TERM21NO
NO35
TERM
April2010
2013
293April
Lee Crockett, Keynote Speaker and Workshop Presenter
for Gib Gate and Frensham - Thursday 28 March 2013
Lee Crockett is an award-winning designer, artist, author and
international keynote speaker. He is the Managing Partner of the 21st
Century Fluency Project, and is co-author of Understanding the Digital
Generation, The Digital Diet, Living on the Future Edge, and the bestseller, Literacy is not Enough. He describes himself as a ‘just in time
learner’ (rather than a ‘just in case learner’ - his description of the past
ideal), constantly adapting to the new programmes and technologies
associated with today's communications and marketing media. He is
the creative force behind the Fluency21 Unit Planner cloud-app which
has created a culture of collaboration with educators around the world,
sharing and sourcing unit plans aligning to the structure of the 21st
century learning environment outlined in his works. Understanding the
need for balance in our increasingly digital lives, Lee has lived in
Kyoto, Japan, where he studied Aikido and Tea Ceremony as well as
in Florence, Italy, where he studied painting. He also spoke to us
about his passion for racing Ducati motorbikes.
Lee Crockett’s focus for WWS was drawn from the work he
does with educators all around the world – challenging
thinking about the relevance of our approaches and our
definition of a culture of excellence. [He was keynote speaker
for the ACEL (Australian College of Educational Leaders) Conference
in Brisbane in October 2012, attended by Geoff Marsh and Kate
Chauncy, upon whose recommendation last week’s programme was
designed and secured for WWS.]
He was invited to speak in support of the work which is an
ongoing focus with our consultant Frank Crawford – our
development of an action plan to support school-generated
strategic themes for whole-school improvement – in this case
directly linked to the first element of our Strategic Theme –
Learning and Teaching: ‘Next practice’: blending classroom
and virtual. [‘Next practice’ is about striving to develop what we are
doing using a research-based approach to continuous evaluation and
development. ‘Blended learning’ is the integration of face-to-face and
online instructional content and methods which acknowledge the skills
required as continuing advances in information and communication
technologies (ICT) change the ways we share, use, develop and
process information.]
Before staff left the campus for the Easter break, notes from
individual evaluation included:
- It was interesting to see the data about the multiple worlds
in which this current generation is growing up.
- Amazing to have Lee here - great presenter of groundbreaking ideas and challenge just when we need it.
- He certainly made me stop to think about how I present art
history and criticism tutorials; we always incorporate visual
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and digital information but I had not considered the
speed at which this generation absorbs information.
This fitted very well with our overall professional
learning focus.
I thought the ideas presented were very relevant and
interesting regarding ICT literacy - but wonder if we
are going to implement this as a school in ‘baby steps
over two years’ as Lee suggested?
Lee Crockett is an excellent presenter who possesses
a brilliant mind. He was always engaging, provided
thought-provoking material and led his audience with
great skill and sensitivity.
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Internationally acclaimed presenters like Lee Crockett are
clearly exciting to behold in ‘real time’ (despite boundless
opportunities to read their published works and view them
in action on YouTube) and there was strong appreciation
expressed by staff for the opportunity for all to be present
for Lee Crockett’s keynote addresses and workshop. We
now look forward to considering the myriad challenges
offered as we continue our work with consultant Frank
Crawford, whose guidance underpins the development of
Strategic Themes and Actions in planning for the future.
[The WWS Strategic Learning Team driving the
professional learning programme comprises: Ms Sally
Robson, Mrs Kate Chauncy, Ms Julie Gillick, Mr Geoff
Marsh and Ms Janene van Gogh].
Staffing Update:
 Last week we welcomed Mr Trevor Newton as the new
Laboratory Assistant at Frensham. A highly
experienced Science teacher, who has specialised in
the teaching of Chemistry and Physics, Mr Newton
brings broad skills and experience to provide strong
support to the Science Faculty.
 At the end of term we will farewell Mrs Sara Farmer,
teacher of Visual Arts, who has completed more than
three terms with us, replacing Mrs Alice Planting, who
returns in Term 2 from Maternity Leave to teach Visual
Arts and Technology across Years 3 to 7.
 We will also thank at the end of term Mrs Jenny Pinczi,
teacher of PDHPE who was replacing Mrs Jane
Crellen, who returns to her fulltime role, from Term 2.
We thank Mrs Farmer and Mrs Pinczi for their highly
professional contribution to all areas of their work.
Acknowledgement to:
 Girdle recipient (Service to the School) Lauren Zawal
Year 12;
 The U12 Gib Gate Cricket team on winning their final;
 Ms Leonie Harris and all students who participated in
Frensham’s Sydney Royal Easter Show Team – in a
broad range of agricultural categories (See full results
in a special report in this Newsletter). We are greatly
appreciative of the parent and community support, on
which the team’s efforts rely, in such large part.
 Lucinda Chambers, Elspeth Robertson, Dominique
Romijn and Paige Wilson, who have been accepted
for the Year 8 Forensic Science Camp to be held at The
Armidale School (TAS) from 16-20 April;
Clementine Tregoning, for being awarded 2nd place in NSW
for the Simpson Prize Competition;
Frensham’s five Softball and five Tennis teams playing in
IGSSA Finals this weekend – a excellent ending to a strong
season with participation in team sport at over 90% of the
entire School;
Georgina Whatmore, Year 12, for the selection of her
creative design concept for the Centenary Badge –
presented this week to all students and staff of Gib Gate,
Frensham and Sturt;
Staff in support of WWS Foundation and Frensham
Fellowship, for their inspirational efforts to manage the
detailed planning for our Back To Frensham Weekend –
and to the Executive and the Music Staff particularly, for
their tireless efforts to assist with the preparations.
Ahead:
Gib Gate:
 Friday 5 April Grandparents’ Day (Transition Preschool –
Year 2) 9.30am
Frensham:
 Saturday 6 April Fellowship AGM and Cocktail Party
(By invitation)
 Saturday 6-Sunday 7 April
Centenary Back to Frensham Weekend for Old Girls of
Frensham, including Reunions for School leavers of 1953,
1983, 1993 and 2008 (the 5, 20, 30 and 60 Years On groups)
(By invitation)
Please contact Ms Michele Scamps for further details about
the year’s events and the timing of invitations to follow.
Sturt Gallery:
 Sunday 7 April – Sturt Exhibition Opening: 11.00am
Misanthropology - The World Art of Adam Rish
Thursday 25 April - ANZAC Day March and Service
 Meet at 10.00am at the Mittagong Information Centre for
ANZAC Day March, (Gib Gate and Frensham)
We realise that the timing of ANZAC Day in relation to the start
of Term 2 may make attendance more difficult to achieve but
strongly request parent support of student participation. We
work closely with the RSL Mittagong Sub-Branch in support of
Mittagong’s Service for the local community.
Julie A Gillick
Head of Frensham
Head of Winifred West Schools
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The Winifred West Schools Newsletter on the Website
The fortnightly WWS Newsletter is located at:
http://www.frensham.nsw.edu.au/ch-wws-newsletter
and is published on that site and mailed on Wednesday.
Week 1
M 29
Week A
Term 2 Classes commence Gib Gate and Frensham
AHEAD ~ Term 1
Th 4
F: 8.45am-3.35pm Jewish Museum excursion, Year 10
Jamieson Programme & Elective History
F: 1.45-3.35pm English Faculty incursion visiting author
J C Burke
F: 6.45-8.30pm Pen & Ink, visiting author J C Burke
F5
GG: 7.00am-5.30pm Excursion to Canberra (Year 6)
GG: 9.30am Year 2 Grandparents’ Day, Transition,
Preschool – Year 2
S6
CENTENARY BACK TO FRENSHAM WEEKEND
For Old Girls (by invitation)
Closed Weekend
GG: IPSHA Cross Country event, The King’s School
F: IGSSA Finals, Sydney
F: Reunions: 5 Years On (2008), 20 Years On (1993),
30 Years On (1983), 60 Years On (1953)
F: Fellowship AGM and Cocktail Party
Centenary Display – WWS Archives
S7
CENTENARY BACK TO FRENSHAM WEEKEND
For Old Girls (by invitation)
Closed Weekend
F: Reunions: 5 Years On (2008), 20 Years On (1993),
30 Years On (1983), 60 Years On (1953)
F: Duke of Edinburgh Silver Expedition departs
S: 11am Sturt Opening – Misanthropology - The World
of Adam Rish
Centenary Display – WWS Archives
Wk 11
M8
T9
Advisory Committees
2013 Frensham Advisory Committee Contacts
Mrs Georgy Alker
Mrs Frances Conomos
Mr Ben Cruikshank (Chair)
Mr Robert Dulhunty
Mrs Katrina Graves
Mrs Lisa McCrabb
Mrs Meredith Munro
Mrs Judy Newton
Mrs Elizabeth Phillips (Sec)
Mr Jonathan Purvis
Mrs Melody Talbot
Mrs Jane Woods
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
2013 Gib Gate Advisory Committee Contacts
Mrs Rachel Arnott
[email protected]
Mrs Christine Chambers (Sec) [email protected]
Mr Stephen Grant
[email protected]
Ms Nyema Hermiston
[email protected]
Mrs Alison Lalak (Chair)
[email protected]
Mrs Elizabeth Mackie
[email protected]
Mrs Lyndall McGrath
[email protected]
(Chair of FOGG)
Mrs Helen Pernice
[email protected]
Mrs Zoe Suttie
[email protected]
Week A
F: Duke of Edinburgh Silver Expedition
F: 4.00-10.30pm Meet the Music @ 7 Concert, Year 9,
selected Music students, Sydney Opera House
GG: Charity Dress-up Day
F: Duke of Edinburgh Silver Expedition returns
F: Term 1 Sports Dinner
W 10
F: 11.00am Influenza Immunisation Clinic
Th 11
F: Bicentennial Park excursion, Year 11 Biology
F 12
3.00pm Term 1 ends for Gib Gate and Frensham
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Ranier Uniform Shop
Term 1 2013
WINTER UNIFORM
Please contact the Uniform Shop for an appointment to
collect your winter uniform.
Mondays: 8.00am-1.00pm
Thursdays: 12noon-5.00pm
DURING SCHOOL TERM
GIB GATE AND FRENSHAM VACATION
Th 18
F: CENTENARY COCKTAIL PARTY, London, UK
M 22
S: Term 2 classes commence Sturt
Th 25
ANZAC Day – Local Community Service
10am ANZAC March at Mittagong, Gib Gate & Frensham
S 27
Sturt Short Courses
S 28
Sturt Short Courses
Boarders Return by 6.30pm
Final trading day for Term 1 - Thursday 11 April
Extra trading day - Friday 26 April 9.00am-1.00pm
(by appointment only)
Shop Manager Mrs Cherie Heard
To order goods, please call the Shop:
(02) 4860 2136 [BH] [email protected]
(or leave a message and your call will be returned on the
next trading day)
TERM 2 COMMENCEMENT
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2013 Term Dates Gib Gate and Frensham
Term 1
Gib Gate & Frensham:
End of Term: Friday 12 April, 3pm
Term 2
Gib Gate & Frensham:
Monday 29 April-Friday 21 June, 3pm
(Boarders return on the evening of Sunday 28 April)
Term 3
Gib Gate & Frensham:
Tuesday 16 July-Thursday 19 September 3pm
(Boarders return on the evening of Monday 15 July)
The Centenary Appeal
In response to The Centenary Appeal, 66 individual
Frensham Old Girls and a major Foundation have donated
to the Appeal. We will be welcoming many of these
generous donors to the Back to Frensham Weekend, as
they join with over 500 Old Girls and their families at the first
of the Centenary celebrations.
Term 4
Gib Gate: Tuesday 8 October-Friday 6 December 3pm
Frensham: Tuesday 8 October-Sunday 8 December
Cattle Herd to support Foundation
The proposed Cattle Herd project will be asking city and
country parents to join together to establish a herd of cattle
in support of the WWS Foundation. Mr Rob Dulhunty has
agreed to Chair a Steering Committee that will be working
towards launching this project later in 2013.
Portrait of (Old Girl) Dr Catherine Hamlin AC by Sydney
artist Sally Ryan - a finalist in the Archibald Prize.
(See Community Service report for further details).
The School acknowledges this week:
Parents Mr Dom Osborne (planting of the trees) and
Mr Ed O’Neil (provision and laying of the road base) for
their huge support of the Centenary Trail Project, which
now highlights a section of Frensham’s Cross Country
track, near the new tennis/basketball/netball courts and
the turf hockey field and the 80 members of the School
community who donated one of the Acer Freemanii
(Autumn Blaze) Maple trees.
Gib Gate Walkathon
Gib Gate students will participate in a walkathon after the
WWS Birthday Service on Friday 31 May, in support of The
Centenary Pool Appeal. Gib Gate will be raising money for
the equipment needed in the Learn to Swim Pool.
For information about Foundation, please contact Michele
Scamps on 4860 2000 or [email protected]
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teachers about each student’s individual performance and
achievement.
Gib Gate students in Years 4, 5 and 6 who hosted the
Transition Tour of Gib Gate on Thursday 21 March
performed a wonderful role in making sure Transition
students felt welcome and reassured about starting ‘big
school’ in 2014. As part of the Transition to School
programme at Gib Gate, the tour allowed Gib Gate
Preschool students and their parents to have a ‘mini primary
school’ experience through participating in a variety of
activities in different classrooms around the School.
Transition parents commented how well the older Gib Gate
students interacted with the Preschool children and how
much they enjoyed the opportunity to be part of first stage in
of the Transition to School programme with their child.
After such a successful, productive Term 1, it is exciting to
look forward to events planned for Term 2, 2013. During
Term 2 there will be many opportunities for parents to
support their children and the School through attending
school events. One event that takes place before Term 2
commences is of particular importance, as we value the
opportunity to commemorate formally the significant role
played in Australian history by Australian and New Zealand
service men and women. All Gib Gate and Frensham
students are welcome to take part in the official ANZAC Day
March on Thursday 25 April and should plan to meet in the
Mittagong Tourist Information car park at 10:00am.
Please mark the following dates in your diaries and I look
forward to seeing many of you in Term 2: Thursday 25 April,
ANZAC Day Parade; Friday 10 May, Mother’s Day
Breakfast; Wednesday 29 May, Gib Gate Parent Information
Morning - Mathematics Workshop for Parents; Friday 31
May, Winifred West Schools Birthday Service and Gib Gate
Walkathon (news to follow); Wednesday 12 June, Gib Gate
Coffee Morning; and Tuesday 18 June, Preschool
Reception Grandparents’ Day.
Ms Sally Robson, Head of Gib Gate
NAPLAN 2013
The National Assessment Programme – Literacy and
Numeracy (NAPLAN) is an annual national assessment for
students in Years 3, 5, 7, and 9. All students in these year
levels are expected to participate in tests in Reading,
Writing, Language Conventions (spelling, grammar and
punctuation) and Numeracy. The tests provide Gib Gate
parents and teachers with an understanding of how
individual students are performing at the time of the tests.
They also provide schools, states and territories with
information about how education programmes are working
and which areas need to be prioritised for improvement.
NAPLAN tests are only one aspect of the School’s
assessment and reporting process and do not replace the
extensive, ongoing formative assessments made by our
NAPLAN tests the sorts of skills that are essential for every
child to progress through school and life, such as reading,
writing, spelling, grammar and numeracy. The content of
each test is informed by the National Statements of
Learning for English and Mathematics which underpin state
and territory learning frameworks. Questions are multiplechoice or require a short written response. The Writing task
requires students to write a persuasive text.
NAPLAN tests will be conducted at Gib Gate in Week 3,
Term 2: Tuesday 14 May - Language Conventions and
Persuasive Writing; Wednesday 15 May – Reading; and
Thursday 16 May - Numeracy. A catch-up day is scheduled
for Friday 17 May for students who may have been unable
to sit for any of the previous papers. The tests will be
administered by classroom teachers.
NAPLAN assessments are undertaken by students as a
normal part of their education programme and will not cause
them any undue stress or anxiety, as class teachers will
ensure students are well prepared for the tests and will
provide appropriate support and guidance.
For more information about NAPLAN 2013, parents are
invited to speak with Ms Sally Robson, Mrs Kate Chauncy,
Mrs Lynn Venish or Mr Greg Hannah and can visit the
NAPLAN website:
http://www.nap.edu.au/naplan/parent-carer-support.html
Professional Learning
Please see Professional Learning Update in the Frensham
Section of this Newsletter for information about the
Professional Learning Day held on Thursday 28 March.
Mrs Kate Chauncy, Director of Teaching & Learning K-12
and Coordinator of Gifted and Talented Programmes
Preschool Reception
Last week Reception children ventured out of the Preschool
to visit the Old Oak tree in the Gib Gate School playground
to gather acorns and pine cones. When they returned to
Preschool, they closely observed the acorns and noted the
differences and similarities between seeds; some were
cracked and beginning to sprout, while others were brown
and old. The children planted some of the acorns and are
looking forward to watching their progress.
Preschool Transition
It was interesting to watch the sense of wonder on the
children’s faces recently as they discovered a large birdhouse in the Preschool garden that had been hidden by the
branches of a tree. Once the branches had been pruned,
the children decided to place some bread around the birdhouse to encourage various birds to visit. Using natural
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materials such as twigs, grasses and bark, the children then
designed and created their own bird-houses.
Gib Gate Madrigals: The Madrigals is a selective vocal
group open to students from Years 5 and 6, with auditions
held at the start of each year. The Madrigals group
showcases part singing and provides the opportunity for
musical extension to those demonstrating vocal ability. The
group had its first performance at Assembly recently.
Mrs Anne Graham, Gib Gate Coordinator (Administration)
Sport
Gib Gate Cricket: After coming very close to winning in 2012,
the Gib Gate Under 12 team won the Highland District
Cricket Association (HDCA) Cricket Championship on
Saturday 23 March, defeating a very talented Robertson
side. Key to their success was the team effort on the day,
with every Gib Gate player contributing.
Throughout the season there have been impressive
performances from Gib Gate Captain, Ravi Wikramanayake
(Year 6) and Vice Captain, Dominic O’Shannessy (Year
5). Ravi and Dominic began playing cricket in Year 2 at Gib
Gate as part of the Under 10 school team. Their dedication
to training and passion for the game have resulted in both
boys’ achieving remarkable success over the past two years.
Ellie Nona (Transition) creating a bird house
Preschool Staff Term 2: Mrs Annabel Lomax will be taking
leave in Term 2 and Ms Jane Kearins will be part of the
teaching staff on Thursday and Fridays.
Mrs Belinda Gould, Preschool Teacher
Dancing: Over recent weeks, students have been enjoying
dancing workshops with Mrs Annabel Lomax, who has
noted that their skills have really developed. Students in the
after-school dance class will present their dances at 2.15pm
on Friday 12 April in the Hall, followed by the whole school
sharing some dances on which they have been working.
Parents are welcome to attend.
Extra-curricular Activities: Term 2 enrolment forms offer a
large range of activities for next term. Parents are asked to
return enrolment forms promptly to avoid disappointment, as
many activities have a size limit.
Gib Gate Orchestra: The Orchestra is performing at the start
of Performance Assembly on Friday 12 April. Students in
the Gib Gate Orchestra are instrumentalists, usually from
Year 3, who are invited to join this group after advice from
music tutors.
In 2011 both were members of the HDCA Under 12
Representative team. In 2012, they were part of the same
representative team which took out the Southern Zone
Championships.
Ravi has been the leading run scorer for the HDCA Under
12 competition this season, with an average of 302 leading
into the final last weekend. He is also one of the top ten
wicket-takers.
Dominic’s performances have been equally impressive. One
of the leading wicket-takers and run-scorers for his
representative side, he also has an impressive batting (70)
and bowling average (19 wickets at 3.65) within the HDCA
competition.
In 2012, Ravi and Dominic both trialled for selection in the
NSW CIS Cricket team. This year, both boys made it
through to the 28-boy squad, with Dominic ultimately being
selected for the final 12 to play in the NSW Primary Schools
Sports Association (PSSA) Championships in Bathurst in
November.
Mr Michael Standen, Coordinator of PDHPE and Sport
Choir: All Gib Gate students participate in a Choir. Students
in Kindergarten–Year 2 enjoy singing twice a week as a
group and Years 3-6 once each week.
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missed by an extensive family of Australian potters and craft
professionals.
FRIENDS OF STURT
Joan Dinning (President), Robin Golledge (Secretary), Anna
Saminski (Roster Secretary), Bill Dinning, Alan Matthews,
Julie Musgrave, Delma Rosemond, Chris Topp, Ruth Wright
Special News
Fuping fever coming to Mittagong: In one of the most
exciting projects this year, an impressive group of renowned
ceramic artists from Australia and New Zealand will be
coming to Sturt for a mass residency and wood firing from
8-28 July, followed by an exhibition of their work in Sturt
Gallery from 28 July to 22 September. The artists, including
Fiona Fell, Grant Hodges, Cheryl Lucas, Isaac Patmore,
John Parker, Richard Parker, Owen Rye, Toni Warburton,
Chris Weaver, Steve Williams, Janet de Boos, Michael
Keighery, Susie McMeekin, Chester Nealie and Rowley
Drysdale, travelled to China in 2006 to make work for the
Australasian Museum: part of an ambitious project of
international museums, study and accommodation
complexes. Strong bonds were formed between these
artists who have come to be known as ‘The Fuping Group’
and they have come together since to exhibit in Melbourne
in 2009 at the Skepsi Gallery and in Auckland in 2010 at the
Masterworks Gallery. To help with their accommodation
during the residency period, Sturt would like to hear from
any Friend of Sturt who is willing to provide suitable
accommodation so that this important project can go ahead.
This is a great opportunity to get to know one of these
superb potters.
Recent events: A large crowd attended the 10 February
opening of Elements, the exhibition by members of the
Southern Highlands Printmakers. Akky van Ogtrop gave an
interesting speech and the exhibition has been very well
received, with a number of sales of work. The annual Tools
& Techniques event in the Wood School on 16-17 February
was attended by well-over 1,000 visitors over the weekend.
With high quality tool and equipment sales, local
woodworking groups and timber suppliers, and
demonstrations by some well-known woodworkers, this
event has become very popular with woodwork enthusiasts,
both local and from further afield. All proceeds from the
sausage sizzle went to this year’s students to help with the
costs of their end-of -year exhibition and, thanks to the high
level of sales, they are well on their way to raising the funds
required.
Janet Mansfield OAM: Sturt would like to acknowledge the
recent death of Janet Mansfield, well-known Australian
ceramic artist, writer and publisher. Janet was a towering
figure within the Australian crafts movement and will be
New Arrivals: Classes for Term 2 in the Weaving Studio will
be led by Kate Holmes from South Australia, who has over
35 years’ weaving experience and has exhibited widely
throughout Australia. Kate also ran her own textile design
and manufacturing business for many years. In a special
dual woodworking/marquetry residency, Sturt will welcome
Katalin Sallai, who is well known to Sturt, and John Shaw
from the Centre for Fine Woodworking in New Zealand.
Katalin and John will be at Sturt from 20 May to 14 June.
Sturt welcomes Education Officer, Tracey Mitchell, a new
member of the permanent staff. Tracey has worked at TAFE
in Moss Vale for the past six years in various capacities
within the Art and Design Department. She has also run her
own business and is a ceramic artist. With only a few
months to go before Winter School, Tracey will be a
welcome addition to Sturt’s team. Dale Dryen will be back
in a few weeks’ time to work in the Wood School.
Important courses coming up this year: For the full list of
short courses for 2013 please go to the website. Below are
two important opportunities for serious woodworkers:
An introduction to fine woodwork with Roy Schack:
2-27 September
This beginners’ level course costs $2,750, plus the cost of
materials. The course provides an introduction to the
workshop, machinery use and hand-tool maintenance,
marking out work, fundamentals of wood technology and
finishing. Participants will complete a mallet and a hall table
and, if time permits, a simple mitre structure: small box,
mirror frame or similar. Participants are asked to bring their
own tool kit.
Design and make a chair with David Upfill-Brown:
30 September -1 November
This intermediate/advanced level course costs $3,000, plus
the cost of materials. It will cover design and prototyping,
structural concerns, ergonomics, relevant materials and
processes, production and basic upholstery. Participants
are asked to bring their own tool kit.
Winter School: 1-5 July 2013
The brochure is available and bookings are being received,
so book early to secure your place.
Sturt School for Wood
Enrolments are now open for the one-year course in finefurniture design and technology for 2014. On offer are
unrivalled teaching, bench time and workshop access, and
a unique practical and creative experience. Applicants may
choose to enrol for the full year or enrol term by term.
Scholarships are available for 2014: the Bowral and District
Branch of the Australian Decorative and Fine Arts Society
(ADFAS) will offer a $3,000 scholarship for an enrolled
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student of their choice in 2014, while the Foundation of
Winifred West Schools Ltd will offer a $3,000 scholarship to
an enrolling former pupil of Frensham or Gib Gate. For more
information please call 02 4860 2080.
Sturt Gallery
Misanthropology – The World Art of Adam Rish
Ends 19 May
As noted in previous Newsletters, this exhibition tells the
story of four decades of cross-cultural collaboration by one
of Australia’s best-known artists, featuring ceramics,
paintings, prints, sculpture and textiles. This touring
exhibition will also visit Orange, Moree Plains, Cessnock,
Manning and the Gold Coast.
Parallels – Contemporary textiles by Barbara Rogers
26 May to 21 July
Parallels will be an installation of contemporary textiles that
explores the diversity and language of the stripe, the
simplest of all patterns, yet a highly versatile tool for
communication. Barbara Rogers uses her accumulated
knowledge of numerous shibori techniques, together with
experimental freedom, to push the possibilities towards its
creative limits. She urges the viewer to see, through cloth,
with new eyes, building layers of colour and emphasising
the strength behind the apparent fragility of a sheer silk.
The exhibition will be opened on Sunday 26 May, at
11.00am, by textile artist and designer Julie Ryder.
Events
Slide Night at Sturt: The next Slide Night will be held on
Tuesday 23 April at 5.30pm for a 6.00pm start in Sturt
Cottage and will include presentations by two of Sturt’s
visiting artists for 2013.
Rachel Wood is a freelance professional ceramicist and
community artist from Nottinghamshire in England. Rachel
graduated from Loughborough University with a BA Hons in
3D Design (Ceramics) in 1999 and, since that time, has
exhibited her work throughout the UK and Europe. Rachel
travelled to Australia in 2000 and 2006 and has worked with,
and was greatly influenced by, the potter Robin Welch.
Adam Rish is the subject of the current exhibition in Sturt
Gallery and has exhibited around Australia since 1975, with
37 solo exhibitions. He has won many awards, including
Visual Arts Board Studio residencies in France and Italy in
1981 and 1984 respectively, a VAB Travel Grant in 1992
and an Asialink Residency in Indonesia in 1997. He won the
City of Hobart Art Prize in 1998. Adam’s work is represented
in public collections such as the Australian National Gallery,
Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery, the Art Gallery of NSW
and the Queensland Art Gallery. Adam will conduct a short
tour of his exhibition at the end of the evening.
Drinks will be served and the cost will be $5 for Friends of
Sturt and $10 for non-members. Slide Nights are supported
by Friends of Sturt and all funds raised go to support the
Sturt Artist-in-Residence programme. For bookings call 02
4860 2083 or email [email protected]
Wood talk with Brian Reid: Wednesday 15 May at 5.30pm
In an opportunity not to be missed, internationally renowned
American furniture designer/maker and teacher, Brian Reid,
will give a presentation in the Wood School. Much of Brian’s
work stands alone in the world of decorative marquetry and
is identified by its unique blend of colourful patterns and
pierced fretwork. Admission is free but please advise your
attendance on 48602080 or email [email protected]
FOS Cultural Coach Excursion, Canberra: Thursday 2 May
Leaving from Sturt at 8.30am (Range Road parking area),
this excursion will visit Beaver Gallery in Deakin, the
Canberra Glassworks in Kingston and Bungendore
Woodworks Gallery. The return journey begins at 4.00pm,
taking the road through Tarago to Goulburn and on to
Mittagong by 5.30–6.00pm. Tickets cost $30 for members;
the cost for non-members is $55, which includes one year’s
membership.
Full details of all Sturt courses, exhibitions, residency
programmes and events can be found on the website
www.sturt.nsw.edu.au or to make a booking or enrolment
call 02 4860 2083 or email [email protected]
Mr Mark Viner, Head of Sturt
Deputy Head
ARRANGEMENTS FOR ANZAC DAY
Thursday 25 April 2013
Students living locally are encouraged to support
Frensham’s and Gib Gate’s involvement in Mittagong on
ANZAC Day. Those attending the Anzac Day Ceremony in
Mittagong are asked to meet at the Information Centre for
marshalling just after 10.00am in full school uniform,
including hats. Sprigs of rosemary will be provided.
Over a number of years WWS has supported Mittagong
RSL Sub Branch in their presentation of the Service,
particularly through provision of sound equipment, Service
Sheets and parental assistance with the collection for
Legacy and the distribution of Service Sheets on the day.
All available assistance will be greatly appreciated.
Extra-curricular forms for Term 2 have been emailed to
parents. Please note that it is assumed that students will
continue with their Term 1 Music lessons unless the School
is notified of any changes. All other extra-curricular activities
require a new form to be filled out. If parents wish to enrol
their daughters in a new activity in Term 2, they must
complete an enrolment form. Any changes to extracurricular involvement need to be made in writing.
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The extension of the Bring-Your-Own-device Programme
(BYOD) is now at the stage where girls in Year 9 will be
invited to bring their own mobile device to start Term 2.
Lockable mobile device trolleys will be installed in both
Hartfield and Kennedy Houses over the holiday period. The
girls will have access to the devices at set times throughout
the normal school day and the devices will be locked away
and charged in the evening after Prep. The usage and
management of the devices will be closely monitored during
Term 2, helping to formulate operational procedures for all
students for the future.
Mr Geoff Marsh, Deputy Head
Boarding News
Over the weekend before Easter in the Houses, girls were
occupied with Easter crafts and preparing for the long
weekend. An important trip to the shops enabled girls to
choose small gifts for their secret ‘Bunny’. These were given
on Monday and Tuesday and there was great excitement as
they all endeavoured to keep the gifts anonymous.
The Palm Sunday service, conducted by Year 12 girls
Emma McCrabb, Emma Murphy, Grace Ives, Sophie
Brosnan, Caitlin Devereux, Hannah Black, Hannah Hall,
Bianca Tini Brunozzi and Georgina Whatmore, gave girls an
opportunity to reflect on how the stories of Easter resonate
in our lives today.
Travel arrangements for the end of Term 1 and the
beginning of Term 2 are now complete and girls will shortly
be notified of departure and arrival times of buses and trains.
Parents are advised that Houses will be open from 3.00pm,
when girls return on Sunday 28 April.
Mrs Jayme Rafferty, Head of Boarding
Mrs Trish Symons, Director of Language Arts and
Senior in Boarding
Director of Teaching and Learning
Winifred West Schools Professional Learning Day
Thursday 28 March
All Teaching, House and Health Centre staff came together
last Thursday, as educators of young people, to be
challenged in the way we think so that we in turn can
challenge the way students from Preschool to Year 12 think
and learn. Today’s world is not the world in which most
teachers and all parents grew up, and today’s world is not
the world in which our children will work. We were inspired
to consider a premise that we must teach our children for
their future and not for our past.
The keynote presenter for the day, Lee Crockett, facilitated
our learning journey in three sessions. Session 1, entitled
Understanding the Digital Generation: The New
Connections, examined the effects that digital bombardment
from constant exposure to electronic media has on children
in the new digital landscape and considered the profound
implications this holds for the future of education.
What does the latest neuro-scientific and psychological
research tell us about the role of intense and frequent
experiences on the brain, particularly the young and
impressionable brain? Based on global research, inferences
can be made about children’s digital experiences and how
these experiences are re-wiring and re-shaping their
cognitive processes. They are what Don Tapscott calls
‘screenagers’: the first generation to grow up with a
computer mouse and the assumption that images on a
screen involve interaction.
These technologies are their new learning tools. Author
Marc Prensky calls them digital natives. He calculates that
by age 21, this digital generation will have played more than
10,000 hours of video games, sent and received 250,000
emails and texts, spent 10,000 hours on smartphones,
watched more than 20,000 hours of TV and seen more than
500,000 commercials.
Digital learners think and process information differently
from us, and use different parts of the brain. As a result,
they have different preferences for learning and are actually
neurologically wired differently from us. Most importantly,
we considered the implications for teaching, learning, and
assessment in the new digital landscape.
Session 2 - Literacy is Not Enough: 21st Century Fluencies
for the Digital Age examined new ideas about ‘What
Students Need and Want’. Firstly, students need the ability
to solve complex problems in real-time. Secondly, students
need to be able to think divergently and creatively in both
digital and non-digital environments to create novel and
useful solutions. Thirdly, they need the ability to think
analytically by comparing, contrasting, evaluating,
synthesising and applying, without instruction or supervision.
Fourthly, they must have the ability to collaborate
seamlessly in both physical and virtual spaces, and with
both real and virtual partners. Finally, they must be able to
communicate not just with text or speech, but in multiple
multimedia formats. We have to present relevant real-world
problems and have students develop real-world solutions. In
short, we need to stop talking and start doing!
In Session 3, House, Health Centre and Preschool staff
worked collaboratively in their specialised areas, and
teachers from Years K-12 worked in their Teacher Learning
Community groups to focus specifically, with Lee Crockett
as our guide, on Information Fluency. In this practical
session teachers worked towards designing ‘Essential
Questions’ that make learning relevant to the learner. In
each scenario presented we considered: Is there a problem
or a challenge? Is this relevant to the learner? Does it
require high-level thinking? Does it address multiple
curricular objectives? Are there things that need to be
discovered?
This session closed at 3.30pm when Lee once more
challenged us, made us think and made us laugh with his
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oral delivery of Dr Seuss’s famous text Hooray for
Diffendoofer Day! — a story about creative teaching and
thinking that celebrates originality, difference and
uniqueness, in the same way as we do at Winifred West
Schools in the 21st century.
Mrs Kate Chauncy, Director of Teaching & Learning K-12
and Coordinator of Gifted and Talented Programmes
Director of Studies
Heads of Faculty have recently been involved in HSC 2012
analysis of data. This has been facilitated by material from
the Board of Studies that allows close examination of both
course and individual results. The advantages of this
process are the professional conversations that inform
programme adjustments, the confirmation of practices and
processes leading to student success and the identification
of areas where further improvement can be made. This
activity is in line with the WWS Strategic Themes (People) –
commitment to foster and focus on continual improvement
and the belief and practices that support all members to
achieve success as enthusiastic, hardworking and
persistent learners.
Year 12 students are reaching the halfway point in their
HSC studies, having completed two terms’ work and part of
their formal assessment programme. The school-based
assessment tasks in each course, when completed, will
contribute 50% towards their final HSC course marks, with
the HSC examinations contributing the other 50%.
Semester 1 reports for Year 12 have recently been
completed and will be mailed home by the end of this
week. While the coming vacation period is an important time
for Year 12 students to relax and refresh, it is also expected
that at least 30 hours be allocated to completing Prep set by
their teachers, to help consolidate previous studies, develop
major works and projects and prepare for the term ahead. Year 11 students have almost completed the first of three
terms of their Preliminary HSC courses and have adapted
well to the demands of senior studies. During the coming
vacation, they are also required to complete approximately
20-24 hours of Prep as directed by their teachers.
Ms Janene van Gogh, Director of Studies - in Residence
English and Drama
Honour their process.
Focus on the possibilities.
Honour and respect their world in the way we expect them
to honour and respect ours.
Lee Crockett
These words are at the heart of how the English
Department at Frensham will implement the new K-10
syllabus for Years 7 and 9 in 2014. At the centre of all
programming and assessment, the notion of putting the
learners’ needs first is tantamount to creating a meaningful
learning experience. While change offers challenges and
can be a confronting ‘adventure’, it is important for the
teacher to model the creativity, thinking, excellence and
resilience expected of students.
As we embark on a new curriculum, it is perhaps important
to reflect on what is our purpose as educators? Essentially,
we want students to love learning and become effective
learners so they are open to endless possibilities in their
future.
Why do we specifically need English? When we look at the
new rationale, it clearly articulates the important role English
has in creating 21st century learners:
Developing proficiency in English enables students to take
their place as confident communicators, critical and
imaginative thinkers, lifelong learners and informed, active
participants in Australian society… It supports the
development and expression of a system of personal values,
based on students' understanding of moral and ethical
matters, and gives expression to their hopes and ideals...
By composing and responding with imagination, feeling,
logic and conviction, students develop understanding of
themselves and of human experience and culture… As
students' command of English grows, they become
imaginative and confident users of a range of electronic and
digital technologies and understand and reflect on the
ongoing impact of these technologies on society. These
skills… will help them in lifelong learning, in their careers
and in life.
Ms Lee McGuinness, Head of English/Drama
French
The approach of the end of the Term 1 provides a good
opportunity to take stock of progress across every year
group in French and the outlook is most encouraging.
Year 7 students have made significant progress, having
already mastered a range of greetings and the French
alphabet, asking and responding to questions about
themselves, other people and a variety of personal items.
The students all performed commendably in their first
Listening assessment.
In Year 8, the focus has been on describing people’s
appearance, clothing and personalities, partly through word
games such as Alibi and Celebrity Heads, to consolidate
students’ learning and make it more enjoyable.
The focus in Year 9 continues to be on the weather, with the
girls this week presenting a ‘television broadcast’ of the
weather in France.
The Year 10 class has rapidly surmounted many of the
idiosyncrasies of the Perfect Tense, enabling girls to work
across the span from past to future and opening up a broad
range of realistic conversational exchanges.
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Similarly, Year 11 students are consolidating their
knowledge of tenses and currently applying them to
reminiscences via readings, writing tasks and conversations
about their childhood and their earliest memories.
Year 12 students are working towards putting the entire
picture together in readiness for their Trial and HSC
examinations.
Mme Heininger and Mme Kidner, Teachers of French
Japanese
Students in Years 8-10 Japanese have been completing
assessment tasks over the last two weeks. Language
students are assessed in four areas: Listening, Reading,
Speaking and Writing. This term students’ Listening and
Reading skills were assessed and next term students will
focus on Writing and Speaking skills.
Students in Year 11 are preparing for an upcoming
Speaking assessment task. This term, students have been
completing a unit of work about their personal world. For the
assessment task that forms part of this unit, students are
required to prepare a speech about their family, hobbies,
interests and school life and present it to the class. They
then participate in a 10-minute conversation about their
personal world with their teacher.
The Japanese assistant teachers work closely with girls in
each year group to develop their confidence in Japanese
conversation.
Ms Stephanie French, Teacher of Japanese
Latin
As the end of term approaches, Years 9, 10 and 11 Latin
students are preparing for their term assessments. Years 9
and 10 are concentrating on the grammar and vocabulary
they have learnt this term, while students in Year 11 are
having their first assessment on a Latin text: a selection of
poems by the poet Catullus, a radical young poet who broke
away from the traditional genre of epic and history to write
love poems to his girlfriend. His poems are widely studied at
schools and universities and they continue to influence
poetry and other forms of art.
The Words of the Day which have been most popular with
students this fortnight are ‘factotum’ and ‘polyonymous’. A
‘factotum’ is a person having diverse activities and
responsibilities and comes from the Latin, ‘facio’ - to do, and
‘totum’ - all or everything. Several centuries ago, it was a
synonym of ‘meddler’ or ‘busybody’ but is more often used
now for a handy, versatile individual responsible for many
different tasks. Perhaps some readers can identify with this?
The other word, ‘polyonymous’, means ‘having many
names’. Year 10 girls were particularly pleased with
themselves when they quickly worked this out. The prefix
‘poly’ means ‘many’ and ‘onymous’ derives from the Greek
word ‘onyma’ meaning ‘name’. There are over 90 words
containing ‘onym’, among them ‘pseudonym’ – a false
name; ‘eponym’ – someone who lends their name to
something, or a word that comes from someone’s name;
‘synonym’ – a word having the same meaning as another
word; ‘antonym’ – a word meaning the opposite of another
and a very popular one today, ‘acronym’ – a pronounceable
name made up of a series of initial letters of parts of words
(‘acro’ coming from the Greek meaning ‘height’ or ‘tip end’).
Ms Liz Stephenson, Senior Teacher in Latin
Community Service
During the week, the Autumn 2013 Newsletter from Hamlin
Fistula Ethiopia arrived, bringing news that a portrait of (Old
Girl) Dr Catherine Hamlin AC by Sydney artist Sally Ryan
had been chosen as a finalist in the Archibald Prize. Sally
Ryan met Dr Hamlin at a fundraising event for the Hamlin
Fistula Ethiopia organisation last year and asked her if she
would sit for a portrait before returning to Ethiopia. The
portrait is painted in a classic realist style and has one of the
many woollen shawls knitted by volunteers for her patients
draped on the arm of the chair.
Frensham has its own student Knitting Group which every
year produces quite a few of these shawls which are sent to
the hospital. They are greatly treasured by the women who
receive them. By popular demand, the organisation now
plans to sell some of the shawls in Australia to convert them
to funds for operation costs at the hospital. It should be
noted that the original fundraising company in Australia,
Hamlin Fistula Australia, no longer represents the hospital,
college or Dr Hamlin.
Ms Liz Stephenson, Community Service Coordinator
Human Society and Its Environment (HSIE)
Students in Year 12 Geography are examining the urban
dynamics which shape the size and structure of large cities,
using Sydney as a case study. They are also working on the
hand-in component of an assessment task, which involves
researching a mega-city of their choice. This research will
follow a similar model to that used in the group case study
of Mexico City. Year 12 Modern History students are
investigating Soviet foreign policy in the period 1917-1941.
The focus is on the conflict between ideology and national
security.
Year 12 Business Studies students are commencing a topic
on Finance and will be using as case studies recently
published financial data from publicly listed companies.
Year 12 Economics students have commenced the third
topic: Economic Issues in the Australian Economy. Areas of
study will include inflation, economic growth, unemployment
and external stability.
Students in the Year 11 Business Studies class are
examining factors which contribute to business decline
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using recent examples such as Darrell Lea and Borders
Bookshops.
Year 10 Geography students have commenced their second
major unit entitled ‘Future Challenges’. In this unit they will
examine Australia’s regional and global links and look at
issues surrounding population growth, human rights and
reconciliation.
Year 8 Geography students are presenting their research on
an NGO of their choice, using ICT such as PowerPoint and
Prezi. Year 7 Geography students have completed an
assessment task on World Heritage sites and are learning
how to construct and interpret climatic graphs.
Approximately 100 students across Years 7-10 are
participating in the Australian Geography Competition
during Weeks 9 and 10. This is a multiple-choice test based
on Australian and Global Geography, using sources such as
topographic maps, satellite images and soil survey results,
requiring skills in interpretation of graphs, tables and
diagrams. It is endorsed by the Royal Geographical Society
of Queensland and the Australian Geography Teachers’
Association.
Clementine Tregoning, Year 10, was awarded 2nd place in
NSW for the Simpson Prize Competition. This is a national
essay competition on a selected History topic open to all
students. The photograph below shows Clementine
receiving her award from Mr Peter Garrett, Federal Minister
for School Education, Early Childhood and Youth.
Year 7: In Frensham Studies, students are using a map
drawn in 1938 by the second Headmistress of Frensham,
Miss Bryant, to determine what physical changes have been
made to the School in the past 75 years.
Year 8: Four groups of Year 8 students have been involved
in the Riding for the Disabled programme so far this term,
with another group participating in Week 10. Students travel
to the Southern Highlands RDA site at Fitzroy Falls and
spend a morning assisting people with a disability to ride
and/or work with horses.
Year 9: Students have been reflecting on their excursion to
the Jewish Museum and the Auburn Gallipoli Mosque, as
well as on their workshop with Dr Bokey. They have also
participated in a fitness session in the Parker Gymnasium.
On Wednesday 20 March Year 9 students attended a
concert hosted by the Chatswood Intensive English Centre.
Frensham students performed two items and formed part of
the audience. A report from a Year 9 student is included
below:
Harmony Day 2013
We arrived at Chatswood High School Intensive English
Centre at 10.30am and were greeted warmly by two senior
students form the school. We were then taken to meet
students from other participating schools.
Year 9 students at Chatswood Intensive English Centre
It was a great experience for us to mix and mingle with the
other students. It was really interesting to find out about
their backgrounds and to learn a few different games such
as another version of paper, scissors, rock that was shown
to us by a Chinese girl.
Clementine Tregoning receiving her Simpson Prize Award from
Minister Peter Garrett
(© Mark Graham, 2013)
Mrs Jacqualine McCarroll, Head of HSIE
Jamieson Programme
‘Exposure to challenges in a secure environment can
awaken in young people a belief in themselves which will
stay with them throughout their lives…’
When the concert began, two seniors introduced each
performance and each school was greeted by loud cheers
from the audience. Students of all ages performed and the
performances varied from singing, dancing or playing an
instrument. One also included a PowerPoint presentation
based on the key elements of Harmony Day. Frensham
Year 9 girls sang ‘Lean on Me’ and the Music class
performed ‘The Cup Song’. Every performance was really
entertaining and it was very interesting to see what each
school produced. Overall, Harmony Day was a great
experience. (Anna Horton, Year 9)
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Year 10: Students in 10ASH have commenced units of work
on Financial Literacy and Religious Education. Students in
10ASGP and 10ASGW will undertake these units in Term 3.
Ten Year 10 students and three Year 9 students are
preparing for a Silver Duke of Edinburgh’s Award expedition
in the Royal National Park, hiking from the Bonnie Vale
camping site at Bundeena to Otford - Sunday 7 April to
Tuesday 9 April.
Mrs Jacqualine McCarroll
Jamieson Programme Coordinator
Mathematics
2013 - International Year of Mathematics of Planet Earth
The breadth of applications of Mathematics through the
centuries has been profound. Whilst not everyone sits down
to solve a differential equation, most people are unaware of
just how much Calculus and other areas of advanced
Mathematics affect their everyday life. For example, Google
uses sophisticated mathematical and sophisticated
algorithms to search for the information you need. Amazon
is increasing its stretch as a retailer by linking its customers'
preferences across a range of different product areas and
presenting tantalising recommendations to its users.
How does Facebook find friends for you? How do you
discover the links you want on Twitter? These are all based
on proprietary algorithms developed by mathematicians and
computer scientists. The effects of their work have altered
the way society works, with a wealth of information at your
fingertips using a smart phone.
The market value of companies such as Google, Amazon,
Facebook and Twitter, all built on intellectual property based
on mathematical algorithms, is nearly half a trillion dollars.
Their algorithms have created value roughly equivalent to
BHP, Rio Tinto and CBA combined.
CSIRO's development of wireless LAN, allowing billions of
devices to connect wirelessly, came from work involving
complex mathematics known as fast Fourier transforms. In
fact our lives have been deeply touched by Calculus. The
algorithms are step-by-step procedures to enable
mathematical formulae to be calculated or logical tasks to
be undertaken.
Calculus is all around us. Weather forecasts are modelled
on Mathematics, allowing meteorologists to predict weather
and weather patterns by linking a series of differential
equations. The inventor of Calculus was none other than Sir
Isaac Newton, whose other discoveries, such as his laws of
motion and gravity, forever changed our understanding of
how the world works.
2013 is the International Year of Mathematics of Planet
Earth — a year to challenge and discuss the sustainability
and promise of Mathematics.
It is better to solve one problem five different ways than to
solve five different problems.
George Pólya
Ms Sue Wymer, Head of Mathematics
Music
Frensham musicians have been preparing for the first of the
centenary celebrations: Back to Frensham Weekend. The
Madrigals have been invited to perform for Old Girls at the
Cocktail Party on Saturday night, when they will sing an
exciting a cappella arrangement of an Aretha Franklin song.
On the morning of Sunday 7 April, Clubbe Hall will be full of
Old Girls ready to sing with the School throughout the
service and celebration to follow. On stage there will be
approximately 130 students: the Senior Choir, the Concert
Band and Kennedy Strings, ready to perform the specially
commissioned anthem Founded on Grace, as well as a
selection of favourite hymns, accompanied by the organ and
full orchestra. With the support of 500 Old Girls, the sound
should be quite thrilling.
For those parents who are in the area on Friday afternoon
and would like to share in this experience, Ms Gillick has
created an open rehearsal for the event beginning at
2.40pm on Friday 5 April, in Clubbe Hall. Parents are very
welcome to attend.
Mr Michael Spencer, Head of Music
Science
As Charles Darwin said: It is not the strongest of the species
that survives, nor the most intelligent. It is the one that is the
most adaptable to change. The Science teachers are
proving their adaptability by beginning the process of writing
new Science programmes to suit the Australian Syllabus.
These new programmes will be introduced in Years 7 and 9
in 2014, followed by Years 8 and 10 in 2015. These
changes offer the opportunity to update teaching and
learning processes to suit the needs of students in this everchanging world, while still retaining the best parts of the
existing programmes.
Year 12 Biology students are studying ‘The Blueprint of Life’
which looks at the structure of DNA, genetics and the
Theory of Evolution. The recent ABC documentary on the
Galapagos Islands, available on iView, has provided a
wonderful resource on how organisms evolve, as well as
giving a better understanding of Darwin’s theory of Natural
Selection.
In Year 11, biologists are studying characteristics of
ecosystems in the lead-up to their excursion to Bicentennial
Park on Thursday 11 April to study the mangrove
ecosystem. They have been practising the skills needed to
measure abiotic factors in ecosystems, as well as studying
the relationships between organisms.
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Year 11 Chemistry students are looking at types of bonding
and how bonding affects properties. The Year 12 chemists
are starting titrations, which is a quantitative chemical
analysis technique used to determine the unknown
concentration of a known chemical.
Year 12 Physics students are investigating the nature of
cathode rays and how this understanding led to the
development of many modern technologies. This in turn
leads to the photoelectric effect and how the
reconceptualisation of electromagnetic radiation by Plank
and Einstein led to quantum physics and our enhanced
understanding of the behaviour of matter, particularly as it
applies to semi-conduction and super-conduction. Physics
students in Year 11 are studying refraction of light and its
applications.
The Science staff would like to welcome Mr Trevor Newton,
who will be working as Laboratory Assistant.
Mrs Alison Andrew, Head of Science
PDHPE
This term Year 10 students are completing two different
units, ‘The Party’ and ‘Playing in a Team’. In ‘The Party’,
students have been examining their own attitudes, values,
behaviours and possible consequences associated with
topics such as drug use and sexual health. Emphasis was
placed on the whole decision-making process.
In the unit ‘Playing in a Team’, students have been
participating in a range of modified games to improve their
own performance and to understand how a game can be
manipulated to achieve a variety of different aims. In small
groups, students have designed their own modified games
and are currently being assessed on how well they teach
this game to the rest of the class. During the final week of
term, students will go to Gib Gate to teach some of the
games to students in Years 3-6. No doubt Thursday
afternoon will be full of excitement for Year 10 Frensham
students and approximately 90 Gib Gate students!
Miss Erin Gray, Head of PDHPE
Sport
Softball and Tennis
This weekend a large number of teams will be travelling to
Sydney to play in Finals and playoffs for Softball and Tennis.
There are five Tennis teams in the Finals and these will be
played at Rockdale/Illawarra Tennis Centre. We wish
Teams 6, 7, Junior B, Junior D and Junior F teams all the
best.
Softball games will be played at Kelso Park this weekend
and, as well as Finals, there will be playoffs for 3rd and 4th
places. Good luck to Team 2, Team 3, Team 4, the Junior A,
C and D Teams in the Finals and also Team 1, Team 5, the
Junior B team and Year 7 Purple and Green who are in the
playoffs. Please see the draw attached for more details.
All girls are to travel on the bus with the teams to and from
matches.
Tildesley Shield Tennis
On 19 March, 14 girls travelled to Sydney to participate in
the Tildesley Shield Tennis Tournament, played at Pennant
Hills Park. The singles were played on Wednesday with all
girls playing very well. Congratulations to Jessica Southwell
and Jemima Purvis who were successful in going through to
the Third Round; this is an outstanding achievement.
Thursday saw Frensham doubles pairs (Molly
Macqueen/Katherine Lawson and Bonnie Robertson/Anna
Ronald) take to the court and again perform very well. Both
pairs played very well and progressed to the Second Round.
Once again the Frensham Lines Girls were outstanding
throughout the tournament. There were eight girls selected
to officiate at the quarter-finals: Lucinda Crichton, Caroline
Hart, Lilli Jephcott, Sophie Kooros, Nicola Lawson, Camilla
Paton, Nicola Wood and Amber Woods. Caroline Hart,
Sophie Kooros, Camilla Paton, Nicola Wood and Amber
Woods were selected for the semi-finals. Sophie Kooros
and Camilla Paton were selected to officiate at the Doubles
Finals and Caroline Hart, Nicola Lawson and Amber Woods
were selected for the Singles Finals.
Overall, the tournament was a great success and all the
girls did an outstanding job.
Thanks go to Michael Poulos, Susie Purvis, Simon McIntyre
and Ben McIntyre for their coaching throughout the term
and also for their help at the tournament.
Mrs Jane Crellen, Head of Sport
Snowsports
Preparations have begun for the 2013 Northern NSW
Snowsports Events, with the following dates released for
this year's competition:
2 July – Perisher: Knox-Pymble Championships Alpine GS
and Snowboard GS;
3-6 July – Perisher: Northern NSW and QLD Interschools
Championships;
8 July – Perisher: The Scots College Snowsports
Championships;
9 July – Thredbo: Redlands Championships.
The complete list of NSW, State and Australian Ski and
Snowboard Championships is available on the NSW
Interschools’ Skiing web page: www.interschools.org.au
The team will be led by Captain, Jessica Burns, and ViceCaptain, Jasmine Talbot. The girls are looking forward to
planning the season, as well as furthering the achievements
of Snowsports at Frensham. Last year’s team of 34 girls
won Northern Region Overall Championship School, with a
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number of teams and individuals progressing to State and
Australian competitions.
For further information on Snowsports please contact Ms
Allison: [email protected]
Ms Joanne Allison, Coordinator of Snowsports
Agriculture – Sydney Royal Easter Show Report
The title of this report has to change this week due to the
variety of showing and judging competitions in which
Frensham students have competed over the last few weeks.
On Saturday 9 March, the local Show season ended with
the team attending the Moss Vale Show. The results were
as follows:
Junior Heifer - Mixed European Breed - 18-20 months
4th = Spring Creek Goldie (Limousin)
Westons Steer Competition
1st = Savannah Kelly leading ‘Gene’
2nd = Catriona Fraser leading ‘Simba’
3rd = Tyler Smith-Mailler leading ‘Milo’
4th = Mia Withers leading ‘Gazza’
5th = Camilla Milne leading ‘Tucker’
Lightweight Steers
1st = ‘Gene’ led by Savannah Kelly
Heavyweight Steers
1st = ‘Simba’ led by Catriona Fraser
3rd = ‘Gazza’ led by Jessica Alker
4th = ‘Tucker’ led by Camilla Milne
5th = ‘Goofy’ led by Annabel Locke
6th = ‘Milo’ led by Tyler Smith-Mailler
Champion Steer = ‘Simba’ led by Catriona Fraser
Junior Paraders -11 years and under 14 years
1st = Mia Withers leading ‘Gazza’
4th = Ellie Ireson leading ‘Ollie’
6th = Grace Halliday leading ‘Milo’
Intermediate Paraders - 14 and under 16 years
4th = Serena Mackay leading ‘N-Bar Bara’
5th = Annabel Milling leading ‘Simba’
Senior Paraders - 16 and under 19 years
3rd = Jessica Alker leading ‘Gazza’
4th = Camilla Milne leading ‘Tucker’
Reserve Champion Parader
Mia Withers leading ‘Gazza’
On Monday 18 March, thirteen senior members of the team
headed to the Sydney Royal Easter Show. Arriving in the
afternoon, the team was very busy setting up the stall and
School display for the Herdsman Competition. Thanks to the
creative skills of Mrs Georgy Alker, Mrs Angela Milne and
Mrs Belinda Hill, the School display looked spectacular. This
year’s theme was, of course, the Frensham Centenary. A
selection of old farming equipment, kindly supplied by
parents, and photographs showing 100 years of agricultural
activities at Frensham, care of Ms Indra Deigan, provided
the main focus of the display.
Judging began on the Wednesday with Jessica Alker
competing in the School Paraders Competition. Each school
is able to enter one student, which makes it a very
competitive event. While not achieving a place, Jessica
nevertheless performed commendably. Thursday was the
first day of the Show and Frensham’s main day of
competing. All ten steers competed in a variety of events:
School Steer, Middleweight Steer and Heavyweight Steer
competitions. After the competitions, the steers were sold
via auction. The whole Show Cattle Team came to the
Show on judging day to learn about what happens and learn
a little bit more about the Beef Industry.
On the Friday, four members of the team competed in the
State Paraders Finals, with excellent results. The Finals
were divided into age groups: Mia Withers was placed 5th in
her age group; Tyler Smith-Mailler, 2nd and Serena Mackay,
3rd in their age group; and Annabel Locke 4th in her age
group.
Although this event wrapped up the week of competition for
the Show Cattle Team, it was not the end of the results. At
the Carcass Presentation on Monday 25 March, Frensham
received a Highly Commended (4th place) for the Herdsman
Competition. ‘Simba’, a Poll Hereford steer bred by Diney
and Ian Locke, was placed 1st in the Heavyweight Virtual
Taste Test Competition and then awarded overall Champion
in the Virtual Taste Test Competition, receiving a Champion
ribbon, RAS medallion and the RAS Perpetual Consumer
Trophy (NSW Meat Authority). The Virtual Taste Test is
judged on Meat Standards Australia grading criteria, such
as meat colour and marbling score, which contribute to
superior meat-eating qualities. ‘Goofy’, another Poll
Hereford steer bred by Ian and Diney, was placed 2nd in this
category.
Annabel Locke and Jessica Alker receiving the Champion Virtual
Taste Test Award for ‘Simba’
Although the Cattle events were finished there were still
further competitions. On Saturday 23 March, Emma
Lipscomb competed in the Poultry Youth Showmanship
Competition with one of the School’s hens. In an extremely
competitive event, with 90 competitors, Emma performed
commendably, showing her hen and answering a barrage of
questions from the Judge.
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Over the two weeks of the Easter Show, the Frensham Year
9 Agriculture class also competed in the Poultry section,
with layer hens and meat chickens. As part of a curriculum
project, the class entered the Steggles Schools Meat
Chicken Competition, growing 15 chicks at school and
recording daily weight gain for both male and female chicks.
The class then chose two females and two males to go to
the Easter Show. The chickens were judged live and as
carcasses, as well as the class project. Although we did not
place in this competition, it has been a rewarding
experience for the students who have learnt a lot about
chicken meat production.
The Year 9 class also entered the Hy-line Schools Egg
Laying Competition, with three hens chosen from eight
which were provided to the school in Term 4 last year for
the purpose of the event. The students measured growth
rate as well as egg production and completed a report. The
trio of hens were awarded 3rd place and the project 6th place.
For the duration of the Show the eggs laid by our hens were
collected and judged on their commercial quality, on which
the School was also placed 6th.
Moving on from the production of beef cattle, eggs and
chicken meat, Frensham students also showed their skills in
judging produce. On Wednesday 27 March, Emma
McCrabb and Annabelle Cruikshank competed in the State
Merino Fleece Judging Final, with some excellent results
coming out of a very competitive event. Emma was awarded
Champion and Annabelle 6th in the State.
Ms Gillick, Ms Deigan and I met on Tuesday 19 February to
consider the shortlisted design proposals. The designs were
discussed, with consideration given to honouring the
concept of the submissions, achievable shape, transfer of
graphic elements to an intimate scale and the uniqueness of
designs to suit the School’s Centenary. Ms Deigan’s task
was to turn a preliminary design into a highly resolved and
refined design capable of being reproduced accurately by
badge manufacturers.
After discussion, we believed elements in two particular
designs by one designer could form a highly effective badge
design. These elements were:
 The Centenary Bridge
 A ribbon
 The oval shape
The student designer was then invited to meet with Ms
Deigan to collaborate on a final, resolved design. At the end
of Week 4, the design for the Centenary Badge was
forwarded to the badge manufacturers.
I would like to acknowledge and congratulate Georgina
Whatmore, Year 12, for her creative design concept being
selected for the Centenary Badge (see below). The badges
will arrive at School this week and will be a gift to all
students at Frensham in 2013; they will also be for sale at
Centenary functions.
Mr Phil Alldis, Head of Visual Arts & Design
The next day, Sophie Meredith and Emma Lipscomb
competed in the State Grain Judging Final. The girls had to
judge samples of oats, wheat and canola. Both girls made it
through to the second (oral) round with Sophie placing 3rd
and Emma 4th in the State. Sophie backed up this event by
competing in the State Fruit and Vegetable Judging Final
but unfortunately did not gain a place.
Congratulations to all of the Frensham students competing
in the many and varied events at the Easter Show. It has
been a most successful season, all due to the hard work by
everyone involved.
Ms Leonie Harris, Coordinator Show Cattle Team
Visual Arts/Design & Technology
All students were invited to submit a design proposal for a
badge, by Friday 15 February in Week 3, which would both
mark and celebrate Frensham’s Centenary in 2013. Fortyone individual design proposals were submitted by students
across all years. On Monday 18 February, a committee
comprising Heads of Art Studios, Exhibitions and Design,
plus the Head and Vice Head Girls, met to choose a
shortlist of design proposals to be taken forward in the
process.
The Centenary Badge, for presentation to all Gib Gate,
Frensham and Sturt students and staff this year.
Designer: Georgina Whatmore, Year 12
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