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High Notes, Vol 10 No 38, November 27 2009From the Principal
High Talent
Solar panels and tracking software
Refurbishment of McDonald Wing Labs
Year 7 Reports
High Junior School – Curriculum 2010 Differentiated choices can be provided through accelerated progression, curriculum compacting or projects involving intellectual challenges designed for older students. High has a demonstrated commitment to flexible provision. Our program in subject acceleration continues to grow in variety and popularity. It is meeting the demonstrated needs of at least one quarter of our students in Year 10 for more challenging courses. In recent years, stage 5 curriculum has been compacted by teachers in history and geography to prepare students to undertake accelerated courses in history, geography and business studies. The logical progression of such a curriculum design is for that compacted curriculum to be examined at the end of Year 9. NAPLAN testing is targeted at Year 9. Year 9 marks the end of the High Junior School. We hope that students will then have the skills, knowledge and maturity as learners to undertake the discourse of academic achievement which characterises the High Senior School in Years 10-12. The stage 5 courses in history and geography have always been plagued by delivery issues. If the courses are semesterised and delivered in a 6-period per cycle block, students in Year 10 will not have studied either history or geography for half the year, yet are examined on them both in November. If the courses are delivered all year with 4 periods per cycle, the frequency of contact with the students is diminished and the experience is sub optimal for teachers and students. Students have a low regard for the School Certificate Tests, at least in the history and geography components. We know that by the end of Year 10 the boys are impatient with the constraints of content testing. Many have been exposed to concepts and skills at stage 6 level. Three quarters of the candidates leave the exam room early during these history and geography civics tests. The school intends to enter all Year 9 students in geography and history in the Year 10 School Certificate examinations in 2010. We will provide increased teaching time (6 periods per cycle) to deliver compacted, stage 5, one-year courses in history and geography. Teachers will be given time to differentiate the curriculum and write appropriate programs. We are hoping that students will take the challenge of compaction and differentiation seriously. We will urge them to try their best to master the courses in the limited time available and be motivated to exhibit that mastery at the School Certificate examinations. In Year 9, period allocations to English, mathematics, science and PDHPE, will remain unchanged. However, this decision impacts on the teaching time available for elective courses. In 2010, boys will study history and geography and two electives. In Year 10, 2011, students will have access to three electives. History and geography core will not be taught. No elective history courses will be offered in Year 9. Elective geography and history will be offered as compacted, one-year, stage 5 courses with eight periods in Year 10. Not all students who want to do commerce will be able to do it in Year 9. However, the same compacted, one-year, stage 5 course will be available in Year 10. For those students who do commerce in Year 9, the current, advanced commerce course will be available for them to take in Year 10. Students who wish to be considered for acceleration in history or geography will have studied stage 5 in Year 9. Students wishing to be considered for accelerated business studies will either have studied commerce in Year 9 or have qualified through an all round academic achievement pathway. Students in Year 9 used to have three electives. In 2010 they will only have two. The impact of this decision on student participation in Creative and Performing Arts, Industrial Arts and Languages elective courses, needs to be minimised. We want High to have variety and richness in its curriculum offerings. As in all previous years, decisions about allowing courses to run will be governed by: student choices, numbers possible in each class, staff availability and curriculum balance. For Year 9 in 2010, the reduction in electives from 3 to two overall will mean that history will lose two classes, commerce one, film making one and design and technology one.
In 2010, we will be investigating other delivery models which involve students in Independent
Learning Projects as an alternative elective in Year 10. If you have feedback on this curriculum
design please email me,
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
. 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 1928. The School had just relocated, in April 1928, to its new premises in Moore Park, having spent the previous 36 years in inadequate accommodation in Mary-Anne Street, Ultimo. This editorial was written under the pseudonym, “Floreat Schola”.
The new school How inspiring the colonnades, vestibules and marathon corridores! How satisfactory the well-lighted and flawless class-rooms! And the playing grounds! With what delight we seek their hidden treasures, and play wholeheartedly in their open spaces! Such blessings, however, connote corresponding responsibilities, and it should be the aim of every member of the school to devote himself wholeheartedly to the happy toil assigned to him. It is therefore, opportune at this juncture to place on record changes in the organization of the School with a view to a greater efficiency and a wider field of educational endeavour. Instead of the old 45 minute periods of teaching, seven periods daily, 40 minute periods have been substituted, making eight periods daily. The old arrangement necessitated shortened periods both on religious instruction mornings and on the day set aside for a “culture” period. The new arrangement provides for both of these, and an additional free period as part of the regular time-table. The “culture” period as heretofore permits the school to divide itself into sections, where the groups of boys are associated in activities chosen by them. Such groups include the school choir, class debating socieites, class dramatic societies, science research, wireless, lecturette club, camera club... To these it is intended to add a workshop group, surveyor’s group, gardening group. In fact, any useful activity of an educative value, which can be satisfactorily supervised, will be considered. At the old school this culture period functioned under almost crushing difficulties, but with the ideal conditions now existing we hope to make this feature of our work highly effective. The additional free period is a new departure, and constitutes the main reason for the change in the length of the teaching periods. The aim is to give pupils a knowledge of things intimately related to their living, and not specifically a part of their school course of studies. A programme will be drawn up, by which each week the pupils will be assembled in the Hall to listen to what has been provided for their entertainment. Programmes will consist of lecture concerts by visiting artists, cinema shows of educational films, health lectures by specialists, talks on art and architecture, music and drama, trade and industry, politics and social questions, community singing. By watching current events we shall be able to capture visiting celebrities to visit us and address the school. The free period will be elastic enough to allow us to seize any opportunity for a 40 mintues’ get together in order to exploit this path to knowledge. The programmes will be so varied in kind and the subjects so varied in matter that even a weekly period will not exhaust the possibilities nor make staleness a likely result. A sacrifice is being made in the time devoted to formal studies; but it is hoped and earnestly desired that all will give this experiment a fair trial. If the free period is a success and is appreciated, pupils should ensure its continuance by extra zeal in studies in order to maintain the same progress as heretofore.
It is apparent that the pupils of the Sydney Boys High School have now a golden opportunity for
educational advancement. Hindered no longer by faulty buildings and unsuitable environment, and
with a fine tradition of academic excellence to maintain, the future should reveal a high
standard of individual edeavour, combined with a unity of spirit in all that affects the body
corporate.
SHS Old Boys’ Union From the Andrews LibraryEND OF YEAR STATISTICS – demonstrate that If laptops meant the end of our Libraries, our students would lose very significant peer motivation to succeed at school.
LOANS
TOTAL USERS –
SELF DIRECTED LEARNING –
WHAT THE HECK DO 39,000 JUNIORS DO IN A LIBRARY?
BOOK BLOG
OUT WITH THE OLD…………
IN WITH THE OLD?? AN INVITATION TO THE SERIOUS READERS!!
NEW RESOURCES THIS WEEK
JUNIOR FICTION
SENIOR NON-FICTION
JUNIOR NON-FICTION
GOOD READ 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. Music Notes
Music Awards Assembly This year we received outstanding achievements in the HSC culminating in seven Encore nominations from all three courses in both performance and composition. Well done to all our elective HSC music students for their hard work throughout the year. Congratulations to all our musicians throughout the year for their efforts and commitment in the Music Performance Program, especially to the prize recipients, Music Prefects 2010 (Andrew Blomberg, Andre Brokman and Justin Chan) and our Musician of the Year, Andrew Blomberg.
Tapas & Jazz in the Courtyard and Matinee Concert Following the Tapas & Jazz, was the Chamber Ensembles Matinee Concert held in the Great Hall. The String Ensembles, Philharmonic Orchestra, Junior Percussion Ensemble, Chamber Choir, Training Concert Band, Guitar Ensemble and Year 7 Rock Band all performed enthusiastically. Thank you to all who came along and showed their support to the efforts of our aspiring musicians.
Music Parking We would greatly appreciate any assistance as funds raised go towards supporting the Music Performance Program @ SBHS. Academic Achievement Semester 2
The National Young Leaders Day 09Attending: D Chen (12), M Wong (10),S Beston (10), S Kinger (10), Y Wong (10), H Tran (10), I Zaman (10), K Wong (9), J Vuong (9), L Nguyen (9), S Do (9) On Monday 23rd of November, 11 SRC students from Years 9-12 were chosen to represent SBHS at the National Young Leaders Day. The National Young Leader’s Day attracts thousands of students from across the state each year, with the event in 2009 being held at the Sydney Convention Centre. The day brings together students and high-profiled figures to discuss the differing perceptions of leadership and how as individuals, we can make a difference in the world around us. This year’s event saw a wide range of speakers, each coming from differing backgrounds, upbringings and experiences. Much to the delight of the attendees, the main draw card speakers included David Koch from Channel 7’s ‘Sunrise’ program, Bridie Carter from McLeod’s Daughters and Julian Morrow from the Chaser. Each speaker offered a unique insight into their own perceptions of a ‘leader’ and inspired many with their personal stories showcasing their tireless efforts in the community. The key messages taken away by all those who attended will hopefully be translated into action within communities, as young people begin to realize the potential for them to make a difference.
Fortunately for Sydney High, we were gifted the responsibility of thanking Julian Morrow on stage
on behalf of all the delegates. Dale Chen (Year 11) and Samir Kinger (Year 10) offered the vote
of thanks, fortunate enough to personally meet the Chaser star. On behalf of the SRC and in
particular those who attended, we would like to thank Ms Collignon for organising it and for
supervising us on the day and to the school for giving us this great opportunity. Basketball: Shooting HoopsHigh VS GrammarTerm 1 (Last time)
Term 4 (This time)
Mr Hayman’s Team of the Week: 15As
Congratulations to Eamon on his hard work at junior firsts, which has resulted in a call up to
train with first grade!!!! All ‘A’ grade players are encouraged to attend junior
firsts.
High Culture In Lower Grade Teams Obviously players in these teams aren’t the best in their Year; in fact, many of them had never played basketball before joining SBHS. What has struck me, however, is the dedication and spirit in which these teams play, regardless of whether they be winning by one point or losing by forty. The teams I have watched have embodied a “never say die” attitude, an attitude that I believe is an integral part of High basketball. The teamwork they show when playing is incredible, and even when watching from the sideline players actively encourage and support their team.
Under the guidance of excellent coaches I have seen them improve week by week, and at the moment
the sky’s the limit. If these players put effort into training and fitness then one day
these guys may be playing in firsts or seconds. I would like to congratulate them on their
marvellous effort in promoting the High basketball program as the best in the GPS, and remember,
play hard, play smart and play together!
15s CHS Knockout Win!
~ Go High Basketball! SHS Rowing Committee
GPS Sculling Trials Results Congratulations to James Whiting finishing in 21st position overall and High’s most outstanding sculler.
First Aid Course for Parents We, as parents, are responsible for the safety and wellbeing of all the boys while they are in rowing camp each week. This course will give an outline of CPR, and a rundown of what to do in with minor injuries that can occur. Please don’t miss this special event being organised by Dr Charles Ovadia, assisted by Dr David Blomberg and Peter Ambrose, SLSA CPR accredited. Participants will be presented with a certificate at the conclusion of the mini course. Fire drill routines will also be outlined.
Parents Working Bee Jaeho Sim and a group of parents put the second coat of lacquer on the storage cubby holes before they were installed in the dormitory. They look fantastic and are already being used by the boys. Thank you, Jaeho! There will be another working bee this Saturday, 28th November from 7.30am to finish off some gardening, the pontoon painting, and the final coat of lacquer for the cubby holes. If you have the time, please come and help.
Family Regatta Day – Saturday 5th December 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. High Cricket Bulletin
BILLETS: We urgently need some additional billeting support for 2 nights for 6 members of the Brisbane State High during their visit this coming weekend, arriving at 11.50am Sunday, departing 6.35pm Tuesday. We are returning the courtesy that their school extended to High boys when we visited them in Dec 2008 with an U15 and U14 Team. IF you can assist with one or more billets for 2 nights it would be greatly appreciated. Mrs Julie Connolly is the Billet Co-ord for the Under 15 players. Her contact number is on the Cricket Website.
1st XI (Day 1) HIGH 10 - 254 (86) -V- GRAMMAR 0 – 45 (15)
2nd XI HIGH 10 – 49 and 0 – 13 -V- GRAMMAR 4 decl 121
16 A (Day 1) HIGH - V - GRAMMAR
15 A (Day 1) HIGH 2 – 18 -V- GRAMMAR 9 decl – 196
HIGH 10 - 114 - V - GRAMMAR 1 - 105
GROUP 2 TEAMS –ONE DAY Fixtures
16 B HIGH 9 – 111 defeated GRAMMAR 10 – 63
15 B GRAMMAR 7 – 147 (24) defeated HIGH 8 – 145 (32)
15 C ST. PATRICK’S 9 – 133 (20) defeated HIGH 2 – 70 (20)
14 B GRAMMAR 2 - 109 (28) defeated HIGH 6 108 (30) SBHS 15 years Basketball
Undefeated NSW CHS State Champions: First Grade Volleyball1st Grade Volleyball won last Sundays NSW All Schools tournament. They completed the 2009 5 tournament series undefeated to rank first in NSW.
The biggest test for the boys starts on December 7 at the Australian Volleyball Schools Cup where
they will be competing with around 60 Open teams. The AVSC runs for 6 days in Melbourne at two
venues. Tennis ReportUnder the regime of new head coach, David Deep, High Tennis is fast becoming a force to be reckoned with in GPS Tennis. David, who is a former Tennis NSW State Squad Coach, Tennis NSW State Squad Touring Coach and Tennis NSW Head Strength and Conditioning Coach, has brought High Tennis forward in terms of training, competitiveness and attitude. His first step was to implement a new training schedule. With the implementation of the new logbook system, and under the guidance of strength and conditioning coach Jason Tassell, all 1sts and 2nds tennis players must attend two weights sessions a week, one sprints session a week as well as three training sessions, where the boys work on drilling, technical and tactical elements of their tennis and match play.
The results of the rigorous training have shown during the GPS trials. Whilst not spectacular,
the results have generally been positive and more importantly, the boys are playing smarter and
better tennis than before. Our second grade no.1 Edward Qui, recently defeated his opposite
Grammar number in straight sets, the very person who defeated many of our current first grade
players during last year’s season. Our doubles combination of ‘The Russians’
Ben Soroka and Boris Kogan continually deliver solid results as they work together as a cohesive
unit week after week, setting up points from the baseline and finishing them off at the
net. From the Canteen
Do you have any special dietary needs eg vegetarian? Toasties – cheese/tomato etc; spinach and ricotta rolls; macaroni cheese; rice boxes; spinach pides; salad boxes; tabouli; sushi; garlic bread; fruit salad boxes and more…..just ask! Due to our wide range of freshly prepared foods we can make a variety of sandwiches, wraps, rolls to order – your choice of bread or filling, toasted or untoasted. All you need to do is check our menu or ask if we can do it – and then just order it!! Remember the best way to guarantee any of your favourites are available for lunch is to place an order before school (from 8.30 am to 9.00 am) With many Year 12 parents leaving, we are actively seeking new volunteers. We cannot provide the service and range of food we do to your boys unless we have volunteers to help our canteen managers. If you have never tried helping in canteen, why not give it a go? Helping in the canteen is a great way to network with other parents and to feel part of the school – you can also guarantee you will get to see your son when he shows up to buy food!! It’s a great way to also help make a really substantial financial contribution to our school. No need to wait until next year….introduce yourself now! Please give Karen or Tracey a call on 9360 4027 to see what days they need help the most – any time that you can give us is most appreciated!! 2009 canteen volunteers – please note in your diaries. Tuesday night, 8 Dec for the school Thank You Cocktail party – invitations are on their way!!
Holidays fast approaching Year 10 Parents Group DinnerIt has become a tradition for us to end the year on a joyous note with an informal dinner for parents. We invite all Year 10 parents to join us on
Wednesday 2nd December, 7pm, at The cost is $35 per person for a 7 course banquet, BYO beer/wine. To confirm numbers please RSVP by 28th November by either emailing This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or by phoning Fabienne Ovadia on 93861222 We hope to see you there in great numbers High Store Reminder for Year 9Come to the High Store NOW to purchase your senior uniform & avoid standing in line with all the new Year 7 students in Back to School caps. Senior Tie $28 (NO junior tie to be worn on senior shirt) COMPULSORY White shirt with S.H.S crest Short sleeve 14-$24, 16-22 $26, 24-28 $28 Long sleeve 14-$26, 16-22 $28, 24-28 $30 Trouser $65 Complete High Store prices are also available on school website on about, then High Store High SocietyThe Bulletin Board for Sydney Boys HighP & C Julie Connolly P&C President
The Bulletin Board for Sydney Boys High P&C
A Date for Your 2010 Diaries
Upcoming Parent Meetings & Events Saturday 28th November – Rifle Shooting Annual Dinner, Outterside Centre Saturday 5th December – Rowing Family Day, Outterside Centre Monday 7th December 6.30pm – Music Committee AGM, Staff Common Room 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 470 203. SBHS Supporters ReceptionThe President of the P & C, Julie Connelly and I would like to invite ‘All Supporters of the School’ to our annual SBHS Supporters Reception which, by tradition, is held jointly with Our Annual Visual Arts Exhibition of artworks by students from throughout the school Music performances by Encore nominees & outstanding music students of SBHS 6.30 - 8.30 pm Tuesday 8 December 2009 (Exhibition doors open at 5.30 pm)
The Great Hall
Dr Kim Jaggar
Julie Connelly
RSVP |