Winifred West Schools Limited . ABN 14 000 025 0267

PO Box 34 Mittagong NSW 2575 . Phone: +61 2 4860 2000 . Fax: +61 2 4860 2020 . frensham@frensham.nsw.edu.au

Parenting Teenagers...SchoolTV.me – Michael Carr-Gregg Endorsed by Dr Michael Carr-Gregg, one of Australia's highest profile adolescent and child psychologists, SchoolTV is being launched for the attention of schools as ‘a world first concept’ that ‘addresses the modern day realities faced by schools and parents - sourcing clear, relevant and fact-based information around raising safe, happy, well, resilient young people.’ [The promotional material is accessible at: http://schooltv.me.] SchoolTV proposes that schools fund parent access to ‘branded school content from Australia’s leading authorities’ on topics such as online threats, anxiety, depression, self-harm and substance abuse. SchoolTV is one of several resources we are currently reviewing also as part of our overall decision-making about the best curriculum and delivery to educate (i.e. for the best possible outcomes) in content areas that address ‘the sensitive-personal-

TERM 1 NO 5 Wednesday 29 March 2017

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real-life issues that research confirms parents and students worry about’. We believe that transparent, aligned approaches, delivered consistently – in context – enhance parent and school efforts to build student resilience and empathy, and physical and mental health and wellbeing. Dr Carr-Gregg raises concern about the erosion of fundamentals to health and wellbeing, fundamentals such as: adequate sleep (away from electronic devices), nutritious diet (including fresh fruit and vegetables), adequate exercise (noting that an extremely low percentage of Australian teenagers achieve the recommended 60min per day) and - a key driver of sense of purpose, usefulness and connection - community contribution. He also stresses the importance of anger management, problem-solving and conflict resolution; teaching teenagers to face, overcome and build their skills in moving on from adversity. In planning for all that is included in the Frensham boarding experience and the ‘full School experience’, we are constantly considering how to encourage and complement ‘best parenting’, aligned to our mission and values as a School – and how to articulate expectations, in fundamental areas. Our challenge for students to develop ‘grit, gratitude and good humour’ is based on what all the latest research says about what young people need, in order to ‘flourish’. [See the work of Martin EP Seligman - Flourish: A Visionary New Understanding of Happiness and Well-Being] Similarly, our programming to encourage daily exercise, fun with friends, balance of use of time for intense effort (mentally and physically), screen and non-screen time, and time for relaxation and sleep. Junior boarders say they are very clear about the ‘sleep is non-negotiable at Frensham’ phrase – designed to assist all to have just one focus for ‘after lights out’ - sleep. Late last year I shared two of my favourite quotes that drive our efforts and decision-making around community and belonging: (i) ‘What comes from the heart - goes to the heart’ [Samuel Taylor Coleridge], words that remind us how the best

relationships work – how we are touched by others and how we can make an impact. As a community, living and working together, we can learn what it takes to build and maintain positive connections - how relationships should be respected, understood, and governed, so that we feel better-off, for our efforts to belong.

(ii) ‘Who is the happiest of men? He who values the merits of others, and in their pleasure takes joy, even as though 'twere his own.’ [Goethe]

Term 2 meetings of the Frensham and Gib Gate Advisory Committee will include consideration of how best to work with parents to maximise success in raising ‘safe, happy/well, resourceful and resilient young people’. Acknowledgement to: The 32-strong Year 10 Science and Engineering Challenge team, placed first in the recent Southern Highlands regional

competition. [With compliments received about their determined, creative problem-solving and extraordinary teamwork.]; Gib Gate Year 6 students, part of the winning team of the Southern Highlands Engineering Challenge, Champion

Primary School; Visual Artists: Charlotte Bernays (Year 12) placed 1st (Open Portrait) and 2nd (Open Southern Highlands Landscape) at the

recent Moss Vale Show’, Isabella Letherbarrow-Verran (Year 11) finalist in the Mosman Youth Art Prize, students shortlisted for the Head On Photo Festival Student Prize: Arabella Jones (Year 12), Stella Wilde (Year 11), Olivia Hamilton (Year 9) and Georgia Shakeshaft (Year 8);

Arabella McKenzie (Year 12), in the final group of 18, prior to selection of 12 players to represent Australia as part of the Youth Commonwealth Games Rugby 7s team;

Paige Wilson 2017 Under 20 National High Jump Champion – jumping 1.84m (equalling her PB; 4cm from Commonwealth Games qualifying height) at the recent National Track and Field Championships;

Music Tutors and students - for Frensham’s AMEB Certificate of Distinction 2016, for Top 5 Most Outstanding Accredited Schools, important recognition of effort and expert preparation of students;

Ms Sabine Madden, Coordinator of Music Tuition and Coordinator of programmes for Gifted and Talented musicians, appointed as an Executive Committee member of the Accompanists' Guild of NSW.

Calendar Date Change: NSW Interschools Equestrian Competition: please note the correct dates are 14-18 June, 2017. Frensham’s IGSSA Sport, Saturday 1 April - as per email to all parents this week: Frensham will now be hosting Round 1 Tennis and Round 4 Softball Please note: Term Dates 2018 – will be published prior to the end of this term – by separate email and on Schoolbox. Julie A Gillick Head of Frensham Head of Winifred West Schools

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Frensham Advisory Committee 2017 Gib Gate Advisory Committee 2017

Mrs Caroline Begg Ms Ruby Curtis Mrs Penny Hanan Mr John Hayes (Chair) Mrs Kiki Hill Mrs Erica Holcombe Mrs miChelle McGufficke Mrs Angela Macken (Sec) Mr Gavin Martin Mr Sam Paradice Mrs Nicola Robertson

Mrs Tina Scales Ms Jo Thomson

r-cbegg@bigpond.net.au44ruby@gmail.com pennyhanan@mac.com hayes.jt@bigpond.com kikihill64@gmail.com erica@dc-it.com.au milliefarming@activ8.net.au themackenfamily@gmail.com gavin.martin@ap.jll.com sam.paradice@morgans.com.au nicola@nicolarobertsonots.com.au t.scales@bigpond.comj.thomson@tpg.com.au

Dr Guy Bashford (Chair)

Mrs Rowena Bendror (FOGG Representative) Mrs Holly de Manincor Mrs Chelsea Doyle (Chair of FOGG) Mr David Griffin Mrs Kate Iori Mr Trent Johns Mrs Sara Moylan

guy.bashford@ sesiahs.health.nsw.gov.au sales@littlestepsonline.com.au

hollydemanincor@hotmail.com chelseakdoyle@gmail.com

david.griffin291@gmail.com kateiori@hotmail.com trent@theimperial.com.au saralmoylan@gmail.com

TERM DATES 2017 – Gib Gate and Frensham

Term 1 Gib Gate & Frensham Tuesday 31 January- Thursday 6 April, 3.00pm

Term 2 Gib Gate & Frensham Wednesday 26 April-Thursday 22 June, 3.00pm (Boarders always return evening before classes start) (Year 10 Work Experience ends Friday 23 June) Queen’s Birthday Long Weekend: Monday 12 June; Frensham departs 3.00pm Friday 9 June

Term 3 Gib Gate & Frensham Tuesday 18 July- Thursday 21 September, 3.00pm (Boarders always return evening before classes start) Frensham (Year 12 Dinner with Parents and Staff is evening of Thursday 21 September)

Term 4 Gib Gate: Tuesday 10 October-Friday 8 December, 3.00pm Frensham: Tuesday 10 October-Sunday 10 December from 12noon (after 11.00am Carol Service) (Boarders always return evening before classes start)

2017 PARENT WEEKENDS – Confirmed dates for attendance of all students Years 7-12

Term 2

Year 8 Saturday 13 May-Sunday 14 May

Year 12 Saturday 3 June-Sunday 4 June WWS Birthday – Friday 2 June

Frensham’s 104th Birthday – Sunday 4 June

Term 3

Year 11 Saturday 5 August-Sunday 6 August [Year 10 Saturday 5 August – Year 10 planning for Senior

Studies (with parents on Saturday)]

Year 9 Saturday 26 August-Sunday 27 August

Ranier Uniform Shop

All fittings for uniforms are by appointment: Mondays and Thursdays 12noon-5.00pm Shop Manager: Mrs Michelle Wynn

To order goods, please call the Shop: (02) 4860 2136 [BH] Shop Hours: Mondays and Thursdays: 12.00pm-5.00pm or email: frensham@ranier.com.au

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The first years have been a great success! The Cattle Herd asset is now valued at $210,571 (with stock in the paddock valued at cost) - it started at $30,609 only two and a half years ago. If you could host some cattle for us now is the time. We have all sorts of farmers already participating - breeders, feeders, dairy or beef, commercial or hobby farmers and we are looking for lots more of you. The Cattle Herd is rich with funds to reinvest - as it says in the new brochure ‘Foundation pay for the Cattle, All we want is your grass’. When you talk to your WWS community friends or family please include the Cattle Herd in your conversation and encourage them to join the Winifred West Schools Foundation Cattle Herd.

It is the intent of the Foundation that funds raised through the Cattle Herd be spent funding Rural Scholarships. The sooner we reach our long term target of 300 head the sooner we can contribute to Foundation and make that the case. ‘Foundation Cattle’ hosted by Antony and Katie Thompson

Community Notice: all are welcome to march with the School for this important Service.

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This sheet is dedicated to all the news of the Fair and will be included with each Newsletter.

The Committee had its first meeting on Friday 17 March and all who attended are enthusiastically starting to get their areas organised. The Morning and Afternoon Tea Stall team of Liz Lyne and Carol Huggins already have most of their team in place – well done!

Storage – once again…. Storage space is now available at Frensham and Gib Gate.

o Gib Gate – deliveries can be made into the left hand garage below the pick-up shelter. Please only park in the loading dock area to unload. The key is available from the office.

o Frensham – deliveries can be made any weekday or on Saturday mornings. Please advise Michele of any deliveries so that access to the storage areas can be arranged.

We are seeking clothing, furniture, homewares, kitchenware, art – inside and out, toys and games, interesting objects and curios and other items you might have in order to support Vintage Clothing and Furniture and the White Elephant stall.

Thank you to Year 10 parents who all responded very positively to requests for help resulting in a strong group of gardeners who have some very creative ideas that will make the Plant Stall a highlight; a long list of volunteers to help on the day; parents and grandparents offering to help with sewing the pyjamas and cooking for the Produce Stall; things donated to be on-sold.

Stocking for the Plant Stall is underway. This is the perfect time for cuttings and plants to be harvested which can then be potted and stored in the designated area at The Farm at Frensham. A number of Southern Highlands gardens are available for plant collection so if you can help with that or have a garden with plants to spare please contact Penny Simons – pen.hayes@bigpond.com

Raffle prizes needed! If you have something to donate that might entice someone to buy some raffle tickets please let Michele Scamps know - mscamps@frensham.nsw.edu.au

Can you sew or drive a pair of scissors? Cutting and sewing working bees in Kennedy Annexe, Frensham - Thursday 4 May - Friday 5 May - Friday 12 May (to coincide with IGSSA Cross Country and Year 8 weekend)

If you can help in any way please contact Annette O’Connell – annette@mocelectrical.com.au

Jams, pickles, relishes and fresh produce. Anna Massey is looking for volunteers to provide jars, make yummy things to go in them and/or provide fresh produce for the Produce Stall - annamassey@bigpond.com

Would anyone like to make scarecrows? Always very popular and they make the fair look very jolly.

Volunteers. Please register all offers of help with either Alison Lalak alisonlalak@bigpond.com or Jo Thomson j.thomson@tpg.com.au

For information please contact Michele Scamps Iris Country Fair Coordinator mscamps@frensham.nsw.edu.au 4860 2100 0407 919 718

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Left picture: Friends and family of Old Girl, Susan Morrow (Ross, 1955) gathered at The Pavilion to celebrate her 80th Birthday recently. Susan [centre with flowers] with Anne Davis (Emily Dowey, 1955), Helen Brockhoff (Ward, 1955), Jane Adare (Roberts, 1955) and Barbara Roberts (de Mestre, 1955). Right picture: At this year’s Frensham Open Day we were joined by two reunion groups – the class of 1957 (60 Years On) and 1997 (20 Years On). The next reunion will be 1977 (40 Years On) on 13 and 14 May at Frensham. For more information regarding this reunion, please contact: fellowship@frensham.nsw.edu.au

Vocalist Jane Irving (1988) discovered jazz in her late teens. ‘When I was 14 my parents started sending me to jazz camps in the school holidays. That’s when I first heard jazz - it felt really good,’ Jane says. After singing in choirs, entering classical piano eisteddfods and even learning the flute for a few years, Irving left home to attend Frensham. ‘I took acting classes, learned pottery and sang in an incredible Madrigal choir - this was when my creativity started to open up.’ For her final Higher School Certificate Music examination, Jane was awarded third place in NSW for her classical piano performance.

After leaving school, Jane worked as a pianist player/singer, but when she took a Jazz Vocal Workshop at the Conservatorium of Music in Sydney everything changed. A guitar player she met there offered her a ‘gig’... ‘I turned up and walked out on this big stage, and there was a guitar player, a bass, drums and just a microphone on a stand waiting for me. No piano. This was my first gig singing with a rhythm section behind me.’ Irving formed a band and started singing in and around the Sydney area, and began featuring at Jazz Festivals at Thredbo; Manly; the South Coast and Wangaratta. She also played regularly at popular Sydney spots including The Basement, Soup Plus, The Sound Lounge and 505. In 2011, Jane moved to New York with husband, bassist, Kevin Hailey. They reside in Brooklyn and perform regularly throughout New York, including The Zinc Bar, The 55 Bar, Jazz at The Kitano, North Square, Zebs and The Standard Hotel. For a full list of events and Reunions, please visit: www.frensham.nsw.edu.au/community/fellowship

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The Personal Development Programme at Gib Gate is comprehensive and wide ranging. Students from Years K-6 have weekly personal development lessons (and daily follow up) with their classroom teacher, and there are weekly whole-school Personal Development sessions with Ms Robson. Additionally, annual workshop sessions are held in conjunction with expert outside providers such as the Years 3-6 Interrelate Bullying Programme; Years 5 and 6 Interrelate Puberty and Self-Care Programme; and K-6 Life Education. The Personal Development Programme also includes the Year 1-6 Outdoor Education Programme, the Gib Gate Physical Education Programme and the annual Year 6 Peer Leadership Programme. In Term One 2017, Kindergarten to Year Two students engaged in weekly social skills lessons in their classrooms using the ‘Stop Think Do’ programme. This programme focuses on teaching children specific social skills and a process of relating to others so they can make and keep friends. In Term One Years 3-6 have been engaged in weekly sessions with classrooms teachers using the ‘Bounce Back!’ wellbeing and resilience programme. ‘Bounce Back’ is a whole school social and emotional learning curriculum that promotes positive mental health, wellbeing and resilience for students, creates safe and supportive class environments, and offers practical strategies to help children function well at school and in life. During Term One K-6 students have attended weekly sessions with Ms Robson focusing on Gib Gate’s Core Values of Learning to Learn through Adventure, Belonging, Challenge, Doing, Excellence and Service. In those sessions we have discussed the need to include and value others, how we can interact positively with others demonstrating kindness, how to set personal goals and how to value difference within our community. In Term Two 2017, students from Kindergarten to Year 6 will participate in the annual K-6 Peer Support Programme which has been designed to promote friendship skills and assist students to develop supportive social networks. This programme includes 30 minutes per week of structured activities in mixed-age groups, facilitated by Year 6 students and supervised by teachers. The Peer Support Programme provides a fun and engaging environment for young people to address issues such as bullying, relationships, and self-image. Modules are designed to equip young people with skills to deal proactively with life experiences, develop a sense of self-worth and belonging, and to encourage taking responsibility for decisions and actions. The 2017 Term 2 unit, Promoting Harmony, helps us define individual and community values, build relationships and improve decision making skills through the following weekly modules: Learning how to value each other; Showing you care; Caring for friends; Respecting others; Knowing your rights; Making good choices; Doing our best; and Knowing how to take action. Ms Sally Robson, Head of Gib Gate Curriculum Highlights 2017 Writing across the Curriculum at Gib Gate Eminent writer Peter De Vries once said: I write when I’m inspired, and I see to it that I’m inspired at nine o’clock every morning. Each day as children enter their classrooms at 8:40 am their teachers have planned a variety of experiences to ensure all are inspired to communicate their thinking through writing. They learn to write and learn about writing in all forms, whether it be to write their explanations for solving mathematical problems, to document their scientific investigations, to persuade others to consider a viewpoint that matters to them, to recount a memorable experience, or to compose a literary text to express their creativity and imagination. Each Monday, Kindergarten students write a recount of their weekend and draw a picture. The pictures they create support their meaning and add to the ‘reader appeal’ of their compositions. Students construct their texts by sounding out unfamiliar words using their letter/sound knowledge, finding sight words found on the ‘Kindergarten Word Wall’ and working towards using correct letter formation. This term, Kindergarten hosted baby chickens in the classroom for three weeks and, after watching the chickens hatch in the incubator and grow each day, Mrs Miller and the children jointly constructed a Factual Recount on the ‘Life Cycle of a Hen’, completing their work by illustrating their writing creatively. Year 1 students have been focusing on adding detail to their recount writing and organising events and ideas into paragraphs. In Science and Technology, students have been documenting their learning by writing factual descriptions of minibeasts found in the school environment. In addition, the children are learning how to incorporate creative language features, such as alliteration, to write fun sentences about these interesting creatures.

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Factual information report writing about the classroom ‘inhabitants’ – the mealworms – has been a feature of the writing programme integrated into the Science and Technology unit for Year 2 students. In addition, the mysterious disappearance of the tadpoles from the classroom environment has sparked them to write highly imaginative narratives about this unexplained occurrence. Year 3 students have been inspired to learn about the structure of imaginative narrative texts through their shared reading of the picture book Stellaluna by Janell Cannon and The BFG by the master of creative stories: Roald Dahl. In imaginative writing, the students enjoyed thinking up what may be inside the visual stimulus of ‘The Box.’ They are encouraged to include a range of literary techniques to engage their audience and are realising the importance of using grammar components, such as adjectives and similes, to enhance the descriptions of the setting and characters. Year 4 students have been sharpening their skills as writers through a series of lessons entitled Things Good Writers Do! with a specific focus on understanding the importance of sentence structure and using punctuation correctly. Writing persuasively to communicate their opinion about the value of their recent Outdoor Education Adventure Day featured in their recent Performance Assembly presentation. Having the opportunity to share their compositions with the whole school community was of great importance to them. Year 4 are currently in the process of planning and composing informative historical texts to explain aspects of traditional Aboriginal life. As a focus for their imaginative writing, Year 5 students listened to the picture book, ‘Moondyne Joe’ which tells the story of an escaped convict who becomes a bushranger. This text provided opportunities for analysis and discussion of techniques the author used to engage his audience, including time connectives, character descriptions, direct speech, similes and metaphors. Students were then provided with a visual prompt from the book to compose their own version of the story, resulting in a range of colourful and highly imaginative versions of ‘Moondyne Joe’ as he escapes from prison, yet again. To provide opportunities for consolidation of their imaginative writing skills, students had fun exploring what may be inside the visual stimulus of ‘The Box’. After reading and viewing a range of picture books with a ‘school’ theme, Year Six formulated their ideas to begin to compose their own imaginative text with their Kindergarten Buddy as their ‘audience’. Next, the editing process begins: self and peer editors check texts for grammar, punctuation, spelling, paragraphing, and look for other ways to improve their work, for example by adding appealing figurative language. These are all necessary steps before illustrating and publishing each student’s unique picture book. The final step in this process will be, of course, sharing their work with the ultimate audience – their Kindergarten Buddies. Ms Kate Chauncy, Director of Teaching and Learning, P-12 and Coordinator of Gifted and Talented Programmes Enrichment/Activities Grandparents’ Day Assembly Year 1 students are performing on violins at the 2017 Grandparents’ Day Assembly on Friday 31 March. They have been deriving much enjoyment from their weekly small group sessions. A large group of Year 2 musicians will also perform solos on piano, violin, flute and cello at this Assembly. Dancing Ms Annabel Lomax has commenced the Gib Gate in-class Dance programme this week supporting Kindergarten to Year 2 in their preparation for the Junior Musical Production, ‘The Lighthouse Keeper’s Lunch’. The musical production will be performed towards the end of Term 2. Extra-Curricular Activities Please contact Mrs Graham this week if your child has not yet been registered and is interested in starting an activity, as there are a few places remaining in some classes. Details of these activities are available on the Weekly Bulletin on the website and classes will commence in the first week of Term 2. Mrs Anne Graham, Gib Gate Coordinator (Administration)

Sport K – 2 Swimming Carnival Last week, Kindergarten to Year 2 enjoyed their Swimming carnival in The Centenary Pool. The children were involved in many events, ranging from serious form stroke races for those accomplished swimmers to novelty events including horsey races on noodles, ducking and diving for objects and swimming through hoops. The children were watched by a large number of parent spectators who enjoyed the event as much as their children. A special thank you to the Year 6 Sports monitors who assisted so ably and enthusiastically on the day.

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Pictured left, Year 1 students, Oliver Wilson, Thomas Castleman, Matilda Spong, Jake Linde. Picture right, Ava Berkelouw (Year 6) assists James Macpherson (Kindergarten). Cross Country Despite the cancellation of our School Cross Country Carnival due to the weather, a strong team of runners has been chosen to represent Gib Gate at the IPSHA Cross Country carnival being held at the Kings School Parramatta this weekend. We wish all those students invited to run the best of luck. Additional runners will be invited to compete at the SHIPS Cross Country carnival being hosted at Gib Gate early next term. Summer Sports Our Summer Sports competitions wrap up over the coming weeks. We wish all those teams in Basketball and Water Polo good luck, as they compete in the Finals. Winter Sports Hockey games all commence on Saturday 1 April with all games at Welby Hockey fields. The Soccer games and training will commence in Term 2. Mr Michael Standen, Co-ordinator of PDHPE and Sport Preschool (Pre-Kindergarten) There was a great deal of excitement when the Gingerbread Lady was finally trapped by our pre-schoolers this week. We have had a busy six weeks from when she ran away from our preschool oven in February and we have been pondering and questioning, constructing traps (using lots of problem solving and engineering techniques), researching (asking Ms Robson, family members, other teachers), hypothesising and calculating about where she might turn up next. We delved into our thoughts through letters, maps, conversations, drawings, paintings, discussions, list making and graphing. There is no more powerful way to learn than when children are fully engaged in the subject at hand, as was evident with the Gingerbread Lady. As the children learnt to share facts, offer suggestions and carry through with their thinking, as individuals and as part of a group, there was a great deal of discussion, clarification and follow up that occurred within the group. As teachers, we observed and supported the children in their thinking, posing questions to further extend their ideas. The children demonstrated they are active thinkers, as demonstrated with some of their thoughts when the Gingerbread Lady was finally caught:

Amelia I think she smelled the honey in the trap from miles away and followed her smell. Then she slipped down and went down the slide to be caught. Sofia She might have come back because the fox was following her. Eliza Maybe the bird and then the fox broke her into pieces and only we could then find her as we knew her before?

The students have taken to exploring lots of areas in the outdoor environment with their gum boots on. As we explore we have become keen observers of the changes that are occurring in our garden from plant life to the animals that reside in it. We are starting to learn about Aboriginals and how they lived off the land making their own shelters and we explored tepees and houses from other countries to inspire our building. We collected felled branches with the aim of building our own humpy. We decided we needed to make the branches the same height to help make the structure tall enough for us to stand in. A tape measure was produced and we decided the branches should be three metres long. Once we started measuring it was hard to stop and we measured lots of things – the children were invited to record this information on a clipboard and they quickly set to work using drawings to depict their knowledge. The children also asked the teachers to write their own observations. As the Preschool children are not writing very much at this age it is important that we model how information can be stored so that they can revisit their thoughts at a later date. Mrs Tinna Loker, Preschool Coordinator

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Winter School 2017 The Winter School programme is now on the Sturt website and includes a diverse selection of courses such as portraits in watercolour; botanical art – nuts, seeds and pods; figurative sculpture in clay; etching and champlevé enamelling; digital marquetry; exploring ice cool porcelain and much more. We also have daily art classes for children. Short Courses 2017 - Saturday 27 & Sunday 28 May 9.30am-4.30pm Short courses are now on the Sturt website and feature a diverse range of opportunities from ephemeral art to tool restoration and steam bending to still life painting. More courses will be included as workshops are confirmed. http://www.sturt.nsw.edu.au/education/short-courses Book now for Term classes in 2017 Dates for term classes in 2017 are now on the Sturt website. With a newly refurbished woodwork studio and machine room, we will have increased opportunities for woodworkers to attend classes during the day and evening, as well as jewellery/metalwork, weaving and ceramics classes. If you are interested in a term class and there is not a place available, please register your interest – additional classes will be programmed where there is sufficient demand. http://www.sturt.nsw.edu.au/education/term-classes Exhibitions Last chance to see our current exhibition… Alumni – selected graduates of the Sturt School for Wood 1985-2005 – continues to 2 April 2017 The Sturt School for Wood was established in 1985 as an intensive training place for aspiring fine furniture makers and designers. Over 30 years later the school has built a national and international reputation offering an unrivalled course taught by some of the best fine furniture makers and teachers working in Australia and overseas. For the first time, this exhibition will invite a selection of graduates from the early years of the School to display their current work and furniture-making philosophy. Artists include: Alex Springall, Blair Ossendryver, Chris Wilford, Geoff Tonkin, Jeff Freeman, John Gallagher, Laura McCusker, Mark Lenny, Nick Statham, Paul Nicholson, Roy Schack, Stuart Faulkner, Stuart Pinkerton and Warwick Wright. Gauge - a matter of moisture – an installation by B Jane Cowie -9 April to 28 May 2017 The installation will create an environment within the Gallery of an ethereal nature that is pleasant, comforting and soft. This exhibition will address issues of water and rainfall, by investigating the collection and creation of these matters of moisture occurring within different lived environments. “With a measured intention to gauge my own intent, this exhibition is an installation within a space for a predetermined period of time, addressing matters of process and an emerging meaning in relation to space.” B. Jane Cowie has been working with glass for over 20 years. Cowie has played an important role in the development of contemporary craft in Australia through numerous roles on boards of key organisations. Cowie moved to Singapore in 2003 and now runs a company called Art Glass Solutions that develops large scale art installations for the public and private sectors and public art commissions. Cowie undertook a residency at Sturt in 2017 to develop work for the exhibition. This exhibition will be opened on Sunday 9 April at 11am by special guest Peter Minson, Glass Artist. Friends of Sturt Committee Meeting, Sturt Cottage Wednesday 5 April 5.30pm Join the Committee for a glass of wine and a preview of the next exhibition in Sturt Gallery. Full details of all Sturt courses, exhibitions, residency programmes and events can be found on the website www.sturt.nsw.edu.au or to make a booking or enrolment call Sturt Shop on +61 2 4860 2083 or email shop@sturt.nsw.edu.au Mr Mark Viner, Head of Sturt

F R I E N D S O F S T U R T Denise Sumner (President), Penny Hoskins (Secretary), Ruth Wright (Roster Secretary), Joan Dinning, Bill Dinning, Anne Thomson, Julie Musgrave, Michael Harris, Libby Hobbs, Jill Dyson

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Deputy Head Term 2 extra-curricular forms are now available on Schoolbox. Please note that we assume your daughter will continue with her Term 1 Music and Tennis lessons unless you notify us of any changes. All other extra-curricular activities require a new form to be filled out. If you wish to enroll your daughter in a new activity in Term 2, you must complete an enrolment form on Schoolbox. Any changes to extra-curricular involvement need to be made in writing. The Term 2 Calendar is also available on Schoolbox. Students will be taken through the calendar on the last day of Term 1. Although only 9 weeks long, Term 2 contains, amongst other events; the Year 8 Weekend, WWS Birthday, Frensham’s 104th Birthday, the Year 12 Weekend and the Queen’s Birthday Public Holiday Weekend. We also host the IGSSA Cross Country in Week 3. Years 7 and 9 have their NAPLAN Tests in week 3, Year 8 take part in a Drug Forum and Year 10 go on Work Experience in week 9. Mr Geoff Marsh, Deputy Head Boarding News The Opening of Linden Turner House on the Year 10 Weekend was a highlight for the boarding community, and being able to show parents and Old Girls through the refurbished House and to receive their warm response was a rewarding experience. On Monday morning girls with their Cracks all had a tour of the House to ensure the whole School had the opportunity to become familiar with the new boarding environment. The 50 Year On reunion participants toured the School led by several Year 11 students. It is always interesting to hear their recollections of their school days.

Dress-up dinners on a Friday Night continue to be a great favourite. This week’s theme was Charlie and The Chocolate Factory. This weekend girls went Ice Skating as well as on local trips. These events were combined with in-house activities as well as quiet times.

Parent Reminder: The deadline has passed for any further bookings to accommodate End of Term 1 travel and start of Term 2. Mrs Ros Buick, Director of Planning & Events and Mrs Amanda Wansey, Deputy Head of Boarding Director of Teaching and Learning Sydney University Gifted and Talented Science Discovery Program 2017 – results achieved Last November a group of Year 8 and 9 students sat a 40-minute Science examination set by the University of Sydney – The Gifted & Talented Discovery Program Qualifying Exam – for competitive entry into the three-day July vacation programme offered by the University at the main campus in Camperdown. The multiple-choice examination consisted of questions designed to test the students’ ability to solve scientific problems in the areas of Biology, Chemistry and Physics, drawing on their knowledge and creative thinking skills. Results have now been received and we are proud to have been notified that Imogen Senior and Annabelle Hickson (Year 10) have been offered first-round offers to participate in this prestigious course. Imogen and Annabelle’s achievements were among the top 10% of the candidature from across NSW, the ACT and Queensland and we congratulate them and their teachers on this outstanding achievement.

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We also highly commend the following students whose results place them in the top 10 achievers within the Frensham cohort: Year 9: Aarthi Avvari, Mia Horsfall, Gemma Macaulay-Black. Year 10: Mia Coupland, Joanna Hicks, Hayley Hunter, Georgina Ridge, Augusta Wyrzkowski. Congratulations to all students who participated with enthusiasm to test their skills and knowledge in a challenging task. Certificates of Participation have been awarded to: Year 8 2016 (now Year 9 2017): Harriette Beedle, Cordelia Bell, Alexandra Cunningham, Annabella Damiani, Eliza Duck, Bronte Garcia, Lucy Hayes (Year 10), Sybella Harris, Miriam Hopkins, Daisy Latimer, Sarah Manwaring. Year 9 2016 (now Year 10 2017): Isabella Allen, Elvira Berzins, Noni Brittain, Kate Crawford, Isabella Gale, Pippa Hanan, Amelia Hickson, Sarah Jancewicz, Sophie Lyne, Harper Northam, Sophie Robertson, India Shead, Harriet Taylor. Students in Year 9 2017 will have the opportunity to sit The Gifted & Talented Discovery Program Qualifying Exam in November this year. Ms Kate Chauncy, Director of Teaching and Learning, P-12 and Coordinator of Gifted & Talented Programmes Director of Studies NESA (NSW Education Standards Authority) has in place guidelines relating to requirements for honesty in assessments and submitted works. Students in Years 11 and 12 have completed the mandatory programme called HSC: All My Own Work. This requires that all students behave ethically in all aspects of assessment. This includes the following guidelines. Students:

take responsibility for completing their own work; apply normal school rules throughout the period of an assessment task; follow the instructions for completion as set out in the Assessment Notification; will not disturb the work of any other student or upset the conduct of the task; will not take into an assessment room any books, notes, paper or any equipment other than the aids specified by the

teacher in charge; will not seek to take unfair advantage through absence from class or school prior to the submission of work or sitting for

a test item; are expected to make a serious attempt in all assessment tasks.

Schools are required to prevent malpractice and ensure the authenticity of students’ work, particularly with tasks completed away from the classroom. Depending on the nature of the task, this may involve students maintaining a journal to show how their response has been developed or being required to submit evidence of their progress in the task at checkpoints along the way. While most students would understand what cheating in an examination means, there are other types of behaviour that can lead to students gaining unfair advantage over others, sometimes inadvertently, most of which fall under the heading of plagiarism. With such ready access to online materials, plagiarism is an issue for all students when researching materials for tasks. They need to understand that just changing some of the words or the order of sentences in a passage written by someone else does not make the work their own. Teachers work with students to support them in developing good research skills and an understanding of how to avoid plagiarism. They are encouraged to find ideas from reading and research and to use those to develop their own ideas, acknowledging the original sources. By acknowledging their sources, students show teachers the extent of the reading and research they have done and the way in which they have engaged with other people’s ideas in order to develop their own. Where students in Years 7-10 have difficulty completing assessment work, negotiation with the teacher before the due date is expected. In Years 11-12, NESA require, where there is no valid reason for non-completion of an assessment task, that a zero mark must be recorded for that task. Failure to submit an assessment on time will result in a zero mark except in cases of Illness/Misadventure, where the NESA Policy on Illness/Misadventure will be applied. All rules regarding assessment are to be found in the Frensham Assessment Policy documents. Students in Years 11 and 12 need to be particularly familiar with these policies and the Senior Student Handbook, available on Schoolbox. Both documents are essential reading. Ms Janene van Gogh, Director of Studies – in Residence

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English and Drama Drama As we come to the end of Term 1, students in Drama have demonstrated an understanding of theory through performance in their assessment tasks. Year 7 students have used John Marsden’s and Shaun Tan’s picture book, The Rabbits as a stimulus for a group-devised performance. The Rabbits is partly allegorical fable about colonisation, told from the viewpoint of the colonised. With inspiration from Opera Australia and Barking Gecko Theatre’s collaboration for the Sydney Festival 2016, students used images, movement and soundscapes to create an abstract performance that explored the topic and enabled them to examine the situation from the perspective of the colonised. Year 9 Drama enjoyed experimenting with the style of Commedia dell ‘Arte. The style employs physical comedy in the form of slapstick and involves props, with the misuse of those items assisting in creating the physical comedy. The style also features archetypal characters whose physical mannerisms, gestures and walks visually portray their personalities. Modern day examples of this style of comedy include Mr. Bean and Kath & Kim. In preparation for their task, students are working in small groups to explore scenarios and characters of the style. Year 10 Drama students have been studying the dramatic form of Realism, utilising the techniques of Stanislavski’s System of Acting to interpret plays and create believable characters for monologue performances. Constantin Stanislavski was a Russian actor and director who developed exercises that encouraged actors to explore character motivations and provided a guiding structure for actors to consistently achieve deep, meaningful and disciplined performances. Year 11 Drama students have developed a deeper understanding of Improvisation, Playbuilding and Acting through their study of key theatre practitioners in modern drama, including the work of Augusto Boal. Boal was a writer, director and political activist who created the Theatre of the Oppressed to give people the skills to challenge the oppression they faced in everyday life. As a culminating task for the unit, students devised original pieces of group-devised theatre, using a word or phrase as a stimulus. Inspired by the performances they witnessed at OnStage, students embraced the challenge and extended their skills in preparation for next year’s HSC Group Performance. Year 12 Drama students have been studying Black Comedy as their second topic of study for the HSC Drama written examination. The topic explores modern comic plays from different countries that deal with content that is often uncomfortable or suppressed. Students must investigate the nature of comedy and use of humour to confront an audience with human experiences of pain, loss, the controversial or the taboo. In particular, by engaging with the forms, styles, techniques and conventions of the plays, students assess how audiences are affected and whether laughter provides a cathartic experience in this style of theatre. As part of their preparation and understanding of the texts, The Lieutenant of Inishmore by Martin McDonagh and The Shape of Things by Neil La Bute, students grappled with the plays in small groups by interpreting and adapting them for performance. Mrs Sally Hannah, Senior Teacher English

“Poetry is an echo asking a shadow to dance.” Carl Sandburg “Genuine poetry can communicate before it is understood.” T S Eliot

Since 1999, March 21 has been celebrated as United Nations World Poetry Day. Poetry is a key form of oral tradition in every culture in the world, and is highly valued at Frensham as a literary form renowned for its beauty and emotional intensity. In recognition of the importance of poetry in invoking both intellectual and emotional experience, on 16 March Years 7-10 welcomed Poetry in Action, a trio of poetry performance artists, to Clubbe Hall.

Years 7 and 8 enjoyed ‘Paper Tiger,’ a show based on a selection of humorous poetry from around the world, in which freedom fighter Maya must undertake a crash course in poetic instruction in order to save humanity from a future without art, poetry and imagination. Year 9 was enthralled by ‘The Citizenship Test,’ with its combined elements of Australian poetry extending from the Aboriginal Dreaming to the present day. The range of viewpoints explored, including indigenous, feminist and migrant perspectives, was well balanced and humorously thought-provoking. Year 10 was entertained by ‘Words that Changed the World,’ a show that draws on influential speeches from poetry, literature, theatre, and cinema. From William Shakespeare to Kate Tempest, Winston Churchill and Malala Yousafzai, the words of those speeches continue to inspire, moving their audiences to compassion, anger, acts of bravery and even revolution.

From ballads to sonnets, from modernist free verse to lyric odes, Frensham students are familiar with the emotional response and intellectual delight that comes from their engagement with poets and their works. This term, for example, Years 9 and 10

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have been researching specific poets and their impact on the literary world, while Year 8 have been analyzing and practising reading Shakespeare’s famous iambic pentameter rhythms in excerpts from A Midsummer Night’s Dream.

Frensham girls are also themselves poets, with classroom opportunities for individual and group compositions supplemented by many girls with their own personal writings. Former Frensham student Rosemary Dobson, whose works are studied by all our Year 12 girls in their HSC English course, identified the compulsive nature of poetry writing as ‘the urgent wish to express the inexpressible.’ In response to this wish, the Dorothea Mackellar Poetry Awards competition features annually in Frensham classrooms as an incentive for creative expression. This unique national project aims to give Australia's youth a voice and an opportunity to strive for excellence in literature, and students are encouraged to enter an original poem they have written.

The new Stage 6 English syllabus, which will be implemented in 2018 for Year 11 students, has been criticised because it appears that poetry will no longer be compulsory for study. Those who oppose this element of the syllabus contend that poetry is one of the most sophisticated forms of human expression in the English language. It is difficult to judge the merits of the new syllabus without two of its key ingredients, the prescribed text list (to be published in Term 2) and assessment details (to be published in Term 3). However, the Frensham community can be assured that all students will continue to engage with all forms of literary expression in a way that is emotionally stimulating, intellectually thought-provoking and appropriate for their individual learning experiences.

Ms Jennie Mickle, Director of English French Term 1 Listening and Reading Assessments will shortly be over for the junior students so there will be time ahead to address the lacunae in their knowledge and understanding uncovered by those tests. The availability of Booklets or Dossiers for each Unit of Work, collated and published by the French Department and issued as consolidation and extension materials to girls from Year 7 to Extension French, has simplified the presentation of new grammar and other structures and concepts via the Interactive Whiteboard. This facility has enhanced the quality of teaching and learning both through the use of technology and the opportunity to focus on a common linguistic feature, which in turn enables a broad range of educational activities to become more interactive and engaging for all involved. Grammar PowerPoints for all year groups are regularly uploaded onto Schoolbox and thus are permanently available for girls’ use for revision and consolidation purposes. All students are urged to benefit from such appealing, entertaining resources to improve and extend their knowledge and understanding of French. Those pupils who have had the opportunity this term to practise their oral skills by speaking with Mme Chabert have thoroughly enjoyed discussing the various topics that have been the focus of classwork. These topics range from introducing themselves in Year 7 and talking about themselves and their families in Year 8 to presenting arguments on complex issues such as racism and immigration in Year 12 Extension French. Mme Mary Kidner, Teacher of French Human Society and Its Environment (HSIE) Last week, Year 7 attended sessions on archaeology at the University of Sydney, where they examined the Egyptian artefacts of the museum. This was a highlight for many students – looking at mummies and their sarcophagus usually is! Students also investigated a range of ancient artefacts (some from the Near East and over 4000 years old), analyzing them and determining their usefulness to an archaeological investigation. Finally, students examined the University of Sydney’s main Quadrangle as a site study, examining change over time to one of the southern hemisphere’s oldest sandstone structures. Students enjoyed engaging in the university environment with ancient artefacts and particularly enjoyed analyzing the museum displays, developing their skills of inquiry and source analysis in a way that cannot be done in a classroom. Preparation for upcoming assessments Students in a number of year groups have just submitted, or are in the final stages of preparation for submitting, an assessment task. Year 7 will be submitting an essay, composed primarily in class, on how an Egyptian Pharaoh can be described as successful. Years 9 and 10 Elective History have source-based assessment tasks to be completed before the end of term. Year 11 Economics, Ancient History, Geography and Modern History all have assessment tasks before the end of term. Students should be engaged in revision of classwork and developing study notes to prepare for these tasks. If students are not sure about what they should be studying and how best to prepare for the tasks, they should ask their teacher for guidance. For example, the source-based task in Year 11 Ancient History is an assessment of the skills of extracting and applying the information from given sources, whereas Year 7 should be asking questions to clarify the content and structure of the essay as it is being developed in class.

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If there are questions about how best to study for different subjects in HSIE, students and parents should feel free to contact either the classroom teacher or the Head of HSIE, Mr Steve Clarke, for advice and guidance where appropriate. Class work in HSIE Year 7 World Studies are currently working on thematic studies in Ancient Egypt. They will be examining different modes of power in Egypt and how power was defined in their context – their assessment task is an extension of this enquiry. Year 8 World Studies are continuing their exploration of global inequalities. Year 9 Australian Studies have commenced their study of the First World War and the role played by Australia, while Year 10 Australian Studies are examining regional links between Australia and our neighbours. Year 9 Elective History will finish their study of the Celts and Year 10 Elective History have just started their study of the ‘Fall of the Roman Republic.’ Year 11 Modern History are wrapping up their study of the Romanov Dynasty and are about to commence their Individual Research Project, while Ancient History students have commenced their study of the archaeological methods of Heinreich Schliemann in his discovery of Troy. Year 11 Business Studies students are investigating the nature of management practices in businesses and Economics students are examining supply and demand. Year 11 Geography continue their study of natural resources. Year 12 Modern History students are examining Stalinism and Ancient History are examining themes in the study of Julio-Claudian Rome. Year 12 Economics are examining the impact of globalization on the economy while Business Studies are examining case studies on human resource management. Mr Stephen Clarke, Head of HSIE Mock Trial On Monday, 20 March, the Mock Trial team travelled to Cooma to contest Round 1 against the Snowy Mountains Grammar School. Frensham took the role of the Prosecution in a criminal case involving criminal damage to Rockdale Station. Frensham’s position, with little evidence, but excellent preparation and knowledge of the grounds for objection, saw Frensham students mount a very strong case. The team comprised: court officer, Olivia Thomas; solicitor, Alice Battcock; barristers Sabrina Stephenson and Celia Battcock; and witnesses Tara Penton and Georgia Gardner. The witnesses certainly knew their statements and were more than able to deflect cross-examination questions from the defence team. The team was supported by Gabrielle Steiner, Katchmirr Russell, Ella Pratt and Darcey Gwynn-Jones. My congratulations go to all team members. Not only did they perform well; their level of reverence for court procedures was in evidence. This was obvious in the demeanour of our court officer, whilst our barristers and solicitors demonstrated finesse in their arguments and acuity in the cross-examination questions. Round 2 is against Chevalier College. Ms Judy Bradley, Mock Trial Coordinator Jamieson Programme The Jamieson Programme began with Jamieson Weekends in 1986 when some of the bequest of Hilda Jamieson was used to buy camping equipment for Frensham. It has expanded since then to become an integral programme in the School, built on the belief that ‘… Exposure to challenges, in a secure environment, can awaken in young people a belief in themselves which will stay with them throughout their lives…’ Year 7: In Frensham Studies, students are using a map drawn by Miss Bryant (second Headmistress) in 1938, to determine what physical changes have been made to the school over the past 102 years. Year 8: Four groups of Year 8 students have been involved in the Riding for the Disabled programme so far this term. Students travel to the Southern Highlands RDA site located at Fitzroy Falls and spend a morning assisting people with a disability to ride and/or work with horses. Ms Sally Fennell received a lovely email from student, Ella Hopperton: I would like to say thank you for the wonderful opportunity of Riding for the Disabled. I really enjoyed helping them and I felt so good afterwards, I think they had a great time too. It made me realise how fortunate I am and how even the smallest things can have a huge impact on someone.

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Year 9: To complete their study on comparative religions, Year 9 will be visiting the Nan Tien Buddhist Temple this Thursday 30 March. Students will participate in Tai Chi, Calligraphy and a guided tour of the temple. Students in the Cambridge IGCSE interdisciplinary course Global Perspectives are in the process of finalising their first Individual Research Project (IRP), which is due for submission Monday 3 April. The girls were given feedback by their teachers on their progress with their IRP at Checkpoint 2 last week. Independent Research Project # 1 will be marked by Dr Burg, Mr Nash, Ms Farmer and myself - all qualified Cambridge IGSE markers - over the vacation period and students can expect detailed feedback early in Term 2. Ms Merrilee Harris, Jamieson Programme Coordinator Mathematics Entries to the Mathematics Challenge Competition are due this week. The Mathematics Challenge for Young Australians (MCYA) consists of 6 questions to be completed over the first 3 weeks of Term 2. This competition is ideal for students who would benefit from greater challenge. The competition costs $25.50, is completed without assistance and requires thinking time. Secondly, it seems an apt time to remind everyone that a mathematics teacher is available after school for those with extra questions. I commend the girls who regularly seek help; asking questions is a very important part of working mathematically. Girls should talk to their mathematics teacher in the first instance about entering the Mathematics Challenge or about attending an afternoon session. Mrs Yvette Semler, Head of Mathematics Music At the Confirmation Service and in the Year 10 School Service the following day, Holly Webster was the featured soloist in the Senior Choir anthem. The piece called for a secure tone over a wide range as well as very good breath control – all of which Holly delivered. In the Year 10 Concert that followed the Service, the Music Class opened with a performance of Mrs Lamrock-George’s lively arrangement of the Mozart’s Rondo Alla Turca. Pianist, Elvira Berzins followed this with Schubert’s Scherzo in D flat. The Jazz Band performed Lady Gaga’s Born This Way with original choreography. Then Alexandra Hill sang I See the Light from “Tangled”. The Kennedy Strings with guest percussionists performed a piece called Storm. Sophie Arnott, Adelaide Darvall and Pippa Hanan followed with an unplugged version of ABBA’s Dancing Queen. The final item featured all of Year 10 performing Walking on Sunshine. Concert Practice was held recently and, once again, it displayed the great depth and variety of skills among Frensham musicians. Performances ranged from pop songs right through to virtuosic repertoire on the flute, piano and violin. The final weekend for Term 1 still contains a number of special performance opportunities for Frensham musicians: the Pop Concert is an in-house, Friday Night activity that never fails to delight and surprise. Over a number of weeks, Year 12 students have supported and selected acts for the concert programme from across the student population and the school community will attend with interest. Mr Michael Spencer, Head of Music Science Congratulations to Mrs Nicola Coupland and our Year 10 Science and Engineering team for placing first in the Southern Highlands Science and Engineering Challenge on Tuesday 21 March. Two members of the team – Hayley Hunter and Joanna Hicks wrote the following report on the day –

“The Science and Engineering Challenge has made us more aware of how STEM subjects can be part of an innovative career. It made us realise that STEM is more than formulas and equations, it is all around us in buildings and technology. Overall, Frensham won the Electricity and Bionic Hand competitions. It was a close competition with six other schools but we won overall, closely followed by Oxley College. In the main competition, the Bridge, we came a close second to Southern Highlands Christian School. This competition went all day and was judged in front of everyone present. We all gained so much from the day, learning new skills, getting to know our groups better and being inspired to take up a STEM career.”

Mrs Alison Andrew, Head of Science

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Agriculture & Show Cattle Team On Monday 3 April, eleven students will accompany eleven steers to the Sydney Royal Easter Show. After all of the steers are weighed and ultrasound fat scanned on the Tuesday, they will be placed into their classes. Grace Halliday (Year 11) will lead Macca (Simmental) in the School Paraders Competition on the morning of Wednesday 5 April. Every school competing in the Purebred Steer Competition are allowed to enter one student and steer, so this will be a very competitive event. The first day of the Easter Show is on Thursday 6 April and the Frensham Show Cattle Team will be in action. The day begins with the School Steer Competitions (Lightweight, Middleweight and Heavyweight). Macca will compete again, but this time with his regular handler, Miriam Hopkins (Year 9). The School Steers are then followed by the Open Steer classes. Frensham has ten steers competing in these events against other Schools, Beef Cattle Studs and feedlots. Classes will begin with Marley (Angus) led by Dimity Crowe (Year 9), Odo (Highland) and Daisy Latimer (Year 9), Kahn (Highland) and Isabelle Perrottet (Year 10), Miles (Charolais) and Olivia Salkeld (Year 10), Mouse (Charolais) and Isabella Ross (Year 10), Lenny (Limousin) and Skye Mahony (Year 11), Levi (Angus) and Grace Halliday (Year 11), Lorenzo (Angus) and Augusta Wyrzykowski (Year 10), Pablo (Simmental) and Ellie Ireson (Year 12) and finishing with Lester (Angus) led by Mia Withers (Year 12). The School steer, Light and Middle weight steers are then auctioned in the Amphitheatre from 12.30pm. An early start on Sunday 9 April at 5.00am, sees all steers loaded onto trucks where they will be sent to the abattoir and their carcases judged. However, the competition is not yet over. While most of the Team will return to their homes to enjoy the rest of their holidays, Olivia Salkeld, Ellie Ireson and Mia Withers, with Dimity Crowe as Reserve, will represent the South Coast and Tablelands in the State Paraders Finals (in age groups) on Monday 10 April. For the duration of our stay at the Easter Show, our stall area and display are continuously judged in the Herdsman – Best Maintained Team competition. Each school is judged on the groomed appearance of the cattle, the tidiness, condition and cleanliness of the cattle bedding, the students’ handling of animals and the overall presentation, promotion, knowledge and public relations of the students. The Team will be assisted on Thursday by some of the Junior members of the Team and Ms Sue Wymer. On Easter Saturday, we will find out the results of the carcase and the Herdsman competitions. Frensham students will also compete in competitions beyond the beef cattle arena. On Saturday 9 April, while she is at the Show with the cattle, Year 10 student, Olivia Salkeld, will also be competing in the Meat Sheep Breeds Young Judges State Final. Olivia backs up that event with the Merino Sheep Young Judges State Final on Wednesday 12 and then, together with Emily Gubbins (Year 10), competes in the Grain State Final and, with Dimity Crowe (Year 9), in the Fruit & Vegetable State Final on Thursday 13 April. Good luck to all of the students competing at the Easter Show. Thank you also to the cattle breeders who have provided steers for the Show Cattle Team and to the parents and families who provide generous support to the whole Team. Show Cattle Team at the Sydney Easter Royal Show: Wednesday morning 5 April– Grace Halliday – School Paraders Competition Thursday 6 April – All girls and steers compete in School and Open steer classes (starting 8.30am) and the auction (12.30pm) Saturday morning 8 April – Olivia Salkeld (Meat Breeds Sheep Young Judges Competition) Monday 10 April 9am – 12pm – Mia Withers, Ellie Ireson, Olivia Salkeld and (Dimity Crowe Reserve) – State Paraders Final Wednesday morning 12 April – Olivia Salkeld – Merino Sheep Young Judges Competition Thursday morning 13 April – Olivia Salkeld and Emily Gubbins – Fruit & Vegetable Young Judges Competition Thursday morning 13 April – Dimity Crowe – Grain Young Judges Competition Ms Leonie Harris, Co-ordinator of Agriculture, Show Cattle Team & Farm Manager PDHPE Personal Development, Health and Physical Education focuses on encouraging students to think critically, solve problems and make informed decisions related to health, safety, wellbeing and physical activity. Currently, a revised Year 7-10 syllabus is in the consultation phase prior to endorsement. The new features of this syllabus include: Three strands - Health, wellbeing and relationships; Health, safe and

active lifestyles (interrelated); Movement, skill and performance. PDHPE skills categorised into 3 domains: Self-management skills;

Interpersonal skills; Movement skills. Inclusion of a critical inquiry approach, development of health literacy,

strengths-based approach and the value of movement. Diagram from NESA website

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Year 7 students are completing a Personal Safety unit culminating in basic first aid principles. Year 8 have commenced a theory unit about rights and responsibilities in relationships, while the Year 9 assessment task required students to apply their knowledge of concepts related to their sense of self and behaviour, as well as the Australian Dietary Guidelines and food choices. Ms Janene van Gogh Acting Head of PDHPE Sport Wet Weather arrangements for Saturday Sport Cancellations of Saturday Sport are rarely made before Saturday morning, unless a venue notifies IGSSA that the facilities will not be playable prior to this. [See details on Schoolbox re three ways to access information direct from IGSSA.] Tildesley Shield Tennis On Wednesday 22, Thursday 23 and Friday 24 March, a team of 17 players represented Frensham in the 99th Tildesley Shield. Players: Singles – Chelsea Pernice (Year 10), Annabelle Ranken (Year 8) and Amelia Woodhouse (Year 12) Doubles – Harriet Scales (Year 12) and Annabel White (Year 12), Amelia Hickson and Annabelle Hickson (Year 10) and Ruby Crane (Year 12) and Olivia Hart (Year 12) Lines Girls: Lucy Widdis (Year 12), Eliza Treloar (Year 11), Harriet Alker (Year 11), Emily Gubbins (Year 10), Harriet Taylor (Year 10), Zoe Vander Straaten (Year 10), Sarah Widdis (Year 10) and Amber Martin-Smith (Year 9). Some fantastic matches were played and our lines girls did a professional job officiating matches for other schools. Frensham finished in 5th place out of 24 schools, an outstanding result. Thanks to Mr Justin Taylor (Head Coach) and Mr Ben McIntrye (Chair Umpire) for preparing our girls so well for this tournament. Miss Erin Gray, Acting Head of Sport Equestrian Over the last fortnight, girls in the Frensham Equestrian team have been competing in a range of local and interstate competitions. Poppy Jensen (Year 7) placed 1st in the 75cm Show Jumping, 2nd in the 90cm Show Jumping and 3rd in the 75cm Show

Jumping at the Robertson Show on 10 March. Ivy Hayes (Year 8) placed 3rd in the 90cm Show Jumping. Emily Gubbins (Year 10) placed 1st in both the Young Rider Novice 2:2 and 2:3 Dressage on one horse and 2nd in both

Young Rider Medium 4:2 and Elementary 3:3 at the Dressage New South Wales Competition on 12 March Annalena Turnbull (Year 9) placed 3rd in the 95cm A Eventing class, making her the highest placed Junior at the Canberra

Horse Trials on 11-12 March.

Oxley Equestrian Day 2017 A large team of riders will represent the School at this event. Please note that there is a new venue (Bong Bong Race Course) and a new programme this year and Entries close 31 March. Girls should ensure they read the new programme thoroughly:

- The event is ‘one horse/one rider and one rider/one horse’. - Horse and rider may only enter up to two disciplines. i.e. Show Jumping and Sporting or Show Jumping and Hacking

or Dressage and Show Jumping. - The disciplines are: Show Jumping (two classes only), Dressage (two tests), Hacking (four classes) and Sporting (four

events.) Miss Akins will be opening Clothing Pool on Thursday afternoon this week so that new team members have an opportunity to purchase a saddle cloth and a helmet cover. This will be communicated to girls via email. Miss Victoria Akins, Equestrian Coordinator Visual Arts/Design & Technology In the past two weeks, several students have either won prizes in or had their artworks selected for external art awards. Isabella Letherbarrow-Verran’s (Year 11) painting titled Mon Ami (My Friend) was selected as a finalist in the Mosman Youth Art Prize, held at the Mosman Art Gallery. The Mosman Youth Art Prize is highly regarded and well-established award for young artists aged between 12-21 years of age. The exhibition will feature works created in a range of media and Isabella has

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the chance to share in the prize-money. The opening of the exhibition and awarding of prizes takes place on Friday 31 March. We wish Isabella all the best for the next stage of the prize and congratulate her for her selection. The exhibition will be open to the public from Saturday 25 March to Thursday 13 April. Charlotte Bernays (Year 12) was a highly successful exhibitor at the Art Exhibition as part of the Moss Vale Show recently. Competing against a range of experienced artists, she not only won the Open Portrait Prize, but was also awarded 2nd Place in the Open Southern Highlands Landscape Prize. Charlotte’s success is testament to her fine artistic abilities, which she is applying currently to the production of her Visual Arts Body of Work for the Higher School Certificate. Following on from a successful 2016 in this competition, four students have been informed that their photographs have been selected as finalists in the Head On Photo Festival Student Prize. Arabella Jones (Year 12), Stella Wilde (Year 11), Olivia Hamilton (Year 9) and Georgia Shakeshaft (Year 8) submitted images into the competition, and their works have been selected for the screen-based exhibition to be shown at the Museum of Sydney. It is important to note that both Arabella and Stella were selected as finalists in this prestigious prize in 2016 and are now finalists for two years running. All four girls have been invited to the Festival Launch at 6.00pm on Saturday 6 May at the UNSW School of Art and Design. Congratulations to Arabella, Stella, Olivia and Georgia; it is exciting to see students achieving external recognition for their works (see below). Mr Phil Alldis, Head of Visual Arts and Design

Head On Photo Festival Student Prize finalists: top left, Georgia Skakeshaft; top right, Olivia Hamilton; bottom left, Stella Wilde; and, bottom right, Arabella Jones.