Sydney Boys High School

High Notes, Vol 10 No 19, June 19 2009

From the Principal

High Talent
Congratulations to our Open basketball team on their CHS Knockout second place. The team was disrupted due to two swine flu quarantine problems and sickness on the day affecting our key player. Nevertheless, after winning all three games and beating Westfields Sports High in the preliminary rounds the day before, the team was beaten in the grand final in a closely contested game. The team has qualified to compete in the national basketball teams competition. Chris Morrow (Year 10) has been selected in the U-17 NSW Schools Volleyball team to play in the Australian Junior Championships in Brisbane in July. Balraj Ougra (Year 12) was selected in the Australian Schools Trans Tasman volleyball team that defeated New Zealand High Schools. He will also be competing in Brisbane in July. Congratulations to both boys! John Wormell (Year 11) and David Wang (Year 10) were successful in the preliminary round of the Classical Greek Reading Competition and will contest the final at SGS in August.

Years 9, 11 and 12 Reports
Boys in Years 9, 11 and 12 have received their reports and various letters have been sent to parents. If your son has not brought home his report please ask him for it. There are still some uncollected reports. Boys who were absent or who have not yet completed Clearance Form obligations need to collect their reports as soon as possible. Appointments with the Principal for Years 9, 11 and 12 can now only be made before or after school and during scheduled breaks. Year 10 boys have priority next week.

Year 11 and Sir Roden Cutler Charities
I want to congratulate the Year 11 boys and the volunteer Prefects who gave up their time so generously to collect money for Sir Roden Cutler Charities on June 5. Wayne Bensley, the Wheelchair Roll Coordinator, has reported about the success of the event. He wrote of Year 11:

“Their involvement, their efficiency and their friendly support to all was just fantastic. Many people have commented on what terrific young men these students were ... from the catering staff at the SCG, to disabled participants in the Roll and from supporters generally. For such an event as this, every bit of help, consideration and support (in various forms) comes together to make a very significant whole and the efforts of the Year 11 SBHS students helped to ensure that this year’s Wheelchair Roll was a really great success. We are very pleased with how the Roll went, with the outcome of our allied fund raising efforts (approx $12000 collected) and especially with the feedback from participants in the Roll. Everyone seemed to have a most enjoyable day. I know many disabled people (and other able-bodied helpers and participants) commented on how special it was to have so much enthusiastic help. These young men did themselves and their school proud.”

Laptop and wireless news
Our wireless installers are here but there is a catch. Fibre availability to the school selected sites for phase 1 installation was apparently overlooked in the survey process. Additional optic fibre might have to be run to allow wireless installation. Who has to pay for this has not yet been determined. Teacher laptops are scheduled for delivery in July. A ‘test drive’ for teachers issued with laptops has been conducted successfully in several schools. Student laptops are due to be rolled out in August.

Tax deductible donations before June 30
If you were planning to make a donation to the school before June 30, now is the time to do it. We have a range of options for parents, Old Boys and friends of High to help make a difference to state education through enhancing the facilities and services of our iconic institution. The regular tax deductible projects include: the Sydney Boys High School Building Fund, the Sydney Boys High School Public Library Fund, the Australian Sports Foundation sports equipment, sports development, facilities development, sports museum and sports scholarship projects.

We also have the Phillip Day Memorial Trust Fund which funds a scholarship annually for talented all rounders or students with special talents or needs. Since 2004 we have been saving up for a new building on site – most likely to be a Multi Purpose Centre for Creative and Performing Arts (building fund). So far we have $860,000 on deposit but we need another million at least! We have plans to erect a very large covered outdoor learning area (facilities development) to provide all weather protection and lighting for the cricket nets. All of our major projects since 1928 have been financed by a partnership between parents and Old Boys. Help us to continue to leave an enhanced educational legacy behind us by contributing this financial year.
Dr K A Jaggar

Parent Teacher Interviews

Years 10, 11 and 12 will take place on Thursday 2 July 2009 3.00pm – 7.30pm

Booking interviews with your son’s teachers
This year we are using a web based electronic scheduling system for arranging interviews. This should produce better results for all participants, especially more compact time schedules for both parents and teachers. The system works as follows –

• On Monday 22 June all parents of boys in Years 10, 11 and 12 will be sent by email details of the scheduling system and a unique code to be entered at www.edval.com.au/book
• This email will be sent to the address currently held by the school. If you have not received this email by Tuesday 23 June or, if your email address has changed from what had been previously advised to the school, you should notify the school at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it advising of this.
• On the Edval website you will see your son’s teachers listed and you will be able to select those with whom you require an interview. At the same time you can indicate your availability between 3:00 pm and 7:30 pm.
• Once the majority of parents have requested interviews, the overall schedule will be generated by the school and your individual schedule should be available for you to download and print from Tuesday 30 June.
• Boys from all Years will be dismissed from class at the conclusion of Period 5 (2:15 pm) on this day. School Special buses will run to normal schedules and there will be supervision in the Junior Quad of boys waiting for these buses.
• Interviews should not exceed five minutes’ duration. If there is insufficient time, a further appointment may be made for a later date, or contact by telephone arranged.

Similar arrangements will be in place for Years 7, 8 and 9 interviews on Wednesday 8 July

If you have any queries, please contact Mr Beringer at the school

Year 11 Parents Meeting

The Year 11 Parents Year Group will be holding a meeting on:

Date: Tuesday 30th June, 7.30pm
Location: The staff common room adjacent to the main foyer.
Drinks and snacks will be provided.

Mr Steve Codey, the Year Adviser for our boys, has offered to come along and discuss with us the HSC subject choices for Year 12. Mr Codey has just recently attended an in-service with the Board of Studies on the HSC, assessments, special provisions etc .

He will also have information on subject selection and the number of units boys should do for the HSC. I'm sure we will all find this very useful.

For further details or to add agenda items, please contact Steve Saunders This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
M: 0411 851 412

From the High Store

Sydney High Hoodies
Great for weekend wear or skiers! Grey marle with Sydney High in navy on front ONLY 50 in stock
$66 Be quick not to be disappointed

From the Andrews Library

Reminder- No more overdue notices
For boys who missed the message - returning loans on time is now each borrower’s responsibility. Check your free book mark or your portal. Renewals via your portals are working really well. It is the quick or the dead with “See the Librarian now” notices as you have one day to return overdue items or get an automatic school detention.

Chess Change
The Junior Library is trialling the use of the quiet area for chess enthusiasts as well as studious seniors and juniors. The rules are only two totally quiet players at a table. No onlookers or the game will be folded.

Online Movies/Online Rules
Movies are permitted at present as long as there is a maximum of two viewers. Otherwise all watchers will be asked to leave. Two people seated is the present rule for PC use in the Library.

New books just accessioned this week are...
Senior boys are reminded that the Andrews library is their only access to library books and that they are welcome to work there at any time. (Computers are juniors only)

Senior fiction:
Kane & Abel- Jeffrey Archer, The Prodigal Daughter- Jeffrey Archer, Absolute Truth – Stephen Frey, Death’s Jest Book- Reginald Hill, The Secret Familiar- Catherine Jinks, Bell Canto- Ann Patchett, The Conspiracy Club-Jonathan Kellerman, The Chameleon’s Shadow- Minette Walters, Writing On The Wall-Simon Morley(non-fiction), Shakespeare-Bill Bryson(non-fiction), The Cancer Prevention Manual-Fred Stephens(non-fiction).

Junior Fiction:
Letters To A Princess-Libby Hathorn, Lords And Ladies-Terry Pratchett, Michaela The Whaler- Peter McFarlane, The Horrible Holiday-Catherine Jinks, The Ghost And Bertie Boggin- Martin Waddell, No Place For Grubbs! – Max Dann, Tanith - Sherryl Jordan, In The Blood- Jackie French, Klontarf- Colin Thiele,  The Blue Dress-Libby Hathorn, Worried Sick - Rachel Flynn,  Asterix 3 books in 1-Albert Uderzo, The Wall-Peter Sis, Does My Head Look Big In This?- Randa Abdel Fattah

Non-Fiction
For Juniors The Gadget Book - Chris Woodford and Jon Woodcock, Convict Fremantle - Michal Bosworth, Pakistan - Clarissa Aykroyd, Environment At Risk - Louise Spilsbury, Analyse This :Understanding Scientific Enquiry - Susan Glass . For Seniors Shakespeare,the World as a Stage – Bill Bryson,  The Cancer Preventions Manual  (OBC) Professor Fred Stephens MD.

Mrs Crothers
Librarian

SRC

Throughout the first half of Term 2 the SRC has been busy working on the projects initiated at the beginning of the year. Our number one priority has been to make the Talent Quest a success. Dale Chen (Year 11) and Isnad Zaman (Year 10) have been working with the Sydney Girls SRC to organise the event. It is being held this Friday, the 19th of June at SGHS Hall. It has been an eagerly awaited event on the SRC calendar, with numerous acts being signed up. The Environment Committee is working on the rubbish problem at the school, as suggested by Dr Jaggar. A week long survey is being conducted and the recommendations will then be put forward in a report to the Principal.

Dale Chen (SRC President 2009) has been elected as the North East Regional representative to attend the State SRC three day camp in August. Dale was voted in by students from a range of schools who attended the regional meeting last Thursday at Rose Bay Secondary College. The SRC would like to congratulate him on his success. This is the second year running that a student from Sydney Boys High School has been elected as the Regional SRC State Representative; previously the position was held by Patrick Desmond (School Captain 2009).

Currently SRC online forums and weekly meetings have been alive with a number of topics that are being hotly debated. One concern that has risen is that the crowd participation at GPS events is not satisfactory. Policing these events has been put forward as a possible solution. Committee's have been created to tackle the awareness of what goes into the recycling bins, the slippery stairs around the school and sun protection for students. We are working hard on these new projects and hope to finish certain projects by the end of this term.
Anirban Ghose
Yr 11 SRC Secretary High Society

P&C: High Society

The Bulletin Board for Sydney Boys High P & C Julie Connolly P&C President

Invitation to all Parents and Staff, to attend the Annual Joint Meeting of P & C Associations Sydney Boys High School and Sydney Girls High School

7.30pm, Wednesday 24 June 2009

The Campbell Hall Sydney Girls High School

Topic: "Motivating and Engaging Students"
Dr Andrew Martin
BA (Hons), Med (Hons), PhD, MAPS Child & Educational Psychologist Assoc. Professor (University of Sydney)

Dr Andrew Martin is an Educational Psychologist specialising in student motivation and achievement. His research has won international awards and in 2003 he was listed in The Bulletin magazine's 'SMART 100 Australians' (and in the Top 10 in the field of Education). His first book, How to Motivate Your Child for School and Beyond (2003, Random House Australia), provides practical strategies for parents and teachers to motivate and engage children. His new title, How To Help Your Child Fly Through Life: The 20 Big Issues (2005, Random House Australia), answers the most important educational questions facing parents and their children today.

Upcoming Parent Meetings & Events (details in High Notes)

• Rugby Committee Meeting Wednesday 24th June, 6pm, Staff Common Room
• Joint SBHS and SGHS P&C Meeting Wednesday 24th June, 7.30pm, Campbell Hall, SGHS (please note change of date –this was previously advertised as Thursday 25th June)
• Music Cabaret Night Saturday 27th June, 6.30pm, Great Hall
• Year 11 Parents Group 7:30pm, Wednesday 30th June, Staff Common Room

If you would like to have any parent community news or upcoming events included in High Society, please contact Julie Connolly, P&C President, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it ; 0418 470 203.

Enrolments for 2010

Application forms are available from the school, or from www.sydneyboyshigh.com via the link to 'enrolments'. If you have siblings or friends who are interested in applying to Sydney Boys High School in 2010 for Years 8-12 we would appreciate you passing on this information. Limited places available.

Applications close 30th July 2009.

Music Notices

Cabaret Night
Our Annual Cabaret Night will be held on Saturday the 27th of June 2009 this term with the all day Jazz workshop on Friday the 26th of June for all members of the Stage Band. This will be an entertaining evening. All members of Stage Band, Senior Concert Band and Symphony Orchestra will be involved on Cabaret Night.

Please bring a plate of food to share with your table and BYO drinks.

Music Tour
The next instalment of $1500 is due on the 30th June 2009, please make payments directly to Angas Travel and they will provide us with receipt of payments on the 2nd of July 2009. Please Mail to: ANGAS Travel, 303 Angas St, Adelaide, South Australia, 5000. Toll Free no. 1800 671 331

HSC Music Workshop
There will be a combined Music Workshop with SGHS for HSC Elective Music students on Tuesday the 16th of June 2009 from 3:30-5:30pm in their Campbell Hall (SGHS). The workshop will be a great opportunity for the students from both schools to hear and critique each other and have feedback on their own performances. Students in HSC Music 1, Music 2 and Music Extension will each present one piece on the day.

Marching Band - Photos
Photos of the Marching Band from the ANZAC Day performance are available on the Student R Drive under Music – Marching Band. If you have any additional photos taken from ANZAC Day or the performance at the Heritage game in the SCG we would greatly appreciate you forwarding them to the Music Department for our Music Tour promotion next year. Please contact us on 9361-6910 (Ext. 109) or email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Fundraising for Music Tour 2010 – ENTERTAINMENT Books
Entertainment Books (June09-June10) are on sale now through the Main Office with 20% of each sale contributing towards fundraising for the Music tour. Please support the students involved by purchasing an Entertainment Book which offers many discounts on dining and entertainment across all of Sydney and the Inner West.

A printable form to purchase an Entertainment Book is available in the PDF version of the High Notes

Rifle Shooting

Rifle Shooting Trip to Wingham: Report
With just one week passing after having left for Armidale, The Sydney High Rifle Team prepared for another trip up to the country. The 5th of June 2009 saw 7 of the guys that had just come back from Armidale preparing for another camping trip up to Wingham to compete in the Wingham Open Rifle Championships for the second year in a row.

Reaching the obscure, peaceful country town at 11pm in the pitch black darkness of a state forest, we rose to a cold and frosty winter morning and unpacked our rifles, gear and optimism, ready to shoot. This was a rifle championship competition, the real thing, with competitors coming from all around Australia to hone their skills and try their hands at coming home with some delectable prizes. These were full-grown adults we were competing against and we learned not to underestimate them when their first scores were posted up, absolutely obliterating our past personal bests.

Nevertheless we put these thoughts at the back of our minds, got down on the lush green grass with rifles and ammo in hand to shoot. The best thing about this range was the complete absence of wind, so some of us did end up posting competitive scores. And despite the fact that we were meant to be competing against them, the other shooters assigned to our targets were keen to help us improve our techniques. We each bonded with a lot of the shooters on our respective targets, making new friends and a consequent testament to the camaraderie and joviality of our cherished sport.

The first day ended with a well deserved food break, harsh scrutinising/marvelling at the other scores posted up and the daily cleaning of our rifles. Many of our shooters produced top notch scores, with Ryan Woo scoring his first possible (a perfect score) and winning a gold medal and Brendan Leo, Michael Do and Denis Stojanovic coming home with medals of their own. But with most of these winners having gone off into town to gorge themselves on instant noodles and confectionery, it was up to us less unfortunate shooters, like myself, to collect their medals and present them to their rightful owners. That behind us, we enjoyed a beautiful country dinner provided by the Wingham Rifle Club and walked back to our tent, setting up a campfire, roasting marshmallows, helping push cars out of bogs and socialising on the reflection of a wonderful day.

The next day did not start so well, with a torrential downpour of rain drenching the rifle range and its inhabitants from head to toe. We ended up migrating to the clubhouse to await the proceedings of the day, which involved possible cancellations of the matches or even shooting in this horrific weather.

But almost as quickly as it appeared, the rain suddenly stopped. Looking past the absurdity of it all, we went out and prepared for another day of shooting. Despite this earlier weather, it eventually became as sunny and warm as yesterday and we enjoyed another beautiful day of shooting, posting up some more competitive scores whilst manoeuvring past (some more successful than others) the fresh puddles of mud the morning generated.

The end of the day heralded the presentation. We were anxious to hear the official results despite our consistent scrutinising of the competing scores throughout the entire competition beforehand. They came and we were pleasantly surprised with our performance. Ryan Woo and Brendan Leo came 3rd and 2nd in C Grade respectively and won the C Grade pairs match (their prize of a 6-pack of beer being quickly traded in for soft drinks) plus some more medals on the day for outstanding scores. I myself came 5th in B Grade and won my first ever medal for a somewhat fluky effort today. And the Sydney High School Rifle Team won the Mo Burdett schools team trophy for the second year in a row.

Thanks must go to the coaches Justin Hill, Kevin Chan and Joe Banh and our MIC Cathy Meaney for putting up with our inflated pride, anguish and various equipment malfunctions throughout the trip, our parents for bothering to produce the entry fees and trusting our good behaviour away from home, the Wingham Rifle Club for their hospitality and great food and my fellow shooters. Even though some of you returned with more prizes than others, a special mention must go towards your undying efforts and I’m sure you will all take the experience of this trip with goodwill. You all made the trip just that more enjoyable and exciting for me at least and I am proud of being your captain for 2009.
Matthew Tong
Captain of Rifles 2009

Phillip J. Day Scholarship Dinner

You are invited to the Phillip J. Day Scholarship Dinner, 7pm on September 8 in the Great Hall.

Alcohol will be available, BYOG.

Welcome: Neville Morgan (class of '65)
Pianist: Alex Belokopytov
1st Recipient: Alex Belokopytov
Speaker: Joseph E. McIvor (class of '01)
Subject: Capitalism and the Free Market are Dead

(A corporate, tax deductible professional learning opportunity)

A printable form to purchase tickets for the Phillip J. Day Scholarship Dinner is available in the PDF version of the High Notes.