Abbotsleigh Headmistress’s Report 2014 Empowering young women Contents 4 A year of building 19 Developing teamwork and leadership Building project Applied Learning Experience Outstanding staff achievements Recognition of community support Staff movements AbbSchool report Governance Junior School sport School leadership AbbSchool’s dance tour to New York Junior School representative honours 9 Academic excellence Senior School sport Junior School NAPLAN 2014 results Senior School representative honours Senior School NAPLAN 2014 results HSC results 2013 27 Global connections Band summaries 2013 Service project 2014 17 Hope in our Christian community 31 Celebrating the arts Supporting St Jude’s Roedean Choir visit Junior School China tour Literary Festival 37 Community partnerships Jump Rope for Heart 2 Welcome The 129th year has seen our learning community actively engage in new ventures especially in the area of creative arts. Music, dance, drama, creative writing and visual arts have been explored and celebrated on both campuses. Creativity has also been highlighted in exploring the STEM subjects of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics. Thinking in original ways is celebrated as girls explore the world around them. The theme word for the year has been ‘integrity’. As a school we have explored what this looks like and its importance to one’s character. Students know that integrity is linked to courage in doing the right thing, no matter what the consequences. Character growth is an important feature of an Abbotsleigh education with our values firmly grounded in our Christian faith. I thank you all for your involvement in supporting your daughter’s learning journey and it is with pleasure that I share with you some of the highlights of the year. Judith Poole Headmistress A year of building Abbotsleigh is an organisation of her work Anatye Bush Potato. This Each family received a copy of the incredible vibrancy. We reflect on prize raises the profile of the gallery book and it has been available to other the richness and joy of learning as and enhances our relationship with educators as we open up dialogue on students explore their world through the art community. It is important to best practice in girls’ education. The activities that enhance their curiosity acknowledge the visionary work of the book brings our values, based in our and wonder. This year we have focused Director of the gallery, Mrs Mary Faith, Christian understanding, into focus as on extending our learning community during this inaugural year. we promote a culture of hope. Providing through a range of initiatives which educational programs which help girls Our biennial Literary Festival was have brought the local community into grow to be courageous, constructive once again held on both campuses our school and have taken our own and compassionate world citizens, for students and for the community students and parents into the wider who embrace diversity and have a with outstanding success. We had world. Old Girls have shared their stories will to serve others is our mission. more than 2,000 students from and relationships have been built as we other schools join us to hear from 34 The Prefect theme this year has been learn from each other. authors, journalists, dramatists and ‘In black and gold, we are bold’. The One of the most significant illustrators on our program. Our guest Year 12 cohort has challenged the enhancements to learning has been presenters engaged students with a girls ‘to give things a go’ even if it is the wonderful exhibitions in our Grace variety of large and intimate sessions, outside their comfort zone. They have Cossington Smith Gallery. The GCSG and facilitated writing and illustrating also encouraged girls to find their voice opened just one year ago and already workshops. Several of the speakers even when others think differently, has hosted eight exquisite exhibitions. were Abbotsleigh Old Girls: Emily Rodda something that can be difficult around This is a wonderful resource for the (Jennifer Rowe), Belinda Murrell, Katrina peers. Abbotsleigh girls do press the Abbotsleigh students and is shared with Roe, Pip Smith and Louise Schwartzkoff, boundaries in excellence, creative the public from 10 am to 5 pm, Monday and staff members: Darcy-Lee Tindale thinking and making a difference to through Saturday. Linking with the local and Dr Irini Savvides. the world. community has been an important driver The aims of the festival align with for the vision of the School. Exploring the our learning goals in English and our visual arts in the context of a community philosophy of providing rich experiences of learners has provided opportunities to Building project beyond the classroom. The festival join students, parents, Old Girls and the builds connections with experts in the A major building project is local community together. literary world both within and beyond underway and it has been The GCSG has taken us on a journey our Abbotsleigh community. As students exciting to watch the new to explore Indigenous perspectives explore the written word with authors, sports facilities come into form. with Black Art White Walls, share in the creativity and curiosity are ignited with The synthetic all purpose field personal collection of Old Girl Margaret wonder. Parents also had a chance this with underground parking, Tuckson and explore art in the world of year to enjoy the insights of Richard the sports hall and linking books with our illustrators’ exhibition Glover and Jane Caro in social events building have been constructed Drawn to Word. It was wonderful to or take an adult writer’s workshop with simultaneously to minimise the have our HSC works displayed in the Jacqueline Harvey. time in completing the project. gallery space which showcased the The new sports hall will have It was with great pleasure that we girls’ artworks in style. In October we three multi purpose indoor launched our own book on the School’s presented the first Grace Cossington courts, a fitness room and birthday. Empowering Young Women is Smith art award to Margaret Loy Pula for activity rooms for teaching a collection of articles about learning and dance. activities that build a culture where girls can flourish. It begins with a reflection These new facilities will by Professor Jill Ker Conway, an Old integrate with the Aquatic Girl of Abbotsleigh, who has been Centre, the current indoor gym, deeply involved in the education of tennis courts and the upper women at a university level. In oval. Together this area will be her writing she reflects on the known as the Sports Precinct education she received at which will cater for our active Abbotsleigh during Miss students who love their sport Everett’s time and how and dance. It brings much joy to she was challenged to see more than 500 girls playing think differently. sport on Saturday mornings and roughly 600 girls active with the dance program. We look forward to completing this project by Term 2 next year. 4 Outstanding staff achievements (2015). Matt Dooley presented two This year the Junior School award went sessions at the NorthWest Professional to Stephan Kooper for his passion for Schools are dynamic places and Development evening titled Bringing teaching students to love music and his constantly developing in all areas. Maths to life in the Infants and Primary contribution to the culture of musical Abbotsleigh’s highly professional staff classroom and Ming Urwin was the engagement for all girls. The Senior are continually updating their skills Artistic Director for the Chinese School award was presented to Sean and many are engaged in formal post- Language Spectacular held at Kelleher for his outstanding teaching graduate research and study. Many of Sydney Town Hall. of Geography, warmth of character and our staff have presented at conferences for his leadership of the Social Science Helen Watkins presented a paper sharing our research about learning with Department. It is with joy we celebrate at the National Conference of the other educators. Other staff members these two fine educators with our whole Australian Association of Environmental have taken on executive responsibilities school community. in professional organisations to network Education on Engaging teenagers with with other educators and contribute Environmental Education and Betina Staff movements to the profession. It is with pleasure Wrightson facilitated AIS workshops on At this time of year, we also acknowledge that I share some of the recent How to integrate the General Course and farewell long serving staff who will accomplishments. into Year 1, How to approach the new Senior Assessment and Differentiated be taking on new challenges outside the Furthering formal qualifications assessment. Sarah Hamper coauthored Abbotsleigh community. For those who will be enjoying retirement, we thank you Jillian Anderson completed her Masters textbooks for the New Century Mathematics series addressing the for your service to Abbotsleigh and wish Degree in English Literature from Sydney you well in your new lifestyle. University, Nicole Hunt completed of a National Curriculum. Masters of Education (Early Childhood Staff leading in their profession Robyn Claydon has been our Chaplain Education) from Macquarie University for 2014 and we thank her for the and Nicole Dowd completed her Terrie Sawczak was selected by the many stories she has told relating to Bachelor of Education (Early Childhood) Australian Institute for Teaching and the Bible. She has shared her extensive also from Macquarie University. Claire School Leadership (AITSL) to sit on an world experiences in engaging and Ramshaw completed her Bachelor of accreditation panel for four Masters meaningful ways. Students, parents Arts with Bachelor of Education from of Teaching programs from Deakin and staff have appreciated her gentle Macquarie University, Kate Grzanka University. Malyn Mawby became a nature and pastoral support throughout completed (with distinction) a Certificate Director for ICTE-NSW, a professional the year.