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High Notes, Vol 13 No 31, October 12 2012
From the Principal
Welcome Back to Term 4
High Talent
Foundation Day "Special guest Harold Sperling QC, Old Boy Order of Australia awardees, former School Captains and Prefects, Prefect Internees, School Family representatives, parents, staff and students – welcome to our 129th Foundation Day Assembly. When we celebrate Foundation Day, or more correctly, commencement day, October 1, 1883, we are reminded that the original objective of establishing public secondary schools was to provide a pathway to university for people from a wider range of backgrounds than the privileged elite of the day. "In our history, such people have come from many socio-economic strata, faiths, races and cultures. In the case of High our foundation objective has been spectacularly fulfilled. What we do is to prepare students of all backgrounds for tertiary study. Consequently, as a community we have a clear focus. Nonetheless, an equally strong foundation of our heritage has been the belief in personal development in its various aspects – physical, social, emotional, ethical. We see the pursuit of competitive team sports as very educative in these four aspects. Moreover, we see team sports as vocational training in such prized attributes as goal setting, cooperation, time management, persistence, focus and selflessness. "Yesterday, I was privileged to meet several of the 1952 Old Boys who enjoyed a reunion luncheon in the Great Hall yesterday. On these occasions I try to reflect upon what makes High such a successful learning community. In many ways we have preserved a strong culture of cooperation and resilience in the face of challenging tasks. The level of motivation to persevere in demanding environments – academic, sporting, performance or practical – has always been a function of the power of our student leadership. It is fitting then, that on this day, and in this place, we think about the connection between our culture and our leaders. Our School Prefects set the tone for their graduating year. Their energy, their examples to others, their ability to bring groups of their peers with them in pursuing school goals, have defined the quality of past cohorts at High and will frame the standard of achievements for the class of 2013. Over the next three terms the Internees will have to earn their badges and deliver on their pledges. "If culture can be seen as custom tested by time, then much of our culture has endured. There is much that can be gained by perusing The Record. In 1982 there was controversy surrounding the proposed re-introduction of a four-term school year which had been abolished in 1928. Disagreements between the Government and the NSWTF on the length of the July vacation and the number of school days in the year delayed the four term re-introduction until 1985. This year’s controversy is over the Gonski Review, school funding and the NSW Government’s restructuring of staffing. After much lobbying in 1981-2, the Government announced that the 5-class intake for SBHS and SGHS would be restored in 1983. Sadly, it seems the number of selective classes or even the existence of selective schools themselves, is a perennial political issue. NSW society appears afflicted with the tall poppy disease. "In 1982 the school started work on replacing the old pontoon after the previous one sank. That pontoon survived until 2010 after which it, in turn, sank and was replaced in 2011 after considerable fundraising by the school community. By 1982 the school community had raised $475,000 towards the stage 2 development of the boat sheds at Abbotsford. This was the centenary project that the school was working hard to achieve. This self-help tradition continues as our community has undertaken an even more ambitious project, having raised $1.6m to date towards the joint Governors Centre Project with SGHS which will cost $8m to complete. As ever, we will need Old Boys and the broader community to get behind this project to make it a reality. "In 1981, High won the Teasdale Cup in Year 10 debating for the first time. The same team went on to get the trifecta, winning the Karl Cramp in 1982 and the Hume Barbour in 1983. The team of Swivel, Klein, Malek and Wilson was formidable. Mark Swivel was named captain of the NSW Schools Debating team. However, the comparison with our 2012 team ends there. The team fell short in the GPS competition in both 1982 and 1983. Our boys won in the same trifecta and in 2011 the second grade premiership in the GPS and were very competitive runners up in GPS first grade this year. "In 1982 the first XI cricket team won the GPS Premiership. They completed the season undefeated thanks to a last ball of the day wicket against St Joseph’s which salvaged a draw. With 4 wins and three draws the boys edged out Shore – our last taste of GPS victory in cricket in 30 years! It is not just in cricket that we have to be resilient, perseverant and patient. "In rowing The Record states that the 1st VIII was talented “but we lacked the drive to hurt ourselves, right from the start”. On the water, they trained as much as any crew, but this was not matched by their “out of boat training, getting fit”. Under the legendary Fred Fullerton, the second VIII was doing golf course runs at Moore Park, and 24 x100m sprints. Regrettably, a bad start cost them all chance at the Head of the River. At High we are used to a great deal of striving.
"We might ponder the famous saying attributed to French novelist, Jean-Baptiste Karr (1808-1890),
“plus ça change, plus c’est la même chose”. Our school’s
challenges, its values, its preoccupations, its strength and its weaknesses, seem to remain,
despite the change of time, people and external environment. The traditions of our School are
endearing constants and the thirty-six elected Prefect Interns are pledging an oath to uphold
them. We, and they, take the pledge as a serious commitment and hold dear the goal of continuity
with and despite change. I congratulate the School Prefects on their qualification for the ballot
and successful election. I wish them all well in their roles." 
From the OfficeNotice to All ParentsIt is the parent responsibility to notify the Front Office First Aid Staff if your son has a medical condition which requires medication. All medication such as Epipens need to be clearly marked with your son’s name and have a current expiry date. Your cooperation is appreciated.
High FamilyThe Bulletin Board for Sydney Boys High P & C.If you would like to have any parent community news or upcoming events included in High Society, please contact Ian Sweeting P&C President This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it P&C Annual General Meeting- Election of P&C ExecutiveThe P&C’s Annual General Meeting will be held on Wednesday 23 November in the Staff Common Room. This year, there are a number of our parents on the committee who have given generously to the school through their work on the P&C and who are coming to the end of their time at the school. Consequently, we are looking to parents (particularly within the junior school) to step up and take on roles on the P&C executive. As a committee, we understand that the commitment required often imposes a time burden on parents already leading extremely busy lives, and we are committed to re-organising the structure and functions of the P&C executive to reflect this. Furthermore, the nature of the school and the student demographic often means long travel times for parents attending meetings at the school. To this end, it is the committee’s intention to reduce the demand for, and length of, “at school” meetings and increase our use of electronic communications to carry out the P&C executive’s work. These changes should encourage parents who may have been reluctant to commit to a position on the committee. We would ask interested parents to contact the P&C at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or myself at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it Upcoming Meetings & Events
Fencing Committee AGM: Staff Common Room – Tuesday 16 October
5:30pm.
From the CanteenWelcome back for the final term of the year which sees a return of the delicious fruit salad. Our Year 12 parent helpers are officially coming to the end of their time at High. We would like to thank you all VERY much for the assistance you have given to the boys and their education at High by helping out in the canteen. A number have said they are happy to do their last 1 or 2 rostered days in Term 4 to finish the school year. The canteen is most appreciative of this and we look forward to seeing all our Year 12 and other volunteers at the school’s end of year Cocktail Party to say thank you early in December. Thanks to the volunteers for the final week of Term 3.
MON: Lynn Chen, Shi Gu (Cole) (thanks ladies for helping Katie and Gai with the end of Term Headmaster’s morning tea and last day things) The winner of the $10 canteen voucher for August is Faidha Razmi's son Akeedh and September is Yan Yang Wu’s son Harvey. The Canteen Team
Music NotesTerm 4Welcome back!!! Students in the Music Performance Program: ALL Music Ensembles are now up and running, please ensure that you are attending the appropriate Ensembles as 80% attendance to rehearsals is required for award scheme points. Marching BandThe Marching Band will resume as of WEEK 6, on TUESDAY and FRIDAY AFTERNOONS, after school. Practicing DailyPlease remember PRACTICE DAILY, if only for 20 minutes, is required for you to develop your awesome musical skills and make your music tutor happy. 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. (unless stated otherwise). 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:
Year 11 Drama Production18 October 2012On Thursday 18 October at 7pm, Year 11 Drama students will be performing in their Major Production, ‘Cosi’ by Louis Nowra. First produced in 1992, ‘Cosi’ is an engaging play about madness, illusion, sanity…and theatre. Set in a mental institution in 1971, Lewis, a young director, takes on the task of mounting a production of Mozart’s ‘Cosi Fan Tutte’ in the burnt-out theatre while protests against the Vietnam War are being staged outside. ‘Cosi’ explores a life lesson for Lewis, a young director who takes on the task of producing a play with the patients who live there. As his life is touched by these extraordinary people and his operatic production (Cosi Fan Tutte) lurches forward, we learn, along with Lewis, that when chasing your dreams it helps to be a little ‘crazy’.
This production is a hilarious look at the madness of putting on a performance in which Year 11
have demonstrated their passion for, and ability to, take creative risks in what seems like a
‘crazy’ time in their own lives. Please come along to the Drama Studio on Thursday
night to share in the theatrical madness!
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
Basketball: Shooting HoopsThe AAGPS Summer Sports Season Starts NowLast term we had the annual Year 7 House Basketball competition, and the turnout for the games was fantastic, with not only the Year 7s turning up but boys from many other years turning up as well. Another integral part of the competition also came when many older boys nicely volunteered to become coaches to support these house teams, and every Tuesday lunch time last term a spectacular show was put on showcasing the talent of the class of 2017 this year. Also, during the holidays was the Sydney Schools Shootout competition that was held in our school gymnasium. Our 1st and 2nd Grade teams entered the competition fully prepared after training during the holidays for more than 25 hours. Our 1st Grade defeated Trinity Grammar, St Joseph's and Cranbrook by narrow margins before being defeated by The King’s School. Surprisingly, King’s boasted an entirely new line up of players never before seen in the competition, a new twist added to the 1st Grade AAGPS competition that is just around the corner. Our 2nd Grade side also defeated Trinity, St Joseph's and Cranbrook school. They managed to get through to Day 2 of the competition, when they overcame The Knox College on their morning game prior to playing St Augustine's later in the day, where they also pulled away with a narrow victory. Because of their excellent efforts, the SBHS 2nd Grade Basketball team has now earned the opportunity to play the development division grand final prior to a Sydney Kings game at the Sydney Entertainment Centre. Well done to our 2nd Grade Boys! For the boys who want to improve their game, this may help you: Do you want to play firsts and seconds for Sydney Boys and be an outstanding player? Our coaches on every team at every age group and level are great but playing outside of school in a rep team will significantly improve your skills quickly too. Here are some rep Basketball trials- At an association near you!
WHERE: Liverpool, Whitlam Leisure Centre, Memorial Avenue
WHERE: St George Saints: 2013 Representative Trials Blakehurst High School
Stadium (Enter via Forster St)
WHERE: Alexandria Basketball Stadium - 53 Maddox Street Alexandria
WHERE: Bankstown Basketball Stadium
WHERE: Northern Suburbs Basketball – North Sydney Indoor Sports
Centre, Crows Nest
Once again, a reminder to all players that we have games against Joeys this Saturday. Make sure you had made the most out of your training sessions this week and prepare yourself thoroughly for the upcoming first game of the 2012 – 13 AAGPS Basketball season this Saturday. Good luck to all the teams!
~ Go HIGH!
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Sydney Boys High School
