International Grammar School’s weekly e-newsletter Term 1, No. 4 • 20 February 2015 COMING EVENTS TERM 1 L-R (standing): Principal Shauna Colnan; Studies Co-ordinator Irina Braun; Nicola Irvin; Nathalie Pinson; Joshua Winestock; Assistant Principal - High School Anthony Dennehy; Student Co-ordinator Lucy Howard Shibuya; Dominic Cox; Oscar Read; Jeremy Horniblow; Deputy Principal Mary Duma; Seated front: Hestea Cook; Assistant Principal- Academic Programs Jacqui Baker Special report from the Class of 2014 HOT HSC TIPS SHARED WITH SENIOR SCHOOL Two of their classmates, Joshua Winestock and Nicola Irvin also attended the assembly to accompany Hestea in a moving performance of her HSC composition Kwelakakith Eafrica. ‘QandA’ highlights Shauna Colnan: If you could offer one piece of advice on how to do really well, what would that be? “Stay positive”, “listen to your teachers” and “stay healthy”– these were just some of the words of advice offered by five guest HSC graduates from our Class of ’14 when they attended this week’s high school assembly. Jeremy Horniblow, Hestea Cook, Nathalie Pinson, Oscar Read and Dominic Cox shared their tips with Years 7-12 on a ‘QandA’ style panel hosted by Principal Shauna Colnan and Assistant Principal Anthony Dennehy. Jeremy: What really worked was being really positive, staying positive …you might hit the wall but you just have to keep your chin up. “... and with the content, just hit that Control C, Control V (button) – into the brain!” - Nathalie Pinson WEEK 7 Monday 2 March Yrs 5 and 6, Interrelate Year 8, High Resolves Snowsports Meeting, 6pm Tuesday 3 March PS Swimming Carnival, Ryde Aquatic Centre Wednesday 4 March HS Debating Round 2 PTF Thought Forum, Professor Ian Hickie, 6pm Thursday 5 March Early Learning Info Morning, 9.30am CDSSA Swimming Carnival Friday 6 March Stage 6 Performance Night Tomorrow, 21 February is International Mother Language Day! see page 6 ... Hestea: Listen to your teachers and your mentors. Dominic: Play sport, participate in other things, otherwise, it gets overwhelming. Continued ... Gong Xi Fa Cai Happy New Year! Year of the Goat Term 1, No. 4 - 20 February 2015 WEEK 6 Monday 23 February CIS PS Tennis Trials Year 12 D&T Design Pitch Tuesday 24 February HS Swimming Carnival, Ryde Aquatic Centre Wednesday 25 February HS House Assembly Thursday 26 February NSW All Schools Triathlon AICES Boys Basketball Trials HICES Debating Friday 27 February NSW All Schools Triathlon AICES Girls Basketball Trials CIS PS Basketball Trials More on Chinese New Year - in the next In Focus Editor: Rosemary Pryor 4-8 Kelly Street, Ultimo NSW 2007 Locked Bag 1022, Broadway NSW 2007 Ph: 9219 6700 Fax: 9211 2474 e: [email protected] from Page 1 continued Oscar: Stay healthy, do exercise, start your assessments early and always ask for feedback. Nathalie: Yes, listen to your teachers, listen in class and with the content, just hit that Control C, Control V (button) – into the brain! Phoebe Finlayson-Cook (Year 11): What would you say to your Year 7 self about the years to come? Dominic: You should just enjoy the junior years – get the right study techniques and have a good attitude, find out what you’re good at and interested in. Anthony Dennehy: Marita O’Grady was both Dux and HSC Scholar for 2014 (scoring the highest ATAR of 98.75). She Nathalie: It gets a lot better! [In couldn’t make it to the special assembly Year 7] I was new here. You get today as she has already started her fine to Year 12 and you know your arts degree at the Victorian College of interests. Don’t freak out now the Arts but I can because it’s just going to comment that Marita “They [parents] are a massive go up [from here]. help ...and after the HSC is over, did a wide range of they are still there”. subjects, she was - Jeremy Horniblow hard-working and diligent and was not afraid to ask for advice. SC: And what lies ahead? SC: How did you manage to balance the HSC with other activities? Jeremy: B.Business/B. Creative Intelligence and Innovation, UTS Nathalie: Having a lot on helps – write out a plan, it’s going to make you more organised so you’re going to be less stressed, that way you’ll be much happier. Dominic: Civil Engineering, UNSW (but taking a gap year) SC: Your advice for managing parents? Jeremy: They are a massive help and want to support you and help you through it. [In return] you should take time to relax with your family – it’s the most important relationship you have – and after the HSC is over, they are still there. SC: Jeremy mentioned ‘hitting the wall’. At some point most people will “hit the wall” in some way… tell us about your experience… Hestea: I did two major works [for Music and Drama]. One day, we couldn’t teach my composition to the choir, I was crying, I sat down [with Ms Cunneen] and went back to brainstorming, you’ve got to work with your teachers and friends and brainstorm. Your teachers and friends are here to support you and want to help. SC: If you take on a major work I’d be worried if you didn’t have some kind of crisis…you should aim for something out of reach ... Oscar: In Year 12 Art, I struggled choosing a medium for my work. I chose one medium and it didn’t work out so late in Term 2, I changed completely. I still ended up doing okay, even though I left my idea [photography of his dog who had cancer] until the end. Hestea: B.Music/ B.Media, UNSW (but taking a gap year to work and travel) Oscar: Architecture, UTS or Law/IR, ANU (was offered both but taking a gap year) Nathalie: B.Arts (Majoring in French, History and Italian), USYD, then a Masters in teaching Joshua: B.Music at the Conservatorium of Music, USYD Nicola: B.International Studies/ Media, UNSW Marita O’Grady will return to IGS during the year to accept her Scholar’s Award. Well done and best of luck to all of our Class of 2014! Ed: Thank you to Director of Community Relations Julia Glass for scribe assistance We’re on Facebook - www.facebook.com/igssyd Like Us – and ask your friends to like us too! Term 1, No. 4 - 20 February 2015 2 SNAPSHOT All on (a different) board ... IGS chess whiz causes major upset at Nationals Year 6’s Henry Menzies placed 15th in Australia in the Under 12 division, from a field of 70 of the best chess players from across the country at the Australian Junior Chess Championship in Canberra last week. In 9 rounds, Henry had 4 wins, 3 draws and two losses. In Round 3, he caused the biggest upset of the tournament by beating the highest-rated player in the event. He also beat the national 10-year-old champion and Australia’s representative at the World Youth Championships. Pictured (clockwise from top): Henry on board; Assistant Principal Junior School Colin Bird congratulates Henry at assembly this week; Tiger and Henry in a friendly game. We’re not sure what Henry’s next move will be – but it’s sure to be a good one! Meanwhile, Year 3 headed outdoors for an adventure last Friday ... where could they be going? More news on this in a future In Focus. And below, the latest outdoor adventure for Year 7 ... THE GREAT OUTDOORS Year 7 go to Kangaroo Valley IGS has an extensive outdoor education program with overnight camps conducted from Years 5–9. The outdoor education program challenges, changes and empowers the students within each year group. These camps provide enriching and memorable experiences that last a lifetime. A huge range of adventure activities are undertaken throughout the different year group programs that allow the students the opportunity to challenge themselves. Activities include: bushwalking, abseiling, rock climbing, canoeing, high and low rope course, initiatives, mountain biking, navigation, flying fox and giant swing. The Year 7 outdoor education camp took place during Week 4 of term 1 at Kangaroo Valley. One of the main reasons we send the Year 7 students in the first few weeks of Senior School Continued ... Term 1, No. 4 - 20 February 2015 3 The Great Outdoors from Page 3 continued is so that they are able to meet new people and to make new connections within their year group. We deliberately mix the groups up between new and old, boys and girls. In the challenge by choice regime of the outdoor education camp, this mixture promotes new friendships, and greater understanding amongst the students. One of the things our departing Year 12 students always comment on is the closeness they feel to their fellow year groups. One of the ways this closeness is able to develop is through the inclusion of the Year 11 peer support leaders on Year 7 camp. The Year 11 leaders are able to help out with the group leaders while interacting with the Year 7 students. This allows both the Year 7 and Year 11 students to make connections with another year group across the School. This of course also happens already in our vertical tutor group system every morning. start someone’s camping career! The Southbound instructors were fantastic with dealing with everything that was thrown at them by the Year 7s. Both the Year 7 and Year 11 students showed a huge amount of enthusiasm, commitment and leadership throughout the three-day camp. They immersed themselves in all the activities and have been able to walk away with new friends across the different year groups, new experiences and memories. Thank you to the Year 7 and Year 11 students for embracing the new experience of the outdoor education camp. In addition to this, thank you to all the staff that accompanied the students on camp. Brian Downton Head of Sport and Outdoor Education Feedback from the camp was extremely positive from staff, Year 7 students and Year 11 peer support leaders. Below are two reflections from a Year 7 student and two Year 11 students. Camp Reflection from Theodore Hanrahan (Year 7 Student) When I got to camp I did not realise that I was at the best place on the planet! The first activity was The Giant Swing. At first I was nervous then when I was done I thought I would have regretted not doing it if I had not done it – and that just about sums up camp. You have to do everything or else you'll regret it. Camp Reflection from Max Saunders and Andrew Salkeld (Year 11 Students) Year 7 camp was an amazing, eye opening experience for all of the year 11s involved. We all had a great time getting to know our newest IGS community members and we had so much fun. I am so glad to have been asked to do this and the memories will stay by me forever. All the activities were so engaging, there was never a dull moment for the entire three days! The one night camping and one night in a cabin was a very good way to potentially kick Discover the wonderful world of High School at IGS ... High School Open Night Thursday 12 March 2015 4–7pm All welcome. Tell your friends. No bookings necessary. More details in next week’s In Focus Term 1, No. 4 - 20 February 2015 4 SNAPSHOT #2 Primary Student Leader induction MATHS SPOT Come to the Maths Olympiad try-outs It could be you ... Thursday 26 February * Lunchtime * Room 404 * Open to all Year 7 and 8 * Bring a friend! Term 1, No. 4 - 20 February 2015 Practice quiz IGS wants to put together two teams to compete in the Maths Olympiad, which is a series of short competitions run over the course of the year. It is open to ALL students in Years 7 and 8, and any enquiries should be directed to: Laurence Moss on 92196700 or [email protected]. Jenny and Lenny pick 1/4 and 1/3 of a treeful of apples, respectively. Penny picks the rest of the apples. If Lenny picks 7 more apples than Jenny does, how many apples does Penny pick? 5 LANGUAGES LINES From Mother Tongue to Polyglot Tomorrow is International Mother Language Day. This day is observed annually on 21 February worldwide to promote awareness of linguistic and cultural diversity and multilingualism. It was first proclaimed by UNESCO on 17 November 1999. Then, on 16 May 2007, the United Nations General Assembly in its resolution A/ RES/61/266 called upon Member States "to promote the preservation and protection of all languages used by peoples of the world". This important and crucial statement recognises that the preservation and dissemination of mother tongues will serve not only to encourage and maintain linguistic diversity and multilingualism but also to develop fuller awareness of linguistic and cultural traditions throughout the world and to inspire solidarity based on understanding, tolerance and dialogue. International Mother Language or Mother Tongue Day has been observed every year since February 2000. The date of 21 February represents the day in 1952 when students demonstrating for recognition of their language, Bangla, as one of the two national languages of the then Pakistan, were shot and killed by police in Dhaka, the capital of what is now Bangladesh. Languages are the most powerful instruments of preserving and developing our tangible and intangible heritage and this is what is remembered on 21 February. 2015 is the 15th anniversary of International Mother Language Day. Write in the Mother Tongue This year we will be publishing another edition of Polyglot – IGS Languages Magazine. In celebration of Mother Tongue Day this Saturday 21 February, I invite all IGS students with the help of their families if needed to submit an article, interview, story, comic strip or any writing piece in their mother tongue language which may not be one of the six languages taught at IGS. Written items can be on any topics. Items can be emailed to me at rosalbag@igssyd. nsw.edu.au any time during Terms 1 and 2. I look forward to receiving a wonderful array of writings in a multitude of languages. Rosalba Genua-Petrovic Director of Languages The Languages Home Reading Program has begun for Years 2– 6 This week, In Focus continues the Languages Help Guide. We ask that all parents take care of these and be diligent in returning the readers. If you find any language readers around at home from 2014 please return them to your child’s language teacher. In class, the children are involved in a variety of reading activities relating to the Unit of Work. These activities help build up their sight word repertoire, vocabulary, deduce the meaning of unfamiliar words from context and demonstrate comprehension by participating and contributing during shared reading. Reading, above all else, should be enjoyable. It is important for the children to ‘have a go’ and it is good for the same book to come home more than once over time – this reinforces consolidation of sight words and familiarity allows for greater success. Please remember this when thinking a book is too easy. Your child will be bringing language readers home. This reading program will complement your child’s literacy skills. Students will be given books that they can manage with relative ease. The children should be able to decode most words. The readers will be in a plastic folder with a reading log sheet. Readers will be given out during the week and we ask that they are returned within a week or so. Some helpful things to do: • • • Using knowledge about letter – sound relationships is an important achievement of early reading Sounds and symbols are the two most important skills early readers need to decode, so look at the sounds in words so that decoding the word is easier Encourage children to read out loud • Locate key words and phrases in a text The Junior Library has a good selection of language books in all 4 languages. These are available for borrowing. There are some great picture books with limited text and also more challenging books for the older children. If you are not sure of what to borrow and need help with the level your child is at, please contact the language teacher who will help you. We will be adding to our repertoire of language books. More information will follow. Some reminder dates for the diary:Harmony Day will be celebrated on 18 March. Students can dress up in National costumes or the colour orange. Languages Camp Years 4 – 6 : 25–27 March – Forms and information will be emailed shortly Vilma Rotellini Head of Languages Junior School SOCIAL JUSTICE NEWS - Gold Coin Day next Friday This year, we are very excited to be able to help others and in particular, kids. We start our work off next Friday 27 February where we will be collecting money to support one of our own. Nick Walker (brother of James Walker – Year 5) is in Year 11. Next month Nick is literally, going to climb a mountain! Mount Kosciuszko in 1 day! that is 18.4kms return in 10 hours. This will be an effort, to try and help young people living with Cerebral Palsy. So it would be greatly appreciated if you could donate a gold coin to this wonderful cause. Help us to help Nick achieve his goal. -Imogen Este and Tiger Balsmeyer, Community Service Primary Leaders Term 1, No. 4 - 20 February 2015 6