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High Notes, Vol 10 No 37, November 20 2009From the Principal
High Talent
Year 11 Reports
Prefect Interns 2009-2010 One Hundred Years of The RecordThis year marks the 100th anniversary of “The Record” – the magazine of the Sydney Boys High School – which was first published in December 1909. To commemorate this milestone, “High Notes” is publishing a selection of editorials from the various editions published over the past century. This week we are publishing the editorial from the issue of June 1926. It was written at a time when the School was riding high on the back of winning the Head of the River two years running, and the Yaralla Cup (for the 1st IVs) in 1924. The Editor for this issue was Colin H Hargreaves.
Editorial The motto was selected before the idea of participating in rowing activities had ever entered one solitary mind, perhaps, so it is incidental that if forms the very words of encouragement to a crew as it raced for the winning post in Aeneid V, 195, sqq. The passage certainly seems prophetic – ̽»¨ÊÓÆµ is “Head of the River” once more. This fact gives rise to a vital question, however – why do we really hold this all-important GPS premiership when our football and our cricket as a whole have not reached a sufficiently high standard? It cannot be wholly and solely that these teams are too light and too young, for tactics on the part of a light side can and often do overwhelm a heavy opposition. The reason seems to be, “miserabile dictu,” that the necessary school spirit and enthusiasm is lacking. The school is what we make it, and the esteem in which it is to be held depends on, and will be the result of our own efforts to make it worthy of esteem. Love of school engenders interest, and interest can be manifested in many and varied ways to the betterment of school activities. Among the foremost is attendance at matches. We have been for many years in the unfortunate situation of having no ground of our own for Saturday matches – this difficulty, we are pleased to say, will soon be eradicated – but, even then, if the footballers can spare the time to play, why cannot others do the same to watch and encourage them? There is nothing more disheartening to a team than to hear the incessant roar of opposition barrackers, while there is nothing of greater encouragement than a cheer of “High!” from out of the deep recesses of a timid throat, in opposition, however feeble it may be. It is to be admitted that there are a loyal few who make strenuous efforts to be present at every match. It appears to be the same with all departments of the community – the responsibilities are left to a few who are willing to bear then and who do so without interruption. But would it not be better to help the “loyal few”? The trend of argument now seems to be, “There’s hardly a chance of a win, I don’t think I’ll go”; or, “Well, to-day’s should be the easiest match of the season – I’ll go”; whereas it is in the first case that the encouragement is needed to the greater degree. A striking example of the results obtained from such sentiments may be had from a comparison between the crowd (?) of supporters at the King’s, or even the Joeys’ match last year and that at Grammar or Scots’. It is not playing the game. Then, the Debating Society is in the same position. Do you want to see it abandoned? Evidently so. Now this is an important branch of school life and, as well, an inter-GPS competition; for the honour of the School – perhaps that does not appeal to some – it cannot be let slide as we are one of two schools which have won the Louat Shield twice during the six years since its presentation. Debating is one of the best means of literary development and delivery. Perhaps the revelation that most enjoyable evenings are spent at these debates will lure some on? The support received by the editorial staff of the Record in this issue is evidently a genuine reflection of the interest taken in it. This sordid, disinterested spirit which prevails must be extirpated. Everyone must do his part and not leave all to a chosen few. By no means the least of the offenders is the Fifth Year itself, who should set the example for the Junior School to follow! What a noble example! For, after all, we are yet training for the race of life, and just as in training we must give of our best, so now we should lay the foundations on which we are to build as we grow older.
By entertaining a pride, by no means false, in our School, by showing our interest in its
activities, by helping to bear its burdens, we are developing a character which should not be
found wanting in its entirety in later life. Orientation DayMany thanks to the students who participated in Orientation Day and helped our 2010 students and families feel welcome. I would especially like to thank the senior students who assisted our Administration Staff in and around the Common Room. Your help was invaluable and allowed us to move through the enrolment process faster than in previous years. There were many compliments given on the evening by both staff and new families regarding our senior students. Thank you for doing such a fantastic job and for showing our new families that SBHS “turns out” fine young men. Thank you also to Mr Con Barris, Ms Rachel Howland and Mr Jamie Kay for organising the students and activities.
A special thank you must go to our Administration Staff for their fantastic efforts on the day.
In particular, to those who gave up their evening to help make this event a success. Sports DonationsGPS sports competition is very demanding on people and resources. At High we have ongoing needs for facilities development, equipment and development through expert coaching. If you would like to help through a tax deductible donation for a particular sport, the appropriate form can be posted to you by calling 9361 6910. Alternatively, you can go to our website click on Sport /Sports Donations to download either Development Donation Form or Equipment and Facility Donation Form. From the High Store
ALL YEAR 9 BOYS
Senior Tie $28.00 NEW: Basketball metal badge for your blazers $7.70 Gute ReiseOn November 5, the SAGSE Celebration Dinner was held at the Harbour’s Edge in Darling Harbour. SAGSE – the Society for Australian-German Student Exchange – presented the students with their scholarships and I was very lucky to be invited by our scholarship winner (André Brokman - Year 11) to this event. Thirteen young persons from NSW will be leaving on November 22 for a ten-week stay in Germany, experiencing a winter Christmas, German family and school life and German culture – possibly for the first time. And their teachers expect them to come back with nearly fluent German! But André is not the only one setting off for the country of the gingerbread houses and fairy castles – Sean Martin (Year 10) is also leaving for an extended period – and I have high hopes for him, too, and then there is Patrick Horton (Year 12) who will be attending an intensive Goethe Language Course in Bonn. And although he is no longer a student at SBHS having completed the HSC right now, I still look forward to his return and a deep and meaningful conversation in German. To all the travellers: gute Reise und viel Spass!
PS. Look up the SAGSE website – you might be interested in applying yourself! Music Notes
Tapas & Jazz in the Courtyard and Matinee Concert The Matinee concert following will include the String Ensembles, Philharmonic Orchestra, Percussion Ensemble, Chamber Choir, Training Concert Band, Guitar Ensemble and Rock Band.
We would like to invite you and your family to come along to both these musical performances and
enjoy the wonderful array of music.
Music Parking
Music AGM
Music Tour Wine Fundraise Please collect an order form from the Music Staffroom if you would like to purchase from our selection with a special SHBS Music Tour label, wonderful for a special occasion or a lovely gift.
Ensemble rehearsals Music Tour Band Members – MUST attend every fortnight rehearsal – Week As (Stage Band – every Wednesday.) We have very high expectations to meet and with the amount of demanding repertoire and limited time, we require your co-operation and support.
Music Tour 2010 The 2nd instalment of $2000 is now OVERDUE – 10th of November, please make payments DIRECTLY to Angas Travel and they will provide us with receipt of payments. If you have not been able to arrange this, please see the Music Staff ASAP. From the Andrews Library
Library Borrowing Figures
New Resources This Week
Junior Fiction
Senior Non Fiction
Teacher Reference High SocietyThe Bulletin Board for Sydney Boys High P & CJulie Connolly P&C President
Orientation Day
A Date for Your 2010 Diaries We have formed an organising committee, but we would welcome the help of additional parents. If you would like to be involved, please reply asap to Julie Connolly at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or Charles Ovadia at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
2009 Annual Report from the P&C The School community appreciate tremendously, the efforts and contribution of the P&C Executive. Thank you to Geoff Andrews (Vice President and Treasurer), Seh Hang H’ng (Vice President), Shirley Tickner (Secretary) and Deborah Cassell (Secretary) for their time and energy throughout the year. Thank you to Fabienne Ovadia (Welfare Committee Representative) and Alice Paul (Car Parking Co-ordinator) for their valuable contributions in these capacities. Year Group (7 to 12) parent representatives also attend P&C Executive meetings each month. Their contributions and support have been invaluable in assisting the P&C to identify specific year issues and to advance the best interests of the School and its students.
P&C Funding Contributions to School Programs Special thanks to the Canteen Sub-Committee, led by Christina Chow, who together with the permanent Canteen staff and our large group of parent volunteers, have delivered record profits back to the School. The dedication and energy of the Canteen team continue to produce outstanding dividends from year to year. The P&C has contributed to School programs including: installation of data projectors and sound systems in classrooms ($15,000); replacement of textbooks ($18,000); fourth annual repayment of the loan for the tennis court redevelopment ($10,000); fund for replacement of the school bus in 2010 ($25,000); replacement of data logging equipment for senior science classes ($7,000); new sporting equipment ($17,000); solar panelling and electrical infrastructure ($10,000); new photocopier ($8,000) and contribution to the SBHS Building Fund for the new Library & Multi-Purpose Centre ($22,000). There is a growing band of committed members of the P&C who have assisted in exceptional and numerous ways to make these P&C funding contributions possible. Particular mention and our warmest thanks to Barbara Taylor, who continues to contribute in many capacities ‘behind the scenes’. Thank you to Charles Ovadia, Seh Hang H’ng and their team of organisers for delivering another successful Chinese New Year High community celebration. Their efforts and all those who attended have helped further enrich the High community.
Co-Curricular Sub-Committees Co-Curricular Sub-Committees raised substantial car parking revenues to provide coaching, equipment and facilities for each activity. Significant progress has been made in the organisation of Co-Curricular activities to keep parents involved and informed - in particular through the use of Gmail accounts specific to each group. Involvement in Co-Curricular Sub-Committees continues to provide parents with opportunities to maximise their contribution to their son’s education, from volunteering for car parking or BBQ rosters through to chairing a Sub-Committee. Early in the year, the P&C hosted a combined meeting for all Co-Curricular Sub-Committees which produced guidelines for consistent Sub-Committee organisation, fundraising efforts and interfaces with the School. Ongoing communication and cooperation between Co-Curricular Sub-Committees to identify common issues and successful strategies, is a key to the P&C’s support of High as a GPS school.
P&C Website
Ongoing P&C Projects
P&C Representation on the ̽»¨ÊÓÆµ Foundation
P&C Representation on the School Council During the year, the parent community also participated on selection panels for the appointment of two important executive positions within the school – Deputy Principal and Head Teacher-Sport. There is a tremendous level of cooperation and common purpose between Dr Jaggar, the School Executive and Staff, the School Council, the Foundation, the SHS Old Boys Union and the P&C. The P&C thanks all of these individuals and organisations for their interest and support of the P&C throughout the year and look forward to our combined efforts during 2010. Thank you to all in the High community who have assisted in some way throughout the year. Every contribution great or small is vital, significant and valued. Our School community is noticeably and directly benefitted by your involvement.
On behalf of the P&C, I extend our warmest thanks to Dr Jaggar and the Staff at High who
continue to provide a stimulating and enriching school environment for our sons and to guide the
School in our shared ethos to develop scholar sportsmen. Upcoming Parent Meetings & Events (details in High Notes)
Sunday 22nd November
Saturday 28th November If you would like to have any parent community news or upcoming events included in High Society, please contact Julie Connolly, P&C President, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it ; 0418 470 20 Basketball: Shooting HoopsHigh VS RiverviewTerm 1 2009 (Last Time)
Term 4 2009 (This Time)
High Cricket Bulletin
Congratulations to the winning 5th XI and 16B teams, when both teams held their nerve in tight and exciting finishes, and the latter earning the right to be promoted to the 16A ranks. The senior 1st XI and 2nd XI can reflect on their games as ones that got away through lack of concentration and poor shot selection processes, with this phase of their cricket very much an area for self examination. We approach Round 3 with the need to stand up and be counted or we will fall out of the premiership race and I call on all of our cricketers to finish Term 4 with the results I have seen developing over the past 4 weeks.
CRICKET WEBSITE GROUP 1 (Two Day matches)
1st XI SHORE 7 decl. – 157 defeated HIGH 10 – 56 and 10 – 86 Loss
Outright
2nd XI SHORE 4 decl. – 159(37) defeated HIGH 10 – 86(46) and 8 – 159 (69)
Loss on First Innings
16A SHORE 10 – 262 defeated HIGH 10 – 54 and 10 – 72 Loss Outright
14A SHORE 5 decl. – 268 defeated HIGH 10 – 82 Loss on First Innings GROUP 2 (One Day matches)
5th XI HIGH 8 - 131 defeated St. IGNATIUS (RIVERVIEW) 10 – 128
4th XI ST.IGNATIUS 10 -132 (26) defeated HIGH 10 - 119
16B HIGH 6 – 119 (28) defeated St.IGNATIUS 6 – 118 (30)
16C ST. IGNATIUS 4 – 95 (19) defeated HIGH 10 – 92 (22)
15B and 15C
14B St IGNATIUS 5 – 245 defeated HIGH 10 – 40 (26) 14C HIGH versus St. IGNATIUS (RIVERVIEW) No Result Another disappointing performance with the lack of commitment and loyalty to High cricket by some 4 boys who were absent from the team list. In a gesture of sportsmanship the Riverview Coach and Under 14 team suggested a mixed team match where an enjoyable 8-a-side-match was played to ensure all boys participated in a match. Our thanks to Riverview, well done. Laurie Heil MIC Cricket PDHPE
Subject evaluation and Yearly reports In the faculty we encourage personal bests and any student who has received a High Distinction (A in Year 10) or a Distinction (B in Year 10), can consider themselves well skilled in the assessed sports of basketball, rugby, soccer and cricket as well as having maintained a higher than average fitness level for their age. The final grade distribution is outlined in the table below.
Many students have received an “Excellent” grade in their “Effort”
assessment which reflects a perfect uniform for the whole year. Congratulations to all those who
maintained that high level of personal responsibility being prepared for every lesson.
Historically the majority of students had a perfect uniform. In 2006 = 67% of students had a
perfect uniform record, 2007 = 47%, 2008 = 63% and in 2009 = 61%. Uniform can impact on a
student’s final grade as marks are deducted from those students who are unprepared for
class. Looking back at the records only a few students have lost a grade due to uniform issues
over the years. In 2006 it was 26 students, 2007 = 12 students, 2008 = 13 students and in 2009 =
13 students. In 2010 a cap becomes part of the practical uniform when classes are outdoors, in
line with the OH&S recommendations in relation to skin cancer prevention. I’m sure that
this will not be an issue for the majority of our students. SHS Rowing Committee
Regattas – Upcoming events and regattas are …
Good luck to all boys competing!
First Aid – Saturday 28 November The Rowing Committee have organised a First Aid inservice course for all parents and coaches on Saturday 28 November 11am until 1pm upstairs at the sheds (while your sons are rowing). Please make sure you can attend.
Family Regatta Day – Saturday 5 December
As per the flyer in High Notes, it’s on Saturday 5 December, and a delicious barbecue lunch
including kebabs, salads, bread, dessert and coffee/tea will be available for purchase. Family Regatta DayThe Rowing Committee extends an invitation to the entire Sydney Boys High School community to come to the annual open day at the rowing sheds on Saturday 5th December 2009 From 10am until after lunch at The Outterside Centre, 5 Teviot Avenue, Abbotsford We hope to see all the current rowing families, as well as the 2010 new intake of students and the wider School community, enjoying our open day. The Family Regatta Day is a relaxed, informal occasion where you can explore the ‘Sheds’, have lunch by the water, try your hand at rowing, or just simply sit and watch the action. Also worth seeing at The Outterside Centre is the large display of memorabilia from High Rowing’s fascinating, long history. A delicious barbecue lunch of kebabs, homemade salads and desserts, coffee and tea will be available at a reasonable cost. End of Season Rifle Dinner 2009Help celebrate a great year for High Rifle Shooting by attending the 2009 End of Season Rifle Dinner. WHEN? Saturday, 28th November 2009, 5:00pm WHERE? The Outterside Centre, Teviot Ave, Abbotsford WHO? Students, parents, coaches, friends and supporters Dress - smart casual WHY? To acknowledge the commitment and achievements of all our shooters and because friendships made through sport last a lifetime COST? $30/person. Payable to the school office by Friday 6th November. Please note this is a BYO alcohol function for adults. A printable form to purchase tickets for the Rifle Shooting Dinner is available in the PDF version of the High Notes |