High Notes, Vol 6 No 20, July 22 2005
From the Principal
Welcome back to Term 3
I trust all staff, boys and their families had a relaxing
break or at least more time together during the vacation. This semester Ms Dam is Acting Head
Teacher Industrial Arts. Term 3 focuses on the Trial HSC for Year 12, the Preliminary exams for
Year 11 and the School Certificate Exams for Year 10. Year 12 Reference information is compiled.
Winter sport has its remaining 4 rounds. The athletics season is run. Summer sport begins in the
last week. The GPS debating competition is held. It is a busy term as we prepare for next year.
The applicants for enrolment are interviewed. There are several Parent Information sessions for
Years 9 to 11, 2006. Keep your eyes on the forward calendar publications in High Notes to be up
to date on what is happening this term.
High Talent
Vinh Pham was selected as a reserve for the International Olympiad team
in Mathematics. The 46th International Mathematics Olympiad was held in Mexico from July 8 to 19.
This is a high honour and puts him among the top ten competition mathematicians in the country.
Well done, Vinh.
Andrew Reis has been selected in the NSW Pacific Schools Games Team to compete in Melbourne in
November in the 7th Pacific Schools games. Congratulations Andrew. Congratulations to Thomas
Kaldor, Gabriel McManus and Sriram Srikumar, who have been selected in the CHS Debating Team.
Alisdair Brown, Philip Kurts and Matthew Wong have been selected to attend the State Junior Music
Camp - well done boys!
Year 12 Sports Policy
Term 3 Year 12 students who have attended sport on Wednesday
afternoons only in term 2 are no longer required to attend sport. Year 12 students with Saturday
sport commitments are required to meet them for the next 4 weeks. All boys are encouraged to
exercise regularly and maintain their participation in competitive sport as a lifestyle choice
during the extended period of intense studying leading up to the HSC. Records of attendance at
sport will continue to be kept. Year 12 references will have winter sport accredited only for
those boys who complete the full season. Coaches will be reminded not to sign off Year 12
reference sheets where term 3 commitments have not been met.
The Library Campaign
The letter writing campaign to interest politicians in our
quest for a new library has commenced. A pro forma letter is available but personalised versions
are preferable. In Federal electorates, we particularly need parents to write who live in
Kingsford-Smith (161 students), Watson (139 students), Lowe (114 students), Grayndler (75
students) and Reid (73 students). Letter writers are representing the views of significant
numbers in their electorates. It is worth the effort. If you do write, please send me a copy of
the letter. We are creating a file to prove at a later date how much people cared about this
cause. On request, our archivist, Ms Caroline White, will supply the name and mailing address of
your federal member of parliament. The more people who get behind our cause the better chance we
will have of achieving our goal to celebrate our 125th anniversary in 2008.
Place of Public Entertainment Progress
We have essentially completed the 21
additional fire safety and disabled access requirements of the Department of Commerce report from
last August. I am applying for a certificate with the Department this week to bring the matter to
a head - again!
Structured Acceleration Offering
In 2006, High will be offering subject acceleration
as an elective option for Year 10. Students in Year 9, 2005 who desire, qualify and are selected
for subject acceleration, will be offered that Preliminary level subject as an elective in Year
10, 2006. Additional periods will be allocated to the acceleration elective in lieu of Character
Education classes. Students accelerating will be required to take two other electives as usual.
Students will only be able to take one acceleration subject as an elective in Year 10. There will
be a Parent Information Evening to explain the program and process on Tuesday, August 30, in the
Great Hall at 7:00pm.
Foundation Meeting Report
The SHS Foundation Board authorised the transfer of
$26055.25 from the Centenary Building Fund to the Sydney Boys High School Building Fund as a
contribution towards the new library project, as per the agreed formula. Capital maintenance /
refurbishment expenditures of $25,747.25 were authorised for the Outterside Centre. For Great
Hall / Room 402 refurbishment expenditures, $22,266.56 was approved. The cooperative system of
capital expenditures via the Building Fund Advisory Group meetings is working very well. Our
capital fund raising and dispersing processes are more transparent and equitable. I hope parents
are encouraged to keep on contributing tax deductible donations to our worthy projects.
Dr K Jaggar
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Da Vinci Decathlon At Knox Grammar School
This is an academic interschool gala day run in the spirit of an Olympic Decathlon, with events
of an academic nature. Schools enter teams of eight in years 7, 8, 9, and 10.
Students will participate in activities in the following disciplines;
Mathematics - emphasis on problem solving, number patterns and logic puzzles.
English - spelling, word origin, scrabble, definitions and writing.
Science - higher level scientific concepts and ability to apply them.
Code Breaking - deciphering several codes.
Engineering Challenge - a building task designed to test creativity and ingenuity.
Forensic Sleuths - dealing with maps, photographs and other evidence.
Creative Producers - developing and presenting a 30 second commercial to promote a
particular product.
Art and Poetry - develop a poem plus a complementary work of art on a given theme. Games
and Strategy - mastermind, chess and connect 4 General Knowledge - current affairs,
entertainment, sport and trivia.
The tasks will be exciting and challenging with a particular emphasis placed on higher order
thinking skills. Students will be highly stimulated by the day's events. Schools should aim to
select students who are able to complement each other in the various disciplines.
Sydney High will enter teams in each year group.
Lawson Centre
Knox Grammar School.
8.30 am - 3.15 pm
Years 9 + 10 Tue 9th August (Week 4 Term 3 )
Years 7 + 8 Wed 10th August (Week 4 Term 3 )
Interested students can obtain application forms from Mr Dolan (Social Science).
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Rugby Committee Meeting Summary
The fourth meeting of the SBHS Rugby Committee for 2005 was held on 29/6/05. The following is a
summary of the meeting:
Attended: Rob Fetherston, Serdar Bolen, Kel O'Keefe, J Mittleheuser, G Stein.
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Medical coverage at home games - Cadets are unable to fulfil their offer of first aid.
There are insufficient numbers with first aid qualifications. A first aid course is not likely
in the near future. Vincent Salomon has been employed as the medical officer for home games.
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New barbeque - Purchased and used at last home game.
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High/Syd Uni raffle - First outing at Telstra Stadium was successful 314 tickets sold.
After expenses, $190 was given to the Treasurer. Costs for subsequent days should be less.
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Treasurer's report was tabled. Balance as at 28/06/06 was $10,953.31.
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End of season dinners - The Senior dinner date was changed from the evening of 13/8/05
to a lunch on 20/8/05, 11.30am for 12pm. Ticket price to remain at $25/head. Several menus
were discussed. Some questions to be raised with the caterers about various menu alternatives
so a decision can be made at the next meeting.
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P & C compliance - Updated information will be forwarded to the P & C by the
President. Rugby Committee's AGM to be held on 31/8/05.
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Off-season fund raiser - Rugby may have the opportunity to run a Bunnings barbeque on
15/10/05. More information will be given as it becomes available.
-
Remuneration for G. Moody - A request was made by T Hannon for G Moody to be
compensated by the Committee for three of his eight days chaperoning the 15 years rugby teams
to the Gold Coast Tournament, a total of $831.33, which was agreed to by the meeting.
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Team email lists - J Mittlehueser is still looking for parents to help with the
canteen and BBQ rosters for our last three home matches. An hour or two before or after your
son's game is a very easy and enjoyable way to help and get to know the other wonderful rugby
parents. Email is the most efficient form of communication. Parents can contact John via his
email address
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Outstanding expenses - were presented to the Treasurer at the meeting for payment.
SBHS canteen = $280.17, 1st XV physiotherapist = $875.00, High Store = $232.00, S. Bolen =
$99.10, UNSW pool hire = $111.00.
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1st XV coach remuneration - An error was made by G Stein in the original calculation
of the contributions of the school and Rugby Committee towards the remuneration given to the
1st XV coach for 2005. The school contribution is fixed at $7350. The Committee will make up
the $2650 difference. A tax invoice for $650 will be presented on 1/7/05 with another for
$2000 presented on 1/8/05 for payment.
G Stein
MIC Rugby
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Public Speaking
Congratulations to Tom Kaldor who has reached the State Final of the Plain English Speaking
Award. Tom's performance at the semi-final was exemplary. He will now attend the State Final on
Friday 29 July at the Powerhouse Museum.
R. Howland
Public Speaking Co-ordinator
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Debating
The GPS season starts this week with us venturing to St Joseph's College Hunters Hill for round 1
on Science Ethics. We have 13 teams competing!
We also have 3 teams competing in the Brennan Cup at UTS this week, 3 teams going to Macquarie
Uni next Thursday and 3 going to the Barker Cup at UTS next Friday.
Teams will be emailed to boys and parents on a weekly basis and it is very important that you
check your email regularly to receive updates. Information is also posted on the debating
noticeboard (which is now outside room 603). It is the student's responsibility to ensure they
are "in the loop". .
Every week the year 7 and 8 debates start prepping at 6 pm and debate at 7 pm. The year 9-12 boys
prep at 7 pm and debate at 8 pm.
Junior boys are invited to stay around after their debates and support the senior teams.
If you are not receiving emails about debating and would like to, please send an email to
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For information on getting to GPS Venues please see the website www.sydneyhigh.org.au/debating Please ensure you
leave enough time to get to the venues in plenty of time, considering traffic congestion on
Friday nights.
Debating Supporters Group Meeting -
Tuesday August 9th at 7.30 pm Room 103 (access from pathway along the side of the tennis
courts).
Please note change of room and time.
All parents of Debaters are encouraged to attend. We have important issues to discuss relating to
the organisation of the debating dinner on September 3rd.
Other items for the agenda should be emailed to
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Jocelyn Brewer
MIC - Debating
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Communities
The Sydney Boys High Communities and ESL Site has gone. In its place you will find Neil
Whitfield's English and ESL Pages at the same address http://neilwhitfield.tripod.com/
Not only is there a new name and a new look, but much material specific to this school has gone,
especially the very long sections dealing with controversies that embroiled us in 2001 and 2002.
Much ephemeral material has also gone, though the best of some of the deleted material will find
its way back to the Blog.
The Blog has been marginally redesigned, with some more categories to help you find what
interests you: Aussie culture; English language, cultural diversity; student help Year 11-12;
student help Year 7-10; teachers and parents; everyone - the last a catch-all that says what it
seems to say. Quite a few posts have gone up in July 2005:
- 17 July: Being bilingual - Sunetra Gupta on language and thought. A transcript of a recent
Radio National talk. (Category: teachers and parents, but also Year 12 Journeys)
- 14 July: Verbal Hygiene - Karen Armstrong on the need for being precise with words used to
talk about Islam and terror. (Category: English language)
- 13 July: What a wonderful beast is the internet! - ideas on using the internet creatively.
(Category: everyone)
- 12 July: Surely we can learn from this? Some further reflections on London. (Category:
cultural diversity)
- 11 July: In search of Yeats. (Category student help Year 11-12)
- 10 July: Revolution - shows changes to the main site here. (Category: everyone)
- 10 July: Quite literally - on English usage, a review of a recent book on the subject.
(Category - English language)
- 8 July: Sadness - about London. (Category - everyone)
- 6 July: Amin Malouf - a very relevant and inspiring writer, in my opinion anyway! (Category:
cultural diversity)
- 5 July: So what do I know about Malouf (David, that is, not Amin) and Wordsworth? (Category:
student help Year 11-12)
- 3 July: reprint from deleted material 2003 - International Day of Tolerance: an article by
William Dalrymple (Category: cultural diversity)
- 2 July: reprint from deleted material 2000-2001: ESL and the Art of War - a talk to NESB
parents by Neil Whitfield (Category: everyone)
Read these and more at http://neilwhitfield.tripod.com/blog/
Neil Whitfield
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BENAKI Museum Visit
Linguistic Logistics
From Classical Greek (Years 8, 9 & 10) Excursion 13
keen and cheerful students of Classical Greek spent the morning of Friday, 24 June, admiring the
treasures at the Benaki exhibition, inside the Powerhouse Museum.
Matthew Lau: "... the most interesting artefacts to me were the ivory wreath of the 1st
century BC made of thin gold sheets, and the pectoral ornament made using gold, diamonds and
other precious gemstones."
Lachlan Brown: "My particular favourite was a cross ( worn on the chest, made of gold and
silver and encrusted with gems) that was meant to ward off evil"
Christian Katsikaros: "We were extremely lucky to see it because it was the first time the
treasures had been allowed outside the Benaki Museum in Athens. There was everything ... jewels,
pottery, clothes, paintings, weapons ... even a picture with a boy that slightly resembled me!
"
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Boggabilla Exchange
Late last term students from Boggabilla visited our school and were billeted by the following
families: Lindeback, Taylor, Shuttleworth, Kaldor, Doran and James.
The whole exchange rests on the generosity of these people. The following report was written by
Aaron Shuttleworth:
After a 10 hour long bus trip, students from Boggabilla central school, which is located on the
NSW Queensland border, finally arrived at Sydney Boys High. The bus trip obviously had no effect
on the students as they set about demolishing a group of High students in a game of touch
refereed by Mr Stein.
After the game had finished with Boggabilla winning 8 tries to 3, billets were introduced and
then the Boggabilla students left for a tour of Eastgardens shopping centre. We met back at school
at around 5.00 pm for pizza, and then it was off to catch a train to Olympic Park to see the first
State of Origin match. This is was definitely the highlight of the trip for the Boggabilla students
and a late try to their hero Matt Bowen capped off a great night.
The Boggabilla kids made their way to school the next morning with their various billets and a
small group of us went along with them for a tour around the city. This began by driving to the
city side of the bridge and walking across and catching a ferry from Milsons Point back to
Circular Quay. From there we wandered as a group past the street performers and up to the Opera
House, pointing out some of Sydney's landmarks to our visitors.
We walked back around to Circular Quay and across the road to Deacons law firm for lunch in one
of their boardrooms overlooking the harbour. Employees came and went, providing insights into
what they did and were interested in learning about life up in Boggabilla. After lunch we said
our good-byes and headed home.
A quick photo shoot the next morning was followed by the Boggabilla students heading to
Maroubra for a surfing lesson and lunch with Mr Barris, Ms Plenkovich and Sue Doran. After this,
they made the long journey home. It was an enjoyable experience and we look forward to going up
there later in the year.
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High Notes Reminder
To receive a reminder that the latest edition of High Notes is available on the school's website,
send your email address to:
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Your Son's Attendance Record
If you would like to have your son's attendance record sent to you on a daily or weekly basis,
send your email address to
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Please include your son's name and Roll Class and indicate how often you would like to receive
the information (for example: each Monday and Thursday). ).
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Letters Re Absence/Lateness/ Early Leave
When your son returns to school from being absent he is required to provide a letter of
explanation signed by parent or guardian. If your son is going to be late for school a note is
also required.
If your son has an early leave note he is required to have his note signed by either Mr Beringer,
Mr Dowdell or Mr Prorellis before 8:55 am and hand it in to the Main Office immediately
after. Each letter should be signed by parent or guardian with the name date and roll
class of your son printed clearly. Your son needs to pick up a leave pass from the
Main Office before he leaves the school.
Leave
If you require leave for your son please, apply in writing and address your
application to the Principal, Dr Jaggar, stating the reason and length of time of the leave. Your
son must then present this application to Dr Jaggar for permission for the leave. Please
remember to apply before the leave and not after.
The Principal must approve all leave applications.
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Fundraising Opportunity!
School Family groups can expect to make between $800 and $1000 on Saturday 30th July, by running
the sausage sizzle at Bunnings Warehouse. Barbecue and gas are supplied. Prices and products are
fixed. There are many customers 8.00 am till 4.00 pm. The school has what you need, including
large tomato sauce dispensers. Grab this opportunity by contacting Valda Roser.
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High Store
School beanies are available for purchase from the High Store - $20 only. Keep warm and be
cool!!! .
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Publications 