Look Up, Reach Out: Yalari Scholars Pay It Forward

TERM 1 - WEEK 9 ABBOTSLEIGH NEWSLETTER MARCH 2019

IN THIS ISSUE

The Headmistress Senior School Chaplain News Community Events Shuttle Junior School Time flies faster than a weaver’s shuttle.

FROM THE HEADMISTRESS Look Up, Reach Out: Yalari Scholars Pay it Forward Abbotsleigh’s Indigenous program is something that is very close to our hearts and I was delighted with the initiative of our Yalari scholars, who ran our Senior School assembly this week. Beautifully introduced by Olivia Oakeshott, who gave the Acknowledgement of Country, and Holly Austin, the girls wanted to let the whole Senior School know a little more about Yalari and about their own stories.

UPCOMING EVENTS Mrs Megan Krimmer Headmistress Monday 1 April Year 11 Parent Teacher Meetings They also wanted to launch their Pay it they embrace the Pay it Forward campaign to Forward campaign. raise enough money themselves to provide a full Yalari scholarship to another Indigenous Tuesday 2 April ‘Yalari is a non-for-profit organisation that student. Year 8 Geography excursion offers scholarships at leading Australian boarding schools for Indigenous children from As Jayda Craigie and Brooke Brown told the Wednesday 3 April regional, rural and remote communities. It girls on Tuesday, ‘The Pay it Forward campaign Year 12 Father Daughter was founded by Waverley Stanley and his wife is a Yalari fundraising initiative encouraging Breakfast Llew in 2005, and since then it has expanded Year 10 and 11 Yalari scholars to think creatively Thursday 4 April nationwide with 26 partner schools. As of and work together in order to collectively fund New GCSG exhibition – this year, there are 190 students receiving a a scholarship for another Yalari student. The The Hawkesbury quality education on a Yalari Scholarship, and funds that are raised make a real difference. there are 354 students who have graduated Yalari scholars have been able to fundraise Friday 5 April at one of these schools and are now studying enough money each year to pay for the Year 8 Languages Day at university, working or undertaking further education of another Yalari student. In 2018, training. Abbotsleigh has been involved with this initiative helped Jada Davui graduate from T-2 Possum Magic Yalari since 2008 and, overall, has had 13 girls St Hilda’s on the Gold Coast. graduate. Currently there are 10 girls who are Saturday 6 April Last year’s NAIDOC Day at Abbotsleigh was on a Yalari Scholarship.’ – Mackenzie Hyde IPSHA Cross Country the key fundraiser for the Pay It Forward and Ana Seton GCSG exhibition opening initiative. Students were invited to dress in What is really clear from the girls is how much the colours black, red and yellow to celebrate JS Production rehearsal they value being a Yalari scholar and how the Indigenous people of Australia. During Cinema Under the Stars much they value being at Abbotsleigh. The lunchtime, we had a sausage sizzle, and there poignant stories of Georgia Dennison and were many activities such as face painting, Sophie Oakeshott and their families, which mosaic and pebble painting. All the money can be read in full later in the Senior School that was raised on this day was for Pay it section of this edition of The Shuttle, certainly Forward, and we made just over $1,500, demonstrate this. I commend the girls’ stories smashing our goal of $800!’ to you. We certainly look forward to what the girls Our girls and the other Yalari scholars across have in store for us this year. Congratulations Australia appreciate the opportunities that girls on your initiative and the great assembly they have been given so much that, each year, that you organised.

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01 TERM 1 - WEEK 9 ABBOTSLEIGH NEWSLETTER MARCH 2019

Mobile Phones and the Senior School Mrs Victoria Rennie Deputy Headmistress and Head of Senior School

We know that mobile phones are very consider taking a pledge: to put phones • Mobile phones should be in a locker or powerful devices that, when used down, look up and reach out and notice kept on silent (and aeroplane mode) in appropriately, can be used very positively each other – notice if someone is feeling a pocket. in an educational setting. We recognise down, notice if someone needs support; • Mobile phones may only be taken out that there are differences with the use notice if someone wants to share good and used in a lesson at the discretion of mobile phones from Years 7 to 12, and news. It’s about shifting the focus from of the teacher. it is important that our girls understand ‘me’ to ‘others’. • Girls should only use their mobile and respect when and how to use mobile In the days following assembly during year phones to text or call parents in an phones appropriately during the school meetings and tutor time, we launched our emergency. day: during lesson times, between lessons, new mobile phone guidelines that have recess or lunch. • TNT = Talk not text: Girls should have been established by Abbotsleigh Senior conversations with each other during Last week was International Day of School girls in Years 7-10, to help guide our breaks and times when they move Happiness and this year’s theme being them as to how to implement their pledge between lessons. Girls need to look up Happier Together, focuses on what we to put phones down and how to use their so they can reach out to others. have in common, rather than what divides mobile phones in the best possible way. • Girls should embrace #JOMO (Joy of us. Happier Together suggests that life is We believe that these guidelines are in Missing Out) rather than obsessing happier when we’re together celebrating keeping with the Abbotsleigh values and about social media. humanity. will make life better for all of us. The • Girls should always ask permission In assembly last week we discussed guidelines consider appropriate behaviours before taking a photo (or making a ways we can work towards this and we involving the use of mobile phones at video/audio recording). specifically considered our Prefect theme school and beyond. The guidelines should for 2019, Look up, Reach out. I encouraged assist our girls to develop greater skills of I would like to encourage you to discuss the girls to consider looking up and self-regulation. these guidelines with your daughters and reaching out – forging relationships and The aim of the guidelines (below) is assist them to practise these pro-social connecting with each other; something to promote pro-social behaviours – to behaviours out of school time too. that is difficult to do if girls spend time not use mobile phones excessively or connected to their mobile phones, with inappropriately. This should help improve heads down! I also asked the girls to positive connections between our girls.

Chaplain Inaugural CRU Picnic

Rev Jenni Stoddart Chaplain

CRU is a voluntary Christian group where students come together to discover more about Christian faith and to build community. It is student Last Thursday, CRU did something slightly and hitting a piñata! It was indeed a led with staff support. CRU is made up different from our usual gatherings – we memorable lunch with many smiles and of students who identify as Christian hosted a picnic of sorts, in the warm laughter echoing through out the gym. as well as those who are working out environment of the Gymnasium, due to The only tip for next time would be to what they think about faith. the unfortunate rain which befell us that bring more food, as you can never Last week our CRU community did morning! It was a lovely gathering of all overestimate how many people will show something a little different. Satara girls in the School, coming together to up! Overall, it was a wonderful gathering Uthayakumaran from Year 11 shares spend time with another including playing of girls from across the School and now this report on our inaugural Cru picnic. games, participating in craft making all that is left is to plan for the next one! TERM 1 - WEEK 9 ABBOTSLEIGH NEWSLETTER MARCH 2019 Community

Have You Got Your Winter Uniform Yet? Mrs Lorraine Boothby Uniform Shop Manager

The Uniform Shop stocks uniforms for both junior and senior students and is located on the Senior School campus. Holiday Trading Hours 9.30 am-4 pm

• Monday 15 April to Thursday 18 April • Closed Easter • Tuesday 23 April to Friday 26 April • Closed 25 April, Anzac Day • Monday 29 April

Normal trading hours resume from Tuesday 30 April.

Careers iht

Monday 13 May 2019 SSC building 7-9.15 pm Year 9-12 students and parents Dress code: School uniform

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Recycling Bottles at Cinema Under the Stars Ms Kathy Campbell APA President

Events such as Cinema Under the Stars always have an impact on the environment. The organising committee has been working to find ways to reduce the impact and increase our sustainable choices. Here is one initiative that we ask for your support with: Recycling of Bottles and Cans Ashleigh Nguyen (6G) has decided to support of a charity called Share the Dignity. Ashleigh is collecting recyclable bottles and cans and using the funds to fill handbags with toiletries for homeless teenage girls and women. Ashleigh’s aim is to fill 50 handbags! Please bring bottles in for recycling to support Ashleigh’s philanthropic endeavour. She will have her own stall near the Outdoor Kitchen. Items suitable for collection:

• plastic bottles • glass bottles • milk bottles • aluminium cans Please note, NO 3 litre or wine bottles In addition, any pre-loved handbags or backpacks in good condition will be welcomed. Thanks for the leading the way, Ashleigh!

04 TERM 1 - WEEK 9 ABBOTSLEIGH NEWSLETTER MARCH 2019 Junior School

Building Friendships – One Bucket at a Time Ms Sally Ruston Head of Junior School

Our ability to form friendships very made, thoughtless comments ensue much determines our emotional and offence is caused. Being able to weather. We want all our girls to repair damage and resolve conflict are build the skills essential to enable also essential skills. To that end, the friendships to be formed and sustained. girls in Years 3 and 5 have been involved Just like any skill, each girl will bring in the URSTRONG program on Monday prior knowledge, expertise, naivety and shared a session with parents on and strategies not yet fully formed. Tuesday evening. The Language of For some children, being gregarious, Friendship program is an internationally inclusive, supportive and encouraging recognised program developed by seems almost innate. For such children Dana Kerford, that, through interactive friendships form more readily. For parent-child activities, aims to assist others, smiling, being perceptive and parents to learn strategies to help their responsive to needs is much trickier. child to: Thus, it is that we as educators work with great determination to ensure • Form positive and healthy that the skills of friendship making are relationships explicitly taught and practised. • Label their emotions In assemblies over the past two weeks • Put out ‘friendship fires’ I have encouraged the girls to be • Navigate friendship challenges emotional and social ‘bucket fillers’. These workshops gave parents, This term, based on the book titled, children and teachers a common Have You Filled a Bucket Today? language for talking about friendships enables the girls to grasp the abstract and relationships, helping them concept of friendship building in very connect and open up those lines of practical ways. The concept centres communication. When your daughter on the fact that friendships are made comes home to report on a day that as we seek to fill each other’s buckets. wasn’t stellar, listen with empathy, Such means of doing this include, acknowledge that it must have been smiling, expanding a game to include difficult and question whether she isolated peers, complimenting, doing a shared her concerns with her teacher. job without being asked, spending time It is so important for parents to show listening, encouraging when struggles that you have every confidence that are evident, offering assistance and your daughter can take steps to seek generally being warm and optimistic. support and find resolution to the Such gestures should be offered to inevitable challenges she will face. peers, parents, teachers, tutors – anyone really whom we meet. The As the kind, caring adults in our added bonus of such behaviour is that children’s world, it causes us grief not only are we more likely to form when we see the hurt caused when negative terms such as bullying, to seek friendships, but that in the very act of friendships aren’t working. We want revenge or use monetary gifts to buy giving, we feel happier and better about to do all possible to fix the problem favour. Our girls do make mistakes ourselves. We fill our own bucket by for our children. Yet, like any learning, and on occasions they do behave giving and contributing. after modelling, we have to stand unkindly. Helping them to recognise back and allow this essential social such behaviour is counterproductive While we are very focused in providing and emotional learning to take place. to their wellbeing. So too is reiterating girls with the necessary information and When challenges are encountered, it the importance of filling buckets on opportunity to practise such skills, the is not helpful to lay blame, use global a daily basis. Please join me in this reality is that sometimes mistakes are worthy endeavour.

05 TERM 1 - WEEK 9 ABBOTSLEIGH NEWSLETTER MARCH 2019

Courage Like Jack and the Beanstalk Ms Sally Ruston Head of Junior School

We have been thrilled to see so many time that would otherwise have been primary girls being courageous and engaging discretionary leisure time. Persistence, in the audition process to seek a role in this focus and additional courage will be year’s production – Beanstalk. More than required if each girl is to give of her Abbotsleigh Junior School Production 2019 130 girls have completed applications and best to an audience. For those who auditioned over the past weeks. The size of have missed out this time around, I our stage, matters of safety and the logistics acknowledge that disappointment is Beanstalk of staging a production, restrict the cast to a very real and normal response. Yet, By Darcy-Lee Tindale 60 students. Thus it was on Thursday of this I also argue that much learning and week that the Director, Ms Darcy Tindale, growth has occurred in the process and I met with all hopefuls and shared with to date. These girls now know how to them our praise for trying out and what it prepare for an audition, how to manage would mean if they were selected or not. their nerves on stage and perhaps most importantly, how to self-regulate their I spoke at length about how such behaviour emotions when faced with the challenge is courageous and risk taking in nature. In of disappointment. We want our girls to speaking with girls prior to their audition, be resilient and able to bounce back. it was evident that they were excitedly However, such emotional muscles only nervous. It takes gumption to stand on a develop when given opportunity for stage, don a character, project one’s voice developmentally appropriate practice. and present as confident. Yet this is what all The upside for these girls is that they do 130 girls have done, while knowing all the now have access to a significant chunk while that their chances of selection are less of free time over the coming holidays than 1 in 2. and weekends. For those who have been allocated a role in I warmly applaud all girls who have the production, now the hard work begins. been prepared to engage with courage and The learning of lines, dance routines, staging determination in this production process. and entry cues must now occur during Lessons learnt will last a lifetime.

CIS Swimming IPSHA Netball and Diving Trials Carnival Miss Georgia Scott Mr Paul Guirreri PDHPE Teacher JS PDHPE Coordinator

Earlier this week we had four On Wednesday JS was represented by four students represent Abbotsleigh at swimmers and four divers at the NSW CIS • 11 Years 50 m butterfly – 8th the IPSHA netball trials. Sophia Swimming and Diving Carnival at Homebush. Our diving team performed very strongly Bradford, Georgia Wood, Olivia Our senior relay team comprising Swimming as well with some fabulous final results: Wood and Kiera Yerbury all trialled Captain Angelina Gong, Audrey Jackson, Jacinta Mak and Leisel Tan swam beautifully competitively and demonstrated • 12 years springboard – Harriet Kaan, 2nd on their way to an easy heat win before their finest netball skills. Further • 11 years springboard – Aurora Caie, 3rd backing up for the final a few hours later. The congratulations to Kiera who was and Bonnie McInerney, 4th girls lowered their heat time and so narrowly selected to attend the CIS trials missed a podium finish by less than a tenth • 10 years springboard – Emily Rundell, 5th in Term 2. We wish Kiera every of a second in finishing in 4th place. success at this trial. Congratulations to both Harriet and Aurora Leisel Tan had a super busy day making it who have now both qualified for the NSW through the heats and into three finals (in PSSA State Diving Championships on 11 addition to the relay) throughout the day. Her April. Thank you to our amazing coaches final results are as follows: Bec Manuel (diving) and Cameron Gledhill (swimming) for all of their guidance both • 11 Years 50 m freestyle – 6th prior to and during the carnival. • 11 Year 50 m breaststroke – 9th

06 TERM 1 - WEEK 9 ABBOTSLEIGH NEWSLETTER MARCH 2019

Rising to the Challenge Junior School Ms Patrice Marchbank Instrumental Teacher Librarian Abbotsleigh Reading Challenge for to record books read. Girls are strongly Camp 2019 Years 4-6 encouraged to print out another copy from The Abbotsleigh Reading Challenge (ARC) Virtual Classrooms or Student Notices to Mr Stephan Kooper was first introduced in 2011, and is now an record their reading at home. This will be Head of Junior School Music integral part of DEAR time and the home available from Week 5 of Term 2. reading program. All girls in Years 4, 5 and Premier’s Reading Challenge for On Saturday 4 and Sunday 5 May 6 are taken out of their comfort zones and Kindergarten-Year 3 our Junior School musicians in challenged on three levels: Poole House Strings, Chamber The Premier’s Reading Challenge (PRC) Strings, Symphony Orchestra, • by the variety of books read is now underway and finishes on Friday 30 August. Bundarra and Concert Band will • by the quality of books read participate in myriad musical • by the quantity of books read For girls in Kindergarten to Year 2, the activities that will not only be PRC takes place at school in library enjoyed over the weekend, but The Challenge will commence on Monday lessons and in the classroom. Permission also reap great benefits in the 3 June and needs to be completed by notes were issued earlier in the term. long term. Thank you very much Friday 30 August 2019, running over 10 Parents are not required to keep a log to parents for your support of school weeks and the Term 2 holidays. of their children’s reading as this is this endeavour. As in previous years, the Challenge is genre completed at Abbotsleigh. This year our camp will be held based. The Challenge is often referred to All Year 3 girls, as well as girls in Years predominantly on the Senior as The Green Eggs and Ham Challenge, as 4-6 who have nominated to complete the School Campus. Starting at 12 the girls need to ‘taste’ a variety of books PRC, have been issued with a username noon on Saturday with musicians before they can begin to fully establish and password and an information page to returning home on Saturday their firm favourites. Girls are encouraged assist them in logging their reading record night, to sleep at home, before to focus on ‘intentional borrowing’ – having online at home. They have also been given returning to the Senior School on a plan of what to read before borrowing a paper-based reading log which has Sunday 5 May for the second day time. They may create a wish-list of books been stapled into their diaries. All girls are of workshops. for the different categories by carefully encouraged to use this log to record their looking at summaries and reviews on the Saturday 4 May reading, as well as logging their record Library Catalogue. Girls are be dropped off at the online. Year 3 will be given some time Assembly Hall Foyer in the Class teachers and the library staff during library lessons while the PRC is Senior School at 12 noon. After work together closely to ensure that running to log their books online. If there registration, they will make their chosen books support and extend are still queries, girls are welcome to stop way the Peter Duly Concert Hall every girl’s level of reading. We want by the library for assistance. for a welcome concert. All girls every girl to be challenged appropriately Booklists are available on the PRC website. must be collected at 5 pm from (as discussed in class, this is the Girls are also welcome to peruse the the drop off location. Abbotsleigh Reading Challenge – not hardcopy lists in Palmer Library and in the Abbotsleigh Reading Easy or the Sunday 5 May the classroom. Abbotsleigh Reading Impossible…) Girls return at 8.30 am. Parents All girls completing the Premier’s Reading are invited to attend a short The rules and requirements of the Challenge receive a certificate at the end celebratory performance at 4.30 Abbotsleigh Reading Challenge will be of the year. pm in the Peter Duly Concert explained during Library lessons in the Hall in the Senior School, prior week prior to the Challenge commencing. Happy reading! to departure at 5 pm. A booklet will be kept at school for girls Girls in Poole House Strings, Chamber Strings, Symphony Orchestra, Bundarra and Concert Band will receive a note detailing more information, plus a list of equipment that your daughter will need. Please assist us by making sure that everything is clearly labelled.

07 TERM 1 - WEEK 9 ABBOTSLEIGH NEWSLETTER MARCH 2019

Kids Lit Quiz Miss Susanna Matters Year 6 Coordinator

Abbotsleigh Junior School enjoyed participating in the 2019 Western Sydney Heat of the Kids Lit Quiz. Our Stage 3 girls drew upon their wide reading to answer challenging questions about children’s literature. Question categories included caves, trains, toys, fairies and hobbies. Special congratulations to our Year 5 students, who placed fourth out of 48 teams. Amber Li (Year 5) and Isabel Loh (Year 6) also took home small cash prizes for their book knowledge. Well done girls!

AbbSchool Holiday Program Mrs Jodie Clough AbbSchool Holiday Program Supervisor

The holidays are a fantastic opportunity • Junior Activities • Excursion to Featherdale Wildlife Park for students to try a new activity or spend • Tennis • Excursion to the cinema – Wonder time with friends. Why not do both at the • Netball clinic Park Movie upcoming Autumn Holiday Program? Take a friend or make new ones at some of the • AFL Please follow click here for further exciting workshops on offer for boys and girls • Kids in the kitchen: Easter treats information about the workshops on offer and how to book for the Holiday Program. from Abbotsleigh and the local community: • Easter craft workshop and egg hunt

08 TERM 1 - WEEK 9 ABBOTSLEIGH NEWSLETTER MARCH 2019

Senior School

What Yalari and my Culture Mean to Me

Sophie Oakeshott (Year 9) a common thread amongst us – we are all Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islanders and we Wiyabu! are all lucky enough to have the opportunity Gudji yeegoo to attend an awesome school and receive a truly deadly education. Minya nyura wubaliyn jeyagan As I continue here at Abbotsleigh, I can Hey, good morning what you all doing, sisters? feel my sense of belonging and family, My family are the Bailai people traditionally grow. I hope that others will also grow, in from Gladstone and Curtis Island in their knowledge and understanding of the Southern Queensland. However, I was born Indigenous culture. on Biripai country in Port Macquarie. My Murumbu – thank you! great, great grandmother Bessie was a Bailai woman. The Bailai people were known for Georgia Dennison (Year 11) their connection to the mudflats, waterways Yaama. My name is Georgia. I come from and oceans, which surround Gladstone and Moree, NSW and I am a proud Kamilaroi in the old days would hunt for fish, dugong woman. Firstly, I would like to pay my and turtle. My Grandma Bessie began our respects to the Dharug and the Guringai expanding family of aunties, uncles and people, who are the traditional owners of many, many cousins or as we like to say our the land that we are on, and I would also language, denied access to vote, own a Yow Yeh family. like to pay my respect to the Gamilaroi house, or to marry unless it was to a white people up north, who come from the land man, just to name a few. Just last weekend I was lucky enough to that I will be sharing stories about today. attend a family gathering for my Great That was only an insight on what Aboriginal Uncle Stewart and it was at this party As I mentioned earlier, I come from a small families went through post European where I came to realise how large and warm country town called Moree in Northern settlement. Another wrongdoing by the and loving my Yow Yeh family is. I was lucky NSW. It is well known as the town that was Government was the Stolen Generation. I enough to meet two great, great aunties made famous by Charlie Perkins’s Freedom am going to share stories of this dark time who, over the afternoon, retold stories of Ride, the artesian bore baths and its rich, and its impact on my own family. fishing and hunting with my grandmother black soil use to grow mainly cotton. It is Cyril Morgan Dennison. He’s my Pop. I when she was just a small girl. I met cousins about two hours south of the Queensland never got to meet him, but my family say I had never known and reconnected with border. I live here with my mum, my little that I get my height and personality from others who I had not seen for many, many sister Chloe and occasionally visit my dad him. My Pop grew up on a mission on the years. Throughout the afternoon, I came who also lives there. Queensland border called Toomelah. He to realise that our cousins and family have Moree has a population just shy of 14,000, was the youngest child at the time he was a wonderful connection, which remains with 22% of the people identifying as taken. That’s right, He was just a young strong regardless of time spent apart. Aboriginal. Most of the Aboriginal people boy playing on the dirt road out the front The time at our family reunion gave me time live on the missions that are situated on the of his home when he was collected and to reflect not only the history of my family’s outskirts of town. A large majority of the taken away to the city. As a teenager he culture but also the sense of belonging that families that live on the mission now have spent his days in Kinchella Boys Home, comes with being part of a family, [and it] is been living there for 40+ years. some 1,500 kms away from his parents. It’s through the sense of belonging that we can believed that his older brother and sisters Missions came about when ‘White share our knowledge and experiences of our were collected and sent to live with white Australia’ rounded up those of darker skin Aboriginal heritage. I feel a similar sense of families and other homes. Pop remembered colour out of town and out of their sight. belonging and family being part of Yalari. In his mum and dad, but not so much of his The Government had then brought in all a way, the Yalari students are just like my siblings. At the age of 17, he left the home these different policies to try and ‘breed’ Yow Yeh cousins spread all across Australia, and got a job riding horses rounding up the Aboriginal out of the people. They were with lots of different experiences and every cattle. After meeting my Nan, Pop worked stripped of their own rights, not being able time we come together, we learn a little bit on the railway lines between Moree and the to practise tradition or speak their own more about each other. There is; however, Queensland border.

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Gwendoline Dennison is my Nan. She was we spend most of our time catching up with just want to recognise the Yalari girls here born on the Moree mission in 1930 in the the mob. However, returning to school is today. Each one of these girls has a unique hut that her father had built, surrounded never easy. You want to be home to watch and different back story, and they should by her siblings Stevie, Rose, Bertha, your nieces and nephews grow up, or nan be proud of how far they have come. It is Beryl, Pearl, Harold, Valmay, Roy, Clarry, might be sick and you want to be there for proven that Aboriginal youth are more likely Maynie and Connie. She spent most of her your family, but in the end, you do what is to be put in juvenile justice than they are childhood moving around towns to avoid best for you. And that is returning to school, to graduate from Year 12. These are the being caught by the agencies and being getting an education and getting a decent girls that you will see making a change in taken away as she appeared to have lighter job so you can give back and support your our Indigenous community, They are the skin, making it easy for her to become a family after all they have given for you. ones breaking the stigmas and stereotypes white person. Later in life she went on around Indigenous kids from rural and Abbotsleigh has seen 13 Yalari girls since to have 13 children of her own, with five remote areas, and they will be ones giving 2008, and currently have 10 enrolled. Even dying at birth. My Nan and Pop had spent back to their communities. though not all of us will stay the six years, most of their lives together and had raised we try our best to support and encourage their seven children in a very small three- each other until the end. In saying this, I bedroom house. A question I always get asked, is what is like being separated from your family and your community? Personally, I have grown used to it over the years. One thing that Musical Soirée you will notice about every Aboriginal kid you meet is that they are selfless, they Mrs Justine Mokhtar are determined and that family means Assistant to the Director of Music everything. You are brought up in a family where not everything is given to you. Your Saturday 30 March at 4.30 pm family works hard for what they get, and Peter Duly Concert Hall sometimes it is nothing, others it is like winning the lottery. Students of Piano Tutor, Ms Sorina Zamfir, will be performing It takes a community to bring up an including guest artists Isabel Aboriginal kid. Everyone, whether it’s your Dean, Justin Chen, Michael Liu and aunties and uncles, nan and pop or your next door neighbour, they all play a massive Sebastian Pini. part in an Aboriginal kid’s upbringing. When we Yalari kids return home for the holidays,

abbotsleigh sports lunch FUNDRAISING leather and laces LUNCH Friday 16 August 2019 Save the date 12-4.30 pm NEW VENUE Doltone House – Jones Bay Wharf

Enquiries email Kris Egan Media and Events Manager [email protected] or call 9473 7738

10 TERM 1 - WEEK 9 ABBOTSLEIGH NEWSLETTER MARCH 2019

Senior School ISDA Debating Teams Show Pluck and Persistence Ms Jennie Kelly PDHPE Teacher and Debating and Public Speaking Coordinator

The ISDA debating team showed great Rostrum Voice of Youth Public • Natasha Huang (Year 12) strength and persistence on Friday 15 Speaking News • Claire Yu (Year 12) March after Challenge Week and Year Congratulations to the following 12 Assessment Week when they all girls who were selected at trials to Some of our speakers have already returned to school to debate against represent Abbotsleigh in the 2019 competed in a local final with some The King’s School (a traditionally Rostrum Voice of Youth Public great results so far. From the finals strong debating team). Speaking Competition. held at Santa Sabina, in the Junior section, Amanda Kelly won and now The night was a real team effort, All NSW high schools are invited goes through to the regional finals and thanks to Year 10 who assisted by to enter four junior speakers. Megan Wang was runner up. setting up the debating rooms after Abbotsleigh’s junior speakers are: their ‘All my Own Work’ presentation. In the senior section, Olivia Harlamb • Charlotte Allan (Year 8) won and goes through to the regional Abbotsleigh had a clean sweep on • Amanda Kelly (Year 8) finals in May. the night with all teams from Year 7 through to the Senior A team winning • Megan Wang (Year 9) Best wishes to our girls who will be their debates! With more solid • Jessica Whyburn (Year 8) speaking in the next local final at results in Round 5 against SCEGGS Ascham School on Wednesday 3 April. and our senior speakers are: Darlinghurst, many of our teams are well placed to make the play-off • Olivia Harlamb (Year 10) rounds of the competition. • Grace Wallman (Year 11)

Composition Workshop Mrs Justine Mokhtar Assistant to the Director of Music

On 22 March, the Year 12 Elective Music students participated in a Composition Workshop run by Abbotsleigh’s Composer-in-Residence, Mr Harry Sdraulig. During the workshop, the students were given an invaluable opportunity to hear their in-progress compositions brought to life by professional musicians, including many of Abbotsleigh’s dedicated music tutors. Each student gained invaluable insights about their music and the music of their peers, receiving plentiful feedback about how to get the most out of their musical ideas, and how to write idiomatically for different instruments in various combinations.

11 TERM 1 - WEEK 9 ABBOTSLEIGH NEWSLETTER MARCH 2019

12 TERM 1 - WEEK 9 ABBOTSLEIGH NEWSLETTER MARCH 2019

Finding Your Pathway Mrs Marg Selby ‘Grotesque’ Careers Advisor and Other Early next term, Year 10 girls will be heading yourself; what motivates you, and what Chamber out on their Work Experience Week and the are your strengths, values and interests? girls from Archdale and Senior College will Then you can explore the options that line be attending the annual Careers Night to up with the answers to your self-reflection Works by Meta be held on Monday 13 May. and identify in what area you might be happiest to start your career. Once you Overman Both these events inevitably result in have done this, to confirm that you are the senior students starting to consider Mrs Justine Mokhtar on the correct trajectory, you can seek a pathway that would suit them in their Assistant to the Director of Music some work experience, an internship, or post-school journey. This can be a complex try volunteering in the field. You should decision and it is unlikely to be the last Our Abbotsleigh School Accompanist, also try to network to find a mentor and time they will need to be thinking like this, Ms Tonya Lemoh, will be performing to investigate courses that will lead you to given that McCrindle research suggests on Tuesday 2 April at 7 pm at the this destination. This proactive approach that current school leavers are likely to Sydney Conservatorium of Music. to your decision-making will not only result have five career paths and 17 jobs across in you reaching a sound conclusion, it will Click here for more information the course of their lifetime. Thus, any also be likely to make you more employable on what is sure to be a most decision made at this stage is only going to in the future. engaging concert. be a starting point and not an end point. For holiday activities that might provide you In making your decision about the sort of with useful career insights, check out the work that interests you currently, the sorts Careers page on AbbNet. of questions that you need to ask yourself should revolve around understanding

Japan Trip 2020 Mrs Masumi Sorrell Japanese Teacher

We are pleased to announce a tour to (depending on the exchange rate) Japan next year and invite interested and will include everything except families to attend an information spending money. evening on Tuesday 2 April at 6.30 pm Interested? in the GLC. If you are interested in the trip, When email me with the following details, The tour will run in the April school or simply write these details on a slip holidays for 15 days from 9-23 April of paper and return it to me in the (During the April school holidays). Languages Department next to L2 by Tuesday 9 April. Further information Where will be provided at the meeting. Locations visited will include Tokyo (including Akihabara and Tokyo Japan Trip 2020 Information Required Disneyland), Mt Fuji and Hakone, Kanazawa, Kyoto, Hiroshima and Osaka • Student’s name (Please print) (Including one night at Ohtani Study • Tutor group Centre and homestay with Ohtani • Parent/s names families for five nights). • Parent email address Who • Parent contact phone number The tour is open to all girls in Years 8 • Parent signature (if handing in to 12 in 2020 and is not limited to just on paper) those studying Japanese.

How much Any questions? The tour is likely to cost around $5,100 Email me or call me on 9473 7773

13 TERM 1 - WEEK 9 ABBOTSLEIGH NEWSLETTER MARCH 2019

AbbCyclists Hit The Road AOGU 110th Anniversary

Year 2 parents take to the streets to raise nearly Grant Winner $1700 for Lifeline. Taking music to the bush with AOGU grant winner, Rachel Scott (1990).