The sharing and discussions we had each week were professionally enriching and we would all look forward to our meetings

International Grammar School’s weekly e-newsletter Term 2, No. 6 • 3 June 2016 COMING EVENTS TERM 2 Friday 3 June Today is High School ArtsFest! L-R...
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International Grammar School’s weekly e-newsletter Term 2, No. 6 • 3 June 2016

COMING EVENTS TERM 2 Friday 3 June Today is High School ArtsFest!

L-R: David Smith, Derek Patulny, Michelle Weir, Stephen Pace, Penny Mobbs, Deputy Principal - Staff and Innovation David Hamper, Emily Ross, Olivia Peach, Josie Nardella, Principal Shauna Colnan and Jessica White. Absent: Thom Marchbank.

From the Media And Communications Assistant

STAFF GRADUATE FROM HARVARD ONLINE Ten IGS teaching staff go back to school with Harvard University Online Courses. Charmaine Hui* reports Recently, ten members of the IGS staff hit the books, undertaking online courses from the Harvard Graduate School of Education. The courses were completed as part of the Staff Development Program, led by Deputy Principal and Director of Staff and Innovation David Hamper. “The School is committed to providing the highest quality professional learning for our staff. Harvard University is a world leader in working with teachers to enhance their professional practice,” Mr Hamper said.

Two separate teams were formed, one with a focus on leading for understanding and the other on visible learning. Visible learning routines could be applied to the teachers’ own classrooms for documenting student work and reflecting on it. “The sharing and discussions we had each week were professionally enriching and we would all look forward to our meetings”. The ‘Leading for Understanding’ team’s course is designed to enhance leadership skills and develop a culture of understanding for students and staff. Continued overpage ...

“The courses require staff to work collaboratively with colleagues in working groups, with individual staff taking responsibility for leading their groups through aspects of the courses. This in turn develops leadership and coaching skills.”

Our annual ‘ARTSFEST ‘ is on today!! Theme: the 1990s. Happy ArtsFest to our High School Houses! Full report, next week Term 2, No. 6 - 3 June 2016

WEEK 7 Monday 6 June Primary School Photo Day Years 11 and 12 Careers Expo, Sydney Grammar Tuesday 7 June Early Learning (Transition) Photo Day Year 7 Drumming Incursion Wednesday 8 June Early Learning (Preschool) Photo Day Thursday 9 June Early Learning Info Morning, 9.30am Years 10 and 11 Mock Trial Friday 10 June PTF Second Hand Uniform Sale, front of school Years 9-12 Sleepover for Charity, Hall WEEK 8 Monday 13 June Queen’s Birthday, Public Holiday Tuesday 14 June Year 10 High Resolves Leadership HICES Debating Wednesday 15 June Year 10 Geography Excursion Thursday 16 June CIS Cross Country Koori Club, 10.30am Year 10 Careers Interviews Year 12 PTS Interviews from 4.30pm Friday 17 June Year 10 Careers Interviews

World Environment Day this Sunday 5 June Editor: Rosemary Pryor 4-8 Kelly Street, Ultimo NSW 2007 Locked Bag 1022, Broadway NSW 2007 Ph: 9219 6700 Fax: 9211 2474 e: [email protected]

www.facebook.com/igssyd

... from Page 1

From the Visible Learning Team... “As we embarked, with some trepidation, on our 13-week Harvard journey, the Dream Team (as we came to call ourselves) weren’t quite sure of what was to come. We met once, sometimes even twice a week to discuss, review, share and report back to our Harvard supervisor what we had worked on in the previous week. We researched a number of Thinking Routines and implemented them within our classes.

From the Leading for Understanding Team... “Leading for Understanding is a course run through the Harvard Graduate School of Education. Its goals were defined in its four through-lines as training educational leaders “to support a culture of continuous learning in a professional community in order to improve student learning”. The course put us in touch with educational leaders from all over the world, and we were able to share our ideas about how to affect successful transitions in schools.

We loved the collaboration with the team, bouncing ideas off each other and learning new ways to use the thinking strategies in the classroom. The combination of theory and practical work made this course an engaging and exciting learning experience. It became a powerful visual tool to see how we all used the Thinking Routines.

Having seen the benefits of using Thinking Routines in our classrooms, we are now inspired to integrate and promote visible thinking in our regular teaching programs in the Primary school.” Jessica White, Josie Nardella, Olivia Peach, Emily Ross, Penny Mobbs, Michelle Weir

Identify obstacles and challenges within the school which make change difficult



To value collection of data and to practice using it in reflection and assessment



Develop and cultivate a strong leadership lens when proposing change



Change people’s perceptions and work habits by fostering a culture of understanding



To learn the benefit of staff safety support and rewards



To balance attention to three bottom lines: people, processes and productivity

The course ran over six sessions in 12 weeks. During this time, we used a multimedia platform to access material that guided our proposal. It also enabled us to have live discussions with other teachers and leaders from around the world, receiving and offering feedback on a diverse range of action plans in similar and different settings to ours here at IGS. Throughout the course we also received regular feedback from our online coach.

The sharing and discussions we had each week were professionally enriching and we would all look forward to our meetings. This course has not only provided opportunities for the students to make their thinking visible but has also encouraged us as teachers to do the same. It was quite obvious that students were thinking in a more organised and sophisticated manner which enriched their learning journey. One of the main outcomes was for students to record their ideas in a number of ways which allowed them to share their thinking process with others.



Two of the online learners continued with a stint at Edutech earlier this week

The course provided training in changing people’s perceptions and work habits in environments where change occurs. It required us to devise an action plan proposal which would enhance the greater well-being of the students. However, for this to succeed we had to assess structures and mechanisms already in place to support students.

Overall, the course gave us vital insight into the challenges and rewards of introducing change to organisations in a way that fosters understanding among those who are most affected by it.” David Smith, Derek Patulny, Stephen Pace, Thom Marchbank *Charmaine Hui is a final year Journalism student at UTS and is assisting part-time in the Community Relations Office.

As teachers and leaders we were encouraged to: •

Construct an action plan proposal



Articulate our dreams and goals for the proposal



Reflect in stages on the development of the proposal and assess its success

COMMUNITY NEWS - Annual Giving: IGS Indigenous Scholarship Program The IGS Indigenous Scholarship Program is an important part of our commitment to connecting with the cultures of Indigenous Australians. We currently have 16 students studying as part of the program. Through your generous donation to the IGS Indigenous Scholarship Fund you will enable us to give an IGS education to more local Indigenous children. Donations can be made online via www.igssyd.nsw.edu.au/giving or over the phone by calling Director of Community Engagement Julia Glass on (02) 9219 6778. Through philanthropy we can make a difference to all students at IGS both now and into the future. Please click on the image above to learn more from our students about how the IGS Indigenous Scholarship Program is a reflection of our school values. Term 2, No. 6 - 3 June 2016

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SNAPSHOT Quiet activity zone Early Learning and Early Primary guests colour in quietly at the back of the hall during last week’s music concert ...

The concert

NEWS FLASH! two primary choirs have been selected to perform in the next round of the Sydney Eisteddfod on 19 June!

... and a not-so-quiet activity zone

... (at left) long-term and highly experienced IGS teacher Paul Galea shares his tips on classroom discipline and the basics of good teaching with colleagues at this week’s Professional Development

MUSIC NOTES Renowned quartet joins IGS players at music concert on Thursday 9 June Next Thursday at 6pm, IGS students will perform at the Music Ensembles Evening Concert in the School Hall. The wonderful Nexas Quartet, our IGS Artists in Residence, will also be featuring in the concert. Come along to hear some fantastic music played by our talented IGS musicians who have been rehearsing all term. In addition to Nexas, you will hear performances from the following ensembles: •

Training Band



Bay Street Band



Senior Jazz Band



Senior Orchestra

Term 2, No. 6 - 3 June 2016



Kelly Street Band



Symphonic Winds



IGS Wind Orchestra

More Music Notes on page 5

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ENRICHMENT NEWS Fantastic results at Da Vinci Decathlon! In Week 6, IGS students from Years 5 –11 competed in the Da Vinci Decathlon, an academic decathlon that involved students participating in challenges on topics including cartography, philosophy and engineering. Over the three-day competition our IGS students competed with over 3000 other students from around Sydney and we had some great results: Year 5 – 1st in Creative Producers (Drama) Year 8 – 2nd in Philosophy Year 11 – 3rd in English

Well done to all participating students! Jessica Parsonage Enrichment Teacher

Term 2, No. 6 - 3 June 2016

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MUSIC NOTES #2 Ninety IGS choristers perform at Sydney Eisteddfod Last weekend, 90 choristers from four IGS choirs competed in the Sydney Eisteddfod at the Chatswood Concourse Concert Hall. Our choirs gave amazing performances and students had a wonderful time performing in this beautiful venue. Students were also treated to performances by some phenomenal very experienced and professional choirs and received excellent feedback from two of Australia’s leading choral conductors, Stephen Leek and Elizabeth Scott who were adjudicators. On the Saturday, our Year 3-4 choir conducted by Sarah Travis and Deborah Cunneen received 3rd place in their division. Our Year 5-6 choir, trained by Amandine Petit and conducted on the day by Natalie O’Connor, in a big division with 12 choirs, were awarded Highly Commended (4th), an exceptional result.

choral events. They did an excellent job, performing two very challenging works. Congratulations go to all the performers who took part in the Sydney Eisteddfod and a sincere thankyou to the large team of supportive parents who attended. A huge thanks also to all the music staff who gave up their time on the weekend to support the event – Natalie O’Connor, Choir coordinator who initiated this project, Sarah Travis and Deborah Cunneen, and to our choral staff Naomi Cooper, Amandine Petit and Reomi Mito for being available to make this performance a reality.We look forward to doing it all again next year. Alison Housley Diector of Music

On Sunday our senior choirs competed and performed very well. The Senior Vocal Ensemble had an early start (8:30am!) and with their conductor Naomi Cooper performed their pieces with confidence and delicacy. IGS Voices competed in the afternoon with their conductor Amandine Petit, in one of the most competitive

OFF THE SHELF IGS artists make Top Ten zombies for Book Expo’s Drawing Comp Earlier this year, many of the students in Year 5 and Year 6 entered the Book Expo Australia 2016 - Zombie Drawing Competition. Although our students didn’t win the whole competition, Masa Laurie (Year 6), Max Braun (Year 6), Myles Donnelly (Year 5), and Nell Sharwood (Year 6) were nominated as four of the ten finalists! As a consolation prize, these students will have their zombie drawings appear throughout the Book Expo’s Guide Book, and also receive a free VIP Family Pass to the Expo where they will get to spend time with the graphic novel artists and cartoonists as VIP’s. Leading up to the competition, our Director of Art and Design Craig Malyon generously provided a series of highly entertaining zombie drawing lessons for the Year 5 students. Karen McBride Primary Librarian “It was really exciting when we found out we were finalists!” – Myles “It was really fun doing the drawings” - Max “I’d like to play baseball in high school as much as art” - Masa “Perhaps you can do both!” Ms McBride “We started drawing from our imaginations of what a Zombie could look like” - Nell “Mr Malyon also showed us some existing drawings of Zombies to show techniques” - Myles “I’m so pleased that this activity inspired the students to do so well” – Mr Malyon Term 2, No. 6 - 3 June 2016

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MATHS SPOT Sage advice for mathematics subject choices at info evening On Wednesday, we welcomed Professor Andrew Mathas, from the School of Mathematics and Statistics at the University of Sydney, to speak at an information evening for parents and students in Year 10 about the choice of mathematics courses in Years 11 and 12. Understanding the different mathematics courses available in Years 11 and 12, the pathways from Year 10 mathematics and the opportunities for university enrolment afforded by the different courses can be confusing, and so the Mathematics Faculty arranged this information evening so that parents would have the opportunity to hear from Professor Mathas and the mathematics teachers. We have been fortunate to have had Professor Mathas, a primary school parent, speak to students in previous years. However, now that the University of Sydney has made the 2-unit Mathematics course a prerequisite for enrolment in some 62 university courses in 2019, Professor Mathas’ comments on how the choice of a mathematics course for the HSC can influence performance at university are particularly relevant. Professor Mathas introduced the audience to a variety of STEM-related career fields and university courses. STEM stands for Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics, and employment in careers in the STEM fields have the highest projected growth in the next 20 or so years. He also spoke of the more positive experience of university students who had completed Mathematics at the HSC in one of the first chemistry year mathematics courses,

and, interestingly, the positive correlation for success in university level with HSC Mathematics and higher. Professor Mathas’ overall advice, after explaining how the mathematics courses scale in the ATAR rankings, is that any student considering a career in one of the STEM fields should choose the highest level of mathematics they are capable broadly of in Years 11 and 12. Parents and students and the Mathematics Faculty are very appreciative of Professor Mathas’ comments and advice, and for taking the time to give us a perspective from the tertiary sector. Jane Martin Head of Mathematics

Don’t miss the STEAM Workshop in the school holidays ...see page 8

CAREERS CORNER Sydney CBD Schools Careers Convention Monday 6 June 3.00 - 7.00pm, Sydney Grammar School, College Street, Darlinghurst, Sydney Students and parents of the IGS community are invited to attend the convention. Years 11 and 12 will travel by bus to Sydney Grammar school but parents and students in other years will need to make their own travel arrangements. The expo will have representatives from over 50 organisations including Universities local, interstate and overseas, TAFE, private colleges and other tertiary education providers. Careers and Courses Lectures 4.00 – 6.30pm covering courses in Arts, Science, Law, Engineering, Business and studying overseas and interstate. Glynis Martin Head of Library Services and Careers Advisor. [email protected] Term 2, No. 6 - 3 June 2016

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DRAMA SPACE Shaking it up at Shakespeare Festival After a joyous in-school Shakespeare presentation in front of a warm and friendly audience of Year 6 and Year 11 Drama students, Belle Campbell, Isabella Milkovitsch, Felix Tonkin, Mischa Belunek and Meg Wrigley were selected to represent IGS at the West Regionals for Sport For Jove's Shakespeare Carnival 2016. The Carnival was hosted by Newtown High School of the Performing Arts last Thursday evening. The competition from Sydney Girls High School, Newtown High School of the Performing Arts, Santa Sabina, MLC, PLC and The Armidale School was fierce yet was a wonderful celebration of young people embracing Shakespeare just as it was intended to be - on stage! Mischa, Felix and Meg delighted the audience with their group scene from The Tempest and received a special mention for their hard work and talent, and for being the youngest participants in the Carnival. In the duologue category, the competition was particularly strong with an

extremely high standard of performance from all participants. The adjudicators deliberated at length while the audience and young actors indulged in hot chocolate and snacks provided by the generous host school. Eventually the verdict was delivered and the judges announced both a comedy and a tragedy winner in the duologue category. IGS's own Isabella and Belle took out first place for their Comedy scene from As You Like It, playing Rosalind and Celia respectively. Santa Sabina took out the tragedy gong. The winners in each category (which also includes movement, design and music responses to Shakespeare) will go on to the state Shakespeare Carnival. Belle and Isabella will be invited to a workshop with Sport for Jove, before having the opportunity to perform their work on the York Theatre Stage at the Seymour Centre on Saturday 18 June. We wish them the best of luck! Rita Morabito Director of Dramatic Arts

Winning duologue duo

COMMUNITY NEWS It’s school photo time - update! High School Photos, Music and Family photos were taken this week. High School students were issued with a card containing their personal secure shoot code for parents to order photos online. If this has been misplaced, parents are asked to contact the photographers directly to order photos on 1300 766 472. Family photos have been preordered by parents. If you have not yet paid for the family photo, please do so as soon as possible by contacting the photographers directly on the above number. Music photos will be able to be ordered online by using a specific secure code which will be issued by the photographers – please keep an eye out in the IGS News for this. Orders can be done until 8 July. A search fee of $20 will apply to all orders after 8 July. Primary photos take place on Monday 6 June - students need to be wearing formal uniform. Students will be given their personal secure shoot code on Monday to bring home so parents can order online. Michelle Weir

Term 2, No. 6 - 3 June 2016

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STEAM SCENE CREATIVE MATHS HOLIDAY CAMP - STEAM with a double M! IGS Ideas Boom! IGS is holding its first ever 2-day STEAM camp during the June/July break. STEAM is the way Art and Design is embedded in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics. In the camp activities there is a big focus on maths and how we might visualise our mathematical explorations. The camp is open to students over the age of 10 in Years 5, 6 and 7. Be quick! There are only 20 spots available. STEAM Camp will run on Monday 27 June and Tuesday 28 June from 9 am to 4 pm. Bookings must be made for BOTH days. The program will consist of 4 modules, each covering a different area of mathematics and its relationship with visual aesthetics. In each session the students will follow a design process to construct an aesthetic object or idea which has a strong underlying mathematical basis. There will be lots of collaborative explanation and exploration of the underlying mathematics before we engage in activities to consolidate and apply our knowledge in an artwork or design. The cost is $130 per student for BOTH days. Bookings CANNOT be made for single days.

To book for the STEAM Camp please contact IGS reception on [email protected] and provide your child’s name, age and year group. Please clearly indicate in the email that you are booking the STEAM Camp. Note that bookings are for BOTH DAYS only. Care before the camp from 7:30am and after the camp to 6pm is available through the usual IGS Vacation Care program. There will be additional charge of $15 per day for Aftercare. If you require this service please note this in your email. Please note as spaces are very limited cancellations made after 20 June will incur the full cost of the course as will non-attendance on either day.

IGS STEAM Camp 2016 DAY 1

10.30am – 10.45

MONDAY 27 JUNE 2016 Content Network Theory Mazes & Labyrinths (part one) Students explore the mathematics behind mazes and labyrinths in order to mathematically design and create topologically equivalent maze paths. Recess break

10.45am – 1pm

Mazes & Labyrinths cont.

1pm – 2

Lunch Flextangles Exploration of hidden geometries Students engage in ‘flat to form’ concepts as they work from 2D to 3D via paper folding to create a moveable toy. There is a lot of good geometry involved in the basic template exploring why the shapes evolve as they do – and where the extra faces are hidden!

Module 1 9am – 10.30

Module 2 2pm – 4

DAY 2

10.30am – 10.45

Hypercubes, Tesseracts 4D coordinate geometry Our imagination is not sufficient enough to understand the fourth dimension so we get to know the hypercube through analogy to the 3dimensional cube from different sides. This makes much more sense! Recess break

10.45am – 1pm

Building a Hypercubes cont.

1pm – 2

Lunch Network Theory Mazes and labyrinths (part two - construction) Construct the topologically equivalent labyrinth and observe how a random walk might look.

Module 4 2pm – 4pm (no break)

Students learn to use the mathematics behind mazes and labyrinths to create a 2D visual path. Students supply their own food and drink. Students design and create a maze puzzle – visualising the range of possible paths. Students supply their own food and drink. This is an exercise in geometric planning resulting in the creation of a geometric moveable toy with hidden faces using surface designs to work out how the patterns and colours translate when folded.

TUESDAY 28 JUNE 2016 Content

Module 3 9am – 10.30

Activity

Term 2, No. 6 - 3 June 2016

Activity

Students learn about drawing on the Cartesian plane. In this activity students plot and draw a representation of a 4 dimensional hypercube in 2D space. Students supply their own food and drink. A making activity that allows students to learn how to construct a representation of a 4 dimensional hypercube in 3D space using sculptural materials. Students supply their own food and drink. Creating a stabile. The maze puzzle from part one becomes a template for the construction of a composite, three dimensional labyrinth 8

COMMUNITY NEWS

Term 2, No. 6 - 3 June 2016

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