From the Principal

Farewell edition for 2010
As this is our last High Notes for the year, I would like to thank all students, staff, parents, Old Boys and friends of High who have contributed to all the great things that have happened at High this year. I want to thank all the regular contributors to High Notes and to our advertisers who have helped defray costs. In particular, I want to thank Cathy Northey, our High Notes editor, for her work this year in producing the publication each week. I urge all parents to have High Notes sent to them electronically.

School Certificate 2010
It is now official. Year 9 tried harder and performed better in the School Certificate tests in Australian Geography, History, Civics and Citizenship than their Year 10 counterparts. In Geography, 197 students earned a mean of 85.09 with a standard deviation of 4.67. Year 10 had 199 students achieve a mean of 84.07 with a standard deviation of 5.42. In band 6 results, Year 9 outshone Year 10 with 33 to 27. In History, the Year 9 mean was 81.99 with a standard deviation of 6.05, while Year 10 scored 81.37 with a standard deviation of 6.71. In band 6 results, Year 10 squeezed past Year 9 with 29 to 28. The experiment of having the courses compacted seems to have been a success in that it was practicable. The challenge for the next few years is whether we can both deliver the telescoped course and inspire the boys to want to perform well at the School Certificate examinations. I am confident that in succeeding years we will improve on both our delivery and on our results.

Group results for Year 10 in mathematics were: mean 92,94, SD 4.79, z-score 1.78 (obtained by dividing the difference between the school mean and the state mean by the state standard deviation). English literacy figures were: mean 86.03,SD 4.06, z-score 1.09. Science statistics were: mean 86.81, SD 5.0, z-score 0.99. Computing skills data were: mean 90.54, SD 4.32, z-score 1.02. The combined Australian History results for 396 boys were: mean 81.68, SD 6.38, z-score 1.02. The outcomes for Australian Geography for 396 students were: 84.58, SD 5.07 and z-score 1.09. The fears held by some, that having a very large cohort sit for some of the tests at the School Certificate and weaken the outcomes badly, were unfounded.

The Library Fund 2010
Contributions to the Library Fund in 2010 were $110,263. We had the support of 882 families, c.76% of our population. We think that support of our two libraries is a most important foundation of our school funding strategy and I urge all families to contribute to the tax deductible supply of great services in two libraries. Total funds available were $138,666. This year the funds were spent on the following: a new security system for the senior library ($18,295), salaries, wages and overtime for both libraries and archives ($85,229), books, journals, periodicals and photocopy, printing ($32,068), maintenance ($315). The carried forward amount is $2684.64. In reality, the true costs of running both libraries were not all charged against the Library Fund. Approximately $20,000 was covered by school funds. The estimated cost of running the two libraries for 2011 is: salaries, wages and overtime $106,000; books, materials, journals, printing costs $33,000. The school budget can only afford $20,000 to be applied to the libraries. It is really important that the school community supports the learning of their sons at the 80% rate or better, if we are to maintain or improve existing services.

The Sydney Boys High School Building Fund
The Sydney Boys High Building Fund has two purposes: first, complete necessary capital maintenance works at school and second, to accumulate funds for a major building project – a multi-purpose centre for performing arts. Donations for the year totalled $165,013 or $150 from 1100 families. Included in this figure are: distributions from the Centenary Building Fund, the Monthly Giving Scheme donations and the One-Off donations, so fewer than 1100 families actually donated. Nonetheless, the great support from the High community is much appreciated. Interest of $24,319.55 was accumulated, along with $1,137 of recouped GST payments. Total receipts for the year were $190,470.45, up 3.6% on 2009 despite lower interest payments due to the timing of term deposits rolling over. Total funds available were $954,442. School refurbishment and capital maintenance expenses were $53,318 and GST$1621.38. The carried forward balance was $899,502. The funding strategy for 2011 is to pare back on capital maintenance as much as possible to increase the ratio of the fund that is sequestered for future investment in a major building project. We also want to encourage additional donations to push ahead the quantum of the retained capital well past $1,000,000 in 2011.

Financial Management
More frequent reporting of expenditures against budgets and more rigorous monitoring of expenses will be required from all MICs and program managers next year. The monthly income and expenditure spreadsheets produced by the Principal will be sent to MICs and P&C Committees by the Head Teacher Sport or the Principal’s Assistant for analysis. A completed spreadsheet detailing monthly expenditures and future expenditures will be required from each program. A compulsory briefing for MICs and Committee members will be held early in the term in 2011. The school’s accounting system will be explained and the expectations for management, monitoring and reporting will be detailed. Managing the school’s budget is a time-consuming and complex activity. Too many program managers are either untrained or neglectful of proper accounting process. This situation must change to avoid the embarrassing over expenditures that have crippled the budget in 2010.
Dr K A Jaggar

End of year arrangements

Classes for Years 7, 8, 9 and 11 will finish at 12:32pm on Wednesday 15 December. Boys may go home at this time. The Canteen will be open at Recess. If boys wish to wait for the normally scheduled buses, supervision will be available in the Junior Quadrangle. Thursday 16 December and Friday 17 December are Staff Development days.

I hope that everyone has an enjoyable (and safe) Christmas and New Year and that everyone returns refreshed for the 2011 school year. School resumes for staff on Friday 28 January 2011, for Years 7, 11 and 12 2011 students on Monday 31 January and for Years 8, 9 and 10 2011 students on Tuesday 1 February.
R Dowdell

What’s Up in the McDonald Senior Library?

2010 has seen many changes in the McDonald Senior Library. The book collection has expanded markedly with many more fantastic resources transferred from the Andrews Junior Library including Visual Arts, Economics, History and remaining HSC and Preliminary study guides as well as many brand new titles being added. New books are still being added and as the end of year fast approaches there are many books to choose from to borrow and read during the summer! This will be the final article from the McDonald Senior Library for 2010. We look forward to seeing you all up here utilizing the library and enjoying the expanded services and collection in the new school year. Have a great holiday!

New Books

House Rules by Jodi Picoult – Picoult’s books usually deal with issues that have become relevant and often controversial in today’s society. Despite her novels being about serious and important issues they are also compelling page-turners that have remained on the best seller lists for a long time. This book is about Jacob Hunt a teenage boy with Asperger’s syndrome. Jacob is interested in forensic science and helps the police solve crimes but when his tutor is found dead it is he that is accused of murder.

The Returners by Gemma Malley – Will Hodge isn’t happy at home or at school. When he begins to dream about the past and see strange people following him he realises that there is something significant and dangerous in his past, a “past far deeper than most”, and which he has no recollection of. As he struggles to break free of the powerful hold that history has on him he realises that he is a “returner”, “people who have been reincarnated and whose destiny is to recall the atrocities they have witnessed in the past.” Other books by this critically acclaimed author are The Declaration and The Resistance both great reads and both set in a dystopian world as this one is.

The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafon – Described by reviewers as a Gothic, thriller, mystery novel set in post World War II Barcelona. This is a story within a story after Daniel, “initiated into the Cemetery of Forgotten Books by his father, chooses a book titled The Shadow of the Wind and becomes obsessed with the author whose tragic and dramatic life is revealed. Daniel’s own life becomes intermingled with that of his author and the story becomes one described as “a big thrilling romp through glorious Barcelona, in pursuit of true love and an elusive writer.” (Courier-Mail)

Into White Silence by Anthony Eaton – “During the winter of 1922, the exploration vessel Raven became trapped in the Antarctic icepack, entombing 28 men aboard it through the dark polar night.” This novel is the story of the men amid the fascinating beauty and the terrible danger of Antarctica. (book blurb)

The Sound of One Hand Clapping by Richard Flanagan – recommended by a student at this school this novel set in Tasmania is the story of the mysterious disappearance of a mother and the relationship between daughter and father left behind. This is “a dazzling novel of war, family and migration...from one of Australia’s most acclaimed writers.” (book blurb)

Jasper Jones by Craig Silvey – this is a terrific read about a boy called Charlie Bucktin living in a small Australian country town during the summer of 1965. His help is enlisted by Jasper Jones, an outcast of mixed-race whom Charlie finds fascinating and admirable, “a figure of danger and intrigue”, to find the killer of a local girl that Jasper has been seeing. Seen through the eyes of Charlie the reader experiences his feelings of guilt at keeping such a horrible secret, of first love, and his relationships with his best friend Jeffrey, his tempestuous mother and admired and stable father. This has been described as “an Australian To Kill a Mockingbird” (The Monthly) “impossible to put down...There’s tension, injustice, young love, hypocrisy..” and fits in well with the belonging theme for HSC English course.

The Spire by Richard North Patterson – Best-selling author Patterson has written a new thriller. When Mark Darrow returns to his old school to catch up with his old mentor and professor Lionel Farr he becomes involved in a court case that will affect the outcome of a 16 year old murder trial where his best friend had been gaoled for life. After discovering that the case against his friend left crucial questions unanswered Darrow begins his own inquiry into the murder. When another mysterious death occurs he finds his own life in danger.

Other brand new books on display for loan over the holidays!
Cloudstreet by Tim Winton; Breath by Tim Winton; What the Dog Saw and other adventures by Malcolm Gladwell; Making Short Films: The complete guide from script to screen by Clifford Thurlow; Terribly Twisted Tales; Auslander by Paul Dowswell; Anonymity Jones by James Roy; The Curious Case of Benjamin Button and six other stories by F.Scott Fitzgerald; Blueeyed boy by Joanne Harris; Raft by Howard Goldenberg; So Yesterday: a novel by Scott Westerfeld; The story of Tom Brennan; A Short History of Tractors in Ukrainian by Marina Lewycka; Precious: based on the novel ‘Push’ by Sapphire; Exploring Short Stories Volume Two edited by Peter Adams.
Ms Gordon
Teacher Librarian
McDonald Senior Library

From the Junior Library

HAVE A GOOD READ THESE HOLIDAYS.  If you run out of reading material don’t forget to stock up on Fun reading at your local library.

HUGE THANKS TO OUR 129 LIBRARY MONITORS who do such a great job shelving our resources.

YEAR 11/YEAR 12 - NEED A FLYING START TO YOUR HSC YEAR? – See Study Assist Site on Moodle - new info

BOYS NEEDING TO REVISE WHOLE SUBJECTS AS HSC PREPARATION?

AND YEAR 12 BOYS NEEDING TO USE THE HOLIDAYS WISELY?

Please refer to the Study Assist Site on Moodle – new info added. Elevate Education has sent in a very interesting article with great hints for getting a flying start to your HSC year by reading all your English novels over the holidays and lots of other useful hints.

For boys who may need a big catch up on a whole subject – Year 12 HSC Summer School – is revising whole subjects – Info on this is on Study Assist Site on Moodle
Veronica Crothers
Librarian

Semester 2 Academic Merit List

Congratulations to the following boys whose excellent academic achievements in Semester 2 are recognised .

Year 12 Academic Merit

Liam AYLMER
Justin CHAN
Dale CHEN
Jason DING
Michael DO
Eric FENG
Oliver FIO
Matthew FONG
Adarsh GEORGE
James HAN
Jia HE
Patrick HSIAO
Hugh HUANG
Shejil KUMAR
Jeffrey LAM
Michael LE
Ivan LI
Tian Yu LI
Kai LIN
Andy LIU
Robert LU
Vithushan MOHAN
Mario MORENO
Phillip NGUYEN
Jeremy RAJENDRAM
Ashwin RAMESH
Sameep SANDHU
Paul SIMOS
Joshua SUTTON
Kieran TAYLOR
Aaron TRAN
Mohit TUGNAIT
Arif UDDIN
Michael WANG
Nelson WANG
Christopher WONG
Evan WONG
Stephen YOON
Adrian ZHANG
Roger ZHANG

Year 11 Academic Merit

Rahib AZWAD
Samuel BESTON
Lawrence CAI
Timothy CHAN
Johnny CHEN
Simon CHEN
Kit Man CHENG
Terence CHIEM
Aaron CHIN
Dennis DAO
Andrew GAFFNEY
Declan GOREY
Andrew HAU
Dennis KIM
Vivian LE
Daniel LI
Leon LI
Richard LI
Allen LIAO
Kevin Z LIN
Wen Jia LIU
Austin LY
Jonathan MOK
Daniel OH
Carl PAN
Maaz RAHMAN
Sujay SALAGAME
Abdullah SARKER
Varun SETHI
Tahmid SHAHRIYAR
Dawen SHI
Raghib SIDDIQUEE
Hashan SUBASINGHE
Jeffrey TANG
Kevin TIAN
Peter TRAN
Vincent WANG
Max WEI
Yale WONG
Andy WU
Jiatong ZHOU

Year 10 Academic Merit

Jonathan ADHIKA
William BAXTER
Christopher CHIAM
Ming CHIN
Timothy CHIN
Sudam DIAS
Simon DO
Krishnendu DUTTA
Lucas FANG
Shi FENG
Andrew FONG
Nicholas HAN
Harry HEO
William HO
Raymond HUA
Abeer KHAN
Jim KOUKOURAS
Kevin KRAHE
Patrick KRAKOVSKY
Kenny LAU
Oscar LEE
Frank LI
Gary LIANG
Ennes MEHMEDBASIC
Zafar MOHAMED RIZVI
Nicholas OOI
Ming PAN
Jun-Hyuk PARK
Michael PHAM
Sooraj PRAKASH
Suman PRUSTY
Shubash QUAZI
Jonathan REN
Serag SALEH
Siddharth SETHI
Vivek SHAH
Gavin SUTTON
Stephen TRANG
Peter WU
Jerry ZHOU

Year 9 Academic Merit

Vasu BHAKRI
Andrew CHA
Darryl CHAN
James CHAN
Albert CHAU
James CHEN
Victor CHEW
Jisoo CHUNG
Jonathan CLEMENTS-LENDRUM
Denny DIEN
Kenneth HO
Victor HO
Yang HU
Sikandar HUSSAINI
Marcus JAMES
Bob JIN
Tushar JOSHI
Anup KALUVE
Daniel KIM
Maurice LAM
Brian LEUNG
Edwin LI
Ian LI
William MA
Dominic MAH
Agnish NAYAK
Alexander NGUYEN
Jay NORMAN
Jaan PALLANDI
Kin PAN
Anirudh RAMESH
Thilan SUBASINGHE
Safat SUFIAN
Daniel TAM
Subhash VISWANADHAM
Danny VO
Andrew WEI
Eric XU
Terence ZHOU

Year 8 Academic Merit

Andrew BUI
Christopher CHAN
Christopher CHEN
Jesse COOPER
Tom DU
William DU
George FARRUGIA
Henry FENG
Wenbo GONG
Howard GU
Brendan HANCOX
Aaron HASSAN
Riley IRWIN
Anes KARAHASAN
Alex KUANG
Gideon KWOK
John KWON
Philip LAM
Kohen LAU
Eugene LEE
Lokgei LEE
Darren LI
Joseph LUI
Jeramy MA
Yu Peng MAN
Samuel PHAM
Charlie SHI
Robert TAN
Willars TAN
Edric WANG
Sida WANG
Nathan WANG-LY
Aaron WONG
Yiu Tao WONG
William WU
Michael YU
Andrew ZHANG
Jason ZHANG
Jason Fan ZHANG

Year 7 Academic Merit

Sudarshan ARVIND
Vishnu AVUDAINAYAGAM
Marc BETBEDER-MATIBET
Brian CHAN
Yu-Fan CHEN
Desmond CHIANG
Victor GAO
Thomas GEORGE
Dexter GORDON
Nader HAIDAR
Richard HAO
Luke HOAD
Hardy HUANG
Renjith JOSEPH
Kevin KE
Phillip KING
Ian LAI
Jason LIM
Jason LIN
Kelvin LIN
Mike LIU
Leonard MAH
Philip MAI
Adilmorad NADIR
Benjamin NGUYEN
Martin NGUYEN
Jesse NIXON
Gautham SHANKAR
Michael SIU
Bosco TRAN
Oliver TSEU-TJOA
Chen Yu WANG
Ki On Alex WONG
Jonathan WU
Madison WU
Carl YANG
Paul YU
Liam AYLMER
Justin CHAN
Dale CHEN
Jason DING
Jonathan DU
Eric FENG
Oliver FIO
Matthew FONG
Adarsh GEORGE
Anirban GHOSE
James HAN
Patrick HSIAO
Hugh HUANG
Jeffery JIANG
Shejil KUMAR
Jeffrey LAM
Michael LE
Ronald LEE
Ivan LI
Kai LIN
Richard LIN
Andy LIU
Robert LU
Vithushan MOHAN
Mario MORENO
Phillip NGUYEN
Jeremy RAJENDRAM
Sameep SANDHU
Paul SIMOS
Joshua SUTTON
Aaron TRAN
Mohit TUGNAIT
Arif UDDIN
Michael WANG
Nelson WANG
Christopher WONG
Ding YAN
Stephen YOON
Adrian ZHANG
Roger ZHANG

Year 11 Academic Merit

Nikhil AUTAR
Rahib AZWAD
Samuel BESTON
Lawrence CAI
Timothy CHAN
Charlie CHAU
Simon CHEN
Kit Man CHENG
Terence CHIEM
Aaron CHIN
Dennis DAO
Andrew GAFFNEY
Declan GOREY
Kerry HO
Dennis KIM
Peter LAM
Vivian LE
Allen LIAO
Kevin Z LIN
Wen Jia LIU
Henry LU
Austin LY
Dominic NGUYEN
Daniel OH
Carl PAN
Kevin PHAN
Maaz RAHMAN
Ashwin RUDDER
Abdullah SARKER
Varun SETHI
Tahmid SHAHRIYAR
Raghib SIDDIQUEE
Jeffrey TANG
Kevin TIAN
Peter TRAN
Vincent WANG
Max WEI
Michael WONG
Yale WONG
Jiatong ZHOU

Year 10 Academic Merit

Jonathan ADHIKA
Ahdil ANSAREEN
Tony CHEN
Christopher CHIAM
Ming CHIN
Timothy CHIN
Sudam DIAS
Krishnendu DUTTA
Lucas FANG
Shi FENG
Nicholas HAN
Harry HEO
William HO
Raymond HUA
Abeer KHAN
Jim KOUKOURAS
Kevin KRAHE
Patrick KRAKOVSKY
Kenny LAU
Gary LIANG
Ennes MEHMEDBASIC
Ming PAN
Marc PARADEZA
Jun-Hyuk PARK
Sooraj PRAKASH
Shubash QUAZI
Jonathan REN
Aman SAKSENA
Serag SALEH
Siddharth SETHI
Vivek SHAH
Robert STERNHELL
Gavin SUTTON
Nathan TANG
Stephen TRANG
Kah-Yang WONG
Andrew WU
Peter WU
Yujin WU
Jerry ZHOU

Year 9 Academic

Merit Vasu BHAKRI
Andrew CHA
James CHAN
Albert CHAU
James CHEN
Victor CHEW
Jisoo CHUNG
Jonathan CLEMENTS-LENDRUM
Daniel CORDAS
Denny DIEN
Kenneth HO
Jason HU
Yang HU
Sikandar HUSSAINI
Bob JIN
Anup KALUVE
Maurice LAM
Brian LEUNG
Edwin LI
Ian LI
Cosmo LIU
Edward LUU
William MA
Dominic MAH
Ivor METCALF
Agnish NAYAK
Alexander NGUYEN
Jaan PALLANDI
Kin PAN
Kevin PHAM
Anirudh RAMESH
Marco STOJANOVIK
Thilan SUBASINGHE ARACHCHIG
Safat SUFIAN
Daniel TAM
Dominic TRAN
Subhash VISWANADHAM
Andrew WEI
Eric XU
Jeffrey YANG
Calum YORK
Hans ZHANG
Terence ZHOU

Year 8 Academic Merit

Christopher CHAN
Christopher CHEN
Jesse COOPER
Tom DU
William DU
George FARRUGIA
Henry FENG
Jason GARRETT
Wenbo GONG
Aaron HASSAN
Michael HAUSER
Riley IRWIN
Anes KARAHASAN
Brendan KONG
Gideon KWOK
John KWON
Philip LAM
Kohen LAU
Eugene LEE
Lokgei LEE
Darren LI
Joseph LUI
Yu Peng MAN
Samuel PHAM
Robert TAN
Brandon VU
Edric WANG
Sida WANG
Nathan WANG-LY
Aaron WONG
William WU
Harrison XU
Rex YI
Michael YU
Charlie ZENG
Andrew ZHANG
Glanden ZHENG
Wei Li ZHUANG

Year 7 Academic Merit

Sudarshan ARVIND
Vishnu AVUDAINAYAGAM
David BANG
Marc BETBEDER-MATIBET
Ganeshmoorthy CHANDRASEKARAN
Yu-Fan CHEN
Desmond CHIANG
Thomas GEORGE
Richard HAO
Luke HOAD
Chris HUANG
Renjith JOSEPH
Kevin KE
Ian LAI
Kelvin LAU
Newton LE
Garwerd LIANG
Kelvin LIANG
Kevin LIANG
Jason LIN
Mike LIU
Leonard MAH
Philip MAI
Adilmorad NADIR
Benjamin NGUYEN
Martin NGUYEN
Kevin Zihong NI
Jesse NIXON
Jun PARK
Shreyas PULAPAKA
Michael SIU
Raunak SURA
Bosco TRAN
Oliver TSEU-TJOA
Ki On Alex WONG
Edward WU
Jonathan WU
Madison WU
Paul YU
Yilun ZHOU

Careers News

UMAT 2011
Will be held on Wednesday 27 July 2011. UMAT is used specifically to assist with the selection of students into medicine, dentistry and health science degree programs at undergraduate level. Intensive preparation is not advisable or necessary. However, as with any test, some practice in answering questions of a similar type, and under similar time constraints as those found in the real test, is helpful and reassuring to most candidates. To this end, UMAT preparation materials are available from http://umat.acer.edu.au.

UMAT Sample Questions and Practice Papers
MedStart is inviting you to do a free full-length UMAT Practice Paper. Download: http://www.medstart.com.au/free-sample-questions.php 

University of Wollongong Discovery Days 2011
Experience a day in the life of a uni student. There will not be any course info available. 7 to 11 February 2011. Contact: 1300 367 869.

Register here: http://www.discoverydays.internetrix.net/  http://discoveryday.uow.edu.au/index.html  or http://www.uow.edu.au/index.htm 

Scientia Challenge Program for Years 7-10 at UNSW
For gifted and talented high school students in Years 7-10. Workshops from a number of academic disciplines taught over three days.

Workshop Dates: January 19-21, April 18-20, July 11-13. Duration: Three days from 9.00am to 3.30pm each day Fee: $450 Visit: http://gerric.arts.unsw.edu.au/for-gifted-students/scientia-challenge-program/ 

Macquarie University Info Day 2011
Info about: alternative pathways, accommodation, Transition Program, sport and rec facilities. 9am – 4pm Wednesday 5 January Full article: http://www.infoday.mq.edu.au/index.html

UNSW Info Day 2011
UNSW Info Day is your opportunity to get advice about changing your preferences. Speak with staff and students about undergraduate programs and life as a UNSW student. Wednesday 5 January 2011. UNSW Infoline 9385 1110 UNSW Student Recruitment Office 9385 1844 This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it   http://www.unsw.edu.au/futureStudents/undergrad/pad/infoday/index.html

This is the final Careers News for 2010. The Careers News section in the student portal will be updated during the Christmas Holidays. Have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
Anthony D. Cipolla
Careers Adviser

ALC National Language Certificate Tests

In 2010 students from Sydney Boys High School sat the ALC (Assessment of Language Competence) National Language Certificate Tests in French and German and achieved excellent results. Many students achieved well above the State average in both the Listening and Reading exams.

In French Certificate 2 (Intermediate), 100% of Year 9 students achieved Distinctions or Credits in Listening (State average 73.6%) and 92.3% in Reading skills (State average 72.4%). In Reading skills 61.5% of our students achieved a Distinction compared to the State average of 25.1%.

In French Certificate 3 (Advanced), 93.9% of Years 10 and 11 students achieved a score of Credit, Distinction or High Distinction in Listening compared to the State average of 84.2% and 100% in Reading Skills (State average 84.3%).

In German Certificate 2 (Intermediate), 100% of Year 9 students achieved a score of Credit or Distinction in Listening compared to the State average of 67% and 88.9% in Reading (State average 68.9%).

In German Certificate 3 (Advanced), 85.7% of Year 10 students achieved a High Distinction, Distinction or Credit in Listening (State average 85.1%) with two students, Ennes Mehmedbasic and Michail Schwarz achieving perfect scores and 92.8% in Reading (State average 82.8%).
Ms M Vozzo

Die deutsche Frage

Remember last week’s translation questions? The “High Notes” had barely hit the desks of the students when one keen little character accosted me on Playground Duty and provided the correct translation for two of the three sentences. No chocolate bar for only two, I told him and suggested that he go and get a BIG print dictionary from the Language Staff Room as the Google translator couldn’t help him. Within minutes he was back, beaming:

1. Er hält die Weltschale in seinen Händen. – He holds the world cup in his hands (literally: the world bowl)
    
2. Wir haben viele Kröpfe auf der Farm. – We have many crops on the farm. (Literally: goitres – medical term for a thyroid problem)
    
3. Mein Vater ist eine Zündflamme. – My father is a pilot. (literally: a pilot light!)

Niyaz Mostafa from Year 7 was the bright spark and he got his reward. Moral of the story: double check your translations – and a print dictionary is still a very good tool to have. And now for the last question of the year: why was last Monday a very special day for children in Germany?
Frau St Leon

Sports Donations

GPS sports competition is very demanding on people and resources. At High we have ongoing needs for facilities development, equipment and development through expert coaching. If you would like to help through a tax deductible donation for a particular sport, the appropriate form can be posted to you by calling 9361 6910. Alternatively, you can go to our website www.sydneyboyshigh.com click on Sport /Sports Donations to download either Development Donation Form or Equipment and Facility Donation Form.

Lost Property

If you have lost an item of clothing, sports/school shoes, or any other article please ensure you stop by Lost Property before the last day of term, as all the contents of Lost Property will be sent to the High Store. Thank You

From the Canteen

Cocktail Thank You party this Monday 13 Dec from 5.30p.m.
Many thanks to all the volunteers at High including our canteen helpers extraordinaire!! See you there!

The end of the school year is near, so…..

• Not all of our normal food, especially snacks, will be available as we are running down our stock in readiness for the summer break. Thank you for your patience and understanding.
   
• We would like to thank our loyal volunteers for their contribution to the smooth running of the canteen. Our November prize winner of a $10 lunch voucher for their son is Usha Arvind
   
• Volunteer help is vital in ensuring healthy food for our boys and an ongoing income stream to the P&C for allocation to worthy school projects.
   
• Thank you to Betty Chan,Nina Liu, Jian Ping Li, Iris Lau, Kate Price,Vicki Moller, Cindy Tseu, Mary Nguyen, Alana Liang, Sachiyo James, Helen Chong, Katrina Morrow for their help last week AND to
   
• Everyone who has helped out this year. We look forward to seeing you back next year - we would love it if you brought a friend with you too!! Canteen is a great place to network with other parents - and get some great ideas for dinner as well!!
   
• Please phone Tracey and Karen on 9360 4027 to organize a day that suits. We really do need your help!

Thank you
The Canteen Team

From the High Store

The High Store last day of trading for 2010 will be Tuesday 14th Dec 2010.

The store will be CLOSED on Wed 15th Dec 2010 for stocktake. Please do NOT knock on door or call on this day.

Wishing all students & their families a Merry Xmas & a safe & Happy New Year.

Music Notes

Music Parking

We have been allocated our last Music Parking event (Sydney FC vs. Brisbane Roar football) for the year this Sunday on the 12th of December from 2pm-5pm. Please come along and help support the Music Performance Program if you are available, we really appreciate your time and effort and much needed funds go towards supporting the program. Award scheme points apply to students who volunteer.

Please RSVP your attendance to George Comninos: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it  

St Vincent’s Hospital Healing Arts Program rogram

The Senior Strings performed stunningly at St Vincent’s Hospital last Tuesday as part of the Healing Arts Program. The audience was highly moved by their professionalism and musical performance. Well done to all the boys involved and supporting the wonderful program at St. Vincent’s Hospital which will continue next year.

Music Tour Reunion Night

We apologise for the rescheduling of the Music Tour Reunion Night due to technical difficulties. The evening has been rescheduled to Monday the 13th of December 2010 at 6:30pm and all tour members and families are invited to attend this evening in the Great Hall. This will coincide with the P&C night starting at 5:30pm with light refreshments served and continue with Music Tour highlights. Mr Tony Hannon has spent many, many hours editing the footage so beautifully filmed by Bart Daniels (Year 10) and Thomas Diep (Year 11) and will be available on 2x DVDs for all tour members. If you would like to receive your copies on high definition blu-ray discs, please bring in blank discs to Mr Hannon to copy the tour concerts and highlights.

Please confirm your attendance with us at: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it by Monday 6th December 2010 and bring a plate of food to share to make is a festive and sociable evening. We look forward to seeing you all there. Music Tour Photos and Videos are now accessible to staff and students on the W Drive, Photo Archive, 2010, Music Tour 2010 (France & Flanders).

High Society

The Bulletin Board for Sydney Boys High P & C

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

Set up Your Individual Parent Portal Login

The Parents Portal on the school website has been further developed by the school’s IT department. Personalised individual logins are now available to access information specific to your son. Individual logins replace the generic Year Group logins we have been using. The generic logins will be phased out shortly, so create your own login NOW.

To create a personal account you will require the following two pieces of information:

1. The Family Correspondence Email address you supplied at enrolment.
    
2. The Student ID Number of your son/ward as printed on his timetable. If you have multiple children attending the school, any ID Number will suffice.

If you have trouble recalling the email address you supplied, your son can tell you by looking up the My Details section of the Student Portal. Alternatively, contact the school Administrative Office.

Once you have these two pieces of information, create a personal Parent Portal Account:

• Go to the school website www.sydneyboyshigh.com 
• Click Intranet Login in the bottom left-hand menu
• Click parent registration on the bottom right-hand corner of the screen that has opened and follow the instructions.

Securely store the individual username and password you have created to access the Parents Portal.

Once you have a personal account, you will be able to see:

• Absences
• Library Borrowings
• Carnival Results
• Laptop Details
• Timetable for your son/ward in the same fashion he can on the Student Portal.

PLUS:

• P&C BLOG
• Minutes from P&C meetings
• Additional Useful Parent Information

Your P&C Committee for 2011

Contact any of these representatives with your comments or questions regarding P&C issues: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

President - Julie Connolly
Vice-Presidents - Geoff Andrews, Seh Hang H’ng
Treasurer - Richard James
Secretary - Anne Wall,
Assistant Secretary - Deborah Cassell
Student Wellbeing Committee Representative - Fabienne Ovadia
P&C Catering and Event Coordinators - Sachiyo James, Nina Liu
P&C Website and Gmail Coordinator - Ian Sweeting
P&C Representatives to SHS Foundation - Julie Connolly, Geoff Andrews
P&C Representatives to School Council - Julie Connolly, Charles Ovadia, Geoff Andrews, Jeanette Brokman

Upcoming Meetings & Events

P&C Thank You Party – 5.30pm, Monday 13th December – Great Hall
Music Tour Reunion Night – combined with P&C Thank You Party – formal Reunion 7.30pm, refreshments before and after

SBHS Rowing Committee

Year 7 (Year 8 quads) Camp Report

Last Friday afternoon the Year Seven Rowers (Year 8 quads, as we are called) left school and boarded the Big MAN Bus and headed for Abbotsford. We were off for our rowing camp out at the sheds. It was pretty intense. We started with a new coach, Terrence, telling us about his rowing experience. He has won regional, state and national level races with his crews, and he told us that this was possible to achieve for anyone, providing you work hard. So we did. After his chat, we were out on the water and rowing hard for about 2 hours. We arrived back at the sheds after our first session, ate dinner (Cajun chicken, it was really good) then sat out on the pontoon singing (badly) the school song and rowing war cry very loudly to all the passing boats. We were shortly sent to bed.

We woke at 5:30am for a session, but despite the yawns and whingeing, the water was perfect. After this wearying session we headed in for brekky, then hit the water again (but not before a shed cleanup). Hayden was 1st quad's coach/cox and worked us to the absolute limit. After two back-to-back 1km rowouts we didn't know whether to laugh, cry, or throttle the grinning Hayden. All in all, after about 5-6 hours of rowing, 6 hours of sleep, and heaps of new friendships made and re-affirmed, we headed home. It was a great experience and I wouldn't have missed it for the world.
Jesse Nixon

Upcoming Events

We have our big triple event day of the season coming up this Saturday 11th December

‘Shed Race’ 8am start …. 9am finish. All boys need to be at the sheds by 6.30am. Every crew from Year 8 quads to School Senior VIIIs will compete in a handicapped 3.5km race down the Parramatta River finishing right outside our sheds. Good idea to arrive for the finish approx 8.45am. Not long after the race action the Family Regatta Day begins.

Family Regatta Day 10am This is the day we hope to see all the rower’s families, new intake of students and many of the school community enjoy an open day at the High Rowing Sheds. Everyone can have a try at rowing and a barbecue lunch is provided for all at a very reasonable price.

Boat Naming 11am We were able to buy a new single scull with the money raised from the High Rowing Challenge this year and the scull will be deservedly named after old boy and President of the Old Boys Union, Joseph Waugh (87). Please come and enjoy the celebration.

Next week at Rowing

Family Regatta Day & Boat Naming Ceremony

The Rowing Committee extends and invitation to the entire Sydney Boys High School community to come to the Sheds annual open day and the launch of the:

'Joseph Waugh' (single scull)
on Saturday 11th December 2010
at The Outterside Centre, 5 Teviot Avenue, Abbotsford
from 10am 'til 1pm at
Boat Naming Ceremony at 11am

We hope to see all the current rowing families as well as the 2011 new intake of students and the wider School community there to enjoy our open day and participate in the boat naming ceremony.

The Family Regatta Day is a relaxed, informal occasion where you can explore the 'Sheds', have lunch by the water, try your hand at rowing, or simply sit and watch the action. Also worth seeing at The Outterisde Centre is the large display of memorabilia from High Rowing's fascinating history since 1924.

After the Boat Naming ceremony, a barbecue lunch will be available.

SBHS Cricket

Sydney Boys High School WINS the Annual Match of the Louie Barberis Cup Cricket vs Melbourne High School

Thursday, 2nd of December and Friday, 3rd of December saw the annual clash between Sydney Boys High School and Melbourne High School in the U15 Competition. The weather was not kind to us all week with pouring rain on the Tuesday and Wednesday leading up to the matches. On Thursday it cleared enough to find a pitch dry to play on at Heffron Park. We got started late due to the wet weather and changed the format to a T20 game on Thursday. Melbourne High won the toss and elected to bat. Sydney High bowled and fielded extremely well and kept the opposition score to 81 runs. The main wicket takers for High were – Sagar Nagaraj – 2/17, Jay Norman 1/15, Oliver Meroni 2/8 and Owen Duffy 1/11. Sydney High were able to get the runs in the 11th over with some excellent batting by Owen Duffy 20 runs, Oliver Kirk 12 runs, Thilan Subasinghe 12 runs and Agnish Nayak 11 runs. The team was happy with the win, but the main challenge was to win the Cup on Friday in the 50 over game.

The weather had cleared enough for us on Friday and we were able to get an early start in the morning for the 50 over game. Sydney Boys High School won the toss and elected to bat first. We lost a quick wicket with Agnish Nayak caught for 2 runs. A promising partnership was growing between Owen Duffy and Oliver Meroni before Owen was caught for 26 runs. We then had a batting collapse losing Oliver Kirk and Ned Anson both for 0 followed by Oliver Meroni for 27 runs and Eamon Kelly for 5 runs. When we selected the team we were lucky enough to have some talent in the batting department by having the ability in the team to bat right down the order in case we got into this position. Thilan Subasinghe batted superbly for 30 runs. He was well supported by Shivaanger Thushyanthan 18 not out and Safat Sufian for 13 runs. We were able to bat out the 50 overs and we reached a total of 161 runs. Although this was not a great total it was a total the team could defend if they played to their potential. It was a great struggle all the way through the Melbourne innings with Melbourne looking like a win and then Sydney High would fight back by never giving up. Krishna for Melbourne was able to score 62 runs, however, Sydney Boys High School were able to bowl them out for 136 runs. High won the game by 24 runs and were the proud winners of the BARBERIS CUP TROPHY! Oliver Meroni bowled the spell of the game by bowling magnificently and was on a hat trick at one stage. He finished with the figures of 6 for 19 runs. These are the other bowlers who were able to get some wickets for High – Owen Duffy 1/22, Shivaanger Thushyanthan 1/12 and 2 team run outs.

Not only did High enjoy the cricket over these two days, but we were able to meet new people from a different City by billeting and socialising with Melbourne during the two days. This exchange of the two schools remains one of the highlights of our cricket season. Everyone involved in the two day Carnival would like to thank Louise Meroni and Jim Sullivan for their superb organisation of food and drinks during the two days. Melbourne appreciated our hospitality and was able to experience and use the SCG Nets on Thursday afternoon. Also we would like to thank Laurie Heil for his support of High Cricket and he was the person who got this exchange up and running again after a number of years without the two schools meeting for cricket.

The 2010 Barberis Cup Team: Oliver Meroni (c), Thilan Subasinghe (vc), Agnish Nayak, Safat Sufian, Oliver Kirk, Ned Anson, Shivaanger Thushanthan, Sagar Nagaraj, Eamon Kelly, Anirudh Ramesh, Jay Norman, Owen Duffy.
Mr D Smith
Barberis Cup Coach 2010

SBHS Buses Available for Hire

53 SEATER BUS  - From $220 (plus GST) for half day travel within a 20 km radius

20 SEATER BUS - From $125 (plus GST) for half day travel within a 20 km radius

Call us for a comprehensive price schedule!
Peter Hatch 0405 150 013

Weights Room

Please check the below timetable for weeks 9 and 10 term 4 and the week before Xmas. Also below is the upcoming Xmas break and January holidays where the weights room will be open as per times listed. Boys who have a current approved Strength and Conditioning program will be eligible to work-out during these times. I would urge all boys to use this time wisely and work on their strength and speed during a time of minimal academic pressure. A famous coach once said ‘winning is not a sometime thing, it’s an all the time thing”. He was referring to having a winning attitude every session in Training, Playing, Life. If you want to have success, do the extra mile and prepare thoroughly. January training is where 2011 starts.

Program weeks 9, 10 Term 4 2010 (listed are times available)

Program January 2011 (beginning Monday 3/1/11)