'Clue' Public Performance

We cannot wait for this year’s Birthday Celebrations, commencing this evening with our Birthday Play performance. The Birthday is one of the most significant times in the School’s calendar, celebrating the history, tradition, spirit and future of Frensham Schools. We remember the past, celebrate our present and look forward with optimism to the future of our schools and I thank staff and students from Gib Gate, Frensham and Sturt for their contribution to our upcoming celebrations – the 68^th Birthday of Gib Gate, the 81^st Birthday of Sturt and the 109^th Birthday of Frensham.

It has been a busy month of activity and events at Frensham Schools, and I encourage you to read the news from each campus contained in this newsletter. It is extremely gratifying, after COVID restrictions impacting our activities, to be able to gather with our community in a more “usual” fashion.

I remind all families of the upcoming Long Weekend, with Gib Gate and Frensham staff undertaking Professional Learning on Friday 10 June. We do expect that all students attend classes through to the end of term (Thursday 23 June).

We wish our Year 7 students all the best for their Outdoor Education programme next week, and our Year 5 and 6 students on their excursion to Canberra. As the winter weather sets in here in the Highlands we do ask that students who are unwell are kept home to help minimise the spread of infectious respiratory disease in our community. Students who do attend school and are symptomatic are asked to ensure they wear a mask and everyone is reminded about the importance of good cough, sneeze and hand hygiene etiquette!

Murder, mystery, and mayhem are on the menu for the mad-capped Birthday Play production of Clue: On Stage (High School Edition), based on the screenplay by Jonathan Lynn and directed by Mrs Sally Hannah. The comedy whodunit that will leave both cult-fans and newcomers in stitches as they try to figure out…WHO did it, WHERE, and with WHAT!

The Birthday Play will be performed by Senior Drama students on Thursday 2 June for the School and Saturday 4 June for parents, students, and the local community in Clubbe Hall. Tickets are available for the Saturday evening performance via https://www.trybooking.com/BZOHE.

Mrs Sally Hannah, Head of Drama

Careers Advice

Year 12 are gathering together various Early Entry applications and tertiary preferences for 2023. Many are also in the process of applying to Colleges and interviews are taking place – please know that there is still plenty of time.

Parents and students of Year 12 are encouraged to read the weekly ‘Tertiary Thursday’ newsletter to keep up to date with University Early Entry dates, Open Days, Webinars, Scholarships and so much more. The link for this week’s edition, which is always on the Careers SchoolBox page, is:  Schoolbox Careers

Year 10 students will commence Careers profiling next Monday 6 June from 9.00an-1.00pm in Clubbe Hall. External consultants from Career Avenues will conduct the profiling and individual consultations with students, once each report is finalised. Girls are excited to learn about their strengths and the many career options available to them.

Two new tiles on the Careers page are:

• The dos and don’ts of senior subject selection (for Year 10 students) – compiled by Study, Work, Grow
• and a fun one – 10 Celebrities who took a Gap Year

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

da Vinci Decathlon

On Wednesday 25 May, the Year 11 da Vinci Decathlon Team competed in the 2022 State Finals of this competition in a ‘virtual event’ against over 160 other students from a range of schools across NSW. The theme of this year’s competition was ‘Patterns’ competed in ten disciplines with all tasks emphasising higher order thinking skills and TEAM spirit and collaboration. Individual team members complemented each other’s strengths in all ten disciplines comprising pen and paper, timed responses in the following:

• Mathematics – problem solving, number patterns and logic puzzles
• English – spelling, word origins, definitions, textual analysis and writing tasks
• Science – engage with higher level scientific concepts and test your ability to apply them
• Code Breaking – decipher complex, mysterious codes
• Engineering Challenge – a design task that tests problem solving skills, creativity and ingenuity
• Ideation – creativity, critical problem solving, collaboration and communication to solve real-world problems
• Creative Producers – create and perform a 60sec drama or 30sec commercial to promote a product
• Art and Poetry – develop an original poem and a connected artwork on a given theme
• Cartography – interpret spatial information, decipher and create imaginative maps
• Legacy – a study of significant

We congratulate the following students for an outstanding demonstration of the Frensham ‘spirit of learning’ – their self-management and organisation, determination and thinking: Monique Andersson; Gigi Bonet; Sarah-Joy Day; Sissy Fairrie; Heidi Jervis; Abigail Jorgensen; Cintra Maldonado; Freyjika Parker; Phoebe Rouse and Hilary Swan.

Frensham Year 11 da Vinci Decathlon Team 2022. Back row left to right: Freyjika Parker, Phoebe Rouse, Sissy Fairrie, Gigi Bonet. Front row left to right: Abigail Jorgensen, Cintra Maldonado, Sarah-Joy Day, Heidi Jervis, Monique Andersson

Ms Kate Chauncy, Director of Teaching and Learning

Music

The Madrigals were keen to defend their 2021 Sydney Eisteddfod Youth Choral Championship title. But it was not easy, with some of our singers unable to attend. On Friday, the day of our event (Youth Vocal Ensemble), two girls were still absent, and they were both from the same section!  So, on the bus trip to Chatswood, our "utility chorister" Eliza Mulligan, was asked to memorise a new part to support the section.

The Madrigals are now looking forward to performing two of their winning pieces over the Birthday Weekend, and to competing in the 2022 Choral Championship on Friday, 10 June.

Mr Michael Spencer, Head of Music

National Latin Exam

In March, Years 9-12 students of Latin, along with over 154,000 students in various countries worldwide, sat for the National Latin Examination which is organised by the American Classical League. Students from fifty states in the US plus nineteen other countries took part including countries as diverse as Ghana, South Korea, Taiwan, the United Arab Emirates and Zimbabwe. The exam consists of questions on grammar, comprehension, mythology, derivatives, literature, Roman life, history, geography, oral Latin, and Latin in use in the modern world.

• Year 9, Introduction to Latin Exam: Silver Medal and Maxima Cum Laude Certificate: Camilla Johnston; Magna Cum Laude Certificate: Lauren Fox.
• Year 10, Latin I Exam: Gold Medal and Summa Cum Laude Certificate: Poppy Carter, Lucinda Colgan, Claudia Hampson, Zara Maple-Brown, Maggie Ryan, Millie Thompson. Silver Medal and Maxima Cum Laude Certificate: Madeleine Charters, Lucy Molineux. Magna Cum Laude Certificate: Emily Crawford,
• Year 11, Latin II Exam: Gold Medal and Summa Cum Laude Certificate: Hannah Perkins, Edie Staniforth,
• Year 12 Latin III Exam: Gold Medal and Summa Cum Laude Certificate: Matilda Arnott, Zoe Gallagher, Phoebe Rowntree.

Mrs Harriet Houston, Languages Teacher

Science and Engineering Challenge

At the recent Science and Engineering Challenge, 32 Year 10 students took part in the myriad events and were placed 3^rd.  We were pleased to support St Paul’s International School (Moss Vale) with students from Year 10 joining their team. All the girls enjoyed the day and were fully engaged in the challenges.

Mrs Alison Andrew, Head of Science

Sport

IGSA Cross Country Friday 27 May

Frensham was successful in hosting the annual IGSA Cross Country event. The following students participated:

12 Years: Camilla Willingham; 13 Years: Georgie Boag, Lilly Bell, Chloe McMurtrie, Francesca Cay, Milly Debelle Hancock, Amber Thomas, Millie Riddle, Abigail Fisher; 14 Years: Alice Gilder, Alex Frith, Penelope Hampson, Tia Thomas, Claudia Maple-Brown, Charlie Boyes, Anna Boag, Annabel Rowntree; 15 Years: Camilla Ranken, Zara McMurtrie, Camilla Johnston, Sophie Hanrahan, Penny Cay, Skye Stodart, Claire Mitchell, Bella Barber;16 Years: Olivia Huggins, Charlotte Hopperton, Lucy Colgan, Phoebe Gilder, Lucy Molineux, Millie Thompson, Lottie Frith, Claudia Hampson; 17 Years: Darcy Maple-Brown, Julia Burge, Eliza Mulligan, Bella Cay, Edie Staniforth, Millie McMurtrie, Olivia Huggins; 18 Years: Isobel Harrington, Lucy Booth, Phoebe Lyne, Lucy Gale, Matilda Walker, Poppy Jensen, Sophie Hill.

The top 15 athletes in each age group are selected for the NSWCIS Cross Country at Sydney Motosport Park, Eastern Creek. Congratulations to the following students for being selected to compete at the NSWCIS championships: Tia Thomas, Phoebe Gilder, Lucy Molineux, Lucy Gale.

Rugby 7s Gala Day Saturday 28 May

Frensham hosted a Rugby 7s Gala Day with IGSA schools Loreto Normanhurst and Monte Sant’ Angelo Mercy College attending. There were two divisions comprising of Intermediate (15/16 Yrs) and Senior (17/18 Yrs) students. Each school played two pool games with the winner of each age division playing in the final. The results for the games were the following:

• Intermediate results: Game 1- Frensham-26/ Loreto-10; Game 2- Frensham-25/ Monte-5; Game 3- Loreto -25/ Monte-15
• Senior results: Game 1- Frensham-5/ Monte-35; Game 2-Loreto-0/ Monte-17; Game 3-Frensham-43/ Loreto-0
• Intermediate Final: Frensham-22/ Loreto-5
• Senior Final: Frensham-7/ Monte-24

All games were very entertaining with a high standard of Rugby being played. Congratulations to the intermediate team for winning the final game.

Mr Shane Green, Acting Head of Sport    

Acknowledgements

• Girdle Award Recipient: Ankitha Avvari (Academic Excellence)
• Frensham Madrigals for their success at the Sydney Eisteddfod Youth Choral Championship.
• Frensham’s Year 11 da Vinci Decathlon Team for participating in the State Finals of this competition.
• Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award recipients: Silver: Ava Berkelouw (Year 11); Bronze: Phoebe Clifton (Year 12), Lara McConnochie, Savannah Oxley, Megan Syme (Year 11), Lucinda Colgan, Chloe Cowley, Scarlett Francis, Millie Gale, Isabel Kenneally, Lucy Molineux, Heidi Rowntree, Lucy Vilo, Alice Waddell (Year 10).

• NSW U18 Hockey State Championships: Zoe Gallagher (Year 12), Eliza Mulligan (Year 11) and Maggie Ryan (Year 10) for selection to represent the Southern Highlands Hockey Association at the NSW U18’s State Championships in Armidale. Captained by Zoe, the team played skilfully and with great sportsmanship. This culture was recognised by Hockey NSW with Southern Highlands winning the Respect for Officials Award, an award given to one team judged across all divisions, based on the teams conduct on and off the field, and that of their coaches and supporters.
• Frensham’s Rugby 7s Intermediate team for winning their final at the recent Gala Day.
• Cross Country team members, Tia Thomas, Phoebe Gilder, Lucy Molineux, Lucy Gale, for selection to compete at the NSWCIS Cross Country championships.
• Young Archies 2022 Shortlisted students: Thomas Beckhaus; Evelyn Garling (Kindergarten); William Macpherson; Evelyn Nesci; Jack Spong; Fraser Trenchard-Smith (Year 1); Otto Levee; Diana Lewis (Year 2); Sammy Robb, Heston Ryan; Chelsea Trudgeon (Year 3); Amelie Gardiner; Matilda Milosevic; Zahra Nash (Year 4).

• Frensham Show Team competitors Judith Hopkins, Maggie Waldren (Year 12) and Tia Thomas (Year 9), who awarded 1st, 2nd and 3rd place, respectively, in the Junior Steer Competition sponsored by ECM Livestock, Moss Vale. This competition is held at each of the shows in the South Coast and Tablelands group (only two shows were held this year). Judging is based on the quality and presentation of the steer, presentation of the handler and knowledge of the handler about the steer and the beef industry (they were asked questions during judging).

Ms Sarah McGarry
Head of Frensham
Head of Frensham Schools