Followers of Frensham on Instagram –  @Frensham1913 – will have noted the quotes shared this week from our James Anderson professional learning workshops for teachers, including:

• ­“A growth mindset tells you ‘I can grow’. It doesn’t say ‘how to grow’.”
• ­“There is a fundamental truth about every sort of practice: ‘If you never push yourself outside your comfort zone, you will never improve’.”
• ­“Learning how to be smarter, makes learning hard things easier.”
• “Not all effort is created equal.”

Anderson led us beyond simple social media catchphrases to articulate the process required to create a teaching framework that develops robust and enduring ‘growth mindsets’ in the classroom. Challenging our own mindsets and skilfully uniting the Habits of Mind, Anders Ericsson’s critical work on practice, with Carol Dweck’s work on Growth Mindset, he inspired reflection and debate that is not in any way ‘finished’  and has sparked interest in learning more.

Director of Teaching and Learning Kate Chauncy, who worked with Anderson to ensure he had an essential understanding of our level of prior knowledge, also secured for all teachers a personal copy of text that might interest parents who would like more information: The Agile Learner: Where Growth Mindset, Habits of Mind and Practice Unite (James Anderson, 2017) – detailing the thinking behind his work and the application of his ideas – not limited, of course, to building student and teacher capacity in the school environment.

Executive Coach – Strategic Planning

Two days later, Frensham Schools Executive engaged with Richard Newton, Professional Expert at the University of Auckland Centre for Educational Leadership (UACEL) to discuss possibilities for further work as our Executive Coach / Facilitator of strategic planning. This role arises owing to the need to replace distinguished thought-leader Frank Crawford who retired recently, having worked alongside us for just over a decade. UACEL bases much of the design of its work on the ‘Best Evidence Synthesis (BES) – School Leadership and Student Outcomes: Identifying What Works and Why’ (Robinson, Hohepa, & Lloyd, 2009). The BES produced an evidence base that has shaped (along with other influences) leadership policy, leadership development frameworks and leadership practices in New Zealand, Australia, Ontario, Denmark and Norway. In Australia, the BES has also influenced the development of the AITSL Professional Standards for Principals.

Senior Students – character test – how would you go?

(2012...true story – NB: IT was different then!) – preparing for final Higher School Certificate Examinations

You have worked hard all term – you are up-to-date with everything.
You have packed up all of your study notes for the vacation – in a large box.
You are collected from School by a friend of the family and dropped in Sydney to make that connection.
You put your box of notes on the footpath as you pack the car.
You drive away.
Two hours later, you realise that you did not pack the box into the car.
You drive back to the footpath – two hours down the freeway.
When you arrive, there is an empty box...a few papers...folders gone (with plastic inserts)... no study notes... home is 12 hours away by car...you get back in the car for the return journey...(home is 140km west of Bourke...)

[What happened next?]
Adelaide Nielsen – (now Dr Adelaide Nielsen) this is your life...!

House re-mix – Term 3

Less than a week into the term, we commend all who offered an encouraging response to our re-arrangement of Years 9 and 10 in Hartfield, Kennedy and Linden Turner Houses. The 12 Year 9s in Linden Turner are already settling into the new environment of living with Years 10 and 11 and the Year 10 leadership teams of 16 in Hartfield and Kennedy have made an outstanding start, sharing responsibility for supporting routines, wellbeing and care within the Years 7 to 10 Houses.

Acknowledgement to:

• Students who entered the Whitlam Institute What Matters? Writing Competition, which attracted 4,600 entries Australia-wide and from those we are pleased to note included in 117 shortlisted works are five by Gib Gate and Frensham students. Years 11-12 [29 shortlisted] - Samantha Argent (Year 11), This is what's important, this is what matters; Sybella Harris (Year 11), Sweeping Statements and Hollow Words; Mia Horsfall (Year 11), The Air is Different Here; Years 9-10 [29 shortlisted] - Judith Hopkins (Year 9), Drought; Years 5-6 [30 shortlisted] - Sophie Alexander (Year 6), Resilience. The shortlisted Stories are published at https://www.whitlam.org/what-matters-2019-shortlist
• Gabrielle Metua, Isobel Huggins, Sarah Manwaring (Year 11) who represented Frensham at the Burn Bright Leadership Camp during the vacation and by Isabella Allen (Year 12) who attended this year by invitation as a student leader;
• Gib Gate and Frensham Snowsports Teams representing the School in the Interschools competition at Perisher: Gib Gate placed 5^th of 44 schools and Frensham placed 4^th Overall Championship Female School.

Vacation Camps at Frensham

• Sturt Winter School: held another successful Winter School with more than 130 enrolled students including 47 children and teenagers who attended for single days or the full series of one-day workshops.
• Braille Music Camp: organisers are congratulated on what was a highly successful 34^th Braille Music Camp at Frensham, with 30 blind students, 11 blind ‘adult helpers’ and 16 sighted helpers in residence for the second week of the vacation.
• Hockey and Netball – Tour Friday 28-Sunday 30 June (Armidale) - a series of matches with local Schools TAS, NEGS and PLC in preparation for the Term 3 IGSSA season.

Ahead:

Sturt – Friday 2 August, 10.00am-11.00am
Frensham Schools Buyers Preview of the new exhibition, Cadence – natural rhythm

Frensham Information Sessions

• Young – Wednesday 14 August (12.00pm-2.00pm)
• Wagga Wagga – Wednesday 14 August (6.00pm-8.00pm)
• Sydney – Wednesday 21 August (6.30pm-8.30pm)
• Head’s Tour (Frensham) – Saturday 31 August, 1.00pm-3.00pm Information Session and Tour
• Singapore – Tuesday 3 September (6.00pm-8.00pm)

For further information on all events, please contact: Ms Carole McCormick on +61 2 4860 2144 or Email cmccormick@frensham.nsw.edu.au or visit https://www.frensham.nsw.edu.au/admissions/sample-frensham/parent-info

Vacation Works

• Gib Gate Games Field: major refurbishment commenced Monday 15 July
• Frensham - Little Wing: Deputy Head of Frensham, Director of Studies and Director of Teaching and Learning – major refurbishment of office space completed

Staffing update

Monday 29 July will be Mrs Janet Hart’s last day at Frensham after 23 years’ commitment as a member of the House Staff. Janet was in residence for many years as a core member of the Kennedy House team before moving more recently to Linden Turner. We wish her well in retirement!

Julie Gillick
Head of Frensham
Head of Frensham Schools