From the Principal

High Talent
Congratulations to the following teams and individual boys for their great efforts this week. High’s open volleyball team won the Trans Pacific Cup, running out winners in five close sets against Westfields Sports High. There were forty-nine teams in the competition, including seven touring American teams. Having won the CHS Knockout as well, makes this fine team something special – John Gim, Hugh Huang, Patrick Lai, Ivan Lim, Merlin Li, Jonathan Mok, Christopher Morrow, David Nguyen, Henry Sit, Joshua Suh and Nelson Wang – well done!. Antony Paul, Max Phillips, Justin Chan and Angud Chawla won a unanimous decision to regain the Hume Barbour Debating trophy. They convinced the adjudicators and the audience that the mining tax should not be scrapped. It is going to be great to have the trophy back in its customary spot in the foyer. It has been gone too long! Thank you to the forty-two boys who supported our team in the audience and to Ms Berger going out as coach on a high. Well done to Matthew Delaney, Toby Funston, Jim Koukouras, Christopher Chiam and David Wang who were selected for the finals in the Latin and Greek Reading Competition for 2010.

Basketball Courts
The basketball courts were resurfaced during the holidays as part of a NSW Government Grant to improve sports facilities. Originally the money had to be spent by June 30. Unfortunately, at that time of year there is a risk that certain court finishes, subject to optimal temperature ranges in order for them to ‘go off’, may have problems. Such was the case with our courts and the contractors have accepted that the courts will have to be resurfaced next holidays. In the meantime, boys are reminded to respect the school’s sports facilities and to refrain from dropping food scraps, chewing gum or soft drinks on the surface.

Moore Park West
Students and coaches are reminded that it is school policy to avoid training on marked fields to allow them recovery time after the weekend usage. High students have no right to use the fields unless the school has made a booking to use them. Such bookings cost the school money. Non-marked out areas are part of the public park and may be used by any members of the public, not just our students. Please stay off marked out fields unless booked on them to train or play matches.

Old Boys Luncheon
High celebrated Education week by holding an intergenerational gathering of its students. Wednesday’s luncheon for Old Boys from 1946 or earlier was a great success. There were even three Old Boys who left in 1933! After the eighty-four guests were given a tour of the school, a chorus of Prefects sang them the school song in the Great Hall. The old alumni were impressed by the character and demeanour of the students they conversed with, sentiments echoed by the President of the Old Boys Union, Joseph Waugh (1987). The OBU funded the luncheon which the Old Boys, students and staff enjoyed. A great deal of work was done by Julie Blomberg, Katherine Deacon, Con Barris, Joseph Waugh and our SAS staff to prepare the tables, the display of memorabilia and the show bags. Thank you to our School Prefects, James Solomons (1998) and Geoff Andrews (1963) for giving up their time to help us celebrate the occasion. From the reaction of the participants, it was well worth the effort.

The Year 11 Project – the Sir Roden and Lady Cutler Foundation
When Sir Roden died in 2002, his wheelchair equipped vehicle was given by Lady Cutler to an Eastern suburbs charity organised by two Rotarians, led by Chris Williams. Sir Roden Cutler Charities commenced operations. SBHS was there from the beginning offering its support for fundraising for the charity. The slogan “When there is no-one else to help” encapsulates the focus of the organisation in the services it provides to the most helpless. Since March 2003, Lady Cutler has been the driving force in the growth of the profile of the business of the charity. In 2009 the Board recognised her efforts by changing the name of the organisation to the Sir Roden and Lady Cutler Foundation.

High boys have previously been involved in each Wheelchair Roll staged by the Foundation. This year’s Roll is much more ambitious. Volunteers are currently pushing a wheelchair from Perth to Sydney to highlight the transportation challenges faced by the aged and the disabled. The Wheelchair Roll is a unique program that helps raise the profile of the charity while helping the community through which it passes by funding local projects. While travelling NSW as Governor Sir Roden unfailingly showed concern, compassion and support for local community projects. Funds raised in the Roll will be used to help finance the Foundation’s fleet of CarerCars and the ‘Pick Me Up Service’ which offers a free transport service to and from urgent medical appointments for the aged and disabled. The ‘Pick Me Up’ Service has expanded from 3180 bookings (2802 trips) in 2008-09 to 5401 bookings (4972 trips) in 2009-2010. Most users of the service reside in the Eastern and South Eastern suburbs. The Foundation has four vehicles, three of which are on the road every day. A pool of 18-20 drivers is called on to run the service in 4-hour shifts.

High boys in Year 11 can really help a very worthwhile community service as well as continue to honour the name of our most famous Old Boy, by raising funds for the Sir Roden and Lady Cutler Foundation. I hope as a school we can move beyond just mufti days and barbecues as ideas for fundraising. As usual we will offer the services of Year 11 as collectors when the Wheelchair Roll comes to town.
Dr K A Jaggar

Year 11 Study Day

It is the school’s policy to allow Year 11 accelerants a study day in the lead up to the Trial HSC examinations. As there are 155 Year 11 students involved in some form of acceleration it has been decided to make Tuesday 10 August a study day for ALL Year 11 students. Boys are not required to attend school on that day.
R Dowdell

From the Two Libraries

CROWDS OF KIDS IN THE 2 LIBRARIES

49,440 visits to the Andrews Library in Semester 1, 2010.
As we have reached halfway in the year it is time to reflect on Library use statistics and the Andrews Library was worried that with the separation of the 2 libraries it was now vacant for too much of class time. So it was time to analyse the statistics my staff have so meticulously kept.

This semester’s class and computer booking sheets showed that approximately 15,240 boys used the class and computer areas in the Andrews Library during class time. Overall the class area was 34% full / 66% empty during class times. The computer area was 37% full / or 63% empty during class times.

In public times – before school, recess and lunchtime the Andrews library is usually very full and over 18,000 boys used the Library this semester at these times according to staff head counts.

Our library gate counter came up with the figure of 49,440 visits this Semester in the Andrews Library.

Whatever it is, High Libraries seem to have a successful formula for encouraging Library use.

NEW RESOURCES THIS WEEK ANDREWS LIBRARY

SENIOR FICTION
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, Steig Larsson;
A Certain Justice, PD James;
Billy Straight, Jonathan Kellerman;
Blindman’s Bluff, Faye Kellerman;
Pop goes the Weasel, James Patterson;
The Brass Verdict, Michael Connelly;
Los Alamos, Joseph Kanon;
Secret Prey, John Sandford;
Cul de Sac, David Martin;
To the Hilt, Dick Francis;
Deaf Sentence, David Lodge;
Half of a Yellow Sun, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie;
Home, (Winner of the Orange Prize 2009) Marilynne Robinson;
No Place Like Home, Mary Higgins Clark;
The Persimmon Tree, Bryce Courtenay.

SENIOR NON FICTION
A History of Histories, John Burrow;
Dire Predictions, Understanding global Warming, Michael Mann et al

JUNIOR FICTION
The Supernaturalist, Eoin Colfer;
Three of Diamonds, Anthony Horrowitz;
Clockwork or all Wound Up, Phillip Pullman;
Just Disgusting, Andy Griffiths;
The Day of the Gecko, Robert G Barrett;
Siggy and Amber, Doug Mc Cloud.

JUNIOR NON FICTION
Horrible Histories: The 20th Century, Terry Deary;
Spit it Out, Laugh till you go off, Terry Dentin et al.

TEACHER REFERENCE
Professional Support for New Scheme Teachers, NSW DET ;
Education in Korea, Korean Ministry of Education.

NEW DVDs
Run Up (Art);
Tsunami, Killer Wave, National Geographic, (Social Science),
The Duchess, (Belonging/ English/Film);
Barack Obama, Biography (History/English),
Energy Systems, Factors Affecting Performance, (PE, Health)
Endangered, (Social Science);
The Chronicles of Narnia, Prince Caspian, (Junior Student);
Factors Affecting Performance, Nutrition and Sport, (PE PD Health);
Beating the Drum, Music;
Why GIS? Geographical Information Systems, (Social Science),
The Quantum Revolution, (Science),
Factors Affecting Performance, Training, (PEPD Health);
The US Civil Rights Movement, (History);
Homo Sapiens, the inventor of Dream, (History),
the Nuclear Comeback, (Science, Social Science);
River Health, Think Globally, Act Locally, (Social Science),
Factors Affecting Performance, Skill Acquisition Pt 1, PE, PD, Health.)

Veronica Crothers
Librarian

From the Canteen

The return of the pide!!
They’re ba-ack!!! We now have our ever popular Turkish Pides back on the menu. Check at canteen for what fillings are available, but they are certainly hot in price and taste at just $2.

Thank you to the following people for their help last week…..
Linda Yang, Jenny Hu, Sharon Zou, Nina Liu, Jade Ni, Yanmei Yin (Rena), May Ip, Tania Slinko, Jenni Rajendram, Jeffi Wu, Irene Ben, Liz O'Hare, (Mary) Ling Ling Chen, Su-Hung Chang, David Mah, Shihong Yang, Alice Paul Special thanks to Tania Slinko for coming in an extra day to help.

If you have a spare moment, call by and wish Tracey a Happy Birthday for last Friday – she had a big one!! Many happy returns, Tracey and we wish you many more to come!!
Thank you
The Canteen Team

Year 9 Parents' Meeting and Dinner

Tuesday 10 August 2010 at 6.30 p.m.

Dear Year 9 Parents,

The Year 9 Parents' Group, with Year Adviser Ms Suzanna Lim, are organising a Meeting, followed by Dinner, on Tuesday 10 August.

Parents Meeting 630 p.m. - 7.30 p.m. Staff Common Room, Sydney Boys High (Cheese, dips and crackers will be served)

Dinner at 7.45 p.m., at a nearby location, either Pizza e Birra (500 Crown St, Surry Hills), or Bills' (359 Crown St, Surry Hills), depending on final numbers

This is a great opportunity for all Year 9 Parents to meet, ask questions and share information about their son's studies and activities.

We hope you can all make it and look forward to seeing you there.

Please RSVP by Sunday 8 August, especially for the dinner, as numbers need to be confirmed for the restaurant booking.

Kind Regards,
Michelle DuMonet
Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it  
on behalf of the Year 9 Parents' Group

From the High Store

The High Store will be closed from 10th Sept. till end of term. Come & purchase your Athletics uniform early as not to miss out. Athletic Singlet $44, Athletic Short $44, Athletic Training Top ( new design ) $55

SYDNEY HIGH HOODIE – Great for weekend sport wear or perhaps a thought for dad as a Father’s Day gift. $66 limited stock.

Music Notes

Music Tour Reunion Night

A film, a photo, a memory evening… All tour members and families are invited to attend this evening in the Great Hall on Monday the 16th of August 2010 at 6:30pm.

Mr Tony Hannon has spent many, many hours editing the footage so beautifully filmed by Bart Daniels and Thomas Diep and we are in the process of deciding what concerts and parts of concerts to include on high definition DVDs (blu-ray) for everyone.

Please confirm your attendance at: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it by Wednesday 11th August and bring a plate to share to make is a sociable evening. We look forward to seeing you there.

Music Tour Photos and Videos are now accessible by staff and students on the W Drive, Photo Archive, 2010, Music Tour 2010 (France & Flanders).

Future Performances

The senior students will also be playing at Eastgardens this Friday 6th of August from midday to 2:30pm as part of Education Expo Week (ground floor centre stage). Please come along and hear them play and support our boys as they prepare for their HSC exams in September.

On 31st August, the HSC Showcase Concert and Art Exhibition will show the talents of our HSC musicians at 6.00pm in the Great Hall in the last days before their all-important performance exams. All parents and staff are welcome to attend.

Performances this Week

HSC elective music students performed on Tuesday at St Vincent’s Hospital as part of their Healing Arts Program. This is an important community service for the musicians and they were greatly appreciated by the audience. Many people came up afterwards to congratulate them, and to convey their intent to tell brothers, uncles and other relatives who are old boys of High. We will also perform for the Healing Arts Program on Tuesday 23rd of November.

Senior Boys also played at an Old Boys Luncheon on Wednesday entertaining them with a variety of Romantic and contemporary repertoire. This is the first time the Old boys have heard the School Song, performed by the senior boys and accompanied by Jesse Chen (Yr 11) on the piano.

HSC Music Performance Workshop

HSC Music Workshop was on Tuesday evening in preparation for the HSC Trials next week. We would like to invite you to come and listen to our talented musicians as they prepare for the performance examinations in the Great Hall.

Music Parking

Thank you to all the students and parents who helped out with the Music Parking last Saturday afternoon, your time and effort are very much appreciated with funds raised going towards the support of the Music Performance Program at High.

SBHS Debating

Congratulations Hume Barbour Champions!

In a brilliant finish to 6 years of debating our Year 12 PDC team took out the state trophy! These boys have shown remarkable debating talent in their years with High and it is brilliant to see them triumph over the vicissitudes of PDC adjudication to realise the recognition they deserve!

2010 Hume Barbour Winners
Antony Paul
Max Phillis
Justin Chan
Angud Chawla

This is definitely an excellent motivator as we now look towards success in the GPS season.

GPS – Round 3 v Scots

This week sees us debating away against Scots. All boys are reminded they need to be at Scots by 5.45 (6.45 for seniors) and to ensure they show the respect and maturity expected of representatives of High Debating. Prep rooms in particular need to be left in a clean and tidy state. Topic Area: Law and Order

Round 4 – HOME DEBATE v Iggies (Topic Area: Current Affairs)

More information can be found at www.sydneyhigh.org.au/debating and will be emailed to you on a weekly basis.
Please CHECK YOUR EMAIL regularly and ensure we have current contact details for both students and parents.
PARENTS: If you are not receiving weekly emails about debating please email us at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it and ask to be added to the parent group for your child’s year.

Boggabilla Report

After another successful visit by Boggabilla Central School in May this year our students will again visit Boggabilla. Our Itinerary is attached and this year the group will be accompanied by Mr D Smith, Mr Cipolla, Dr Jaggar and Mr Barris.

I would like to thank all the families who have made the exchange a success: the families of David Andrews, Ned Anson, Tom Connolly, Shimon Danziger, Timothy Montanaro, Andreas Purcal, Leon Sheldon, Shuming Wang, Ben Wilcox, Alex Koerber and Leo Gordon.

The exchange is open to all students but priority is given to those who have billeted and the other consideration is to take a mix of Years. This year a large number of Year 12 families will end their association so it is important for younger Years to become involved. If you are interested see Mr Barris.

The following is an account by Shuming Wang of his billeting experience earlier this year.

This year was my first year in taking a billet. It was good fun to spend time with them and also getting to know them better because I had only met them once before. As you get to know the Boggabilla kids more and more they are more comfortable in talking to you.

During the three days that they were here in Sydney, they climbed the Harbour Bridge, stayed at the sheds one night and went to Sydney Girls for Public Speaking. They also went to see the State of Origin with us and also went to the National Centre of Indigenous Excellence. The State of Origin was a thriller to watch with them because they all supported Queensland although Boggabilla is on the New South Wales side of the border. The National Centre of Indigenous Excellence showed the Boggabilla kids what is was like for an Indigenous person to live in the city and what facilities they had to use.

In conclusion, during the three days that the Boggabilla kids came over it was an enjoyable time. We had great fun at the Origin match although the weather wasn’t too good. For the next years to come I urge you to take a billet.

Students Travelling to Boggabilla August 30 to September 2
We will be leaving the school at 6.00am in an effort to beat the Sydney traffic. It is a long drive so bring things to make the drive comfortable - pillow, sleeping bag, towel, toiletries, book, snacks, water bottle, music maker etc.

Please bring a torch. It is cold at night so bring at least one set of warm clothes.
You will need money for the meals in transit- probably McDonalds but all other meals are included. We will have some fruit and drinks on board for the journey. Please do not be late. This year our first night will be at the school

We will be camping out in the bush on the middle night but we will be in the motel on the last night. The idea is to try and learn as much about the country life style as possible. You will not need your uniform so bring warm casual clothes. We are taking the trailer so you can divide your gear into two lots with the things needed later in the trip to be placed in the trailer. You may like to bring something small to exchange as our host students will probably spend a bit of time with our group. We will be taking our own tents this year so those that have them need to coordinate with me. We will be very limited for space.

Our return should be about 8 pm on the Thursday.

The following is suggested by Boggabilla

Monday
Travelling to Boggabilla 6.00am
Basketball game with Boggabilla school
Welcome meal SUPPLIED BY BOGGABILLA
Staying at school gym

Tuesday
Official welcome to country Local district tour
Visit to Boobera Lagoon; its significance to Aboriginal people
Pack bus and go camping 10 am
Set up camps and fires, tents etc
Lunch with community members- Johnny cakes, potatoes, sausages
Fishing
Dinner on open fires- parents or community members to help out
Sing songs, Tell Gussy stories
Spotlight

Wednesday
Pack up, pack bus
Bush walk 30mins
Town tour Euraba paper mill
Lunch at school
School tour by Peter
Mural painting outside gym wall
Basketball game/volleyball for sport
Afternoon tea Motel/rest
BBQ dinner by SBH
Visit to Goondiwindi

Thursday
Visit school and have breakfast on the way home.
Trip Home ETA 8 pm at school
Arrival time is conditional on departure time but by midday we will know arrival time at school so feel free to ring mobile. 0410495054

Australian Brandenburg Orchestra - Take Two

You might remember my short article about the “Big Night Out”, the silent auction and its consequence. Well, on Saturday night we attended the second concert of the series. The theme for the evening was “Handel Coronation” (as a finicky German teacher I would have put the Umlaut into Händel, of course!) but Henry Purcell was also on the program with the delightful Suite from Abdelazar – The Moor’s Revenge eight items of instrumental music which in their day (and his – namely the 17th century) indicated the raising of the curtain and the end of each act as the curtain did not fall between acts. This was followed by the Ode for the Birthday of Queen Mary. Come, ye sons of art, away with three soloist and the Brandenburg Choir – a great performance with only the royals missing!

Händel’s Concerto a due cori No.2 started the second half of the concert and if this was uplifting music then the Anthems for the Coronation of King George II, No 1 Zadoc the Priest and No 3, The King Shall Rejoice lifted the roof off the Recital Hall. You had to be there to experience it and the whole evening had such a profound effect on me that I arrived home minus my car – but that’s another story.
Isabell St Leon.

The Onion Bag

Wet weather
Yet again our fixtures last weekend were affected by wet weather and ground closures. A reminder that all players should check the schools website for fixture changes on Saturday mornings. Any changes or cancellations will be indicated on the fixture list and the website is updated around 7am on Saturday mornings if changes are to be made.

Fixtures this weekend
We have fixtures with Scots’ this weekend. Many of the matches are in the Centennial Park precinct and it would be great to see a big home crowd to support the 1st and 2nd XI matches on at McKay 2. (12 and 1.15).

Attendance during Trial HSC
A reminder to all Year 12 footballers that matches are played right through your Trial HSC period and you are expected to fulfil your football responsibilities. Venues, fixtures, opposition and refs have been arranged

Match Reports v Joeys

1st Grade Drew 1 – 1
Played on a heavy pitch, in front of a loud and hostile Joey’s home crowd, High’s 1st XI showed great courage to hold out a strong Joeys 1st XI. Kieran Taylor put High in front with a headed goal in a strong first half performance. In the second half, High’s one goal advantage was under constant threat, with Joey’s finishing far the stronger. High was saved time and time again by the outstanding keeping of Josh Sutton and the never say die defensive efforts, particularly of Sam Lane and captain Antony Paul.

2nd Grade Lost 1-4

3rd Grade Lost 1 – 4
High had trouble linking as a team, with poor passing and positioning off the ball the main problems. In order to be competitive next game we need to play as a team, not rely on one out play.

4th Grade Won 2-0
Starting the game with only 9 players High dominated the early fixture at Tarban Creek. All players accepted the challenge of playing 2 men short and gave the extra effort required. Goals to Tony Silviera 2.

16A Won 4-1
In an impressive display of passing football High’s 16As demolished their Joey’s counterparts. All players displayed great intensity and forced Joeys into errors which were quickly capitalised on by a rampant High forward line led by the imposing Daniel Jones. Goals to Jerry Zhou 2, Alex Hughes and a superb first time volley by Adam Booth.

15B Won 2-0
Playing Joeys 15As High’s 15Bs had an excellent victory. After a disrupted pre-game preparation due to several players arriving late, High settled down to control the match. Albert Kerr was impressive holding the backline together whilst the midfield worked well together and with the forward line to create several goal scoring opportunities. Goals to Wilber Koslowski and Khushaal Vyas.

Quote of the Week

I hear Glenn Hoddle has found God. That must have been one hell of a pass
– Jasper Carrott

Volleyball Report

Trans-Pacific Tournament

Year 11 Volleyball report
On Friday 30th July SBHS ‘Team 2’ competed in the Trans-Pacific Tournament at Olympic Park, performing beyond expectations. The day began with a faceoff against SBHS ‘Team 3’, a closely contested match in which the boys fared well against the more superior Year 12 side, going down in two tight sets.

Our strong all-round performance in the first match propelled us to greater confidence in the next match against Kelso School. Despite the more aggressive plays by our opponents this round, High once again kept the scores tight with solid backcourt defences by Sunny and Simon, and heavy blocking by Ian at the net. Perfect setting by Daniel and consistent hitting from Ben provided a powerful synergy to our gameplay, forcing Kelso to call timeout at the 16-15 score line. However, the turning point of the match came when a heavily contested ball at the net resulted in an injury to our star setter Daniel. This disrupted our usual 4-2 formation, swaying the match in Kelso’s favour.

Despite the misfortunes, the team pulled off a convincing victory in our final match against SBHS ‘Team 5’. After the losing the first set 25-23, the boys turned the game around with powerful serving and sharp hitting, wrapping up two easy sets to win the match, a fulfilling finale for the day. Well done, boys, and huge thanks to Ms Trompetter for her organising efforts and support throughout the day.
Kit Man Cheng & Jeffrey Tang
Co-captains

Fencing Report

AJ Rae Report

This year, High had a record total of three teams invited to the prestigious AJ Rae Shield tournament. Every team came on the day with great expectations, despite the fact that we were missing some of our best fencers. The Sydney Boys 1 team (comprising of Albert Nguyen, Anirban Ghose and Shaun Fletcher) got a respectable 26 hits against Newington 2, missing out on some crucial points due to dodgy equipment. Sydney Boys 2 were outclassed by Newington 1, but still managed to make up 12 points.

The day’s highlight (for us) was the results of the Sydney Boys U15 team, which, while fencing outside their division (predictably the U15) almost beat Oxley High, even leading on points at one stage, and ending up with the score of 41-45. Unfortunately, this meant all three teams got eliminated in the first round.

A big thank you should go to the small army of parent supporters present at the tournament. High had the largest support base at the tournament. With the growth of support that we have seen in recent years, Fencing at High can only grow, with much better results at the upcoming Schools League, which usually features the best results of High fencing each season.
Albert Nguyen
Captain

End of Season Rugby Dinner

Help celebrate another great year of High Rugby by attending the 2010 End of Season Rugby Dinner.

WHEN? Friday, 27th August 2010, 6.00pm. for 6.30 pm

WHERE? Great Hall, Sydney Boys High School

WHO? Players, parents, coaches, friends and supporters Players wear School Uniform. Adults wear smart casual

WHY? To acknowledge the commitment and achievements of all our players and because friendships made through High Rugby last a lifetime

COST? $30/person. Payable to the school office by Monday 23 August. Maximum seating 220.

Please note this is a BYO alcohol function for adults. …..Soft drinks and mineral water provided

A response form is included in the PDF version of this edition of High Notes

P&C Literacy Week Awards

Writing Competition

Entries Close: Monday 30th August (10am) (late entries not accepted)
Entries To: Junior Library or Senior Library

Topic: “A Controlling Passion”

Format:

• Entries must be presented in a typed format (12 point) and must be no longer than 1,000 words.
• The entrant’s name and Year level must be clearly displayed on the title page of the published text.

Categories:

• Senior Short Story (10 – 12)
• Junior Short Story (7 - 9)
• Senior Poetry (10 – 12)
• Junior Poetry (7 – 9)

Judging will take place during Week 7 and winners announced Friday 3rd September.
Prizes awarded on Speech Night.
Judging panel will include teachers, parents and students.

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.

General P&C Meeting

7.30pm, Wednesday 18th August, 2010, Staff Common Room
We have a number of important issues to cover at this month’s P&C general meeting including:

1. Purchase of School bus
2. Catering arrangements for School groups using the Great Hall
3. Capital Campaign 2010
4. Open Day and Orientation Day
5. Staff Common Room refurbishment.

ALL parents are invited to attend. Please join us to become informed and discuss issues brought to the P&C, for the benefit of your son.

Capital Campaign 2010

Sydney Boys High School has a proud tradition of giving back. Many of the facilities and opportunities available now to our boys have been provided by past generations of parents and students contributing to the School’s Building Funds. For example the Senior Study Centre, new tennis courts, redevelopment of the Outterside Centre, Canteen refurbishment, new Senior Library and the new Covered Outdoor Learning Centre.

In this tradition of giving back, we are approaching every High family to contribute to SBHS Capital Campaign 2010 by donating to Sydney Boys High School Building Fund in one or both of two ways:

• by regular monthly credit card donation that is tax deductible, and/or
• by once-off donation, also tax deductible.

Donation Forms to contribute to Sydney Boys High School Building Fund are included in High Notes or available on the School website.

The facilities and programs at SBHS are beyond what the great majority of other selective public schools provide and equal to many private schools – at a fraction of the cost. However for our boys to continue to benefit from these facilities and programs, the School needs to keep pace with its development program.

The next targeted project for the SBHS Building Fund is a new Multipurpose Centre, which is urgently needed to expand and upgrade our teaching, examination, performing arts and debating facilities and free up much needed classrooms in the existing buildings. This is a major capital works commitment that includes the design and construction of a new two level building joining the Killip Wing and McDonald Building at the School’s Anzac Parade frontage.

The Centre is planned to incorporate:

• a 200 seat lecture theatre
• a 125 seat examination room
• specialist music rehearsal and tuition rooms
• performance and debating spaces.

The cost of the project is estimated at $3.25 million. We currently have $835,000 on term deposit donated by parents and past students. We believe we can secure loan funding and commence the project if we have a $1 million deposit and a regular monthly stream of donation income to repay the loan.

Why isn’t this project funded by the Federal Government’s Building the Education Revolution (BER) program?
The School Hall and Library building program from which many public schools are currently benefitting was only available to primary schools. SBHS was able to redevelop the Great Hall kitchen with government funding obtained through the BER.

What about other government funding?
The School has researched thoroughly avenues for additional government funding to high schools. Last year the government funded the refurbishment of seven of our science laboratories. So at this stage, we have had our quota of government funding and need to rely on parents for much needed new facilities.

Sydney Boys High is the school it is because parents and old boys donate to the building of facilities beyond what the government can provide. It is the responsibility of each current group of parents to maintain and improve these facilities for the benefit of our boys now and into the future.

If every family donated $200.00 as a once-off contribution to the SBHS Building Fund right now, we would have our $1 million deposit. If each of our 1,000 families donates at least $30.00 a month ($1.00 a day), we would raise $360,000 every year to repay the planned loan. This would have the Multipurpose Centre started next year. Considering the cost of an education at SBHS compared to other GPS schools, this could be affordable for most High families.

A group of fellow parents will be telephoning you over the next few weeks to answer any questions you may have regarding SBHS Capital Campaign 2010. Thank you to Ada Leung, Carrie Waring, Debbie Lee, Janette Pich, Maeve O’Meara, Mary Lin, Raj Srikantashastry, Rakesh Sethi, Shankar Liu, Soogie Sim, Sylvie Shen, Tao Liu and Taylor Lin for taking on this important role on behalf of the School.

In the meantime, take the opportunity to participate in SBHS Capital Campaign 2010 and send in your donation using the forms in High Notes - so we can personally thank you for your donation when a fellow parent calls.

Upcoming Parent Meetings and Events

Monday 16th August, 6.30pm – Music Tour Reunion Night, Great Hall
Wednesday, 18th August, 7.30pm – General P&C Meeting, Staff Common Room
Saturday, 21st August, from 9.00am – Rugby Back-to-MacKay Family Day, MacKay Oval
Wednesday 25th August, 6.00pm – Rugby Committee Meeting, Staff Common Room
Thursday, 26th August, 6.30pm – Annual Football Annual Dinner, Great Hall
Friday, 27th August, 6.00pm – Annual Rugby Dinner, Great Hall

Raising $100,000 for the ACRF

Terminally-ill Father-of-Five Hopes to Raise $100,000 for Charity

Fred Pham, the 47-year-old father-of-five and high school teacher, plans to walk this Sunday’s 13 km City2Surf challenge despite having terminal cancer.

Fred hopes to raise $100 000 for the Australian Cancer Research Foundation by walking City2Surf with his two sons, and alongside friends, former students and other supporters. Fred acknowledged in his fundraising post, “I am not sure if I will be able to complete the whole course but I will try my very best to get as far as I can... It is only a small contribution from me but this is all I have.” He has already raised $12 000 which puts him as the third highest ranked fundraising individual for the City2Surf Charity Challenge.

In September 2008, Fred was diagnosed with soft tissue sarcoma, a rare and aggressive cancer. Fred says, “before I complete my journey in this life I wish to contribute to this wonderful society my share of contribution to make this world a better place for everyone to live especially in Australia, the place that I call Home.”

Online donations can be made to http://www.everydayhero.com.au/fred_pham before the City2Surf event if you wish to support Fred Pham’s inspiring cause and help him raise $100 000 for charity. As Fred says, “I ask you to support this very worthy cause and give the less fortunate people a chance to live and to be with their loved ones.”

Sydney Boys High School Building Fund

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