Gib Gate students continued to shine during the winter break with outstanding achievements academically and in Sport.

Sophie Alexander (Year 6) is congratulated for being one of only 30 Year 5/6 students nationally, from 4,500 entries, short-listed for the prestigious Whitlam-Institute, What Matters?, writing competition. Sophie’s entry is a remarkable piece of writing and an extremely powerful personal reflection on grief, loss and resilience. To read Sophie’s entry, please visit https://www.whitlam.org/what-matters-2019-shortlist.

Students who achieved outstanding results in the Term 2 Digital Technologies REACH Assessments are congratulated. The REACH Assessment tool provides us with an annual, independent and objective benchmark of student progress. It is based on the Australian curriculum for students in Years 2 to 6, and is suitable for use across all ability levels.

The NSW Northern and Queensland Region Interschools Snowsports Championships were held at Perisher during the vacation. Gib Gate entered teams in the Division 4, 5 and 6 Girls and Boys events in Alpine, Skier Cross and Moguls, achieving outstanding success. Gib Gate placed 5^th of 44 schools in the Co-ed Primary School Skiing competition. This is a remarkable achievement by the Gib Gate team.

Among the list of outstanding achievements:

• Division 4 Girls A Moguls – Isabella Atra, Madeleine Bendror (Year 6) - 3^rd place overall, with Isabella placing 10^th and Madeleine placing 15^th individually.
• Division 4 Girls A Alpine – Isabella Atra placed 3^rd.
• Division 4 Girls Skier Cross – Isabella Atra, Madeleine Bendror and Matilda Telford (Year 5) placed 1^st overall with Isabella taking the silver medal individually.
• Division 5 Boys Alpine and Skier Cross – Sebastian Atra (Year 4) won gold in both events.
• Division 5 Girls Moguls – Sophia Atra (Year 2) and Zali de Manincor (Year 4) placed 4^th overall, while Sophia placed 11^th individually.
• Division 5 Girls Alpine – Zali de Manincor and Annika Basson (Year 4) and Phoebe McLaughlin and Mae Gilkeson (Year 3) placed 4^th overall, with Zali taking the silver medal individually.
• Division 5 Girls Skier Cross – Zali de Manincor placed 7^th individually.
• Division 6 Girls Alpine and Skier Cross – Sophia Atra won gold in both events.

We also congratulate Sebastian Atra and Sophia Atra who won gold medals in the Redlands Cup.

Four Gib Gate teams and 10 individuals qualified for the State Championships to be held at Perisher in a few weeks’ time. Thank you to the families of our team, who provided this opportunity and support for the children.

We also thank Miss Stefanie Klauer who managed the teams at Perisher for the competition.

Ms Sally Robson, Head of Gib Gate

Studies

Professional Learning at Frensham Schools

On the last day of Term 2, Frensham teachers and Boarding and Health Centre staff worked together in their professional learning teams on a variety of ongoing projects. A focus for the day were the presentations designed and delivered by Dr Ruth Phillips (Frensham Academic-in-Residence) on Meeting the Needs of Gifted Students at Frensham Schools P-12. In the Plenary session, we reviewed new research from Australia and overseas and considered implications for teaching and learning at Frensham Schools in all learning areas. Gib Gate teachers P-6 spent a session working together on differentiating programmes for gifted boys and girls in the primary school setting, and Frensham teachers on applying the current research on underachievement in gifted girls, to guide them toward understanding and supporting these learners. In the afternoon sessions, teachers continued work on their Action Inquiry Projects in their TLC groups, while House staff continued exploring the work of Carol Dweck’s text, Mindset, and how to apply this research to Boarding life. Health Centre staff completed a practical workshop on Knee injuries and Strapping conducted by our specialist presenter, Physiotherapist Mrs Lucy Forbes.

On Monday 22 July, staff spent the Professional Learning Day with Melbourne-based specialist consultant, Mr James Anderson, author of The Agile Learner: Where Growth Mindset, Habits of Mind and Practice Unite. James is passionate about supporting schools and teachers to enable students to thrive in a rapidly changing, increasingly complex world. James’ presentations took us beyond simple social media catchphrases to create a teaching framework that develops robust and enduring Growth Mindsets in the classroom. By challenging our own ‘teacher/adult’ mindsets, he taught us strategies designed to nurture Growth Mindsets in all our students. Throughout his engaging workshop, James skilfully integrated the Habits of Mind, Anders Ericsson’s critical work on practice, and Carol Dweck’s work on Growth Mindset. In doing so, he created a powerful combination that can guide us towards increased student efficacy and greater learning outcomes.

During the vacation period, Miss Jaqueline Pawl (Year 2 Class Teacher) and Miss Stefanie Klauer (Year 1 Class Teacher) travelled to Sydney for a full-day workshop delivered by Australian and International presenter, Kath Murdoch, on Inquiry Learning: The Whats, the Whys and the Hows. Kath is an experienced teacher, author, university lecturer and consultant who has worked for many years in schools throughout Australia, New Zealand, Asia, America and Europe. She is widely respected for her work in the field of inquiry-based learning and integrative curriculum in which she has taught, researched and published for well over 20 years.

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

Sport

The Gib Gate Games Field refurbishment commenced during the vacation and the students and staff met on the first day of school to review changed arrangements for PE, Sport and Sport Training. Parents are reminded to check the Gib Gate Bulletin for details regarding these arrangements.

Please see the overview below re training and competition arrangements, to assist with your planning:

• The Gib Gate Years 2-6 Athletics Carnival will be held on Friday 2 August at the Frensham Games Field. Kindergarten and Year 1 will visit the Carnival from 12.30pm-1.30pm to watch the 100m finals and to enjoy lunch with Years 2-6.
   
• Soccer training for U6 and U7 teams will be held at Gib Gate during the day on Thursdays. Years 1 and 2 will train with the specialist Little Kickers Primary skills programme and Soccer coaches at Gib Gate at 1.20pm and Kindergarten at 2.00pm. The U9 and U11 Teams will train at the Frensham Games Field on Thursday after school. Students and Mr Standen will be transported by bus to the Frensham at 3.25pm and parents are asked to collect children from the Games Field by 4.45pm (access via the road to The Centenary Pool).
   
• Athletics Training for members of the SHIPS/IPSHA Team will be held at Gib Gate during the day at the conclusion of the Gib Gate Athletics Carnival (no Athletics training before school). On Wednesday 7, 14, and 21 August from 7:15am-8:15am, Gib Gate selected runners (by invitation) will train at Frensham with Mr Ron Thompson and Mr Standen and will be transported back to Gib Gate by minibus.

Further to Ms Robson’s note re results, we congratulate the entire team representing Gib Gate at the NSW Interschools Northern and Queensland Region Snowsports Championships: Isabella Atra, Madeleine Bendror (Year 6), Ewan McLaughlin, Matilda Telford (Year 5), Sebastian Atra, Annika Basson, Zali de Manincor (Year 4), Phoebe McLaughlin, Mae Gilkeson (Year 3) Sophia Atra (Year 2) and Charlie Telford (Year 1).

• PE lessons for Years K-6 will include a focus on Tennis (Weeks 1-5) and Gymnastics (Weeks 6-10) and we will schedule access to the Gymnasium at Frensham and the Games Fields, throughout the term.

Mr Michael Standen, Coordinator PE and Sport Gib Gate

Enrichment/Activities

Interrelate Family Night

Interrelate is presenting its Family Information Sessions for parents and students later this term. These sessions are recommended for students from Years 3-6 and include the topics, Where Did I Come From? and Preparing for Puberty. The programmes are informative, sensitive and child focussed. Interrelate is a specialist organisation with over 75 years’ experience in teaching sexuality education in NSW schools.

Dancing – Ms Annabel Lomax will deliver the Gib Gate in-class Dance programme in the second half of this term.

Performance – K-2 will have sessions to prepare for the Tulip Time performance later in the term, and Years 3-6 will work on dances in preparation for their Senior Musical Production, Peter Pan, with performances in Term 4.

Soirée – Instrumental students from Years 5 and 6 will be invited to perform in the Term 3 Soirée which commences at 6:00pm on Wednesday 7 August in the Gib Gate Hall.

Mrs Anne Graham, Gib Gate Coordinator (Administration)

Preschool

During the vacation, I was fortunate to attend the Landscapes of Transformation: Changing Education for Changing Times Conference in Perth, Western Australia. This exciting Conference was organised by the Reggio Emilia Australia Information Exchange (REAIE), recognising a fundamental need for change and to discover new landscapes of possibility in Australian educational contexts. The image of Preschool children as strong and capable citizens, with rights, who are valued for their active participation in democratic communities, is a perfect fit for Gib Gate Preschool. Participant in the conference enjoyed a week of professional development and inspiration, with international keynote speakers from the schools of Reggio Emilia (Italy) particularly motivational with a number of Australian speakers who also challenged and inspired.

Mrs Tinna Loker, Preschool Coordinator