As I write this, we are in the middle of preparing for all that happens during the Birthday week, and we are only a few days away from the Frensham Schools Birthday Service on Friday.

At Frensham Prayers this morning the students were challenged to consider and remember that although there are celebrations this week, the real focus is about service. Noting that they have an opportunity to serve others across the weekend by responding generously and with humility.

In my short time back at Frensham, I have been so impressed by the approach shown by Year 12 students to all aspects of school life. Their leadership has been outstanding, their calm but consistent approach to their studies has been a great example to the younger years and their involvement in all that happens at the school continues to inspire us.

The Birthday Play, Richard Bear’s One Man, Two Guvnors, directed by Mrs Sally Hannah and led by Year 12, is of the highest quality. We are excited to watch the play, as a whole school community, on Saturday night and we would encourage anyone who can, to attend the Thursday night performance.

We have checked the ‘BOM’ and the weather is looking promising (high of 19^oc) for the picnics and games scheduled for Saturday afternoon. Given the disruptions for the last few years it will be great to have the school community together on the Games Field, once more. Year 12 have told me they are feeling confident about their matches against their parents, and I am sure the games will be of the highest quality and played in the right spirit.

Hoping you can join us, we are excited to host everyone in Clubbe Hall, and on campus this weekend and for our families and friends to join the celebrations.

Iris Country Fair 2023

Music

In many ways, Term 2 is the climax of the musical year at Frensham.  It begins with the Year 8 Weekend and then, the Birthday Weekend focuses all of Year 12’s energies with some of their best performances as well as many of our favourite musical traditions.

The Year 8 Weekend tends to feature performances from the Frensham instrumental ensembles, rather than individual Year 8 students. The Junior Choir and Senior Choir performed the anthem The Peace of God, in the Service; conducted by Ms Boulton, the Kennedy Strings performed Romanian Waltz; and the Jazz Band played an arrangement of the Queen song Don’t Stop Me Now with Sarah-Joy Day as the saxophone soloist. The final item features all of Year 8 performing a song with African percussion, reflecting their recent study of traditional music cultures. 

Currently, senior musicians are working hard in preparation for the Frensham Schools’ Birthday Service, and the Year 12 Service and Concert. The One Voice soloists have been chosen. The Venite accompanist is practising hard, as are the two Extension Music soloists in the concert. Year 7 students are ready to sing their important 1^st verse in The Birthday Wish, the orchestra are ready to open the concert with their Planets Suite performance (with audience participation), the Madrigals are rehearsing their items for Friday’s service and Sunday’s concert respectively, and the Senior Choir are eager to sing their big George Michael number in the concert. Old Girls should remember that they will be expected to join the school in singing Forty Years On.

All parents attending the Sunday Service should know that you have been invited and are expected to participate in The Birthday Wish.  This simply involves standing on the very last chorus and singing with and to the school. Here are the Birthday Wish Lyrics and here is a Birthday Wish Recording with which to listen and sing along.  All mothers, fathers, carers, grandparents, siblings and Old Girls are asked to stand and sing, but it will be particularly meaningful if family members of Year 12 students are able to participate confidently. To that end, there will be a brief rehearsal for guests at 9.30am on the morning of the service.

Again, we look forward to seeing (and hearing) you.

Mr Michael Spencer, Head of Music

Duke of Edinburgh’s Silver Expedition

Over 50% of Year 10 students completed their Silver Qualifying expedition at the Royal National Park Sunday 21 May-Tuesday 23 May. Students started their hike at Bundeena traveling along the coastal track via Bonnie Vale campground and Jibbon Head. Day 2 was extremely challenging for the girls as they hiked 20km through swampy trails from Bonnie Vale to Heathcote Scout Camp. On the final day they travelled from Heathcote to Gray Point via Engadine Lakes.     

All the groups enjoyed the experience developing the following skills: preparation and planning of nutritious meals, problem solving, navigating and teambuilding. Students were supported by Miss Page Day, Mr Andrew Cox and Mrs Deanna Benardos.

Mr Shane Green

Jamieson Programme

In Frensham Studies this Term, Year 7 students have started to explore what it means to be a 'Curious & Adaptive Learner’. They have learnt about Frensham's history and the school's ability to adapt to change through World Wars, natural disasters and pandemics. They have considered what it looks like to be curious and adaptive in the classroom and reflected on how they have demonstrated these qualities throughout the year. In class, Staff Prayers are read to explore this theme, in particular, one Mr Phil Alldis wrote on dishwashing. He spoke about this simple mundane task as a way of teaching patience, resilience, skill acquisition and creativity. Dishwashing requires one to adapt to the role of 'washer' or 'dryer', the 'leader' or the 'lead'. Year 7 are encouraged to consider the importance of curiosity in all that they do, their ability to shift their perspective and to find meaning through asking questions. 

Year 8 students continue to appreciate the experience of helping other young people in Riding for the Disabled. They are also enjoying the weekly Jamieson lessons on being willing and active contributors.

Year 9 JP have started their Independent Research Project, the second component in the IGCSE Global Perspectives course, with students investigating a variety of issues affecting our global community. The girls are being encouraged to develop research questions that are global in nature to allow them to demonstrate an understanding of a variety of issues from different perspectives. They will use research, reasoning and questioning skills to gain this understanding and form their own judgements. The syllabus advises that “In developing the skills of working with information, critical thinking, decision making, planning, communication, reflection, teamwork and independent learning, candidates will engage with a range of sources. These sources might include data sets, articles from the media and personal testimony. The sources that candidates use should encourage them to become actively involved in considering issues from different perspectives.”

Year 10 are enjoying their leadership and responsibilities in the House, especially putting the Juniors to bed each night. Year 7 students have written Jamieson reflections about their Year 10 Cracks helping them through their first semester of high school. Finally, Year 10 are looking forward to Careers Profiling Tuesday 6 June. The session will reveal each student’s personal style, problem solving skills, transferable skills and career interests. The final report will then develop an initial list of opportunities they may like to explore further.

Mrs Merrilee Harris, Director of Jamieson Programme

Equestrian

Another busy fortnight for the Equestrian Team with students competing across a range of disciplines. The Bowral Dressage competition on Sunday 21 May, saw some Frensham entrants riding in the Junior / Young Rider classes and they all performed very well.

• Megan Syme (Year 12) riding PPP Arissa was placed 1st in the Novice 2.1 test and 1st in the Novice 2.2 test.
• Leksi Sharp (Year 7) riding Danbar El Soraya was placed 2nd in the Prelim 1.1 test and 1st in the Prelim 1.2 test.
• Abby Weel (Year 7) riding Deveron Nintendo placed 1st in the Novice 2.1 and 2nd in the Novice 2.2. Abby also rode Reitlands Obama to a 1st place in the Elementary 3.1 and 2nd in the Elementary 3.2.

Well done to these students for their great results.

• Eva Telford (Year 11) travelled to the Hawkesbury Show on Saturday 20 May and achieved some excellent results on her horse, Elmdale Park Sallyanna. Eva’s results are as follows -
  • 3rd - Open Lightweight Galloway 14 - 14.2 hands; 2nd - Second Chance Galloway Hack 14 - 14.2 hands; 3rd - Ridden Mare of Gelding 13.2 - 14.2 hands; 2nd - Open Ridden Riding Pony Mare or Gelding 13 - 14.2 hands; 1st - Child’s Ridden Riding Pony Mare or Gelding 14 - 14.2 hands; 1st - Owner Rider Galloway Hack 14 - 14.2 hands; 1st - Open Child’s Galloway Hack 14 - 14.2 hands; Reserve Champion Ridden Riding Pony of Show.

Congratulations to Eva for her outstanding performances.

• Scarlett Francis (Year 11) competed again on the weekend of 20 – 21 May in the Windsor Polo Tournament on her horses Gravity, Tich and Deno and her Team was placed 1st overall. Well done, Scarlett.

Following on from the last Newsletter article, of highlighting the diversity of equestrian pursuits of Frensham students, this week will celebrate the students who Campdraft. Born out of the Australian cattle stations in the late 1800’s, where stockman and drovers work with livestock daily, Campdrafting was a test of horsemanship and understanding of livestock behaviour. The aim of Campdrafting is for a rider to, firstly, ‘cut out’ a steer from a mob of cattle in a small yard or ‘camp’, then work that individual steer back and forth before directing the beast through a figure 8 course then through a final gate, in a set time. The rider’s skills are also judged and scored out of 100 points. Working with cattle and horses… what a great sport! But as the Co-ordinator of the Equestrian Team and the Livestock Team, I am a little biased!

At Frensham, there are some students who enjoy Campdrafting and have achieved some excellent results in competitions. Below are just some of the most recent results and events they have competed in:

•  Minnie Wiggins (Year 11) competed at the Trangie Campdraft on the 7-9 March riding Oak’s Knockout (Oakey Dokey). She placed 2nd in the Ladies event after 2 rounds and a runoff and made it to the Finals in the Novice Horse event. At the Come By Chance Campdraft, on the 15-17 March, and riding Kelly Park Illusion, she again made it through to the Finals in the Maiden Horse event and the Finals in the Ladies event.
• Elise Brown (Year 10) competed at the Daly Waters Campdraft and Rodeo, in the Northern Territory, on the 27-30 April. She rode Cat’s Playgirl and Stan One Time in the Maiden and Juvenile events and rode Stan One Time and Comet in the Novice event.
•  Indiana Hart (Year 7) competed at the Barraba Junior Campdraft, in March, and was placed 4th on Cobber.

Well done to these Campdrafters and we look forward to hearing about their future events.

Ms Leonie Mutch, Acting Co-ordinator of Equestrian

Acknowledgements

• Iris Award recipient, Sarah-Joy Day (All Round Excellence)
• Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award recipients: Bronze: Madeleine Bendror, Amelia Boag, Lucy Bowman, Abby Brown, Rachael Connor, Neve Daugherty, Violet Dawson, Hannah Day, Sophie Kennedy, Alice Mulligan, Cleo Osborne, Skye Stodart, Chloe White, Arabella Whitehead, Tabitha Wild, Ruby Young. Silver: Lucinda Colgan, Phoebe Gilder, Holly Regan, Maggie Ryan, Jemima Sealy.
• Frensham Equestrians for their successes at recent events.

Mr Geoff Marsh
Head of Frensham
Head of Frensham Schools