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High Notes, Vol 10 No 40, December 11 2009From the Principal
High Notes final edition for 2009
High Talent
School Certificate Results
Where does your money go? – Building Funds I exhort all parents to continue to support the centenary Building Fund and to top up their contributions to the Monthly Giving Program or our occasional appeals for support for the SBHS Building Fund.
Visual Arts Exhibition and Thank You Reception
Laptop audit 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 1977. Written at a time when the changes in the Education system had come to threaten Sydney High’s unique position in State education, this editorial, a joint effort of the 1977 editorial team, urges the School to live up to, and enhance, its reputation.
Editorial It does not take much analysis of these and associated problems to realise that the fault is not in the activities themselves but in the large numbers who do not avail themselves of the opportunities presented to them, and thus deprive themselves of the obvious benefit to be gained. This is illustrated by the wave of unprecedented apathy which seems to have settled over the school, and unfortunately threatens to cause the demise altogether of these worthwhile activities. Let us hope a renewed interest in the immediate future will see a return to the pinnacle of success attained so often in the past. Up to now we have painted a fairly gloomy picture of 1977, and yet there were several bright spots, primarily on the sporting fields and also in community aid. This year has seen a revival in sporting accomplishments, with more football, cricket and basketball teams than have been present for many years. And the results have proved to be as good, if not better, than those of the past decade, with few exceptions. Similarly, “community consciousness”, as generated by charity work, will surely continue to build on the firm base laid this year.
Thus comes 1977 to an end, a year with a few highlights, and yet sufficient to ensure that the
next few years will indeed see the solving of the problems mentioned above.
SHS Old Boys’ Union ̽»¨ÊÓÆµ Cadet UnitEnd Of Year BarbecueOur End of Year Barbecue will be held in the Courtyard at the School on Sat 12 Dec 09 commencing at 1500h. All members, their families and old boys are invited. RSVP COB Fri 11 Dec to 2LT Will Clegg 0404 322 290 or MAJ Richard Knowles 0409 304 611 Unit Formal Dining In NightDue to our usual venue (the Great Hall) being unavailable, our Formal Dining In Night has been postponed to a suitable date in Feb 2010. Details will be announced early in the New Year. Promotion CoursesBrigade Promotion Courses will be held at Holsworthy over the period 9-16 Jan 2010 As always, places on these courses are eagerly sought be cadets around the state and available vacancies are limited. The following SHSCU members have been selected to attend the courses shown:
Junior NCO Course (for promotion to corporal)
Senior NCO Course (for promotion to sergeant)
CUO & WO Course (for promotion to cadet under officer/ warrant officer) Good luck to all our candidates. First Place to 2LT CleggOur Training Officer, 2LT Will Clegg has been awarded First Place in the Kokoda Foundation’s Junior Strategic Writers Competition. Mr Clegg picked up his prize at the Foundation’s recent Dinner in Canberra. The dinner was attended by a range of very high ranking Australian and allied officers. Welcome to New Staff
The Unit welcomes back two old boys who have rejoined the Unit as Unit Assistants. The role of Unit Assistant is a uniformed one and is the first step in the Army Cadet Staff appointment ladder. Mr Budd and Mr Ho will be taking important roles in administration and logistics within the unit. Seasons GreetingsThe Officer Commanding, staff and cadets of ̽»¨ÊÓÆµ Cadet Unit extend compliments of the season to all associated with High and thank those who helped the Unit to achieve its mission during 2009. High Store Holiday OpeningHoliday Opening Times 2010
January 18 10.00 – 3.00 p.m. Academic Achievement 2009Year 8
BHAKRI Vasu Year 10
AUTAR Nikhil A German Christmas TaleA report from my exchange in Germany!
3/12/2009 Experiencing first hand the Christmas spirit here, most obviously seen through the beautiful (and tasty) Christmas Markets, has been especially rewarding. Christmas is taken as a very serious thing and in order to better experience the Christmas spirit I’ve actually organised myself to play in a string quartet on Christmas Eve at a local church service! At the invitation of my hostie, I’ve also enlisted myself into a recorder ensemble, and will be playing Christmas carols in the local (extensive) Christmas Market. However, as I’m staying in the ‘Mitteldeutschland’ city of Bielefeld between Hanover in the east and the Ruhr Area to the south-west, I might not get to experience a white Christmas - but here’s hoping! What is assured though is that it will be very cold. Yesterday we had our first proper frost and it was stunning! Everything was frozen (including a nearby pond), everything was fresh, and there was a beautiful stillness in the air. Everything was white too, so I could even pretend it was snow as well. What was even better though was walking around in the -2 degree early morning temperature in nothing but shorts and a T-shirt – in order to better get a feel for the cold, you see….Hmmm, the things one decides are sensible things to do when overseas….. Anyway, there are two things so far that have really surprised me:
Due to the fact that many students here have taken advantage of the “Spend a High School Year Overseas” Program (or some such thing) and have mostly spent their year in the US, I’ve been spoken to by a number of students here in perfect English in perfect American accents. In fact, exchanges here in general are far more common; at the moment I am one of roughly 20 exchange students here at the Bethel Gymnasium, however that figure is larger than normal. However, back to my original point - you can well imagine my shock upon hearing here in Germany the perfect Californian accent, the perfect American southern accent, and the perfect American northern accent. Anyway, that really has added an unexpected and interesting dynamic to my time here. What’s interesting is that the rare few who’ve spent their exchange year in New Zealand have not been able to pick up the NZ twang. This extends too to a complete lack of ability to mimic anything ‘Australian’ I say (in an Australian accent). Ugg boots. Would you believe it, but what has gone out of fashion in Australia has actually enjoyed an astonishing surge in popularity here in Germany (in my opinion, perhaps one of the most unlikely places for this most unfashionable footwear to occur). However, most aren’t aware of their Aussie origin, instead believing them to be of an American origin and to be an American import. In fact, most don’t seem to be too aware of anything Australian short of the clichéd images of Uluru, the Great Barrier Reef and the Opera House/Harbour Bridge duo. However, that’s to be expected I suppose considering our distance away, size, etc. Before finishing up, I’d like to mention that this exchange I’m on is one conducted and organised by the SAGSE (Society for Australian-German Student Exchange) and GASS (German Australian Scholarship Students). The whole program is designed and offered only for those in Australia and New Zealand wishing to make a student exchange to Germany (and vice-versa for those interested in Germany). Through the ongoing sponsorship of the program by a number of both German and Australian companies they are able to offer 10 scholarships to interested students in NSW, as well as 22 others to those in other states. The sponsor pays for the flights to and from Germany as well as the Berlin camp (held in the final week, and includes a reception at the Australian or NZ embassy). My sponsor is A Hartrodt Logistics, who I am deeply indebted to. The program for the Australian ‘Stipis’ runs for 10 weeks over late November to the end of January for those in Year 11. We spend 4 weeks with our host families, a week on Winter Camp, enjoy 5 days of free travel in small groups, another 2 weeks with our host families, and then finally 5 days of Berlin Camp to round everything off. There are only two things required in order to win the scholarship: a keen interest in Germany, German and everything German as well as an open-mind, decent school marks and a respectable level of school involvement, and finally, a basic grasp of the language.
I hope you all have a wonderful Christmas and make the most of your summer! Mit herzlichen
Grüßen aus dem weihnachtlich/winterlichem Bielefeld! High SocietyThe Bulletin Board for Sydney Boys High P & C
Julie Connolly
P&C Thank You Cocktail Party Thank you to all parents for their ongoing support and contribution to the P&C and the School. Very best wishes to everyone for a safe and relaxing holiday and Christmas season.
A Date for Your 2010 Diaries
Upcoming Parent Meetings & Events (details in High Notes) 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. From the CanteenThe end of the school year is nigh upon us, so…..
Please phone Tracey and Karen on 9360 4027 to organize a day that suits. We really do need your
help! SRC EventsI would like to congratulate Patrick Desmond, Yr 12 (SRC Secretary 2008, School Captain 2009) for being selected to participate in the New South Wales Schools Constitutional Convention at Parliament House, Macquarie St, Sydney, on Monday 16th February, 2009. The students at the State Convention will select 30 of their number to attend the 3-day National Convention which will be held in Canberra in March 17-19, 2009.
I am sure it will be a challenging and worthwhile experience for Patrick and I hope it leads to
further leadership opportunities for him in the future. Music Notes
France Music Tour These are COMPULSORY rehearsals for ALL students attending the Music Tour 2010.
Music AGM & France Tour Meeting Following the Music AGM, the Music Tour to France and Flanders meeting commenced. A decision was made to go ahead with the Tour jumpers with measurements to be taken next Monday at the High store. Parents / students were asked to check their details and amend any incorrect information as wrong emails make it difficult to communicate information. We also ask that payments to ANGAS Travels be made duly and students are vigilant with their music practice and attendance to ensure the highest performance standard overseas. ALL documents and copies of current passports must be submitted to the Music Staff by Friday (11th Dec) at the very latest to be sent off to the DET. Please do not hesitate to contact us in the Music Staffroom if you have any further queries: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Music Parking Please contact our parking co-ordinator, George Comninos, to let him know of your available times: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it We will need a large number of people for this parking event.
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 Wine Fundraiser SHS Rowing Committee
Family Regatta Day I'd like to thank the committee and the many other parents for doing all the jobs required to make it a wonderful day. Tanya Arsenova, Anita Bezjak, Helen Montanaro, Stephen Collier, Katharine Deacon, Nada Andrews, Steve Whiting, John Petrie, Peter Ambrose, Geoff Andrews, David Blomberg, Donna Moss, Cheryl Bow, Iris Lau, Annette Ng, Min Wang, Soogie Sim, Anna Caetano, Charles Ovadia and Noi Darunee all gave their time and 'expertise' to make it a successful day and we managed to raise approx $800 whilst enjoying ourselves. With the marquee set up and looking festive, the barbecue lunch by the water was not only delicious, but very social. Thank you also to the many parents who donated items for the hampers that were raffled on the day. Helen Vertoudakis and her team put 22 hampers together.
Juniors camping at the Sheds It is also a good introduction to the parents’ roles including the cooking and staying overnight duties. If you haven’t already volunteered, please do, as you will be surprised at how pleasant, rewarding and enjoyable it is.
Email communication High Cricket Bulletin
With the GPS Competition completed for Term 4, High Cricket swung into its Representative Programme in competition with Brisbane State High School, Melbourne High School and the Brisbane Grammar School with an all-out effort from coaches, team officials and a small group of parent supporters who provided billets for the boys from Brisbane State High. We owe a big thank you to Julie Connolly and Anne Wall who were the billet coordinators for the Under 15 and Under 14 groups respectively, and if it was not for their perseverance, we would have fallen well short of billet support. Our appreciation in addition to Julie and Anne should also go to those parents who put up their hands and took billets, and I extend a sincere thank you on behalf of the boys and school. This is an area that must be re-visited when we consider future participation of boys in interstate sporting exchanges The weather wasn’t shaping up according to projected forecasts and played its part on Day 1 and 2 against Brisbane State High, matches being abandoned in the afternoon. It was then fine for days 4 and 5 for the Barberis Cup team in Melbourne, 38 degrees for the 5 Highs Team’s departure on day 6 and then promised us more wet weather for this week for Brisbane Grammar. And so the week created a festival of cricket with many boys getting their first opportunity to represent their school in Interstate Competition
Monday 30th November at Kensington oval
Monday 30th November at Snape Oval
BRISBANE STATE HIGH (U14) 3/87 (20overs) defeated SYDNEY BOYS HIGH (U14) 4/78
(20overs)
SYDNEY BOYS H.S (U15) - V _ BRISBANE STATE HIGH
BARBERIS (Year 9) CUP
Friday 4th December at Woodfull-Miller Oval, Melbourne
Sunday 6th December Sport 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. |