feet are cold,

As we sit and stare at the clocks: 

Ticking, ticking, ticking, ticking 

Frozen in motion.

Ms Lee McGuinness, Head of English

Drama

The final few weeks of Term 2 were filled with Drama…in a good way.

On Thursday 27 May, Zeal Theatre worked with Year 12 Drama students on their Group Performances in preparation for the HSC Drama External Examination to be held later in Term 3. 

On Tuesday 8 June, Drama students, accompanied by Ms Allison and Mrs Hannah attended a production of Anton Chekhov’s classic The Cherry Orchard at Belvoir Street Theatre in Surry Hills, starring Pamela Rabe. Students were mesmerized by Rabe’s brilliant performance and the way the ensemble brought Chekhov’s characters to life on stage. To be able to watch a production live (especially now) was a wonderful opportunity for students to see professional theatre at its finest.

On Wednesday 9 June, Years 9-11 Drama students attended a production of The 7 Stages of Grieving, directed by Shari Sebens and performed by Elaine Crombie at the Wharf Theatre, Sydney Theatre Company. The 7 Stages of Grieving is studied as a Preliminary HSC Drama text in a unit of work on the Elements of Production in Performance. Co-written by Wesley Enoch and Deborah Mailman, this is a contemporary Indigenous play which appropriates western form whilst using traditional storytelling, The 7 Stages of Grieving. This one-woman show gives an emotional insight into Murri life, following the journey of an Aboriginal 'everywoman' as she tells poignant and humorous stories of grief and reconciliation.

Mrs Sally Hannah, Head of Drama

 

Acknowledgement to:

• Year 12 – as they commence their Higher School Certificate Trial Examinations this week.
• Eliza Mulligan AMEB Flute Video Repertoire Grade 8 examination – Honours (A).
• To all involved with the publishing of the Frensham 2020 Chronicle.
• Frensham Madrigals for their performance of Share Your Truth, published on Youtube, https://www.youtube.com/Frensham Madrigals, Share Your Truth 2021. Share Your Truth lyrics are taken from the speech from the 2021 Australian of the Year Grace Tame at the National Press Club in March, and set to music by Michael Spencer, Head of Music.

 

Staffing update

During the vacation we farewelled three members of staff. We thank all these staff for their contribution to Frensham Schools and wish them all the very best in their future.

After eight years of dedicated service to Frensham Schools, Mrs Colleen Relf has retired from her position as Registrar; from the Health Centre, Ms Millie Ellice-Flint and her fiancé have relocated to country NSW; and, Mrs Camille Macpherson, Enrolments and Marketing, has been recalled to recommence her responsibilities with Qantas. Camille will remain as a member of the Frensham community as a Gib Gate parent.

We welcome:

• Mr Andrew Lundy will be working in our HSIE department this semester, currently teaching Year 9 History.
• Ms Carole McCormick returns to Frensham Schools in the role of Registrar.
• Miss Theresa Healey joins Gib Gate as a Preschool Assistant.
• Health Centre team, Mrs Abigail Gordon (Registered Nurse) and Ms Britt Martin (Registered Nurse)

Ms Kate Chauncy, Director Teaching and Learning, is taking Long Service Leave during Term 3, with the following staff taking on additional responsibilities during her absence:

• Dr Ruth Phillips
• Ms Emma Lake
• Mrs Alison Andrew
• Ms Lee McGuinness

Ms Sarah McGarry
Head of Frensham
Head of Frensham Schools

End of Term 2

It has been another eventful term, and I recognise the efforts and achievements of many students in the Frensham community across these past nine weeks. The School’s Birthday Celebrations were truly joyous, celebrating the history, ethos, values and the future of Frensham Schools and also celebrating the opportunity for us to gather as a community in a somewhat more ‘normal’ way than was possible in 2020. Of course, we are not back to our full complement just yet and are not able to accommodate our pre-2020 Service numbers in school venues, but to be able to raise our voices together in song without restriction, participate in friendly sporting matches with Year 12, join with all students and staff in the Birthday Lunch in the Dining Room for the first time in over a year was very special indeed.

It has also been a pleasure to have read all Student Reports of their progress over this first semester, and to see the growth and development in maturity, skills and confidence that so many of them have experienced. Our feedback and advice to students is very focused on supporting future growth, and we encourage families across this vacation period to engage with their daughters in conversation about their learning their goals and aspirations for next term. This learning conversation, discussing academic strengths, weaknesses, areas for future focus, helps to keep students focused on their growth rather than their results or marks. Whilst important, too much of a focus on “scores” are somewhat secondary to students’ feelings of self-efficacy, independence and their mindset for future development.

We wish all families a safe and restful vacation period ahead and look forward to welcoming students back to Boarding Houses on Monday 12 July ready for classes to commence on Tuesday 13 July.

Parent Feedback
The Frensham Advisory Committee is an advisory body to the Head set up under rules approved by the Board of Governors. It meets at least three times each year to discuss matters raised by the Head or the committee members as pertaining to Frensham policy and procedures. There are often matters discussed in this forum that help to inform the School’s future plans and to give the Executive, through the Head, greater insight into a particular topic from a parent perspective.

Following the two meetings in Semester One, we invite parent feedback on two areas of the School’s operations. The first is the student catering provided and this brief survey will be conducted alongside a student survey and an evaluation of the overall catering offering. We also invite feedback through our Communications Survey, which seeks to understand the ways in which parents currently access required information, what is working well and suggestions for future improvements to be incorporated into our future planning in this area. Both surveys will be open until the end of the vacation period (Monday 12 July 2021).

Boarding

As the term draws to a close, girls are packing and readying themselves for a holiday break with family. The Boarding Houses will then prepare for a new group of girls in Term 3.

Winifred West wrote on 1 June 1920, One reason why school is good is because at school we meet people with different ideas, different temperaments, different outlooks, and so arises a greater demand for tolerance and imagination than is made at home. There is more need for ‘give and take’ and the experience of school should prove of value in life.

This same message applies today and is one of the primary outcomes of the boarding experience. Girls from country, city and even from overseas with different ideas and experiences learn to live together and become a cohesive and collaborative community. Girls are supported in the development of key qualities and dispositions as outlined in our Character Education framework. 

Next term, Year 7 and Year 8 students stay in their House of Origin, Year 12 are all located in Bryant McCarthy and all boarders from Years 9 to 11 move between Houses. 

Once House allocations are determined, careful planning occurs to decide on room allocations. Each House has a combination of different sized rooms, from single rooms through to rooms with eight beds. The aim is for all students to have an opportunity to experience a range of dorm sizes throughout their time at Frensham, finishing with Year 12 in single rooms. 

When determining the room allocations, significant discussion occurs between Heads of House and House staff, Year Coordinators and Executive staff. Decisions about rooms are never made lightly as girls will be sharing dorms and learning to live with girls of different personalities and needs. This approach is purposeful and made with each individual student in mind. We are currently working towards our new House and dorm allocations for next term.

We wish all girls a happy holiday and look forward to welcoming them back to new experiences and the strong friendships that will continue to develop in the coming term. 

Ms Amanda Graham, Director of Boarding

FACULTY FOCUS

English

While the study of English continues to evolve as all great learning should, at its heart, it is the study of literature. As the Year 12 Extension 1 English rubric notes:

Literary texts can invite responders to engage with the interior worlds of individuals and how they perceive, think and feel about themselves and the societies in which they live...how texts communicate notions of identity and alternative ways of being and thinking...how diverse textual representations enable the responder to experience insight into the lives of other groups and individuals, and other times and places.

From Years 7-12, students study the vast and different literary worlds, learning how stories transcend time and place. Engaging with these texts invites a reflection on their own world and their place in society. Here are some samples of what the girls have been studying over the course of the year.

A Word dropped careless on a Page
May stimulate an eye
When folded in perpetual seam
The Wrinkled Maker lie
Stanza 1, Emily Dickinson

We are such stuff as dreams are made on, and our little life is rounded with a sleep. …
Prospero, The Tempest, William Shakespeare

I remembered that the real world was wide, and that a varied field of hopes and fears, of sensations and excitements, awaited those who had the courage to go forth into its expanse, to seek real knowledge of life amidst its perils.
Jane Eyre, Charlotte Bronte

He had one of those rare smiles with a quality of eternal reassurance in it, that you may come across four or five times in life. It faced, or seemed to face, the whole external world for an instant and then concentrated on you with an irresistible prejudice in your favour. It understood you just as far as you wanted to be understood, believed in you as you would like to believe in yourself.
The Great Gatsby, F Scott Fitzgerald

This is the hottest summer I can remember, and the thick heat seems to seep in and keep in my sleepout. It's like the earth's core in here. The only relief comes from the cooler air that creeps in between the slim slats of my single window. It's near impossible to sleep, so I've spent most of my nights reading by the light of my kerosene lamp.

Tonight was no different. And when Jasper Jones rapped my louvres abruptly with his knuckle and hissed my name, I leapt from my bed, spilling my copy of Pudd'nhead Wilson.
Jasper Jones, Craig Silvey

Whatever goes upon two legs is an enemy.
Whatever goes upon four legs, or has wings, is a friend.
No animal shall wear clothes.
No animal shall sleep in a bed.
No animal shall drink alcohol.
No animal shall kill any other animal.
All animals are equal.
Animal Farm, George Orwell

The course of true love never did run smooth
Lysander, A Midsummer’s Night’s Dream, William Shakespeare

Sometimes rain made me want to cry, like there was something deep inside me - the sadness flower that opened up when rainy days came, and blossomed inside me until I couldn’t breathe.
Lenny’s Book of Everything, Karen Foxlee

What Matters Competition
Inspired by Gough Whitlam's commitment to involving young people in the shaping of Australia's future, the What Matters? writing competition is currently open to school students in Years 5 to 12, from Australia. Responding to the simple question 'what matters?', entrants are free to express their views on any matter they care about.

Girls from Years 7-11 were encouraged to put their passions and deeply held beliefs into words. It is clear at Frensham that there are many things that matter and teachers were impressed and inspired by the diverse range of entries. While it will be a couple of months before the shortlist is announced, it is undeniable that there is a strong link between writing and thinking deeply when students are given the opportunity to choose what they want to write about, then plan, craft and refine their work.

Bell Shakespeare - live action, Finally!
Students in Years 8, 9 and 10 were fortunate to have a live experience and a taste of two of Shakespeare’s most famous plays Romeo and Juliet, and Macbeth. Each performance explored key scenes and offered an analysis of Shakespeare’s language, choices and themes, all with a modern twist.

Ms Lee McGuinness, Head of English

HSIE

Our world is becoming increasingly complex, and the issues that our young people need to address are becoming more significant and overwhelming. Ecosystems are dying as unprecedented weather events decimate environments and the seemingly unstoppable march of climate change reshapes our landscapes. New technologies make the world a smaller place, but keep people further apart as we swap community for individuality. And a smaller world brings different cultures closer together, a process that can enrich us, but also makes our differences starker and more challenging. Our lives are being transformed by change. Geography’s focus on understanding the confluence of these changing forces makes it a vital discipline for all our students.

Change is a core theme throughout our Geography curriculum. We want students to recognise that there is both short term and long-term change, that it occurs at different and unexpected scales and that not all people are impacted by change at the same rate or in the same way. Most importantly, we want students to be skilled in identifying current trends and their implications for future change.

These trends are best explored when students are in the field, gathering data and learning about our world within the environments they are studying. Excitingly, Frensham’s new Year 10 IGCSE Geography programme provides students with significant opportunities to conduct field studies. Students have spent time exploring land use at Mittagong Marketplace, collected data on change in the vegetation and profile of Warilla Beach and conducted investigations into the Nattai River around the Lower Holt. As an essential element of their examinations at the end of the year, Year 10 are committed to improving their fieldwork skills and experience.

Year 9 Geography students have also been in the field, travelling to Sydney to conduct an investigation into urban change in Pyrmont and Barangaroo. Starting in Pyrmont, the girls were given a guided tour of the area going back to the land use of indigenous cultures prior to white settlement, the transformation the bay went through with the establishment of the Colonial Sugar Refinery site in the 19th century and the recent gentrification of significant sites throughout the suburb. Catching a ferry to Circular Quay, students compared the changing place of Pyrmont with that of Barangaroo. At both sites, students measured the soundscape and the height of buildings in the area (the new Crown Casino is 271.3m tall) while also making observations of salient features of the environment. Students concluded that the changing land use in the area was connected to the changing demands of the population in Sydney, making the link between place and communities stronger.

Change is also a constant theme in our classrooms. Year 7 students have conducted inquiries into the processes that change landscapes and landforms, creating features such as waterfalls, meandering rivers and cave systems. Students gathered sources of information, identified key processes and mapped these processes into a flow chart. Year 11 students conduct their Senior Geography Project on an area of individual interest, tracking change and communicating their findings to their chosen audience. Year 12 Senior Geography students have studied change in regard to our local viticulture industry and the urban dynamics in world cities, including Sydney.

Change is often referred to as the only constant in life. Thanks to their studies in Geography, our students will be well equipped to flourish in our continually changing world.

Australian Geography Competition
The Australian Geography Competition is a contest for Australian secondary school students, assessing their geographical knowledge and skills. The Competition aims to encourage student interest in Geography and to reward student excellence. Over 70,000 students sat the Australian Geography Competition in 2021.

Students in the top 1% of results in Australia: Bella Cay, Darcy Maple-Brown (Year 10); High Distinction (top 15% of results in Australia): Lucy Arnott, Augusta Muir (Year 10), Adelaide Ayling, Sophie Simpson, Imogen Smith, Sidney Wheeler (Year 9); Distinction (top 25% of results in Australia): Olivia Huggins, Millie McMurtrie, Janna Martin-Cooley, Phoebe Rouse (Year 10), Poppy Carter, Chloe Cowley, Claudia Hampson, Cate Horsfall, Abbey Kuiper, Holly Regan (Year 9).

Mr Nathan Bessant, Head of HSIE

Jamieson Programme

The Jamieson Programme is built on the belief that Teenagers are risk takers growing up in a complex and rapidly changing world. Traditional education was focused on the known whereas today’s world asks us to educate for the unknown.

Key elements of the programme are embedded throughout Years 7-10 including global citizenship, responsibility / service and leadership, health, fitness and physical challenge, critical, ethical and flexible thinking.

There is a particular focus in Year 9 where an extended day programme is undertaken once a fortnight. This semester, students have almost completed two elements of the Cambridge IGCSE Global Perspectives course. They enjoyed the challenge of working in teams to achieve an outcome that brought greater attention to their chosen global issue. Girls are now finalising their research on an independent topic of their choosing, considering a range of perspectives on the issue and working to establish courses of action to improve the negative effects of their global problem.

Other highlights for Year 9 have been learning about different religions, visits to the Nan Tien Temple and the Sydney Jewish Museum, current affairs and working on their fitness goals. Next term the girls will enjoy a three-day residential programme - Global Forum. The Forum is one of the central components of the Jamieson Programme and the 2021 theme is: Making a Difference - Understanding My Place in the World. Thought-provoking guest speakers – including Old-Girl Ms Annabelle Chauncy OAM, Dr Peter Anderson (UOW), Frensham parent, author and ‘Rurals for Refugees’ advocate Sarah Clutton and Rural Woman’s Award winner and Old Girl, Cressida Cains will inspire the girls this year. 

Teachers enjoy working with Year 9, exposing them to physical challenges and critical thinking about important issues that affect our world and we are very much looking forward to next semester.

Mrs Merrilee Harris, Director of Jamieson Programme

Music

Term 2 provided Frensham musicians and ensembles with many rich performance opportunities. The first major event was the Year 8 Weekend where, in the School Service, the Senior Choir sang an anthem to a live audience for the first time in 12 months. The anthem was composed for the Senior Choir back in 2020, as a response to the shock we all felt during the catastrophic drought and bushfires. It is titled Tulit Ergo which is the beginning of a passage from Genesis:

The Lord God placed the man in the Garden of Eden to tend and watch over it. . . God saw all that he had made, and it was very good.

The piece is a reflection upon the increasingly critical issues that we all face, concerning our care for, and custodianship of our beautiful planet. Lily Hunt was the soprano soloist.

Traditionally, the Year 8 Service and Concert features all instrumental and vocal ensembles in the school and this year was no exception. The Junior Choir sang Ho Hey by the Lumineers (accompanied by Year 12 musicians), the Concert Band performed Van Morrison’s Brown Eyed Girl, the Kennedy Strings performed Enya’s May It Be and the Jazz Band played You’ve Got a Friend in Me from Toy Story. The final item featured all of Year 8 performing a traditional African song called Aya Ngena with three-part harmony, xylophones and drums.

In May, the Madrigals were asked to sing for guests at the launch of the Winifred West Legacy at Bendooley Estate. They sang Aretha Franklin song Since You’ve Been Gone featuring Grace Amos as soloist, and Frensham’s traditional grace, Non Nobis. 

Since 2020, there has been a programme in place for Gib Gate students in Years 2 and 3 to learn a string instrument under the guidance of music staff and extra-curricular tutors. On 2 June, the whole of Gib Gate visited Frensham to be given an introduction to a broader range of orchestral instruments. The Frensham Kennedy Strings and Concert Band combined to create a 70-piece orchestra, presenting a range of musical experiences including an introduction to the different orchestral families as well as a performance of Pirates of the Caribbean. The most memorable part of the afternoon was when students in the Gib Gate Junior Orchestra as well as the Stage 2/3 String Programme joined the Frensham students to play some pieces together. There were over 100 students performing together from Year 2 to Year 12! The aim of the experience was to build strong musical ties between junior and senior students and to inspire all involved to take full advantage of the musical opportunities on offer at Frensham Schools.

The Frensham Schools Birthday Service on Friday began with the violinists Hilary Swan and Chloe Litchfield playing the Processional with Mrs Pinazza. Grace Amos, Isabelle Promnitz and Amelia Byrne sang the solos in the much-loved One Voice. Grace Lewis was the cantor for the Lord's Prayer. In the Frensham Birthday and Year 12 Service on Sunday, Sophie Perkins accompanied Venite on the piano and Sachi Darling sang as cantor in The Lord's Prayer. 

In the concert that followed, Mrs Pinazza conducted the combined Kennedy Strings and Concert Band in a dramatic performance of theme music from Pirates of the Carribean. Madeleine Mulligan (Mus.1) and Sophie Perkins (Mus.2) then performed their own, original arrangement of Whitney Houston’s I Wanna Dance With Somebody. Following this, the Madrigals presented a piece specially composed for their concert appearance. The lyrics of the piece, Share Your Truth, were taken from the text of, Australian of the Year, Grace Tame’s speech to the National Press Club in March of this year. As always, the final item in the concert featured a medley of songs selected and performed by all of Year 12.

The Madrigals have been rehearsing for the last few weeks in order to have four pieces ready for their annual entry in two choral sections of the City of Sydney Eisteddfod. Rather than relax after Birthday celebrations, the choristers continued to work hard and, on the Wednesday night, filmed their four items for video submission. The results will be published in early August.

Mr Michael Spencer, Head of Music

Agriculture at Frensham

Year 9 Agriculture students have been studying egg and chicken meat production this term. They have been responsible for the care of 20 day-old chicks that arrived earlier in the term, and the class enjoying handling them and observing their growth, each lesson. They harvested the last of their summer vegetables and have now planted some winter varieties. The class has also been working on the Map My School Competition which involves them using the Scribble Maps programme to map the school boundary and determine the area of the school covered by trees.

The Year 10 Agriculture class has been studying milk production in the Dairy Production unit. Students travelled to Pyree, near Nowra, to visit a conventional 20-a-side herringbone dairy as well as a robotic dairy. The class was able to compare the two systems in regard to milk production, cow welfare and labour units required. At the robotic dairy, the cows come into the dairy on a voluntary basis. The computer reads the cow’s electronic collar, then portions out feed relevant to the cow’s weight, milk production and stage of lactation. While the cow is eating, lasers determine the location of the teats and then robotic arms place the teat cups on for milking. Once milking is complete, the cows then leave the robotic crate and electronic drafting gates direct them to either a pasture, silage feedlot or cattle crush for any treatment required. Of course, the highlight of the tour was the opportunity to hand feed the calves. The class is thrilled that lambing has just begun at Holt Farm.

Year 11 students have been studying the Animal Production unit and have conducted a trial on the growth rates of the Year 9 chicks. They are also excitedly preparing for their Ag on Tour trip early next term to ‘Allawah’, in Illabo, the property of Frensham parents, Nicole and John Hopkins.

Year 12 girls are working through the Plant / Animal Production unit as well as completing past HSC exam questions to fine-tune their answering technique in preparation for their Trial Examination next term. Earlier in the term, the class had a visit from Mr David Kent, past Chevalier College Agriculture teacher who purchased ‘Wesley’ (one of the Angus steers from the Livestock Team) at the Sydney Royal Easter Show steer auction. He brought with him some cuts of beef and the class analysed the quality of the cuts as well as photos of the carcass. At the end of the lesson, the students cooked up different cuts of meat to taste and compare as well as some valued added products such as home-made sausages, rissoles and a casserole. The class would like to thank Mr Kent, for not only purchasing our steer, but for providing a practical insight into ‘paddock to plate’ in the beef industry.

Holt Farm has been little quieter this term without the steers, but just in the last 3 days the sound of newborn lambs have been echoing across the paddocks. Over the term, the livestock have been cared for by a group of students who are completing Farm Management as the Service component of their Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award.

Ms Leonie Mutch, Coordinator of Agriculture

Careers at Frensham – Key Dates for University application submission

The vacation period is a suitable time for Year 12 students to organise their application documentation for University Admissions Centres (UAC, VTAC, QTAC, TISC etc), Early Entry courses and College. Please note the closing date for application submissions and refer to the Careers Page on Schoolbox as this information is updated regularly.

UAC (NSW Universities Admission Centre)
OPEN NOW
CLOSE DATE: 30 September 2021 (Early bird applications close) or 4 February 2022 

VTAC (Victorian Tertiary Admission Centre)
OPEN AUGUST
CLOSE DATE: 30 September 2021

QTAC (QLD Tertiary Admission Centre) -TBA

TISC (WA Tertiary Admission Centre)
OPEN NOW (See website for closing dates – differs for institutions.)

Early entry deadlines coming up:

UOW – use their online portal to apply
OPEN DATE: 19 July 2021
CLOSE DATE: 13 August 2021

Charles Sturt - use their online portal to apply
OPEN DATE: 26 July 2021
CLOSE DATE: Midnight 31 August 2021

Macquarie University – Leaders & Achievers Early Entry Scheme
OPEN NOW
CLOSE DATE: Friday 20 August 2021
*Otherwise students can apply for Early Entry via UAC ‘Schools Recommendation Scheme’ – due date 19 September 2021.

Notre Dame - use their online portal to apply
OPEN NOW
CLOSE DATE: Wednesday 1 September 2021

UC – use their online portal to apply

Students can apply for the August Early Offer Round at UC in three easy steps (NOTE closing date 25/06/21): Go to: https://www.canberra.edu.au/future-students/apply-to-uc/early-offer-round

*Otherwise students can apply for Early Entry via UAC ‘Schools Recommendation Scheme’ – due date 19 September.

UNE - use their online portal to apply
OPEN NOW
CLOSE DATE: 17 September 2021

Schools Recommendation Scheme (Early Entry) via UAC for participating universities and courses.
OPEN NOW
CLOSE DATE: 19 September 2021

13 institutions are participating in SRS: Australian Catholic University − University of Canberra − Charles Sturt University − International College of Management, Sydney − Macquarie University − National Art School − SAE Creative Media Institute − University of New England − University of Newcastle − University of Sydney − University of Technology Sydney − UNSW − Western Sydney University.

Mrs Merrilee Harris, Director of Jamieson Programme, Activities and Careers

ICAS Academic Competitions at Frensham Schools Term 3 for Years 2-11

In 2021, we will be offering the opportunity for all students from Years 2-11 to enter the ICAS competitions.

International Competitions and Assessments for Schools (ICAS) is designed to provide a measure of student achievement in an external assessment situation against other students who demonstrate a high level of ability in a variety of disciplines. It allows students an additional opportunity to apply their higher order thinking and problem-solving skills in English, Mathematics, Science, Writing and Digital Technologies and gain recognition for their efforts. For all tests, a high level of literacy is assumed, including highly developed comprehension skills in a ‘limited time’ situation, including in the Mathematics and Science papers.

The ICAS papers are not designed to test the NESA syllabus in any discipline and are set at ‘above level’ knowledge of discipline content and skills. Students will be presented with high-quality, expert-developed multiple-choice style questions, allowing them to apply their learning without the need for prior study or revision. For Writing they will be provided with an age-appropriate stimulus and will write either a narrative or persuasive style response. 

All ICAS Assessments are now online, a move that reflects a sector-wide transition to online assessments. This allows greater accessibility for students and faster delivery of results. The assessment programme, supervised by teachers, will be run at School at Gib Gate for Years 2-6 and at Frensham for Years 7-11.

Final reminder: Parents can enrol their son or daughter in any, or all of the disciplines we offer by completing the Google form before the cut-off date of Thursday 17 June.

Entry link: ICAS 2021 Competition Selection form

Parents can learn more about ICAS by visiting : https://www.icasassessments.com/products-icas

Ms Kate Chauncy, Director of Teaching and Learning P-12, Coordinator of Gifted and Talented Programmes P-12

Acknowledgement to:

• Students and Staff from the three campuses of Frensham Schools who joined the Birthday celebrations and Services and the Birthday play:
  • We were grateful for the Hooke family’s kindness in bringing Frensham Schools’ mascot Tiny Tonaya from Daffodil Downs to visit after the combined Service on Friday
  • Gib Gate Year 6 speakers at the Frensham Schools Service on Friday
  • Mr John Day (Senior Teacher - Mathematics and Boarding) and Anna Rickwood and Lara Tait (Year 12) offering their respective Birthday Addresses on behalf of teachers and students at the Birthday Lunch
  • Musicians appearing in Services and Concerts
  • I Have Five Daughters cast and crew
  • And, the Gib Gate and Frensham cake cutters
• Sturt Gallery for being nominated as a Finalist in the Local Business Awards.
• Frensham Cross Country Team for their success at the recent NSW Combined Independent Schools (CIS) Cross Country Championships, Harriet Collins, India Hicks, Annabelle Ranken, Sophie Rodwell, Amy Thompson (Year 12), Lucy Gale (Year 11), Tia Thomas (Year 8); Harriet Collins, Annabelle Ranken, Sophie Rodwell, Amy Thompson who won Gold Medal in the 18 Years Team event.
• Harriet Collins and Lucy Gale for qualifying to represent the CIS team at the All Schools Cross Country Championships, in July.
• Recent award recipients: Iris, Annabelle Ranken (All Round Excellence); Girdle, Harriet Collins (Cross Country), Taylah Stoney (Academic Excellence – Visual Arts), Emilie Hassall (Academic Excellence – Languages).
• National Geography Competition award recipients: Students in the top 1% of results in Australia: Bella Cay, Darcy Maple-Brown (Year 10); High Distinction: Lucy Arnott, Augusta Muir (Year 10), Adelaide Ayling, Sophie Simpson, Imogen Smith, Sidney Wheeler (Year 9); Distinction: Olivia Huggins, Millie McMurtrie, Janna Martin Cooley, Phoebe Rouse (Year 10), Poppy Carter, Chloe Cowley, Claudia Hampson, Cate Horsfall, Abbey Kuiper, Holly Regan (Year 9).
• Gib Gate’s Year 6 Science and Engineering team for achieving 1^st place at the recent Southern Highlands Science and Engineering Challenge.
• Frensham’s Year 10 Science and Engineering Challenge team for its selection to compete at the NSW State Finals held in Newcastle, during August.
• Jemima Graham-Wansey (Year 11) a member of the Southern Highlands Netball (U17) team who were the winners of Division 3 at the Netball NSW Hart Senior State Titles.
• Big Science Competition award recipients: High Distinction - Bella Cay, Sarah-Joy Day, Heidi Jervis (Year 10), Adelaide Ayling, Sophie Simpson, Sidney Wheeler (Year 9); Distinction - Matilda Damiani, Summer Oxley, (Year 10), Poppy Carter, Alice Fergusson  (Year 9), Georgina Lewis, Georgina McBride (Year 8), Penelope Hampson, Cara Sims (Year 7); Credit - Lucy Arnott, Abigail Jorgensen, Rose Mahony (Year 10), Imogen Smith  (Year 9), York Doyle, Margaret Maynard, Scarlett Shadbolt, Scarlett Wheeler (Year 7).

Ms Sarah McGarry
Head of Frensham
Head of Frensham Schools

Birthday Celebrations

Birthdays are special times here at Frensham Schools, with rituals and celebrations all part of marking these occasions. These not only celebrate life, longevity, and reaching another milestone, but possibly more importantly, celebrating the growth that we experience, as individuals and as a community, from one year to the next. When we celebrate, we reflect, give thanks and connect with others around us, and feel encircled in the good wishes, appreciation, happy memories and positivity that characterise our students, staff and broader community. It is also an opportunity for us take a growth mindset and refresh our outlook – to look back on the past year, and ask ourselves:

• What was the best thing that happened in the past year?
• What did you learn last year?
• What are your hopes for what will happen this year?
• What do you want to learn this year?

Particularly given such an unusual and challenging year around the globe in 2020, there is a tangible “buzz” around the School in anticipation of this weekend’s Birthday celebrations. We are thinking of our friends, family and other members of our community who are unable to join us, particularly those who are in lockdown situations at this very time.

We are looking forward to gathering all students and staff together, along with invited guests and representatives of our community, to mark this milestone for Frensham Schools.

We do also remind our community of the importance of following the COVID-19 Rules in NSW, and for our upcoming events, this means:

• Adhering to social distancing and venue capacity requirements
• Refraining from attending if you are unwell
• Following appropriate hand hygiene and cough etiquette
• Checking in at events using the Service NSW QR Code

Friday 4 June: The Frensham Schools Service is a celebration of the foundation of our three Schools, recognising Frensham’s 108^th Birthday, Sturt’s 80^th Birthday and Gib Gate’s 67^th Birthday. This Service is attended by all staff of our three schools and by all students – from our youngest in Preschool to the adult students of the Sturt School for Wood.

Sunday 6 June: For Frensham’s 108^th Birthday Service, attended by all students and staff of the School, Year 12 families and invited guests.

Board of Governors
We are delighted to welcome new Governors to the Board of Frensham Schools: Mrs Clementine Allan (Davidson, 2001), Mr Richard Melki and Mr David Wright.

Ranier Uniform Information – Frensham orders
Students and parents are still welcome to visit the Uniform Shop during usual opening hours, but for convenience, items pre-ordered from the Ranier Uniform Shop can now be collected from White Cottage at Morning Tea.

Birthday Play – I Have Five Daughters by Margaret MacNamara
The Birthday Play will be performed on Thursday 3 June for the School and Saturday 5 June for parents and the local community

It is a truth universally acknowledged that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife.

Thankfully, a mantra no longer followed by modern society. And yet, the bumbling, matchmaking chaos of Jane Austen’s seminal romance Pride and Prejudice remains ‘universally acknowledged’ by readers today. Over the past couple of months, students in Years 11 and 12 have been working to recreate the magic of Austen’s most famous novel in their production of Pride and Prejudice’s stage adaptation: I Have Five Daughters, by Margaret MacNamara.

A hilarious recount of the lives of the five Bennet sisters, the Bingleys, Mr Collins and, of course, the elusive Mr Darcy. The characters dart about each other with as much panic as formality can allow; proposing and rejecting, laughing and crying, loving and hating.

Tickets for the Saturday performance can be purchased at the following link: Birthday Play tickets

Congratulations to the cast and crew for preparation in staging the play, directed by Mrs Sally Hannah (Head of Drama), assisted by Ms Fiona Shannon. A special thanks to Ms Sam Taylor (OG 1991) for the costumes which have been custom-made to bring the characters on stage to life.

Georgia Hill and Eleanor Swan, Heads of Drama

Frensham Faculty Focus

PDHPE

What is it about moving our bodies to a song we love that is so joyful? We dance for physical fitness. We dance for mental clarity. We dance for emotional stability. We dance because it feels good! Why do we dance? Perhaps the better question is, why would we not?

Year 10 PDHPE have had the opportunity to work with a professional dance instructor as part of the practical component of the course. They have been engaged in learning both a Hip Hop and Contemporary dance routine. Students thoroughly enjoyed the experience, learning new skills in a fun, collaborative and challenging environment. 

Do-si-do and swing your partner! Year 7 have learnt several Bush Dance routines to assist them with their assessment task. Working in small groups, students have composed, choreographed, and performed a routine that features the elements of Dance. Students have had opportunities to perform and refine movement skills in a variety of sequences, apply strategies to solve movement challenges, demonstrate a range of interpersonal skills that build and enhance relationships and promote inclusion in various situations, and combined movement skills to effectively create and perform movement sequences.

Students in Year 8 have planned their own fitness circuit to develop their understanding of the importance of meeting the recommended Australian Physical Activity guidelines. The current unit of work encourages girls to develop a willingness and capacity to engage in lifelong physical activity through the medium of exercise. They demonstrate a knowledge of the components of fitness and an understanding of the physiological responses to exercise. 

Additionally, students from Years 10 to 12 have been attending early morning training sessions at 6.00am every Wednesday. They follow a guided programme instructed by Mr Green designed to improve mobility, strength and cardiovascular health. 

Ms Janene van Gogh, Head of PDHPE, Director of Studies In-Residence

Languages

Science

According to NESA, ‘A depth study is any type of investigation/activity that a student completes individually or collaboratively that allows the further development of one or more concepts found within or inspired by the syllabus.’ It may be one investigation/activity or a series of investigations/activities. Depth studies provide opportunities for students to pursue their interests in science, acquire a depth of understanding, and take responsibility for their own learning. Year 11 Physics students have been undertaking a depth study in their choice of Physics concepts. Yusra Chalak investigated the urban myth that if you drop a coin out of a tall building it could kill someone below. By investigating terminal velocity and forces acting on the coin such as friction and gravity she reached the conclusion that No, a coin dropped from a height would not fatally injure a person. However, she did discover that a pen of the same weight as a coin, dropped from a tall building could indeed have fatal consequences. Emily Senior investigated how our brains react to music. She found out that there are four types of brain waves ranging from relaxed to more alert. Alert is when you are at your optimal learning capacity. The music of Mozart enhances alertness. Conclusion: we all should be studying Mozart!

The Science Extension course focuses on the authentic application of scientific research skills to produce a Scientific Research Report. Students propose and develop a research question, formulate a hypothesis and develop evidence-based responses to create their Scientific Research Report which is supported by a Scientific Research Portfolio. This year, two students are undertaking the Science Extension course at Frensham. Harriet Mackie (pictured right) is carrying out an exploratory investigation to answer the research question - How do glyphosate levels in Australian non-organic commercial cereal brands compare to glyphosate levels in Australian organic commercial cereal brands? This has involved a very detailed process to grind and extract chemicals from each cereal sample, and use a test strip to test for the presence of glyphosate. 

Sophia Pernice’s research question is How would the height, leaf surface area and bulb weight of Raphanus Sativus plants differ if they were exposed to natural daylight, 24 hours LED artificial light, or daylight plus night-time exposure to LED artificial light? This has involved growing radishes in identical trays, allowing some to experience 24 hours LED lighting and moving others in and out each day. The results were then analysed using a two-way ANOVA statistical test. 

Left: Sophia Pernice

Scientists build models to allow them to visualise objects that are too small to be seen with the naked eye or to make predictions. Epidemiological models making predictions about COVID-19 outbreaks have been in the news constantly in the last year. Frensham Biology students have been building models of mitosis, meiosis, DNA replication and protein synthesis.

Year 11 Chemistry have been developing their practical skills by completing a range of different experiments including dilutions, precipitation reactions and reactivity of metals. Pictured right: Jemima Melki diluting potassium permanganate

As their Science assessment this term, students in Years 7-10 have been participating in REACH testing. REACH testing provides insight into higher-order thinking and problem-solving skills. The assessments are suitable for students across a wide range of ability levels. Students are provided with high-quality questions allowing them to apply their learning without the need for prior study. The school receives information on student performance, which enables teachers to pinpoint areas of strength and target specific student needs. This information is provided on an annual basis, allowing us to consistently track and monitor student progress year-on-year. As results become available, they will be shared with parents via Schoolbox.

On Monday 31 May, a team of 24 Year 10 students represented Frensham at the Southern Highlands Science and Engineering Challenge at the Mittagong RSL club. In teams of three, students completed a range of different half-day or full-day challenges. Training was held during Science lessons to develop STEM skills and improve communication in their teams.  Challenges included 

• Grasping at Straws – designing fingers for a bionic hand that will give independence back to patients who have lost a hand through injury or illness
• Hover Frenzy – designing, building and flying a model hovercraft that is fast, maneuverable and has a good hover height.
• Turbine – designing and building a model water turbine that will generate the greatest amount of power as water flows over it
• Helter Skelter Shelter – designing and building an earthquake-proof apartment block using masking tape, paper and straws

Representing Frensham were – Purple team: Scarlett Alldis, Savannah Linde, Hilary Swan; Blue team: Bella Cay, Charlotte Hopperton, Hannah Perkins; Green team: Abby Jorgensen, Rosie Laird, Sarah Partland; Yellow team: Sissy Fairrie, Clara McDonald, Summer Oxley; Orange team: Heidi Jervis, Augusta Muir, Megan Syme; Red team: Monique Andersson, Matilda Damiani, Janna Martin-Cooley; Pink team: Evelyn Doan, Pia D’Rozario, Cintra Maldonado; Silver team: Lucy Arnott, Sarah-Joy Day, Rosie Mahony.

The team is congratulated on being placed first in the local competition. Team members have won a one-hour workshop with Atlassian and based on points may be representing Frensham at the State Finals in Newcastle.

Mrs Alison Andrew, Head of Science

Visual Arts & Design and Technology

As we move towards the close of Term 2, the art studios are a hive of activity, with students in all years working on artworks of varied shapes and sizes, in a range of media, and in various stages of completion.

Presently, students of Year 12 Visual Arts are in a critical phase of the production of their Bodies of Work. Due to be completed by the beginning of Week 6, Term 3, the students have just submitted their work in progress for assessment. This is the final time that the students’ development of their Bodies of Work will be assessed, and doing so at a date well in advance of Term 3 is deliberate. With three weeks of this term left, we can provide students with written and verbal feedback, advising how they may best progress to the full resolution of their Bodies of Work. Students will need to use time in the vacation to drive their work forward, so that refinement and presentation of pieces can occur in early Term 3.

We are impressed by the scope and quality of works in production by Year 12. Broadly speaking, there is a focus on conventional skills, with many works being finely crafted and requiring patience and perseverance. Painting dominates as the preferred choice of media this year; also popular are works based in printmaking and drawing. The girls are beginning to think about our exhibition in Term 3. With 33 Bodies of Work (some very large), questions like how will we all fit into Cooper Hall? are being asked by the girls. Rest assured, they will fit; we have managed to fit up to 41 Bodies of Work in there previously. Both students and teachers are looking forward to presenting a vibrant, diverse and dynamic exhibition to our community.

Students of Year 11 Visual Arts are currently undertaking a unit titled These are Desperate Times. This is a unit focusing on art as a vehicle to express social and political themes and the girls are required to resolve artworks by the end of Week 8. The artmaking component of this unit is based in printmaking; students have chosen to produce pieces in etching, lino-printing, monoprinting and collagraphy. The students have been advised to explore and test the boundaries of conventional printmaking practices and as a result, many are combining media, introducing elements like laser-cut perspex, adding three-dimensional elements or presenting pieces in more contemporary, postmodern ways.

In Stage 5, Years 9 and 10 girls populate four integrated Visual Arts classes. A total of 78 students are currently studying this subject (and undertaking the same units) in Stage 5, meaning that we have an enormous number of artworks produced in one medium at any one time. Due this week are charcoal animal portraits produced by the students. The girls were required to select a photographic image of an animal to be used as visual reference for the portrait. Many chose images of their pets, but we have a wide range of more exotic animals being drawn as well. The girls used the grid-enlargement process to scale up and transfer proportions to a 60 x 48cm piece of drawing paper. The task has required students to aim for a sense of realism, and students have learnt about observing very carefully, and applying charcoal in varied ways to render parts of their image. Employing willow, block and charcoal pencil, they have learnt to apply these materials both softly and more precisely, and additionally, that an eraser is an important ‘maker’ of drawing marks. To execute these drawings, the students have needed patience, concentration and perseverance.

Year 8 students finished their study of Mandatory Stage 4 Visual Arts in Term 1. To provide an opportunity for artmaking for interested students, we offered the first of Art Enrichment workshops, running on Wednesday afternoons during Weeks 1-5. 31 students elected to participate in this first workshop, enthusiastically producing prints using a range of procedures and techniques under the guidance of Mrs Spencer and Mr Alldis. Many students are still finishing a lino-print which we will find time to print towards the end of the term.

In a most enthusiastic manner, students in Year 7 began Visual Arts this term. We started with a foundational unit, exploring a range of visual elements and their applications to artmaking. For the first part of this unit, the students undertake a number of one or two lesson tasks related to elements like colour, tone and shape. These activities also allow students to use and test a variety of materials. In the last weeks of Term 2, the girls will begin a painting in which they will apply some of their understanding of these elements, such as the consideration of harmonious and complementary colour, organic and geometric shape, and use of space to form an effective composition.

Design & Technology

The STEM students are preparing their entries for the F1 in Schools Competition in August. This includes marketing of their team and manufacturing of their car designs.

The Stage 5 DAT students have been exploring different aspects of architectural design, with a focus on more organic shapes. Design ideas have been realised using sketching, 3D printing and the laser cutter.

The Year 11 DAT class is putting the finishing touches on the Aeropress Coffee Maker designs using Onshape CAD software and the 3D printers. In addition to this, students have been identifying areas of need in design specifically investigating situations where there is a gender bias against women users.

Year 12 DAT students are working to develop their Major Design Projects. 

Mr Phil Alldis, Head of Visual Arts and Design & Technology

Acknowledgement to:

• KIDSLIT teams from Years 6, 7 and 8 on their highly successful results at the recent State Heat of the Australian Competition.
• Frensham’s Year 10 Science and Engineering Challenge team placed first in the recent Southern Highlands regional competition.
• Girdle recipient Sophia Pernice, Academic Excellence (Mathematics).
•  Frensham students trialing for Open IGSA Teams: Netball, Jemima Graham-Wansey, Olivia Laverty (Year 11) and Sophie Rodwell (Year 12), with Sophie selected in the top 16 players. Touch, Heidi Rowntree (Year 9), Annabelle Ranken, Sophie Rodwell (Year 12).
• Madeleine Mulligan (Year 12) who has been accepted into the Young Diplomats Tour of Australia. The UN Youth Tour welcomes 25 young leaders from across Australia on a three-weekend online international activity to explore the complex realities of diplomacy in the 21^st century. 
• Summer Oxley (Year 10) for her selection through application and interview into the Girl Power in Engineering and IT programme at Melbourne University. The course commences during the vacation and through a mentoring programme continues into Years 11 and 12.
• Frensham’s Year 11 Mock Trial team for its success in recent competition; barristers for Frensham were Yusra Chalak and Lulu Duck, solicitor Isobel Harrington, witnesses Eliza Hewson and Lily Huggins, Magistrates Clerk Jemima Melki, in support Isolde Cochet, Ella van Egmond and Polly Whitwell.
• The cast and crew of the Birthday play, Mrs Sally Hannah (Director) and Ms Fiona Shannon (assistant) for their preparation of staging the play.
• Gib Gate students in the Young Archie competition at the Art Gallery of NSW: Finalists, Mia Vasales (age 5), Oliver Whitfield (age 10). Honourable Mention, Darcey Burrows (age 10), James Macpherson (age 8), Heston Ryan (age 7), Matilda Spong (age 10).

Ms Sarah McGarry
Head of Frensham
Head of Frensham Schools

Autumn Reflection

As this week we mark the exact middle of Term 2, and the weather starts to properly cool, we have been reflecting with gratitude on the opportunities we have enjoyed with our community this term. Grandparents and Mother’s Day celebrations at Gib Gate, our recent Year 8 Parent Weekend at Frensham, Saturday Sport almost back to pre-COVID arrangements, and our next exhibition opening next weekend at Sturt. We are so fortunate to be able to gather as a community for our upcoming Birthday and Year 12 Weekend in June and are very much looking forward to celebrating this major event in the School’s calendar with students, staff and families. Please do check Schoolbox for the arrangements for this weekend.

I spoke with both Gib Gate and Frensham students earlier in the term about some of the symbolism of Autumn, reflecting on the beauty of the changing seasons and that, like most things in life, how we experience the change of season and weather, is down to our personal perspective. I encouraged students and staff to purposely choose a positive perspective as we transition into a new season. Some of you might be dreading the onset of cooler months and some of you will be looking forward to them, getting rugged up and feeling that cold air on your face, the comfort of a warm fire. The season change is inevitable; instead of dreading or lamenting the change in weather, let us embrace the change in season and remind ourselves that change can actually bring new beauty for us to see. The Autumn trees have shown us over the past months how beautiful changes can be, and all around us the trees are the living example of letting things go, in preparedness for new growth.

As we approach the end of this beautiful season in the highlands, the words of the American writer and poet Angie Weiland-Crosby seem entirely fitting – “Autumn whispered to the wind: I fall; but always rise again.”

Boarding and Travel Information

Long Weekend Travel and End of Term 2, Start of Term 3 Travel bookings have now closed

Please note that late bookings may not be able to be accommodated by the State Rail Authority.

SSTS (School Student Transport Scheme) Preference is given to places for boarding students travelling home.

Information regarding luggage restrictions for booked transport

1. Stored Luggage - no more than two items for stowage in luggage bins on coach services. Not to exceed 60cm (height) x 70cm (length) and 50 cm wide (ie: length, depth and width not exceeding total of 180cm) and 20kg in weight.
2. Hand Luggage - the total weight of hand luggage is not to exceed 5kg and must be able to be stored under the seat. Hand luggage that does not fit under the seat must be stored in the luggage compartment beneath the coach.

Parent reminder: Friday night dinner leave is with students’ own parents/carers. All parents/carers are asked to sign students out of the house and back into the house when going on Day Leave or Overnight Leave.

Frensham Faculty Focus

Mathematics

Are humans born mathematicians?

Do children think and work mathematically on their own or is this a learned behaviour? 

One of the reasons this question is always on our minds is because it links closely to an idea that many people hold, which is that some people are born with mathematical ability while others are not. It is fairly common for people to think of mathematics as a special talent that only some people possess, but does it have any basis in reality? 

When we ask, ‘Are humans born mathematicians?’, what we are really asking is: ‘Are humans born to seek out and try to understand the patterns around us?’ Stating the question this way makes things clear: the answer is emphatically yes.

A pair of odd numbers always add to an even number. The exterior angle of any polygon, no matter how big or small or irregular, always add up to a full revolution. The rows of Pascal’s Triangle always add up to a power of two.

….This is why it’s impossible to put a fence around what mathematicians are interested in: they are interested in any kind of pattern, and patterns exist everywhere. (Excerpts from Woo’s Wonderful World of Maths)

This term, many of our students have been putting into practice their skills in recognising patterns: from the Year 7s, who have completed their first unit on Algebraic Techniques, to the Year 10s who completed another unit on Algebraic Techniques. Years 11 and 12 continue to challenge themselves applying Algebraic Techniques across a number of topics from Non-Linear Relationships to Calculus. All of this learning is based on recognising patterns. 

Some of our students have started the Mathematics Challenge for Young Australians (MCYA). Open to all students in Years 7-10, it is a competition run by the Australian Mathematics Trust (AMT) over four consecutive weeks with students working individually and or in pairs on a set of six problems. It is a competition that requires dedication and persistence, but the questions are based on mathematics which should be known at that level and separate solutions must be submitted by each student. Students have allocated class time to work on the problems, with some guidance allowed from the teacher and from any resources other than human ones - textbooks, encyclopaedias, calculators and computers. The supervising teachers will check on each student’s progress on a regular basis and offer clarification where needed. We hope the MCYA Challenge is an enjoyable and valuable learning experience for your daughter. 

Students participated in NAPLAN Tests for Years 7 and 9 in Week 4. The Mathematics REACH tests were completed by Years 8 and 10 in Week 4 and are scheduled for Years 7 and 9 later this term. Results for these tests will be sent to the school and made available to parents.

A few more thoughts and ideas for your consideration:

• Many students ask how long they should spend studying mathematics each week. The answer is: as long as they need to. Every student is different, and some students will need to study more than others. However, even the best student will not do well without studying for a few hours each week (musicians practice for many hours).
• Do you work best with silence or noise? It is better if you can study with as few distractions as you can manage. Studying is different to doing your Prep because you are trying to remember facts and procedures. Some students study better at a library and all students should complete their Prep in a silent environment, to increase their concentration, accuracy, and retention.
• Students have different learning preferences. Visual learners (who learn by seeing), could write their notes on colourful cards, a poster or in a notebook. Draw a mind map (snapshot) and use diagrams or pictures to help jog your memory.  Audio learners (who learn by listening), record notes and play them back. Study with another person and discuss your work together. Set rules and formulae to music or make a poem.  For the physical learner (who learns by doing), do lots of exercises (questions) or teach the work to someone else.

Encourage your daughter to take advantage of the many opportunities to learn and improve in mathematics and to seek help from her teacher and/or attend the ‘drop-in’ coaching sessions with a faculty teacher on Monday, Tuesday or Wednesday afternoons, or have private/small group coaching, by arrangement, on Wednesday or Thursday during the day or evening. Please do not hesitate to contact your daughter’s teacher by phone/email or contact me directly with any concerns about their learning and/or progress. 

Ms Joanne Allison, Head of Mathematics

Languages

French

Students of French have made an enthusiastic start to the year, with eager greetings of “Bonjour! Comment ça va?” resounding through the hallways of the North West building. While dancing and singing l’alphabet français, Year 7 students have been immersed in French culture through film and song, following the adventures of Belle and Sébastien, a story set in 1943 about a young shepherd boy and his dog, and Miraculous, a modern series about a young French girl with super powers.

All junior classes have presented colourful and well-researched demonstrations of their cultural knowledge of France and the French-speaking world. Year 7 classes focused on le Monde Francophone sharing their findings of exotic and far-flung territories such as Le Maroc, la Polynésie française, la Nouvelle Calédonie et la Belgique. Year 8 students designed a three-day itinerary for Paris where they took le métro, le RER ou le bus to visit iconic destinations such as la Tour Eiffel, le Musée d’Orsay et le Louvre. Year 9 students explored reginal housing styles and accommodation such la longère normane et la bastide provençale. Each group tested the attentiveness of its classmates with a quiz, often taking the form of an energetic and competitive Kahoot! to finish off their presentation.

Year 10 students started a new text this year called Ça y est! The colourful, magazine-style format gives the students an insight into the life of young French adults as they go to school and out with friends and plan their future after le bac.

Senior students are challenging their communication abilities with bi-weekly speaking classes as we seek to add sophistication to our mastery of the language in spoken and written form. On the first Closed Weekend in Term 1 the girls in the French Extension class met for several hours to workshop the Prescribed Themes for the HSC and to discuss the Prescribed film - Intouchables. The second Closed Weekend of Term 1 saw the Years 11 and 12 French students head off campus to immerse themselves in a slice of France here in the Southern Highlands. The girls relished the opportunity to savour la cuisine française at the Café la Palette at Mount Ashby Estate, where they were served by native French staff, and were delighted to use their language skills in an authentic linguistic setting.

Next week, from 20-27 May, all French students will compete in the ImmerseMe Games 2021, a virtual, online language immersion competition for students around the world.

Latin

Year 8 students have commenced their study of Latin this term, learning about the language, its origins and the European languages that have evolved from it. With over 70 percent of English words having their origins in Latin, learning this ancient language means that girls are constantly acquiring new and more sophisticated vocabulary as well as gaining an insight into the own English grammar. The history and writings of the Romans are interesting in themselves and still important to us. Our civilisation has evolved from Roman culture and we can see their influence in many places such as Literature, the Law, and the Sciences.

The start of Term 2 within the Years 9 and 10 Latin classrooms evoked a sense of familiarity, through rediscovering grammatical concepts and linguistic structures encountered last term, alongside the excitement of learning new language and discovering different aspects of Roman civilisation and culture. The addition of the online text Suburani, offers greater depth of research, more opportunities for reading authentic Latin and amazing visual representations of the ancient world.

Both Years 11 and 12 Latin classes have started new texts this term. Year 12 has started the prose text, Cicero’s In Catilinam, a speech prosecuting the senator Catiline who was leading a plot to overthrow the Roman Senate. Year 11 is studying Marcus Tullius Cicero – Vita extraordinaria, which contains extracts from some of his well-known speeches as well as letters to his family. It is amazing to think that these letters, written over 2000 years ago, are still accessible to us and enable us to read about family and political matters which concerned Cicero at the time.

The National Latin Examinations

The Languages Department at Frensham has been associated with the prestigious National Latin Examinations for over 20 years. Organised by the American Classical League, Latin students in Years 9-12 along with students from 50 states in the USA, plus 20 other countries as diverse as Jordan, the Solomon Islands, the United Arab Emirates and Zimbabwe sat the paper in early March.

Year 9 - Introduction to Latin Exam - Magna Cum Laude Certificate: Juliet Henry; Silver Maxima Cum Laude Certificate: Emily Crawford, Luca de Manincor, Lucy Molineux; Gold Summa Cum Laude Certificate: Poppy Carter, Lucinda Colgan, Phoebe Gilder, Claudia Hampson, Zara Maple-Brown, Miliana Thompson.

Year 10 - Latin I Exam - Gold Summa Cum Laude Certificate: Bella Cay, Pia D’Rozario, Hannah Perkins, Edie Staniforth.

Year 11 - Latin II Exam - Silver Maxima Cum Laude Certificate: Lucy Booth; Gold Summa Cum Laude Certificate: Matilda Arnott, Zoe Gallagher, Phoebe Rowntree.

Year 12 - Latin III Exam - Gold Summa Cum Laude Certificate: Emilie Hassall, Madeleine Mulligan.

Of the Year 9 cohort, four perfect Examination scores were achieved by Poppy Carter, Lucinda Colgan, Phoebe Gilder, Claudia Hampson.

Mrs Kerry Lennon, Director of Languages

Character Education and Pastoral Care

On Thursday 6 May, Brainstorm Productions presented their student wellbeing performance Cyberia to Years 9 and 10. Cyberia was a live theatre experience that addressed mental health, (cyber)bullying, impulse control and the responsible use of technology.

Cyberia was presented as part of our student wellbeing curriculum and developed by education and mental health professionals. Real student experiences were woven together to create a compelling narrative and theatrical experience. The performance posed questions about how we treat ourselves and others, both online and offline, and encourages resilience and positive relationships.

On Tuesday 4 May, Year 12 participated in the Elevate Education - Ace Your Exams seminar. This seminar aligned with our Character Education Goals and covered the following areas:

• Highest value exam preparation tasks
• Fixing mistakes to ensure constant improvement
• Time allocation during exam preparation
• Techniques for managing stress and time pressure in exams.

The seminar was designed to achieve behavioural change amongst students. It isn’t enough that students simply understand what they need to do to prepare for exams, the challenge is getting students to use and apply the skills they learn. The Ace Your Exams seminar provided practical tips on exam technique and preparation and all students found it highly engaging and insightful.

Elevate will be presenting seminars in Term 3 to Year 11 and Year 10.

Mrs Wendy Fawbert, Director of Character Education and Planning

NSW State da Vinci Decathlon Competition 2021 – Thursday 13 May 2021

The Year 11 da Vinci Decathlon Team 2021, Ankitha Avvari, Maya Basson, Sophia Brooks, Yusra Chalak, Zoe Gallagher, Sarah Hunter, Charlotte Senior, Emily Senior and Mia Shakeshaft, competed in the recent NSW State Finals of this international competition in the ‘virtual environment’. They were competing against 170 other schools from across the State. ‘Locked in’ a classroom at Frensham for the day with a ZOOM camera trained on them at every minute, each challenge was delivered electronically and then uploaded either in text format or video file within five minutes of each deadline.

We congratulate the team on its outstanding achievements in every discipline which included: English, Mathematics, Science, Engineering, Code-Breaking, Art & Poetry, Ideation, Creative Producers, Cartography and ‘Legacy’ (of da Vinci’s life and times).

Ms Kate Chauncy, Director of Teaching & Learning P-12, Coordinator of Gifted and Talented Programmes.

IGSA Cross Country – Friday 14 May

A total of 869 runners from 23 different schools took part in the annual IGSA Cross Country hosted by Frensham. The Frensham team consisted of 45 students who competed in their respective seven age groups. Over half of the Frensham runners finished in the top half of their age group. Frensham finished 9th overall - a terrific team effort. With thanks to coach, Eligh Morris for training the team and the Grounds Staff for preparing the course.

Placing in the top 30 in their races were: 11-12 Years, Milly Debelle-Hancock (Year 7); 13 Years, Tia Thomas (Year 8); 15 Years, Phoebe Gilder (Year 9); 16 Years, Bella Cay (Year 10), Julia Burge (Year 10); 17 Years, Lucy Gale (Year 11); 18 Years, Harriet Collins (Year 12), Annabelle Ranken (Year 12), Sophie Rodwell (Year 12), Amy Thompson (Year 12), India Hicks (Year 12).

Harriet Collins, Annabelle Ranken and Sophie Rodwell received a Silver Medal for finishing 2nd in the 18 Years team event.

The following girls have qualified to compete in the Combined Independent Schools (CIS) Cross Country Championships, Eastern Creek, on Thursday 10 June: Tia Thomas (Year 8), Lucy Gale (Year 11), Harriet Collins (Year 12), Annabelle Ranken (Year 12), Sophie Rodwell (Year 12), Amy Thompson (Year 12).

Ms Erin Gray, Head of Sport

Acknowledgement to:

• Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award recipients – Gold: Jessica Billet, Sarah Brown, Ella Clark (Year 12); Silver: Yusra Chalak, Lillian McCarten, Phoebe Rowntree, Camilla Warner (Year 11); Bronze: Charlotte Hindmarsh (Year 11), Scarlett Alldis, Lucy Arnott, Hannah Bendror, Julia Burge, Bella Cay, Matilda Chadwick, Alexandra Corbett, Pia D'Rozario, Sophie Hassall, Olivia Huggins, Augusta Muir, Eliza Mulligan, Freyjika Parker, Edie Staniforth, (Year 10)
• Frensham Cross Country team members for their achievements at the recent IGSA Cross Country Carnival and to NSW Combined Independent Schools (CIS) Cross Country qualifiers – Tia Thomas (Year 8), Lucy Gale (Year 11), Harriet Collins (Year 12), Annabelle Ranken (Year 12), Sophie Rodwell (Year 12), Amy Thompson (Year 12).
• AMEB Musicianship recipients with High Distinction: Summer Oxley and Hilary Swan (Year 10) Grade 2, Sophie Chen (Year 8) Grade 1.
• Lucy Pernice (Year 11), for her selection to Snow Australia’s Emerging Talent Programme 2021 and for gaining a scholarship for this year’s full-time training programme at Perisher Winter Sports Club for Best Role Model in every discipline ski and snowboard, male and female. 
• International Latin Examinations award recipients: Year 9 - Introduction to Latin Exam: Magna Cum Laude Certificate: Juliet Henry; Silver Maxima Cum Laude Certificate: Emily Crawford, Luca de Manincor, Lucy Molineux; Gold Summa Cum Laude Certificate: Poppy Carter, Lucinda Colgan, Phoebe Gilder, Claudia Hampson, Zara Maple-Brown, Miliana Thompson; Year 10 - Latin I Exam - Gold Summa Cum Laude Certificate: Bella Cay, Pia D’Rozario, Hannah Perkins, Edie Staniforth; Year 11 - Latin II Exam - Silver Maxima Cum Laude Certificate: Lucy Booth; Gold Summa Cum Laude Certificate: Matilda Arnott, Zoe Gallagher, Phoebe Rowntree. Year 12 - Latin III Exam - Gold Summa Cum Laude Certificate: Emilie Hassall, Madeleine Mulligan; Perfect scores: Poppy Carter, Lucinda Colgan, Phoebe Gilder, Claudia Hampson
• Year 11 da Vinci Decathlon Team 2021, Ankitha Avvari, Maya Basson, Sophia Brooks, Yusra Chalak, Zoe Gallagher, Sarah Hunter, Charlotte Senior, Emily Senior and Mia Shakeshaft, for its achievements at the recent State Competition.
• Gib Gate parents for their support at recent Hockey matches held at Welby Hockey Turf.

Ms Sarah McGarry
Head of Frensham
Head of Frensham Schools

Term 2 Events

We are excitedly making arrangements for one of the most important events in the School calendar, the Birthday Weekend. This celebration, typically around the first weekend in June, involves our entire community – students, staff, and parents from Gib Gate, Frensham and Sturt, along with Frensham Old Girls. Whilst we are limited with visitor numbers at individual events, we have adjusted our programme to accommodate as many visitors as possible across the course of the weekend’s celebrations. The schedule for the weekend will be published on Schoolbox by the end of this week.

End of Term Arrangements

As previously advised in the Term 1 Newsletter, we will be giving all families at Gib Gate and Frensham the option for children to undertake remote learning at home, or to attend school on campus in our last week of this term, 15-17 June. Students will be expected students to complete set learning activities whether at home or on campus.

We ask all families to respond by clicking here, providing an indication of whether your child/ren will be undertaking remote learning or learning on campus. This will assist us greatly with our planning for this week.

Teaching and Learning

Reach Assessments - Term 2, 2021
In Teaching and Learning at Frensham and Gib Gate, as part of Frensham Schools Strategic Priorities 2018-2022, we are continuously seeking to improve and extend our assessment and benchmarking using a research based, robust set of tools to provide data across multiple subjects and years. This enables us to study individual, class and cohort levels of achievement and growth. This approach to data analysis ensures excellence in teaching practice and enhances creative pathways for learning that increase personalisation and flexibility for all students so they can achieve their personal best.

In 2019 we introduced the REACH assessment tool (previously UNSW Global) - a comprehensive set of assessments, for primary and secondary students in English, Mathematics, Science and Writing. The assessments are based on the Australian curriculum for students in Years 2 to 10 and are suitable for use across all ability levels. Items range from recall and routine application, through to more demanding questions. They were not available for implementation in 2020 but we are now able to utilise the REACH Assessment programme in Term 2 this year. They will be administered in comfortable timed conditions for the students in their classrooms by their class teachers. 

The data will provide us with an independent and objective benchmark of student progress to support our teachers’ professional judgement, class-based tasks and formal school-based assessment programmes, and inform future curriculum planning and programming.

In addition, we have always provided our students with the opportunity to challenge themselves using ICAS Competition papers and we will continue to use this tool in addition to REACH in Term 3 this year. ICAS is aimed at recognising academic excellence for high potential students, emphasising challenge and extension in tight timed conditions. The ICAS Competition online papers in 2021 may be undertaken by students who have a high level of success in REACH in Years 2-10 allowing them to apply their learning and challenge themselves at ‘competition level’ in each of the disciplines above. The ICAS Competitions require students to think beyond the classroom and provide us with data that acknowledges their performance achievement at the highest level.

Parents can find relevant information about both the REACH and ICAS assessments at: https://www.icasassessments.com/about-us/

Professional Learning at Frensham Schools Terms 2 and 3 2021

Professional Learning Goals 2021-2022: to meet the individual learning needs of all students by personalising programmes, experiences and outcomes; and to create a learning community, which is world class and embraces innovation, inspired by evidence-based research and external critique.

In pursuit of our staff Professional Learning Goals, on Monday 19 April all teachers P-12 commenced their professional learning through the UNSW Faculty of Education to obtain up-to-date qualifications in teaching our high potential and gifted  students in every classroom. UNSW lecturers Di Bond and Marie McGregor delivered a bespoke Certificate of Gifted Education programme on campus at Frensham, which was the first of three days of learning designed in consultation with Ms Kate Chauncy and Dr Ruth Phillips to suit teachers and students at Frensham Schools. For those teachers who hold postgraduate qualifications in gifted education already, and those who have previously completed this particular course through the UNSW, Dr Ruth Phillips designed an Advanced course in Gifted Education which she delivered simultaneously.

The course continues on Friday 18 June (end Term 2) and Monday 12 July (start Term 3) by which time all teachers at Frensham Schools will have achieved post graduate accreditation in this vital area of education and developed their skills, knowledge and understanding of contemporary research and best practice in engaging and supporting all our students to reach their potential.

Ms Kate Chauncy, Director of Teaching and Learning P-12, Coordinator of Gifted & Talented Programmes P-12

Boarding and Travel Information

Long Weekend Travel – SSTS Travel bookings

• Bookings for the June long weekend are due to House staff by Monday 10 May.
• Please note that SSTS coach services have advised that late bookings are not able to be accommodated.
• SSTS Coach/Train services give preference to students travelling home so travel with friends cannot be guaranteed – families are asked to have a second plan in place.

Term 2 Parent Weekends
Following updated COVID-19 guidelines for Schools, we are now able to accommodate all Frensham students and Year Group parents at the Year Weekend School Services.

• Year 8 Weekend - Sunday 16 May (Service and Concert: 9.30am for 10.00am start, finish approximately 11.30am
  Student attendance at the Services and Concerts is compulsory, and girls are required to wear full winter school uniform including hats, blazers and stockings.
• Year 12 and Birthday Weekend - Friday 4 June-Sunday 6 June – Full details for Years 7-12 regarding this weekend will be emailed to parents this week and, for reference, will be available on Schoolbox.

Weekend Exeats
All families are reminded that all Exeats are to be submitted online via the relevant Schoolbox form by 12.00pm the Thursday prior. On the Birthday Weekend, Exeat Leave and Day Leave is only to be taken with students’ own parents/carers.

IGSSA SPORT

The Term 2 IGSA Sport season is well underway. This term Frensham is represented by 12 Football and 14 Basketball teams in the IGSA competitions. There is a rousing atmosphere on the Games Field and at the Basketball Courts with girls cheering on their teams and friends and the Pavilion is open, serving bacon and egg sandwiches and coffee.

The 2021 Cross Country team, consisting of 44 girls across seven age groups, has been training hard and the girls are ready to race their best this Friday at the annual IGSA Cross Country Carnival, hosted by Frensham. All families are welcome to attend in support of the girls who are running.

Last Friday, we welcomed runners from Oxley College. This was an opportunity for students to fine tune their skills against quality opposition and we thank the students and staff from Oxley College for making this possible. We are looking forward to seeing our runners compete this Friday and wish them well.

Ms Erin Gray, Head of Sport

Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award Silver Qualifying Expedition

The Royal National Park, Heathcote, 26-28 April
The three-day expedition, undertaken by Year 10 students, is based on a programme of developing navigational, teamwork, leadership, orienteering and camping skills. The following students were supported by Mr McMillan and Ms Farmer,  Scarlett Alldis, Monique Andersson, Lucy Arnott, Hannah Bendror, Ava Berkelouw, Julia Burge, Bella Cay, Matilda Chadwick, Alexandra Corbett, Matilda Damiani, Sarah-Joy Day, Evelyn Doan, Pia D'Rozario, Olivia Faulkner, Sophie Hassall, Saskia Hilkemeijer, Gracie Hindmarsh, Charlotte Hopperton, Olivia Huggins, Meg Jones, Phoebe Kingsley, Savannah Linde, Zoe Logan, James McBride, Emilie McMurtrie, Cintra Maldonado, Darcy Maple-Brown, Alice Mitchell, Augusta Muir, Eliza Mulligan, Elizabeth Nesci, Summer Oxley, Poppy Paradice, Freyjika Parker, Sarah Partland, Hannah Perkins, Phoebe Rouse, Jessica Savage, Annabelle Scott, Edie Staniforth, Inka Wilson.

Mr Shane Green, Coordinator Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award

ANZAC Service Address

Delivered by Jessica Billett and Sophie Perkins Year 12 at the Mittagong ANZAC Day Ceremony 25 April 2021 on Behalf of the Youth of the Community.

When war broke out in 1914, Australia had been a federated nation for only 13 years, and its government was eager to establish a reputation among the nations of the world.

In 1915 Australian and New Zealand soldiers formed part of the expedition that set out to capture the Gallipoli Peninsula to open the Dardanelles to the allied navies. The ultimate objective was to capture Constantinople (now Istanbul), the capital of the Ottoman Empire, an ally of Germany.

The Australian and New Zealand forces landed on Gallipoli on 25 April, meeting fierce resistance from the Ottoman Turkish defenders.

What had been planned as a bold stroke to knock Turkey out of the war quickly became a stalemate, and the campaign dragged on for eight long months.

At the end of 1915 the allied forces were evacuated from the Peninsula, with both sides having suffered heavy casualties and endured great hardships. More than 8,700 Australian soldiers had died in the campaign.

Gallipoli had a profound impact on Australians at home, and April 25 soon became the day on which Australians remembered the sacrifice of those who died in the war.

Although the Gallipoli campaign failed in its military objectives, the actions of Australian and New Zealand forces during the campaign left a powerful legacy.

What became known as the ‘Anzac Legend’ was to become an important part of the identity of both nations, shaping the ways in which they viewed both their past and their future.

In his poem ‘For the Fallen’, Laurence Binyon offers this reflection on the enduring legacy of our soldiers:

They went with songs to the battle, they were young,
Straight of limb, true of eye, steady and aglow.
They were staunch to the end against odds uncounted;
They fell with their faces to the foe.
As the stars that shall be bright when they are dust,
Moving in marches upon the heavenly plain;
As the stars that are stormy in the time of our darkness,
To the end, to the end, they remain.

As the youth of the community, we owe our ANZAC soldiers more than a debt of gratitude – we owe them our determination and courage to protect their legacy and continue to build the Australia they sought to protect.

Their resilience, courage and strength of spirit has ingrained itself into the Australian psyche. From the devastation of war arose moments of mateship, and from loss came the unity of a nation.

It was out of love for their country that they faced death, and although they may be gone, they will not be forgotten.  

2021 also marks a significant milestone for the Royal Australian Air Force, as it marks 100 years of service.

This is an important time to reflect on their enduring contribution to the security of Australia. From modest beginnings in 1921, the Air Force has grown into a potent, world class military entity which Australia relies upon in both conflict and peace.

We aspire to mirror those who served and who are currently serving, highlighting humanity’s most admirable attributes: service, selflessness and courage in the face of adversity. It is our responsibility to prolong the memory of those who served, and those who continue to serve today and into the future.

We are very honoured to be standing here today, representing the youth of the Southern Highlands, paying our respects to all men and women who have served and honouring your sacrifice to our country.

Lest We Forget.

Acknowledgment to:

• Frensham students trialing for Open IGSA Teams, Georgia Shakeshaft (Year 12) and Mia Shakeshaft (Year 11) Basketball; Amelia Guilfoyle (Year 12) Hockey; Heidi Jervis (Year 10) Football.
• Sarah-Joy Day and Bella Cay (Year 10) who represented Frensham at the recent Plain English Public Speaking Competition.
• Frensham Schools Equestrians competing at national and regional events: Sophie Baldwin (Year 8) - Hawkesbury Show: 1^st 1.05m Show Jumping; Victorian State Trials: 5^th overall on two different mounts; Cassia Berry (Year 8) - Sugarloaf Cobbity Equestrian Australia: 2^nd overall Pony Dressage; 1^st Youth rider. Oxley Equestrian Day: Frensham and Gib Gate were well represented with numerous riders placing in all disciplines. Cassia Berry (Year 9): 1^st Novice 2B Senior Dressage; Lilly Treweeke (Year 9) 1^st 75cm Senior Show Jumping. The Gib Gate Team of Annika Basson, Olivia Cowley and Georgia Suttie (Year 6), competed at a high standard in dressage, show jumping and show riding, resulting in being placed 2^nd Overall Primary School Division.
• Gib Gate Cross Country Team for its success at the recent IPSHA Cross Country event held at The King’s School: Valentina Hercus and Zahra Nash (Year 3) qualified to represent IPSHA at the NSWCIS Cross Country Championships to be held later this term.
• Year 6 students for their leadership in the Gib Gate Peer Support Programme (K-5).

Staffing update

Last week, we farewelled Miss Jane Crichton, who had been part of the Boarding Programme since 2019 and was most recently in Linden Turner House. We welcome back Mrs Jacky McCarroll, a well-known member of the Frensham staff, who will be working in Boarding this term.

Ms Sarah McGarry
Head of Frensham
Head of Frensham Schools

Welcome Back

It has been wonderful to welcome back all students and staff for Term 2. We had a very productive day of professional learning with staff from both Frensham and Gib Gate on Monday 19 April, followed by the return of Boarders on Monday evening and the commencement of classes on Tuesday 20 April. Schools feel incomplete without the spirited humans who really enliven them as places and as communities.

In our first Prayers to start the term, I shared some of my thoughts and reflections about fresh starts, as the beginning of a new term seems the perfect time to do so. We are all familiar with the feeling of a fresh start – the first day in a new school, a new class, the first day of term or even just a Monday morning. These have a way of decoupling or separating what’s happened in the past from what is to come next. Professor Katy Milkman, from the Wharton School, along with her research team, has explored this topic in great detail. She defines the “Fresh Start Effect” as the energy and determination we feel when we have the opportunity to be able to wipe the slate clean.  According to Milkman’s research, the same momentum that drives us when making new year’s resolutions in January can be harnessed to help us focus on the pursuit of goals at other times throughout the year.

The beginning of a new term is a brilliant time for us all to encourage each other and to take a determined approach ourselves toward our goals, for these “fresh start” moments tend to be when we have a natural inclination to put in the extra effort and set ourselves up well for the term ahead. After all, in the words of Mark Twain: the secret to getting ahead is getting started. I wish all students, staff and families a productive, creative and happy term ahead.

COVID-19

Further to my note to parents last week, I remind all members of the Frensham Schools community of the need to monitor your health during the coming term. Visitors must not attend any School functions if unwell, or awaiting the results of a COVID-19 test, and students must not attend school if they are experiencing any cold or flu-like symptoms. The safety and wellbeing of our community remains our first priority.

We are looking forward to welcoming our community to more events back on campus this term. We are currently finalising plans, in light of the updated regulations, for the Frensham Schools Birthday Weekend in June, and will be communicating these details separately to our community early next week.

Frensham Pavilion

For the first time in over a year the Frensham Pavilion will be fully open for business on Saturday morning for Round 1 of the Term 2 IGSA Competition.

A special thanks must go to Mrs Edwina Savage (Year 10 Parent) who is handing over the reins to Mrs Alison Vilo and Mrs Edwina Carter (Year 9 Parents) for 2021.

Along with the Frensham Baristas (Year 12 students) the team of Alison, Edwina, Edward and Charlie will be preparing and serving the best coffee and bacon and egg sandwiches in the Southern Highlands!

ANZAC Day Service

Over a number of years, Frensham Schools has worked with the Mittagong RSL Sub-branch, to share in the planning and delivery of the best possible outcomes for the community for the Mittagong ANZAC Day Service. This year, COVID-19 restrictions have impacted on the delivery of the traditional services, there will be no Dawn Service, the morning Service will be a ticketed event and there will be no schools marching.

In support of the Mittagong RSL Sub-branch, Frensham’s involvement will include:

• the ANZAC Message on behalf of the Youth of the Community, offered by Jessica Billett and Sophie Perkins (Year 12).
• Wreath Bearers and representing Frensham Schools (P-12), Annabelle Ranken (Head Girl) and Taylah Stoney (Vice Head Girl) with Ms Kate Chauncy, Director of Teaching and Learning P-12.
• Head of Music, Mr Michael Spencer will lead musical elements of the Service with student participation from singers Grace Amos, Elke Arnott, Lily Hunt, Madeleine Mulligan, Isabelle Promnitz, Georgia Shakeshaft (Year 12) and flautists Maya Basson (Year 11) and Aoibh Costello (Year 12).

All Frensham Boarders will be attending a Service at 10am on campus. All Day Boarders are welcome to join for this Service, in full School Uniform.

National Assessment Program – Literacy and Numeracy (NAPLAN) 2021 Information for Parents and Carers

In May 2021 the National Assessment Program – Literacy and Numeracy (NAPLAN) will be completed by students in Years 3, 5, 7 and 9. NAPLAN has the support of all State and Territory Education Ministers and will assess the literacy and numeracy skills of students across Australian schools. NAPLAN and all associated testing events did not proceed for 2020 due to COVID-19.

NAPLAN is an annual assessment and tests the types of skills that are essential for every child to progress through school and life. The tests cover skills in reading, writing, spelling, grammar and punctuation, and numeracy. The results of the tests will provide important information to schools about what each student can do and will be used to support teaching and learning programs. Parents will receive a report indicating their child’s level of achievement. Each student’s level of achievement will be reported against the national minimum standard.

Student background information (student name, gender, date of birth, language background and Aboriginality) will be collected as part of the National Assessment Program. This information is treated confidentially and held securely to ensure that every student’s right to privacy is maintained.

The NAPLAN tests will be conducted in Week 4 of Term 2 from 11-14 May 2021. Please note that all NAPLAN Tests conducted at Frensham and Gib Gate this year will be pen and paper. 

Where possible, schools are permitted to arrange for individual students who are absent at the time of testing to complete missed tests at another time during the relevant testing window.  Individual students are not permitted to sit the paper tests after Friday 14 May 2021.

TUESDAY 11 MAY

• Year 3: Language Conventions (Spelling, Punctuation and Grammar) - 45 minutes; Writing test - 40 minutes
• Year 5: Language Conventions (Spelling, Punctuation and Grammar) - 45 minutes; Writing test - 40 minutes
• Year 7: Language Conventions (Spelling, Punctuation and Grammar) - 45 minutes; Writing test - 40 minutes
• Year 9: Language Conventions (Spelling, Punctuation and Grammar) - 45 minutes; Writing test - 40 minutes

WEDNESDAY 12 MAY

• Year 3: Reading test - 45 minutes
• Year 5: Reading test - 50 minutes
• Year 7: Reading test - 65 minutes
• Year 9: Reading test - 65 minutes

THURSDAY 13 MAY

• Year 3: Numeracy test - 45 minutes
• Year 5: Numeracy test - 50 minutes
• Year 7: Numeracy test - 65 minutes
• Year 9: Numeracy test - 65 minutes

The Years 3, 5, 7 and 9 Numeracy tests are conducted in one test session. The Years 7 and 9 numeracy tests have two sections. There is a short non-calculator section, in which students are required to demonstrate arithmetical calculation skills. For the remainder of the test, calculators are permitted, even if they are not necessary to answer the question. Students will use the calculator that they currently use at school.

In NAPLAN writing tests, students are provided with a ‘writing stimulus’ (sometimes called a ‘prompt’ – an idea or topic) and asked to write a response in a particular genre (narrative or persuasive writing).

Friday 14 May is the scheduled ‘catch-up’ day for students who missed a test or were absent on a test day. Students may be considered for exemption from the tests if they:

• are newly arrived in Australia (less than one year before the test) and with a language background other than English, or
• have significant intellectual disability and/or significant co-existing conditions which severely limit their capacity to participate in the tests.

All other students are expected to participate in the tests. Disability adjustments which reflect the student’s normal level of support in the classroom may be provided. Access to disability adjustments or exemption from the tests must be discussed with the Head and a parent or carer consent form must be signed.

Students may be withdrawn from NAPLAN by their parent or carer. This is a matter for consideration by parents in consultation with the Head. If you wish to withdraw your child from the tests, a parent or carer consent form must be signed.

Additional information about NAPLAN can be found at: https://www.nap.edu.au/naplan/parent-carer-support

We stress that we do not believe in the value of excessive preparation for NAPLAN beyond teaching the NESA Curriculum and familiarising students with the NAPLAN process. Parents and carers are welcome to discuss any questions they may have with Ms Sally Robson or Ms Kate Chauncy at Gib Gate or with Mr Geoff Marsh, Ms Kate Chauncy or Ms Janene van Gogh at Frensham.

Ms Kate Chauncy, Director of Teaching and Learning P-12; Coordinator of Gifted and Talented Programmes P-12

Boarding Information

Weekend Exeat Links

• All Exeats are to be submitted online via the Schoolbox form and must be completed by 12.00pm the Thursday prior.
• The School will be running South Coast (Kiama / Wollongong) and South West (Cootamundra / Harden / Yass) buses on Sunday 23 May.
• All bus bookings, including Sydney buses, are made via the online Exeat form.

Weekend 2: Open Weekend Leave Exeat - T2 Week 2 (Friday 30 April - Monday 3 May)

Weekend 3: Open Weekend Leave Exeat - T2 Week 3 (Friday 7 May - Monday 10 May)

Weekend 4: Open Weekend Leave Exeat - T2 Week 4 (Friday 14 May - Monday 17 May)

Weekend 5: Open Weekend Leave/Exeat - T2 Week 5 (Friday 21 May - Monday 24 May) Sth West Bus & Sth Coast Bus

Weekend 6: Open Weekend Leave Exeat - T2 Week 6 (Friday 28 May - Monday 31 May)

Available on Schoolbox:

• Weekend programme, posted each Wednesday
• Weekend activity term overview
• House Duty Room phone numbers

Acknowledgement to:

• Senior musicians and their professional tutors: Frensham has been awarded by the Australian Music Examination Board (AMEB) NSW for the fifth year – a Certificate of Distinction for a Top 10 result in the Category of Most Outstanding Accredited School 2020. Congratulations to Ms Sabine Madden Coordinator of Music Tuition and Gifted and Talented Music students, and the entire Music Staff and Tuition Staff on this extraordinary achievement.
• Equestrian competing successfully at recent national and regional events: Willa Mitchell (Year 12) – Wallaby Hill International – 2^nd placed Junior CCI3* (Eventing); Kate Clifton (Year 9), Young Dressage Championships – 1^st Prelim 1A; Elizabeth Taylor (Year 8) - Southern Cross Hack Championships - Champion Rider (U 15 years), Champion Large Show Hunter Galloway and Champion Owner/Rider Large Show Hunter Galloway; Hufglocken Grand Nationals – Champion Child’s Hack; Sydney Royal Easter Show – Champion Senior Girl Rider (U 17 years), Champion Child’s Galloway; Tia Thomas (Year 8) (Eventing).
• Members of the Show Cattle Team, led by Ms Leonie Mutch, for their excellent results at the Royal Sydney Easter Show: Champion School in the Herdsman (Best Maintained Team) Competition which included their Easter Show Display focusing on Frensham Farming Families and the School’s Agriculture programme and Champion School Carcase.
• Gib Gate U12 Water Polo team, winners of the Grand Final; Amelia Blackshaw for being awarded Best and Fairest Player and Olivia Cowley the Most Improved Player.
• Gib Gate U12 Purple Basketball team, runners-up of the Grand Final.

da Vinci Decathlon Competition

Teams from Years 5 to 10 competed in the da Vinci Decathlon Competition at the end of Term 1. Gib Gate competed at The Illawarra Christian School, Wollongong on Monday 29 March and Frensham competed at The Illawarra Grammar School Wollongong on Tuesday 30 March and Wednesday 31 March. Both Gib Gate and Frensham teams were competing against over 15 other schools from across the Illawarra region. Ms Kate Chauncy (Frensham) and Mrs Lee Ann Marsh (Gib Gate) coordinated participation in the competition and the students are commended for the success achieved.

• Year 5: Darcey Burrows, Lachlan Dormer, Mae Gilkeson, Gemma McInnes, Matilda Spong, Edward Vilo, Annabelle Whyte-Cleaver, Oliver Wilson - 3^rd in Art & Poetry, Engineering and Creative Producers.
• Year 6: Annika Basson, Amelia Blackshaw, Iman Byrne, Isla McVinish, Sofia Nesci, Anthony Neilson, Ruby Rodgers, Adele Trudeau - 2^nd Creative Producers and Legacy, 3^rd Art & Poetry.
• Year 7: Anouk Davies, Mollie Fitzpatrick, Alexandra Frith, Alice Gilder, Indigo Ling, Jade Neilson, Cara Sims, Isabel Syme - 1^st Art & Poetry; 2^nd Cartography and 3^rd English.
• Year 8: Sophie Chen, Jade Cox, Sophie Goodisson, Sophie Hanrahan, Amelia Hartnell, Camilla Johnston, Georgina Lewis, Elizabeth Shadbolt - 2^nd Mathematics.
• Year 9: Adelaide Ayling, Poppy Carter, Alice Fergusson, Claudia Hampson, Sophie Simpson, Imogen Smith, Eva Telford, Sidney Wheeler – 2^nd place overall in Year 9, 1^st Legacy, 3^rd English and Mathematics.
• Year 10: Sarah-Joy Day, Sissy Fairrie, Heidi Jervis, Abigail Jorgensen, Summer Oxley, Freyjika Parker, Phoebe Rouse, Hilary Swan - 3^rd Science.

Frensham Student Leadership (Term 2)

• Hartfield: (Year 10) Sarah-Joy Day, Darcy Maple-Brown, Bridie Turner
• Kennedy: (Year 10) Matilda Damiani, Saskia Hilkemeijer, Cintra Maldonado
• Linden Turner: (Year 10) Hannah Bendror, Meg Jones, Millie Moar   
• Linden Turner: (Year 11) Abigail Hicks, Mia Shakeshaft, Olivia Vertzayias
• Bryant McCarthy: (Year 11) Anna Collins, Mia Greig, Polly Whitwell

Staffing update

We welcome to Boarding:

• Mrs Marion Van Kooten to the role of Head of Hartfield House. Mrs Van Kooten has been working in our Boarding Programme since 2020 and is enthusiastic about leading Hartfield House and contributing her expertise to the Boarding leadership team.
• Mrs Chelsea Carroll who will be joining us as a casual member of staff in Boarding, to provide during Ms Jeannette Gibson’s Long Service Leave, from Week 3 of the term.

We welcome back Mr Michael Spencer (Head of Music) and Mrs Trudi Spencer (Visual Arts) from Long Service Leave taken during Term 1.

Ms Sarah McGarry
Head of Frensham
Head of Frensham Schools

First Term

Thank you to all members of the Frensham Schools community for such a warm welcome to the role. The first term of the year is always a busy one, and I have been so appreciative of the support and advice provided to help me settle into the role of Head and into life in the Highlands.

It has been wonderful to see the enjoyment and enthusiasm of students across all three campuses of Frensham Schools, engaged in their learning, greeting old friends warmly and making new ones, and getting to know their teachers. I have been so impressed by our creative and vibrant learning community of students and staff, and the commitment and dedication shown to the mission and values of the organisation. Part of our founder Winifred West’s vision was that, above all, a school should be a place where individuals, staff and students, willingly gave of their best to foster a sense of love, community and service – and that spirit is very much alive within the community today.

Whilst school life has been, fortunately, less disrupted by COVID than it was throughout 2020, as we have seen this week, vigilance is still required. We anticipate being able to welcome more families on campus for school events next term, and will communicate further towards the end of vacation period to confirm school-specific arrangements.

We wish all families safe travel, a restful and restorative vacation and I look forward to another positive and productive term ahead.

Head of Sturt

Our new Head of Sturt, Kristie Phelan, commenced in March, and has made a strong start in the role. As I mentioned in the announcement of her appointment earlier in March, Kristie brings to the role a valuable combination of skills and experiences, along with energetic drive and enthusiasm, to inform her leadership of the oldest and most dynamic design centre in Australia. I encourage all families to consider making a visit to Sturt across the holiday period or early next term if you haven’t visited for a while.

Boarding Leadership

At the end of this term, Ms Jeannette Gibson is stepping down from her role as Head of Hartfield House, a position she has held since 2011. We recognise her contribution to the Boarding programme at Frensham, and look forward to her continuing to work at Frensham following a short period of well-deserved Long Service Leave at the commencement of Term 2.

We also welcome Ms Sally Arnold to the role of Deputy Head of Boarding (Acting 2021) to join Ms Sally Fennell (Deputy Head of Boarding, Acting 2021), providing valuable leadership support across our Boarding Programme. Ms Arnold will remain Head of Linden Turner House and Year 11 Coordinator whilst taking on this additional responsibility and we look forward to her contribution to the team across 2021.

Term 2 Dates

At the end of Term 2 this year, our calendar has just three school days between the Queen’s Birthday Long Weekend and the end of term. In order to provide flexibility for our families, particularly for those with boarders who live a significant distance from Frensham, we will be giving all families at Gib Gate and Frensham the option for children to undertake remote learning at home, or to attend school on campus as scheduled. We will still expect students to complete set learning activities whether at home or on campus. Further logistical details, particularly relating to arrangements for boarders, will be forthcoming early next term

Beginning of Term 2 Dropoff – Boarding

We look forward to welcoming all boarders back on Monday 19 April, before classes commence on Tuesday 20 April. Boarding Houses open from 5.00pm on Monday 19 April, however arrangements are able to be made on an individual family basis if earlier drop off is required. Please email boarding@frensham.nsw.edu.au to make these arrangements.

Return to school Term 2 - Information regarding luggage restrictions for booked transport.

1. Stored Luggage - no more than two items for stowage in luggage bins on coach services. Not to exceed 60cm (height) x 70cm (length) and 50 cm wide (ie: length, depth and width not exceeding total of 180cm) and 20kg in weight.
2. Hand Luggage - the total weight of hand luggage is not to exceed 5kg and must be able to be stored under the seat. Hand luggage that does not fit under the seat must be stored in the luggage compartment beneath the coach.
3. If transport arrangements change and booked transport is no longer required, please call the number on your daughter’s ticket, NSW TrainLink Call Centre on 132 232 and email boarding@frensham.nsw.edu.  
4. Thank you for understanding that last minute bookings are unable to be accommodated.

Communication

We are pleased to confirm that, following this edition of our newsletter, we will return to fortnightly editions next term, with an updated format. Each edition will feature a particular area of Frensham Schools as a focus. We will be continuing to refine our communication channels across the coming terms, and look forward to your feedback as these changes are made.

Our Learning Management System, Schoolbox, will increasingly be used as the location for permission slips, information and notices for parents to access, and you will see the format of Schoolbox refreshed over the coming term. If you are having any difficulty accessing Schoolbox please do contact your child’s teacher (Gib Gate) or form tutor (Frensham) so this can be resolved. It is exciting to be very close to the launch of the Frensham Schools App which we anticipate being able to release during Term 2.

All parents will be invited to participate in a community survey about our communication systems at the beginning of next term and your feedback is welcomed.

Acknowledgement to:

• Award Recipients: Girdles – Willa Mitchell (Equestrian), Jessica Billet (Academic Excellence), Harriet Mackie (Science), Ella Clark (Public Speaking) and Madeleine Mulligan (Academic Excellence).
• Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award recipients – Gold: Tamara Unsworth (2020); Silver: Year 11: Isobel Burge, Stella Hanan, Zé McGrath, Mia Shakeshaft (Year 11); Alexandra Bolger, Jessica Greig; Sophia Pernice (Year 12); Bronze: Ava Berkelouw, Sarah-Joy Day, Savannah Linde, Emilie McMurtrie, Darcy Maple-Brown, Elizabeth Nesci, Phoebe Rouse, Mia Greig (Year 10); Zé McGrath, Lucy Pernice, Phoebe Rowntree, Polly Whitwell (Year 11); Harriet Mackie (Year 12).
• Phoebe Rowntree (Year 11) for her selection to the IGSA 17U Softball Team.
• Tildesley Tennis Team members,Coach Justin Taylor, assistance from Ms Macqueen, and with leadership from Annabelle Ranken (C) and Ella Clark (VC) for their success at this year’s event; progressing to Round 4 were Annabelle Ranken and doubles team, Willa Mitchell and India Hicks (Year 12)
• Willa Mitchell (Year 12) for her achievement in being ranked as the Top Junior Eventing, FEI (International Equestrian Federation).
• Frensham Swimming team members for their achievements at recent Carnivals: IGSA Swimming Carnival: Claudia Maple-Brown (Year 7), Millie Moar (Year 10), Phoebe Clifton (Year 11) for progressing to the 50m B Freestyle finals in their age group; the Southern Highlands Schools Swimming Carnival: U15 Age Champion - Lydia Martin (Year 9); Runner Up Age Champions - U13 Tia Thomas (Year 8), U16 Millie Moar (Year 10), U17 Phoebe Clifton (Year 11).
• Frensham Show Cattle and Sheep Teams for recent successes: Nowra Show – Frensham as a team won Most Successful Exhibitor; Judith Hopkins (Year 11) Champion Young Judge, Champion Steer and Champion Parader with her steer Quincey; Goulburn Show: Cattle Team – Judith Hopkins 1^st Place Heavyweight Steer Competition and Champion Steer (‘Quincey’), Phoebe Gilder (Year 9) Reserve Champion Steer (‘Guzman’). Sheep Teams – placed second and third in the Young Farmers Competition. Moss Vale Show – Judith Hopkins 1^st place Junior Steer and Heavyweight Steer Competitions (‘Quincey’); Tia Thomas (Year 8) 1^st place 13-years Paraders Competition (‘Wesley’).
• Gib Gate Water Polo and Basketball Teams for their successes in the local competitions. Competing in Finals competitions are the U12 Water Polo Team and the U12 Girls Purple Basketball Team.
• Gib Gate Swimming team for its preparation and success at the IPSHA Swimming Carnival.
• Gib Gate IPSHA Cross Country Team for their preparation for the IPSHA Cross Country Carnival, postponed due to flooding, now taking place on Wednesday 21 April.
• Gib Gate Year 6 for their leadership and support of students P-5 in Term 1 and for their dedicated preparation for the commencement of the Term 2 Year 6 lead K-5 Peer Support Programme.
• da Vinci Decathlon Teams in Years 5-11 for their preparation and highly successful results for this year’s competition. Year 5 placed 3^rd in Art & Poetry, Engineering and Creative Producers; Year 6, 2^nd in Creative Producers and Legacy and 3^rd in Art & Poetry; Years 7-10 represented Frensham in the Regional Finals and achieved 1^st Art & Poetry; 2^nd Cartography, 3^rd English (Year 7); 2^nd Place in Mathematics (Year 8); 2^nd Place Overall, 1^st Legacy, 3^rd English and Mathematics (Year 9) and 3^rd Place (Science). Year 11 compete in the State competition, held in the ‘virtual environment’ on Wednesday 5 May.
• Frensham Head Girl, Annabelle Ranken, and Vice Head Girl, Taylah Stoney, who represented Frensham at the 2021 International Women’s Day Breakfast held in Mittagong, featuring guest speakers including Frensham Old Girl Zoe Young (1995) on the topic of Women in Leadership.
• Year 9, 2020 for their excellent results in the Cambridge International Global Perspectives course: 22% of students gained the highest result (A*) and another 39% gained an A result. 

Frensham Student Leadership

Prefects for Year Groups

• Year 7: Sarah Brown, Jessica Greig, Ivy McGufficke
• Year 8: Harriet Collins, Ella Hopperton
• Year 9: Adelaide Alker, Emily Hassall, Madeleine Mulligan                 
• Year 10: Erin Alcorn, Georgia Hill, Willa Mitchell
• Year 11: Ella Clark, Eliza Friend
• Year 12 & Vice Head Girl: Taylah Stoney
• Year 12 & Head Girl: Annabelle Ranken       

Year 12 Leaders of Hartfield and Kennedy Houses

• Hartfield: Tess, Armstrong, Alexandra Bolger, Sarah Brown, Sachi Darling, Ruby Halloran, Skye Vander Straaten.
• Kennedy: Emilie Hassall, Ella Hopperton, Madeleine Scott, Jemima Storch, Lara Tait, Amy Thompson.

Heads of House appointed for Term 1

• Hartfield (Year 10): Sissy Fairrie, Lara McConnochie, Poppy Paradice
• Kennedy (Year 10): Bella Cay, Pia D'Rozario, Sarah Partland
• Linden Turner (Year 10): Ava Berkelouw, Olivia Huggins, Eliza Mulligan
• Linden Turner (Year 11): Sophie Domazet, Stella Hanan, Charlotte Hindmarsh
• Bryant McCarthy (Year 11): Sarah Hunter, Ava Kingsley, Emily Lenehan
• Bryant McCarthy (Year 12): appointed for the year

Gib Gate Monitors

It was a delight to be able to attend the Gib Gate Monitors Assembly earlier in the term, and to present our Year 6 students with their monitor badges. All students carry responsibility for particular areas of interest or passion in the school, and it has been heartening to see the enthusiasm with which Year 6 have approached their responsibilities this term.

Adeline Ahern, Library; Chloe Barrowman, Equestrian, Jamieson Sport; Annika Basson, Equestrian; Amelia Blackshaw, Library, Wilson Sport; Iman Byrne, Japanese, Visual Arts; Olivia Cowley, Music, Wilson Sport; Zali de Manincor, Jamieson, Visual Arts; Imogen Diver, Preschool, Visual Arts; Sienna Donat, Dance, McCutcheon Sport; Sophie McAndrew, McCutcheon Sport, Preschool; Ana McInnes, Wilson Sport; Frankie McKeon, McCutcheon Sport, Preschool; Isla McVinish, Preschool, Library; Anthony Neilson, Jamieson Sport; Sofia Nesci, Jamieson Sport; Ruby Rodgers, Jamieson Sport; Georgia Suttie, Environmental; Victoria Trotter, Jamieson Sport; Adele Trudeau, Library, Wilson Sport; Zali Walters, McCutcheon, Environmental.

Parent Advisory Committees 2021

We warmly welcome new Members and offer our thanks and appreciation to those retiring.

Frensham

• Welcome to Mrs Karen Shadbolt, Mrs Jane Vickery, Mr Michael Wheeler
• Mr John Hopkins is appointed as Chair for 2021 and Mrs Charlotte Warner is the newly appointed Secretary.
• Retiring: Mr David Cullen, Mr Simon Logan.

Gib Gate

• Welcome to Mrs Crista Beckhaus, Mrs Georgina Spong.
• Dr Jerry Basson is appointed as Chair for 2021 and Mrs Crista Beckhaus is the newly appointed Secretary.
• Retiring: Mrs Denise Telford and Mrs Lucinda Wilson.

Staffing Updates

This term, we have been pleased to welcome the following new staff members to Frensham Schools.

Sturt

• Mrs Kristie Phelan – Head of Sturt

Gib Gate

• Ms Nikki Coumbiadis, B Ed (Primary) (UNE) – Year 5 classroom teacher
• Ms Nicola Fenaughty, B Health Science (USYD) – PDHPE and Sport classroom teacher
• Mrs Marnie Rea, B Ed (Primary) (USYD) – Year 2 classroom teacher, Terms 1-3 (Maternity Leave cover)

Frensham

• Mrs Julia Abbey, PG Cert Ed, (Bath College of Higher Education, UK); B Sc (Psychology/Sociology), (Portsmouth University, UK) – Boarding House Staff
• Mrs Anne Barnes, MA Teaching (Secondary) (UNE); BA (French and Spanish) (UQLD) –Languages and Library
• Miss Jemma Barrett, B Health and Physical Education (UOW), in process – Boarding House Staff
• Ms Jacqui Bolt, B Visual Arts, USYD, Dip High School Education (VA) (CSU); Dip Fine Art (NAS) – VA (Term 1) and Boarding House Staff (casual)
• Mrs Lucy Dalleywater, MA Educational Leadership (current) (Macquarie); BA English; BEd English/Humanities and Social Science (USYD) – Head of Special Projects
• Miss Holly Jefford, currently studying B Exercise Science, UOW – Boarding House Staff
• Miss Melissa Lourenco, B Ed (General Education) (Stellenbosch Uni South Africa) – Boarding House Staff
• Mrs Susie McGlinn, BA (English Literature/Communication) (UNE), B Teaching (Secondary) (CSU), Grad Certificate Information Services (current) (CSU) – Library Teacher
• Ms Jane McLellan, B Sc, John Brown University, USA; PG TESOL, Macquarie – Boarding House Staff
• Mrs Renae Pinazza, PhD (UOW), 2021 completion; B Music (Music Education) (USYD) (Sydney Conservatorium of Music), Music
• Miss Abby Regan, MA Teaching (Secondary French and Spanish), B Sc (Chemistry), BA (Spanish and Latin American Studies) (USYD)– Boarding Staff and Teaching (Languages and Science)
• Mr Matthew Selby, BA, B Teaching (Secondary – Mathematics), (Australian Catholic University) –Senior Teacher in Mathematics
• Mrs Donna Wedesweiler, BA (USYD); M Ed (USYD) – Boarding House Staff (returning staff member)

Departing staff

We thank Mrs Sally Hannah for her contribution as Year 8 Coordinator during this term, and look forward to welcoming back Mrs Trudi Spencer from Long Service Leave in Term Two.

We bid farewell to Ms Emily Sinden who will be taking up a position at Nowra Anglican College next term, after joining the Frensham Staff in 2018 and contributing significantly in her roles, including Music teacher, Year Coordinator and, this term, Acting Head of the Music Faculty. We wish Ms Sinden continued success at her new school, and look forward to welcoming Mr Michael Spencer back from Long Service Leave in Term Two.

Year Coordinators for 2021:
Mrs Amanda Metua – Year 7
Mrs Sally Hannah – Year 8, Term 1
Mrs Trudi Spencer – Year 8, from Term 2
Ms Olivia Scottin – Year 9
Mrs Kate Gallagher – Year 10
Ms Sally Arnold – Year 11; Ms Lucy Thorne, Assistant Coordinator
Ms Sally Fennell – Year 12; Ms Molly Macqueen, Assistant Coordinator

Ms Sarah McGarry
Head of Frensham
Head of Frensham Schools

Upcoming Events

It has been wonderful to welcome students and staff back to campus for the beginning of Term 2, having had the opportunity to rest after quite an intense first term of 2022. The persistence and patience shown by staff, students and families alike was commendable, as we all managed the isolation requirements for positive COVID-19 cases and household contacts and the subsequent disruption to school life. Energy and enthusiasm levels are high and there is great anticipation for the term ahead and the opportunities for us to gather as a community and to welcome families back onto campus. This term sees, amongst other events, both IGSA and IPSHA Cross Country Carnivals, the Frensham Father-Daughter Ball, our major Reunion Weekend on 21 May, Year 8 and Year 12 Parent Weekends and of course, the Frensham Schools Birthday celebrations in June. Detailed arrangements for these events will generally be communicated via Schoolbox and parents and carers are asked to please note student attendance requirements in particular. Parents are urged to consult the published School Calendar when planning family occasions to ensure that full attendance on Closed Weekends is supported. Please refer to Schoolbox for additional detailed requirements around leave.

ANZAC DAY

Over a number of years, Frensham Schools has worked with the Mittagong RSL Sub-branch, to share in the planning and delivery of the best possible outcomes for the community for the Mittagong ANZAC Day Service. When ANZAC Day falls within the vacation we are particularly appreciative of the effort made by staff and parents from both Gib Gate and Frensham to support student attendance, allowing us to honour this opportunity to contribute. With special thanks to Mr Michael Spencer for the music organisation.

This year in Mittagong, Wreath Bearers - Matilda Arnott and Charlotte Hindmarsh (Year 12), Phoebe McLaughlin and Matilda Spong (Year 6); ANZAC Message on Behalf of the Youth of the Community – Lulu Duck and Eliza Hewson (Year 12); Banner Bearers – Charlotte and Emily Senior and Zoe Gallagher (Year 12); Flautists – Eliza Mulligan (Year 11), Sarah Hunter (Year 12); Vocalists – Lulu Duck, Eliza Hewson, Holly Horsfall (Year 12).

Gib Gate: Evie Bishop, Rosetta Rodgers (Kindergarten); Grace Camphin Florence Dalleywater, Jack Spong, Charlotte Vaille (Year 1); Carly Hughes, Samuel Robb, Chelsea Trudgeon (Year 3); Beatrix Dalleywater, Amelie Gardiner, Madeleine Hannah (Year 4); Emma Andrews, Emily Pattison, Olivia Pattison, (Year 5); Darcy Burrows, Gemma McInnes (Year 6).

Frensham: Amelia Blackshaw, Sophie McAndrew, Ruby Rodgers, Claire Sullivan, Victoria Trotter, Zali Walters (Year 7); Chloe Hannah, Henrietta Hayman, Jade Neilson, Lucia Semple, Skye Spong (Year 8); Hannah Day, Sophie Hanrahan, Amelia Hartnell, Willow Hindmarsh, Raphaela O'Neill'Siambis, Madison Walters (Year 9); Cate Horsfall, Maggie Ryan, Olivia Trotter (Year 10); Sarah-Joy Day, Gracie Hindmarsh, Freyjika Parker, Hilary Swan (Year 11); Matilda Arnott, Ankitha Avvari, Isolde Cochet, Zoe Gallagher (Year 12).

Staffing – joining us at the commencement of Term 2

We were pleased to welcome Deputy Head of Frensham, Frensham Schools Ms Sarah Tynan at Morning Prayers on Wednesday 27 April. Ms Tynan commences in her position on 16 May. (Pictured left with Ms McGarry)

Mr Imre Hirka, Director of ICT and a member of the Frensham Schools Executive.

Mr Malcolm Boyes, Head of Property across the three campuses of Frensham, Gib Gate and Sturt. As Malcolm joins the property team, we thank Stuart Macpherson for his contribution as Acting Facilities manager since the end of February.

Mrs Ellie Collins, Gib Gate PE and Sport Teacher

Ms Paula Collins, HSIE Teacher at Frensham

Welcome back

• Mrs Melissa Lamrock-George and Mr Keith Mitchell, who will be rejoining the Music Faculty
• Ms Jane Cavanough, who will be covering for Miss Sophie Piper during her Long Service Leave this term.

Heads of Houses for Term 2 (representing Boarders [Full and Weekly] and Day Boarders)

• Kennedy – Year 10: Kate Clifton (B), Sophie Simpson (WB), Cate Horsfall (DB)
• Hartfield – Year 10: Penny Hill (B), Isabel Kenneally (WB), Madeleine Charters (DB)
• Linden Turner – Year 11: Meg Jones (B), Rosie Mahony (WB), Sarah-Joy Day (DB)
• Linden Turner – Year 10: Georgia Squire-Wilson (B), Lucinda Colgan (WB), Amy Wimalaratne (DB)
• Bryant McCarthy – Year 11: Bella Cay (B), Araminta Scott (WB), Phoebe Rouse (DB)

Campus Safety

We remind all families that Frensham students should not be dropped off nor collected via the Topp Gates on Waverley Parade. Now that Houses are functioning fully, and as days become shorter and colder, students should be waiting at Houses to be collected rather than waiting in the dark on the street. Please do take care on the roads surrounding the campus as the wet weather of last term has caused some significant damage to roads across the Southern Highlands with large potholes or bitumen damage a common feature.

Boarding

It has been an active and fun-filled start to Term 2 with the girls enjoying reconnecting with each other over the weekend. Head Girl and Vice Head Girl, Phoebe Rowntree and Phoebe Lyne, have written a short piece to document the first closed weekend of Term 2.

At school the weekend truly begins not on Saturday but on Friday night!

So… off we went to dance the night away at Clubbe Hall. Girls dressed in their best 80s costume which looked more like a crazy-colour-bomb than Cyndi Lauper. The following morning there was a great turnout at basketball, it was difficult to manage to get a glimpse in the sea of girls supporting from the upstairs balcony of the gym. Obviously, the encouragement was successful with the new War Cry Fairies debut as all teams had a strong win against their opposition. Later in the afternoon the girls returned to the gym to try ballroom dancing in preparation for the up-and-coming Father-Daughter Ball. To end the fabulous day, a trivia night was put together consisting of girls finishing popular lyrics and plank challenges, both our minds and bodies were put to the test. 

After a well-deserved sleep-in, girls attended a short School Service before competing in the Frensham Annual Biathlon. Despite a muddy and sludgy Holt, everyone displayed their best efforts in running, swimming and covering themselves in mud! Even though it was a friendly competition, girls were reminded of the reality of how hard it is to run 3km and swim 300m (juniors), 400m (seniors). After this, we were all rewarded with a restful afternoon and evening.

What a great start to a term of activity, excitement and, of course, fun!

Ms Sally Edwards, Director of Student Life (Boarding)

Careers at Frensham

We are in the midst of “University Early Entry season” and the majority of Year 12 have now had individual meetings to discuss their tertiary and post-school opportunities. Students were emailed their UAC (University Admissions Centre) unique PIN and are now able to list their NSW preferences from 1 to 5. Please note – they can change these preferences at any time. Students have been encouraged to select Schools Recommendation Scheme to ensure that they automatically apply for Early Entry for participating universities via their UAC application. Frensham is considered to be a ‘rural school’ and students may automatically receive ‘adjustment factors’ from certain universities. Interstate admission centres will have similar early entry opportunities.

The second opportunity for Early Entry is directly, via a university’s website. The universities that are open for Early Entry right now include ANU, UNE and CSU.  Students will be advised as other tertiary institutions start to open their portals and they are encouraged to be mindful of closing dates.

There are many webinars, open days and information sessions open to students and parents alike. Year 12 are advised of events and important notices during ‘Tertiary Thursday’ Form sessions and the meeting notes are always saved on the Careers page Schoolbox  in the Files area, which parents can also access.

Year 11 students enjoyed a ‘Tertiary Tuesday’ session at the end of last term and I will continue to prepare the girls throughout the year.

Year 10 will undergo Careers Profiling on 6 June. These individually prepared Career profiles help provide a sound basis for careers exploration and decision making. It is never too early to start thinking about Senior studies. UAC have published a Year 10 subject selection advice booklet. Parents and students can click on this tile on the Careers Page on SchoolBox, Year 10 Careers - Schoolbox,  and we look forward to providing further discussion and advice Term 3 at the Year 10 Planning for Senior Studies session on Saturday 6 August.

Jamieson Programme

Year 7: In Frensham Studies, students explored our first character study, 'Confident & Self Assured', where the girls looked at what this meant in their context now, at Frensham and how this translates beyond school. They made 'Magic Slice', cooking an old classic Frensham Morning Tea, where they chose ingredients that represented a Frensham Girl. For example: The top layer of the Magic Slice will be freckles, as everyone is unique and colourful and always stick together. This term, we are considering what it is to be a 'Willing Contributor.'

Year 8: For the first time in two years, Year 8 students are now able to participate in Riding for the Disabled. This programme makes a huge difference to the lives of children and adults living with intellectual, physical, sensory and learning disabilities. Our students like chatting to the riders and supporting them to enjoy this wonderful experience.

Year 9:  A reminder to parents and students that attending the extended day Jamieson Programme Thursday Week A until 8.00pm, is compulsory for all Year 9 students. With a focus on health and fitness, critical and ethical thinking, service and leadership, the Jamieson Programme helps girls gain confidence and courage to deal with the unfamiliar territory ahead. It also challenges students to consider the difference they can make, individually and as part of a group, when exploring real social, political and environmental issues. Having a special afternoon and evening session dedicated just for Year 9 is unique to Frensham and helps to build important connections within the cohort and tends to awaken in the girls, a belief in themselves that will stay with them throughout their lives.

Students began the term with fitness activities, including a range of aerobic and strength/muscular endurance challenges. Students will have time to reflect on the achievement of their individual fitness goals, which have been an ongoing focus throughout last term.

Students in the Cambridge IGCSE interdisciplinary course ‘Global Perspectives’ will begin the second component of the course, the Group Project. Groups decide on an important global issue and work together to research the issue and come up with a way of either promoting or solving the problem. In the past, students have designed websites, written story books to educate younger children, designed promotional posters or produced an advertisement. The skills of collaboration, listening and being an integral team member are core to this component and we look forward to seeing what Year 9 come up with this year.

Year 10: Students are relishing taking on their role as leaders in the Junior Boarding Houses and being strong mentors as Cracks. They are crucial to our pastoral care programme in that they are often the first person a young student will talk to about problems they may be experiencing at School. Year 10 girls are congratulated on being important role models to our junior students.

Mrs Merrilee Harris, Director of Jamieson Programme and Head of Careers

Sport

NSWCIS Touch Football 18&U team as an IGSA Sport representative
Heidi Rowntree (Year 10), selected to represent IGSA in the U18 team Friday 29 April, where she played very well against the Senior players. Unfortunately, she just missed out on the opportunity to play in the NSWCIS U18 team.

U15 Netball IGSA Trials
Claudia Henderson (Year 9) was successful in being selected for the IGSA U15 Netball team. She will now take part in the U15 Netball Challenge Day, 9 August, in the bid to be selected for the NSWCIS U15 netball team.

U18 CIS Basketball Team
Mia Shakeshaft (Year 12) has been selected for the U18 IGSA Basketball team. She will play in the All Schools tournament, Thursday 5 May.

IGSA Cross Country Carnival Friday 13 May
The IGSA Cross Country Carnival will be taking place Friday 13 May. All parents of competitors are welcome to attend the event.

IGSA Pink Round Saturday 7 May
Round 2 of IGSA will be the Mother’s Day round with students supporting the BCNA. Students are encouraged to wear pink hair ribbons and pink playing socks. If supporters attending can wear a splash of pink on the day to support the cause it would be appreciated.

Frensham Biathlon
On Sunday 1 May Frensham held the Run/Swim Biathlon. Students had the opportunity to join a team and select the running leg of 3k or the swimming leg 300m for Year 7 and 400m for Juniors and Senior students.

Year 7

• 1st: Maisie Stanley, Amber Thomas, Chloe Worner-Tomlinson 17:26
• 2nd: Holly Fagan, Georgina Boag, Francesca Cay 18:37
• 3rd: Lili Bell, Genevieve McLelland 19:23

Juniors

• 1st: Sophie Hanrahan, Tia Thomas (Year 9) 18:25
• 2nd: Skye McLelland, Penny Cay (Year 9) 18:50
• 3rd: Camilla Ranken, Camilla Johnston (Year 9) 18:51

Seniors

• 1st: Phoebe Gilder, Lucy Molineux, Miliana Thompson (Year 10) 21:08
• 2nd: Mia Shakeshaft, Isobel Harrington (Year 12) 21:48
• 3rd: Maggie Ryan, Lottie Firth (Year 10) 22:05

Mr Shane Green, Acting Head of Sport

Visual Arts

In Term 1, Year 11 students studying Visual Arts explored social and political issues in the world as part of the “These are Desperate Times” unit. Employing printmaking as the primary medium to express ideas, the students used a range of specific techniques, such as dry-point etching, lino-printing, mono-printing and eucalyptus lift printing in varied ways. In addition to developing concepts for artmaking, working within the expressive form of printmaking gave students the opportunity to test aspects of this media ahead of the HSC Visual Arts course beginning in Term 4. The standard of work produced collectively by students was excellent, showcasing individually their diverse skills and interests.

Mr Phil Alldis, Head of Visual Arts and Design & Technology

Show Cattle Team – Sydney Royal Easter Show

State Paraders Final (qualified at Moss Vale Zone Finals): 1^st - Judith Hopkins (Year 12) and Rocky (Simmental); Reserve Champion - Judith Hopkins. School Paraders: 2^nd - Tia Thomas (Year 9) and Rocky (Simmental).

Herdsman Best Maintained Team competition: 1^st – Frensham. Judged on the stall area, cattle, students and display. Frensham’s display celebrated the 200 years of the Royal Agricultural Society showing old Easter Show beef cattle judging photos, old farm equipment and tools and past School Steer and School Paraders results.

The Simmental breed was the feature breed of the Show celebrating 50 years of Simmentals in Australia. Competing in the separate Simmental-only classes: Simmental Middleweight Led Steer: 4^th - Smiggle led by Tia Thomas; Intermediate Paraders (15 - 17 years): 2^nd - Judith Hopkins leading Rocky.

Steer Classes: Heavyweight School Led Steer: 3^rd - Rocky led by Judith Hopkins; Middleweight Open Led Steer: 4^th - Ringo (Angus) led by Maggie Waldren (Year 12). Class 3 Heavyweight School Steer Carcass: Bronze medal – Rocky (Simmental). Class 8 Middle weight Open Carcass: Bronze medal – Smiggle (Simmental); Class 10 Middleweight Open Carcass: 1^st – Virtual Taste Test – Ringo (Angus).

Acknowledgement to

• Frensham’s Show Cattle Team for their success at the Sydney Royal Easter Show. We would also like to thank Frensham parents, Nicole and John Hopkins (Wormbete Simmentals, Illabo) and Kate and Anthony Waldren (Nandawar, Nimmitabel), who bred Rocky (Simmental) and Ringo (Angus), respectively, for their wonderful support of Frensham and the Agricultural Programme over many years.
• Luca de Manincor (Year 10) for her selection to the University of Sydney’s under 16 Water Polo Team, the team went on to win Bronze at the National Water Polo Youth Championships, Brisbane, held during the vacation.
• Frensham students competing as IGSA team representatives: Heidi Rowntree (Year 10) U18 Touch Football, Claudia Henderson (Year 9) U15 Netball, Mia Shakeshaft (Year 12) U18 Basketball.

Ms Sarah McGarry
Head of Frensham
Head of Frensham Schools

The end of Term 1

When speaking with the School last week I encouraged students to finish well, to apply their best efforts to the final weeks of term – after all, musicians don’t just decide not to play to the double bar line at the end of a piece, distance runners don’t hear the final lap bell and slow down to take it easy, and actors don’t fade out on the last page of a script and back away off stage. Finishing well is as important in life as it is in Sport or the Arts, with the traits of persistence and commitment a determining factor in life satisfaction and success.

I wish to commend all students and staff for their fine efforts in what has been, at times, a challenging term. The grit and resilience shown by our community in the face of COVID-induced disruption and weather events has been admirable.

At Tuesday evening’s Sport Celebration we gathered as a community to celebrate and recognise individual and team achievements and efforts across the term, and those acknowledgements missed due to the cancellation of End of Term Prayers will be celebrated in our first Prayers back on Wednesday 27 April 2022. We celebrate the efforts of the team representing Frensham at the IGSA Swimming Carnival on Friday 25 March, for a very strong set of results and a fine culmination of the term’s training and preparation. Whilst we missed quite a bit of IGSA Sport fixtures as a result of inclement weather this term, when we did have the opportunity to welcome opponents to Frensham our teams played with skill and enthusiasm and it was so gratifying to welcome parents, families and their pet dogs to the Games Field. Our parent volunteers and student baristas have set a high bar with service at the Pavilion and we look forward with hope to some clearer weekends and a more consistent next season.

It has been thoroughly enjoyable this term to gather more frequently as a Frensham Schools community, and are looking ahead with enthusiasm to the events planned in Term Two. Last Friday’s Gib Gate Fair was a true delight (holding Caramello the Guinea Pig was my personal highlight) and a wonderful preview for the Gib Gate Open Day on Saturday 30 April. At Frensham I highlight in particular the Father-Daughter Ball on 14 May, our Fellowship Reunion Picnic on 21 May and our Year 12 and Birthday Weekend on 4 June.

ANZAC DAY

Frensham Schools has a strong tradition of participation and contribution in our local commemoration of Anzac Day. Students of Frensham and Gib Gate are invited to represent Frensham Schools at the Mittagong RSL Sub Branch ANZAC Day 2022 Memorial March and Ceremony.

Students, Parents and Carers are asked meet Ms McGarry and Ms Chauncy at the Carpark area behind Highlands Fresh (Albion St) at 10:15am. Students will need to wear their full winter uniform including blazers, stockings and hats (Frensham).

The March to the Cenotaph will commence at 10:35am and the Service will commence at 10:45am. Would you please advise if your child is able to participate in the ANZAC March via this link: ANZAC Day March (Mittagong) Attendance, response required by Thursday 21 April.

Gib Gate and Frensham students will march together for this event and we thank Parents and Carers in advance for your support for this significant annual community event.

Frensham will be holding an Anzac Day Prayer Reflection on Friday 29 April here at school, and students and staff with family connections to the Defence Forces who would like to participate have been asked to contact senior staff to express their interest. We welcome this involvement.

We wish all students, staff and families a restful vacation period and a joyful Easter. May this time together provide you with the opportunity for rest and reflection.

Staffing

• Ms Sally Fennell will be remaining as Year 12 Coordinator whilst stepping back from the role of Deputy Head of Boarding from the beginning of Term 2.
• Wishing Sophie Piper well for Long Service in Term 2

Acknowledgement to

• Zoe Gallagher (Year 12), Eliza Mulligan (Year 11), Maggie Ryan (Year 10) for selection to the Under 18’s Southern Highlands Representative Field Hockey Team, competing at the NSW State Field Championships in May.
• Zali Walters (Year 7) for selection to play representative Netball for the Southern Highlands Netball Association.
• Heidi Rowntree (Year 10) for selection to the IGSA Touch Team.
• Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award recipients, Silver: Sarah Partland, Jessica Savage (Year 11); Bronze: Poppy Carter, Emily Crawford, Jemima Sealy, Imogen Smith, Georgia Squire-Wilson, Miliana Thompson (Year 10).
• University of Sydney Year 10 (2021) Academic Achievement Award recipient: Bella Cay, Year 11 2022.
• Phoebe Clifton (Year 12) for qualifying to be part of the NSW Equestrian Team and competing at the Australasian Show Horse and Rider Championships (Nationals) in Child's Large Open Hack Class. Qualifying for the NSW Team, Phoebe was Reserve Champion at the NSW Horse of the Year event, October 2020.
• The Year 11 Mock Trial Team for their commitment to the programme and recent success in competition.

Ms Sarah McGarry
Head of Frensham
Head of Frensham Schools

Welcoming family and friends back to campus

It was delightful to be able to welcome family and friends back to campus for our Year Ten Parent Weekend, with Parent-Teacher interviews occurring on Saturday and a Service and Concert open to our whole community on Sunday morning. Thank you to staff and students for your efforts across the weekend, and to parents and carers for your warm support. Acknowledgement to student performances from Year Ten String quartet, Frensham Madrigals, Maggie Ryan on piano and the toe-tapping “You’ve Got a Friend in Me” from the entire year group. We enjoyed student illustrations for The Day the Crayons Quit, and the Senior Choir anthem Sing Gently.

Parent Weekends are some of the most significant times in our school calendar, and after two years of not being able to gather as an entire school community, we recognise how special these times are. As so many families travel long distances to meet their daughter’s teachers and other families, to watch Sport and to gather socially, we remind families that all students are required to attend Sunday Service and Concert – not just students in the nominated year level. Please refer to the School’s glossy calendar, and the published list of Important Dates, to ensure these important weekends are prioritised.

Parent Zoom Meetings

We are pleased to invite parents of students in Years 8, 9, 11 and 12 to Zoom meetings next Monday 28 March and Tuesday 29 March. Head Ms Sarah McGarry and other staff relevant to your daughter’s year group will be presenting, providing parents and carers with an update about what their daughters are working on in their learning and pastoral programmes, introducing staff who are working with each year group and providing guidance about how parents can best support their daughter at this stage of their development. Full details can be found on your daughter’s year level page on Schoolbox.

Student Accommodation Project

As our community may be aware, the Land and Environment Court has this week been hearing our case, seeking a decision on our development application for our Student Accommodation Project located in the Lower Holt. At the time of the publication of this newsletter, the hearing is ongoing. We look forward to being able to share updated information with our community following the conclusion of the hearing and the subsequent decision from the Court, the timing of which is uncertain at this point.

Staffing News

We are looking forward to welcoming our new Deputy Head, Ms Sarah Tynan, to Frensham Schools in Term Two. Ms Tynan will be visiting campus prior to the end of this term to meet students and staff. Ms van Gogh will continue in the role of Acting Deputy Head until Mrs Tynan commences in May.

We welcome Mrs Penelope Ellice-Flint, who commenced last week as Frensham Fellowship Liaison and Community Relations Coordinator, and Mrs Leanne Stone, who commences on Monday 28 March, as Communications and Publications Associate.

We farewell the following members of staff, and thank them sincerely for their service to Frensham Schools.

• Ms Jeannette Gibson joined the Boarding Staff in 2010 and over that time led Hartfield House and latterly was with Kennedy House. Mrs Gibson retires having given notable service to the Boarding programme in particular and we thank her for her contribution.
• Mrs Machelle Webb, who leaves the HSIE faculty after nearly 18 years of service. During this time Machelle lead the Young Achievers and MUNA teams to great success.
• Mr Andrew Lundy, joined the Frensham HSIE Faculty last year 
• Mrs Renae Pinazza from our Music Department will be heading off at the end of term to The King’s School, Tudor House, leading their Primary Music programme.
• Miss Nicky Fenaughty, our Gib Gate PE and Sport teacher, is moving to Sydney at the end of term, to Redlands School, overseeing their K-12 Snowsports and Cross Country programmes as well as teaching.

Pastoral Care

Confirmation programme and Baptism – Year 10, 11 and 12 2022 – with update to dates

As part of our Confirmation Programme, Frensham provides the opportunity for girls in Years 10-12 to be Confirmed by the Anglican Church. Girls will be prepared for Confirmation by Youth Minister Matt Jacobs. This involves six 50-minute sessions on Thursday mornings from 10.45am-11.35am on 9, 16, 23 June, 21 and 28 July and 4 August.

The Confirmation Service will be held on Sunday 7 August at St Jude’s, Bowral at 3.30pm and will be conducted by the Right Reverend Hayward, Bishop of Wollongong.

If you would like your daughter to be part of the Anglican Confirmation Programme, could you please complete the following form regarding Baptism information by Friday 1 April. Confirmation 2022

Youth Minister Matt Jacobs has also offered to support any girl wishing to be baptised in the Anglican faith. Please email Mrs Fawbert directly for further details.

Mrs Wendy Fawbert, Director of Character Education and Pastoral Care

Sport

Swimming Clinic with James Magnussen

On Saturday 12 March, James Magnussen ran a Swimming Development Programme. He discussed motivation, nutrition, mobility and injury prevention, and encouraged the girls to focus on developing all the areas. James commented “I hope everyone enjoyed the morning and I look forward to doing it again. Thank you for investing in yourself and I look forward to seeing more great swimming to come”. The girls that attended the programme were: Millie Moar, Phoebe Clifton, Sophie Hanrahan, Tia Thomas, Amber Thomas, Holly Fagan, Camilla Johnston and Lucy Arnott.

Mr Shane Green, Head of Sport (2022)

Tildesley Tennis Shield

The girls played exceptionally well and worked hard for every point. Our lines girls, who led each court, did an excellent job at representing Frensham.

Singles: progressing to the second round - Camilla Ranken (Year 9), Lucinda Colgan (Year 10), Elyse Caristo (Year 12), Ze McGrath (Year 12). Doubles: Olivia Laverty (Year 12) & Bridie Turner (Year 11); progressing to the third round - Emily Lenehan (Year 12) & Mia Greig (Year 12). Reserve player: Sophie Goodisson (Year 9).

The Lines Girls: Annabelle Studdy (Year 12), Charlotte Hopperton (Year 11), Matilda Chadwick (Year 11), Emilie McMurtrie (Year 11), Isabella Bernecker (Year 10), Elizabeth Shadbolt (Year 9), Claire Mitchell (Year 9).

Ms Molly Macqueen, Tildesley Tennis Coordinator and Year 8 Coordinator

Acknowledgement to

• Frensham Tildesley Tennis participants, players and lines girls for their commitment and success at the recent competition.
• NSW Parliament Art Competition - Regional category winner Years 3-6: Sammy Robb (Year 3)
• Gib Gate Swimming Team for its success at the IPSHA Swimming Carnival: Iliana Hercus, Camille Muir (Year 3); Archie Driver, Tara Gemell, Madeleine Hannah; Valentina Hercus, Zahra Nash, Sofia Wilson (Year 4); Madeline Conway, Emma Stedman (Year 5); Darcey Burrows, Sophie Chin, Mae Gilkeson, Gemma McInnes, Matilda Spong (Year 6).  (Details of individual results can be found in the Gib Gate section.)
• Gib Gate staff member, Mrs Lisa Gemell: presenting at the recent NSW Japanese Teachers’ Conference.

 

Ms Sarah McGarry
Head of Frensham
Head of Frensham Schools

What a week it has been! We thank all families for their support and understanding as we have experienced extraordinary weather in the Southern Highlands, impacting our community widely and reminding us all of the unstoppable forces of nature.

Right: Birthday Island (photo: Lulu Duck, Year 12)

Outdoor Education and Senior Studies Week

Our thanks go to all staff and students involved in last week’s programme. Despite some challenging weather conditions, and some necessary amendments, all year levels completed successful programmes with a visible impact on year group cohesion and confidence upon their return to classes on Friday. These programmes are designed carefully to provide age-appropriate, developmental activities which help students to develop vital skills of teamwork, independence, creative problem-solving and resilience – all aspects of our Character Education framework. It has been extremely rewarding to see students meet these challenges with optimism and confidence and to reflect on their experience so positively.

Research: Why choose a Boarding School?

Independent Schools Australia have engaged AEC to undertake an assessment of the socio-economic benefits of Boarding Schools to the state/territory and national economies. This information will be used in advocating for Boarding Schools to decision-makers and funders. In support of this assessment, Independent Schools Australia in collaboration with AISNSW, invite parent and carer input regarding the main reasons parents and caregivers opt to send children to Boarding School, the alternative educational outcomes/ experiences for these children were they not to attend Boarding School, and the benefits these children receive from attending Boarding School.

The survey will take less than five (5) minutes to complete. Your participation in this study is completely voluntary and all responses will be held confidentially with no way to identify respondents. Frensham does not receive any results of the survey and you may opt out at any time by exiting the survey. However, it is very important for the voices of Boarding School families to be included. The survey will be available for participation until Friday, 18 March 2022 – please click here to complete.

East Coast Flooding

As much of Australia’s East Coast has been affected by flooding events, it has been heartening to see that even despite the tragedy and disaster being experienced in some areas, the kindness of strangers and the generosity of humans towards each other in times of emergency, helping to provide hope and optimism even on very challenging days. We remain confident and hopeful that this same spirit will emerge again, as it has in communities affected by these floods and other disasters across our country. We have seen extraordinary examples of everyday leadership from people in our communities who may not considered traditional or formal leaders – but in times of crisis, we all lead in our own way. Examples include those citizens who used their own resources to rescue neighbours stranded on their properties, assisted them to move stock, housed people unable to stay in their own homes, contributed to cleanup efforts and generally extended a hand of compassion and support.

It can be difficult in situations such as this to feel as though we can make a practical impact from a distance. The coastal communities of NSW are home to over 100 regional Independent schools and tens of thousands of students, who are part of our wider Independent schools community. Many have experienced damage to their homes and have lost school equipment such as laptops, books and uniforms.

You can directly support affected students now by clicking on this link to donate to the Australian Independent Schools Fund’s (AISF) Flood Relief Appeal.

The AISF was established in 2017 by the Association of Independent Schools of NSW to provide tax deductable financial donations directly to disadvantaged students, including those needing emergency relief due to natural disasters such as bushfires, floods and storms. In 2020, the AISF distributed more than $600,000 directly within days to 176 families who had suffered catastrophe in the summer bushfires. A further $263,700 went directly to 76 families impacted by storms and floods the same year. This funding was delivered to affected families within days and their gratitude was overwhelming.

All donations over $2 are tax deductible and a receipt will be generated and emailed to you automatically. The AISF has no administrative costs; every dollar donated will go directly to supporting flood-affected students and will be distributed to families within days.

Gib Gate K-2 Swimming Carnival
We have postponed this exciting event in the Frensham Schools Calendar to Thursday 17 March, to allow as many students as possible to participate.

Frensham Creativity
It was with significant relief that we saw the clouds clear late on Wednesday afternoon, with blue skies appearing briefly to allow some much-anticipated sunshine through. Katerina Peniazeva (Year 8) was inspired to write this optimistic Haiku (Japanese poetic form) which we share with her permission.

Frensham hopeful mornings
A sunny clear day
Hymns are beautifully sung
The iris gives hope

Boarding

Boarding at Frensham has been utilising the Schoolbox platform with success over the past few terms and it is with great delight that we launch the new and improved Boarding at Frensham Schoolbox pages for parent and student use. Schoolbox is the place where all boarding information is found and where your questions should be answered through the vast array of information and documents that are available for reference. New and exciting editions to the pages will be posted over the coming weeks.

The overall Boarding Page has been restructured to also include the addition of House pages that contain contact details for the Houses, information about the Houses, the staff who work within the Houses, Daily and Weekly Routines, Jobs Rosters and phone times. In addition to these House Pages, you will find links to Boarding FAQs, Exeat and Leave forms, Bus Sign Up Forms, Friday Night Activities and Weekend Programmes. You will also find important contacts for members of the Boarding Team and Blog Posts that showcase our weekend activities. It is hoped that this will allow for further transparency of the Boarding Programme, allowing accessibility to be streamlined and provide a place where all of your boarding needs can be met in one location.

I would also like to take this opportunity to provide a friendly reminder that in order for all leave requests to be managed and approved, Exeats must be completed by midday on Wednesday each open weekend. Our team appreciates your support in meeting this deadline each weekend. 

You are encouraged to familiarise yourself with our Boarding and House pages on Schoolbox as all information will be provided there. Many of these updates will be available from Week 6. 

Boarding Status Change Requests
A reminder to all families, as previously communicated this week, of the request to please complete the following simple questionnaire, accessible by clicking here. Even if you have already submitted a direct request to change Boarding status we would appreciate you providing this information again to assist us in ensuring that we have captured all Boarding requests for Term 2. Please complete this information no later than Friday 11 March 2022.

Please note that approval of a change in Boarding status is subject to availability and that all places are offered in accordance with the School’s enrolment process.

Ms Sally Edwards, Director of Student Life (Boarding)

National Art School HSC Intensive Studio Practice courses for 2022

Information regarding National Art School HSC Intensive Studio Practice courses for 2022 is available online on the National Art School’s website (link below), and has been communicated to students studying Visual Arts in Year 11. The courses provide opportunities for students to develop skills in specific media in a stimulating creative environment. For several years, students have been offered and accepted places in these highly sought-after courses.  

Mrs Spencer and I can assist students in preparing applications, which will include examples of work (which will be uploaded to the NAS). Application Forms, signed by the student, parents/guardians, Mr Alldis/Mrs Spencer, together with specific examples of a student's artmaking practice, are to be submitted online by the deadline of Friday 8 April (Week 10 / Term 1). Offers of places will be made by the NAS to students in Term 2, usually by about Week 4.

To be eligible for entry applicants must:

• be in Year 11,
• be nominated by their Visual Arts teacher, and
• be achieving at a high level in their Visual Arts studies.

During the NAS HSC Intensive Studio Practice the student will:

• work within a specialised discipline using a broad range of media and art making processes
• refine their ability to interpret and evaluate their own and others’ artworks
• engage in sustained critical reflection and evaluation
• gain practical skills in preparing for, mounting and curating an exhibition

Course Overview

The NAS HSC Intensive Studio Practice is designed to enhance and extend students’ technical, conceptual and intellectual skills under the direction of experienced, practising artists, through intensive practical study in one of the following disciplines: black and white photography, ceramics, digital photography, life drawing*, painting, printmaking and sculpture*.

*In keeping with post-school degree course practice, drawing and sculpture classes will include undraped life models.

Course Modules and Dates (you must be available to complete both modules)

• Module 1: Tuesday 12 – Friday 15 July 2022
• Module 2: Monday 26 – Friday 30 September 2022

The NAS HSC Intensive Studio Practice will still appear on the student’s HSC certificate as a one Unit course but will not contribute to the student’s ATAR count. NAS will issue each student with a “Statement of Results” which will include a mark out of 50.

The fee for courses in 2022 is $400. Students requiring boarding accommodation are asked to pay an additional $400 ($800 total).

Note about Boarding: Boarding is strictly limited and will be offered only to regional students who have no other accommodation alternatives. Boarding students will be offered share accommodation at a nearby hotel and will be supervised at all times by two teachers. Students living within the Sydney Metropolitan and Blue Mountains area, the Central Coast and Wollongong will not be offered boarding facilities and will need to commute.  

For more detailed information, follow the link to the HSC Intensive Studio Practice Brochure and Application Forms. HSC Intensive Studio Practice: https://nas.edu.au/hsc-intensive-studio-practice

Mr Phil Alldis, Head Visual Arts and Design & Technology

Drama

After only four weeks of life at Frensham, Year 7 students displayed creativity and cohesion in the Year 7 Concert held as part of their Parent Year Weekend in Clubbe Hall. For their dramatic performances, both classes adapted a well-known picture book for the stage. Under the direction of Mrs Sally Hannah, 7G performed Liliana Stafford’s book, Amelia Ellicott’s Garden and 7P performed the much-loved children’s book, Princess Smartypants by Babette Cole. Year 7 enjoyed performing for their family members and staff. To celebrate Year 7’s success, both groups performed their work during Friday Prayers for the rest of the school community. The students were so proud of what they had achieved in such a short period of time. They had fun and demonstrated a strong ability to work as an ensemble while showcasing their acting skills. They entered the stage confidently and exited the stage with large smiles on their faces in response to the rapturous applause they received from the audience.

The Birthday Play for 2022 is Clue (High School Edition), adapted from the Screenplay by Jonathan Lynn. Based on the popular board game and adapted from the cult classic film, Clue is the comedy whodunit that will keep you guessing (and laughing) to the end. The comedy mystery features a range of eccentric characters. Directed by Mrs Sally Hannah, auditions started this week with Years 11 and 12 students in preparation for rehearsals, commencing in Week 7.

Mrs Sally Hannah, Head of Drama

Livestock Team Report

While the wet weather caused the cancellation of the Braidwood Show, the Sheep Team were able to attend the Goulburn Show on Saturday 5 March. Although a very humid day, the weather stayed dry up until our departure.

The results from the Sheep Competition:

Novice Poll Dorset Ewe Lamb: 1^st – Tag 880 led by Goldie Munro, 2^nd – tag 987 led by Sophie Hanrahan; Poll Dorset Ewe Lamb: 3^rd – tag 969 led by Maggie Maynard, 4^th – tag 786 led by Jemima Melki. Pair Poll Dorset Ewe Lambs: 1^st – tags 863 + 867 led by Leilani Palise and Lucia Semple, 2^nd – tags 696 + 873 led by Lucy Booth and Elyse Caristo. Poll Dorset ewe, 1 year and under 2 years: 3^rd – Purple tag 17 led by Lucy Arnott. Meat Breeds Sheep Young Judges Competition: Under 15 years: 4^th – Leilani Palise, 5^th – Maggie Maynard. Over 15 years: 3^rd - Ella van Egmond, 4^th – Lucy Arnott. Sheep Handlers Competition: Under 15 years: 1^st - Charlotte Cooper, 2^nd – Goldie Munro, 3^rd – Sophie Hanrahan, 5^th – Maggie Maynard. Over 15 years: 3^rd – Ella van Egmond.

In between the Beef Young Judges Competition and the Sheep Handlers Competition, a Senior Frensham Team and a Junior Frensham Team, of four students each, competed in the Young Farmers Challenge. The event was a timed with entrants completing a range of farm related tasks such as drenching sheep, moving hay bales, riding a motorbike through an obstacle course, milking a cow and constructing a length of fence. The girls performed very well against many other teams; the results were as follows – 2^nd Frensham Junior Team – Lucia Semple, Amelia Riddle, Sophie Hanrahan and Lucy Arnott; 3^rd – Frensham Senior Team – Elyse Caristo, Ella van Egmond, Jemima Melki and Lucy Arnott (with Lucy competing in both Teams).

The next event for the Sheep Team will be the Camden Show on Friday 1 April.

Unfortunately, the wet weather in the Highlands has caused the cancellation of the Robertson Show for the Cattle Team and for the students entered in the Grain and Fruit & Vegetable Young Judges Competitions, next weekend.

Ms Leonie Mutch, Coordinator of the Livestock Team

Sport – Southern Highlands High School Swimming Event

Frensham hosted the annual SHHS Swimming event Friday 25 February. Local community schools included Oxley College, Chevalier College and Southern Highlands Christian School.

Congratulations to all the students involved in the event. Students are now preparing for the IGSA Swimming carnival, Friday 25 March.

• Breaststroke – 50m: 12 years: 1^st Sophia Nesci; 13 years: 1^st Amber Thomas; 14 years: 1^st Tia Thomas; 15 years: 3^rd Sophie Hanrahan; 17 years: 1^st Lucy Arnott; 18 years: 2^nd Phoebe Clifton.
• Backstroke – 50m: 13 years: 2^nd Sienna Donat; 12 years: 1^st Sophia Nesci; 16 years: 1^st Sarah-Joy Day; 17 years: 1^st Millie Moar; 18 years: 2^nd Rosie Schmidt.
• Butterfly (50m): 13 years: 1^st Amber Thomas; 14 years: 1^st Tia Thomas; 17 years: 2^nd Millie Moar; 18 years: 1^st Rosie Schmidt, 2^nd Phoebe Clifton.
• Freestyle – 50m: 14 years: 1^st Claudia Maple Brown, 2^nd Tia Thomas; 17 years: 1^st Lucy Arnott; 18 years: 2^nd Jemima Graham-Wansey. (100m): 12 years: 2^nd Sophia Nesci; 14 years: 1^st Tia Thomas; 15 years: 3^rd Sophie Hanrahan; 16 years: Sarah-Joy Day.

Mr Shane Green, Head of Sport (2022)

Acknowledgement to

• Show Sheep team for competing at Goulburn Show.
• Frensham Swimming Team members for their successes at the Southern Highlands High School Swimming Event.

Ms Sarah McGarry
Head of Frensham
Head of Frensham Schools

Year 7 Parent Weekend and Welcome Function

It is with great delight that we received the news today that in the coming weeks, schools will be able to welcome visitors back onto campus and to host school community events with appropriate precautions in place. The ability to gather in person is just so vital as we reconnect as a community in 2022. We are looking forward to welcoming our Year 7 Parents to the upcoming Year Weekend, with Parent-Teacher Interviews on Saturday and the Year 7 Service and Concert on Sunday morning. We look also forward to meeting parents of new Gib Gate and Frensham students at Saturday evening’s Welcome Function, hosted by the Board of Governors, Foundation and Senior Staff, to be held at the Old Fitzroy Inn. With Frensham Fellowship and Frensham Advisory Committees also meeting this week, February is a big “Frensham Community” month here on campus.

Despite the challenging start to the term, and some disruption because of COVID-19, students and staff have settled well into the necessary routines and we are starting to see a wonderful energy about the campus once again. The sounds of singing as a school, War Cries on the Games Field, Saturday Holt Café coming back to life and, of course, the energy of learning in classrooms, in the Esther Tuckey Library and on our first excursions for some time. Thank you to families for your support and understanding over these first three weeks, particularly having to navigate periods of isolation for some students. Please do not hesitate to contact your daughter’s Year Coordinator or Form Tutor to discuss your daughter’s progress. A reminder that your daughter’s Year Level page on Schoolbox is a great place to start to understand what is happening in each year group and Form Programme.

This week we bid farewell to Ms Michele Scamps, our Facilities Manager - a passionate lifetime supporter of the Schools who has shown great commitment to high quality work. Commencing in February 2009 as the Director of the Winifred West Schools Foundation Centenary Appeal, Ms Scamps has contributed generously across several areas of Frensham Schools during her tenure, including (but certainly not limited to) the organisation of major school community events, the leadership of very successful fundraising programmes and functions, oversight of our Facilities and Maintenance operations and providing stewardship with her significant corporate knowledge of Frensham Schools. We acknowledge the extensive work Michele has led and overseen throughout these past two years as a result of COVID-19, and her incomparable work ethic and commitment, and wish her the very best in her retirement.

Pen & Ink 2021 Edition

A book is not completed till it’s read. ~ Salman Rushdie

The 2021 edition can be purchased from Company Office for $15.00 by students or can be posted to you. To order online, please follow this link.

Contributors to the 2021 Edition are:

YEAR 12 2021: Natasha Alexander, Grace Amos, Jessica Billett, Ella Clark, Meg Fairrie, Eliza Friend, Grace Lewis, Natasha Long, Madeleine Mulligan, Sophie Perkins, Isabelle Promnitz, Georgia Shakeshaft, Taylah Stoney, Jemima Storch, Eleanor Swan.

YEAR 12 2022: Ankitha Avvari, Maya Basson, Yusra Chalak, Isolde Cochet, Lulu Duck, Zoe Gallagher, Judith Hopkins, Holly Horsfall, Olivia Laverty, Emily Lenehan, Phoebe Lyne, Zé McGrath, Phoebe Rowntree, Charlotte Senior, Emily Senior, Matilda Walker.

YEAR 10 2022: Scarlett Alldis, Monique Andersson, Bella Cay, Ali Corbett, Sarah-Joy Day, Sissy Fairrie, Saskia Hilkemeijer, Charlotte Hopperton, Heidi Jervis, Meg Jones, Savannah Linde, Darcy Maple-Brown, Millie Moar, Eliza Mulligan, Freyjika Parker, Sarah Partland, Hannah Perkins, Phoebe Rouse.

YEAR 10 2022: Madeleine Charters, Kate Clifton, Charlie Delahunt-Higgins, Matilda Graham, Millie Gale, Claudia Hampson, Penelope Hill, Abbey Kuiper, Imogen Smith and Minnie Wiggins.

YEAR 9 2022: Sophie Chen, Jade Cox, Hannah Day, Lauren Fox, Sophie Hanrahan, Camilla Johnston, Elizabeth Laverty, Skye McLelland, Alice Mulligan, Raphaela O’Neill’Siambis, Chloe White.

YEAR 8 2022: Milly Debelle Hancock, York Doyle, Fran Gelonesi.

Ms Kate Chauncy, Director of Teaching and Learning P-12; Coordinator of Gifted and Talented Programmes P-12

Boarding

As we settle into the term, we would like to share some reflections from Year 7 students:

My first week at Frensham, was a rollercoaster full of emotions. Uplifted by the spirit of the beautiful melody at morning prayers, a sigh of relief goes through me as I’ve finally made it here. Obviously, I was very nervous, but was always comforted by the older girls. The roar of pride and competitiveness echoes through the campus during Friday war cries. I had no clue what to chant but it was so fun jumping around and clapping in excitement for Saturday Sport. The music bursts out of a speaker, knocks on our door – we all know what that is, war cry fairies! We all love the great fun, off to sport we go. Chants, cheers and encouragement, everyone is always down on the Games Field clapping, and cheering Frensham on. What is better than I thought it would be is the food. The delicious range of cold meats and vegetables for lunch is always very good, breakfast is full of hot food, cereals, and toast. All filling us for a big day ahead. Dinner is always delicious too. What I love most about campus is the huge areas for learning, sport, farming, creativity and recreation. It is beautifully designed and is always carefully looked after. I am really loving high school and have settled in amazingly; everyone is so supportive and helpful. I have really enjoyed the first few weeks and am looking forward to the weeks ahead. Frensham is such a positively spirited school, and I am so grateful to be a part of it. (Madeleine Houston)

My first few weeks have been truly wonderful! I am really enjoying going to morning prayers and singing hymns, doing war cries on Friday and Saturday mornings and enjoying being with friends all day and coming back to see Mrs Parsons. I love the food at school, I thought I wouldn’t like it, but I have really enjoyed it. Also, I thought that only 30 minutes on my phone would be horrible but I now realise that I don’t need my phone and prefer being with my new friends. My favourite place on campus is the deer pond. Going there at morning tea with my friends and talking about how we love school. I love Science because it is not like primary and we get to do actual fun stuff! I love Tech and learning to build and cut materials to make a toy. (Saffron Kable)

At school I enjoy always being busy, whether it be with school (which everyone is) or with sport and the Frensham spirit (which is exhilarating and exhausting) or maybe just getting to bed at night at the right time. I always have things to do and always with great friends. I was not looking forward to prayers, but it is not what I thought it was. We file in and a teacher tells us to sit. I enjoy the meaningful stories shared. I always enjoy the hymns, though I am not very good at singing. I love watching the older girls sing and hear them hitting those notes is crazy cool. The best thing about our school grounds are the red bridges. I have an awesome view of two of them from my window and I have attempted to draw them. Every time I look at them, I imagine a fairy land across them. My favourite class is Tech, I am getting better at cutting the wood and it is really fun seeing everything come together. I also love World Studies and Maths and I can’t wait for Visual Arts next term. I also love the vegie chips and Milo, which Mum should really try in our kitchen. (Chekka Cay)

It has been a wonderful first three weeks in boarding and these reflections are promising indication of how the girls are settling in to Frensham life.

End of Term Travel: From an administrative perspective, parents are encouraged to discuss with their daughter their end of term travel plans. Heads of Houses will be asking for this information shortly to allow for appropriate preparation.

We are looking forward to the Year 7 Parent Weekend and hope to see many of you around the campus.

Ms Sally Edwards, Director of Student Life (Boarding)

ICAS Medal 2021 Award Presentation

Prayers Friday 18 February 2022
Last year Frensham students from Year 7 to 11 elected to participate in the annual ICAS competition test papers across the full range of subjects. These included Mathematics, Science, Writing, Digital Technologies and English.

On the last day of Term 4 2021 the Head was notified that Year 11 student, Zoe Gallagher, had been awarded a Medal for her achievement in the Year 11 English Competition, which was announced at Final Prayers.

Students achieving the top score in each year level in each State are awarded an ICAS Medal. Zoe was one of two students in the NSW Year 11 English ICAS Competition to be awarded the medal and she was in the top 2% of Year 11 participants in Australia.

On Friday 18 February, Zoe was awarded her medal by Ms Sarah McGarry to celebrate her achievement with her parents, Mr Luke and Mrs Kate Gallagher and all her teachers and friends from Years 7 to 12 2022.

Zoe has been entering the ICAS Competitions since she was in Year 3 with notable results annually. As a Year 12 student, completing her HSC in 2022, this will be the last year she can compete and she is very excited to participate in her last year of school!

Ms Kate Chauncy, Director of Teaching and Learning P-12; Coordinator of Gifted and Talented Programmes P-12

Drama

On Wednesday 16 February, students from Years 11 and 12 Drama travelled to Sydney for Onstage, where exemplary performances and projects from the HSC Cohort of 2021 were presented at the Seymour Centre. Students were inspired by the calibre, creativity, and diversity of the work.

On Tuesday 22 February, Zeal Theatre duo Tom Lycos and Stefo Nantsou returned to Frensham with their production of Lucky Country. Lucky Country was created with the assistance of students from International Grammar School in Sydney in late 2015 and premiered in February 2016. Performed in Zeal’s trademark minimalist style and exuberance, Lucky Country is a timely look at multi-cultural Australia, current global debates on the refugee crisis and the role the media plays in shaping public opinion. Following the performance, Stage 5 Drama students participated in a workshop on playbuilding children’s theatre and Year 11 developed skills in group-devised work.

Year 11 Drama students have been studying the techniques of Greek Chorus in their Playbuilding Unit this term. This style is foundational to their preparation for the Group Performance, a mandatory component of the HSC Drama Course. At Friday Prayers on 18 February, they applied their understanding when interpreting the prologue of Beauty and the Beast in a class performance for the whole school to enjoy.

Mrs Sally Hannah, Head of Drama

Livestock Team Report

It was the Sheep Team’s turn to compete when they attended the Crookwell Show on Saturday 12 February. Ten students and ten ewes made the trip and had a very successful day. It was the first event for many of the students and the sheep and all performed well. The results were:

Novice Ewe Lamb - 1^st - led by Sophie Kennedy (Year 9), 2^nd - led by Goldie Munro (Year 8); Pair of Ewe Lambs - 1^st - led by Olivia Cowley & Chartlotte Cooper (Year 7), 2^nd - led by Jocie Corbett & Sophie Hanrahan (Year 9); Ewe, 1 year and under 2 years - 1^st - led by Ella van Egmond (Year 12), 2^nd - led by Lucy Arnott (Year 11).

• Champion Poll Dorset Ewe - by Sophie Kennedy
• Reserve Champion Poll Dorset Ewe - led by Oliva Cowley

Thank you to Mr McMillan for driving the bus and supervising the Team on the day. The next Show for the Sheep Team is the Goulburn Show on Saturday 5 March.

Ms Leonie Mutch, Coordinator of the Livestock Team

Sport – Term 1 Sport Activities

• Cross Country: The Cross Country team has been working extremely hard every Monday and Wednesday morning developing their endurance capacity, running technique and conditioning. Frensham looks forward to another successful season.
• Gymnastics: The Gymnastics team is keen to recommence training.
• Athletics:  Athletics is very popular this term with all girls involved eager to develop their Track and Field skills.

 

Mr Shane Green, Head of Sport (2022)

Acknowledgement to

• Term 4, 2021 Girdle award recipients: Yusra Chalak (Excellence in Public Speaking), Judith Hopkins (Service and Contribution to the School).
• Zoe Gallagher (Year 12) for her award of ICAS Medal for English, in the 2021 ICAS Competition.
• Frensham’s Debating Team for its success at the 2021 AISNSW/NGS National Virtual Debating competition – Winner of the Middle School Division. The team comprised - Year 8, 2021: Penelope Cay, Lauren Fox, Skye McLelland, Lucy Rouse, Sophia Windsor; Year 9, 2021: Bella Cay, Bea McDonald, Clara McDonald, Imogen Smith.
• Duke of Edinburgh’s International Awards recipients: Bronze: Matilda Arnott, Hilary Swan; Silver: Lucy Arnott, Bella Cay, Matilda Chadwick, Alexandra Corbett, Judith Hopkins, Hannah Perkins, Phoebe Rouse.
• Jessica Savage, Hilary Swan (Year 11); Phoebe Gilder, Heidi Rowntree (Year 10) for participating in the recent IGSA Softball Trials.
• Show Sheep team for its success at Crookwell Show: Champion Ewe Lamb - led by Sophie Kennedy; Reserve Champion Ewe Lamb - led by Oliva Cowley.

 

Ms Sarah McGarry
Head of Frensham
Head of Frensham Schools

Term 1 news and activities

We are so pleased to be back at school for 2022 after another unusual summer break. We hope that all families had some opportunity to rest and recharge and are feeling ready to face the year ahead. Students and staff have returned with enthusiasm and optimism for their work, and our campuses are humming with the energy and exuberance so characteristic of our community. As you will see from this newsletter, many aspects of school life are able to resume this term and we are very much looking forward to connecting with our community across the course of this year.

Our first opportunity to connect this is on our Year 7 Parent Weekend at the end of February. Our Open Day format will necessarily be adjusted, but Year 7 parents will still have the opportunity to meet senior staff, have interviews with their daughter’s teachers and to get to the know the campus a little better. We look forward to being able to gather with all families of new students from both Gib Gate and Frensham on Saturday 26 February, with a formal invitation to our Welcome function to be issued in the coming days.

We offer our most sincere congratulations to the Class of 2021, for their excellent results in the HSC and for their contribution to Frensham over their years at the school. Whilst there were opportunities they missed as a result of the global pandemic over their final two years at school, they demonstrated remarkable resilience and have developed a range of other beneficial skills as they move into their lives after school.

We warmly welcome new staff to Frensham Schools in 2022, and staff who are taking on new roles or additional responsibilities. These are listed later in today’s newsletter, as well as being contained in our Information Book and on Schoolbox.

Thank you to all families for your patience and understanding as we navigate updated COVID-19 guidelines and new requirements for school and families – like regular Rapid Antigen Tests. The positive and supportive way our community – staff, students and parents – have responded to these changing requirements is very encouraging indeed. We remind families of the information that is posted on our COVID-19 Information Page on Schoolbox. It can be easy to miss an email but Schoolbox will continue to be the central source for key school information – and if what you are seeking does not seem to be on Schoolbox, please let us know so that we can ensure our communication is timely and relevant for families and that information is readily available.

Activities and Absences

It has been an exciting and busy start to the year and we welcome all new parents and students. Many Co-curricular activities commenced on Monday of Week 2. We are ever-mindful of COVID-19 regulations and considerations and are endeavouring to ensure we conduct all activities safely.

We thank parents for your understanding that there may be some additional documentation required as part of our COVID-19 management plan. Camp information has been sent to parents and please note that the return of medical forms (with detailed information provided) are a priority.

Equipment lists for Outdoor Education Week are located on page 52 of the 2022 Frensham Information Book (located on Schoolbox A-Z Frensham) and information about the programme for each year group has been included in the email to parents and posted on Schoolbox News.

Absences from School
As noted on the staff list found on Schoolbox (A-Z of Frensham – Staff Contacts) and emailed to parents last week, if a student is absent from school due to medical/dental appointment (early advice would be appreciated), illness or injury, please forward an email to absence@frensham.nsw.edu.au The email should contain a note of explanation regarding the absence and an expected return time and/or date.

In accordance with our duty of care, if a student has an unexplained period of absence, a letter will be mailed to parents or guardians requesting written confirmation. Legislation requires that the School keep written documentation of all absences.  

All requests for Special Family Leave should be made in writing to the Head (frensham@frensham.nsw.edu.au), well in advance of the event, to allow consideration and a written response. Requests for Leave for Sport can be sent to jvangogh@frensham.nsw.edu.au

Ms Janene van Gogh, Deputy Head of Frensham (Acting, Term 1)

Boarding

Frensham has come back to life after the holiday season, with the sound of singing and laughter echoing throughout the grounds. It has been wonderful to welcome the girls back to Term 1. This term, we see a number of new students joining us in Years 8-11 and celebrate the beginning of a new chapter with our class of 2027 having arrived on Monday 31 January. Despite some natural homesickness and the challenges involved in the transition into secondary school, a new school and into a boarding environment, overwhelmingly the girls have had a wonderful first week and weekend at Frensham. Year 7 students are getting to know their way around Frensham, even meeting Philip the Donkey on a leisurely walk around the grounds. We have been pleased to see our Day Boarders joining for a range of activities after school and on our Closed Weekend.

This weekend saw the girls excited to participate in the Friday night activities organised by the senior girls. Years 7 and 8 played Bingo, while Years 9 and 10 enjoyed a ‘Just Dance’ event. The School was a hive of activity and energy setting a positive tone for the weekend. The girls were kept busy with Sports trials on Saturday morning followed by a fun-filled programme including mindfulness, games, study, yoga, craft, Crack meetings and movies. A very special activity that many girls were involved in was ‘Kindness Rocks’. This involved girls painting and creating art on rocks that will be placed around the school for other girls to find, brightening their day. A beautiful opportunity to spread kindness throughout our community. 

Despite COVID-19 still being a factor in the boarding environment we are thrilled to report that the girls are managing the situation with understanding and ease. Frensham Boarding is thankful to be embarking on another exciting term for our young women and we look forward to sharing the special Frensham spirit and culture of community between all students.

Ms Sally Edwards, Director of Student Life (Boarding)

ICAS Results 2021

Frensham students from Years 7 to 11 achieved excellent results for the 2021 ICAS Assessments. ICAS Assessments are online assessments, designed to recognise and reward academic excellence. The assessments are based on the curricula for the relevant year but students are asked to demonstrate a deeper, integrated, and thorough level of knowledge. ICAS assesses the higher order thinking and problem-solving skills needed for success in English, Mathematics, Science, Writing and Digital Technologies. Every year schools around the globe participate in ICAS which provides a robust international benchmark of student achievement.

Frensham students have been awarded certificates of Merit, Credit, Distinction and High Distinction. We congratulate all of them on the outstanding results.

Distinction Awards place students in the top 10% of the international cohort for 2021 and we highlight this achievement by:  Anouk Davies (English and Digital Technologies), Millicent Debelle Hancock (English) (Year 7); Sophie Goodisson (Writing), Sophie Hanrahan (Writing, Science and Mathematics), Georgina Lewis (Mathematics) (Year 8); Claudia Hampson (Writing), Cate Horsfall (English and Writing); Sophie Simpson (English, Science and  Mathematics); Imogen Smith (English); Sidney Wheeler (Mathematics and Writing) (Year 9); Hilary Swan (Mathematics) (Year 10) and Zoe Gallagher (English) (Year 11).

ICAS English

• Year 7: Distinction: Millicent Debelle Hancock; Anouk Davies. Credit: York Doyle; Lucia Semple; Jade Neilson; Lexi Wimalaratne.
• Year 8: Credit: Raphaela O’Neill’Siambis; Skye McLelland; Jade Cox.
• Year 9: Distinction: Sophie Simpson; Cate Horsfall; Imogen Smith. Credit: Emily Crawford; Sidney Wheeler; Claudia Hampson; Amy Wimalaratne.
• Year 10: Credit: Summer Oxley; Sophie Hassall; Sissy Fairrie; Augusta Muir; Hilary Swan.
• Year 11: Distinction: Zoe Gallagher. Credit: Matilda Arnott.

ICAS Writing

• Year 7: Credit: Holly Halloran; Alexandra Frith; Anouk Davies; Henrietta Hayman.
• Year 8: Distinction: Sophie Hanrahan; Sophie Goodisson. Credit: Lara Bentley; Sophie Kennedy; Skye McLelland.
• Year 9: Distinction: Claudia Hampson; Cate Horsfall; Sidney Wheeler. Credit: Lucinda Colgan; Sophie Simpson; Amy Wimalaratne.
• Year 10: Credit: Augusta Muir; Hilary Swan; Bella Cay; Sissy Fairrie; Sophie Hassall.
• Year 11: Credit: Maya Basson.

ICAS Science

• Year 7: Credit: Anouk Davies, Isabel Syme, Lexi Wimalaratne; Merit: York Doyle.
• Year 8: Distinction: Sophie Hanrahan; Credit: Camilla Johnston, Elizabeth Laverty.
• Year 9: Distinction: Sophie Simpson; Credit: Adelaide Ayling, Poppy Carter, Alice Fergusson, Claudia Hampson, Cate Horsfall, Sidney Wheeler; Merit: Amy Wimalaratne.
• Year 10: Credit: Lucy Arnott, Millie Moar, Summer Oxley, Hannah Perkins, Hilary Swan, Megan Syme; Merit: Sissy Fairrie.
• Year 11: Credit: Zoe Gallagher.

ICAS Digital Technologies

• Year 7: Distinction: Anouk Davies; Credit: York Doyle, Millicent Debelle Hancock, Jade Neilson and Scarlett Shadbolt.
• Year 8: Credit: Sophie Hanrahan; Merit: Camilla Johnston, Georgina Lewis and Elizabeth Shadbolt.,
• Year 9: Credit: Sophie Simpson, Amy Wimalaratne
• Year 10: Credit: Sissy Fairrie

ICAS Mathematics

• Year 7: Credit: Anouk Davies, York Doyle and Isabel Syme; Merit: Sophie Holland and Lexi Wimalaratne.
• Year 8: Distinction: Georgina Lewis, Sophie Hanrahan; Credit: Sophie Goodisson, Amelia Hartnell, Zara McMurtrie; Merit: Jade Cox, Camilla Johnston, Skye McLelland, Bliss Ow-Yang.
• Year 9: Distinction: Sophie Simpson and Sidney Wheeler; Merit: Poppy Carter and Amy Wimalaratne.
• Year 10: Distinction: Hilary Swan; Credit: Lucy Arnott; Summer Oxley; Hannah Perkins and Megan Syme; Merit: Alexandra Corbett and Elizabeth Nesci.

Ms Kate Chauncy, Director of Teaching and Learning P-12; Coordinator of Gifted and Talented Programmes P-12

Jamieson Programme

Frensham’s Jamieson Programme is built on the belief that exposure to challenges in a secure environment can awaken in young people a belief in themselves that will stay with them throughout their lives. 

With a focus on health and fitness, critical and ethical thinking, service and leadership, the Jamieson Programme helps girls in Years 7-10 gain confidence and courage to deal with the unfamiliar territory ahead. It also challenges students to consider the difference they can make, individually and as part of a group, when exploring real social, political and environmental issues.

There is a particular focus in Year 9 where every second Thursday, the programme begins at 1.45pm and extends into the evening. Thursday was our first extended Jamieson Programme day and girls were introduced to the Programme and provided with an overview of the different components. We started with some critical thinking skills that are required for the IGCSE Cambridge Global Perspectives course such as distinguishing between fact and opinion, including expert opinions, and identifying different types of bias. Students also received information about the fitness component from Mr Shane Green, who is developing individual fitness programmes for girls.  Every student in Year 9 will complete an exercise tracking document each week to view their progress. Ms Simone Lindsay also familiarised the group about the Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award, upcoming camps and the importance of giving back to the community. Most participated in Holting in the afternoon with some involved in the Sheep and Cattle teams. Many of the activities planned as part of Jamieson Programme conform to the spirit of the Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award so that, through participation in Jamieson activities, students may gain approval to complete Service and Skills components for the D of E programme.

We are looking forward to an exciting and immensely rewarding year ahead where girls learn to recognise the needs of others and respond with courage, generosity and integrity.

Mrs Merrilee Harris, Director of Jamieson Programme

Livestock Team Report

On Saturday 5 February, six members of the Cattle Team along with three steers travelled to the South Coast to compete at the Nowra Show. Although the weather was wet and humid and the steers have had minimal handling by the students, the Team performed very well. The results were as follows:

• ECM Livestock Junior Steer Competition: 1^st - Judith Hopkins leading ‘Rocky’ (Simmental), 2^nd - Tia Thomas leading ‘Smiggle’ (Simmental), 3^rd - Maggie Waldren leading ‘Ringo’ (Angus)
• Middleweight Steers 340 - 440kg: 1^st - ‘Smiggle’ (Simmental) led by Tia Thomas
• Heavyweight Steers >440kg: 1^st - ‘Rocky’ (Simmental) led by Judith Hopkins, 2^nd - ‘Ringo’ (Angus) led by Maggie Waldren
• Champion Steer: ‘Rocky’ (Simmental) led by Judith Hopkins
• Reserve Champion Steer: ‘Smiggle’ (Simmental) led by Tia Thomas
• Junior Paraders < 14 years: 1^st - Tia Thomas leading ‘Smiggle’ (Simmental)
• Senior Parader 17-25 years: 1^st - Judith Hopkins leading ‘Rocky’ (Simmental)
• Showmanship Award: Judith Hopkins

The next Show for the Cattle Team will be the Robertson Show on Saturday 12 March. The Sheep Team will compete at their first event of the year at the Crookwell Show on Saturday 12 February. In the meantime, more hours will be spent preparing the livestock for showing and ringcraft practice for the students.

Ms Leonie Mutch, Coordinator of the Livestock Team

Music

It is a pleasure to be able to advertise the recommencement of all our Choirs and Ensembles with, in most instances, “live” rehearsals for the first time in over six months. Here are some notes, on each of the ensembles, for both students and parents.

Junior Choir - This choir is open to all Years 7 and 8, with no audition. This is an opportunity to be grasped, regardless of whether a student feels confident vocally. The choir rehearses once a week on Tuesdays, just before lunch (12.50pm-1.15pm). The choir has begun rehearsing, as we are aiming to perform in four weeks, with the Senior Choir, in the Year 7 Service.

Senior Choir - New students in Years 9-12 should consider auditioning to join this 90-voice choir (ask your Shadow to arrange this with Mr Spencer). Currently, due to our COVID plan, there are no combined Wednesday night rehearsals.  Rather, sectional rehearsals are held in the mornings, seated in cohorts and spaced between Library and Cooper Hall. 

• 3rds – Monday 7.50-8.20am
• 2nds – Tuesday 7.50-8.20am
• 1sts – Wednesday 7.50-8.20am

Madrigals - New students in Years 9-12 might also consider auditioning for this selective chamber choir (ask your Shadow to arrange this with Mr Spencer). Currently, there are no Wednesday night rehearsals, just Friday mornings (7.50-8.20pm)

Kennedy Strings - Frensham is a relatively small school, and every one of instrumentalists are expected to use their gifts to enrich our ensembles. Any violinists, violists, cellists and double bass players, new to the school, should please make arrangements to attend the Kennedy Strings rehearsals in the Drama Theatre on Wednesday afternoons (3.50-5pm) or speak to Mrs Pinazza if they have any queries.

Concert Band - As above, all wind players and percussionists should come to meet Mr Spencer in the Glenn Music Centre on Wednesday afternoon, from where you will proceed to Clubbe Hall for the rehearsal with Mr Gillen and other instrumental tutors in support. Like Kennedy Strings, the Concert Band rehearses from 3.50-5pm.

Jazz Band - Members of the Concert Band may also be invited to join the selective Jazz Band. This ensemble follows Concert Band, rehearsing from 5-5.30pm on Wednesdays.

Mr Michael Spencer, Head of Music

Sport – Term 1 Sport Activities

Welcome back, we are delighted to have Sport operating and to offer students opportunities to learn new skills, develop their fitness levels and have fun with their peers. 

Along with Frensham’s traditional IGSA Sport training there will be additional Sports Activities offered:

• IGSA Swimming Squad Training - Monday-Friday 6:00-7:15am; Saturday 6:00-8:00am
  This programme is designed for experienced, skilled swimmers who are interested in competing in the IGSA Swimming Carnival. Secondly, for students who wish to develop their swimming skills for Water Polo. 
• Swim Development Training - Tuesday and Thursday 6:00-7:15am 
  This programme is designed for students who are developing their swimming skills and swimming competency.  
• IGSA Cross Country Training - Monday and Wednesday 6:05-7:10am
  This programme is suitable for students who wish to enhance their middle to long distance running skills and to become a member of the Frensham Cross Country team. 
• Senior Fitness - Years 10-12 Wednesday 6:15-7:15am
  Senior students who are interested in developing their strength and conditioning, mobility and athletic capacity should join this programme. 
• IGSA Gymnastics - Wednesday 4:00-5:15pm
  Is suited for students who wish to develop their Gymnastics skills and become a member of the Frensham Gymnastics team. 
• IGSA Athletics – Senior Training: Tuesday 4:00-5:30pm; Year 7 and Junior Training: Thursday 4:00-5:30pm
  This is suitable for students that enjoy athletics and would like to develop their skills to become a member of the Frensham Athletics team. 

The student sign on sheets have been sent via email. If you have any questions please email sgreen@frensham.nsw.edu.au

Mr Shane Green, Head of Sport (2022)

Studies

Year 12 students have commenced the term with the focus and application required to be successful learners. Vacation work submitted will be assessed to provide teachers and students valuable checkpoints as to areas for review. Additionally, the Term 1 assessment calendar has been published to Schoolbox.

Year 11 students are enjoying the opportunity to begin their Preliminary HSC courses. These courses are three terms in length, at which point girls confirm their subject choices in preparation for Year 12. As part of their studies, Year 11 students will discuss approaches to study, including expected Prep targets and responsibilities, organisational skills and assessment procedures. Some minor changes are still being made with subject choices.

Students in Years 7-10 are settling into the routines of School life. In Years 10-12, students complete Prep in the Houses, while in Years 8 and 9, Prep is in designated classrooms with teacher supervision. Year 7 students are using the Library for Prep and are appreciating the designated reading time, off -screen, as part of their transition.

Any queries regarding your daughter’s academic programme or wellbeing as an initial contact, can be made to the Year Coordinator found on Schoolbox (A-Z of Frensham – Staff Contacts). They will direct your call further, if required.

Ms Janene van Gogh, Director of Studies

Careers

As another year commences, it is important to reflect and celebrate the success of our previous 2021 Year 12 students. We are excited to share a few highlights:

• 62 out of 65 students applied for early entry in 2021
• ALL were offered either a conditional (ie they had to achieve a minimum ATAR) or unconditional (no ATAR requirement) offer via early entry programs.
• Some students had up to six different early entry offers and many knew about these offers prior to going into the HSC examinations.
• ALL students seeking a tertiary offer received an offer and 77% of Frensham students were offered their 1^st preference.

The Year 12 cohort of 2022 had their first “Tertiary Thursday” session. These weekly sessions are arranged to ensure students are aware of where they should be up to in the tertiary planning process and includes information on course updates, early entry deadlines, open days, webinars and the all-important Gap Year, for those wishing to take a year off in 2023. With the new extended Form time on a Thursday, I am looking forward to arranging Frensham Old Girls and industry experts to meet with the girls as guest speakers. Year 11 students will also be having regular Careers meetings so that they can establish tertiary goals and plans for the future.

All parents and students are encouraged to use the SchoolBox Careers page (Schoolbox) – it is a “one-stop shop” for all careers-related information and is designed to ensure that our girls are well prepared for their next steps post-School.

Mrs Merrilee Harris, Director of Jamieson Programme and Head of Careers

Acknowledgement to

• Term 4, 2021 Girdle award recipients: Jemima Graham-Wansey (Outstanding Commitment to Sport), Maya Basson (Excellence in Music Performance).
• Students sitting the 2021 ICAS Assessments at Frensham and Gib Gate: Frensham (Distinction) - Anouk Davies (English and Digital Technologies), Millicent Debelle Hancock (English) (Year 7); Sophie Goodisson (Writing), Sophie Hanrahan (Writing, Science and Mathematics), Georgina Lewis (Mathematics) (Year 8); Claudia Hampson (Writing), Cate Horsfall (English and Writing); Sophie Simpson (English, Science and  Mathematics); Imogen Smith (English); Sidney Wheeler (Mathematics and Writing) (Year 9); Hilary Swan (Mathematics) (Year 10) and Zoe Gallagher (English) (Year 11). Gib Gate (High Distinction) - Aliyah Mhanna (Digital Technologies) (Year 4); Amelie Gardiner (Writing and English) (Year 3); Iman Byrne (English) (Year 6). (Distinction) - Amelie Gardiner (Digital Technologies) (Year 3); Madeleine Hannah, Zahra Nash (Year 3), Madeline Conway, Aliyah Mhanna, Montana Molena (Year 4), Isla McVinish (Year 6) (Writing); Sofia Wilson, Lucia Braham (Year 3), Aliyah Mhanna, Emma Andrew, Mathilda Muir (Year 4) (English); Amelie Gardiner (Year 3), Elyssia Mason (Year 4), Annabelle Whyte-Cleaver (Year 5) Science.

Prefect Year Groups as appointed at Final Prayers, 2021

• Year 7: Jemima Graham-Wansey, Charlotte Hindmarsh, Holly Horsfall
• Year 8:  Emily Lenehan, Maggie Waldren, Matilda Walker
• Year 9: Matilda Arnott, Anna Collins, Lucy Waddell
• Year 10: Edwina Barton, Lulu Duck, Camilla Warner
• Year 11: Harriette Firth, Stella Hanan
• Year 12 and Head Girl: Phoebe Rowntree
• Year 12 and Vice Head Girl: Phoebe Lyne

Year 12 House Leaders

• Hartfield: Edwina Barton, Sophia Brooks, Mia Greig, Emily Lenehan, Jemima Melki, Coco Potgieter,
• Kennedy: Isabella Archbold, Harriette Frith, Sienna Fuller, Georgia Klem, Paris Ow-Yang, Charlotte Senior
• Linden Turner: Olivia Vertzayias, Matilda Walker
• Bryant McCarthy: Charlotte Hindmarsh, Lily Seaton-Cooper, Lucy Waddell

Heads of Houses for Term 1

• Hartfield – Year 10: Bella Bernecker, Scarlett Francis, Chloe Cowley
• Linden Turner – Year 11: Jana Martin-Cooley, Olivia Huggins, Hannah Perkins; Year 10: Juliet Henry, Neve Daugherty
• Bryant McCarthy – Year 11: Edie Staniforth, Julia Burge

Year Coordinators for 2022:

• Year 7: Mrs Amanda Metua – ametua@frensham.nsw.edu.au
• Year 8: Ms Molly Macqueen – mmacqueen@frensham.nsw.edu.au
• Year 9: Ms Lucy Thorne –  lthorne@frensham.nsw.edu.au
• Year 10: Mrs Trudi Spencer – tspencer@frensham.nsw.edu.au
• Year 11: Mrs Kate Gallagher – kgallagher@frensham.nsw.edu.au
• Year 12: Ms Sally Fennell – sfennell@frensham.nsw.edu.au

2022 Staffing update:

• Ms Amanda Graham moves to a new role of Event Coordinator
• Mr Shane Green, will be Head of Sport for 2022, while Miss Gray is on Maternity Leave
• Mr Matthew Selby, promotional position of Director of Activities and joins the Frensham Executive
• Ms Janene van Gogh has stepped into the role of Acting Deputy Head, Frensham for Term 1

This term, we have been pleased to welcome the following new staff members to Frensham Schools.

Gib Gate:

• Mrs Melissa Bartlett, BEd (Early Childhood) (UWS) – Preschool
• Miss Emily Wojcik, BEd (The Early Years) (UOW) – Preschool and Frensham Boarding House Staff
• Welcome back to Kaitlyn Williamson

Frensham:

• Mrs Deanna Benardos, M Teaching (Secondary) (UOW); B ICT (UOW) – Mathematics
• Mr Andrew Cox, B Teaching (CSU), BA (CSU) – English and HSIE
• Ms Sally Edwards, Dip Ed, BA (MacU) – Director of Student Life (Boarding)
• Ms Neva Law, BA (La Trobe), Teaching (UOS) – Boarding House Staff
• Ms Deborah Loughnan – Boarding House Staff
• Mrs Catherine Luker, M Teaching (Primary) (UNE), BA (UNSW), Cert of Nursing (RN) (Royal North Shore) – Learning Support Teacher
• Mr Andrew Lundy, Grad Dip Ed (Syd College Advanced Education), BA (Ed) (MacU) – HSIE
• Dr Mark Morrow, PG Certificate Ed (Queen’s Uni, Belfast), PhD Chemistry, B Sci (Edinburgh) – Science
• Mrs Bronwyn Tregenza, M Ed (CSU), Dip Ed, BA (MacU) – Boarding House Staff

Ms Sarah McGarry
Head of Frensham
Head of Frensham Schools

Join with Us in supporting the Bursary Fund

Following our communication with all families about Foundation’s Annual Appeal, I encourage you to ‘Join with Us’ in supporting the Bursary Fund. A Bursary provides up to 50% fee remission on tuition and/or boarding fees for the recipient to attend Frensham Schools, and gifts are fully tax deductible. Bursary support creates the opportunity for families to join the Frensham Schools community and to benefit from a Frensham education, when they would not have the financial means to do so otherwise. This support helps to preserve and enhance the characteristic diversity of our unique community and contributes strongly to the essence of a Frensham education. If you are in a position to assist, donations can be made online by clicking here. As always, we appreciate your consideration and for your support of our future students and families of Frensham Schools

Jamieson Week and End of Year Events

The full sequence of events for Jamieson Week has been published for parents and students on Schoolbox this afternoon, along with detailed dress and equipment requirements for the week’s activities. Please note the changes to the programme for the final day of term, Friday 10 December. When we announced our end of term event plans earlier this month we were anticipating eased restrictions in schools as NSW opened up. It now seems that this easing will not occur prior to mid December, requiring further adjustments to our plans. As a result of the continued limitations around visitors on campus, the planned Picnic on the Games Field will no longer be able to proceed.

We are able to welcome guests to Clubbe Hall for Final Prayers, given the format of the event, but the capacity limitations in Clubbe Hall mean further adjustments to the arrangements, with 1 guest per student able to be accommodated at each service. We recognise that this is not ideal for many families, but we have taken this decision with serious consideration of our health and safety obligations to our students, staff and families and in adherence to COVID-safe event requirements. We ask all families to read this information on Schoolbox carefully and to please contact feedback@frensham.nsw.edu.au should you have any queries whatsoever.

Staff and students are busily preparing for these events in their amended format, for which we are very grateful. We are also greatly looking forward to returning to the School’s ‘usual’ end of year sequence in 2022!

Boarding

"The doctor of the future will give no medicine but will involve the patient in the proper use of food, fresh air and exercise." - Thomas Edison

Sport plays an important part in the life of the Frensham boarders. Afternoon team training sessions, independent fitness routines, weekend programme pool activities, visits to The Holt, are just some of the many ways the girls incorporate exercise, fitness and fresh air into a balanced school programme.

The IGSA Sporting Competition is another important component of the school programme and it has been pleasing to watch girls participate and enjoy so enthusiastically the return of Saturday Sport - and to see the Games Field and courts busy again.

While the girls have been settling back into the routines of Boarding life and activities, the Boarding staff have also continued to learn and to develop skills to enrich their practice. Staff members from each of the four Boarding Houses have joined the ranks of current Boarding staff who have already completed The Certificate Course in Student Residential Care. The course focuses on outlining and explaining best practice in meeting the intellectual, social, emotional, physical, moral and spiritual needs of boarders. Course components were organised around Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs, which identifies Physical needs, Security and Safety, Sense of Belonging, Self-esteem and Self Realisation as key considerations in meeting the needs of boarders. The Course affirmed that at Frensham we are consistently working to ensure that each girl's individual needs are met and they are supported to flourish.

FACULTY FOCUS

HSIE

Searching for Truth in a Post-Truth World
How do you know what to believe? How do you know who to trust? More specifically, in a world where the internet allows for the easy publication and dissemination of content, how do you know that what you are reading is suitable to build your understanding of the world?

For many of us, we have underdeveloped strategies of information evaluation. In their 2016 paper Evaluating Information: The Cornerstone of Civic Online Reasoning, Wineberg, McGrew, Beakston and Ortega of the Stanford Graduate School of Education were shocked to find how many students failed to effectively evaluate the credibility of information provided to them. Middle school, high school and college students in 12 states were asked to evaluate the information presented in tweets, comments and articles. More than 7,800 student responses were collected. The paper reports that most school students cannot tell native advertising from articles, accepted without verification the veracity of photographic evidence, could not tell the difference between a real and fake news source on Facebook, could not detect bias in activist social media accounts and failed to identify the difference between a mainstream and fringe source.

"Many assume that because young people are fluent in social media, they are equally savvy about what they find there," the researchers wrote. "Our work shows the opposite."

As an HSIE Department at Frensham, our goal is to develop students who are orientated towards truth, as it is an essential characteristic of becoming positive change-makers. Taking in polluted information, like taking in polluted air, poisons our sense of citizenship and dulls our contributions to making a better world. We are working towards developing in our students better strategies for evaluating information and guarding themselves against lies and deception.

One key strategy that we are building into our programmes is developing the habit of ‘lateral reading’. Professional fact-checkers, when given the same information as the students in the above paper, scored a perfect evaluation of the information. Rather than reviewing the information on the site, they immediately opened new tabs on their browsers and investigated the source of the original information. Key strategies for developing skills in lateral reading include:

1. Open lots of tabs in your browser
2. Get off the site you are on
3. Do a deliberate Google search for the source or information you are evaluating
4. Read what trusted and reliable sources are saying about the claim. Try to find four or five other sources that discuss your source. (If you can’t find that many, that’s a sign your source might not be good)

In each HSIE class, our students are challenged to not only find new information but to evaluate it, pull it apart, challenge its findings and make connections. We believe it is a skill that will serve all our students well in every walk of life.

On Thursday 11 November the School paused to remember those who died serving their country in war and reflect on their sacrifice. The school was led in this service by our Year 12 2022 Modern History students Gabrielle Butcher, Phoebe Clifton, Isolde Cochet, Lulu Duck, Eliza Hewson, Olivia Laverty, Rosemary Schmidt and Polly Whitwell. This year marks the 103^rd anniversary of the end of World War 1, as well as the centenary of the establishment of the Royal Australian Air Force. The service also reflected on Australia’s involvement in the War in Afghanistan, which came to a close this year, as a moment to consider what a soldier’s sacrifice looks like when objectives have not been met. We ended with the following prayer, written by the author John Marsden and read by Olivia Laverty,

May the road be free for the journey,
May it lead where it promised it would,
May the stars that give ancient bearings
Be seen, still be understood.
May every aircraft fly safely,
May every traveller be found,
May sailors in crossing the ocean
Not hear the cries of the drowned.

May gardens be wild like jungles,
May nature never be tamed,
May dangers create of us heroes,
May fears always have names.
May the mountains stand to remind us
Of what it means to be young,
May we be outlived by our daughters,
May we be outlived by our sons.

May the bombs rust away in the bunkers,
And the doomsday clock be rewound,
May the solitary scientists, working,
Remember the holes in the ground.
May the knife remain in the holder,
May the bullet stay in the gun,
May those who live in the shadows
Be seen by those in the sun.

This year marks the first year that the school has undertaken the Cambridge IGCSE History and Geography courses. All Year 10 students have selected one of these courses and have been working all year towards a range of examinations that were to be sat in October this year. However, due to COVID-19 regulations, these examinations could not be held. Therefore, grades have been established through an assessment process outlined by Cambridge using tasks completed throughout the year. Students will still receive their grades early next year.

Mr Nathan Bessant, Head of HSIE

Music

It has been wonderful to see and hear the musical outcomes from the slight relaxation of COVID-19 restrictions this term.  While our choirs and wind bands are still unable to rehearse together, the Kennedy Strings have rejoiced at being able to play again – and their rich sound seems to reflect that. With Mrs Pinazza conducting, the Kennedy Strings are practising hymn accompaniments for Final Prayers as well as a musical item composed especially for the occasion.

This composition features selected instrumental and vocal soloists from all year groups who must, by necessity, perform from isolation. They are being filmed in order to be projected onto the screen in an allegory of our Term 3 lockdown experience. The multi-media piece is designed to move from this depiction of isolation to actual live performance as we all look with optimism to 2022.

Morning Prayers on ZOOM has presented similar challenges, with Mr Spencer playing the hymn accompaniment in the hallway of the Glenn Music Centre for two senior singers to sing, from separate rooms, using headphones and microphones. Despite these challenges, the outcomes have often been quite beautiful. Morning Prayers has also featured filmed excerpts from the AMEB Exam performances that Ms Madden has been processing and submitting for our many candidates.

It is sad to note that, for the first time in many years, the school is unable to present a Carol Service this year. The School will still get to enjoy our “Dress-Up” Carols in the outdoors but we will all have to wait another year to hear the next Carols offering from the much-loved Fathers’ Choir.

Mr Michael Spencer, Head of Music

Middle School Ethics Olympiad Competition

Last Friday, 19 November, Frensham entered, for the first time, two teams in the Middle School Ethics Olympiad Competition. We congratulate team members Poppy Carter, Alice Fergusson and Claudia Hampson (Year 9), Sophie Chen, Lauren Fox, Sophie Hanrahan, Camilla Johnston, Skye McLelland and Sophia Windsor (Year 8) who were selected to represent the School after submitting a carefully composed written application and attending training sessions every Friday afternoon since our return to face-to-face teaching earlier this term. Both teams were awarded Honourable Mentions by a panel of Australian and International judges. During the day the students were involved in a series of heats where they were scored according to set criteria which rewarded, clear, concise, respectful discourse around challenging ethical cases. The Ethics Olympiad provided them with a unique and rewarding experience as they engaged with other students from 25 NSW Independent, Catholic and State High Schools in a format that developed important skills in communication, sustained reasoning and critical thinking through civil, collaborative discourse – valuable life-long learning skills!

Clubbe Hall: Live Production and Services Certificate III Course

Sarah Hunter and Lara Kyriazis, Heads of Tech Training – Clubbe Hall, write:

With the technical upgrade of Clubbe Hall, Frensham has been able to formalise the technical training of students and provide them with an opportunity to attain a formal qualification through TAFE NSW.

The Live Production and Services Certificate III Course, taught by industry professional Leah Crockett, aims to teach the skills and techniques needed to run productions. Leah Crockett is an Arts, Theatre and Audio-Visual professional that has worked in the arts and events industry for over 16 years. She holds a Bachelor of Media Communications (Theatre Arts), Certificate IV in Training & Assessment as well as a Diploma of Event Management.

Throughout this year, students in Years 8 to 12 have been developing an understanding of the technical aspects associated with the theatre industry. The units of work studied include workplace health and safety practices, working effectively backstage and developing audio knowledge.

During training sessions in Clubbe Hall, students have learnt the theory part of the course while simultaneously developing the practical skills associated with services and productions. The students have developed technical skills for mock shows and practised emergency and evacuation drills to understand how to manage an audience in various situations. The skills taught are preparing students to be part of a technical team for real-world productions.

Students have developed an understanding of their rights in the industry and knowledge of workplace safety. They discuss the roles and responsibilities of the Technical crew and exciting opportunities for work experience and careers for the future.

Last term, students met Stage Manager, Marianne on Zoom who talked to them about her role as a Stage Manager for the show, Come From Away, who discussed the difference between school and professional productions. Most importantly, she encouraged students to understand the importance of collaboration when working with others in the production.

Mrs Sally Hannah, Head of Drama

Sport

Bowral Under 16s Girls Rugby Sevens Team, is made up of various local schools including Frensham team members Lucy Arnott, Charlotte Hopperton, Olivia Huggins, Darcy Maple-Brown, Jessica Savage, Edie Staniforth, Olivia Waugh (Year 10), Matilda Graham, Lydia Martin (Year 9).

The newly formed Under 16’s Bowral Girls Rugby 7s Team, played its first game in the Sydney Junior Rugby Union (SJRU) Gala Day at Centennial Park. Most of the team members are new to rugby with backgrounds in Touch, AFL and athletics. The girls have been training since June at the Frensham Games Field. Training the team have been current parents Scott Staniforth of Wallaby fame and Peter Walters, and Brendan Fannin. The girls have been quick in learning technical skills and safe tackling practices.

Up against the most experienced players from Randwick, the girls’ first game saw them go down seven tries to nil.  In their second match they finished strong and had a good win against Eastwood, winning three tries to one. The girls maintained the ball and saw some great team tries.

Of their play on the weekend Mr Staniforth said “the girls did amazingly well and can be very proud of their efforts. Having to play in the opens* and coming up against a very strong rep team the girls dug in and never gave up.”

The girls took a determined attitude towards Eastwood and had a very positive win. The girls had a great day and enjoyed, what was for most of them, their first competitive rugby games. The Rugby 7s Gala days are running for next three weekends with the girls excited about learning and improving their games.

*Played in the Opens category as competition combined the 16s-18s age groups

Mr Shane Green, Acting Head of Sport

Acknowledgement to

• Lucy Pernice (Year 11) for her selection to attend the National Youth Science Forum, January 2022. A forum that is open to Year 11 students from around Australia who have a passion for Science. The selection process included a written application and interview.
• Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award recipients: Silver – Monique Andersson, Matilda Chadwick, Alexandra Corbett, Sarah-Joy Day, Savannah Linde, Phoebe Rouse (Year 10); Bronze – Matilda Damiani, Hilary Swan (Year 10).
• Big Science Competition participants: High Distinction: Adelaide Ayling, Sophie Simpson, Sidney Wheeler (Year 9); Bella Cay, Sarah-Joy Day, Heidi Jervis (Year 10). Distinction: Penelope Hampson, Cara Sims, (Year 7); Georgie Lewis, Georgina McBride (Year 8); Poppy Carter, Alice Fergusson (Year 9); Summer Oxley (Year 10). Credit: York Doyle, Maggie Maynard, Scarlett Shadbolt, (Year 7); Imogen Smith (Year 9); Lucy Arnott, Abigail Jorgensen, Rose Mahony (Year 10).
• Frensham’s entrants in the Middle School Ethics Olympiad Competition for their success in this competition: Poppy Carter, Alice Fergusson and Claudia Hampson (Year 9), Sophie Chen, Lauren Fox, Sophie Hanrahan, Camilla Johnston, Skye McLelland and Sophia Windsor (Year 8).
• Cara Sims (Year 7) for her selection to the Macarthur Rams U14s Premier League Soccer team.

Staffing update
We are pleased to welcome Dr Mark Morrow to the Science Faculty, commencing January 2022. Dr Morrow was recently at St Paul’s International College, Moss Vale.

At the end of 2021 we farewell
We congratulate Olivia Scotting on her appointment to the position of Assistant Head of Science at St Francis Catholic College at Edmondson Park, part of Catholic Education, Diocese of Wollongong. We thank Ms Scotting for her contribution to Frensham Schools across multiple areas, including as Science Teacher, Year Coordinator and a passionate proponent of our Debating and Public Speaking programme, over the past 4 years.

Ms Sarah McGarry
Head of Frensham
Head of Frensham Schools

We commend our Year 12 students for their persistence, diligence and patience as they finally commence their long-awaited HSC this week. It has certainly been a marathon with a few additional laps for these girls, and they have carried themselves with maturity and determination during such a challenging time. We also thank staff for the ongoing support and guidance they are providing to Year 12.

Remembrance Day

This morning we held a very moving Remembrance Day Morning Prayers, with presentations from Year 12 2022 coordinated by Head of HSIE, Mr Nathan Bessant. We listened to powerful reflections on the service and sacrifice of our servicemen and women and their families, the poem Sunset Vigil by Andy McFarlane, the Last Post, Abide with Me and Australian John Marsden’s Prayer for the 21^st century. In this year, the Centenary of the Royal Australian Air Force and the end of our military operations in Afghanistan, we recognise and honour the service and sacrifice of Australians – for the first time in more than two decades, our nation commemorates Remembrance Day while not currently involved in an active conflict. We remember the courage and valour of all those who have served our nation in war, conflicts and peacekeeping operations.

Student Safety

All parents are reminded of the need to exercise caution in the streets around the Frensham campus.

We do not wish for cars to be making U-turns in the School’s driveways on Range Road, particularly in the busier periods in the morning.

Please continue to drive onto the campus to drop students off safely, via the Main Gate on Range Road.

Students should not be dropped off at Topp Gate or at the Dining Room Gate on Range Road, and there is no vehicular access via Stanley Street.

Keeping safe online

We have been speaking with year levels this week about the importance of protective behaviours online, the responsible use of technology and our expectations in terms of student interactions online. Many adolescents have what can only be described as a ‘complicated’ relationship with technology, perhaps amplified during the time spent in front of a screen alone during the past months of lockdown. Many girls are reporting that while it takes some adjustment to have device-free time required of them at school, they are also recognising the benefits of stepping back a little from technology and interacting with others in a more present and purposeful way – in person. It is sometimes difficult for adolescents to discern what is ‘real’ and ‘safe’ online and the eSafety commissioner has a range of exceptional research-based resources to inform and support young people, families and schools around safe and respectful online behaviour. At the beginning of each year, all girls and families agree to our Information Technology Contract outlining the School’s expectations. This can be found in the 2021 Information Book and in the ‘A-Z of Frensham’ on Schoolbox.

Saturday Sport – Round 1 IGSA Sport - Saturday 13 November

We are pleased to be hosting IGSA Sport again, with double vaccinated parents and spectators permitted to attend.

Touch will be played on the Games Field and Tennis on the Holt Courts.

To ensure that we keep our community safe we ask that all spectators abide by the following COVID-19 safe measures:

1. All vehicles enter the Games Field entrance on Range Road.
2. Upon arrival, check into one of the QR codes which will be displayed clearly at each playing location.
3. Present both your vaccination certificate and check in validation to the COVID safe Marshall.
4. If you are experiencing any flu-like symptoms please stay at home.
5. Remain socially distanced and avoid gathering in groups.
6. Please use the clearly signed visitor bathrooms.

We appreciate your support and care with adhering to our COVID safe plan.

In the event of poor weather conditions please check Schoolbox for a cancellation notification. Unfortunately, we will not be running the Holt Café, please arrange alternative refreshments.

If you have any further questions, please do not hesitate to email sgreen@frensham.nsw.edu.au

Mr Shane Green, Acting Head of Sport

Jamieson Week

Our final week of term, Jamieson Week, is designed to involve all students in a major Community Service contribution alongside activities for whole year participation and preparation for the end of year Services. The week’s programme has had to be adjusted significantly to adhere to COVID guidelines, but it is anticipated that most events will be able to proceed in altered format. At the time of printing the newsletter there are still final details to be confirmed, however this will be posted on Schoolbox shortly. We can confirm that the Christmas Lunch, Sports Presentation and Frensham Carols (outdoors) will be going ahead during this week, along with a Communion Service on Thursday 9 December.

Confirmation Classes 2022

Confirmation classes will be available for students in Years 10, 11 and 12 from Term 1, 2022. The classes will be delivered by the Rector of St Jude’s Anglican Church, Bowral, Reverend Gavin Perkins and Youth Minister, Matt Jacobs. Further information will be available early next year.

The Ranier Uniform Shop and Clothing Pool

The Ranier Uniform Shop and the Clothing Pool are open to visitors and parents must be double vaccinated and observe COVID-19 safety protocols (QR code sign in and wear mask). Orders can be made online for subsequent collection.

Ranier Uniform Shop: Parents can order uniforms online through the Ranier website: https://www.ranier.com.au/

Clothing Pool: The Clothing Pool will be open on Mondays 12.00pm-4.00pm. Parents who wish to buy second-hand uniform items are asked to email clothingpool@frensham.nsw.edu.au listing the item/s and the relevant size/s.

FACULTY FOCUS

Mathematics

Maybe the COVID-19 pandemic has made us all better mathematicians….. terms like “flattening the curve”, “increasing at an increasing rate” and then thankfully “increasing at a decreasing rate” have become common terminology. Even more so, we were all very aware of the daily “stats” or “statistics” and watching the various “graphical displays” on screens and now we are being updated daily with the latest vaccination “percentages” on our way to normality. But, the COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in much more than this one positive thing, using mathematical terms in normal everyday language: it has given us a reminder and a much greater appreciation for the importance of community, classroom and personal interactions. As young people struggled to learn from home, and teachers struggled with Zoom after Zoom, students and parents’ gratitude for teachers, their skills, and their invaluable role in student wellbeing, has risen. And, teachers’ gratitude for face-to-face teaching, the smiles (even though obscured by masks), the laughs and the orchestrated reactions is immeasurable or perhaps “infinite”.

The Maths classrooms are certainly alive and well. Year 7 students have been studying the topics of Probability, Percentages and extending their knowledge of Algebra through learning techniques for solving equations. Students in Year 8 are studying Volume and Statistics, and using their technology to input and analyse data. Year 9 classes are covering a variety of topics in different classes, including Linear and Non-Linear Relationships and Volume. Year 10 girls are transitioning or “pivoting” into Year 11 students, and have just started their Year 11 Orientation, where they are able to experience the different mathematics courses for the first cycle, and then settle into starting proper their Year 11 programme of study in the second cycle. Year 11 students, now the new Year 12 class of 2022, have been working diligently all term on their Year 12 topics and will be completing their first HSC assessment tasks by the end of this term. Of course, we are so pleased that the Class of 2021, will be finally doing their HSC, on Monday 15 November: Mathematics Advanced, Mathematics Standard and Mathematics Extension 2 Examinations. Students have managed well and worked with purpose and deserve this opportunity to formally complete their final year of study.

According to UNESCO, by the end of March 2020 over 1.5 billion pupils or 87 per cent of the world’s student population across 165 countries had been affected by school closures caused by COVID-19 and the pandemic has raised a number of questions about how education might look in the future. This experience has opened our eyes to a number of exciting possibilities; what role should technology play in the delivery of K-12 education and how will the technology landscape evolve to meet this role? What should schools, teachers, students and parents do to keep pace? How can student support, wellbeing and engagement continue to be improved? These are all questions being considered by teachers’ at Frensham as we are so pleased to be back in the classroom with our students.

Ms Joanne Alison, Head of Mathematics

Year 10 Senior Studies

On Wednesday 3 November, Year 10 finished their Stage 5 studies and moved into an exciting two-day Transition Programme, designed to celebrate the beginning of their senior studies, and give them an opportunity to be together, be creative and be future focussed. 

The programme included two half-day creative workshops at Sturt, the completion of NESA’s All My Own Work programme, time to focus on future opportunities reflecting on their strengths, grit and character for senior study and examining career opportunities, looking at courses for university study framed by the strengths identified by their careers testing. The finale culminated in fun, physical games in the gym.

Sturt Programme: At Sturt the students choose to engage in one of six of the courses offered, with some of their creative experts:

• MIXED MEDIA COLLAGE Students used the theme, portraits of the world, developing a work on paper using mixed media material. They also used collage techniques to construct a second work that enhanced the rich cultures of the world.
• STITCH UP BOOK: Students created “Stitch Up A Book” using fabric for pages and scraps of repurposed fabric with embroidery stitches and collage, to create a textile book. Students created sample books of simple stitching in creative ways, using various threads, lace scraps and found ephemera.
• CONTEMPORARY TEXTILES with Susan Walker. Students learned how to weave a wall hanging, purse and embroiderer a patch for a jacket or bag exploring contemporary textiles
• HAND BUILDING CERAMICS Students explored making contemporary vessel forms using terracotta clay and coil construction. Surfaces were marked with a range of stamping and incising techniques and finished with highlights of colour.
• JEWELLERY MAKING:  Nature provides endless inspiration for many artists. Whether it is plants, flowers, animals, or insects etc., using an element of nature as the inspiration, students created one jewellery piece that explored their chosen topic. Through the design process, students sketched their inspiration and explored the forms along with their new jewellery making skills of cutting, texturing and soldering to create a unique finished nature-inspired jewellery piece. 
• MAKING SHAKER BOXES Students learned how to bend wood with hot water to make traditional oval boxes in the style of the American Shakers while exploring hand-crafting techniques. The bending of timber, sanding, nailing and finishing created a final product that could be beautifully finished with shellac and wax or a colourful milk paint. 

The girls created beautiful handmade products and enjoyed the connection created through collaboration and creative endeavour.

NESA All my Own Work Programme
The girls completed the HSC: All My Own Work programme designed to help HSC students follow the principles and practices of good scholarship. The course develops their understanding, valuing and using ethical practices when locating and using information as part of their HSC studies.

The course is a requirement for eligibility for the HSC, and students must complete HSC: All My Own Work (or its equivalent) before they submit any work for Preliminary (Year 11) or HSC (Year 12) courses. The modules develop students' understanding of scholarship principles and practices, acknowledging sources, plagiarism, copyright and working with others - all essential skills for the HSC and beyond.

Future focussed self-reflection and career opportunities
The girls also completed the VIA strengths survey, Angela Duckworth’s Grit survey and a survey designed to help them reflect on their character and how this will help them with their senior studies. Each survey allowed girls to reflect on the strengths they can leverage for senior study and identify areas where they may need to work or require support.

Next, students considered their career testing results and the opportunities for tertiary study. They spent time with teachers asking questions and examining the possibilities for them in 2024. Finally, they finished the two days with some fun and physical exercise in the gym.

Year 10 students begin their orientation this week, giving them the opportunity to experience the subjects they have chosen to study in Year 11 and begin their life as senior students.

Congratulations to Year 10 on completing your junior studies; excitement and challenge await you in your senior studies.

Dr Ruth Phillips, Academic in Residence

Acknowledgements 

• Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award recipients: Silver – Monique Andersson, Sarah-Joy Day, Judith Hopkins, Savannah Linde.
• Frensham Debating Teams have progressed to the semi-finals of the AISNSW/NGS National Virtual Debating competition; the teams comprise - Year 8: Penelope Cay, Lauren Fox, Skye McLelland, Lucy Rouse, Sophia Windsor; Year 9: Bella Cay, Bea McDonald, Clara McDonald, Imogen Smith

Ms Sarah McGarry
Head of Frensham
Head of Frensham Schools

The sounds of togetherness

It was with joy and enthusiasm that staff welcomed students back onto Frensham and Gib Gate campuses and into Boarding Houses for the recommencement of face-to-face classes for all students on Monday 25 October. School campuses are vibrant, dynamic, energetic places, and they only feel ‘complete’ with the sounds of students learning and laughing together. We have spent time this week reflecting with gratitude, for the ‘silver linings’ of the time spent learning and working from home, but also recognising the aspects of campus life that have been missed acutely over these past months. We have been so fortunate to have been able to still engage over technology whilst learning on campus was not possible, but nothing replaces the energy and what almost everyone describes as the “buzz” when people are back together – and those micro-moments of connection and collegiality start to reappear.

We are thinking and talking a lot at the moment about transitions, back to on-campus learning, into high school (for our Year 6 students), into life beyond school (our Year 12 students) and beginning Preschool or Kindy (for our youngest students). We all experience transitions throughout our lives — big and small, planned and unplanned. Transitions may be centred around something exciting, such as starting a new job or an addition to your family. They can also be prompted by distressing situations, such as the serious illness or loss of a loved one or the onset or fallout of a pandemic. Transitions can involve exciting changes, distressing ones, or even just milestones. It is in these times that our strengths, our knowledge and our skills, the depth of support in our community and our inherent human ability to adapt really come to the fore. It is natural to feel fearful, or uncertain, or stuck, when the ‘big scary thing’ looms, but these life transitions are where we must choose to take the steps and go through the process of turning our fear and anxiety into renewal and growth. It takes time, and a team effort, to work through the necessary phases of transition to a new way of being – as our state and nation start to reopen and reawaken.

It is no coincidence that a remarkable number of people turn to creative pursuits whilst undergoing major life transitions – they learn to dance, crochet, cook, paint; write poems, handwritten cards and thank-you notes, start journaling, write songs, make ceramics and myriad other activities. And of course, we yearn to return to live music, theatre and dance, supporting our vital artists but also nurturing and nourishing our souls. We will be singing together before we know it (we hope)!

We are grateful that the necessary adjustments to help keep our community safe at this time are only temporary and sincerely thank all members of our community for keeping track of these as they change so regularly. We are working together to maximise the opportunities for our students to reconnect as they adjust back to life on campus, as both Mrs Robson and Mrs Fawbert outline in this newsletter. Our current focus is very much on supporting student wellbeing as an essential foundation of learning, and on providing timely feedback to parents about how students are managing this transition process.

We have also been planning ahead, anticipating what our end of year celebrations and orientation programmes will entail. These will be discussed with both Gib Gate and Frensham Advisory Committees this week, and then published to our community next week. 

The Ranier Uniform Shop and Clothing Pool: ordering uniform items

The Ranier Uniform Shop and the Clothing Pool are currently not open to visitors in person but orders are able to be made online for subsequent collection.

Ranier Uniform Shop: Parents can order uniforms online through the Ranier website: https://www.ranier.com.au/

Click and Collect orders will be distributed to students from Company Office and online delivery is also available.

Clothing Pool: Parents who wish to buy second-hand uniform items are asked to email clothingpool@frensham.nsw.edu.au listing the item/s and the relevant size/s. The manager of the Clothing Pool will be in touch regarding availability and collection.

Returning to Campus

Returning to Campus learning may be likened to the start of the academic year. Time is needed to reconnect with friends, before recommencing teaching and learning programmes. Establishing routines and connections with school staff is also important as this increases feelings of security and safety.

Year Coordinators and Form tutors have worked closely with students upon their return to campus, providing opportunities for students and staff to reconnect and re-establish their relationship. Connection Sessions were held on Monday, starting with time with Form Tutors and larger group activities scattered throughout the day focusing on engagement, laughter and of course, having FUN.

Years 7 and 8 students had fun creating a paper bag self-portrait. Working in groups and enjoying the company of friends, they happily chatted, reflecting on how they felt about being back at school. On the outside of the bag students drew and painted a caricature of themselves, emphasising notable features like hair colour and style. The inside of their paper bag was filled with written messages expressing their hopes and goals for the term ahead.

Year 9 girls participated in team building activities that include capture the Flag, getting-to-know-you Bingo and a range of team challenges. Year 10 students focused on working together and problem solving, using both verbal and non-verbal communication.

Year 11 created a Connection Tree – the tree was a place where all girls Years 7-12 girls hung a personalised leaf, on which they shared a positive message with the school community. The colourful tree stands outside the music rooms and provides words of kindness and thoughtfulness for all to enjoy through the course of our first few days back on campus.

Connection sessions will continue throughout the term in a variety of ways. Mental health and wellbeing will be supported through Year co-ordinator meetings, prefect peer support and mentoring sessions, and extended time given for student led activities. Explicit modelling and teaching of social and emotional learning skills will occur within the form programme, reminding girls of our school values and encouraging them to be part of the Frensham community once more.

Mrs Wendy Fawbert, Director of Character Education and Planning

FACULTY FOCUS

Languages

The Language classes have risen to the challenge of online working in Term 3, creating meaningful learning opportunities for all students. The interrelationship between correct pronunciation of letters, words and sounds, the ability to identify the beginning and end of sentences and the effect of all this on Listening skills has been a focus in all the French classrooms.

French

Visit a Year 7 class and you may see students rapping the French alphabet, while signing the letters, before undertaking some intensive vocabulary study on Quizlet and then a related Quiz on Schoolbox or sharing their knowledge of French foods on a group Padlet.

Students in Year 8 French have been learning how to describe people and their clothing and will record a video of themselves describing new friends, while the Year 9 French students are focusing on idiom, colloquialisms, and shopping in France.

The Year 10 French students started the term watching interviews on the streets of Paris where the locals were asked what they like to do on the weekend. They then collaborated on the Padlet platform to find similarities and differences with their own lives (there were more similarities).

The theme in the Year 12 2022 French class is the World of Work with a focus on building vocabulary and discerning grammatical differences through listening skills using the new listen function on the Kahoot! platform. In the new French Extension class we have started watching the prescribed film Intouchables.

We have spent quality time with the class of 2021 in focused workshops in French Continuers and Extension, working on authentic video and written texts, refining our skills in preparation for the HSC.

All French classes got cooking in the final week of Term 3 making crêpes and many families reaped the benefits. Here are a few images of our cooking classes:

Latin

Year 8 Latin students have been continuing their study of both English and Latin grammar, including personal pronouns, adverbs the imperative form of the verb.

The girls enjoy coming up with and learning English derivatives for their Latin vocabulary, which not only helps them remember the meaning of the words when translating but also expands their English vocabulary, enhancing the quality of their academic writing across all subjects. Some derivatives from this Chapter include pugnacious from pugno (I fight), invincible from vinco (I conquer) and fidelity from fidus (faithful).

The cultural focus for this chapter is Olympian Gods and Goddesses which always sparks much interest. The students enjoyed noticing that many products today use gods and goddesses for brand names such as Vulcan (God of Fire) for fireplaces, Apollo (God of the Sun) for blinds and Mercury (Messenger God) for a Courier.

The Year 9 students have been consolidating their geographical knowledge of the Roman Empire by labelling a map with important countries, islands, towns and seas and translating the Story Cicero finds the tomb of Archimedes. Archimedes, 287BC - 212BC, was the most famous mathematician and inventor in Ancient Greece.

Through the historical theme, The Gauls Invade Rome, we read the story about the Goddess Juno's sacred geese. The geese were the heroes of this story, as hearing the Gauls climb the Capitol hill, they started to cackle and beat their wings, waking one of the Romans who grabbed his sword and gave the alarm. The students were happy to discover that despite a great shortage of food, the geese had not been killed and eaten!

In Latin this term, Year 10 girls are revising complex grammatical structures such as the ablative absolute and translating passages about Horatius saving Rome from the last king of the Etruscans, Tarquinius Superbus. They are completing regular revision quizzes on grammar and vocabulary from the final chapters in the workbook via Schoolbox. Last term they presented well-researched and colourful video on Roman civilisations. Here are some maps of a typical Roman town:

Year 12 2022 has begun to study the prescribed prose text: Cicero's In Catilinam. This text is part of a set of speeches to the Roman Senate given in 63 BC by Marcus Tullius Cicero, one of the year's consuls, accusing a senator, Lucius Sergius Catilina (Catiline), of leading a plot to overthrow the Roman Senate. The Year 12 Extension 2022 class has begun its study of the prescribed poems of Catullus. The set of poems explores themes of friendship, rivalry, betrayal, love and relationships.

Mrs Kerry Lennon, Director of Languages

Acknowledgements 

• Girdle Award recipient, Emma Jancewicz (Academic Excellence – Visual Arts).
• Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award recipients: Silver – Pia D’Rozario, Elizabeth Nesci (Year 10).

Staffing

We are pleased to welcome Ms Sally Edwards, Director of Student Life (Boarding), commencing January 2022. Ms Edwards currently holds the position of Dean of Studies (Years 10-12) and Broughton Forrest House staff member at The King’s School, Parramatta. Spending many years with her family on their property on the outskirts of Mudgee, Sally is excited about combining her love of the semi-rural lifestyle with the community and spirit of Frensham.

At the end of 2021 we farewell:

• Ms Louise Davis, HSIE, her contribution has been across a wide range of areas during her chapters of work spanning more than 20 years at Frensham Schools.
• Ms Sara Farmer, Visual Arts, a talented artist, maker and teacher, has been working with Frensham Schools since 2012. Ms Farmer’s extended involvement includes Duke of Edinburgh’s International Awards expeditions and Jamieson Programme activities.  

Ms Sarah McGarry
Head of Frensham
Head of Frensham Schools

The delivery of this edition of the Frensham Schools Newsletter was hampered last week by a prolonged internet outage, and we thank all staff, students and families for their patience for the delay. Whilst not ideal for anyone, this experience prompted us here on campus to work differently, to adapt to the situation in which we suddenly found ourselves in on Wednesday morning, and to exercise those agility muscles in determining ‘workarounds’ to keep our teaching and learning happening as smoothly as possible.

Over the past month in particular these muscles have had quite a workout for the team at Frensham Schools, and our community, as return dates for schools and statewide restrictions have changed at a rapid rate. It was wonderful to welcome back our Year 12 students to face-to-face teaching this morning, with a celebratory “Mad Hatter’s Tea Party” at morning tea to reconnect with each other after last term’s absence. Year 12 will be continuing with their workshop programme with their teachers over the coming weeks before their Stu-Vac study period prior to the commencement of the HSC. Kindy and Year 1 joined their Preschool peers.

We are also looking forward to welcoming back students in remaining year levels to face-to-face learning on Monday 25 October. Our campus arrangements will necessarily be a little different for students and staff, but after such a prolonged absence it will be wonderful to be back in person – physically distanced but socially reconnected. Our focus upon students’ return will be on supporting them in the adjustment they will be making – emerging from dining rooms and bedrooms and the online learning realm and returning to life on campus. There will be a range of emotions your children are feeling about this transition process, and each young person copes with change and transitions in a different way. We encourage families to talk openly with your child about their strengths, interests and challenges, and to contact the school to discuss any additional supports your child may require in this process.

Frensham Parent Seminar, Tiny Habits – Developing the habits for independent learning and beyond

We were pleased to welcome many parents to our recent parent seminar, delivered by our Academic in Residence, Dr Ruth Phillips. For those who were unable to join us or those who would like to review the topic discussed, we have included a link to a recording of the meeting: Frensham Tiny Habits - Developing the habits for independent learning and beyond

Access Passcode: Frensham-2021

2022 Term Dates

For planning, please note that 2022 Term Dates below and these can also be found on the website via the link: 2022 Term Dates

Term 1 – Gib Gate & Frensham*
Monday 31 January - Thursday 7 April, 3.00pm

Term 2 – Gib Gate & Frensham*
Wednesday 27 April - Thursday 23 June, 3.00pm
Queen’s Birthday Long Weekend – Departure: Thursday 9 June, 3.00pm – all students

Term 3 – Gib Gate & Frensham*
Monday 18 July - Thursday 22 September, 3.00pm

Term 4 – Gib Gate & Frensham*
Gib Gate: Tuesday 11 October - Friday 9 December
Frensham: Tuesday 11 October - Sunday 11 December 12.00pm (after 11.00am Carol Service)

*Boarders always return evening before classes start

2022 Parents Weekend 

Confirmed dates for attendance of all students Years 7-12

Term 1
Year 7: Saturday 26 - Sunday 27 February; Frensham Open Day – Saturday 26 February
Year 10: Saturday 19 March - Sunday 20 March

Term 2
Year 8: Saturday 14 May - Sunday 15 May
Year 12: Saturday 4 June - Sunday 5 June
Frensham Schools Birthday: Friday 3 June
Frensham’s 109^th Birthday: Sunday 5 June

Term 3
Year 11: Saturday 6 August - Sunday 7 August
[Saturday 6 August: Year 10 planning for Senior Studies (with parents on Saturday)]
Year 9: Saturday 27 August - Sunday 28 August 

Reminder: all of Years 7-12 attend Open Day and attend all Parent Weekend Services

Message from Berrima Buslines regarding updating Student Details for Bus Pass Applications
Please note: Transport NSW has updated it site for School Bus Pass Applications and Updates. The portal will be open from mid-October for 2022. Changes to student address details can now be made via this link: https://transportnsw.info/tickets-opal/ticket-eligibility-concessions/school-student-travel

Parents are asked to update details during Term 4, in preparation for the start of Term 1, 2022.

FACULTY FOCUS

English

Shelfies – Girls sharing their love of books and reading

In Term 3, we asked students to upload a “shelfie” to their School Box English page. This is a picture of themselves with a book they love in front of a bookshelf. They were asked to write an accompanying explanation as to why they enjoyed that book so much. 

Some student samples include:

• The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller is my favourite book because it is a beautiful love story that explores many themes like love, fatal flaws, war and harsh truths. It reflects me as a reader because concepts like the ones above are my favourites to discuss. I'm a Greek mythology nerd and the two main protagonists have very in-depth personalities which is what I read books for.
• David Attenborough’s Adventures of A Young Naturalist, I like this book because it recounts incredible stories from David Attenborough’s many years studying wildlife and the natural world. It reflects my interest in the environment and my enjoyment of personal recounts and autobiographies. I enjoyed the phrase “we need to move beyond guilt and blame, and get on with the practical tasks at hand”.
• The Places We Swim by Caroline Clements and Dillon Seitchik-Reardon. I love this book because I am a lover of all things beachy, this book shows the reader some of Australia's greatest swimming spots. It gives me something to look forward to after lockdown and the images are photographed so well. I love sitting on my front balcony and reading over the descriptions again and again, making up a little road trip in my head.
• I like the Percy Jackson series, by Rick Riordan, because it is filled with action and adventure and sarcasm with mystery and light-hearted romance. It has characters with actual depth and morals. It brings in Greek mythology while making it entertaining. This series has an excellent story and is not rushed in the slightest! 
• The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern is about two young lovers who are able to make illusions. Their fate is to duel each other to death because of a 'game' that their caretakers have organised. I like this book because I can relate to Marco's personality. Also, I enjoy historical fiction; especially since this is set in late 19th Century London. I also heavily admire Erin Morgenstern's writing style and the effective use of third person. 

AHIGS Festival of Speech 

The Festival of Speech (then known as the Independent Girls Schools Speaking Competition) was first held in NSW in 1996. The inaugural Festival, spanning Friday evening and all-day Saturday, was hosted by Kincoppal, Rose Bay, and attended by 15 schools. Frensham was one of the earliest participants.

Today the Festival continues to be hosted annually by an AHIGS members’ school. Some 27 schools now participate, and students have the opportunity to perform in the areas of drama, debating, poetry, prose readings, current affairs and religious and ethical questions. The Festival is open to girls from Years 7 to 11 and offers an important focal point for skill development, personal expression, teamwork and friendship.

Continuing Frensham’s involvement in the competition, the English and Drama Faculties have been preparing the girls for the 2021 Virtual Competition which was hosted by Pymble Ladies College on the 15 and 16 October. Heidi Jervis is congratulated on her achievement of progressing to the top 10 finals for Senior Public Speaking.

This year’s participants: 

Seniors

• Senior Poetry: Sarah-Joy Day (Year 10). Coach: Ms Shannon
• Senior Public Speaking: Heidi Jervis (Year 10). Coach: Mrs Metua
• Religious and Ethical Questions: Yusra Chalak, Eliza Hewson (Year 11), Evelyn Doan (Year 10). Coach: Mrs Dalleywater
• Debating: Bella Cay, Clara McDonald, Bea McDonald, Rosie Mahony (reserve) (Year 10). Coach: Ms Scotting

Juniors

• Junior Public Speaking: Elizabeth Laverty (Year 8). Coach: Ms Arnold
• Junior Reading: Alice Fergusson (Year 9). Coach: Ms McGuinness
• Junior Poetry: Katherine Clifton (Year 9). Coach: Ms Shannon

Ms Lee McGuinness, Head of English

Science

Year 7 Science classes are continuing their study of the Life topic. From a study of classification systems and scientific names to cells and the organisation of multicellular organisms, students are introduced to the basics of the study of Biology. Their assessment task this term involves researching an Australian native animal and creating a poster using Canva or cardboard.

Year 8 students have just started the Living Sustainably unit and are discovering the different ways we currently produce energy and renewable resource technologies being developed, such as biofuels. They are going to apply this knowledge in a task where Grand Designs meets Greta Thunberg by creating their own sustainable house with architectural and design features that satisfy a sustainable development goal of their choosing. 

Year 9 students have started studying Communication, a topic about waves, the electromagnetic spectrum, light and sound. So far, they have modelled the two different types of waves and can calculate the speed of a wave using the wave equation. They will move on to investigating how scientists utilise the properties of the waves of the electromagnetic spectrum to development new technologies, which change the way we are able to communicate information. These technologies including satellites, mobile phones and the internet have had a major impact on our daily lives.

Year 10 classes are nearing the end of their final module. Each class has rotated through a Biology, Chemistry and Physics unit to help them make better informed decisions about their subject choices in Years 11 and 12. The Chemistry class has been focusing on the products of common chemical reactions. By studying these chemical reactions and the compounds formed, scientists can provide practical applications in rust prevention, combustion, precipitation, and decomposition reactions.

Year 12 2021 classes have been participating in seminars to revise different aspects of their HSC courses. Our Biologists have had a presentation on Gel Electrophoresis and its applications by Jeannette Tran from STEM Reactor. Dr Jeanette Hurst, academic and specialist Chemistry tutor, delivered a lecture to Year 12 Chemistry students on the analysis of organic compounds using the techniques of Mass Spectroscopy, Infra-Red Spectroscopy and Nuclear Magnetic Resonance. A key component of the HSC course.

Mrs Alison Andrew, Head of Science

Music

The recording of AMEB video repertoire examinations continue with recorded accompaniment parts at student homes, in conjunction with detailed guidance from their tutors. Some students recorded their examinations in the vacation, these were reviewed and submitted. Accompaniment tracks have been sourced and recorded for this to occur. 

25 further AMEB practical examinations have now been enrolled, which will allow students to record until the end of October, when the 2021 examining year finishes. Frensham has flute, horn, piano, saxophone and violin entries. Nine AMEB practical, and 7 Musicianship examinations have already been submitted this year, and at least seven Musicianship examinations are still to be completed. 

Resilience and determination have been demonstrated by tutors and students alike to reach this point, along with a notable amount of practice!

Mr Michael Spencer, Head of Music

Careers: important information for Year 12, 2021 and Year 12, 2022  

Year 12, 2021 students are commended for their hard work in applying for Early Entry courses. Almost all of the 2021 cohort have either applied directly to institutions’ early entry programmes or they have nominated for UAC’s Schools Recommendation Scheme, where offers will be made mid-November. Some students have already received offers and more will be following in the coming months.

It seems that Universities are being very generous due to the challenge of Covid with some notable last minute early entry schemes, for example:

UOW Alternative Entry students can:

• Apply for 1 UOW undergraduate course
• Be assessed on Year 11 academic results (not ATAR) and your unique skills and experiences
• Secure an offer to UOW before HSC exams commence in November** (**Applications close 24 October)
• They are hosting a dedicated UOW Alternative Entry webinar on 12 October at 6:00 pm. 

Western Sydney University

• Western’s HSC True Reward Early Offer Program provides students an early offer based on their HSC results instead of a scaled ATAR
• Students can apply by 11.59pm 28 November for the next True Reward based on Year 11 results with offers released on 9 December
• Find out more: Western Sydney Future Pathways  

Year 12 students are now in the process of exploring various scholarship opportunities. Students are encouraged to research these via each University’s website but some to note include:

• UOW Vice-Chancellor’s Elite Academic Scholarship
• Rural Pharmacy Scholarship Scheme
• University of Newcastle LGBTQIA+ Shaping Futures Scholarship
• UNSW Mike Cannon-Brookes Endowed Scholarship
• Macquarie Vinva Scholar Award (Macquarie University)
• Melbourne Chancellors Scholarship
• University of Sunshine Coast June Canavan Regional Scholarship
• James Cook University Cullinane Law Scholarship
• James Cook University Elite Athlete Scholarship

For the new Year 12, 2022 cohort

UNSW GIE FEAS Program: Launching in 2022 for high school girls in Years 11 and 12, the GIE FEAS (the Faculty of Engineering Admissions Scheme) Program is a new alternate pathway to UNSW Engineering that recognises students’ engagement with the UNSW Girls in Engineering Club and passion for engineering. For more information visit: UNSW GIE FEAS Programme (engineering)

Acknowledgement to: 

• Interschool Snowsports Honour Roll 2021 – award recipients Elke Arnott (Vice Captain of Snowsports), India Hicks, Georgia Hill, Sophia Pernice (Captain of Snowsports), Emily Shorthouse (Vice Captain of Snowsports) in recognition for their long term Interschool Snowsports participation and acknowledgement that they finished their schooling without the opportunity to compete in the 2021 Interschools Snowsport Championships.
• Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award recipients: Gold: Millicent Bolger (2020), Natasha Long, Ivy McGufficke (Year 12); Silver: Sarah Glanville (Year 12), Matilda Walker (Year 11); Bronze: Chloe Kennedy-Green (Year 10).
• We particularly congratulate Gold recipients from Year 12 2021 Natasha and Ivy, for the commitment required to complete all four elements, and the sustained effort and time investment required to receive this level of recognition.
• Frensham’s debating team for its participation in the AHIGS Festival of Speech, with Heidi Jervis (Year 10) progressing to the top 10 finals.
• Girdle Award recipient, Sarah Brown – Academic Excellence (Design and Technology).

SEE FULL LIST OF LEADERSHIP POSITIONS FOR TERM 4 2021 - 2022

Ms Sarah McGarry
Head of Frensham
Head of Frensham Schools

Reflecting upon the character of strengths

As we reach the end of Term 3, we reflect with gratitude and appreciation amidst the challenges brought about by COVID-19 restrictions, and the need for sacrifice and compromise in order to keep our state safe during this current outbreak. We have this term reflected upon the character strengths of persistence, resilience, patience, humility and gratitude, and explored their relevance for our current circumstances. 

Earlier this week, the US Open saw both Australian tennis superstar Dylan Alcott and Deide De Groot of the Netherlands achieve the “Golden Slam” – winning titles at the Australian and French Open, Wimbledon, an Olympic Gold for each player in their respective events, then topping it all off with a US Open win. What persistence, perseverance and resolve must these sportspeople have had to cultivate and demonstrate in order to reach the very top of their game in the world? How many times must they have thought that the journey ahead of them was too difficult, too long, or too arduous? How many times in their sport must they have had to re-commit to their goals, re-focus on the future after a disappointment or loss, strive and persist through difficult conditions or injury? It is inspiring to see such positive role models of the human spirit, 

We also very much enjoyed the video message shared by School for Life this week, a school we are closely connected with through Old Girl founder Annabelle Chauncy OAM. Girls in Uganda sharing their experiences of learning from home during COVID highlighted the significant work of School for Life in supporting girls’ education and was a powerful exercise in perspective for students and staff alike. 

Frensham students have persisted and persevered – particularly Year 12 in their final week of classes - and are finishing the term strongly and positively after a couple of challenging months. We recognise our student and staff determination to finish well, to reflect upon and recognise the lessons we have all learned over the course of this term. Year 12 are often told that their final year is a marathon, not a sprint - and this year there seem to be a few laps added by stealth at the end. We know Year 12 can do it, and they will strengthen and grow through the process. We look forward to being able to farewell and celebrate you in person next term. For now, we say thank you – and keep going – and we will be here with you, as your team, cheering you on.

We reflect with gratitude on the term that has been – for everyone’s efforts under trying circumstances, for our health, safety and access to education when so many in the world do not have the same. For the technology that lets us keep connected with friends, classmates, teachers and family members around Australia and around the world. For the sustained efforts of our teachers and staff, who have continued to pivot and flex at very short notice and have toiled in a most extraordinarily committed manner. 

Our term concludes this afternoon with the induction of our Student Leaders for 2022, where we will gather in a virtual space via Zoom instead of the usual Service format in our beloved Clubbe Hall. We invite all families to join us for the Leadership Induction Service which commences at 2.00pm on Zoom and requires attendance from all students. It is a formal recognition of Year 12, 2022 student leaders and is an important occasion, recognising and celebrating the role that these girls play in the leadership of the School in the year ahead. All students are required to wear their full Winter Uniform for this service and we ask for those attending to be online at 1.55pm to enable us to commence promptly. 

It is with great anticipation that we look forward to the return of students to campus during Term 4. Whilst it is not possible to confirm exact arrangements at this time, given the ever-changing status of LGA restrictions, we will be continuing to plan across the upcoming holiday period for the term ahead, in light of anticipated updated information and guidelines being provided. A draft schedule will be posted on Schoolbox today, along with a survey designed to provide the opportunity for feedback and suggestions for our planning. As the government announced earlier in August, school staff will be required to be fully vaccinated by 8 November and we encourage all families to pursue vaccinations for students aged 12 and above to assist us in keeping safe as a community and being able to return to full campus operations as soon as possible. 

We wish all students, staff and families a safe and restful vacation ahead.

FACULTY FOCUS

Music

Term 3 2021, with most of our community isolated at home, will be remembered as the term where we were unable to enjoy those powerful elements of the Frensham culture that are so reliant on us all being together on campus. One of the most memorable and most affected of those elements is our coming together for singing and music making, and yet, despite these challenging times, students and staff continue to make and enjoy music together.

While Morning Prayers on ZOOM regularly features Mr Spencer playing the keyboard and singing the daily hymn, musicians from Years 7-12 have also sent in videos of themselves playing their instruments for the “Processional” and singing the hymns. Similarly, the School Services for Years 9 and 11 featured video compilations of singers from those year groups delivering the hymns for us to enjoy, and currently, singers across the school are sending in videos of themselves singing the School Hymn for the Leadership Induction Service on Thursday.

Choir rehearsals and performances are always the first to be impacted by COVID-19 restrictions but, this term, the Madrigals achieved something they have not done since 2012; filmed at the close of Term 2, they submitted their videos and won both their sections in the Sydney Eisteddfod and then went on to be named Australasian Choral Champion for U/19 Choirs.

It was a sad moment for Frensham’s HSC Music students when they were told that they no longer needed to practise for their final performance examinations, as these were unable to be held this year. Despite this, our community was still able to enjoy their performances, filmed at their Trial Examinations at the beginning of the term, via Vimeo: 2021 HSC Music Performances.

While ZOOM is not ideal for musical sound, individual Music tuition has continued online again this term, reflecting the great goodwill and commitment of Frensham musicians and staff alike. We all look forward to coming out of lockdown and being able to enjoy the fruits of our musicians’ labours in person once more.

Mr Michael Spencer, Head of Music

Visual Arts and Design & Technology

A major focus for both Visual Arts and Design & Technology during Term 3 has been to reach the best possible outcomes for Year 12 students completing major projects in these subjects. During the term, both students and teachers had to navigate their way through changes made by NESA to the parameters of submission of both Visual Arts Bodies of Work and Design & Technology Major Design Projects. In normal circumstances, these projects are submitted by approximately mid Term 3; this year, the submission dates moved closer to the end of term.

While there have been some significant challenges for all in terms of resolving major projects, I would like to focus on things we must celebrate. Firstly, beyond the actual work, it is imperative that we acknowledge the resilience and determination of all students during this process. When faced with limited access to specialist materials and equipment, actual physical separation from their work, delays in sending or receiving packages of work, and of course, live one-to-one discussions with their teachers, our students stood tall. With the support of staff, every student took some personal responsibility for solving whatever issue they faced in terms of resolving their work, and in doing so, demonstrated great strength of character. One element that put our students in a good position to deal with the challenges of Term 3 was the sustained work undertaken throughout Semester 1 which meant that broadly, the essential frameworks of projects were in place. 

Taking into account many unavoidable barriers which negated full resolution of projects for some, I would like to commend the students for the outstanding collective standard of work produced in Year 12 Visual Arts and/or Design & Technology. Present in the major works of 38 students are exquisite skill, diversity, cleverness, sensitivity and refinement. 

Presently, the faculty is exploring ways to be able to share these projects with our wider community. Clearly, any physical exhibition under current restrictions appears to be problematic and therefore unlikely. Discussions at this point revolve around exploring effective ways to potentially share the work in a virtual format. 

Pivoting has become a familiar term during 2021, and subjects with a significant practical component have needed to pivot substantially. Many planned making tasks have needed to be adjusted or postponed to suit an online environment. In Visual Arts, Design & Technology and STEM classes throughout Years 7-11, we have adapted tasks where necessary to embrace or extend digital processes. Practical work in both Design & Technology and STEM is often underpinned by computer-based technologies, so much of planned Term 3 work has been possible. In Visual Arts, we have consistently used parts of the Adobe suite (particularly Photoshop) extensively as a tool to develop compositions for painting, printmaking and drawing. While many students possessed a good skills base with this software, moving to a making environment where programmes like Photoshop have been used not just as a tool, but as a way to make a resolved artwork, has been an opportunity, not a hinderance. It will be interesting to see whether we see an uptake in the exploration of Photomedia and Graphic Design as Expressive Forms in the HSC in 2022 and beyond. For some students, employing this software more extensively may well have opened a creative pathway for them moving forward.

Mr Phil Alldis, Head of VA & DAT

Drama

How will people remember the dramatic chaos of the Class of 2021? Through the poofy moustache of the Lorax bouncing onto the stage? Through the frustrated blehs, ahhs and stutterings made during truly intense scenes as the lines slipped our minds? In the dent made by Ms Shannon in the cupboard from a very believable session of method acting, or in the small dent in the drama studio floor made by a girl performing a very passionate monologue with a cricket bat? Or will it be through the notably attractive faces of characters in top hats, leather jackets and fake-male jawlines? Though the pandemic may have cast a shadow over the light of performers around the world, it certainly has not dimmed the legacy of our time here at Frensham. Now, at the conclusion of our final Act, the drama students from the Class of 2021 can take our bows and reflect on the rollercoaster of our experiences:

Scene One - Year 7: Zip, Zap, Zop!
Where it all began. As we stepped into the Drama Studio for the first time, there it was. The stage, clear. The lights, bright, and a room full of possibility. What we did not know was that we were now stepping into the place we would see as a second home for the next six years, a place where we felt most comfortable and a place, we have made some of our best memories. From our class games and story book staging in Year 7, this was the perfect introduction to a world of drama. Collaborative and creative games was the ultimate way to immediately get our interest and gave the best opportunity for all of us to get to know each other in a fun and exciting environment.

Scene Two - Year 8: Footstools and Foliage
Our starring roles in our first Junior Production: Roald Dahl’s Revolting Rhymes, were as large as footstools and the letter L in the word ‘love’, learning the importance of the ensemble in creating theatre. We longed to escape our roles as props in the End of Year Musical, only to play the forks, napkins and pepper shakers in Beauty and the Beast, a rather interesting experience playing a singing spoon, but one of our favourites so far.

Scene Three - Year 9: Green Eggs and Ham
This was even bigger and better as we were now the older ones in the junior productions, and suddenly had gone from looking up at the main parts to being luckily enough to take them on. As we tackled the masterpiece and all engaging works of Dr Seuss, we all worked together to our strengths to put on a funny, warm, and great show, and I think was perhaps a valuable time when we saw how worth it long practices and regular rehearsals truly are. 

Scene Four - Year 10: To Life!
We formed unbreakable bonds as we sang Amazing Grace and acted out our worst nightmares using Brecht, making Mrs Hannah cry, and having us all reaching for the tissues. We performed our first monologues to Jasper Jones. We nervously auditioned for our first lead roles and danced as Russians in the unexpected joy of Fiddler on the Roof, forever yelling out ‘Tradition!’ as we counted the steps; one, two, three, stop!

Scene Five - Year 11: Did Someone Say M@cb3th?
Now in our senior years, we started to find ourselves fully absorbed by the genius works of playwrights Chekhov and Brecht in class as we took on more challenging, and more absurdist pieces. As well as this we found ourselves absorbed by none other than Shakespeare himself, learning lines and doing table reads of his famous Macbeth. However, with a modern twist. This was our first time entering the world of a senior birthday play, where we would get to perform to staff, parents and girls for a once-a-year special event and the birthday of our school. And yet, the curse of the Scottish play meant that our access to the stage was limited, surrendering out first roles to the radio play and looking instead to our End of Year Production. Grease was an experience we will never forget, from fighting over who would be the five singers in each song, to flipping off cars to a screaming chorus, we will forever be grateful for the way this musical brought us closer and sparked joy in our peers during a time of COVID.

Scene Six - Year 12: ...and yet.
Hope. A year spent hoping. We hoped for opportunities as we organised musical theatre concerts and theatre sports competitions. We hoped until it hurt that I Have Five Daughters could go ahead without any pandemic hiccups. We hoped we would remember all our wordy lines about it being “prodigious hot”. We hoped our families would be able to see our Major Works. In vain we struggled against forces we could not change. A struggle which, at times, made it hard to keep a polished twinkle in our eyes. And yet we conjured lots of “oohs and ahhs” as we told stories to our friends, we fostered smiles which for a moment lost sight of the rising cases, we made hope in places where hope was hard to find. In a time of theatrics, we created hope through theatre, we made our own opportunities, forged our own paths; we organised film festivals and laughed as we tried to remember what happened to Scar in The Lion King, attempting to tell the story to our peers. 

We became living proof that no matter how dismal life becomes, art will always create an ‘and yet’. 

To conclude what has been a rollercoaster of six years, for us, there are perhaps very few words to describe drama at Frensham that could truly capture the infinite fun we have had, memories we will cherish forever, and lessons we have learnt as our passion for performance has only grown each year. 

It has certainly been one of a kind and we have loved every minute.  

So, to all the young stars, keen musical theatre singers and stage dancers, as your high school years continue, we hope that drama at Frensham can bring you just as much joy and fun as it has for us. 

Georgie Hill and Eleanor Swan, Heads of Drama 2021

Mrs Sally Hannah, Head of Drama 

Acknowledgement to: 

• Recent award recipients: Iris – Grace Lewis, Eleanor Swan, Jessica Billet, Madeleine Mulligan (All Round Excellence); Girdle – Alexandra Crawford (Academic Excellence), Sophie Rodwell (Sport), Georgia Hill (Academic Excellence and Service to Drama), Sophie Perkins (Service to Music).
• Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award recipients: Silver – Lara Kyriazis (Year 11), Darcy Maple-Brown, Edie Staniforth (Year 10); Bronze – Gracie Hindmarsh, Monique Andersson (Year 10).
• Gib Gate Tournament of Minds (TOMs) Team was awarded Primary School Honours at the recent online Ceremony.
• Gib Gate students as they said farewell to Year 12, 2021 Gib Gaters. This year, the annual celebration was held via Zoom.

Staffing update:

• Ms Janene van Gogh, Director of Studies, will be taking Long Service Leave during Term 4.
• We welcome: Mrs Katelyn Williamson returns to Gib Gate in 2022, as Maternity Leave cover for Miss Stefanie Klauer. 

Ms Sarah McGarry
Head of Frensham
Head of Frensham Schools

Embracing the sense of optimism and enthusiasm – a spring clean!

We wish all members of the Frensham Schools community a very happy Spring, and hope and trust that wherever you are at this time, there are signs of new growth, Spring warmth and blossom scent in the air. Spring is typically known as the season when new growth begins and changes happen all around us. Snowdrops, daffodils, and of course irises are starting to bloom. The magnolias at Sturt, the daffodils at Gib Gate and the blossoms are out on Range Road, lifting our emotions and signalling a new season ahead. It’s a reminder that the cycle of life is starting over again, trees are in bud, and blossom is starting to appear, so it’s not surprising that Spring is also seen as the start of better times. It’s an opportunity to be less lethargic and inclined to hibernate at home, becoming more open to changes, big and small, in our lives. Approaching September with a sense of possibility, renewal, and regrowth is an optimistic outlook to take, even if a positive outlook is something we must deliberately cultivate in these challenging circumstances.

Springtime has always been thought of as a time for change, as we can embrace that sense of optimism and enthusiasm by having a good clear out – a spring clean. Spring cleaning is valuable to us as a way of clearing out any clutter from our homes and lives and bringing in the new, symbolising new beginnings. These new beginnings can be tiny – little daily steps that help us build a new habit or reframe our mindset. It’s a great time for students to start being more active – even whilst spending more time in front of a computer than whilst on campus, to use their break times well and to get moving whenever possible. I’ve seen lots of photos shared and girls on Zoom who are obviously helping in their local community and at home, demonstrating their community spirit, their generosity, and their service mindset.

This is also an opportunity for us all to pause when we see the sunrise, or perhaps the sunset, to really name and notice the changes around us and within us as the light and smells change. To set our intention for the day or days ahead, to welcome the opportunity for the new beginning inherent in each day, to make a positive contribution in the small, individual ways each of us is able to during this time. These changes can be seen in the way that we work, how we organise ourselves, how we connect with other people and how we go about our day.

We appreciate all submissions to the various school surveys that have been undertaken over this past term to help inform our future planning. These surveys have included communications, catering, Stage 4 and 5 curriculum and online learning. In the coming days all parents will receive a further link to assist with some work we are currently undertaking with a consultancy firm around our school marketing and communications. This brief survey (10 minutes) will invite your views on the perceptions and value of a Frensham Schools education. All responses will remain anonymous and confidential. Thank you, in advance, for taking the time to provide your feedback.

Boarding

“When it comes to health and well-being, regular exercise is about as close to a magic potion as you can get.”
Thich Nhat Hanh

Before Breakfast, early morning signouts for swimming, running, team training, gym use, and a variety of other fitness activities are a regular feature and an important part of Boarding life. 

After a busy day of classes, the Boarders often race back to the Houses to quickly change in readiness for afternoon activities, either as part of team sports or for personal fitness. Saturday mornings are always a hive of activity, as all Boarders make their way to the Games Field and courts for the range of Saturday sport activities. The weekend programme often features swimming, bushwalking, physical fitness and outdoor games, so that exercise is also incorporated into the programme in a fun way. 

Although most Boarders are not on campus at the moment, we are enjoying hearing about how they are continuing to stay active - whether that be through the IGSA online Saturday competition, the Strava challenges set up by the PDHPE Faculty or the small group and individual initiatives such as bike riding, bush walking and horse riding. The activities built into our Boarding programme are an acknowledgment of the important role that exercise plays in our wellbeing, and we are delighted to know that girls are continuing to carry on the exercise habits, developed at school, into their learning from home routines. 

Ms Amanda Graham, Director of Boarding and Ms Sally Arnold & Ms Sally Fennell, Deputy Heads of Boarding

FACULTY FOCUS

Science

According to UNESCO “To face sustainable development challenges, governments and citizens alike must understand the language of science and must become scientifically literate.” This has never been more important than in the world today when we are bombarded with messages about Covid-19 and climate change. Through questioning and seeking solutions to problems, students develop an understanding of the relationship between science and technology and its importance in the current and future practice of science. By sifting through information from primary and secondary sources and evaluating its validity and reliability, students learn how to make informed decisions about issues affecting all of us, both locally and globally.   

Student Research Projects (SRPs) are an important part of Stages 4 and 5 Science. These involve investigating an area of interest, writing a hypothesis, designing and carrying out an experiment and writing a detailed report. Year 10 students have carried out their SRP as this term’s assessment task. It was more challenging than usual as most students were at home and so had to use whatever equipment was available. Despite this difficulty some excellent projects were carried out including 

• Has the use of PFAS during bushfire fighting had an impact on the water and soil quality in Shoalhaven? - Heidi Jervis
• Behavioural impacts of environmental enrichment on individual caged rabbits – Charlotte Hopperton
• Does altering surfboard volume have a measurable effect on paddle speed? – Clara McDonald
• Which natural antimicrobials inhibit bacterial growth? – Sarah-Joy Day
• How do different exercises affect heart rate? – Darcy Maple-Brown

Communicating scientific ideas and discoveries to the world is a complicated task, scientists and science enthusiasts like Dr Karl Kruszelnicki, Bill Nye and David Attenborough make every effort to share their passion for science to audiences worldwide. For the Year 9 assessment task for this term, students were required to make a short video (between 1 and 3 minutes) to communicate a scientific concept, finding or problem to the general public. They were assessed not only on their video but also on how they worked together as a team. Some of the topics included   

• Why is Covid-19 so contagious? 
• Wormholes in the Space/Time Continuum 
• How much water do you need to drink in a day? 
• What is one thing that you can do today to save the Great Barrier Reef? 
• What makes nuclear bombs so dangerous? 

Another way scientists communicate is through the use of models. Models can help us to understand concepts that are too small or too large to see. The process of building a model also helps students to remember concepts more easily. Year 9 students recently made models of isotopes using whatever materials they could find at home, from Scarlett Francis (left) and Susannah Gooden (right).

Mrs Alison Andrew, Head of Science

Agriculture

While learning@home has been challenging for many, any challenges that may have faced the Agriculture Faculty have been tempered by willing workers. There have been plenty of reports in the media recently, about a lack of farm workers who are critically needed during harvest times and to complete general farm work. COVID-19 related National and State border restrictions and restricted movement between LGAs has caused many problems in the Australian agriculture industry. Many producers have had to plough crops back into the soil or leave produce to rot on the trees due to a lack of staff to help with the harvest. This obviously has flow on effects due to the subsequent lack of income from sales of their produce. This situation is being replicated at Holt Farm and the Ag plot with all Agriculture students having returned home for the current lockdown. In a ‘normal’ year, the Year 10 Agriculture class are usually responsible for the care and welfare of the school sheep flock which includes feeding and lamb marking. Lamb marking includes vaccination, ear tagging, tail docking and castration and the students are involved with undertaking of or assistance in these animal husbandry practices. However, as the whole Year 10 Agriculture class is learning@home, I was in need of assistance recently to complete these tasks. Ms McGarry generously offered her time to not only assist in the feeding and checking of livestock on a weekend but also to catch and hold lambs and to vaccinate the lambs during lamb marking. Although a first-time experience for Ms McGarry, she quickly picked up the skills required and enthusiastically threw herself into the tasks. I would like to offer my thanks on behalf of myself and the Year 10 Ag class for her willing and generous efforts in helping out with the sheep flock.

Another group of keen workers who stepped up to fill a gap were Ruby Young and Chloe White (Year 8) and Emily Webb (Year 12) who, during Science Week, buried some underpants as part of the University of New England’s ‘Soil Your Undies’ challenge. In eight weeks’ time, the underpants will be dug up on National Cotton Day (hopefully by some returning Ag students) to investigate the decomposition rates of the school’s soils.

A small but eager group of Years 7, 8, 9 and 10 students, who are currently learning on campus, are collecting eggs daily and caring for the welfare of the laying hens and pullets at the AG plot. Again, these students do not study Agriculture but have generously offered their service each day to assist me and to ensure the animals are being well looked after.

My thanks and appreciation go to all who are ensuring the farm and AG plot are still productive at this time.

Ms Leonie Mutch, Coordinator of Agriculture

Careers

As Year 12 students move into their final weeks of School, they have been reminded of the following tertiary deadlines and notices (detailed information is also available in the Year 12 section of Schoolbox, Schoolbox Careers):

• Complete Early Entry applications as any remaining schemes are due in the next few weeks.  (See Schoolbox Careers or visit each institution's website for more information).
• Schools Recommendation Scheme - Closes Sunday 19 September.
• USYD E12 (early entry) application - see the webinar notes on how to best answer the three questions. Closes Sunday 19 September.
• If students are applying for the Education Access Scheme (via UAC) – they are reminded to start preparing supporting documents e.g. medical certificates/reports etc. This may take practitioners longer than usual given the current circumstances.
• Pay for their UAC application by Tuesday 28 September. After this date the fee increases.
• If students are applying interstate, please visit each state’s university admission centre to make their application and be aware of closing dates.
• Apply for a college if they intend to attend in 2022.
• Research and apply for scholarships (See Schoolbox Careers or visit each institution’s website).

Open Days are happening in every institution over the next few weeks. (See Schoolbox Careers or visit each institution’s website).

Jamieson Programme

Year 9 students are to be congratulated on their effort in submitting their Cambridge IGCSE Individual Research projects under the current conditions. The topics chosen explored some of the most challenging global issues, and it is notable the way in which students embraced learning about the different perspectives, whilst firmly articulating their own personal responses. The girls will now be embarking on preparation for the examination in Term 4, which will entail lessons to develop their critical-thinking skills - identifying bias, facts and opinion through a range of sources on important global issues and learning to reason with evidence. Students will also practice using past examination papers along with utilising a response scaffold that prepares them for the different types of questions asked.

Year 9 students enjoyed a presentation in Week 7 from Tom Carter who was the Strength and Conditioning Coach for the Women’s Rugby Sevens Team who played in the recent Tokyo Olympics. Girls were intrigued to hear about Mr Carter’s Olympic journey and experiences and the way in which he inspired the team to perform at the highest level. He also gave some candid advice on subject selection and university choices and how students should not be put off doing something just because they find an area challenging. 

Girls continue their community service efforts through knitting scarves and hand-warmers for local nursing home residents. Mrs Alison Andrew and Ms Jackie Dalton, Fellowship Liaison, have also arranged for Year 9 students to hand-write personal letters to the elderly Frensham alumni to cheer them up now that lockdown has been extended. 

Mrs Kate Gallagher is planning an exciting Term 4 for Year 9 with a focus on ethical consumerism and financial literacy workshops, and we look forward to catching up on some of the activities postponed because of Covid-19.

Mrs Merrilee Harris, Director of Jamieson Programme & Activities and Careers

IGSA Lockdown Tournament 

Over the past 5 weeks, Frensham students have been participating in an online fitness competition. IGSA schools were invited to participate in this event in an effort to break down the physical and social barriers created by the current lockdown environment and provide some healthy competition amongst schools. Sessions consisted of physical workouts as well as inspirational talks from current and past elite athletes. Students received individual points every week based on their participation, interaction and demonstration of school spirit.

The final results are in and it is exciting to note that we finished in first place! Congratulations to all girls who took up this challenge!

Ms Erin Gray, Head of Sport

Acknowledgement to: 

• Recent Iris award recipients Isabelle Promnitz (All Round Excellence) and Grace Amos (Service to Singing).
• Frensham Madrigals for their success at the Sydney Eisteddod by winning both their sections: Youth Choir for Females (U19) and Youth Vocal Ensemble (U19). The Madrigals then competed in the John Lamble Foundation Australasian Championships for Youth Choirs (U19), for which, with great excitement, they were placed first. The two winning performances included 'Tulit Ergo' by Michael Spencer and 'Since You've Been Gone' by Aretha Franklin.
• Shortlisted in the Whitlam Institute What Matters? Writing Competition 2021, from over 5,500 entries: Scarlett Alldis (The Endless Platter) and Phoebe Rouse (Fire) (Year 10). 
• Duke of Edinburgh's International Award participants: Gold: Madeleine Mulligan, Annabelle Ranken, Georgia Shakeshaft (Year 12); Silver: Zoe Gallagher, Mia Greig, Sarah Hunter (Year 11), Emilie McMurtrie (Year 10); Bronze: Poppy Jensen (Year 11); Olivia Faulkner, Meg Jones, Zoe Logan, Alice Mitchell, Jemima Mutton, Sarah Partland, Hannah Perkins, Jessica Savage, Inka Wilson (Year 10).
• Australian History Competition - High Distinction: Sophie Hassall, Millie Moar, Eliza Mulligan (Year 10); Elizabeth Laverty, Bliss Ow-Yang, Sophia Windsor (Year 8). Distinction: Matilda Damiani, Sarah-Joy Day, Bearte McDonald, Clara McDonald, Summer Oxley, Hannah Perkins, Amalia Scales (Year 10); Anna Fagan, Georgia Rapp, Ella Scott, Ruby Young (Year 8).
• Maya Basson (Year 11) competing at official Equestrian Australia/Eventing NSW events this year was placed third overall in the 1* class in the NSW Equestrian Interschools Eventing leaderboard and qualified for selection to National Interschools event 2021.
• Frensham achieved first place the IGSA Sport Lockdown Tournament.
• Gib Gate Tournament of Minds team members of Amelia Blackshaw, Ana McInnes, Isla McVinish, Sofia Nesci (Year 6), Matilda Spong, Edward Vilo and Annabelle Whyte-Cleaver (Year 5), who successfully completed and submitted their online team solution after creatively reworking their performance into digital format.
• Gib Gate students who are continuing to work on the whole school musical, The Aristocats, while Online Learning – singing, acting and dancing on Zoom.

Ms Sarah McGarry
Head of Frensham
Head of Frensham Schools

Flexibility, adaptability, creativity, persistence, resilience, grit and good humour

Gratitude must go to all members of our school community who have demonstrated such remarkable flexibility, adaptability, creativity, persistence, resilience, grit and good humour in the face of such challenging circumstances so far this term. We know that everyone is living, working and learning in ‘unusual’ contexts at the moment and that some level of disruption is, for the time being, a new normal. We also know the importance of remaining connected despite disruption and distance, with family and friends, neighbours and colleagues – and a number of our students and staff have initiated activities to help our community engage online. Whether it’s the Frensham Move Club on Strava, the Wrap with Love knitters, Year Seven girls handwriting letters to pen pals, girls writing letters to nursing home residents or thank-you notes to frontline workers, taking sunset selfies to share, sharing their book recommendations, making short films or sharing their inspirational quotes, we encourage all members of the Frensham community to continue getting involved in these kinds of activities from wherever you are. These small acts of kindness, generous actions and moments of levity help to boost oxytocin, serotonin and dopamine levels in our brains – reducing stress and blood pressure, increasing feelings of wellbeing and connection, lifting and stabilising our mood and improving wellbeing. When acts of kindness and service towards others are repeated, the oxytocin ‘boost’ that comes from a single act is prolonged, contributing to a happier self and a stronger community. 

Whilst some of our usual school celebrations and rituals can’t occur in person as they usually would, we hope that Frensham families are able to join in with some of the online versions of these events in the coming weeks. The Year 9 Service scheduled for next weekend will be proceeding in virtual format, with girls and staff filming their contributions remotely. We look forward to sharing this with you at the end of next week. Please check Schoolbox for further event details.

We are also inviting all Parents and Carers to join us for Friday Prayers, commencing this Friday 20th August. It will not be the same as being in Clubbe Hall together but it is a time where we gather together to reflect on the week and to celebrate accomplishment and contribution – and an important part of the Frensham daily experience. 

Ranier Uniform Shop – Limited Trading Hours

The Ranier Uniform Shop will open every 2nd and 4th Monday of the month for processing of online orders only. These limited hours will remain in place until COVID-19 restrictions ease. As parents will not be able to access the uniform shop during this time, we encourage the placement of online orders. 

Online Orders: Please place orders by 9.00am of each 2nd and 4th Monday of the month. https://shop.ranier.com.au/login 

Any online orders placed during this period will be taken to Company Office for distribution or posted, depending on the selection chosen at check out. 

For urgent matters, please contact Ranier head office:
E: custservice@ranier.com.au | P: 02 8337 7201

Boarding

Last Saturday was a whirlwind of activity as we were all thrown into disarray with the government lockdown announcement. This was disappointing news for all boarding staff who have have been committed to providing all girls able to be here at school with a wonderful boarding experience despite the circumstances. We focused on providing much fun and laughter whilst waiting to learn from the Government what it meant for us. Saturday night was pizza and ice cream in the Dining Room which proved to be (unsurprisingly) hugely popular. On Sunday, girls made garlands for their rooms, walked to visit and provide treats to Phillip, Frensham’s resident Donkey, and made crepes in the Bryant McCarthy kitchen. Girls also packed for their return home and the beginning of online learning. 

Boarding staff take pride in providing care and a great sense of community to all our students - it is certainly a challenging time. We are now focused on supporting those girls who need to stay at school and girls are happily ensconced in Bryant McCarthy House in the hope that life will return to normal soon. 

Frensham is a special place and in reflections girls always comment on the cold, winter mornings playing sport on the Games Field, the sound of music emanating from the Glenn Music Centre, Monday night’s Chicken Schnitzel and the fun and frivolity of Friday Night activities. We cannot wait until we have all our girls returned and Frensham is brimming with girls’ laughter, chat and endeavour. In the meantime, we continue to keep the spirit of Frensham alive, albeit via ZOOM. 

Ms Sally Arnold and Ms Sally Fennell, Deputy Heads of Boarding

Character Education/ Pastoral Care

Pastoral Care and Wellbeing

Whilst we are all working from home, unable to connect with extended family and friends in the usual ways, it is important to look after our mental health and wellbeing. We may have feelings of loneliness, frustration and anxiety – all these feelings are very normal. If you or your daughter require extra support, please reach out, we are here to assist.

Year Co-ordinators and members of the Pastoral Care team are always available as an initial point of contact should you have any concerns. Contact details are on Schoolbox, on each Year group page. There is also a link to the Character Education and Pastoral Care page, where you can find details for external services and wellbeing apps to support your daughter’s mental and physical health.

Services such as Headspace and Kids Helpline provide free online and telephone counselling support for young people ages 12-25 and families. Reach Out is the most accessed online mental service for young people and their parents in Australia, providing interactive activities and wellbeing advice.

Stay Healthy HSC site to help year 12 students stay healthy, stay active and keep connected.

Please contact Mrs Fawbert if you have any further questions or concerns.

Mrs Wendy Fawbert, Director of Character Education and Planning

FACULTY FOCUS

HSIE

In an era dominated by rapid change, technological advancements, and innovation, predicting our future needs might appear to be the task of our mathematicians, scientists, and engineers. Some may wonder about the place of history within a future-focused curriculum. At Frensham, its place is clear - the study of history is indispensable. 

Fundamentally, history is about change. Professor Peter Stearns, of Carnegie Mellon University, refers to history as the ‘laboratory of human experience’. Unlike science, we cannot test hypotheses for wide-scale social change through randomised controlled trials. Questions around privacy and security, expanding human rights, and developing a more equal and inclusive society are all challenges humanity is facing. It will be our students who will lead us through these challenges, and in doing so it will be helpful to look at this ‘laboratory of human experience’. Studying Ancient Rome in Year 7 and Year 12 is excellent field for evidence for expanding citizenship rights. Year 10 students have a firm understanding of the dangers of the state having unobstructed access to our private lives through their study of totalitarian regimes. While, Year 8 students, through their study of the Industrial Revolution, can make informed contributions to debates on how societies will be transformed when the relationship between labour and capital changes. 

History, at its best, provides a deeper understanding of where our societies have been, how we behave as communities, and how we perceive the world. It is the study of how we have grappled with our own humanity. And the question of what it means to be human has not been answered. No more is this true than in Year 9 students' study of Australia’s experience of war in the twentieth century. By exploring sources and histories of the First and Second World Wars, students are faced with questions about the value of life, the folly of man, and the complexity of honouring sacrifice while condemning conflict. As students step into their senior studies, they begin to recognise that conflict is a consistent and widespread aspect of the human experience, as demonstrated by Modern History students' study of the origins and progression of the Arab-Israeli conflict. By studying these conflicts, students may be able to contribute to solutions that reduce human conflict in the future. 

The study of history is essential. It provides greater scope for contemplation, provides us with our greatest role models and challenges our preconceived notions of truth. History is the greatest antidote to a binary world of good and evil, black and white, right and wrong. Our girls understand that to genuinely lead our communities into the next chapter, they must understand where we have been. And this is only possible through the study of history. 

Mr Nathan Bessant, Head of HSIE

LANGUAGES

French

Year 12 French students have returned from their Trials and are now into the final weeks of preparation for their HSC examination. I expected to be sharing anecdotes about the HSC French speaking examinations with you, which were planned for 31 July, but the girls have had to dig into their reserves of grit and resilience due to the rescheduling of this examination to 11 September. The silver lining of the Covid-related change in timing is that the girls have another month and a half to finesse their conversational skills while authentically manipulating language features. The French Extension speaking examination will be held as planned on 4 September and our focus is responding to feedback from the Trials to strengthen analytical and argumentative skills.

Year 11 students are currently studying Le plaisir des loisirs, the theme of free-time and leisure activities. Last week students researched and presented an exposé on their favourite extreme sport, introducing the class to such adventure sports as heli-skiing, skateboarding and white-water rafting. This is the last thematic focus for the year as we move into revision and examination technique later in the term.

Junior classes have been developing their communication skills through the use of process writing documents. The functionality of Google docs allows the student to share her writing with her teacher in real time, promoting and exchange of ideas and the opportunity for ongoing learning conversations to occur. Year 7 students are building on their ability to talk about themselves and their families, their pets and their likes and dislikes. In Year 8, the students are learning how to talk about their town and give directions. The Year 9 girls have moved on from daily routines to expressing past events using the passé composé. In Year 10, students are learning how to describe someone’s character and give advice. 

Mrs Kerry Lennon, Director of Languages

Latin

Senior Latin students also had to demonstrate resilience after the event of the year, the Latin Classics dinner at Newington, was cancelled. Students usually have a great time at this annual celebration dressing in togas or as centurions and vying for the coveted prize of costume of the evening.

As Year 12 return to normal classes after their Trial Examinations, students are considering and implementing feedback about their performance in the Trial Examinations. They have moved into pre-HSC mode, completing practice Examination style questions. In the Continuers class, students are studying the final sections of the prescribed text of Cicero In Catilinam. While in the Extension class, students are studying the final prescribed poems of Horace. 

Year 11 students are well underway in their study of Virgil's Aeneid Book 2 which will be the text assessed in their examinations later this term. Year 10 are nearing the end of the Part 3 Workbook, learning about complex grammatical constructions including the passive voice and the subjunctive mood.

The grammatical concepts encountered by Year 9 students this term are the future tense, irregular verbs, and possessive adjectives. As they build their skills in analysis and translation, they are also exploring the culture of ancient Rome through their readings about a visit to the seaside and life in the Roman army. 

After meeting the family of Marcus Cicero in Chapters 1 and 2, students in Year 8 focus on his daughter Tullia and her visit to Arpinum. Their grammatical skills are growing as they master verbs from the 3rd and 4th groups as well as adjectives and the irregular verb sum esse. The mythology of Gods and Goddesses is the civilisation focus for this term. 

Agriculture

While the AG classroom has been quiet over the last few weeks with many students learning@home, much has still been happening in the Agriculture Faculty. During the winter holiday, ten lambs were born including four sets of twins. A few of the Year 10 Agriculture students, who were still learning on campus have assisted in the care and general husbandry of these lambs as well as the other livestock at the farm.

Week 6 is National Science Week and this year’s theme is Food by Design with a focus on Agriculture and food production. The Agriculture classes have been joining in webinars presented by the NSW Department of Primary Industries on Innovation in Agriculture with topics such as precision agronomy, biosecurity, drones and ag-sensing technologies. A webinar from the University of Sydney on Future Plants and Food Security covered topics such as CRISPR technology, cotton production, plants as a source of protein, genetic research into controlling plant disease and urban agriculture.

Also, during National Science Week, the AG classes were involved in a programme conducted by the University of New England called ‘Soil your Undies’. The programme entails schools burying a pair of cotton underpants (supplied by UNE) for eight weeks and then digging them up on National Cotton Day to examine how much of the underpants are left. Data is collated from across the schools involved, to develop a database on decomposition rates of the soils.

While most of the Agriculture students have been working from home this term, they still have been able to be involved in some of the practical experiences covered in the courses. Year 10 AG has been studying crop production and recently was required to conduct soil tests to determine the texture of the soil, at home or at school. Year 9 students have been researching an integrated weed control strategy for a weed that they have found at school or around home.

Students in Year 11 unfortunately were unable to attend the AG on Tour excursion to complete their Farm Case Study. In its place, some of the students from farming backgrounds have been doing their own research at home and presenting their findings to the rest of the class. They were also fortunate to have Mr Ross Thompson (father of Millie, Year 9 and Ollie, year 8), from Millah Murrah Angus Stud, Bathurst, join a Zoom lesson to discuss with the class what happens on his farm as well as the impact of consumer trends on his production systems. Thank you to Ross for his time and considerable knowledge and in assisting the class to gain a different perspective of farm production.

Year 12 students have completed their Trial examination and are now finishing the HSC course and working on fine-tuning their examination technique in preparation for their HSC examination.

Ms Leonie Mutch, Head of Farm Management and Agriculture

Schoolbox

How do you currently use SchoolBox?

In the last 20 years educational institutions have subscribed to Learning Management Systems (LMS) as a platform for innovative practice: these include Google classroom, Canvas, Moodle, Sentral.  It is a competitive market. The Frensham Schools LMS, SchoolBox, is a superior product favoured by many independent schools as, not only does it support advanced methods of delivery and differentiation of P-12 education, but its primary goal is to ensure that learners thrive in a connected community, enhanced by their integrated communications system. This year has seen the initial stages of a plan to develop the use of SchoolBox at Frensham Schools to unite parents, students and staff in learning journeys. 

The first phase involved an aesthetic overhaul of the dashboard which occurred over the winter vacation. You will now find a dashboard with intuitive navigation and information customised to your role in the School community.  

The next phase involves the rollout of the communications system, which you may have noticed already in the form of instant messaging whenever priority News Headlines are posted. Soon this will include automated, customised News Digests which further streamline Frensham Schools’ communications. 

Following this you will see increased innovation and creativity of coursework across Frensham and Gib Gate campuses, as the students’ spirit of inquiry develops. Gib Gate staff have already begun building their online classrooms which are now being used by SchoolBox as exemplars of best practice in Primary Schools.

As we continue to rollout innovation and unify communication across Frensham Schools, please take the time to log in to SchoolBox and engage in a conversation with your children around how they currently use the LMS for learning and communicating. We look forward to bringing you more SchoolBox updates in the coming months. In the meantime, please peruse the SchoolBox focus pages.

SchoolBox Focus: A-Z of Frensham, A-Z of Gib Gate (Formerly the Frensham and Gib Gate Information books respectively)

Mrs Lucy Dalleywater, Head of Special Projects

Acknowledgement to: 

• Year 11 Mock Trial Team (NSW Law Society competition) and Frensham’s Debating Team (AISNSW NGS National Virtual Debating) for their continued success in their respective competitions. 

• Amelia Blackshaw, Iman Byrne, Imogen Diver, Sienna Donat, Isla McVinish, Ana McInnes, Sofia Nesci, Ruby Rodgers (Year 6) for their selection to the Southern Highlands Water Polo U14 Girls team.

Acknowledgement to:

• Frensham’s Year 8 Debating Team of Penelope Cay, Lauren Fox, Skye McLelland, Lucy Rouse and Sophia Windsor, competing in the AISNSW/NGS National Virtual Debating competition, for their recent top division achievement and progressing to the quarter finals, to be held in September. 
• Australian Mathematics Trust Maths Challenge participants - High Distinction: Sarah-Joy Day (Year 10), Sophie Goodisson, Georgina Lewis (Year 8); Distinction: Bella Cay (Year 10), Anna Fagan, Sophie Hanrahan (Year 8); Credit: Sidney Wheeler (Year 9), Isabella Barber, Hannah Day, Amelia Hartnell, Camilla Ranken (Year 8).

Ms Sarah McGarry
Head of Frensham
Head of Frensham Schools

As we head towards the halfway point of Term Three, we thank all families for their patience, encouragement and support over this difficult period. A student remarked to me last week that she thinks that times of challenge are when the Frensham community ‘shines’ – and we are seeing many examples of this spirit from staff, students and families alike as we work to remain connected despite circumstance and distance. We are thinking of students and teachers in Greater Sydney and we are currently working through our plans for a return to face-to-face teaching on campus in the coming weeks. We continue to encourage girls to return to campus if they are able to do so. Overwhelmingly students report that even though they are still learning online, being on campus helps to keep them feeling connected to their peers and teachers and the routine of the school day helps with their focus.

Students have been engaging very well in online learning overall, and staff have been working tirelessly to design and deliver engaging learning experiences. Mrs Fawbert has included information for parents in this newsletter – also on Schoolbox for students – to assist you in supporting your girls to participate meaningfully in their learning whilst online. It is a very common challenge, during periods of uncertainty and during COVID-19, to remain in the present, to focus our minds and to avoid our ‘monkey minds’ running away from us – catastrophising, getting stuck in negative thinking and the “what if” trap. This uncertainty can be difficult for most adults, and can lead to anxiety and a sense of hopelessness in young people. We need to remain sensitive to our young people’s emotional wellbeing and to try to shift the focus from what we cannot control to what we can. Routine and structure – whether at home or at school – bring comfort, stability and reassurance. Getting adequate sleep, maintaining regular sleep patterns, eating well and being physically active each day are simple but very effective foundational pillars of health and wellbeing.

Of course, the Olympics are proving to be a wonderful digression from the COVID news and are providing us as a community with some fine examples of character in action. The Australian team have achieved some wonderful successes, wins, personal bests and record-beating performances. Alongside these are numerous instances of resilience, tenacity, compassion and generosity which have been quite moving to watch.

One example is Italy’s Gianmarco Tamberi and Mutaz Barshim of Qatar. They were locked in first place after a tough few hours of competing in the High Jump on Sunday. The two athletes, who are also good friends, were then given the option to settle matters with a jump-off – but decided instead to share the gold medal, the first time this has occurred in 109 years. This really is the Frensham value - of the unselfish pursuit of excellence - writ large.

The efforts of our girls playing Table Tennis in the Gym at last week’s Friday night activities were admirable, and their enthusiasm commendable, but their form was nothing like Jian Fang Lay representing Australia in table tennis. The 48-year-old player is competing in her sixth consecutive Olympic Games — one of only two Australian women to do so. Her grit and determination, not to mention her speed, coordination and instinct, are quite joyful to witness.

What a memorable Olympic Games Tokyo 2020/1 will be for us all and no doubt each of you will have your favourite moments of the Games, an example of an athlete exhibiting strength of character and living the Olympic values of excellence, respect and friendship. I found the words of swimmer Cate Campbell, interviewed after her incredible performance in the final leg of the Women’s 4X100m relay, very uplifting as she spoke of the mindset and attitude she took towards what may be her last swim in an Olympic Games:

“That is an incredible effort by everyone. I think that obviously I was a little bit disappointed with my 50 freestyle earlier, but I just kind of told myself that you find out what you’re made of in the times when things don’t go your way, not when things go your way, not when things are working well for you. And I took that mindset into this race and I just thought, ‘You have to be brave and get back out there.’”

Parent Information Sessions

Over the coming weeks, we will be conducting Zoom meetings with parents of each year level. Please note the dates and times below as we hope to see as many parents on the screen as possible.

• Year 11 – Parent Plenary (usually part of Year 11 Weekend) – Thursday 5 August 6:30pm
• Year 10 – Planning for Senior Studies (usually held on Year 11 Weekend) – Wednesday 11 August 6.30pm
• Year 7 – Academic and Pastoral Focus – Tuesday 17 August 6.30pm
• Year 8 – Academic and Pastoral Focus – Thursday 19 August 6.30pm
• Year 9 – the time of this session is to be advised  

Boarding

Although the number of girls in Boarding over the last week has been smaller than usual, the sense of community has been very strong.

While Year 12 students have been highly focused on their studies over the course of the HSC trial examination period, their support of each other in Bryant McCarthy House has been in evidence daily. Year 11 boarders demonstrated their thoughtfulness by baking brownies for Year 12 and junior girls supported with smartie cookies and cupcakes to sustain the older girls over the examination period.

With Year 12 students studying, Year 11 has stepped up and taken on the responsibility of maintaining connections with junior girls. They have been achieving this through visits to Hartfield House, organising afternoon activities for junior girls and supervising the Friday night activity, including last week's Olympic-themed table tennis tournament. In addition to their regular afternoon sport activities, junior girls have also had the opportunity to enjoy the additional afternoon activities of modern dance and tennis fun.

The spirit of friendship is one that is certainly thriving amongst our girls on campus, as they find creative and collaborative ways to make the most of all our school has to offer in COVID-19 times. It is clear to see through their interactions that: 

A friend is one of the nicest things you can have and one of the best things you can be. – Winnie The Pooh, A A Milne

Character Education/ Pastoral Care

A Character Education/ Pastoral Care page has been added to Schoolbox. The link can be found on any year group page.

The page is updated regularly and has information about useful websites and apps to support student character, growth and wellbeing. We hope you find this tool useful.

Online Learning Guidelines for Parents

Schoolbox is the base for all student learning and everything students will need is linked through Schoolbox.

The day at home will follow the same timetable as the day at school, please note times have been adjusted to incorporate exercise throughout the day.

Online lessons in real-time will be via Zoom and links to each lesson will be posted on Schoolbox.

Establishing Routines and expectations
Establishing routines and expectations are critically important for students during online learning. Routine allows focus on the correct mindset - learning will occur just as it did in face-to-face teaching.

Establishing clear expectations also helps understanding the need to be organised, respectful, productive and considerate.

Start of the Day
Students begin the day at 8.25am joining the Prayers ‘Zoom’ link, which is emailed every morning. They are then expected to participate in the form programme. This involves a year meeting on Mondays with the year Co-ordinator and Character, Wellbeing and Pastoral care programmes with the Form tutor for the rest of the week.

Being ready and organised
Students should set up a place to work from, desk or table, not on a couch or bed, ‘Zoom in’ to each lesson, take notes and complete all classwork.Sports Uniform is to be worn every day - the wearing of uniform helps create the right frame of mind for learning. Mufti days have been scheduled to allow for casual clothes of a specific colour or theme to be worn.

Being considerate, productive and respectful
Students have been asked to contact their teachers directly if they cannot attend a class. Subject teachers are checking in with girls every lesson and considerate notification of absence is appreciated.

The aim is to be productive, getting the most out of each online session. Girls have been asked to remove any distractions that could impact on their learning - movie streaming, emails, music, games and chat apps.

Respectful online communication is of the utmost importance. Girls have been asked to have their cameras on and are muted, when beginning a lesson. Questions can be asked through the chat bar or directly, the raise your hand function can also be used. Students are asked to speak online in the same way they would in a classroom, respecting the point of view of others and contributing positively to class discussion.

Being active
All girls are encouraged to get up and move when they can. There has been extra time given for movement between each lesson and fitness lessons have been incorporated into the timetable for Years 7-10. Exercise time should be spent away from the screen and outside if possible. A few minutes walking outside can have a positive impact on learning outcomes. Stretching the back, neck, arms, and doing squats or lunges will also help with screen fatigue.

End of the Day
The school day will end at 3.35pm. Years 7-10 will only be required to complete prep for English and Mathematics. Years 11-12 will have prep from all subjects as normal.

IGSA Sport Lockdown Tournament – Years 7-12
Provided by NetFit, this is a five-week programme, with a 35-minute workout followed by 15 minutes of Inspire time. The fitness session will be Olympics-themed, with Inspire time composed of chats around mindset, wellbeing and leadership. Sessions will run from 9.30am-10.20am, with a Zoom link being distributed to schools each week.

After the first round of the tournament, Frensham was in first place. We are looking forward to seeing even more girls participating online this Saturday.

Mrs Wendy Fawbert, Director of Character Education and Planning

FACULTY FOCUS

Mathematics

“Do you know the difference between a mentor, coach, and a teacher?”

A mentor is the person who can show you the way because they have been there. For instance, if you want to be the greatest talk show host of all time, Oprah could be your mentor. Oprah would be able to give you a clear outline of the steps that she took, let you know what her motivations were, and also give you an idea about obstacles you may face along the way. The interactions could be informal or formal depending upon how well you know your mentor. I would also like to add that people can be mentors from a distance…you have never met them in person, or even spoken to them BUT you study their work. 

Teachers help you build a skill set. An excellent example of a teacher is one who gets you to a certain destination or to achieve a skill. That’s what teachers do – they help you build skills. The goal of coaching is to boost confidence and/or manage anxiety to improve performance. The coach is there to help you change your mindset around your goals.

Coaches can sometimes help with a very specific skill, but really they are there to answer questions and anticipate mental setbacks before they occur. Tony Robbins is one of the most well-known, transformational coaches. And, in some cases, this person doesn’t necessarily have to already be equally or more successful than the client. However, this does not mean that you need one coach, one mentor, and one teacher. But sometimes you might need the help from a mentor, teacher, or a coach.

This semester, the Mathematics Coaching Programme continues whilst online learning. The coaches are available during the school day for Seniors (scheduled during study lessons) and during some lessons or after school for Juniors (scheduled session times) and during Prep for all year groups (booked weekly on a rotating schedule). Students may like to have a permanent booking or an occasional help session. The programme is managed by the Mathematics Faculty (Ms Allison and Mr Selby) and the coaches include Mr Tarik Jeffcoat and Miss Mahime Watanabe, new to us from University of Wollongong. Please do not hesitate to contact me for more information or to request a coaching session for your daughter.

Ms Joanne Alison, Head of Mathematics

Careers - Important Notices & Key Dates

Students are aware of the following information via ‘Tertiary Thursday’ meetings and the Careers Page on Schoolbox  (Click on ACTIVITIES tab and then the CAREERS tab).

Early Entry CLOSING dates:

• University of Wollongong: Friday 13 August
• Charles Sturt University: Tuesday 31 August
• University of New England: Friday 17 September
• University of Sydney: E12 application via UAC: Sunday 19 September (online session: Tuesday 17 August)
• Schools Recommendation Scheme (Early Entry for a number of institutions): Sunday 19 September
• UAC: Early bird admissions, Tuesday 28 September

General reminders and information:

EXCITING NEWS: University of Technology Sydney (UTS) – just announced a new Early Entry Scheme: OPENS Tuesday 10 August; CLOSES Sunday 12 September. Please follow this Link to the UTS Early Entry information page.

Open Days: Many institutions have virtual tours and some are still going ahead with physical Open Days. Please see the Schoolbox Careers page for dates.

College: If not undertaking a Gap Year, it is time to start applying to university colleges online.

Scholarships: Are now open. Please go to the Careers Schoolbox page and click on the individual university, then click on Scholarships. Please note, there are many industry-based scholarships and college scholarships for consideration. Please encourage your daughter to make an appointment with Mrs Harris, if she requires assistance in completing early entry, UAC application, scholarship or college application.

Mrs Merrilee Harris, Director of Jamieson Programme, Activities and Careers

Jamieson Programme

Usually, I would be reporting on the highlights of Year 9 Global Forum. We were disappointed to have to postpone the event, Mrs Gallagher had organised a wonderful three-day residential programme with a special array of inspiring speakers and a trip to Sydney for a cultural tour. We do intend to reschedule this important event.

However, we were able to hold one of the Global Forum activities. We secured a private viewing of the documentary, Rosemary’s Way. The documentary celebrates the remarkable Rosemary Kariuki (Australian of the Year – Local Hero 2021) and the group of vulnerable migrant women of suburban Sydney whose lives she helped transform from isolation to connection, so they can better participate in Australian life. Over the course of the year, we witnessed Rosemary reaching out to isolated migrant women from cultures as diverse as Iraq, the Congo and Peru. Referred to by these women as a ‘charismatic change-maker’, our students and teachers were moved and inspired by all that Rosemary has achieved through her individual initiatives. We witnessed intimate revelations as women shared their experiences with other women.

After the film, students were able to engage in an interactive Q & A session with Rosemary. We, and Rosemary, were impressed by the quality of questions posed by the girls. Our hope is that the documentary will help to create empathy and understanding of migrants and that it might stimulate our students to think about what they themselves can do to make migrants feel welcome. It certainly promoted a deeper understanding of the nature of ‘multiculturalism’ in Australia and the various layers of which it is comprised.

Year 9 students are completing their Cambridge IGCSE Global Perspectives Independent Research Projects. They have been participating in Fitness programmes with Mr Green, remotely and on campus, and have been pursuing their Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award Community Service activities in a variety of ways. Individualised knitting kits have been sent home to willing students and I know the Nursing Home residents will enjoy a lovely surprise at Christmas with their beautifully knitted hand-warmers and scarves – never mind that it will be Summer!

Mrs Merrilee Harris, Director of Jamieson Programme, Activities and Careers

Teaching and Learning at Frensham: Professional Learning

Peer-to-Peer Learning and Sharing

Great things in business are never done by one person. They’re done by a team of people. – Steve Jobs
And schools are no different.

In the modern world you might think that Google, YouTube, or formal training programmes would be the place where most people start. But no, peers are our first port of call for most adults. When people want to learn a new skill, more people turn to their peers first (55%) than any other group and this is second only to asking their boss (Palmer & Blake, 2018). Using your peers to learn new skills is called Peer-to-Peer Learning.

Peer-to-peer learning is powerful because it builds skills, improves connection and community, and taps into the expertise that already exists in the organisation. It is also uniquely well suited to the way we learn because it allows us to gain knowledge; practice by application; obtain psychologically safe feedback; and reflect - all within context in which the learning will be used. 

And so, this week at Frensham our amazing team of teachers who always work together to develop new skills constantly, are focussing on online learning.

We have turned to our own experts to make online learning more effective and to give our staff the opportunity to add skills to their teaching. We have used the challenge that is COVID-19 to create unique learning opportunities for staff and students. So, thank you to the staff who have offered their time to share their skills with others and a thank you to those wanting to learn new skills to make the learning for our students even better.

We now accept the fact that learning is a lifelong process of keeping abreast of change. And the most pressing task is to teach people how to learn. – Peter Drucker

Dr Ruth Phillips, Acting Director of Teaching and Learning and Coordinator of Professional Learning

Acknowledgement to:

• Frensham’s Year 8 Debating Team of Penelope Cay, Lauren Fox, Skye McLelland, Lucy Rouse and Sophia Windsor, competing in the AISNSW/NGS National Virtual Debating competition, for their recent top division achievement and progressing to the quarter finals, to be held in September. 
• Australian Mathematics Trust Maths Challenge participants - High Distinction: Sarah-Joy Day (Year 10), Sophie Goodisson, Georgina Lewis (Year 8); Distinction: Bella Cay (Year 10), Anna Fagan, Sophie Hanrahan (Year 8); Credit: Sidney Wheeler (Year 9), Isabella Barber, Hannah Day, Amelia Hartnell, Camilla Ranken (Year 8).

Ms Sarah McGarry
Head of Frensham
Head of Frensham Schools

Term 3 Information

Term 3 has commenced in a most unusual way. We send our best wishes to all students and families currently in lockdown, either in Greater Sydney, the Central West or interstate. This is an extraordinary time in the life of our nation and our school community. We can take heart in the knowledge that we have managed challenging situations like this previously and we will be able to manage this current circumstance as well. For many of us, life is different from usual – movements are curtailed, we are unable to visit family and friends, we are missing out on special events, having to wear masks, undertaking testing, working from home as a family, all meetings on Zoom – as we work together to contain the spread of the virus. With approximately 1/3 of our students here on campus, we are working hard to remain connected as a community, through virtual and ‘IRL’ activities. We are reminded that from the moment when COVID-19 first burst into our lives, we've had to learn to deal with change, as each stage of the pandemic has changed the way we live, work and socialise.

Our school’s unique location and diverse community, distinguishing features of Frensham, set us apart from other schools. This means that we have some distinctive operational considerations to work through when lockdowns and restrictions apply to some Local Government Areas and not others. We do thank all members of our community for their patience and understanding.

It can sometimes feel stressful and overwhelming for young people and adults alike during an event like this current outbreak of COVID-19 and individuals are affected differently. You might feel overwhelmed by the information, conversations and the increased levels of stress in your community. It can be hard to know what information to trust, especially in a situation where things are changing so quickly. It can be helpful to keep up-to-date but it is also important to switch off from the 24-hour media cycle if this gets too much at times. Please do refer to our COVID-19 Information Page for useful support resources, fact sheets and relevant links, and do not hesitate to contact a member of staff should you wish to discuss support for your daughter during this time.

We have had to make the difficult but necessary decision to postpone, adjust or cancel many of our planned school events for the coming month. This is because of the current restrictions in place for schools and the proportion of our community who are not able to travel due to various restrictions in different parts of NSW. The full list can be found on the front page of Schoolbox and will be updated as decisions are made about further future events.

Families of girls in Year 10 and 11 are asked to note that the Year 11 Weekend and Year 10 Planning for Senior Studies sessions will be proceeding on the weekend of 7/8 August. At this stage we do not have clarity about whether we will be able to hold these on campus. If they are not able to occur in person we will conduct these in an online format to ensure all families have access to individual meetings with teachers and information about Senior Studies.

To assist further with your planning, please note the Term Dates for 2022

• Term 1 - Gib Gate & Frensham
  Monday 31 January - Thursday 7 April
  (Boarders always return the evening before classes start)
   
• Term 2 - Gib Gate & Frensham
  Wednesday 27 April - Thursday 23 June
  (Boarders always return the evening before classes start)
  *Queen’s Birthday Long Weekend* – Departure: Thursday 9 June, 3.00pm – Gib Gate and Frensham

• Term 3 - Gib Gate & Frensham
  Monday 18 July - Thursday 22 September
  (Boarders always return the evening before classes start)

• Term 4 - Gib Gate: Tuesday 11 October-Friday 9 December
  Term 4 - Frensham: Tuesday 11 October-Sunday 11 December 12.00pm (after 11.00am Carol Service)
  (Boarders always return the evening before classes start)

Boarding

Exciting news! This week we have launched our Boarding Page on Schoolbox, where you will find important boarding information. It is also a place where you are able to see photos that capture the many aspects of life at Frensham. Please take a moment to look at the page and see some images from our recent bonfire. This is updated each Wednesday and we hope that you enjoy the photos of girls having fun on the weekends here at Frensham.

What you will find:

Weekend Programme: This is a varied programme, changed weekly, with a range of activities organised over the school term. Some of these activities involve outside organisations coming to school to run sessions, such as yoga, whilst others are off-campus trips, like bowling or ice-skating. We also ensure that girls have a little quiet time as they would at home with ‘feet off the floor’.

Friday Night Activities: Each term senior girls organise the Friday night activities. Pop Concerts, Harry Potter nights and Valentine’s Day dinner are perennial favourites. We began this term with an exciting spotlight game with torches across the main campus. Lots of laughter could be heard when girls spotted each other with their torches in the dark!

Weekend Activities and Excursions: This details specific information about the upcoming weekend activities or excursions. Each year we aim to visit Jamberoo (Term 1), go ice skating, rock climbing and attend the theatre.

Exeat Forms and bus sign up: This contains links for weekend leave and transport arrangements.

Ms Amanda Graham, Director of Boarding

FACULTY FOCUS

Studies

The Trial HSC Examinations for Year 12 students commenced on Monday 19 July. These examinations are an important part of the learning programme and are excellent practice for what students can expect in the final HSC Examinations in Term 4. School-based assessment measures performance in a wide range of course outcomes and Trial Examinations are the final component of this HSC assessment programme. Student’s results will be posted on Schoolbox when marking has been completed.

The conditions for the Trial Examinations closely resemble those of the final HSC Examinations, with supervision carried out by the School’s current appointed Presiding Officer and her team of supervisors. Year 12 students have been provided with information highlighting the rules relating to the examination period and their responsibilities during this time. A reminder that all students should present for their HSC examinations where possible. If illness or accident prevents a student from attending, the appropriate Illness/Misadventure forms will need to be completed, accompanied by a medical certificate or other required documentation. This will be facilitated by the School and students should contact me as soon as possible in the event of any issues.

Year 11 students are in their third and final term of Preliminary studies, with their examinations commencing Friday 3 September and their HSC studies to commence at the beginning of Term 4. During Term 3, evaluating course progress and making initial decisions about modifications to their overall programme for the HSC are important. This may involve taking up an extension course or reducing their total units.

The end of the Preliminary Course should consolidate the skills and behaviours for success in studies into Year 12. Year 11 Parent Teacher interviews will provide parents with an up-to-date assessment of their daughter’s progress to assist in this decision-making process.

In Week 8, students in Years 7 and 8 will also undertake examinations as part of their Stage 4 skills development programme and will be guided by their teachers as to how to prepare for these examinations. Examinations for Years 9 and 10 will be held in Term 4.

Ms Janene van Gogh, Director of Studies

English

White Sheep, white sheep
On a blue hill,
When the wind stops
You all stand still.
When the wind blows
You walk away slow.
White sheep, white sheep
Where do you go?

Clouds by Christine Rossetti

The power of a vivid metaphor capturing the image succinctly in our mind is creativity at its finest. We have all gazed at clouds and wondered at their beauty. It is a challenge for many of us to find the words to represent the precise moment of what we see, (real or imaginary) and how we feel. Poetry can express the inexpressible.

For a student to gain a deeper understanding of a poem, in this case the beauty and mystery of the natural world, they need to be familiar with figurative language. They need to explore how its use can add to the meaning of the text. Explicit teaching of figurative language and studying authentic texts, are key.

For Year 12 students, their final HSC module is the study of the masterful works of TS Eliot. They are learning that a life “measured out in coffee spoons” is not the way “to disturb the universe” and as humans we should always be moved by the “infinitely gentle” and the “infinitely suffering”.

Year 8 students will embark on a unit this term which examines the Truth of War. They will explore a selection of texts which will include war poems. They will be moved by Owen's tragic Dulce et decorum and recognise that tales of the glory of war are indeed lies.

Year 10 girls, in their most recent unit of work, had a glimpse of Poetry Through the Ages from Shakespeare, to John Keats, Alfred Tennyson, Christine Rossetti, WH Auden and Maya Angelou. They composed their own poems, submitting accompanying annotations which informed us of their creative process and how they were inspired by the experts.

Some student samples which highlight just how skilled they are in the poetic form. 

A monochrome forest,
Identical leaves,
Geometric, greyscale canopies.

The Wise Old Owl stood tall and strong,
Narrating the phrases that emerge over the courses of our lives.

I love the story that doesn’t quite end,
Leaving you gasping and breathless.
You’ll never know what happens next as the narrator drops the pen,
Right in the middle of a-

Let me speak                                
And say my own words,         
The things I know                   
And the things I’ve heard.    

As quick as a dart,                     
As loud as a silent room,    
A voice is cut off                       
Another quiet doom.  

One day, we will all grow old,
And forget where we left our socks,
Confusion will warm when our feet are cold,

As we sit and stare at the clocks: 

Ticking, ticking, ticking, ticking 

Frozen in motion.

Ms Lee McGuinness, Head of English

Drama

The final few weeks of Term 2 were filled with Drama…in a good way.

On Thursday 27 May, Zeal Theatre worked with Year 12 Drama students on their Group Performances in preparation for the HSC Drama External Examination to be held later in Term 3. 

On Tuesday 8 June, Drama students, accompanied by Ms Allison and Mrs Hannah attended a production of Anton Chekhov’s classic The Cherry Orchard at Belvoir Street Theatre in Surry Hills, starring Pamela Rabe. Students were mesmerized by Rabe’s brilliant performance and the way the ensemble brought Chekhov’s characters to life on stage. To be able to watch a production live (especially now) was a wonderful opportunity for students to see professional theatre at its finest.

On Wednesday 9 June, Years 9-11 Drama students attended a production of The 7 Stages of Grieving, directed by Shari Sebens and performed by Elaine Crombie at the Wharf Theatre, Sydney Theatre Company. The 7 Stages of Grieving is studied as a Preliminary HSC Drama text in a unit of work on the Elements of Production in Performance. Co-written by Wesley Enoch and Deborah Mailman, this is a contemporary Indigenous play which appropriates western form whilst using traditional storytelling, The 7 Stages of Grieving. This one-woman show gives an emotional insight into Murri life, following the journey of an Aboriginal 'everywoman' as she tells poignant and humorous stories of grief and reconciliation.

Mrs Sally Hannah, Head of Drama

 

Acknowledgement to:

• Year 12 – as they commence their Higher School Certificate Trial Examinations this week.
• Eliza Mulligan AMEB Flute Video Repertoire Grade 8 examination – Honours (A).
• To all involved with the publishing of the Frensham 2020 Chronicle.
• Frensham Madrigals for their performance of Share Your Truth, published on Youtube, https://www.youtube.com/Frensham Madrigals, Share Your Truth 2021. Share Your Truth lyrics are taken from the speech from the 2021 Australian of the Year Grace Tame at the National Press Club in March, and set to music by Michael Spencer, Head of Music.

 

Staffing update

During the vacation we farewelled three members of staff. We thank all these staff for their contribution to Frensham Schools and wish them all the very best in their future.

After eight years of dedicated service to Frensham Schools, Mrs Colleen Relf has retired from her position as Registrar; from the Health Centre, Ms Millie Ellice-Flint and her fiancé have relocated to country NSW; and, Mrs Camille Macpherson, Enrolments and Marketing, has been recalled to recommence her responsibilities with Qantas. Camille will remain as a member of the Frensham community as a Gib Gate parent.

We welcome:

• Mr Andrew Lundy will be working in our HSIE department this semester, currently teaching Year 9 History.
• Ms Carole McCormick returns to Frensham Schools in the role of Registrar.
• Miss Theresa Healey joins Gib Gate as a Preschool Assistant.
• Health Centre team, Mrs Abigail Gordon (Registered Nurse) and Ms Britt Martin (Registered Nurse)

Ms Kate Chauncy, Director Teaching and Learning, is taking Long Service Leave during Term 3, with the following staff taking on additional responsibilities during her absence:

• Dr Ruth Phillips
• Ms Emma Lake
• Mrs Alison Andrew
• Ms Lee McGuinness

Ms Sarah McGarry
Head of Frensham
Head of Frensham Schools

End of Term 2

It has been another eventful term, and I recognise the efforts and achievements of many students in the Frensham community across these past nine weeks. The School’s Birthday Celebrations were truly joyous, celebrating the history, ethos, values and the future of Frensham Schools and also celebrating the opportunity for us to gather as a community in a somewhat more ‘normal’ way than was possible in 2020. Of course, we are not back to our full complement just yet and are not able to accommodate our pre-2020 Service numbers in school venues, but to be able to raise our voices together in song without restriction, participate in friendly sporting matches with Year 12, join with all students and staff in the Birthday Lunch in the Dining Room for the first time in over a year was very special indeed.

It has also been a pleasure to have read all Student Reports of their progress over this first semester, and to see the growth and development in maturity, skills and confidence that so many of them have experienced. Our feedback and advice to students is very focused on supporting future growth, and we encourage families across this vacation period to engage with their daughters in conversation about their learning their goals and aspirations for next term. This learning conversation, discussing academic strengths, weaknesses, areas for future focus, helps to keep students focused on their growth rather than their results or marks. Whilst important, too much of a focus on “scores” are somewhat secondary to students’ feelings of self-efficacy, independence and their mindset for future development.

We wish all families a safe and restful vacation period ahead and look forward to welcoming students back to Boarding Houses on Monday 12 July ready for classes to commence on Tuesday 13 July.

Parent Feedback
The Frensham Advisory Committee is an advisory body to the Head set up under rules approved by the Board of Governors. It meets at least three times each year to discuss matters raised by the Head or the committee members as pertaining to Frensham policy and procedures. There are often matters discussed in this forum that help to inform the School’s future plans and to give the Executive, through the Head, greater insight into a particular topic from a parent perspective.

Following the two meetings in Semester One, we invite parent feedback on two areas of the School’s operations. The first is the student catering provided and this brief survey will be conducted alongside a student survey and an evaluation of the overall catering offering. We also invite feedback through our Communications Survey, which seeks to understand the ways in which parents currently access required information, what is working well and suggestions for future improvements to be incorporated into our future planning in this area. Both surveys will be open until the end of the vacation period (Monday 12 July 2021).

Boarding

As the term draws to a close, girls are packing and readying themselves for a holiday break with family. The Boarding Houses will then prepare for a new group of girls in Term 3.

Winifred West wrote on 1 June 1920, One reason why school is good is because at school we meet people with different ideas, different temperaments, different outlooks, and so arises a greater demand for tolerance and imagination than is made at home. There is more need for ‘give and take’ and the experience of school should prove of value in life.

This same message applies today and is one of the primary outcomes of the boarding experience. Girls from country, city and even from overseas with different ideas and experiences learn to live together and become a cohesive and collaborative community. Girls are supported in the development of key qualities and dispositions as outlined in our Character Education framework. 

Next term, Year 7 and Year 8 students stay in their House of Origin, Year 12 are all located in Bryant McCarthy and all boarders from Years 9 to 11 move between Houses. 

Once House allocations are determined, careful planning occurs to decide on room allocations. Each House has a combination of different sized rooms, from single rooms through to rooms with eight beds. The aim is for all students to have an opportunity to experience a range of dorm sizes throughout their time at Frensham, finishing with Year 12 in single rooms. 

When determining the room allocations, significant discussion occurs between Heads of House and House staff, Year Coordinators and Executive staff. Decisions about rooms are never made lightly as girls will be sharing dorms and learning to live with girls of different personalities and needs. This approach is purposeful and made with each individual student in mind. We are currently working towards our new House and dorm allocations for next term.

We wish all girls a happy holiday and look forward to welcoming them back to new experiences and the strong friendships that will continue to develop in the coming term. 

Ms Amanda Graham, Director of Boarding

FACULTY FOCUS

English

While the study of English continues to evolve as all great learning should, at its heart, it is the study of literature. As the Year 12 Extension 1 English rubric notes:

Literary texts can invite responders to engage with the interior worlds of individuals and how they perceive, think and feel about themselves and the societies in which they live...how texts communicate notions of identity and alternative ways of being and thinking...how diverse textual representations enable the responder to experience insight into the lives of other groups and individuals, and other times and places.

From Years 7-12, students study the vast and different literary worlds, learning how stories transcend time and place. Engaging with these texts invites a reflection on their own world and their place in society. Here are some samples of what the girls have been studying over the course of the year.

A Word dropped careless on a Page
May stimulate an eye
When folded in perpetual seam
The Wrinkled Maker lie
Stanza 1, Emily Dickinson

We are such stuff as dreams are made on, and our little life is rounded with a sleep. …
Prospero, The Tempest, William Shakespeare

I remembered that the real world was wide, and that a varied field of hopes and fears, of sensations and excitements, awaited those who had the courage to go forth into its expanse, to seek real knowledge of life amidst its perils.
Jane Eyre, Charlotte Bronte

He had one of those rare smiles with a quality of eternal reassurance in it, that you may come across four or five times in life. It faced, or seemed to face, the whole external world for an instant and then concentrated on you with an irresistible prejudice in your favour. It understood you just as far as you wanted to be understood, believed in you as you would like to believe in yourself.
The Great Gatsby, F Scott Fitzgerald

This is the hottest summer I can remember, and the thick heat seems to seep in and keep in my sleepout. It's like the earth's core in here. The only relief comes from the cooler air that creeps in between the slim slats of my single window. It's near impossible to sleep, so I've spent most of my nights reading by the light of my kerosene lamp.

Tonight was no different. And when Jasper Jones rapped my louvres abruptly with his knuckle and hissed my name, I leapt from my bed, spilling my copy of Pudd'nhead Wilson.
Jasper Jones, Craig Silvey

Whatever goes upon two legs is an enemy.
Whatever goes upon four legs, or has wings, is a friend.
No animal shall wear clothes.
No animal shall sleep in a bed.
No animal shall drink alcohol.
No animal shall kill any other animal.
All animals are equal.
Animal Farm, George Orwell

The course of true love never did run smooth
Lysander, A Midsummer’s Night’s Dream, William Shakespeare

Sometimes rain made me want to cry, like there was something deep inside me - the sadness flower that opened up when rainy days came, and blossomed inside me until I couldn’t breathe.
Lenny’s Book of Everything, Karen Foxlee

What Matters Competition
Inspired by Gough Whitlam's commitment to involving young people in the shaping of Australia's future, the What Matters? writing competition is currently open to school students in Years 5 to 12, from Australia. Responding to the simple question 'what matters?', entrants are free to express their views on any matter they care about.

Girls from Years 7-11 were encouraged to put their passions and deeply held beliefs into words. It is clear at Frensham that there are many things that matter and teachers were impressed and inspired by the diverse range of entries. While it will be a couple of months before the shortlist is announced, it is undeniable that there is a strong link between writing and thinking deeply when students are given the opportunity to choose what they want to write about, then plan, craft and refine their work.

Bell Shakespeare - live action, Finally!
Students in Years 8, 9 and 10 were fortunate to have a live experience and a taste of two of Shakespeare’s most famous plays Romeo and Juliet, and Macbeth. Each performance explored key scenes and offered an analysis of Shakespeare’s language, choices and themes, all with a modern twist.

Ms Lee McGuinness, Head of English

HSIE

Our world is becoming increasingly complex, and the issues that our young people need to address are becoming more significant and overwhelming. Ecosystems are dying as unprecedented weather events decimate environments and the seemingly unstoppable march of climate change reshapes our landscapes. New technologies make the world a smaller place, but keep people further apart as we swap community for individuality. And a smaller world brings different cultures closer together, a process that can enrich us, but also makes our differences starker and more challenging. Our lives are being transformed by change. Geography’s focus on understanding the confluence of these changing forces makes it a vital discipline for all our students.

Change is a core theme throughout our Geography curriculum. We want students to recognise that there is both short term and long-term change, that it occurs at different and unexpected scales and that not all people are impacted by change at the same rate or in the same way. Most importantly, we want students to be skilled in identifying current trends and their implications for future change.

These trends are best explored when students are in the field, gathering data and learning about our world within the environments they are studying. Excitingly, Frensham’s new Year 10 IGCSE Geography programme provides students with significant opportunities to conduct field studies. Students have spent time exploring land use at Mittagong Marketplace, collected data on change in the vegetation and profile of Warilla Beach and conducted investigations into the Nattai River around the Lower Holt. As an essential element of their examinations at the end of the year, Year 10 are committed to improving their fieldwork skills and experience.

Year 9 Geography students have also been in the field, travelling to Sydney to conduct an investigation into urban change in Pyrmont and Barangaroo. Starting in Pyrmont, the girls were given a guided tour of the area going back to the land use of indigenous cultures prior to white settlement, the transformation the bay went through with the establishment of the Colonial Sugar Refinery site in the 19th century and the recent gentrification of significant sites throughout the suburb. Catching a ferry to Circular Quay, students compared the changing place of Pyrmont with that of Barangaroo. At both sites, students measured the soundscape and the height of buildings in the area (the new Crown Casino is 271.3m tall) while also making observations of salient features of the environment. Students concluded that the changing land use in the area was connected to the changing demands of the population in Sydney, making the link between place and communities stronger.

Change is also a constant theme in our classrooms. Year 7 students have conducted inquiries into the processes that change landscapes and landforms, creating features such as waterfalls, meandering rivers and cave systems. Students gathered sources of information, identified key processes and mapped these processes into a flow chart. Year 11 students conduct their Senior Geography Project on an area of individual interest, tracking change and communicating their findings to their chosen audience. Year 12 Senior Geography students have studied change in regard to our local viticulture industry and the urban dynamics in world cities, including Sydney.

Change is often referred to as the only constant in life. Thanks to their studies in Geography, our students will be well equipped to flourish in our continually changing world.

Australian Geography Competition
The Australian Geography Competition is a contest for Australian secondary school students, assessing their geographical knowledge and skills. The Competition aims to encourage student interest in Geography and to reward student excellence. Over 70,000 students sat the Australian Geography Competition in 2021.

Students in the top 1% of results in Australia: Bella Cay, Darcy Maple-Brown (Year 10); High Distinction (top 15% of results in Australia): Lucy Arnott, Augusta Muir (Year 10), Adelaide Ayling, Sophie Simpson, Imogen Smith, Sidney Wheeler (Year 9); Distinction (top 25% of results in Australia): Olivia Huggins, Millie McMurtrie, Janna Martin-Cooley, Phoebe Rouse (Year 10), Poppy Carter, Chloe Cowley, Claudia Hampson, Cate Horsfall, Abbey Kuiper, Holly Regan (Year 9).

Mr Nathan Bessant, Head of HSIE

Jamieson Programme

The Jamieson Programme is built on the belief that Teenagers are risk takers growing up in a complex and rapidly changing world. Traditional education was focused on the known whereas today’s world asks us to educate for the unknown.

Key elements of the programme are embedded throughout Years 7-10 including global citizenship, responsibility / service and leadership, health, fitness and physical challenge, critical, ethical and flexible thinking.

There is a particular focus in Year 9 where an extended day programme is undertaken once a fortnight. This semester, students have almost completed two elements of the Cambridge IGCSE Global Perspectives course. They enjoyed the challenge of working in teams to achieve an outcome that brought greater attention to their chosen global issue. Girls are now finalising their research on an independent topic of their choosing, considering a range of perspectives on the issue and working to establish courses of action to improve the negative effects of their global problem.

Other highlights for Year 9 have been learning about different religions, visits to the Nan Tien Temple and the Sydney Jewish Museum, current affairs and working on their fitness goals. Next term the girls will enjoy a three-day residential programme - Global Forum. The Forum is one of the central components of the Jamieson Programme and the 2021 theme is: Making a Difference - Understanding My Place in the World. Thought-provoking guest speakers – including Old-Girl Ms Annabelle Chauncy OAM, Dr Peter Anderson (UOW), Frensham parent, author and ‘Rurals for Refugees’ advocate Sarah Clutton and Rural Woman’s Award winner and Old Girl, Cressida Cains will inspire the girls this year. 

Teachers enjoy working with Year 9, exposing them to physical challenges and critical thinking about important issues that affect our world and we are very much looking forward to next semester.

Mrs Merrilee Harris, Director of Jamieson Programme

Music

Term 2 provided Frensham musicians and ensembles with many rich performance opportunities. The first major event was the Year 8 Weekend where, in the School Service, the Senior Choir sang an anthem to a live audience for the first time in 12 months. The anthem was composed for the Senior Choir back in 2020, as a response to the shock we all felt during the catastrophic drought and bushfires. It is titled Tulit Ergo which is the beginning of a passage from Genesis:

The Lord God placed the man in the Garden of Eden to tend and watch over it. . . God saw all that he had made, and it was very good.

The piece is a reflection upon the increasingly critical issues that we all face, concerning our care for, and custodianship of our beautiful planet. Lily Hunt was the soprano soloist.

Traditionally, the Year 8 Service and Concert features all instrumental and vocal ensembles in the school and this year was no exception. The Junior Choir sang Ho Hey by the Lumineers (accompanied by Year 12 musicians), the Concert Band performed Van Morrison’s Brown Eyed Girl, the Kennedy Strings performed Enya’s May It Be and the Jazz Band played You’ve Got a Friend in Me from Toy Story. The final item featured all of Year 8 performing a traditional African song called Aya Ngena with three-part harmony, xylophones and drums.

In May, the Madrigals were asked to sing for guests at the launch of the Winifred West Legacy at Bendooley Estate. They sang Aretha Franklin song Since You’ve Been Gone featuring Grace Amos as soloist, and Frensham’s traditional grace, Non Nobis. 

Since 2020, there has been a programme in place for Gib Gate students in Years 2 and 3 to learn a string instrument under the guidance of music staff and extra-curricular tutors. On 2 June, the whole of Gib Gate visited Frensham to be given an introduction to a broader range of orchestral instruments. The Frensham Kennedy Strings and Concert Band combined to create a 70-piece orchestra, presenting a range of musical experiences including an introduction to the different orchestral families as well as a performance of Pirates of the Caribbean. The most memorable part of the afternoon was when students in the Gib Gate Junior Orchestra as well as the Stage 2/3 String Programme joined the Frensham students to play some pieces together. There were over 100 students performing together from Year 2 to Year 12! The aim of the experience was to build strong musical ties between junior and senior students and to inspire all involved to take full advantage of the musical opportunities on offer at Frensham Schools.

The Frensham Schools Birthday Service on Friday began with the violinists Hilary Swan and Chloe Litchfield playing the Processional with Mrs Pinazza. Grace Amos, Isabelle Promnitz and Amelia Byrne sang the solos in the much-loved One Voice. Grace Lewis was the cantor for the Lord's Prayer. In the Frensham Birthday and Year 12 Service on Sunday, Sophie Perkins accompanied Venite on the piano and Sachi Darling sang as cantor in The Lord's Prayer. 

In the concert that followed, Mrs Pinazza conducted the combined Kennedy Strings and Concert Band in a dramatic performance of theme music from Pirates of the Carribean. Madeleine Mulligan (Mus.1) and Sophie Perkins (Mus.2) then performed their own, original arrangement of Whitney Houston’s I Wanna Dance With Somebody. Following this, the Madrigals presented a piece specially composed for their concert appearance. The lyrics of the piece, Share Your Truth, were taken from the text of, Australian of the Year, Grace Tame’s speech to the National Press Club in March of this year. As always, the final item in the concert featured a medley of songs selected and performed by all of Year 12.

The Madrigals have been rehearsing for the last few weeks in order to have four pieces ready for their annual entry in two choral sections of the City of Sydney Eisteddfod. Rather than relax after Birthday celebrations, the choristers continued to work hard and, on the Wednesday night, filmed their four items for video submission. The results will be published in early August.

Mr Michael Spencer, Head of Music

Agriculture at Frensham

Year 9 Agriculture students have been studying egg and chicken meat production this term. They have been responsible for the care of 20 day-old chicks that arrived earlier in the term, and the class enjoying handling them and observing their growth, each lesson. They harvested the last of their summer vegetables and have now planted some winter varieties. The class has also been working on the Map My School Competition which involves them using the Scribble Maps programme to map the school boundary and determine the area of the school covered by trees.

The Year 10 Agriculture class has been studying milk production in the Dairy Production unit. Students travelled to Pyree, near Nowra, to visit a conventional 20-a-side herringbone dairy as well as a robotic dairy. The class was able to compare the two systems in regard to milk production, cow welfare and labour units required. At the robotic dairy, the cows come into the dairy on a voluntary basis. The computer reads the cow’s electronic collar, then portions out feed relevant to the cow’s weight, milk production and stage of lactation. While the cow is eating, lasers determine the location of the teats and then robotic arms place the teat cups on for milking. Once milking is complete, the cows then leave the robotic crate and electronic drafting gates direct them to either a pasture, silage feedlot or cattle crush for any treatment required. Of course, the highlight of the tour was the opportunity to hand feed the calves. The class is thrilled that lambing has just begun at Holt Farm.

Year 11 students have been studying the Animal Production unit and have conducted a trial on the growth rates of the Year 9 chicks. They are also excitedly preparing for their Ag on Tour trip early next term to ‘Allawah’, in Illabo, the property of Frensham parents, Nicole and John Hopkins.

Year 12 girls are working through the Plant / Animal Production unit as well as completing past HSC exam questions to fine-tune their answering technique in preparation for their Trial Examination next term. Earlier in the term, the class had a visit from Mr David Kent, past Chevalier College Agriculture teacher who purchased ‘Wesley’ (one of the Angus steers from the Livestock Team) at the Sydney Royal Easter Show steer auction. He brought with him some cuts of beef and the class analysed the quality of the cuts as well as photos of the carcass. At the end of the lesson, the students cooked up different cuts of meat to taste and compare as well as some valued added products such as home-made sausages, rissoles and a casserole. The class would like to thank Mr Kent, for not only purchasing our steer, but for providing a practical insight into ‘paddock to plate’ in the beef industry.

Holt Farm has been little quieter this term without the steers, but just in the last 3 days the sound of newborn lambs have been echoing across the paddocks. Over the term, the livestock have been cared for by a group of students who are completing Farm Management as the Service component of their Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award.

Ms Leonie Mutch, Coordinator of Agriculture

Careers at Frensham – Key Dates for University application submission

The vacation period is a suitable time for Year 12 students to organise their application documentation for University Admissions Centres (UAC, VTAC, QTAC, TISC etc), Early Entry courses and College. Please note the closing date for application submissions and refer to the Careers Page on Schoolbox as this information is updated regularly.

UAC (NSW Universities Admission Centre)
OPEN NOW
CLOSE DATE: 30 September 2021 (Early bird applications close) or 4 February 2022 

VTAC (Victorian Tertiary Admission Centre)
OPEN AUGUST
CLOSE DATE: 30 September 2021

QTAC (QLD Tertiary Admission Centre) -TBA

TISC (WA Tertiary Admission Centre)
OPEN NOW (See website for closing dates – differs for institutions.)

Early entry deadlines coming up:

UOW – use their online portal to apply
OPEN DATE: 19 July 2021
CLOSE DATE: 13 August 2021

Charles Sturt - use their online portal to apply
OPEN DATE: 26 July 2021
CLOSE DATE: Midnight 31 August 2021

Macquarie University – Leaders & Achievers Early Entry Scheme
OPEN NOW
CLOSE DATE: Friday 20 August 2021
*Otherwise students can apply for Early Entry via UAC ‘Schools Recommendation Scheme’ – due date 19 September 2021.

Notre Dame - use their online portal to apply
OPEN NOW
CLOSE DATE: Wednesday 1 September 2021

UC – use their online portal to apply

Students can apply for the August Early Offer Round at UC in three easy steps (NOTE closing date 25/06/21): Go to: https://www.canberra.edu.au/future-students/apply-to-uc/early-offer-round

*Otherwise students can apply for Early Entry via UAC ‘Schools Recommendation Scheme’ – due date 19 September.

UNE - use their online portal to apply
OPEN NOW
CLOSE DATE: 17 September 2021

Schools Recommendation Scheme (Early Entry) via UAC for participating universities and courses.
OPEN NOW
CLOSE DATE: 19 September 2021

13 institutions are participating in SRS: Australian Catholic University − University of Canberra − Charles Sturt University − International College of Management, Sydney − Macquarie University − National Art School − SAE Creative Media Institute − University of New England − University of Newcastle − University of Sydney − University of Technology Sydney − UNSW − Western Sydney University.

Mrs Merrilee Harris, Director of Jamieson Programme, Activities and Careers

ICAS Academic Competitions at Frensham Schools Term 3 for Years 2-11

In 2021, we will be offering the opportunity for all students from Years 2-11 to enter the ICAS competitions.

International Competitions and Assessments for Schools (ICAS) is designed to provide a measure of student achievement in an external assessment situation against other students who demonstrate a high level of ability in a variety of disciplines. It allows students an additional opportunity to apply their higher order thinking and problem-solving skills in English, Mathematics, Science, Writing and Digital Technologies and gain recognition for their efforts. For all tests, a high level of literacy is assumed, including highly developed comprehension skills in a ‘limited time’ situation, including in the Mathematics and Science papers.

The ICAS papers are not designed to test the NESA syllabus in any discipline and are set at ‘above level’ knowledge of discipline content and skills. Students will be presented with high-quality, expert-developed multiple-choice style questions, allowing them to apply their learning without the need for prior study or revision. For Writing they will be provided with an age-appropriate stimulus and will write either a narrative or persuasive style response. 

All ICAS Assessments are now online, a move that reflects a sector-wide transition to online assessments. This allows greater accessibility for students and faster delivery of results. The assessment programme, supervised by teachers, will be run at School at Gib Gate for Years 2-6 and at Frensham for Years 7-11.

Final reminder: Parents can enrol their son or daughter in any, or all of the disciplines we offer by completing the Google form before the cut-off date of Thursday 17 June.

Entry link: ICAS 2021 Competition Selection form

Parents can learn more about ICAS by visiting : https://www.icasassessments.com/products-icas

Ms Kate Chauncy, Director of Teaching and Learning P-12, Coordinator of Gifted and Talented Programmes P-12

Acknowledgement to:

• Students and Staff from the three campuses of Frensham Schools who joined the Birthday celebrations and Services and the Birthday play:
  • We were grateful for the Hooke family’s kindness in bringing Frensham Schools’ mascot Tiny Tonaya from Daffodil Downs to visit after the combined Service on Friday
  • Gib Gate Year 6 speakers at the Frensham Schools Service on Friday
  • Mr John Day (Senior Teacher - Mathematics and Boarding) and Anna Rickwood and Lara Tait (Year 12) offering their respective Birthday Addresses on behalf of teachers and students at the Birthday Lunch
  • Musicians appearing in Services and Concerts
  • I Have Five Daughters cast and crew
  • And, the Gib Gate and Frensham cake cutters
• Sturt Gallery for being nominated as a Finalist in the Local Business Awards.
• Frensham Cross Country Team for their success at the recent NSW Combined Independent Schools (CIS) Cross Country Championships, Harriet Collins, India Hicks, Annabelle Ranken, Sophie Rodwell, Amy Thompson (Year 12), Lucy Gale (Year 11), Tia Thomas (Year 8); Harriet Collins, Annabelle Ranken, Sophie Rodwell, Amy Thompson who won Gold Medal in the 18 Years Team event.
• Harriet Collins and Lucy Gale for qualifying to represent the CIS team at the All Schools Cross Country Championships, in July.
• Recent award recipients: Iris, Annabelle Ranken (All Round Excellence); Girdle, Harriet Collins (Cross Country), Taylah Stoney (Academic Excellence – Visual Arts), Emilie Hassall (Academic Excellence – Languages).
• National Geography Competition award recipients: Students in the top 1% of results in Australia: Bella Cay, Darcy Maple-Brown (Year 10); High Distinction: Lucy Arnott, Augusta Muir (Year 10), Adelaide Ayling, Sophie Simpson, Imogen Smith, Sidney Wheeler (Year 9); Distinction: Olivia Huggins, Millie McMurtrie, Janna Martin Cooley, Phoebe Rouse (Year 10), Poppy Carter, Chloe Cowley, Claudia Hampson, Cate Horsfall, Abbey Kuiper, Holly Regan (Year 9).
• Gib Gate’s Year 6 Science and Engineering team for achieving 1^st place at the recent Southern Highlands Science and Engineering Challenge.
• Frensham’s Year 10 Science and Engineering Challenge team for its selection to compete at the NSW State Finals held in Newcastle, during August.
• Jemima Graham-Wansey (Year 11) a member of the Southern Highlands Netball (U17) team who were the winners of Division 3 at the Netball NSW Hart Senior State Titles.
• Big Science Competition award recipients: High Distinction - Bella Cay, Sarah-Joy Day, Heidi Jervis (Year 10), Adelaide Ayling, Sophie Simpson, Sidney Wheeler (Year 9); Distinction - Matilda Damiani, Summer Oxley, (Year 10), Poppy Carter, Alice Fergusson  (Year 9), Georgina Lewis, Georgina McBride (Year 8), Penelope Hampson, Cara Sims (Year 7); Credit - Lucy Arnott, Abigail Jorgensen, Rose Mahony (Year 10), Imogen Smith  (Year 9), York Doyle, Margaret Maynard, Scarlett Shadbolt, Scarlett Wheeler (Year 7).

Ms Sarah McGarry
Head of Frensham
Head of Frensham Schools

Birthday Celebrations

Birthdays are special times here at Frensham Schools, with rituals and celebrations all part of marking these occasions. These not only celebrate life, longevity, and reaching another milestone, but possibly more importantly, celebrating the growth that we experience, as individuals and as a community, from one year to the next. When we celebrate, we reflect, give thanks and connect with others around us, and feel encircled in the good wishes, appreciation, happy memories and positivity that characterise our students, staff and broader community. It is also an opportunity for us take a growth mindset and refresh our outlook – to look back on the past year, and ask ourselves:

• What was the best thing that happened in the past year?
• What did you learn last year?
• What are your hopes for what will happen this year?
• What do you want to learn this year?

Particularly given such an unusual and challenging year around the globe in 2020, there is a tangible “buzz” around the School in anticipation of this weekend’s Birthday celebrations. We are thinking of our friends, family and other members of our community who are unable to join us, particularly those who are in lockdown situations at this very time.

We are looking forward to gathering all students and staff together, along with invited guests and representatives of our community, to mark this milestone for Frensham Schools.

We do also remind our community of the importance of following the COVID-19 Rules in NSW, and for our upcoming events, this means:

• Adhering to social distancing and venue capacity requirements
• Refraining from attending if you are unwell
• Following appropriate hand hygiene and cough etiquette
• Checking in at events using the Service NSW QR Code

Friday 4 June: The Frensham Schools Service is a celebration of the foundation of our three Schools, recognising Frensham’s 108^th Birthday, Sturt’s 80^th Birthday and Gib Gate’s 67^th Birthday. This Service is attended by all staff of our three schools and by all students – from our youngest in Preschool to the adult students of the Sturt School for Wood.

Sunday 6 June: For Frensham’s 108^th Birthday Service, attended by all students and staff of the School, Year 12 families and invited guests.

Board of Governors
We are delighted to welcome new Governors to the Board of Frensham Schools: Mrs Clementine Allan (Davidson, 2001), Mr Richard Melki and Mr David Wright.

Ranier Uniform Information – Frensham orders
Students and parents are still welcome to visit the Uniform Shop during usual opening hours, but for convenience, items pre-ordered from the Ranier Uniform Shop can now be collected from White Cottage at Morning Tea.

Birthday Play – I Have Five Daughters by Margaret MacNamara
The Birthday Play will be performed on Thursday 3 June for the School and Saturday 5 June for parents and the local community

It is a truth universally acknowledged that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife.

Thankfully, a mantra no longer followed by modern society. And yet, the bumbling, matchmaking chaos of Jane Austen’s seminal romance Pride and Prejudice remains ‘universally acknowledged’ by readers today. Over the past couple of months, students in Years 11 and 12 have been working to recreate the magic of Austen’s most famous novel in their production of Pride and Prejudice’s stage adaptation: I Have Five Daughters, by Margaret MacNamara.

A hilarious recount of the lives of the five Bennet sisters, the Bingleys, Mr Collins and, of course, the elusive Mr Darcy. The characters dart about each other with as much panic as formality can allow; proposing and rejecting, laughing and crying, loving and hating.

Tickets for the Saturday performance can be purchased at the following link: Birthday Play tickets

Congratulations to the cast and crew for preparation in staging the play, directed by Mrs Sally Hannah (Head of Drama), assisted by Ms Fiona Shannon. A special thanks to Ms Sam Taylor (OG 1991) for the costumes which have been custom-made to bring the characters on stage to life.

Georgia Hill and Eleanor Swan, Heads of Drama

Frensham Faculty Focus

PDHPE

What is it about moving our bodies to a song we love that is so joyful? We dance for physical fitness. We dance for mental clarity. We dance for emotional stability. We dance because it feels good! Why do we dance? Perhaps the better question is, why would we not?

Year 10 PDHPE have had the opportunity to work with a professional dance instructor as part of the practical component of the course. They have been engaged in learning both a Hip Hop and Contemporary dance routine. Students thoroughly enjoyed the experience, learning new skills in a fun, collaborative and challenging environment. 

Do-si-do and swing your partner! Year 7 have learnt several Bush Dance routines to assist them with their assessment task. Working in small groups, students have composed, choreographed, and performed a routine that features the elements of Dance. Students have had opportunities to perform and refine movement skills in a variety of sequences, apply strategies to solve movement challenges, demonstrate a range of interpersonal skills that build and enhance relationships and promote inclusion in various situations, and combined movement skills to effectively create and perform movement sequences.

Students in Year 8 have planned their own fitness circuit to develop their understanding of the importance of meeting the recommended Australian Physical Activity guidelines. The current unit of work encourages girls to develop a willingness and capacity to engage in lifelong physical activity through the medium of exercise. They demonstrate a knowledge of the components of fitness and an understanding of the physiological responses to exercise. 

Additionally, students from Years 10 to 12 have been attending early morning training sessions at 6.00am every Wednesday. They follow a guided programme instructed by Mr Green designed to improve mobility, strength and cardiovascular health. 

Ms Janene van Gogh, Head of PDHPE, Director of Studies In-Residence

Languages

Science

According to NESA, ‘A depth study is any type of investigation/activity that a student completes individually or collaboratively that allows the further development of one or more concepts found within or inspired by the syllabus.’ It may be one investigation/activity or a series of investigations/activities. Depth studies provide opportunities for students to pursue their interests in science, acquire a depth of understanding, and take responsibility for their own learning. Year 11 Physics students have been undertaking a depth study in their choice of Physics concepts. Yusra Chalak investigated the urban myth that if you drop a coin out of a tall building it could kill someone below. By investigating terminal velocity and forces acting on the coin such as friction and gravity she reached the conclusion that No, a coin dropped from a height would not fatally injure a person. However, she did discover that a pen of the same weight as a coin, dropped from a tall building could indeed have fatal consequences. Emily Senior investigated how our brains react to music. She found out that there are four types of brain waves ranging from relaxed to more alert. Alert is when you are at your optimal learning capacity. The music of Mozart enhances alertness. Conclusion: we all should be studying Mozart!

The Science Extension course focuses on the authentic application of scientific research skills to produce a Scientific Research Report. Students propose and develop a research question, formulate a hypothesis and develop evidence-based responses to create their Scientific Research Report which is supported by a Scientific Research Portfolio. This year, two students are undertaking the Science Extension course at Frensham. Harriet Mackie (pictured right) is carrying out an exploratory investigation to answer the research question - How do glyphosate levels in Australian non-organic commercial cereal brands compare to glyphosate levels in Australian organic commercial cereal brands? This has involved a very detailed process to grind and extract chemicals from each cereal sample, and use a test strip to test for the presence of glyphosate. 

Sophia Pernice’s research question is How would the height, leaf surface area and bulb weight of Raphanus Sativus plants differ if they were exposed to natural daylight, 24 hours LED artificial light, or daylight plus night-time exposure to LED artificial light? This has involved growing radishes in identical trays, allowing some to experience 24 hours LED lighting and moving others in and out each day. The results were then analysed using a two-way ANOVA statistical test. 

Left: Sophia Pernice

Scientists build models to allow them to visualise objects that are too small to be seen with the naked eye or to make predictions. Epidemiological models making predictions about COVID-19 outbreaks have been in the news constantly in the last year. Frensham Biology students have been building models of mitosis, meiosis, DNA replication and protein synthesis.