Work Experience Placements

The Careers Office is on the search for some work experience placements for our wonderful Year 10 students and would love to hear from any parents who may be in a position to host an enthusiastic, co-operative, friendly, polite, hardworking, fully insured Year 10 student for work experience.

Work experience takes place in the week of 3 August – 7 August 2020.  A dream come true for some Year 10 students would be a placement at a magazine, publishing house, TV/Radio placement, engineering firm, fashion house, public relations agency, advertising agency, architectural firm, with a doctor, midwife, photographer, a veterinary clinic, anything remotely connected with international relations and criminal law. All offers greatly received.  Please contact me andreapinnock@sceggs.nsw.edu.au if you would like any more information on hosting a keen Year 10 student.

Andrea Pinnock
Careers Advisor

Study Skills Evenings for Years 7, 8 and 9 Students and their Parents

Does your daughter need help managing homework and assignments effectively by efficient time management? Do you want to help your daughter manage her time and organise herself but do not know where to start? Does your daughter need help studying and preparing for examinations?

Dr Prue Salter from Enhanced Learning Educational Services, will run two workshops targeting organisation, time management, examination preparation and general study techniques, providing an opportunity for parents to learn and most importantly, to complete a number of activities with your daughter.

 Secrets to High School Success – Thursday 5 March, 6.00pm-7.30pm

A workshop for Year 7 students and their parents

This session is also open to Year 8 who may want a refresher or missed this opportunity last year

This workshop gives Year 7 parents and students hands on experience with time management techniques such as chunking down pieces of work like assignments as well as prioritising and scheduling – to avoid those stressful last minute late night rushes!

Year 7 parents can expect to gain a greater understanding of tools students can use to help them achieve academic success and students can learn how to make the most out of their time through simple but effective techniques. As there are activities and discussions that are completed jointly, parents and students must attend together.

Approaches to effective learning – Tuesday 17 March, 6.00pm-7.30pm

A workshop for Years 8 students and their parents

This session is also open to Year 9 who may want a refresher or missed this opportunity last year

This workshop gives parents and students strategies to help them become the most effective and successful learners they can be. We examine the important skills to help improve the way students study and prepare for examinations. Parents can expect to gain a greater understanding of what students are required to do at home and students can learn how to make the most out of their time through simple but effective techniques. As there are activities and discussions that are completed jointly, parents and students must attend together.

Bookings are essential as places are limited. Please respond to the email that you receive to indicate your wish to attend. Please enter the school via St Peter’s St through the Joan Freeman Science, Art and Technology Centre. Parking for these evenings will be available in the St Peter’s St car park.

Andrew Gallagher
Director of Curriculum

Secondary Sport News

This week we find out about what our Secondary Students are up to this weekend and congratulate the achievements from last week!

Football Skills

A small but dedicated group of SCEGGS students have been working on their football skills this term in readiness for the IGSSA competition in Term 2. The skills sessions are conducted by our Head Coach of Football Craig Blesson (Queens Park Rangers and Dynamo Sports), Lucas Pacheo (Brazil, Balmain FC Club) and long term Matildas player and Olympian Michelle Heyman. We welcome any new students who may still wish to join the group. The skills sessions run from 7am – 8am on Monday mornings in the Sports Hall.

State Cup Touch

Good luck to all of our SCEGGS girls who will be heading to Wagga Wagga this weekend to compete in the NSW State Cup. We wish everyone a safe and successful tournament.

Secondary: Abby Burge, Ruby Hill, Sacha Parr, Sophie Davis, Emma Juneja, Heavenly Dwyer and Oliva Ward

Primary: Lily Cooney, Rosie Pallett

Referees: Lucy Juneja, Clementine Hooper

Easts Touch Referees

It has been wonderful to see so many of our SCEGGS students being involved in refereeing in the Easts Touch Competition this year. Refereeing is a wonderful way to get involved and give back to any sport whilst often earning some pocket money. I strongly encourage anyone interested to give it a go.

NSWCIS Water Polo

Congratulations to Lana Oppenheim (Year 12) and Sophie O’Connell (Year 11) who were selected in the NSWCIS Water Polo Team last week. Well done also to Camilla Mackay (Year 12) and Sienna Green (Year 10) who travelled to Perth to play for Sydney University in the National League Water Polo over the weekend.

Sailing

We wish Gemma Ashton (Year 8) and Madeleine Phillips (Year 9) good luck as they compete in the second round of the NSW Flying 11 Championships this weekend.

Sports News

Do you have news to share about your daughters’ sporting activities? Please email any relevant news. We love to hear about what our students are doing outside of school.

Alison Gowan
Director of Sport

Primary Sport

This week we congratulate Illaria Giuffrida, and read about Primary Netfit and Year 3 Basketball!

IPSHA Basketball trials

Congratulations to Illaria Giufridda (Year 6) who was selected in the IPSHA Basketball team. IPSHA will play other CIS teams on Friday 21 February for a final CIS selection.

We wish Illaria the best of luck.

Primary Netfit

Girls from Years 4-6 are involved in our Netfit program on Wednesday mornings from 6.45-8.00am. Our Netfit coaches Kim Green and Taylah Davies take the girls through skills, game sense and fitness classes to prepare them for the Term II competition. 

Kim was a member of the Diamonds who won a gold medal at the 2011 World Netball Championships in Singapore and gold at the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow. In 2014 she also was named as the joint winner of the ANZ Championship Most Valuable Player Award.

Kim is one of Australia’s most capped players for the Diamonds netball team and was part of the winning team at last years’ World Cup in Sydney. Her World Cup campaign lifted her into the top 10 most capped Australian players of all time, in what she described as her career’s biggest highlight.

A familiar name for GIANTS Netball fans, Taylah Davies becomes the second GIANT to swap Netball for AFLW, after Elle Bennetts making a successful transition in 2018. The 23-year-old from Wollongong played for GIANTS Netball in 2017 before becoming a train-on player in 2018. In late September Taylah was scouted by GIANTS AFLW coach Alan McConnell and made the switch to AFL by signing a rookie contract with the GIANTS AFLW team and making her debut in round 4, 2019.

Year 3 Basketball

The Year 3 girls had their first competition games on Saturday at SCEGGS. This is a friendly non-graded competition to help encourage girls to learn and enjoy sport without the additional pressure of scores and graded teams.

Sue Phillips
Primary PDHPE and Sport Co-ordinator

From the Primary School

In Primary School news this week, read about “Library Lovers’ Day” and “Feel Good Friday!”

“Library Lovers’ Day”

Last week, the Primary School Library celebrated “Library Lovers’ Day” on 14 February. This day was a celebration of our affection for books and will continue throughout the month of February. There is so much fun to be had that one day is simply not enough time!

“Library Lovers’ Day” is an annual event promoted by the Australian Library and Information Association. It brings an opportunity for library staff to show off their libraries, and for people across Australia to show their passion for public libraries by attending one close to home. The theme for 2020 is “Uncover something new.”

As part of our celebrations, every girl in the Primary School was issued with a “Library Lovers’ Day” bookmark. Over the coming weeks, the older girls will be attending a pop-up Book Café, complete with menus and a (pretend) chef! The aim of the café is to encourage the sampling of new book titles to further promote reading for pleasure. There will also be a guessing competition where girls will be asked to spot teachers in photographs that are hiding behind books. The library will also be filled with numerous heart-themed book displays.

During February, you might like to pop into the Primary Library or to visit one of your local libraries. Being new to SCEGGS, I would absolutely LOVE to meet you!

Karen McBride                                                                                        
Primary Teacher Librarian                                                

Feel Good Friday!

In the Primary School this year, we have decided to make one Friday a month “Feel Good Friday!” The aim of the initiative is to create a sense of fun and community on the playground, with all girls and teachers coming together at lunchtime to start the weekend off in the right way.

Things started with a bang last week, with the girls and teachers revelling in games of piggy in the middle, skipping, hula hooping and having a dance to the feel-good music on the playground at lunchtime. At one point, Mrs Dempsey was even seen going down the new slippery dip! I would like to thank the Year 6 girls for their excellent leadership in encouraging girls from all grades to participate in the fun and games. We can’t wait for the next one!

Sarah Johnstone
Head of Student Wellbeing K-6

Music Matters

From Scholarships to Awards and Eisteddfods  – the Music Department is a hive of activity.

2020 SCEGGS Music Eisteddfod

Applications for the 2020 SCEGGS Music Eisteddfod are open to all students who are having voice or instrument tuition.

• The SCEGGS Music Eisteddfod is a competition open to ALL musicians currently taking private lessons, inside or outside of school.
• Entry into the Eisteddfod is FREE.
• All Elective Music students are preparing for participation.

Heats

• Heats will be held in Week 7 during regular Music class lessons for Primary students, Year 7 students and Elective Music students.
• All other heats will be held during regular class lesson time.
• Students will perform for the external, specialist adjudicator in a music studio – there is no audience.
• Due to timetabling restrictions, adjudicators do not provide written reports or any other feedback.
• The adjudicator’s decision is final, and no discussion will be entered into.

Entry forms can be accessed on Cognito or at the Music Department.

2020 Margot Anthony (Budd) “Beyond the Curriculum” Award

The applications for the Margot Anthony (Budd) “Beyond the Curriculum Award” are now open.

There are two awards given each year to Elective Music students from Years 8 to 11. Students need to demonstrate a developing musical interest in an area outside of their classroom studies. They also need to have a record of music tuition and successful examination results in at least one instrument or voice.

To apply, students can access the information and application form on Cognito.

Secondary Music Ensemble Rehearsals

Please be advised of the altered schedule for rehearsals in Weeks 5 and 6 as follows:

Week 5

Choir and Madrigals – Monday 24 February

Basie Jazz Band – Thursday 27 February, P & F Cocktail Party Friday 28 February

Week 6

Edwardes Percussion – Thursday 5 March

Basie Jazz Band – Thursday 5 March and Open morning Friday 6 March (Great Hall)

Ensembles are up and running!  We are trying to finalise our rolls for the ensembles. If you haven’t responded to the email sent regarding your involvement, please do so, or your name will be removed from the roll.

SCEGGS Staff Learning Scholarship

Mrs Anne Sweeney is one of two staff who were the recipients of our inaugural SCEGGS Staff Learning Scholarships.

In Weeks 5, 6 and 7, Mrs Sweeney will be away in America to observe lessons in different schools and music institutions.  She will travel to New York to visit Herricks High School as well as both the Julliard School and the Manhattan School of Music. Mrs Sweeney will also travel to Orlando, Florida, for the 2020 American String Teachers’ Association Conference. In her absence, the following rehearsals will be taken by the following staff:

Music Tuition Reminders:

A reminder for ALL students and families who are part of the Music Tuition (instrumental and voice) program to do the following:

1. Please review the contract agreement you have made with your Tutor.  Tutors require 4 weeks’ notice if you wish to discontinue lessons. Placements automatically roll over unless you indicate that you will be discontinuing
2. Reminder that entries for the 2020 Eisteddfod close by the end of Week 5.

Write down the dates! 125^th Birthday Music Workshops

To celebrate the school’s 125^th Birthday celebration, a special concert will be held in the Town Hall on the evening of Thursday 18 June. The concert will feature exciting pieces of music by Australian composers and will feature many of our ensembles.

To facilitate preparation of this concert, the Music Department will be holding two workshops for the featured ensembles. The dates are as follows:

Workshop 1 – Monday 27 April (day before the commencement of Term 2)

Workshop 2 – Sunday 14 June (Sunday before the concert)

Attendance at both workshops is compulsory for students who will be performing. We would appreciate your support with your daughter’s regular attendance of rehearsals and for both workshops. Further information about each of the workshops will be provided closer to the time.

 
Pauline Chow
Head of Music

Visual Arts News

Lilli Stromland, our Monday drawing tutor is currently exhibiting her work at the AK Bellinger Gallery in Inverell. This is a wonderful outcome after her portraiture was spotted by the gallery’s curator in the Salon de Refusés last year. Subsequently Lilli was offered a solo show. Lilli’s work continues to demonstrate skill, spontaneity and a very deft, considerate depiction of the everyday. The works can be seen here akbellingergallery.com.

Some striking works from the Art Classrooms…

Isabella Machliss (Year 11) has completed a landscape painting while Imogen Zimmerle (Year 7) has created a self portrait. Great work!

Heidi Jackson
Head Teacher Visual Arts

Drama News

There are many opportunities to add some Drama to your life – either as a participant or spectator, there is something for everyone!

Griffin Theatre Ambassador

Congratulations to Felicity Dayhew (Year 11) who has been selected to be a Griffin Young Ambassador in 2020. She will attend performances and workshops by the company and participate in conversations with other young theatre fans. Well done Felicity!

Ladies in Black Auditions

It was very exciting to welcome 67 keen students to the Orientation afternoon for our 2020 musical. Interested students met the creative team of Chloe Dallimore, Tim Cunniffe, Anna Gardiner and Jodine Wolman. They also learned of the expectations being involved in a production.

This week auditionees have participated in singing, dancing and acting assessment to find the cast for the show. Casting for Ladies in Black will be announced on Monday February 24.

It is an exciting time for the auditionees and I trust they have enjoyed the opportunity to demonstrate their skills and to participate in a stimulating and enjoyable exercise. However, the cast can only accommodate so many and there will be disappointed students should casting not go their way. I remind students that there are many considerations that inform the casting process. Be proud that you have presented yourself in the best manner of which you have been able. If the show hasn’t happened for you this time, then look to the next opportunity. We will be staging a play, Pretty.Strange, in November.

 

The School Production – an active and responsible participation 

With the rehearsal period about to commence for Ladies in Black, I felt it timely to reflect on why we present a School Production – and the commitment required to make it a truly satisfying experience for all involved.

School productions offer a co-curricular experience in which students enter an opportunity to expand their drama and theatre skills. They are also stimulated by an investigation into other worlds and times. It as an opportunity to work with staff and creatives in a parallel environment that is nurturing, collaborative and a recognition and appreciation of shared interest and objectives.

The School Production also requires a great deal of passion, challenge and commitment to achieve the inevitable reward – cohesive and shared excellence. The production certainly provides a social experience and the opportunity to meet and work with students from other year levels and schools; but participation in a school production should chiefly be driven by a desire to embrace the art, tell stories and excel in a product that has been crafted though collaboration in pursuit of the best art possible.

The success of a production, like any sports team, choir, orchestra, ensemble; requires an unseen “contract” that is acknowledged by the individual to confirm absolute support of the project for the duration of its rehearsal and production period. It is not acceptable for a participant to check in and out as they please. Or to assume that their role is insignificant. Every role (on-stage and behind-the-scenes) is vital in the construction of a play or musical.

Communication too is paramount in these experiences. Staff are very mindful of the busy times in the school calendar and will amend rehearsal expectations as necessary. Participation in a production experience is great grounding/preparation for dealing with those times in life when we feel overwhelmed but with forethought, organisation and self-discipline we can achieve. Staff are always mindful of student commitments and will not place unnecessary expectations on workloads. We are all here to support each other and achieve the most successful theatre of which we are capable.

There is no doubt that the memory of our school arts experiences linger long – music concerts, drama productions, musicals, dance shows and so on occupy fond recall for a lifetime. What is it that each of these experiences have in common? Part of the positive memory is tied to the discipline, practice and training that precedes the performance and contributes to the satisfaction of working towards performance standard and being stage worthy. Best practice in the performing arts is hard fun. And that is what creates those lifelong memories.

I ask you to consider carefully your desire to contribute to a school play or musical. Participation does come with expectations of continuity, rehearsal, communication and commitment.  It is a family consideration also. We depend on our parents to get us to rehearsal and to collect us, to sacrifice occasional functions because rehearsal is called. The various parts of production cannot function completely unless we are all present.

I hope you will one day experience the great reward of being in a school production – but also realise that it is hard fun!

The theatre is a spiritual and social X-ray of its time.

Stella Adler

Peter Eyers
Head of Drama

Parents’ and Friends’ Association

A reminder too that the P&F’s AGM will be held on Tuesday 10 March from 7:30pm to 9:00pm in the Joan Freeman Lecture Theatre.  All are most welcome.  Several P&F roles will be newly filled from the AGM as several committee members’ daughters left the School at the end of last year.  We are therefore looking for new committee members and would love to hear from you.  No qualifications required other than enthusiasm and a willingness to contribute.  There’s a role for everyone so please consider joining us.

Please do not hesitate to call me on 0408 291 196 or on penny@gerstle.com.au if you are interested. 

I look forward to hearing from you.

Penny Gerstle
President P&F Association

Annual Collection of Student Information by the Federal Government

The Australian Government Department of Education, Skills and Employment collects student residential and other information from schools each year to inform Commonwealth school education policy and funding arrangements. This collection is taking place in February and March. Parents and carers should go to the SCEGGS Parent Portal on the School’s website to see the Government’s official collection notice. Please also take this opportunity to check on the Portal that your address details are up-to-date. You can update any incorrect information yourself on the Portal. Please contact me or Mr David Tran, the School’s Business Manager, if you have any questions.

Sarah Walters
Director of Administration