pdf 9 MB - International Grammar School

Volume 22
Semester 1 2015
International Grammar School Magazine
Reg St Leon honoured, p.3
Incorporating Community Relations
and Alumni News, pages 29-33
Also
Inside…
Into the World
Reg St Leon Building
Shakespeare Boot Camp
Maths splash
STEAM
ahead
ANZACs remembered
New Bay St building
Community joins the conversation
ArtsFest magic
Stage Lights
Indigenous journey
Semester
highlights
Building named, see page 3
Contents
From the Principal����������������������������������������������� 1
Lights! Camera! Action!�������������������������������������� 2
Reg St Leon honoured in building naming�������� 3
Shakespeare Boot Camp����������������������������������� 4
Maths splash������������������������������������������������������� 6
ANZAC Connections������������������������������������������ 8
Co-curricular notes������������������������������������������� 10
Staff profiles:
David Hamper and Paul Bourke����������������������� 10
STEAMing Ahead��������������������������������������������� 12
Little snapshots������������������������������������������������� 14
Onward and upward in Bay Street������������������� 15
Student Leaders’ staircase������������������������������� 16
Community forums engaging our parents������� 18
Music notes and good sports�������������������������� 19
ArtsFest magic�������������������������������������������������� 20
Stage lights������������������������������������������������������� 22
Indigenous journey continues�������������������������� 24
Good causes���������������������������������������������������� 27
Exchange news������������������������������������������������ 26
Nature on the wall art splash���������������������������� 28
Community Relations and Alumni News���������� 29
Shakespeare Boot Camp, see page 4
Marking the ANZAC centenary, see page 8
Cover: Our youngest Primary School students
Chenelle and Ethan present founding Principal
Professor Reg St Leon with flowers at the naming of the
Kelly Street Building in his honour, 3 February 2015.
Back Cover: Year 7 and their coaches get ready for
Shakespeare Boot Camp in March.
Science meets the Arts,
see page 12
4–8 Kelly Street, Ultimo NSW 2007
Phone: 61 2 9219 6700
Fax: 61 2 9211 2474
www.igssyd.nsw.edu.au
ABN 74 002 807 525
CRICOS Provider Code: 02281C
Jigsaw is a regular publication produced
by International Grammar School.
Editor: Rosemary Pryor
Professor Bashir visits Koori Club, see page 25
facebook.com/igssyd
Community forums, see page 18
ii
From the Principal
Head Boy Charlie Morgan and Head Girl Mollie Beehan.
Into the World
The role of Principal is an enormous
privilege. It embodies the unique
responsibility of conserving the
School’s past, nurturing the present
and building the future.
Each morning when I pass the portraits
of our previous Principals I am
reminded of Paul Galea’s observation
that IGS has been very lucky. “We’ve
had leaders with the right skills, at the
right time, who each managed, in their
own way, to keep that vibe going.” I am
indebted to my predecessors. Each
fostered the strong learning culture that
I see today.
Keeping the IGS vibe going is one of
the best parts of my job. We have a
passionate community. Our DNA is
creative, collaborative and ‘roll your
sleeves up’ optimistic.
IGS is a great place to teach and to
learn and we have much to treasure
about who we are and what we have
achieved.
In my first year I have listened deeply
and engaged in lively conversations
about our school. It has been
compelling to notice the coalescence
across our community about what we
value most: a school that nurtures the
individual, an innovative cosmopolitan
school with a love of diversity and
academic pursuit, a vibrant learning
community with languages and music
at its centre.
We are now drafting a renewed strategic
plan and our first master plan to take
our school into a strong and exciting
future. It is called Into the World. We
have three strategic aspirations upon
which the plan is being built. They are
limitless learning, empowered students
and a sustainable future and these are
provoking rigorous professional
conversations as my colleagues and I
envision IGS in 2020 and beyond. We
have articulated our purpose, which is
to equip our students to be world ready.
This mission urges us to explore what
the world will be like when our students
leave school. We must equip them with
a 21st century toolkit that allows them to
navigate the world with courage, agility,
confidence and capacity.
The development of our first master
plan is emerging from a creative
design project and a new partnership
with the School of Architecture at
UTS. Masters students under the
tutelage of Professors Deborah
Ascher-Barnstone and Anthony Burke
are analysing our use of space across
the campus. They are working with
IGS students and senior staff to
co-design new learning spaces for
our students as we reimagine and
redevelop IGS for the future. Our
recent purchase of 77–79 Bay Street*,
Glebe is an exciting development that
is opening up the possibilities of an
IGS learning village here in the
cultural and educational precinct that
is Ultimo.
As I move towards the end of my first
year as Principal, I do so with a great
sense of purpose and anticipation. I
look forward to continuing to harness
the combined efforts of our amazing
community to ensure that IGS
continues to be a unique school,
leading the way in providing its
students with an outstanding
educational journey, a sense of
belonging to something that is special
and bigger than themselves and the
capacity to go out into the world and
make it a better place.
Shauna Colnan
Principal
Visit from Kindy.
Ms Shauna Colnan, Principal of International
Grammar School, attended Harvard’s Think Tank
in May
* See page 15.
1
Lights!
Camera!
Action!
Semester 1 saw some great 'Lights!
Camera! Action!' with several media
and film projects on site.
The ABC children’s drama (Ready for
This) involved over 25 IGS students as
extras over several episodes (in March
and April); the Great Spelling Bee team
benchmarked their show on the
spelling levels of our savvy Year 9s in
April; SBS World News headed to IGS
for our wildly successful Eurovision
lunch party in May and NITV News
Reader Natalie Ahmat gave a talk to
Year 4 in June.
That’s showbiz!
2
ydney –
future for S
Imagine a
tralian
all our Aus
indeed, for
re every
e
towns – wh ke
cities and
o
p
s
r
membe
community
e ...
g
a
u
g
n
one la
more than
n
io .
nderful vis
What a wo
ich IGS
sion on wh
It is this vi
g.
is deliverin
Linda Scott
illor
y
ne Counc
City of Syd
Building named
after founder
Reg St Leon
On a very special Founders Day
(3 February) this year, IGS celebrated
the naming of the Kelly Street campus
to Reg St Leon Building in honour of
our founding Principal, Professor Reg
St Leon.
State MP Alex Greenwich and City of
Sydney Councillor Linda Scott joined
Reg’s family, Board Chair Larissa Cook,
Principal Shauna Colnan, members of
the Board and staff and students of the
School at a special senior assembly
and unveiling of the plaque.
The day saw our Founding Principal,
Professor St Leon, honoured for his
strong commitment to bilingual
education and for his tenacity in
ensuring that IGS would go on to
become the School it is today. On the
day, Professor St Leon was
accompanied by his wife Isabell who
also taught at IGS “in the early days”
(and who, Prof. St Leon said, worked
for many weeks on half pay when the
School struggled financially) and their
son Carl, himself an IGS alumnus.
You were always kind,
positive,
supportive and diplom
atic and
you believed in your
staff,
trusted your staff an
d
encouraged us to try
new ideas
and be bold risk takers
.
Rita Morabito
IGS Foundation teach
er
We’re talkin
g a lot abo
ut
courage at
IGS this ye
ar and
Reg absolu
tely epitom
ises it.
I know from
my convers
ations
with him o
ver the las
t six
months th
at foundin
g IGS
is the mos
t satisfying
profession
al accomp
lishment
of his life.
He’s proud
and so
he should
be.
Shauna Co
lnan
IGS Princip
al
3
it’s been really
It’s been great,
rising in some
interesting, surp
sically no one
ways because ba
are
about Shakespe
knew anything
be
to
turned out
and the week's
and exciting.
ive
at
rm
really info
Lily McGuiness
Year 7
4
I think this
week is abo
ut
them (the ki
ds) getting
an
opportunity
to simply u
se this
man’s writin
g and incre
dible words
as a platform
to study the
mselves
and the way
they think.
Damien Rya
n
Sport for Jo
ve
nts to
e stude hakespeare
th
t
n
a
w
I
at S
e is
tand th
espear
unders
l, Shak
a
cting
a
ic
s
y
y
b
h
is p
iment,
d
o
b
tting
m
e
about e speare and g
e
k
il
a
ey w l
out Sh
feet, th
ir
e
’ll
th
n
up o
nd they
more a ork.
e
g
a
g
en
w
tand his
Colnan
unders
Shauna cipal
Prin
Shakespeare Boot Camp
brings magic to Year 7
Our revels now are ended. These our actors,
As I foretold you, were all spirits and
Are melted into air, into thin air…
Shakespeare Boot Camp is the first
project in the new SAGE program, a
unique curriculum offering that IGS is
rolling out for Years 7–10 over the next
two years. Once a year, students will be
immersed in a fun, hands-on,
challenging learning experience that
takes them out of the classroom, across
the disciplines and beyond their stage
of learning. We will put our students on
the shoulders of giants by bringing in
world-class experts to work with them
and to teach them something new.
Artistic director Damien Ryan and 10
actors from his award-winning theatre
company Sport for Jove moved in to
IGS for a week during March and
guided our students through the
study and performance of some of
Shakespeare’s finest works. By the
end of the week, four theatre companies
had emerged: The Rose, The Swan,
Blackfriars and The Globe. Thrilled at
the revelation that we are literally off
Broadway, our students boldly staged
moments from Macbeth, The Tempest,
Romeo and Juliet and King Lear intense, imaginative, funny and moving
performances by the entire cohort.
5
I hope that the
students will be
hooked on
Shakespeare fo
rever as a result
of this, I hope
that they will lo
ve his work…to
ch
ange their
lives, that’s the
dream, that’s th
e hope.
Shauna Colnan
Maths splash
IGS students tackle their first
Maths Olympiad
Olympiad ‘timekeeper’’ and Maths and Science teacher,
Laurence Moss writes …
This year saw the launch of the IGS
Senior Maths Olympians team. The
overall aim is to encourage students
in Years 7 and 8 to develop important
mathematical problem solving skills in
an enjoyable environment.
http://www.apsmo.info/apsmo_v2/
APSMO_Home.php
The Maths Olympiads consist of five
separate contests held
approximately one month apart
between May and September. A team
of twenty students have attended
problem-solving sessions in their
lunch breaks, practised past papers
posted on the School’s dedicated
Moodle site and sat the first two
Olympiad papers.
We know the development of these
problem solving skills is important
for promoting limitless learning and
to prepare students for a life
beyond school. Therefore, it is great
to see the enthusiasm the team
brings to each session. Prizes will
be awarded after all five Olympiads
for participation, effort and
achievement.
Maths in the
fast lane as
this class
takes off
Head of Mathematics
Jane Martin writes…
Last year, we introduced an
accelerated mathematics class in
Year 10, which gave high performing
students the opportunity to complete
both Year 10 mathematics and the
Year 11 2 unit Mathematics course at
the same time. This meant that their
Year 10 Term 4 was also their first
HSC term for Mathematics!
Twenty-two students began in the
accelerated class in 2014 and of
these 15 will sit for their HSC
examination in Mathematics in
October. These students have worked
very hard and have consistently
achieved at a high level. From time to
time, many of the students have
experienced difficulty in coping with
the increased workload and
expectations of a Stage 6 student
– but in the end they have. Each of
them has enjoyed the challenge of
working ahead and to a higher level,
and feel that this experience has
helped them to establish sound study
routines and to cope with the
inevitable stress that Year 12 will
bring. As their teacher, it has been
a pleasure watching these bright
and capable young people strive
to achieve and fulfil their potential.
Our second class of accelerants is
now in Year 10 and there is
considerable interest amongst
Year 9 students to be considered
for acceleration.
6
It has
b
watch een a ple
asure
ing th
and c
e
apab se bright
le yo
peop
un
le
and f strive to g
ulfil t
heir p achieve
otent
ial.
Jane
Marti
n
Painting by
numbers?
Maths Teacher Andrew Georgiou
shows art students how to scale
for drawing.
At the lunchtime fundraiser
BBQ for the upcoming
production of Oliver!, students
were incredulous to see our IT
Team Leader as the musical’s
accompanist. Some queries
around the piano included
“Hey aren’t you the guy who
fixes the computers?”
“Are you really playing that or
is the keyboard playing by
itself?”
Meet Paul in staff profiles on
page 11
7
William Chatfield, great, great
grandfather to Armani and
Chenelle Carr.
ather
his great grandf
ith
w
er
as
Fr
on
Camer
r.
' photo and lette
Herbert Wilkes
8
Our ANZAC and WW1
connections remembered
IGS commemorated the Centenary of
ANZAC – and World War 1 in many
ways over the past weeks including
special assemblies and a display at
school, ceremonies beyond the School
and even a batch of Anzac biscuits.
There was also a display set up in the
David Baker Learning Centre to
commemorate the ANZAC (and WW1)
Centenary. The overall display included
photographs, an original ship flag,
postcards home, a carved canon shell,
a message for fallen soldiers and a
replica cap.
Year 10’s Cameron Fraser was
announced winner of the best senior
display contribution for letters and
memorabilia belonging to his late great
grandfather, Herbert Wilkes.
Primary School’s Armani (Year 2)
and Chenelle (Kindergarten) Carr
provided the best junior
contribution for the story of
their great, great grandfather
William Chatfield who was
an Indigenous soldier
serving on the front line.
Other commended
contributors included Alex
and Emma McArdle (Years 6
and 3); Ava and Dylan Jenkin
(Years 7 and 9); Ricardo
Klement-Wulfhorst (Year 8);
Os Kalageropoulos (Year 11)
and Noah Faber (Year 9).
9
Anjali has
it covered
Anjali Jayanthi (Year 6) was
thrilled to see her Jigsaw cover
shot (from 2008) still displayed in
the Communications office recently
… and so we took another snap!
Anjali is also on the primary school
debating team! See story below.
I co
u
sch ldn’t be
ool
still lieve th
me
h
fr
a
me om 200 as that t the
feel
p
8
hot
,
an
r
pho
to re eally sp d it ma o of
old
frien minded ecial. T kes
hi
ds a
m
nd t e of m s
eac
hers y
.
Anja
li
ntinues
Debating tradition co
s been helping
sir (Class of 2014) ha
od
Go
ne
lei
de
Ma
ter
Consummate deba
mary HICES teams…
coach this year’s pri
nmental
topics dealing with enviro
has once
ol
ho
Sc
r
ma
edom of
fre
am
d
Gr
an
al
Internation
issues, metaphors
the HICES
to
rt
gressed
sta
pro
m
rific
tea
ter
a
ior
d
jun
ha
again
speech, one
r
ou
s
ow
foll
is
Th
e other junior
Debating Tournament.
through to the finals. Th
IGS
the
all
ll, and received
en
success in 2014, wh
team also performed we
our
h
wit
ls,
fina
icators for
the
jud
to
ad
d
the
teams progresse
high praise from
al.
Fin
d
an
Gr
lls.
the
ski
g
nin
ting
ba
win
de
Senior team
their strong
dents than ever
This year, more IGS stu
of our eight
We are proud that five
n to be a part
before have enrolled, kee
through to the
d
sse
gre
pro
teams have
of our winning formula.
dle team and
finals with both our mid
ior
jun
w’
defeated (at
‘ne
un
two
open team remaining
The IGS team includes
ry
a great
ma
ws
pri
sho
the
is
time of print). Th
debating teams from
dents and
stu
se
the
the
ing
by
ter
t
commitmen
school. Prior to en
no
st for the
dents had
we wish them all the be
competition, these stu
l
oo
ch
r-s
an inte
final series.
previous involvement in
g
kin
ea
sp
blic
pu
or
ting
deba
Madeleine Goodsir
the students
competition. Each week,
coach, Cian
met my fellow debating
their skills and
on
rk
wo
to
Galea and me
nt. As a result
prepare for the tourname
10
ability to tackle
of their hard work and
Staff profiles
David Hamper is Assistant
Principal of Staff Services. In a
special twist, Jigsaw turns the
staffing spotlight on David! …
What is your background in
teaching and learning and how
long have you been with IGS?
DH: I have been at IGS for nearly nine
years. My teaching background is in
the humanities, with a speciality in
Geography. Before coming to IGS I was
a Head of HSIE at another school and
taught a range of subjects including
Modern History, Legal Studies,
Commerce and of course Geography.
My real passion in teaching is
Geography though. In my role now I
have the opportunity to take a much
bigger picture approach to teaching. I
get to work with teachers from Early
Learning to Primary to High School and
I am now really interested in looking at
ways to incorporate innovative teaching
approaches into everyday classroom
practices. I’m also really interested in
looking at ways we can establish more
cross-curricular approaches to
teaching and learning.
What is it like being at the helm of
staff services? What does your
role involve?
DH: I have a really interesting role that
enables me to work with all staff at IGS.
I love the opportunity to build
relationships with all our staff. My role is
very diverse: I look after traditional HR
functions like recruitment, employment
relations, career planning and Work
Health and Safety as well as more
education specific roles like managing
our Professional Development
Program, supporting teachers to
complete professional accreditation
and managing our mentoring and
feedback schemes.
Paul Bourke is the Information
Technology Team Leader with a
musical flair
Are there certain areas of school
life that you are passionate about?
DH: I have a real interest in working
with early career teachers. One of the
interesting bits of my role is looking
after our extensive internship program.
We work with student teachers from all
different universities including several
overseas unis. I support and supervise
these pre-service teachers and then I
get to mentor and work with teachers
as they begin their careers here at IGS.
This is something I really enjoy and I see
supporting teachers as they transition
from being pre-service to early career
teachers as very important for our
profession. I also love teaching my
class, I usually teach one of our senior
Geography classes each year. It helps
me reconnect with the things that drew
me into teaching in the first place and
spending time with young people is
always a great way to get some
perspective. When I first started
teaching an old hand told me that
teaching keeps you young at heart and
as I get older now I couldn’t agree more.
Tell Jigsaw a bit about your other
interests –
DH: One thing that most people
probably don’t know about me (except
our Library staff) is that I am an avid
reader of 19th Century literature. I love
the classics, especially Dickins. My
other great interests are travelling,
which comes from my Geography
background and I am a big fan of
cricket, watching an Ashes test is my
ideal way to spend a few hot summer
days. My two daughters love the travel,
not so much the cricket but I am
working on it!
What is your background in
teaching and IT and how long have
you been with IGS?
PB: I studied at Sydney
Conservatorium and at a number of
technical colleges. After teaching
Music and Computing for over 15
years, I joined IGS in 2004.
What is it like working in IT at IGS
on a daily basis? What does your
role involve?
PB: Each day is different and
presents fresh challenges. We are
generalists and our team responds to
a wide variety of technology related
issues. IGS has many IT and
communications systems in and
beyond the classroom, which we
administrate, so that teaching and
learning can continue as smoothly
as possible.
What is the most unusual request
you have had?
PB: Years ago, we were asked to help
connect a “Natural Fuse” houseplant
to the IGS network. This was part of a
learning activity around co-operation,
carbon footprints and energy
conservation. When I was learning
about routers, switches and firewalls,
I had no idea I would one day need to
grant a houseplant access to the
World Wide Web!
11
You are currently sitting at a
different keyboard – a musical
one this time – as accompanist for
our school musical Oliver! What is
that like?
PB: It’s great to be able to help out
with the piano part for Oliver! Whilst I
was already familiar with the music,
the 2015 IGS production is based on
a revised version of the score, which
includes new and interesting
accompaniments and incidental
music. I am certainly enjoying the
opportunity to swap a computer
keyboard for a piano keyboard.
Tell Jigsaw about anything else
that you’d like to add – can be
totally unrelated to work!
PB: Not so many years ago, people
had never heard of things like the
world wide web, smartphones, Wi-Fi,
apps, Google, Facebook, Youtube,
Twitter or 3D printing. It was only in
Science Fiction that people could
interact with equipment using voice
recognition, touch control or
gestures. I believe it’s important for
us to encourage our students to
dream and to be imaginative. Many
technologies began as just a crazy
idea in someone’s mind, and now
they are commonplace. At the same
time, however, we must equip our
students with the knowledge and
skills to evaluate technology, to
remain aware of its impact on their
lives, and always to use it responsibly.
12
Bringing STEAM
to our creative
young students
Principal Shauna Colnan announced
earlier this year that IGS is pushing into
the STEAM space: Science,
technology, engineering, the arts and
mathematics, i.e.STEM plus the arts.
"A STEAM project is a project in
imagination – elegant patterns, new
ways of thinking about how things
work, teams sharing new technologies
and applying them in novel situations,
a growing sense of empowerment,
awe and wonder", Ms Colnan said.
"Immersing students in STEAM projects
at a young age can spark their
curiosity, engage them creatively, push
them intellectually, build their appetite
for innovation, enhance their capacity
to think flexibly, inspire them".
In January, our Head of Mathematics
Jane Martin and NSW's first STEAM
Innovator (and our former Head of
Design and Technology) Melissa Silk
travelled to New York’s Museum of
Mathematics to present a workshop
called Winter Wonderlamp. The
workshop was well-attended and was
truly wondrous!
In June, Melissa Silk collaborated with
UTS’s Kathryn Hunyor and Kimberley
Pressick-Kilborn and IGS’s Languages
and Maths departments to run a
special Tanabata day. The day saw
traditional Japanese crafts (origami,
kyrigami) meld with maths and design.
UTS Master in Education students and
our own Year 11 Maths accelerants
helped the Primary School participants
with the tasks.
13
r
ka was excited that he
cher Noriko Yamana
tea
ge
ua
ng
erk
La
lw
hu
se
Sc
ne
IGS Japa
ed by the Or ff
Tanabata was enhanc
students’ singing at
ele Ellis.
ch
Mi
of
the assistance
music approach with hops, children
“In the Tanabata works
eper
de
a
nts
de
stu
r
ou
sang tanabata
,
ve
“The day ga
completed worksheets
Japanese
of
g
din
an
rst
d learned to
de
an
un
mi,
er
and rich
songs, made origa
d.
sai
ese.
an
riko
Jap
No
in
e,”
ry
ltur
ula
cu
write vocab
d
an
ths
Approach
Noriko said that the ma
The incorporated Or ff
the Tanabata
ent, drama
vem
mo
,
sic
mu
science components of
combines
d
an
ll
we
ted
ora
orp
ns. It was used
Festival were inc
and speech into lesso
view of
a
for
d
we
allo
ly
ng”.
“tru
so
y
that the da
here for the Tanabata
oom”.
ssr
cla
ry
eve
m
fro
rld
the wo
our exciting
A full report on all of
t was a
jec
pro
M
EA
ST
appear in the
l
ata
ab
wil
“The Tan
STEAM initiatives
that grew into a
me
the
mp
w
ca
sa
e
ag
Jig
gu
of
lan
next edition
curricular
cross-cultural and crossng
s a learni
learning project. This wa
ese language
an
Jap
my
for
nity
opportu
also reflects
d
students and myself an
ersity,
div
of
s
the School’s value
nnectedness
co
t,
en
em
iev
personal ach
and authenticity”.
ion teaching
Noriko provided immers
as well as
to the Japanese group
also liaised
riko
No
creating resources.
ions in the
ect
nn
co
up
with parties to set
wider community.
learning to
“Delivering collaborative
1–4 was
IGS children from Years
mple of
exa
successful and a great
ts
jec
sub
t
en
integration of dif fer
event
al
ltur
Cu
ese
an
through a Jap
of Tanabata.
s
nap
ttle s
Li
in g
M ak
c
An z a
b is c
hots
Cooking up so
na Colnan
incipal Shau
Noriko and Pr
me bread rolls
uit s
14
Readin
g day fo
r Litera
cy
Onward and upward
in Bay St
Just as STEAM is fuelling our students’
imaginations and skills, the recent
acquisition of a new campus building
in Bay Street will become a key part of
the reimagining and redesigning of
IGS’s campus, going forward.
“As an urban school, IGS has always
been creative with our use of space
so imagine our excitement when
we successfully bid for 77–79 Bay
Street, so close to the rest of our
campus,” Principal Shauna
Colnan said.
“The new campus addition is the
first freehold property acquisition in our
school’s history”, Ms Colnan added.
Harmony Day
E
s
a very IGS
Receiving
y
d
in
K
in
teddy bear
m en
n r i ch
pecial
t in le
a r nin
g
g ‘s
playin
… to
hops’
Invention
15
every day at
IGS is a won
derful
big day for o
ur little ones
.
❝
❝
Kailesh
❝
Cian
❝
❝
Being a leader
involves being a
responsible role
model, having
self-confidence
to speak at
assemblies and
requires great
organisational
skills which will
assist you in
high school.
Student leadership
assumes a greater
responsibility in
voicing thoughts
of individuals and
the collective in
order to have a
meaningful impact
upon the school.
16
Gloria
❝
Student leaders’
staircase 2015
Being a leader
isn’t just about
giving speeches
and standing on
stage, it is about
being there for
the others as
both a mentor
and a friend.
❝
What it means to be a student leader for me is
being able to proudly represent a school that
has had such a significant impact on my life.
❝
❝
As student leaders we have
interactions with other students of
all ages and backgrounds … this
creates a sense of camaraderie
and school spirit unique to IGS.
❝
Head Boy, Charlie
❝
❝
I see it as an opportunity
that the School has given
me to be responsible.
To me being a student leader means
the responsibility to set a positive
example, commitment to uphold the
promises I made when elected and
to always represent the students of
IGS in the best possible way.
Tiger
❝
Imogen
Mischa
17
❝
❝
Being a student
leader is a great
responsibility
and lots of fun.
I feel, as student
leaders, we help
build a stronger
IGS community.
❝
Head Girl, Mollie
Professor Ian Hickie
Community forums
bring the conversation
to the table
The IGS community embraced the
opportunity to attend forums on a
range of topics. The successful PTF
Thought Leadership Forum series
continued with two forums this
semester, the first presented by
renowned Professor Ian Hickie on 21st
technologies for mental health and the
second by our Director of Counselling
Services Joseph Degeling on the Early
Learning Years.
A third community forum took place in
June. The conversation between
Principal Shauna Colnan and 100
parents with an introductory
provocation by Dr James Chin Moody
(scientist, futurist and CEO of Sendle
and TuShare) explored the School’s
future options as part of the strategic
planning process – Into the World. Over
100 parents joined this conversation
about their collective aspirations and
ideas for their children’s education in a
rapidly changing world.
Staff also took part in Into the World
forums.
Coming up
The Thought Leadership Forums
series continues next semester:
❙❙ 10 September- Professor Kate
Steinbeck presents on Puberty
hormones’ effect on teenage
behaviour
❙❙ 5 November – Professor Tim Gill
and Dr Kieron Rooney present on
nutrition and Are school lunches
(mis) shaping a nation?
More info: www.igssyd.nsw.edu.au
18
Gabriel Wright
Music notes
d
entre left) an
rs Gabriel (c
rents
pa
Prize-winne
r
ei
th
ith
tre right) w
rs
Kailesh (cen
staff membe
RA AMCOS
AP
as
l
el
w
as
These musicians are well composed
Congratulations to Kailesh Reitmans
(Year 12) and Gabriel Wright (Year 10)
who won first and second place
respectively in our recent APRA
AMCOS sponsored Composition
Competition. Both students had the
opportunity to perform their works at
the Music Ensemble Evening held in
Term 2 at IGS, to resounding applause
from the audience! They also received
cash prizes for their efforts.
In third place was Anouk Ely (Year 7),
who will have her composition
performed at a special assembly in
Term 3 and will also win a prize.
Thank you to APRA AMCOS for
supporting us in this way.
Good sports
Around the grounds
Year 11’s Lloyd Conolly writes …
In March, I participated in the National
Rowing Championships of Australia,
at the Sydney international Regatta
Centre. The Regatta Centre was
purpose-built for the Olympics in
2000, and is one of the world’s most
amazing rowing venues. It was an
incredible week and an experience I
will never forget.
Thanks to my amazing teachers (who
rescheduled my exams), I was able to
enjoy this international event, rowing
against people my age from across
Australia and from Hong Kong,
Singapore and Indonesia. I didn't win
any medals, but rowing as a 16-yearold in the under 19s events meant
that the competition was strong.
I started training for this event in May
last year. My coach Frank Thorn from
Leichhardt Rowing Club accepted me
to participate in an athletic training
program for 38 weeks, training 5–7
mornings on the water at 5am and up
to four more sessions a week in the
gym after school. I had to learn to
deal with going to bed early, and
manage my time very well due to
spending an average of 15 hours
a week training.
Lloyd in his quad race. Lachlan Andrew
(IGS 2013) was also part of his crew in the
quad when they raced in the under 21s.
19
nts
titive mome
and compe
g
was
n
ri
st
ti
,
fe
g
ts
in
ar 8, ar
ost excit
School in Ye
ne of the m
to
e
o
th
ad
is
g
h
n
l
st
ri
o
e
o
te
sF
Art
e Sch
me, en
ount that th
ol year. For
f
pendous am
of the scho
u
ad the fun o
h
st
I
e
,
th
se
f
u
o
o
H
le
p
o
d
m
xa
aa
a
e
B
g at
the first
leader of
ough comin
is year, as a
rtsFest. Alth
ArtsFest
A
r
to
fo
p
u
offer me. Th
se
u
ad
o
le
ise my H
out the
an
ab
s
rg
g
o
e
in
g
th
th
in
s,
lp
he
roup
e best
e, one of th
other year g
m
o
Year 7s
fr
m
lp
o
e
fr
h
n
f
stressful tim
confusio
al offers o
e
u
th
n
or
ti
d
n
an
co
s
e
all about. F
were th
nger year
the fuss was
om the you
th
at
fr
ar
e
re
m
e
n
as
w
o
si
e
at
u
od w
enth
tand wh
out how go
t
d to unders
ly, wasn’t ab
d
It was abou
e
as they trie
ct
s.
e
se
xp
u
e
o
n
H
u
r
,
e
it
,
th
o
ay
g
d
n
e
ri
ee
me on the
n beating th
rmances, ch
ances or eve
drama perfo
ans. It is
e
at
m
g
ly
in
h
al
our perform
g
re
u
ArtsFest
house, la
y
at
h
m
w
h
y that
it
g
w
n
in
u
n
g
sittin
re-lear
ity and it
d above all
rancy, divers
an
b
s
vi
f
an
o
ci
e
si
g
u
n
m
ra
the immense
aado)
a symbol of
r.
e
ff
yson-Cook (B
o
la
to
n
Fi
as
e
h
b
l
e
o
o
o
h
h
P
our sc
And the winning House was ...Kuyal!
ArtsFest Magic
Magic was the theme this year for our
14th annual Inter-House Arts Festival and
what a completely magical day it was.
We had amazing performances,
incredible films, beautiful artworks,
intricate stories and poems and musical
performances that literally left the
audience enthralled and in awe of the
amazing talent that makes up the IGS
student body. The day then finished
with the grand finale of the Whole
House Performances which just get
better and better with every child in
every house, up on stage dancing,
performing, singing and absolutely
having a blast!
We all know it means so much more
than the artworks, films, monologues,
dances and music. It is about Year 7s
dancing with 12s, tutor groups working
as teams to create entries, our big kids
helping and supporting the younger
students. It is about disconnected
students connecting. It is about new
kids being enthralled. It is about kids
being able to take that risk and feel
safe to belt out a song on stage,
knowing they will be cheered on
regardless of the outcome. It is
certainly about House Spirit and the
pride of belonging.
Lucy Howard-Shibuya,
Head of Student Wellbeing –
High School
20
I was ov
erwhelm
ed with
the enth
usiasm
that the
younger
years ha
d for
ArtsFes
t this ye
ar and
the amo
un
everyon t of effort
e, teach
ers and
students
,p
it such a ut in to make
g
think Art reat day. I
sFest is
a really
importa
nt
because day for IGS
it is so u
nique
and spe
cial to o
ur
commun
ity and e
v
has suc
h a grea eryone
t time.
Max Sau
nders (G
ura)
e
gs out th
ays brin s a house
lw
a
t
s
e
F
Arts
, and a
tudents
ity to
best in s d the opportun
ch
a
h
how mu
leader I
ore fully
n
m
o
ti
te
ra
ia
o
c
b
colla
appre
e
v
ti
a
re
dc
During
work an
the day.
to
in
s
orking
e
go
loved w
I
n
all
o
ti
prepara h students from ell
w
it
w
o
s
ly
d
orke
close
er
ryone w
th
e
v
o
e
h
,
c
a
rs
yea
with e
ly
e
iv
s
amaal)
and inclu
ardoel (B
P
n
a
rd
o
J
as a day
st 2015 w us
e
F
s
rt
A
,
o
s
As alway
the enorm
owcased and it was
h
s
h
ic
h
w
ol,
the scho by everyone.
talent at
d
e
y
jo
n
e
ly
thorough
e day as
enced th
ri
e
p
x
e
ow
y say my
Having n
can easil
I
r,
e
d
a
le
a House
ave been
the day h w easy for me
n
o
s
w
ie
v
o
ed. It is n
transform
ciate the
re
p
p
a
to
le
b
hers and
a
e
to b
that teac ay.
rt
o
ff
e
f
o
d
amount
into the
alike put l an event it
students
fu
as stress ys will be
However,
alwa
d
n
a
is
it
may be,
e effort.
uyal)
th
h
rt
o
w
alkeld (K
Andrew S
21
22
Stage
lights …
Semester 1 was full of exciting
opportunities and possibilities for
IGS Drama students.
They viewed theatre at the STC and
Seymour Centre with Endgame, After
Dinner, Macbeth and ONSTAGE. They
watched and participated in workshops
at school with Zeal Theatre’s King Hit,
and Matriark Theatre together with
devising freeform works with visiting
New York artist Matuse. Students
staged the play The Dining Room and
created original performances in a
variety of styles and forms such as
Melodrama, Commedia dell’Arte,
Brecht and Absurd theatre for
showcase events. Students even
adapted traditional fairy tales through
researching linguistic and cultural
origins and weaved language learning
into their performances. Year 11 Drama
offered insight into a City of Sydney
Council youth theatre passport initiative.
Drama Companies competed at
Theatresports and are in rehearsal for
Shakespeare and a primary play – and
curriculum classes are working towards
International Day and HSC viewings.
Rita Morabito, Head of Drama,
Art, Design & Media
23
24
Indigenous journey
Special
Ambassador’s visit
Her Excellency Professor Dame Marie
Bashir AD CVO, one of our special
ambassadors for the IGS Indigenous
Scholarship program joined the
School’s young Indigenous students
for afternoon tea in June. At the special
Koori Club, Professor Bashir shared
stories from her own childhood with the
students – as well as talking to them
about Nelson Mandela who is one of
her heroes and imparting on them the
value of education.
Professor Bashir’s visit coincided with
National Reconciliation Week and the
School’s display of the Wall of Hands.
Koori Club also met up in Term 1
and helped get the Harmony Day
tree started.
Tribal Warrior days
Our theme for professional
development this year is Views of the
World from Every Classroom and our
starting point was for all staff to take a
cultural journey aboard the Malu to
build our collective understanding of
Aboriginal people as the First People
of Australia and to build cultural
awareness about the longest
surviving culture on earth.
Year 3 also headed to Goat Island
later in Term 1 – followed by a visit to
the Art Gallery of NSW’s Indigenous
art exhibition. Responses included:
“I liked being on the island and
seeing how they lived” (Leni),
“I liked the hand paintings in the
rock caves” (Charlie), and “the art
gallery afterwards was great!” (Kiki)
25
e
being on th
I really liked
d
an
at
the bo
top level of
thing – also
ry
ve
e
g
seein
ack
ys
o had a cr
when the b
o
o
d
ri
e didge
at playing th
use
ca
e
b
’t
didn
but the girls
inal
g
ri
o
b
A
e
in th
for women
n’t!
o
a didgeri‑d
culture, it’s
Tiggy.
Exchange
news
IGS's annual cultural exchanges to
Europe provide students with the
opportunity for linguistic, intellectual,
cultural and personal development.
Below are the reflections of some of
the students who participated in the
2014–2015 Summer Exchange
Program to France, Italy and Spain:
ert
en France, j’ai découv
Pendant mon séjour
oré mon
éli
am
i
j’a
e
qu
e
je pens
plusieurs choses et
aucoup
be
s
France m’a appri
français. Ma famille en
plats
les
e
qu
s
re française tel
de choses sur la cultu
de la
d
su
le
et
rd
no
le
ces entre
typiques, les différen
es comme ça.
France, et autres chos
Delphine Crocker
Year 12 French
E` stata una
delle esperien
ze
più belle della
e ha
mia vita, e si
amo
ente, m el
tutti ritornati
lm
a
n
o
con una
ucho
Pers
conoscenza
iado m te
c
fi
veramente
e
n
s
be
migliorata de
ar en e
e ha
lla lingua italia
particip a porque m mo
na.
o
m
c
a
r
urar
prog
Maxim Adam
o mad s de
id
it
s
m
per
má
Year 12 Italia
a, ade
d de
n
person r mi habilida
y
e
r
d
ende
exten
ar, ent
ic
n
.
u
a
com
idiom
r otro
ong
utiliza
Armstr
William 12 Spanish
r
Yea
took an
students also
our French
of
the Lycée
le
e,
up
m
co
A
to ho
hool closer
teacher
sc
a
to
ge
ng
La uages
Exchan
a. Pictured:
br
and
ou
ar
am
M
llh
in
Pu
Condorcet
ent Georgie
e.
French stud
cé
s,
Ly
te
e
Ba
th
of
tte
l
Julie
y Principa
ilton, Deput
Denise Ham
26
Petition against Yulin
Good
causes
IGS continued the tradition of
supporting worthy causes this
semester, particularly in response to
the major natural disasters in Vanuatu
and Nepal with several thousand
dollars raised.
Other projects included Year 11 Nick
Walker’s climb to Kosciusko for
Cerebral Palsy League; High
Resolves for Salvation Army Oasis
blanket appeal; Book costume day for
the National Indigenous Literacy
Foundation, ‘Wild and Onesie’ Day for
WWF and a petition stall against the
cruelty to dogs at Yulin.
A big thank you to the IGS community!
Nepal appeal
r on top of
Nick Walke
Primary community service leaders
Imogen and Tiger (in a shark suit)
27
Kosciusko
Community Relations News
Nature
on the
Wall
Year 11 artworks
28
From honouring our founding Principal
Professor Reg St Leon in February (see
page 3), to an Alumni meet up in New
York in May (see page 31), we’ve once
again had a busy semester of
community events at IGS!
I hope you’ll enjoy reading from our
alumni on the following pages and as
always, please do contact me if you
would like to share your story with the
community about your time spent at or
since IGS.
We launched our inaugural Annual
Giving appeal this year and I would
like to sincerely thank all of those
members of our community who were
able to contribute through a donation to
the appeal. Funds received will go
towards assisting us with three key
projects at the School which are our
Science Lab Refurbishment, our
Indigenous Scholarship Program and
our Class of 2014 Language
Exchange Bursary.
Warm regards,
From the
Archives…
Julia Glass (IGS Class of 2003)
Director of Community Relations
JuliaG@igssyd.nsw.edu.au
P.S. Alumni can book to join us for a
performance of Oliver! The Musical by
IGS students in the School Hall for just
$20 on 28, 29 or 31 July by heading to
www.trybooking.com/HWHR
Join us
#back2igs
Welcome Back to IGS Night
& 10 Year Reunion Drinks
for the Class of ’05
WHEN:
Friday 9 October 2015
6.00pm – 7.30pm
(optional tour of IGS from 5.15pm)
WHERE:
IGS, 4-8 Kelly Street, Ultimo
HOW MUCH?
Member of the IGS Alumni/
Past Staff Member/Partner: $25
Member of the Class of 2005/
Student: $20
(includes drinks and nibblies)
TO BOOK:
trybooking.com/HMIS
FOR MORE INFORMATION:
alumni@igssyd.nsw.edu.au
29
Community Relations News
Message from
the Director of
Community Relations
Community Relations News
Where are they now?
Alberta Khoury
Class of ‘13
To begin on a positive note, I would
like to refer to one of the happiest
people I know, a staff member at
the Juilliard School: Dr Kyle Blaha.
To ease our panic and paranoia of
the weekly tests we had, he would
jestingly have us recite a ‘mantra’ to
ourselves, “The Juilliard School”.
What I realised from his good
humoured joke is that with every big
opportunity would come challenges
and risks.
My experience at IGS, where I
began studies in Year 3 and left in
Year 6, was short but had a great
impact on me. IGS opened up my
perceptions, where through the
determination of the students and
encouragement of the staff it
brought a reassurance that
dreaming big and aiming for the
highest standard possible is
something for anybody if they are
keen. Going back to Dr Blaha’s
mantra, it was from there I
developed my own sort of frame of
mind or ‘mantra’ that I still carry with
me today: to always look as far
ahead as I can, see the range of
possibilities, then fire.
It was over the past few years, when
school was coming to a close that
the frame of mind I had obtained
brought me towards fulfilment in the
aims I had set my sights upon.
Recalling the class presentations
that we did at IGS (where my friends
would daringly put on accents and
fearlessly throw themselves into
whatever character that took their
fancy), I found the years following
my time at IGS had an incredible
impact on my future achievements
as a result of my time there.
Similarly to my daring friends, I
decided to throw myself into the person
I wanted to be. As a young classical
guitarist in Year 11, I decided to
participate in the Christopher Parkening
International Guitar Competition, the
biggest competition for classical guitar
worldwide. I achieved 5th place, and
was the first woman and youngest
competitor to make it to the semi-finals
in the history of the event. With the
encouraging and inspiring words in my
mind that my teacher Ms Celine
Zammit had said in Year 6 (that I had
an ability to be very persistent about
what I wanted) I realised that this wasn’t
the end of the possibilities I had around
me. In high school, I was awarded for
the majority of my time there awards of
academic excellence and consistently
topped my class throughout the years,
not allowing guitar to be used as an
excuse for dismissing the other side of
my life that I considered to be equally
important in the opportunities that
came with it.
I achieved 5th place [in the
Christopher Parkening
International Guitar
Competition], and was the first
woman and youngest
competitor to make it to the
semi-finals in the history of
the event.
Approaching Year 12, I had big aims
ahead of me that I wanted to strive for,
although just one of those aims
seemed to me to be a huge challenge.
I wished to have a place in the best
music school overseas on full
scholarship and a backup plan for a
successful career by achieving a place
in a top course at Sydney University,
where my interest fell in Media and
Communications. During the HSC, it
was an intense year though not so
different from the dress rehearsal-like
years that had preceded it, and I was
30
grateful when I got into the course
I wanted at Sydney University. Not long
after, I received my results from
Juilliard and was ecstatic to have
been awarded a full scholarship.
During my time at Juilliard – from the
moment I began my studies till now at
the end of my freshman year – I have
had the opportunity to give a recital
where I received my first review, the
privilege of giving interactive
performances to children as well as
being encouraged by my teachers to
become a Teaching Fellow in both
Diatonic Harmony and Ear Training.
I came to realise after these events that
the self-belief I had was not only a
result of my own inspiration, but of the
belief that others had in me. A strong
example of this was my music teacher
at IGS, Mr Chang, who provided me
with opportunities to play in concerts
and performances, and it was acts of
kindness like these in the School and
afterwards that accumulated into the
enormous delight and drive that
brought me far beyond what I had
expected of myself. I began my story
with Blaha, and now I finish with
Hawking, “However difficult life may
seem, there is always something you
can do and succeed at”.
IGS in the Big Apple
In May, when I visited the States for
a professional development
opportunity at Harvard, IGS Alumni
Alberta Khoury (Class of '13),
Asmira Woodward-Page (Class of '91),
Daniel Samuels (Class of '04) and
Nidhi Prakash (also Class of '04) joined
me for lunch at The Loeb Boathouse
Central Park. They each had beautiful
memories of their time at IGS and were
in high praise of their teachers and of
the School’s focus on the development
of the individual.
Renowned Juilliard-trained violinist
Asmira and gifted classical guitarist
Alberta (who has just completed her
first year at Juilliard on full scholarship)
started a conversation over lunch
about the possibility of returning to
Australia and doing a concert at IGS
to raise money for our Indigenous
Scholarship Program. Asmira has also
let me know that when she returns to
Class of ‘13
perform later this year, our Music
students will be welcome to attend
a private rehearsal at the Opera House. Ed. A small group of IGS music
students will be lucky enough to
attend a rehearsal of The Australian
World Orchestra and hear Asmira
under the baton of Sir Simon Rattle
on 28 July!
Asmira, Alberta, Daniel and Nidhi are
carving out astonishing careers in New
York. Daniel is an environmentalist and
Nidhi is a journalist. It was lovely to talk with them about
their happy school days and the way
IGS equipped them for the world. They
agreed that the ability to think creatively
and to maintain a strong sense of self
are the key attributes our students will
need for world readiness. Shauna Colnan
Principal
ed
mni] agre
[The Alu
ability to
that the
nd
atively a
think cre
ng
o
tr
s
in a
to mainta lf are the
se
sense of utes our
b
ri
tt
a
y
ke
will need
students adiness.
re
for world
31
After completing my HSC in 2013 at
IGS, I embarked on a year of travel
and education in Outdoor Extreme
Sports. 2014 was comprised of
travelling to several countries to
achieve great dreams of mine.
Some of the highlights consisted of
summiting Kilimanjaro and
volunteering at local schools and
orphanages in Africa, technical
mountaineering expeditions in the
southern alps of New Zealand,
leading on summer camps in
America and completing a 3 month
Outdoor Leadership Training
Program in the remote wilderness
of Vancouver Island. After returning
from these travels I have planned
out my next adventures which
include an Australian
Mountaineering First Ascent attempt
of several high altitude and
technical peaks in the Himalayas in
late 2015 and a full traverse of Nepal
in 2016 with my mum and sister. I
attended IGS from Preschool to
year 12 (1998-2013). IGS provided
me with great knowledge and
firsthand experience of travelling
and IGS’s drive to create global
citizens was of great use to me. In
my final year at IGS, I was fortunate
enough to have such encouraging
support from my fellow teachers to
strive for my dreams and give it all
I’ve got and my dreams have now
become a reality.
IGS provided me with
great knowledge and
firsthand experience
of travelling and
IGS’s drive to create
global citizens was
of great use to me.
Community Relations News
Callum Hawkins
Community Relations News
If you would like to have
your travel photos
published in Jigsaw and
go into the draw to win a
great prize, please send
them through to
Alumni@igssyd.nsw.edu.au
Alumni Travel
Photo Competition
The following beautiful images were
sent in by alumna Rebekah Hawkins
who says “These photos are from
Africa, Nepal, Europe, New Zealand
and Tasmania. I graduated in 2010
and travelled quite a bit with IGS
(5 trips overseas!) so I think I caught
the travel bug there!”
IGS Head of Student
Wellbeing – High School
Lucy and her daughter alumna
Hanako caught up with fellow
alumna TJ from the Class of ’13!
r
Waitlist preference fo
Alumni children
r 12 graduates who are
Did you know that IGS Yea
l
will be given preferentia
now parents themselves
?
IGS
at
ent
ld’s enrolm
consideration for their chi
n that
the Enrolment Applicatio
on
te
no
to
e
sur
Please be
e
eiv
rec
to
the School in order
you are an ex-student of
ld.
chi
r
you
our waitlist for
this priority placement on
website
Enrol’ page on the IGS
You can visit our ‘How to
for more information:
nrol
du.au/why-enrol/how-to-e
http://w ww.igssyd.nsw.e
32
Grazie, Danke, Merci, Arigatō, Gracias, Xièxie
Thank you to our 2015 Annual Giving donors:
Mr Stephen and
Mrs Maria Aguilera-Mendoza
Ms Julia Glass
Mr Andrew Rothery
Mr Jeremy Horniblow
The Hon. Frank Sartor AO
and Mrs Monique Sartor
Ms Melissa Baker and
Mr Fernando Gomez
Mr Paul Jesse
Mr Bruce and
Mrs Louise Bickerton
Mr Robert Johnson
Ms Sandra Browne and
Mr Chris O’Connor
Mr Phillip and
Mrs Carmel Kanaley
Ms Bonnie Cai and Mr Wei Li
Ms Silke Kerwick and
Mr Patrick Armstrong
Dr Anna-Lisa Camberis and
Mr Sascha Moege
Ms Shauna Colnan
Ms Hestea Cook
Mr Ian Dunlop
Mr Graeme and
Mrs Melinda Gillies
Ms Kelly Tall and
Mr Matthew Moore
Mr Jon Johannsen
Ms Kari-Anne and
Mr Justin Thai
Mrs Jean and
Mr Bradley Wahl
Mr David Walker and
Ms Olga Ganopolsky
Mr George Lombard and
Ms Magdalen Rozsa
Ms Denise Ward and
Mr Glen Turner
Mr Nikos Paipetis and
Ms Barbara Karakassidis
Mr Mark Webb and
Ms Kate Brophy
Mrs Kate and
Mr Stefan Perumal
Mr Joshua Winestock
Anonymous (19)
Ms Rhonda Pryor
Thank you to the class reps and parents from Kindergarten, Year 2, Year 4 and
Year 5 in 2014 for collecting funds which enabled a generous donation to our
Indigenous Scholarship Fund. The donation was made possible by one of our IGS
mums, Marg Butler, who kindly donated the end of year gifts for the teachers.
Earlier in the year the Production Company “My Life Pictures” worked with
IGS students on the ABC drama Ready for This which has a storyline
featuring young Indigenous musicians. After filming finished the company
made a donation to our Indigenous Scholarship Fund to thank the IGS
students who participated as extras for the show and we would like to thank
them sincerely for their gift!
facebook.com/igssyd
33
Community Relations News
Thank you!