|
High Notes, Vol 13 No 12, May 04 2012From the Principal
High Talent One of our parents who works in Defence commented favourably on the marching and playing abilities of our Marching Band on Anzac Day. Thank you to Lachlan Deacon for preparing the group so well and also thanks to Rita Miller, Michael Crouch and Suzanna Lim for mentoring the boys and managing them on the day. Congratulations to Shobhan Baranwal (Year 10) who played in the NSW Public Schools Symphonic Wind Orchestra – Junior B and with the NSW Schools Symphonic Wind ensemble – Junior A. Both groups were successful in the National Band Championships in Melbourne. Ennes Mehmedbasic (Year 12) made it through to the final of the Kuringai Philharmonic Orchestra Concerto competition – congratulations! Well done to our Bandaged Bear volunteers. They raised $10,633! In the National Latin Examination, William HO and Timothy Chin (Year 12) were awarded gold medals and qualified for scholarships. I the Classical Teachers Association production of “Cupid and Psyche”, major roles were won by Christopher Chen (Jupiter) and Jens Waring (The King) - well done indeed boys! At the Combined Independent Schools swimming meet, Leonard Mah qualified for All Schools in the 50m freestyle – an outstanding effort! Congratulations to our other representatives: Kevin Guo, Darren Chien, Kazuo Nakamura, Kyne Kim and Micael Sawang for their efforts. Thank you to our volunteer timekeepers – James Tinker and Andrew Tracjevski.
Every Student, Every School: Learning and Support
The world of gaming
There are more professionals working in the area of gaming addiction now. If you have a problem
or you know someone who has, advise them to see the School Counsellor or to contact their nearest
youth mental health centre. It is appropriate for all students to be informed about the possible
risks associated with many activities in their lives, gaming included. If you would like to know
more about this issue, a recent Catalyst program provides useful insights. Access it at -
http://www.abc.net.au/catalyst/stories/3488130.htm Boggabilla Exchange 2012This year the exchange will begin with our visit to Boggabilla at the same time as our visit to TAS. This will reduce travel time overall. If boys who are interested in going but are not involved in the TAS visit they must see Mr Barris immediately. The plan then is to travel to Armidale on Friday June 1, participate in the exchange and then travel to Boggabilla on the Sunday, approximately a four hour drive. We will visit the natural springs in Goondawindi the neighbouring town in Queensland and then stay in the gymnasium at the school on the Sunday night. The next day we will spend experiencing bush life and camping and then return to school on the Tuesday. We will attend lessons at Boggabilla Central School, stay the night in the Boggabilla Motel and then travel back home on the Wednesday.
If you wish to be involved there is an expectation that you will take a billet on the return
visit which this year will be in term 4. Boggabilla students will not be visiting during the
State of Origin as has been traditional but will try to experience Sydney in summer. Careers NewsAll Year 12 students are expected to have a ‘Beyond High School’ interview with the Careers Adviser during Term 2 or Term 3. Students can make their booking through the ‘Careers Interviews’ section of the Student Portal. Bookings can be made now – don’t delay or you may miss your preferred time! Die Deutsche Frage Im Mai…
… ist ganz kurz: Was hat Enid Blyton mit Audi zu tun? From the LibrariesWhat’s Up in the McDonald Senior Library?
STATE LIBRARY NEWS Teachers will be encouraging students to extend their research by using these marvellous resources which can give students the edge in this highly competitive educational environment. Of course using such professional and authoritative sources is also the gateway to lifelong learning and prepares them for their studies after school where many of our students will be using such resources in their university studies. All Year 10 students should be members of the State Library by the end of Week 4 and after this State Librarians will be taking each class for an introductory session outlining useful databases for their Senior studies up to HSC level, good search techniques and a general discussion of all the services that the State Library of NSW has to offer.
NEW BOOKS
SPINEOUT magazine – an exciting new magazine trial The SpineOut team also send out recently published young adult books (to keep) to those young writers interested in writing book reviews to be published in the magazine. As well SpineOut has author interviews, book quizzes and many other fun and fascinating activities and information about anything and everything to do with creative arts and writing! So simply click on the on the logo here to go in and have a look! http://www.goodreadingmagazine.com.au/index.cfm?page=160 This link will also be added to our school website to enable all to enjoy and depending on interest we will consider subscribing for both libraries both Junior and Senior. Andrews Library
FINISHED YOUR EXAMS? – HAVE A LOOK AT OUR NEW BOOKS – NEW FICTION AND POPULAR
BOOKS SHELVES – ANDREWS LIBRARY
THE $50 BOOK VOUCHER WILL BE DRAWN AT THE END OF THIS TERM
SENIORS IN THE JUNIOR LIBRARY DUE TO EXAMS - Overall while there has been 90 plus senior students in the Junior Library during exam time the boys have been reasonably quiet and industrious. On this special occasion the normal rules about talking in the Class area have to modified to enable studious boys to work. Whispering only is allowed during this exam situation. Seniors are reminded not to bring bags in to the Library as they are a trip hazard – there are good bag racks outside the Library with cameras monitoring them. Likewise food is not to be consumed in the Library. The Quiet Area and the Computer Area are to be totally silent. There is only to be one to a computer in these times. If we do this everyone can study happily. From the CanteenSteak and Onion rolls will be available from this week, come on in and give them a try. Once again thank you for being a canteen volunteer. ALL canteen profits are returned back to the school to help fund projects and facilities which benefit all our sons.
Thank you to our volunteers last week. Congratulations to Maria Nguyen who won the $10 canteen voucher for April for her son Timothy. From the Office
CASH REGISTER WINDOW Music NotesMusic ParkingThank you to the parents and students for their enormous help at the Music Parking last Sunday. It was a full event and raised much needed funds for the Music Performance Program. Your generosity of time is greatly appreciated and we would like to encourage new parents of the Music Program to come along to any future Music Parkings. Annual Music CampThe Annual Music Camp will be held at The Tops Conference Centre, Stanwell Tops this year from Monday-Wednesday (28th - 30th May 2012). We invite ALL students in the Music Performance Program to attend the 3-day camp. Music Staff and instrumental tutors will rehearse new repertoire that will be performed at the Camp Concert upon return to school Wednesday afternoon. Please make payments of $280 to the front office ASAP if you have not already done so, as numbers need to be finalised for transport and accommodation. Outstanding Student AchievementsCongratulations to Ennes Mehmedbasic (Year 12) who qualified for the finals in the Kuringai Philharmonic Orchestra Concerto Competition last Saturday. Please come along and support Ennes performing on Saturday the 30th of June at 7:30pm in the Gillian Moore Centre for Performing Arts, Pymble Ladies’ College against 5 other finalists. Congratulations also to Jaan Pallandi (Year 11) who has progressed to the second round of auditions for the Australian Chamber Orchestra Academy and will be performing in front of the musicians of the ACO between the 9th and 13th of July. We wish them both all the best in their music pursuits, well done boys, we are all very proud of you! Music Performance ProgramStudents in the Music Performance Program, ALL Music Ensembles are now up and running, please ensure that you are attending the appropriate Ensembles as 80% attendance to rehearsals is required for award scheme points. The 2012 ensemble rehearsal timetable is provided below:
SBHS DebatingMIC ReportThis week I’d like to promote the Junior Debating Club. Christopher Chiam and Arthur Chau have put considerable time and effort into organising this club and it is disappointing that so few Year 7s are attending the club. It runs on Friday lunch time and is an invaluable opportunity for students to get more practise at debating and gain some excellent tuition from our Senior Debaters. This term it will be GPS try outs and with so many experienced debaters in Year 7 and 8 it is going to be very competitive. If I was a Junior debater I would definitely be attending the Club to raise my chances of being selected for the GPS team. Many Year 7 parents have expressed concern that their sons have not had the opportunity to debate in FED or Eastside. We make every effort to be inclusive and we offer opportunities for as many students to debate as we can, but there are simply too many Junior Debaters for everyone to get a chance. However, to give more students opportunities I have organised for two social debates this term: SBHS v Meridan 3.30 – 5pm on 18th May Newington v SBHS 6pm – 8pm. If you would like to take part in these debates it is crucial that you speak to your coach as quickly as possible. We will give preference to students who haven’t debated competitively, but also it is important that we get teams organised in the next week and so will give places out to boys who show initiative and come forward first. The importance of being on the emailing system has become very apparent this week as I have had to request expressions of interest for a number of teams – including Year 9 and 10 PDC teams. If you aren’t on the mailing list you do not get this information and therefore you miss out. YOU must sign up for the weekly teams email. I would like to thank Ms Mack and Ms Munro for their extra assistance with accompanying students to Friday evening debates this year. They are doing this in their own spare time and I hope you boys express your gratitude to them. A VERY IMPORTANT DIARY DATE : Saturday 8th September 2012 is the Debating Dinner. There will be an expectation that GPS teams and prize winners come to this event, but it is also open to anyone who has taken part and enjoyed the debating experience. Don’t miss out on the opportunity to see your coaches debate each other. More details will follow shortly.
Please write this date in your diaries and encourage your parents to come along as well. Competitions
This Week
Next Week
More information can be found at www.sydneyhigh.org.au/debating and will be emailed to
you on a weekly basis. Sydney High School Cadet UnitATA SUCCESS
Congratulations to on their success in achieving the Adventure Training Award following their assessment during the school holidays. The week long assessment was held in the Majura Army Training Area in the ACT. The ATA tests cadets in navigation, field engineering, survival skills, physical and mental endurance, teamwork, initiative and leadership. The successful cadets were presented with their ATA badges by the Deputy Chief of Army, Major General Angus Campbell, who, in congratulating the cadets said “ Australia needs its young people during marvellous things in their life” Well done, Dominic and Nelson. SYDNEY ANZAC DAY MARCHOnce again the Unit supported the City of Sydney ANZAC DAY march. Our main effort was in providing a banner party for World War 2 veterans of the 2/1st Field Regiment Association. These veterans are now aged in their late eighties or early nineties – what a great effort for these men to take part in the long march. We are proud to support them. We also supported the High Marching Band by carrying the School banner in front of the band. Well done to Sergeants Vincent Ye, Nick Ooi and 2LT Anthony Ho in organising our support. FAREWELL MESSAGE FROM MAJOR AAC RICHARD KNOWLESThis is likely to be my last contribution to High Notes as I am moving on to my next posting on the staff of HQ Australian Army Cadets I came to Sydney High in a “caretaker” role following the death of Captain John Fittler in 2005. The plan was that my stay at High would be 6 to 12 months; and, now some 7 years later, I am finally moving to my next posting. I have enjoyed my time at High. For me, highlights of my service at High include:
My thanks to those on the School staff and in the High community who have helped me in my duties. I understand that not everyone at High sees the value of the cadet experience for our young men and sometimes I found the lack of cooperation galling, but we managed to achieve the mission regardless. It has been a great privilege to serve as Officer Commanding Sydney High School Cadet Unit . My service here has provided me with the opportunity to work with so many outstanding young men who, I have no doubt, will go on to positions of leadership in our nation. I have seen them come into the cadet unit as eager young boys and then, see them off to university some 4 or 5 years later as confident young men ready to accept the responsibility of leadership; and that, after all, was my mission. Be assured that I remain ready to assist High cadets in way possible in the future
Good bye and good luck In the Swim
HOT OFF THE PRESS FROM THE COMBINED INDEPENDENT SCHOOLS CARNIVAL Two of our Year 8 Swimmers also deserve a special mention as they went out to Homebush on their own and put in a long day timekeeping. They were James Tinker and Andrew Tracjevski. Huge thanks to James and Andrew who were not Swimming themselves on this occasion. Big congratulations to Leonard Mah – 15 years - who has swum his way into All Schools in the 50 metres Freestyle which will be held next Monday. (Leonard had to be there early in t Leonard came 3rd in this event. Good luck with All Schools. All of the other CIS entrants faced quite stiff competition from seasoned and trained squad members but all performed very well. Their parents accompanied them at the pool for the most part and have been very supportive of the swimmers. We thank them also. Kevin Guo (12-14 200 Breaststroke) - 12th overall. Came 4th in the first heat/1 – the slower heat. Time 3.02.57 Darren Chien ( (15-16) 200 Breaststroke – 10th overall. Came 3rd in heat /1 – the slower heat Time 2.48.05 Kazuo Nakamura (14) 50 m Butterfly – 8th overall. Came 1st in heat 1 – the slower heat. Time 29.58. Kevin Guo (13) 50 m Breaststroke – 8th overall. Came 1st in heat 1 – the slower heat. Time 38.67. Kyne Kim (14) 50 m Breaststroke – 13th overall. Came 3rd in heat 1 – the slower heat. Leonard Mah (15) 50 m Breaststroke – 6th overall. Time 35.48 Kazuo Nakamura (14) 100m Freestyle – 8th overall. Came 2nd in 1st heat – the slower heat. Time 1.01.00. Michael Sawang (15) 50m Backstroke – 5th overall. Came 1st in the 1st heat the slower heat. Time 31.54 Kazuo Nakamura (14) 12/14 100m Butterfly – 8th overall – Came 2nd in the 1st heat – the slower heat. Time 1.07.49 Kevin Guo (12/14) 100m Breaststroke – came 12th overall – Came 2nd in the 1st heat the slower heat. Time 1.21.23 Darren Chien (15/16) 100m Breaststroke –came 5th overall - Came 1st in the 1st heat - the slower heat. Time 1.16.02 As you can see most of the boys’ previous times had placed them in the slower heats but they performed well to actually climb into the top 8 competitors despite not being challenged by the faster swimmers in the best heat. This was a great performance from them.
Thanks to the Intermediate 50 m Freestyle Relay Swimmers Michael Sawang (15), Leonard Mah (15),
Yu Peng Man (16)and Eugene Lee (16) who made a last minute dash out to represent the GPS Schools
on Monday night after school after late notice last Friday. Thanks also to the parents who did
the transportation. SBHS TennisDear Parents A meeting is being called for any interested parents of boys who play tennis at High. This meeting is being called to discuss strategies for next season. Items on the agenda include fundraising activities, parking duty and tennis camps and training activities. If you are unable to attend but would like to have some input or have ideas for the next season, please contact me.
The meeting will take place Monday at 6pm in the Staff Common Room. SBHS RugbyHigh Rugby = High Spirit
From the Head Coach – Simon Kacimaiwai Game schedule
Training
Schools Drama: 'The Grandfathers'NSW Public Schools Drama Company presents ‘The Grandfathers’
Late last year I was fortunate enough to join the State Drama Company for 2012, rehearsing to
perform ‘The Grandfathers’, by Rory Mullarkey at the PACT Theatre in Erskineville in
what is now a week away. Over the past few months, I have been able to develop my drama skills by
rehearsing in a fully staged production of a brand new play, with our own production designers,
lighting technicians and stage managers. ‘The Grandfathers’ is a war play, following
the lives of 9 soldiers as they go through training and gradually become a part of the machine of
their platoon. To say the least, it has been rewarding to work with such a group of like-minded
people, and as a result, I have received much knowledge that I can adapt to my classwork in
Drama. The opportunity that appeals the most though, is our tour to England scheduled for
mid-June, where we will take part in theatre workshops in Stratford-upon-Avon with leading
theatre companies, and hopefully perform the play at different schools and community theatres. We
are taking video of our performance next week to send to the National Theatre to audition to
perform ‘The Grandfathers’ at the National Theatre Connections Festival in London
– and for our live performances they are sending over the manager of their Connections
program to report on our show. I also now have opportunities to MC events at locations such as
the Sydney Town Hall, the Opera House, and the Seymour Centre, and while in last year's Drama
Company I was even asked to MC an art opening at the Art Gallery of NSW. I’m very grateful
to have been given these opportunities, and would like to thank Ms Rohr and Dr Jaggar for their
continuing support of my endeavours.
Venue:
Performance Dates & Times:
Booking Information: High FamilyThe Bulletin Board for Sydney Boys High P & CIf you would like to have any parent community news or upcoming events included in High Society, please contact Ian Sweeting P&C President This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it P&C General Meeting Wednesday 16 MayThe next P&C General Meeting will be held in the staff common room at 7:30pm on Wednesday 16 May. Please note the date in your diary. For those parents who haven’t attended before, this is an excellent opportunity to be informed of current school issues by Dr Jaggar, who attends and presents a Principal’s report at these meetings. Please email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it with any suggested agenda items. Upcoming P&C Parking Events
Saturday 5 May 7:40pm – Sydney Swans v Adelaide (Rugby) We remind parents that parking provides valuable funds for our sons’ co-curricular activities- so if you haven’t volunteered previously, please consider involving yourself. No experience required. Upcoming Meetings & Events
P & C Executive Meeting: Board Room – 6:00pm, Monday 7 May. Ian Sweeting Open High School Open DayForeign language spells education success
Saturday 26 May 12-3pm
Faculty Displays |