TERM 4 NO 1 Friday 13 October 2017 Winifred West Schools Limited . ABN 14 000 025 0267 POBox34MittagongNSW2575.Phone:+61 2 4860 2000 . [email protected] What does it take to make us ‘reflect – to think, in order to continue to grow?’ In the foreword to neurosurgeon Paul Kalanithi’s ‘life account’ When Breath Becomes Air, Dr Abraham Verghese speaks to readers in way that made me stop to consider – what does it take to make us ‘reflect – to think, in order to continue to grow?’ He writes: In a world of asynchronous communication, where we are so often buried in our screens, our gaze rooted to the rectangular objects buzzing in our hands, our attention consumed by ephemera, stop and experience this dialogue. In the silences between his (the author’s) words, listen to what you have to say back... Kalanithi’s life story is about how one person finds every challenge a new opportunity to refocus and rethink options, to learn and to seek new pathways. At the Year 12 Dinner I considered this question, asking Year 12: ‘What will be your catalyst for taking the time often enough to reflect, to improve, and to encourage or allow your friends to do the same? In 1930, TS Eliot wrote, ‘We are distracted from distraction by distraction’. In that context, will you drive change or will you just let life change you?’ Making the time to stop, review, reflect and reconsider goals and progress is core to School life – for students and teachers and for all we do in terms of our overall WWS operations. Term breaks provide a valuable opportunity for deep thinking about and formal evaluation of particular programmes and strategies. Over this recent break, the WWS Executive focused on development of our Strategic Plan for 2018-2022. In the area of Teaching and Learning, where possibilities are unlimited, our priorities for action reflect a commitment to continual evaluation and development, using a research-based approach. It is an exciting time in education and we look forward to updating parents as we enhance personalisation and flexibility curriculum-wise, and embed advanced use of data to inform our teaching and our reporting to parents. Learning and Teaching update: At the Professional Learning day for teachers on Monday, international consultant Mark Church posed challenging questions about the quality of student ‘thinking’ that we would like to see here five years from now, and how we propose to meet the goals we described. Much has been written in the past few weeks about the appropriate messages we should be giving to our Higher School Certificate students. I am pleased to note that our 2017 cohort have been back on campus, by choice, working independently in their final week of preparation and their conduct and goodwill have been exemplary. Year 8 Mathematics teachers are team-teaching in Term 4, adding a teacher to all three classes, for increased opportunity to work with students ‘at point of need’; [See Director of Studies Report]. Year 7 move in Term 4 to share dorms with Years 8 and 9 after three terms of being on a different schedule in support of their start as boarders. The end of evening for Year 7 extends to 45 minutes for reading time in bed, prior to lights out. We are currently finalising a reviewed Elective structure for Year 9, 2018, to add individualised personalised programmes, new options and combinations of option, for discussion with parents and students well before the end of term. Year 12 Biology (Year 11, 2017) had their first meeting with Emeritus Professor (School of Medical Sciences, UNSW) Dr Rakesh Kumar MB BS All-India IMS, PhD, MD UNSW, FRCPA (Hon), FFSc (FRCPA). Importantly for Frensham students, Professor Kumar, now consulting to Frensham, is highly recognised as an outstanding teacher: recipient of a Vice- Chancellor's Award for Teaching Excellence, a Carrick Citation for an Outstanding Contribution to Student Learning, and a Vice-Chancellor's Award for Initiatives that Enhance Learning. Acknowledgement to: Recent Year 12 award recipients: Georgina Fuller (Year 12) (Girdle for Art and Design) and Susannah Watson (Iris Service to the Life of the School); Paige Wilson (Year 12) successful Combined Independent Schools (CIS) competitor, placed 1st in U18 Long Jump in a new record of 5.08m; 1st in 18yrs 100m - 12.52 sec; equal record in 18yrs High Jump @1.75m, 2nd on a count back; Charlotte Bernays (Year 12) 2018 Encore Concert nominee (Voice), for outstanding HSC performance (Teacher Gail Robertson); Nina Jephcott (Year 11) achieving her A. Mus. A. in flute (Teacher Emma Knott); Ella Pernice (Year 10) completing the RAAF Girls Flight Camp at RAAF Base Pearce, over the recent vacation; Alexandra Inglis (Year 5) - Gold Award, and Isabella Atra (Year 4) – Silver Award recipients in the NESA WriteOn Competition [Entries published in the Gib Gate Report]; Equestrian Sophie Baldwin (Year 4) winner of the national championship for Primary Show Jumping [See full results for our eight competitors who represented NSW in the Australian Interschools championships in Toowoomba over the vacation.] Natasha Long (Year 8), National Coding Competition High Distinction recipient in the Intermediate level; Caitlin Quinn (Year 8) - Gold Award (top 2% of 80,000 competitors from around the world); Mia Horsfall and Eleanor Swan - Silver Award (top 5%) in the Science Championship run by Education Perfect. 2 Year 10 and Year 11 Heads of House appointed to serve in leadership positions for Term 4: Year 10 HARTFIELD: Amelia Hickson, Annabelle Hickson, Charlotte Lalak KENNEDY: Noni Brittain, Sarah Jancewicz, Miranda McGufficke LINDEN TURNER: Francesca Milner, Georgie Tooth, Augusta Wyrzykowski Year 11 LINDEN TURNER: April Stokman, Kiara Stone, Monica Webster BRYANT MCCARTHY: Isabella Camilleri, Madeleine Penn, Philipa Steedman Staff – Acknowledgement - Mr Steven Clarke has been invited to become an honorary Research Affiliate of the University of Sydney in the Department of Classics and Ancient History. Mr Clarke submitted his PhD thesis earlier this year in the area of Athenian political rhetoric and fifth to fourth century Athenian History. - Ms Michele Scamps (WWS Property Manager) and Mr Callum Zachan (Alliance Chef/Manager) on the highly successful installation of Frensham’s temporary Dining Room in the refurbished Parker Gymnasium. [See Boarding Report for details] Past Student news: Dominic O’Shannessy (Gib Gate Year 6, 2014) has been selected as a member of the Australian U17 Cricket Team. Julie A Gillick Head of Frensham Head of Winifred West Schools Term 3 Sports Dinner – last formal occasion in the ‘Old’ Dining Room 3 Frensham Advisory Committee 2017 Gib Gate Advisory Committee 2017 Mrs Caroline Begg [email protected] Dr Guy Bashford (Chair) guy.bashford@ Ms Ruby Curtis [email protected] sesiahs.health.nsw.gov.au Mrs Penny Hanan [email protected] Mrs Rowena Bendror [email protected] Mr John Hayes (Chair) [email protected] (FOGG Representative) Mrs Kiki Hill [email protected] Mrs Holly de Manincor [email protected] Mrs Erica Holcombe [email protected] Mrs Chelsea Doyle [email protected] Mrs miChelle McGufficke [email protected] (Chair of FOGG) Mrs Angela Macken (Sec) [email protected] Mr David Griffin (Sec) [email protected] Mr Gavin Martin [email protected] Mrs Kate Iori [email protected] Mr Sam Paradice [email protected] Mr Trent Johns [email protected] Mrs Nicola Robertson [email protected] Mrs Sara Moylan [email protected] Mrs Tina Scales [email protected] Ms Jo Thomson [email protected] TERM DATES 2017 – Gib Gate and Frensham Term 4 Term 4 Gib Gate: Tuesday 10 October-Friday 8 December, Frensham: Tuesday 10 October-Sunday 10 December 3.00pm from 12noon (after 11.00am Carol Service) TERM DATES 2018 - Gib Gate and Frensham Term 1 Term 3 Gib Gate & Frensham Gib Gate & Frensham Wednesday 31 January-Thursday 12 April, 3.00pm Tuesday 24 July-Thursday 27 September, 3.00pm (Boarders always return evening before classes start) (Boarders always return evening before classes start) Term 2 Term 4 Gib Gate & Frensham Gib Gate: Monday 15 October-Friday 7 December 3.00pm Monday 30 April -Thursday 28 June, 3.00pm Frensham: ends Sunday 9 December 12.00pm (after (Year 10 Work Experience ends Friday 29 June) 11.00am Carol Service) (Boarders always return evening before classes start) (Boarders always return evening before classes start) 2018 PARENT WEEKENDS – Confirmed dates for attendance of all students Years 7-12 Term 1: Term 3: Year 7 Saturday 3 March-Sunday 4 March Year 11 Saturday 11 August-Sunday 12 August Frensham Open Day – Saturday 3 March [Year 10 Saturday 11 August – Year 10 planning for Senior Studies (with parents on Saturday)] Year 10 Saturday 17 March-Sunday 18 March Year 9 Saturday 1 September-Sunday 2 September Term 2: [Date aligned to HSC Visual Arts/Design Tech Exhibition] Year 8 Saturday 19 May-Sunday 20 May Reminder – all of Years 7-12 Year 12 Saturday 2 June-Sunday 3 June attend Open Day WWS Birthday – Friday 1 June and attend all Parent Weekend Services Frensham’s 105th Birthday – Sunday 3 June Ranier Uniform Shop All fittings for uniforms are by appointment, during shop hours: Mondays and Thursdays 12.00pm-5.00pm Shop Manager: Mrs Michelle Wynn. To order items, please call the Shop: (02) 4860 2136 [BH], email: [email protected] 4 LEADERSHIP POSITIONS 2017-2018 Olivia Ablett Captain of Netball, Vice Head of Event Management Harriet Alker Captain of Softball,