̽»¨ÊÓƵ

High Notes, Vol 24 No 6, March 10 2023

From the Principal

High Talent

‘On behalf of the NSW Fencing Association, I am writing to congratulate Tommy Xu (10E) on his Top 16 finish in Men's Epee category at his debut Asian Cadet Fencing Championships in Tashkent, Uzbekistan 2-5 March 2023’ (Jing Shang, President, NSW Fencing Association). Well done indeed, Tommy.

Invoices for Summer Activities Co-payments

Families in Year 7, and those later year enrolments, have had statements emailed for Term 1 activities. Despite these charges, most activities are also heavily subsidised from school funds, particularly in direct grants from school funds (voluntary contributions), provision of MICs, teacher supervision, WHS compliance costs, access to facilities and grounds, and first aid costs (co-curricular supervision levy) and parking allocation support. Co-payments are used primarily for the provision of coaching. In basketball alone, a team of over 40 people delivers the program! We have staff, students, Old Boys, parents and volunteers working to make your son’s school experiences more enjoyable. It would be appreciated if you could make your co-payments promptly for your son’s summer sport and co-curricular activities. Thank you.

Early Bird discounts have closed

Parents of students in Years 8-12 have had an opportunity to earn a substantial discount in return for paying all of the items listed in their invoice letters. The scheme concluded at close of business on Friday, March 10. Discounts no longer apply as from Monday, March 13. Thank you to so many parents who have supported the school fully in its efforts to provide high quality facilities and resources for everyone. It is very much appreciated.

NAPLAN

Students in Years 7 and 9 will have their NAPLAN tests next week. I urge all students to spend some time doing practice tests and to try their best during these tests to reach their personal bests. The tests allow you to progress to higher level of challenge if you succeed at lower levels – much like a video game. Use all the time available and plan your time allocation. We expect that you will work carefully and methodically. In multiple choice questions, select your answers after weighing up all the options. Watch out for distractors – answers that have elements of truth or parts of the answer to the question but are incomplete. They are there in order to entice you to pick them because you have not thought through the problem fully. If any time remains when you have finished, check your answers for any careless errors or omissions. Remember that the purpose of the tests is entirely diagnostic. That is, the tests are used to show you and your family how far you have progressed on the national learning continuum since Year 5 or Year 7. Stay calm and focussed during the busy week ahead – good luck!

Weights Room Membership Offer has expired

Memberships for the Weights Room have now closed. The free trial period has ended as of March 13. Thank you to the many boys who value this facility and have joined for 2023. Quite a few Year 7 students took advantage of our great introductory offer to join the weights room for their first year for just $150. Kurt Rich can now focus on the personal preparation, training and development of all members. From now on, training session times to suit all members can be allocated. Visits when space is available are unlimited throughout the year and extend to school holidays when the weights room is open but with reduced hours. The development and maintenance of core strength is enhanced through regular weights room programs. Another opportunity to join the Weights Room will be made available in semester two.

Student Wellbeing Programs for 2023

Year 7 – Values Education classes for 2 periods per cycle. Elevate Study Skills (Study Skills Kick Start) & (Junior Time Management). Backflips on Bullying.
Year 8 - Values Education classes for 2 periods per cycle. Backflips on Bullying. Elevate Study Skills (Memory and Mnemonics) – Academic Support Group. Skodel (online wellbeing program and survey).
Year 9 - Values Education classes for 3 periods per cycle. Elevate Study Skills – Time Management (Incoming students) & Study Sensi (Academic Support Group). Bio-Dash – evidence-based strategies to optimise performance, manage stress and build resilience.
Year 10 - Careers Education – 2 periods per cycle for one semester. Life Ready Course –(Year 10 co-payment $85).
Year 12 – UTS Managing HSC Stress.
Whole School – Atomi – study support for selected students. Study Samurai – study skills for all students.

[Cost to school above teachers’ salaries is c $25,000]

Sentence Conscious Pedagogy: Towards Better Phraseology

A phrase is a group of words that has no verb with a subject and does not contain a complete message in itself. Phrases answer the questions – who, what, where, when, why and how? Example: The boy in the High singlet (who); running hard for 1.6k (what); down on The Flat (where); at the end of the last period of the day (when); due to the continuous rainy weather (why); with the last delivery of his final over (how). Ask yourself these questions during composition to add variety to what you write.
Dr K A Jaggar
Principal