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High Notes, Vol 13 No 30, September 21 2012
From the Principal
End of Term 3
High Talent At the School Championships for fencing held last Saturday, three teams were successful. The Epee A team (James Cao, Shaun Pak, Hayden Rabone, Kritman Dhamoon) won silver, as did the Sabre A team of Ian Li, Yiu Tao Wong, Hardy Zhu and Benjamin Hillier. A bronze medal went to Sabre B – Christopher Chen, Tin Wu, Kenneth Yu and Mathew Chan. Congratulations, boys! In the V Fest film making competition, High was represented in the finals by Terence Zhou (Year 11) with “Monochrome Country” and Ethan Ou and Eugene Lee with “A Portrait of Homelessness” (Year 10). Ethan and Eugene won the Junior section of V-Fest. A great result!
Year 12 Farewell Assembly "Good afternoon and welcome to parents, family, staff and students who have joined us to celebrate our Farewell Assembly for Year 12, 2012. The Year 2007 was a good year to join the High community. The High Junior School started, giving boys in Years 7-9 their own identity, Library, assembly time, leadership opportunities and additional welfare services. The on-site facilities for tennis, cricket, field events and basketball were in operation. Roll call became electronic. The Commonwealth gave you laptops in Year 9. "Many of the great achievements of the Class of 2012 have been acknowledged in the messages in the program. Please take time to read them. Without repeating the details of their string of victories, the great success of the basketball team over the last three years is due to the core of Year 12 boys who played in the team throughout, particularly Christian, Craig, Jasper and Daniel. Yujin led High to a Co-Premiership in rifle shooting, making a rare double GPs title for him. Scott followed up his GPS 200m win with a victory at CHS recently. Regaining the Hume Barbour Trophy for High was a great effort from Chris, Julian, Robert and Nicky. It looks at home again in the foyer. "Each year on this occasion I like to recognise and acknowledge the boys in Year 12 who have made a significant contribution to our sports program by representing the school in two seasons in their final year. I really appreciate their commitment to the school and admire their dedication to sport. This year there were 104 boys in Year 12 who played a GPS sport in two seasons. Those who represented High in GPS competition, first or second grade, deserve a special mention. The “Triple Firsts” for 2012 should be congratulation for their zealous support of High sport. They were: Adam Booth, Anton Brokman, Andrew Fong, Mark Iskandar, Ennes Mehmedbasic, Shaun Pak, Andreas Purcal, Scott Renzenbrink and Ben Wilcox. Well done also to our ‘Double Firsts’: David Andrews, Max Chien, Tom Connolly, Shaun Fletcher, Jasper Garay, Harry Heo, Daniel Jones, Max Jones, Jesse Moffat, Tim Montanaro, Jonathan Ren, Serag Saleh and Vincent Ye. In the “One-Two Club” were: Matthew Chan, Julian Edgtton, Allen Fu, Alexander Hughes and Blake McGlenchy. "For five years now High has not attracted more than 29 boys in any Year 12 to represent their school in two sports in GPS first and second grade in their final year at school. I mention this only because we really do need to build a stronger culture of participation amongst Year 12 boys at the highest level in the years ahead. I want to thank your leadership team – Ben, Harry and Max for representing and leading your cohort well. "Each year on this occasion I offer some parting observations about life after school and your preparation for it. In the powerful opening scene of Shakespeare’s King Lear, the King engages in a self-indulgent, self-destructive love test with his three daughters, before dividing his kingdom among them as dowries and retiring. Lear’s first two daughters, Goneril and Regan, play the game, outdoing each other in professed love for their father. Cordelia, the youngest, makes a statement of love that is dutiful, understated but unpalatable to her egocentric father. She is disinherited and the Duke of Kent, Lear’s loyal adviser, is banished for defending her. There are some catchy lines from both of them about flattery and duty. Kent stands up to Lear, saying: “Think’st thou that duty shall have dread to speak / When power to flattery bows? To plainness honour’s bound/ When majesty stoops to folly”. He leaves to “shape his old course in a country new”. Cordelia defends herself by explaining that she just obeys, honours and loves her father as she should.” If for I want that glib and oily art/ To speak and purpose not, since what I well intend,/ I’ll do’t before I speak…” Lear remains adamant and calls for the visiting French suitors to decide her fate. The King of France tries to marry off Cordelia to the Duke of Burgundy but “respect and fortunes are his love” and he won’t take on the dowry-deprived, feisty Cordelia; nor does she want him. The King of France is smitten and takes her on the rebound. ”’Tis strange that from their cold’st neglect/ My love should kindle to inflamed respect.” Before being led away by the King of France, Cordelia gives her sisters a serve: “Time shall unfold what plighted cunning hides,/Who covert faults at last with shame derides”. As you might imagine, Lear’s retirement plan did not work out. "Literature study is a lifelong pleasure, with abiding and contemporary lessons for us all. As you leave High, I hope you have developed as young men who have firm values and sound judgement. I hope you continue to enjoy and learn from literature. Don’t put yourselves into positions where your ego or your positional power is your last refuge. Be sensitive to flattery and excessive praise. Look beneath the ‘folds of favour’ offered by others for ulterior motives. Speak plainly and with fortitude. Always try to speak out when it is right to do so, irrespective of the consequences. Trust your judgement and stick by it. Always try to do what you say you are going to do. Try to under promise and over perform. Above all, try to understand yourself and be true to your character, unlike Lear who “hath ever but slenderly known himself”.
"I wish you all success at the HSC and in your lives thereafter. It has been a pleasure and a
privilege to be your Principal. Good luck to you all!" 
From the Andrews Junior LibraryYEAR 11 OPEN BLITZ CHESS CHAMPIONSHIP FIRST WEEK BACK The School Open (Chess club players allowed) Blitz Chess is being played by each Year cohort as their exams finish. The final will be played in December when everyone finishes. Could Year 11s who think they can beat the rest of the school turn up to the Junior Library at Recess and Lunchtime on Monday Tuesday and Friday of the first week of term? DONATION THANKS Two big and very valuable donations were made to our Library in the last 2 weeks. Big thanks to Professor Elaine Sadler who donated [a number of titles]. Big thanks also to Mr and Mrs Brian Heatrick locals from Pagewood who thought of our Library when cleaning [a number of] lovely books out of their house.
SBHS DebatingWe had such an exciting and exhausting end to the Debating Season that, as many of you will know, I escaped overseas to recuperate. I am writing this from London where I have been enjoying the history and the shopping, but missing the sunshine. It was a nail biting end to the GPS season with both Firsts and Seconds debating against Grammar to decide who was going to win. I think Sydney Boys High made up about 3/4 of the audience to see who would win the Rutledge Shield. I was so pleased to see so many boys, parents and staff members turn up to show support for our (already) most successful debating team in history. It was a superb debate and a very close call, but in the end very difficult for our boys to argue that we should take action in Syria with or without the permission of the UN. You could hear a pin drop when the adjudicator announced that they were awarding the debate to the Grammar team. On the other hand our Seconds (who got the negative of this debate) were successful and allowed us to keep the Louatt Shield for another year. Very well done to Khushaal, Connor and Wilber who were well deserved of their success. The GPS season has seen some very successful teams and also the coaches and I are seeing a lot potential in the younger debaters who look set to move on to great things in the future. Very well done to everyone who has been involved in GPS debating this year. Also congratulations are in order for our Year 10 PDC team. With only one more debate to go this team could reach the Grand Final in November. This is a very exciting possibility and we must thank Ms Mack for organising all of the debates as I know there have been a number of problems around this. The end of the Debating season was marked with the Debating Dinner on Saturday 8th September. Only one week before the dinner Mrs Chiam (who organised a wonderful evening for us) was concerned that we only had 16 tickets sold. On the night over 130 people turned up - this is a historic number of attendees at the Debating Dinner. On a personal note I would like to say how overwhelmed (was that a standing ovation?!) I was with the whole evening and a very big thank you to all for the cards, gifts and thank yous I received on the night. The whole night was a real tribute to the growing strength of our debating community and I look forward to working with everyone next year. I have given my speech to Ms May to be published in the Record. Next term we will be organising a House Debating Competition for Year 7 and possibly one other Year group. Make sure you look out for information about this when we return after the school holidays.
Finally I would like to wish all of the debaters a wonderful holiday and hope you have a
well-deserved rest.
More information can be found at and will be emailed to you on a weekly basis.
Music NotesTerm 4All ensembles and rehearsals will start in Week 1 in Term 4. Please remember to come to rehearsals on time and help set up. Practising DailyInstrumental tutors have been talking to the music staff and are concerned with some of the boys as they’re not prepared for their lesson .Please remember PRACTICE DAILY, if only for 20 minutes, is required for you to develop your awesome musical skills and make your tutor happy. As holidays are just around the corner, please remember to practice during the holidays. Practice makes PERFECT!!!!! Ensemble RehearsalsPlease check the timetable and arrive ON TIME! There are NO EXCUSES for not attending or arriving late to ensemble rehearsals. ALL ENSEMBLES START AT 7:45AM. Remember a ROLL is TAKEN, and 80% of ATTENDANCE is required. PLEASE REMEMBER to pack up after rehearsals (tidy up the room/and stands back on rack). EVERYONE needs to help and not left to one or two boys. THANK YOU boys for your co-operation! The 2012 ensemble rehearsal timetable is provided below:
Basketball: Shootin' HoopsNew Basketball Season 2012-13Welcome back to the new GPS Basketball Season, boys! A few weeks ago, the school 1st and 2nd Grade teams were chosen to represent High at the upcoming 2012-13 season. With the monsters of the 1st Grade team last year such as Christian Jurlina and Craig Moller graduating from school as Year 12 and absent from the squad, 1st Grade saw many members from 2nd Grade in the 2011-12 season rise to the challenge. Not including the experienced Mr B Hayman, the only two members in 1st Grade that are present both last season and this season are Mitchell Flynn and Eamon Kelly, and they will be entrusted to lead and prepare their new fellow team members for what is to come at AAGPS first grade level. The trial also had 2nd Grade form a nearly brand new team with many new faces of promising Year 9s and 10s. Prepared and ready, the jump ball of the season for the two teams started at the Annual School vs The Old Boys game, where 1st and 2nd Grade each played a game against an Old Boys team. The Old Boys side this year turned out to be one of the strongest Old Boys side we’ve ever had, dominating the school in both the 1st and 2nd Grade games. However, this proved to be an invaluable experience to our school Opens teams in preparation for the similar level of competence that would be present in other GPS 1st and 2nd Grade teams. After the games Old Boy Justin Chow also shared some wisdom with the 1st and 2nd Grade sides. Hopefully they will make the most of it and hold out an amazing performance in the upcoming season! In other news, the First Coaching Co-ordinator Meeting for the season also occurred on the same afternoon. All efforts are focussed on the 2012–13 season, with a new coaching matrix developed by Mr B Hayman to maximise productivity in the Basketball program for both the players and coaches. Our Opens Basketball team also came 3rd in the State All Schools Championship! The team had won 23 matches in a row throughout the tournament, and Mr Hayman is now applying for a wildcard entry into the National Championships to place our Opens team into the “Championship Division”. Our 15s team are also once again the Sydney East Champions. The team will travel NSW in the state knockout competition, and our aim would be to get into top 8 CHS in the state as per previous years’ teams. Once again, the Sydney All-Schools Shootout would be held in our gym in the holidays. We have won this competition in both the Premier and Development divisions in the past, so hopefully this year we can do it again! The winner will play before a Sydney Kings game at the Entertainment Centre. Don’t forget to also join the Sydney Boys High Basketball Facebook page, if you haven’t already done so. I would like to note that as well as many of our 1st Grade superstars graduating this year from school, we also have the Editor of High Notes for the past season, Chris Chiam, graduating as well. A very responsible student of High, I feel extremely humble to be handed this job which Chris had done so well for so long. Thus this season, I (Glanden) would be continuing on this role as the Shootin’ Hoops editor. Finally, the GPS Season is starting in 3 weeks. Make sure everyone who had made a team train hard in the holidays, grab some mates and have some scrimmage sessions in the holidays, make a local comp team together, try out for reps to get back in shape both physically and mentally. Remember the High Basketball motto: Play Hard, Play Smart and Play Together! We have a game first week back against Joeys, so don’t slack off! Good luck to all players for the next season!
~ Go HIGH!
Die Deutsche FrageNo correct answer yet! So, for those with a short memory, a repeat of the question: in which German city would English natives not like to live? Zweiter Tipp: die Stadt liegt an einem grossen Fluss!
Schoene Ferien.
From the CanteenWe are very fortunate to be one of the few schools with a canteen that is not privately owned. It is run by a canteen committee, a sub-committee of the P&C, with all profits being returned to the school. Our canteen makes substantial profits thanks to the excellent operation by our Managers Karen and Tracey, which are used to benefit all of our sons. The AGM will be held on 12 October at 2.45pm in the boardroom. All positions will be declared vacant. Please come along and make a contribution to this committee. We apologise for longer than usual delays in the canteen, we have had a shortage of volunteers and also the Prefects have not been available the last few weeks due to their Trials. We thank them for their excellent service over the past twelve months and look forward to meeting the new Year 11 Prefects next term.
Thanks to the volunteers last week:
PAWS ReportPAWS (People and Animal Welfare Society) is an organisation made by Ms Stephens and Ms Williams to raise money for animal welfare charities. This term, PAWS raised money for Peanuts Funny Farm, a charity that helps disadvantaged children and animals that have been abused or neglected. We came up with the brilliant idea of a raffle to raise money for this cause. Using our expert salesmanship skills we managed to sell nearly $500 worth of tickets, and visited Peanuts Funny Farm as an excursion on Friday, 14 September. We were lucky to have received donations from various organisations which included chocolates, movie vouchers, Canteen and Bread Top vouchers and five volunteer teacher slaves (THE prize to win!). The nearly two and a half hour drive past Goulburn was well worth it (even though we had some scenic detours) as we got to see all the animals that were saved and the facilities that would cater to disadvantaged kids.
We would all like to thank Ms Williams and Ms Stephens for organising this event and a special
thanks to Mr (sports) Hayman for driving us there.
SHS Rowing CommitteeINFORMATION and ORIENTATION for all ROWING PARENTSSaturday 13th October 2012 at High Rowing Sheds, Abbotsford All parents … this is a very important meeting to attend so you know what is happening during the rowing season. We need all parents to attend! PROGRAM for PARENTS
8.00am - Junior Rowing Parents Information/Orientation session MORNING TEA PROVIDED HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDE
The High Rowing Challengestarts Saturday 6 October 2012 at the High Rowing Sheds
This is a 'Learn to Row' for the adults ... parents, friends, family, old boys and work
colleagues, All ages and abilities welcome
Enjoy early morning rowing for 6 sessions with experienced coaches and coxswains. Donation: $300 per seat (tax deductible) Includes:
More information and registration -
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Sydney Boys High School
