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Term 4 | Week 5 | 11 November 2016
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In this issue
Congratulations are in order!
Mrs Judith Poole | Headmistress
Headmistress
It is my great pleasure to advise that Ms Sally Ruston was the recipient
of APPA Life Membership this week at a ceremony at Parliament
House in Canberra. She joins an elite group of five outstanding Primary
Junior School
Principals who have contributed to primary school education, school
Senior School
leadership and the Australian Primary Principals Association in a
significant
and
enduring
way. She was recognised by APPA with the following words on
Featured articles
the night.
Events
Sally Ruston holds a deep understanding of primary education and, with passion for seeing
that every school has quality leadership, dedicated herself to building the capacity of
principals. As President of the Independent Primary School Heads of Australia (IPSHA) and
in various roles with the APPA, Sally readily represented the association and her colleagues
Upcoming events
in various meetings and forums. Her contribution always gave clear and eloquent voice
to the position of, and challenges faced by, primary schools, their communities and their
principals and staff. Sally’s knowledge of curriculum meant she was often called upon
All week
to lead discussion during the development and review of the Australian Curriculum. As a
Hamamatsu Nittaidai Junior High
highly respected school leader, Sally continues to offer her expertise willingly and in the
School visit
knowledge that every child deserves a quality education.
Monday 14 November
Congratulations to Ms Ruston for her outstanding contribution and this
Year 8 Luna Park excursion
well-deserved recognition.
Tuesday 15 November
Abbotsleigh has 17 nominated students for inclusion in ArtExpress in 2017. The variety
AbbSchool Drama Trinity
and depth of artworks is a credit to the girls and the staff. I congratulate all girls on their
examinations commence
creative works.
Friday 18 November
ALA St Edmund’s concert
Genevieve Scotte Madeline Boydell
Anneliese Foung
Calista Sam
Chaplain
Saturday 19 November
Sport Awards evening
Child of Horoshima
Microcosm
Buster, Charlie, Ruby,
Spot, Baxter, Muffy
and Teddy
Hayley Byer
Sherry Chen
Poppy Elvy
a r t award
Lost Solace
Jessicah Briggs
Grace Cossington Smith
art award
A Requiem For 1989
Sophie Spencer
Bloom, After Tim
Maguire
5 November to
10 December 2016
Don’t Erase me - Bob
Look Up At The Stars,
Not Down On Your
Feet
Miss represented
Stories
Catriona Skye Fane de Salis
Emily Ho-Yee Cheung
Samantha Gregory April Gregson
Nina Johnson
Through The Eyes Of
Generations
Feeding The Thousands Or Thousands
Consuming
Remnants
Josephine Pereira
Emma Scott
Isabel Adams
Voyeur
Ever - Present
Pull Yourself Together
Alice Mann
Ascension
Maya Sugden
Seeds for the
Millennium
I extend congratulations to the following students who have been nominated for possible inclusion in Shape 2016, the annual
exhibition of outstanding Major Projects developed by HSC Design and Technology, Industrial Technology and Textiles and Design
students: Alissa Renee Antoon, Adrianna Nguyen Au, Madeline Louise Boydell, Emily Ho-Yee Cheung, Catriona Skye Fane de Salis,
Jade Madison Mavis Kelly, Jiayi (Iris) Li, Emily Mak, Lisa Tin Wai Tiu.
Chaplain
Abbotsleigh celebrates great world leader with
song and festival
Rev Jenni Stoddart | Chaplain
This week Facebook, the news and even classrooms have
been inundated with the news about America’s new President.
Whatever your take on these world events, I have some even
more important news: Abbotsleigh Senior School’s celebration
of the humblest and yet most powerful King of all time - our
Carols and Lessons Service on 4 December – will this year
host a Christmas Festival. Starting from 6:30 pm, there will be
an opportunity to purchase Christmas goods made by Year 8,
listen to music from our girls and support the work of Christian
organisations such as Tear fund who serve the needy. Have you
put the date in your diary? Bring the family to Celebrate Jesus the
World leader who lived, died and rose again in humble service of
his people and still reigns today.
Junior School
Monitoring the giggle index
Ms Sally Ruston | Head of Junior School
As the AbbSchool booklet has just gone home and the plethora
of cocurricular options for next year seems all too tempting, it
is important that we work with the girls in helping them make
sensible choices. The great challenge for us all is to define what
‘sensible’ looks like for each child. We seek a balanced diet that
supports passions being encouraged and curiosity explored.
We are dedicated to ensuring our girls leave school with a
comprehensive kit bag of experiences, skills and knowledge
that goes beyond the academic curriculum. These are all most
laudable pursuits.
I read an article about after school activities in the New York
Times titled ‘Monitoring the Giggle Index’ by Bruce Feiler, that
really resonated with me. The article articulates the struggle
parents engage in when trying to find the balance between
enriching engagement in a range of very worthwhile cocurricular
activities and over scheduling children to such an extent that
they are robbed of their childhood. The article offers the
following advice:
• Worry less about the time a child spends in activities and
more about the message sent regarding engagement in the
activities. Is your child’s performance over scrutinised? Are we
too interested in the lives of our children, hanging on every word,
coddling every need and idolising each accomplishment? Where
is the motivation coming from, you or your child?
• When viewing children’s participation, are we as adults too
focused on exemplary performance being the only goal that
matters? For instance, is learning a musical instrument only
valued if the next AMEB grade is achieved with distinction or the
sports team attains an undefeated status or the dance troupe
is awarded gold at the eisteddfod? Or can we, as adults, see
and communicate merit in the act of contributing, learning and
participating, irrespective of the outcome?
• Search ourselves to determine whether the lessons
and classes are about parents competing with parents’
determination for success. Is it our own anxieties or our
children’s genuine interest that drives us to enrol?
• Ensure that there is opportunity each week for children to have
unscheduled time. Being bored can be viewed as a welcomed
precursor to creativity, endeavour and invention.
• Children need time to lie around, play more freely and have
periods when they are side-by-side with parents in the same
room, being ‘alone together’.
• Enrichment activities add much to a child’s life when they are
seen as fostering islands of expertise beyond the classroom.
hearing laughter? Is your child giggling when you drop them off or
pick them up? Or are they solemn and dragging their feet?’
Our children have such minimal discretionary time each week
after formal schooling, sleep, eating, ablutions and travel that
amounts to only 1-2 hours each day. Thus it is essential that
we guide them to use this time wisely. Let us aim for such
discretionary time to be consumed by laughter and activity that
is intrinsically motivating and of our children’s determination.
Perhaps what I found most telling in this article was a unique
measure to balance this somewhat conflicting advice: ‘Are you
Celebrating our 2016 Year
3.15 pm Buses transport staff and girls (prearranged) back to
school
Speech Day organisation
4.30 pm Buses arrive at school – girls follow own travel
arrangements or go to ASC
Ms Sally Ruston | Head of Junior School
Our combined Speech Day on Tuesday 6 December 2016
promises to be a very special event to celebrate the
achievements of our girls in both Junior and Senior Schools.
Our guest speaker will be our retiring Headmistress, Mrs Judith
Poole. We will also have the opportunity to honour the leadership
of Mrs Poole through a variety of special items. Rehearsals
are underway at school and the final rehearsal will occur at the
venue on the morning of the event.
Buses will transport the girls from school to the venue on the
morning of the event for the planned rehearsal. We encourage
parents to be responsible for their daughter’s transport home
from the Hillsong Convention Centre, but there will also be bus
transport available if required. Please note this bus transport
back to Wahroonga must be booked in advance via the online
permission form. Members of the choir and orchestra have
varied travel arrangements and the girls involved need to note
the times given. There is parking at the venue for parents but it is
limited so please allow ample time.
Event information
Combined Speech Day
Tuesday 6 December 2016
Hillsong Convention Centre
1-5 Solent Circuit, Baulkham Hills
Girls should bring morning tea/lunch and a water bottle in
disposable packaging. Girls are to wear full summer school
uniform including their blazer and panama hats. Girls are asked
NOT to bring school bags.
The arrangements for the day are as follows:
7 am Combined Orchestra and Everett and SS Choir girls arrive
at school to catch buses to Hillsong
8 am JS and staff board buses at school to Hillsong
9.15 am Full school rehearsals begin at Hillsong
11.30 am Combined morning tea and lunch break
12.20 pm All girls seated
12.30 pm Doors open for parents to enter
1 pm Official ceremony begins
3 pm Speech Day concludes (approximate time only). Parents
and guests leave venue while girls wait for dismissal
Dismissal
Junior School girls and their teachers will meet parents on lawn
area in front of the Hillsong auditorium. They must be collected
from their class teacher before leaving the venue.
Junior School girls who are returning to school on the bus will be
available for collection from the Upper Car Park between 4.15
and 4.45 pm. Girls booked into ASC will be directly escorted from
the buses to this location. Girls not collected from car line by
4.45 pm will be escorted to After School Care where the usual
fees will apply.
Absences
If your daughter is ill on the morning of Tuesday 6 December,
please ring Junior School Reception by 8.30 am to report
the illness. Please ensure a medical certificate is provided.
Attendance by all girls is required.
All parents will need to complete the online permission process
by Monday 14 November to ensure that seating and bus
arrangements are confirmed.
We look forward to celebrating this important milestone for our
community.
Events over coming weeks
Mrs Peita van Bussell | Year 5 Coordinator
The following four weeks of term are wonderfully exciting times as we celebrate the conclusion of a great year and farewell our Year
6 girls. Please be aware of the following events and times so that you are able to support the girls in preparing for the following
occasions:
Tuesday 22 November at 6 pm
Year 3 Soirée, Everett Hall
Thursday 24 November at 6 pm
Year 2 Soirée, Everett Hall
Friday 25 November at 12 pm
Final Infant’s Assembly with parents
Tuesday 29 November at 8.30 am
Year 6 Farewell Chapel service, Senior School Chapel
Thursday 1 December at 7 pm
Twilight Christmas Carols, Infants Amphitheatre
Friday 2 December at 8.30 am
Year 2 Celebration, Everett Hall
Friday 2 December at 7 pm
Year 6 Farewell, Everett Hall
Monday 5 December
Variety Concerts
Monday 5 December
Special end of Year Luncheon provided by APA
Monday 5 December at 6.30 pm
Year 6 Dance and Parent get together, Everett Hall
Tuesday 6 December at 1 pm
Full School Speech Day, Hillsong, Baulkham Hills
Wednesday 7 December
Vacation Care program in operation
We look forward to welcoming families to the italicised events above.
Supporting families
Music in Junior School 2017
Ms Sally Ruston | Head of Junior School
Mr Stephan Kooper | Junior School Head of Music
Following very positive and encouraging feedback
through survey questions, we are very pleased to confirm
that we will be offering both Before and After School Care
again in 2017. The Before School Care service is offered
from 7 am to 8.15 am for all girls arriving at school
before 7.45 am who are not in an organised activity. In
this way we can ensure safe supervision for all our girls.
The morning session includes a simple breakfast and
time for supervised play and craft both indoors and out.
Afternoon sessions commence from the end of school
until 6.30 pm. Mr Myles Watkins will continue as our
Supervisor of Before and After School Care to maintain
continuity for the girls and administration. Child Care
Rebates will be available in alignment with the facility
offered though Hubworks for ASC.
2017 promises to be another exciting year for our Junior School
musicians. An extensive and diverse choral and instrumental
program is offered to Junior School girls from Kindergarten
onwards and includes the following ensembles:
The fees are as follows:
Before School Care
Permanent: $17 per morning
Casual: $19 per morning
After School Care
Permanent: $21 per afternoon
Casual: $24 per afternoon
If you wish to register for Before and/or After School Care
for next year, please click here to download an enrolment
form.
• Year 2 Instrumental Program
• Concert Band
• Year 3 Instrumental Program
• Infants Choir
• Bambini Strings
• Primary Choir
• Poole House Strings
• Archdale Choir
• Chamber Strings
• Everett Choir
• Symphony Orchestra
• Cantare Choir
• Bundarra Band
• Year 5 and 6 Handbell Choir
Year 2 Instrumental Program
The Year 2 Instrumental Program by rationale and design is an
introductory program. The key learning objectives of this program
are to:
• Introduce students to the joy of learning a musical instrument
while understanding the importance of caring for that musical
instrument through a basic requirement of regular practice
between lessons.
• To teach the importance of working as an effective member of
an ensemble by learning that while individual skill from practice is
required by one, musicians work in teams called ensembles.
The violin, viola and cello are utilised to achieve these outcomes.
Year 3 Instrumental Program
The Year 3 Program is an extension of the Year 2 Program and
also a platform for curious students to trial new instruments.
While violin, viola and cello continue to be offered, it is in the
Year 3 Program that students have the opportunity to learn the
double bass, flute, clarinet or trumpet. At the conclusion of this
program girls present a mini performance and play as part of
a band or string ensemble. From here, students may elect to
have private lessons in the Extended Tuition Program at school
or with a private tutor at home. Once students have private
lessons they are encouraged to join a string or band ensemble.
The range of ensembles is designed to ensure students of
diverse abilities and experiences have the opportunity to make
music collaboratively and include:
• Bambini Strings is a string ensemble for all students
in the Year 2 Instrumental Program as well as Year 1 and
Kindergarten who have private lessons at school or externally.
The minimum technical requirement for this ensemble is to be
able to play open strings rhythmically and correctly, without
teacher support. Students would generally remain in this
ensemble until they can play confidently in first position in keys
of D, A and G Major. Students must attend weekly rehearsals in
the Upper Music Room on Monday at 1 pm.
• Poole House Strings is a string ensemble best suited
for students in Years 3 to 6 who play between an AMEB
Preliminary to Grade 2 standard. Students should be
confident reading open strings and working towards playing
with all fingers in first position. Students must attend weekly
rehearsals in the Upper Music Room on Tuesday at 1 pm.
• Chamber Strings is an intermediate ensemble which caters
for students from Kindergarten to Year 6 and who play at an
AMEB Grade 2 standard and above. Students will be required
to demonstrate the ability to play confidently in first position
in keys of up to 3 sharps and 2 flats. Students must attend
weekly rehearsals in the Upper Music Room on Friday at
7.30 am.
will also be confident sight readers who understand the
importance of the whole ensemble. This group rehearses on
Thursday mornings at 7.30 am.
• Bundarra Band is a beginner/intermediate ensemble for
brass, woodwind and percussionists. Girls are encouraged
to join this ensemble as soon as possible and are taught the
essentials in ensemble routines and introduced to the joy of
being part of this type of ensemble. Students must attend
weekly rehearsals in the Upper Music Room on Thursday at
1 pm.
• Concert Band is an advanced ensemble for brass, woodwind
and percussionists who are working towards, or who have
reached an AMEB grade 2 standard. Students will be confident
sight readers. Students who demonstrate reliability and
leadership within this ensemble will be invited to the Symphony
Orchestra. Students must attend weekly rehearsals in the
Upper Music Room on Monday at 7.30 am.
Girls who contribute to any of the above ensembles are eligible
to join a chamber ensemble. These smaller ensembles are
established and based on student ability and need. Entry to
these smaller ensembles is based on performance in audition
and standard of contribution to a larger ensemble. Students
are required to audition annually and girls are reminded that
entry to the ensemble for the following year is not automatic.
These smaller ensembles are designed to extend our most able
players to ensure extension and challenge are provided in the
joyous creation of music.
• Year 3 Trio/Quartet/Quintet
• Year 4 Trio/Quartet/Quintet
• Year 5 Trio/Quartet/Quintet
• Year 6 Trio/Quartet/Quintet
• CaSE (Clarinet and Saxophone Ensemble)
• Brass Belles
• Flute Ensemble
• Symphony Orchestra is a large ensemble of over 60
musicians who have achieved an AMEB Grade 3 equivalent or
above. Students should be able to play in first to third positions
in Major and Minor keys of 3 flats to 4 sharps. Students
Anglicare Toys ‘n’ Tucker appeal
Mrs Valerie Williams | JS Christian Studies Teacher,
Assistant Chaplain
As Christmas time draws near,
Anglicare is preparing to ‘share the
joy’ with people in need.
They are asking for donations of
non-perishable foods items and
toys to provide gifts hampers to
thousands of families in Sydney
and surrounding regions who would
otherwise go without this year.
From Monday 7 November, contributions for this appeal can be
left under the Christmas tree in Junior School Reception area.
Suitable items include:
Festive foods such as Christmas puddings, Christmas cakes,
long life custard, tinned ham, canned fruits and vegetables
Gifts for children and teens such as toys, board games, sports
equipment, retail gift cards
Please note
• N
O perishable foods, chocolates, glass containers or toys that
require batteries
• P
lease DO NOT WRAP any items as donations are used to
pack Christmas hampers especially suited for the families
who will receive them, so all items must be visible
Thank you for your support in previous years and we look forward
to your donations under the tree again this year.
Abbschool finishes on Friday 25 November
Miss Kate Grzanka | Deputy Head of Junior School
Bush tucker and aboriginal artefacts
A reminder that Week 7 is the final week for AbbSchool
classes. There will be no AbbSchool classes running during the
final two weeks of term. The exception to this is the Aquatic
Centre lessons, which will continue on until Wednesday 21
December 2016.
The 2016 Australasian Problem Solving
Mathematical Olympiads
Ms Sally Ruston | Head of Junior School
Each year, schools from all over Australia, New Zealand
and other neighbouring countries take part in the APSMO
Mathematics Olympiads. Approximately 41,000 students
took part in the 2016 contests. Students are required to work
independently and complete the problems within a given time
frame. The overall aim is to encourage students to develop
important mathematical problem solving skills.
Congratulations to the following girls.
Top 10% of all participants:
Ashley Chan, Kristiana Elias, Mikayla Ho, Celine Hu, Ying
Jiang, Nikita Kyrikos, Sophie Lim, Phoebe Luu, Renee Nayager,
Arwyn Stone, Zara Vellani, Lucia Williamson, Karina Wong and
Chenyan Yu.
Top 25% of entrants:
Penelope Andrew, Jasmine Burton, Elise Carroll, Vivian
Choi, Deonne Daher, Jemima Donohoo, Rachel Ee, Georgia
Fichardt, Abigail Gillmann, Caroline Gu, Anna Horner, Felicity
Hu, Erica Kim, Claire Kitching, Annabelle Lai, Emma Lai, Gillian
Lawrance, Claudia Lee, Alice Lee, Abigail Leung, Gwyneth
Leung, Michelle Lin, Amelia Mak, Avin Moosavian Mahdavi,
Amelie Morgan, Anoushka Pearson, Lucia Radford, Jessica
Riddell, Victoria Teo, Caitlyn Tieu, Meredith Wang, Simone
Wong and Emma Yap.
However, the highest honour this year is reserved for Anna
Chua and Anjali Lambotharan of Year 6 whose impressive
scores placed them in the top 2% of students in 2016.
Congratulations to all students who tested their problem
solving skills and computational fluency through the Maths
Olympiad this year.
Senior School
Commitment, time and passion
By Kimbali Hardings | Senior School Music Head of Department
If one were to visit the Music Department this week, you would be
hit by a cacophony of noise.
Cacophony is not a word that I usually like to associate with music.
However, in this instance cacophony has a certain vibrancy and
energy which is contagious. Walking through the halls of the
Music Department, you might be bombarded by an orchestral
excerpt confidently stated in a trumpet examination in Studio 1, or
highlights from Les Miserables might pull your attention from the
Feledi room. ‘Jungle’ beats might get you moving as you pass the
Mrs Sally Eriksen | Environment Club Coordinator
To coincide with the completion of the JS Bush Tucker
Garden, the Environment Club has participated in a bush
tucker and Aboriginal artefacts incursion. Aboriginal
Education Officer, Miss Jess Sinnott from Koori Kinnections,
was invited to speak to the girls about some of the
traditional ways Indigenous people hunted, gathered and
prepared bush tucker. There were spears, boomerangs,
firesticks, digging sticks, coolamons and all types of
artefacts to touch and try out.
During the last part of the afternoon, Jess explained some
of the uses of our own bush tucker plants in our Bush
Tucker Garden. She showed us how to make a whistle out of
lomandra straps. It was an exciting and informative incursion
that helped us to understand the uses of bush tucker plants
in our school.
Next week Jess will be back to cook bush tucker with us in
the JS outdoor kitchen.
percussion ensemble in C1 - although to be fair, the Year 10
choir will probably be overwhelming as they energetically
‘stomp-out’ a 7/8 meter whilst figuring out a choral piece in the
Peter Duly Concert Hall.
Part of our role as the Abbotsleigh Music team is to encourage
the long-term development of these skills whilst providing the
environment and opportunities for intense moments of passion
to be shared.
As this daily cacophony surrounds me I reflect on the strange
dichotomy of both the immediate and the long-term impressions
that music makes on us.
The early weeks of Term 4 have already been a showcase
of our girls’ commitment, time and passion! From the Guitar
ensemble’s indie covers of Ed Sheeran at the Wahroonga Food
and Wine Festival; to Music 1 students Amy Nelson and Garnet
Ho performing a program that was worthy of their own concert
tour at the AHIGS Festival of Speech; to the Junior School and
Senior School Concert Bands buddying-up and ‘Roar-ing’ to a
packed Peter Duly Concert Hall; to almost 100 students sitting
AMEB exams requiring four venues running at the same time; to
the Year 10 elective students hitting the cool notes of Jazz night
– what constantly inspires me is the intrinsic power of music to
move our students to commit their energy, dedicate their time
and ultimately share their passion.
By this I mean that as humans we experience the act of listening
or playing music as fleeting moments. Moments of sometimes
intense emotions that we can share with others, but can’t
express in words. Often our aural memory will link a certain piece
of music with an emotion specific to a time in our lives. For me
the Double Violin Concerto by Vivaldi will always recall a moment
of intense happiness and connection from when I performed
with my school friends to a standing ovation on my first European
tour as a high school student. With much chagrin I must admit
that Kylie Minogue’s On A Night Like This also evokes feelings
of happiness, as an ex-pat at the time experiencing the national
pride as the Olympic Games and ensuing festivities kicked off.
The irony of these fleeting moments is that in order to truly
participate in these experiences, one must invest serious time
to develop the required skills and knowledge. To be frank, this
time spent developing our skills is not always as inspiring or
exciting as we would like. However, the long-term investment of
time, culminates in those fleeting moments of intense joy and
connection that stay with us for all of our lives – and it is from
these moments that passion is born.
Psychology week 2016: ways to thrive
By Mrs Liz Cannon | Director of Counselling
Burgers, ball games and bonding
This week, between 9-15 November, it is National Psychology
Week – the aim of which is to increase public awareness
about how psychology can assist people and school
communities to lead more meaningful, healthier and
happier lives.
The theme this year is ‘Ways to Thrive’. Research has found
that by focusing on the Five Key Pillars of Positive Psychology:
Positive emotions, Engagement, Relationships, Meaning
and Accomplishment (PERMA), we can enhance our health,
happiness and life satisfaction. The girls have been provided
with this important information about wellbeing and are
welcome to talk to our counsellors about their own mental
health and wellbeing needs.
Five ways to thrive
Positive emotions: Experiencing positive feelings such as joy,
calmness, and satisfaction.
Engagement: Being interested and involved in life.
Relationships: Feeling loved, valued, and connected with
others.
Meaning: Having a sense of direction, feeling that our lives
are valuable and worthwhile, and connecting to something
bigger than ourselves.
Accomplishment: The belief and ability to do things that
matter most to us, achieving goals, ad having a sense of
mastery.
For further information visit Psychology Week or contact
Liz Cannon
By Abella Judd and Olivia Slack-Smith | Social Committee,
Abbotsleigh Boarder Council
On Tuesday 7 November, Years 9 and 10 had the pleasure
of hosting 75 Knox boarders for a games night on the top
oval. The evening began with bacon and egg burgers and
some quick catch ups whilst everyone ate. Everyone enjoyed
relaxing in the late afternoon breeze after the hot day. Then
began a variety of tug of war games between boys and girls,
and each year group. The competition was fierce and the
Abbotsleigh girls came out victorious, winning all of their
games (with some very gentlemanly sportsmanship from the
other side.) Each year group then went to opposite sides of
the oval to play either rounders or touch football. Rounders
was new to the Knox boarders and Abbotsleigh was quick to
capitalise. Everyone had a wonderful time playing the games
and meeting new friends along the way. To finish such a
successful night there was a group photo. Everyone is looking
forward to another catch up soon with the hope that Term 4
games with Knox can be a tradition.
Australian Problem Solving Mathematical
Olympiad (APSMO) Results
Did you pick the winner?
Ms Mary Ann Grant | Assistant Head of Mathematics
The APSMO runs annually from May to September
where students are given about 25 minutes to solve five
problems once a month. Girls in 7M1, 7M2, 7M3, 8M1,
8M2 and 8M3 were entered. The students enjoy the
challenges this competition offers as the problems are
more manageable than those faced in enrichment. There
are also many different problem-solving strategies to learn
from the official solutions as well as those used by various
students in each class.
Class teams entered from the top of Years 7 and 8 across
Australia as well as New Zealand. It is important that all
girls do the best they can in each Olympiad as the team
score is important.
This year, 8M1 placed in the top 10% in Australasia in their
division. Of the six Abbotsleigh teams entered, 25 students
placed in the top 10% and 44 students were in the top
25%. These girls will receive their certificates at the Ruth
Sanger evening early next year.
The following students achieved top 10% placings:
Year 7
Roshiynie Baskaran, Arienna Grebert, Anousheh Moonen,
Kylie Shi, Holly Yang, Jane Yang, Amber Young, Jenibelle
Yuan
Year 8
Lily Adams, Brianna Ho, Anabelle Hopwood, Olivia Lee,
Anne Pan, Rowena Si, Kira Trahana, Ainslie Wong, Catrin
Wood, Alisa Wu, Bianca Yang, Elizabeth Zhang
Recruitment: how do employers select
new recruits?
Mrs Marg Selby | Careers Advisor
Recently, I had the opportunity to sit down with recruiters
from leading employers such as the ATO, Deloitte,
Honeywell and the Reserve Bank to discuss what they look
for when recruiting new staff.
They all looked for people who had some sort of work
experience and who showed an understanding of both the
company and the professional requirements of the job.
Keenness to succeed was another highly valued quality.
Strong verbal, written and abstract cognitive thinking skills
were essential prerequisites. The ability to find creative
solutions for problems and to work collaboratively were the
other common characteristics all the employers sought
through their graduate recruiting campaigns.
Generalist tertiary education in the fields of Arts, Science
or Commerce provide all the above qualifications. They
should be highly regarded for the generic skills they teach
their graduates, as these skills are widely applicable in
diverse parts of the workforce.
For other careers news, visit the Careers page on AbbNet.
Mrs Mary Faith | Direct, Grace Cossington Smith Gallery
Last Saturday 5 November the judges, Rhonda Davis and Dr
Andrew Frost, with gallery Director Mary Faith, announced their
unanimous selection of Mark Titmarsh as the recipient of the
$15,000 prize for the third Grace Cossington Smith art award.
The artwork ‘Light from Light’ is acquired by the School. It
contributes to the development of the Abbotsleigh art collection
that provides an outstanding cultural attraction and learning
resource for Abbotsleigh, the gallery and the North Shore
community.
‘Light from Light’ has been drawn with a custom built Spirograph
machine, painted with acrylic and automotive polish on
aluminium.
About Mark Titmarsh
Mark Titmarsh works in painting, screen media and writing.
His artworks are held in the collection of the National Gallery
of Australia, most state galleries, and in private collections
overseas. Mark completed a PhD in Painting at University of
Technology Sydney, he holds a Master of Visual Arts and has
studied at St. Martin’s College of Art, London; the University of
London; the Pietro Vannucci School of Fine Arts, Italy and the
University for Foreigners in Perugia, Italy.
In the 1990s Mark co-founded the Sydney based artists’ group,
Art Hotline. He was active in issues surrounding the arts;
defending artists’ rights and raising awareness of their
contribution to the national cultural environment. In the 1980s
he established an international reputation as an experimental
filmmaker and in Australia was a co-founding member of the
Super 8 Film Group.
The finalists (selected by Rhonda Davis and Dr Andrew Frost):
Nick Collerson
Shoufay Derz
Dongwang Fan
Owen Leong
Marisa Purcell
David Collins
Kate Downhill
Ashleigh Garwood
Laura Moore
Genevieve Felix
Reynolds
Ben Denham
John Edwards
Eloise Kirk
Deb Mostert
Mark Titmarsh
The finalists include artists from various stages in their careers,
from emerging artists completing their study to artists with a
comprehensive exhibition history.
Visit the GCS gallery and share your thoughts about the 2016
winning work. The exhibition continues until 10 December.
Student artworks
During this exhibition we also celebrate the work of Year 10
Visual Arts students in the Upstairs Gallery.
Head of Junior School honoured
Whole school approach to STEAM
Ms Sally Ruston, Head of Abbotsleigh Junior School,
has been honoured with a lifetime membership
award from the Australian Primary Principals
Association, presented this week at Parliament
House in Canberra.
It was an enthusiastic group of Abbotsleigh students
and staff who presented four workshops over two
days at the Association of Independent Schools
STEM Symposium and Digital Literacies Conference.
Read more
Read more
Melbourne AOGU reunion
Christmas Market announced
Abbotsleigh Old Girls are warmly invited to a reunion
lunch in Melbourne, at the home of Marion Rivers,
for the benefit of Victorian-based Old Girls.
Saturday 26 November.
This year’s Senior School Carol Service will begin
with a Christmas Festival and market from 6:30 pm7:30 pm, followed by the Carols at 7:45 pm.
Sunday 4 December.
Read more
Read more
Senior School 02 9473 7777 | Junior School 02 9473 7700 | www.abbotsleigh.nsw.edu.au
An Anglican Pre K-12 Day and Boarding School for Girls