From the Chair of Council

Participating in Barker’s co-curricular activities is integral to each student’s journey. Our students value all opportunities to strive for excellence in a wide range of human experience.

Second only to sport (which, after all, is compulsory) Music is the largest co-curricular activity for students from the Prep School through to the Senior School. We delight in the fact that Barker’s “music tribe” embraces all year groups, genders, instruments, and genres. On Thursday 9 June 2022 the Masterpiece Concert was held at The Concourse at Chatswood. It was memorable. It showcased the depth and quality of all parts of the Barker Music program. It was a wonderful opportunity for Barker’s musicians to perform a very challenging repertoire in a formal concert setting. The performances included elegant choral work, some passionate symphonic pieces such as the Carmen Fantasie featuring violin soloist Alana Gao from Year 10, a scintillating Wind Symphony Ikaruga conducted by guest Japanese maestro, Manabu Inoue, and then several massed items that combined the Symphony Orchestra with the Copeland Choir, Middle School Choir, Senior Choir, and some guest vocalists who raised their voices to our own Brendan Collins’ original composition, Sing to the Lord. Congratulations to the Barker College Music Department led by Simon Smith. Their Mission is to inspire a life-long love of music in an atmosphere of enjoyment and mutual respect, engaging all students in creative, active, and purposeful learning. The Masterpiece Concert is but one expression of their Mission in action, along with many other events in the Barker Music calendar, such as: the various Ensemble Concerts for the Junior, Middle and Senior Schools, Symphony Under the Stars, the Coffee House Rock Concert, Barker Swings, and Carols at Sunset. Music is essential to the Barker experience and not just for our practising musicians. As Simon Smith wrote for the Concert program: Much has been said and studied about the value of music to our lives; to our physical, social, emotional, and psychological well-being, and in the educational context to the students’ intellectual development. There is now copious scientific research - neuro, psycho, and physio - to back this up. But we - the students, the staff, and the families of Barker musicians - along with countless people in our community have lived this truth. The lockdowns of 2020 and 2021 certainly had a negative impact on the performing arts including music at Barker. The restrictions on instruments such as wind, brass and voice stymied performance opportunities and limited rehearsals. The 2022 Concert therefore was all the greater achievement for Barker students and staff, because it marked a joyous coming together of our music tribe, who unashamedly love to be together, sing together, and rehearse together. To our clever Barker Music students, to our dedicated Barker Music staff, and to the Friends of Barker Music, thank you for your splendid contributions to the vibrancy and vitality of our Barker community. The final word goes to master composer, Ludwig van Beethoven - “Music is a higher revelation than all wisdom and philosophy. Music is the electrical soil in which the spirit lives, thinks, and invents.”

David Charles (75) Chair of Council

As part of Faith Week, I raised this controversial question at the Staff Chapel on the first of Term 3: Is Jesus better than holidays?

Holidays are a wonderful blessing from the God who built cycles of rest and work into creation. Yet as good as holidays are, we know they are limited in addressing the underlying issues that make life tiring in the first place. Jesus said: “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” Matthew 11:28-30 Jesus knows that humans are exhausted by our endless efforts to prove ourselves, establish security and pursue joy. Some humans attempt religious avenues of morality and rituals to attain these things, others pursue them through achievement, success, leisure or popularity. Even when we’ve had a break, these pursuits grind us down and, holiday or not, leaves us spiritually restless. For those who are burdened in this way, Jesus invites us to take his yoke. That is - to bind ourselves to him who provides peace, contentment, security and love. Jesus’ yoke is light because through his death and resurrection he has done the heavy lifting for us. I hope the “buzz” of holidays continues for many weeks, but as it wears off may you also grow in your dependence of Jesus who calls us to rest in him.

Rev Peter Tong Senior Chaplain

As part of our inquiry learning cycle, demonstration of understanding and the journey undertaken throughout a Unit of Inquiry are important aspects of the learning process.

Each year group will look to present a mini-exhibition during the year, inviting other staff members, students and parents into sharing the learning more broadly and demonstrating their growth and development as part of the process they have undertaken in the particular Unit of Inquiry. In Year 6, a culminating activity of the PYP is an Exhibition Unit of Inquiry which encapsulates all of the learning across their PYP journey. They do this through one unit that is largely led by the students.

Year 3 - Mini Exhibition

Year 3 presented their mini-exhibition during Term 2. The event celebrated and showcased their recent unit of inquiry, “Living Things Share Resources in Order to Grow and Survive.” Student-led, they introduced the central idea and lines of inquiry through a photographic slideshow which captured the highlights and process of their understandings throughout the Unit of Inquiry. Parents and visitors were then invited to visit the Year 3 classrooms to meet with students as they delved deeper into their wonderings, understandings and actions that were taken as a result of their learning.

Year 1 Mini Exhibition Year 5 Market Day

Year 5 students have been inquiring into how people engage in economic activities to meet their needs and wants. The students worked in groups to produce and market a product or service which they sold to students in the Pre-K to Year 6 classes. All money raised, $4158.30, has been donated to The Cancer Council. A wonderful effort by all involved.

Year 4 Convict Day

Year 4 students and staff headed back to 1788 where they made damper, wrote letters back to England (from the perspective of convicts), played convict games, sang convict songs and even participated in an old-fashioned chapel service in order to understand more about their current Unit of Inquiry, “Where We Are in Place and Time.” We are looking forward to welcoming parents and visitors onsite as we continue to celebrate the process of learning in our Junior School through the IB Primary Years Programme framework as the year proceeds.

Year 1 celebrated their "How The World Works" mini-exhibition by inviting parents to have the opportunity to view student's work and explore the process of student learning through an engaging hands-on activity where they made fresh rice paper rolls. A wonderful photographic slideshow presentation was shared with visitors and the welcome address was guided by our wonderful students.

Lisa Bonazza Director of Primary Curriculum/PYP Coordinator

There is nothing like immersing yourself in culture, feeling it, breathing it, enjoying and celebrating it, but also remembering times gone by. Darkinjung and Ngarralingayil do just that and it is an amazing feeling!

Both campuses acknowledged National Sorry Day. We remembered the mistreatment of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, and the people that were forcibly removed from their mob ~ The Stolen Generation. Our wonderful School Captains led the way, Chelsea and Skylah at Darkinjung and Storm and Djabarda at Ngarralingayil. They read the book ‘Sorry Day’, we watched the 2008 apology from Kevin Rudd and listened to Archie Roach’s ‘Took the Children Away’. It was a beautiful, respectful, lovely morning, evoking some strong emotions. Our primary classes Ganang and Kawal spent the morning researching and sharing thoughts on Sorry Day. The children made their own powerpoint to share with everyone. Wow, wow, wow! My heart was brimming with pride watching these AMAZING kids with their brave spirit and strong cultural pride! Mabo Day was also remembered and celebrated as we learned more about the inspiring Eddie Koiki Mabo. We talked about his role in campaigning for Indigenous land rights, discussed the Torres Strait Islander flag, shared some language and songs. NAIDOC is the best time of the year! A time we spend with mob, celebrating everything culture! The theme this year was Get up, Stand up, Show up and this year the winner of the prestigious poster competition was Ryhia Dank, a young Gudanji/Wakaja artist from the Northern Territory. We celebrated through dance with a family day and performance at Darkinjung. We thank Uncle Gavi for his continued support and sharing his knowledge with us each week and performing with the children. Aunty Bronwyn was back with us along with her grandsons Jack, Isaac and Max and Jo from NAISDA who also joined us. They taught us some Darkinjung language and a chant which we will keep practising and be able to share in future performances. Ngarralingayil have enjoyed some NAIDOC activities and will be celebrating NAIDOC with community this term. Both campuses performed at the very special NAIDOC assembly at Hornsby. They were sensational and we were so proud of their strong spirit for taking on this event with courage and pride. All the children have been working on their very own scarecrow. There has been a lot of time and effort spent collecting items and using them creatively. After a haircut and a finer detail check, Daisy (named by Yulara) is standing proud protecting the vegetable garden at Darkinjung. Ngarralingayil’s scarecrow is in the finishing stages and it won’t be long until it is standing strong, protecting their beautiful garden too. Both campuses finished the term with a lovely celebration a onesie funsie day and a special lunch. There was lots of fun and laughter, a great celebration of a wonderful term of learning!

Mandy Shaw Director Aboriginal Campuses

After months of planning, anticipation, brainstorming and COVID-19 delays, the students at Dhupuma Barker were treated to an unforgettable week with the crew from the Indigenous Outreach Hip Hop Projects (IOP).

This group of hip hop artists travel across Australia, showcasing their talent with community and engage them through music and dance. The five very talented dance and music production artists burst into our school community for a week in June, inspiring each and every one of our students. The artists are skilled performers with an amazing ability to connect and inspire. Together, they form a playful and joyous team who made everyone want to get up and bust some moves. The IOP crew stayed in the community for a week, spending several hours teaching the kids choreography. They immediately formed wonderful relationships that had our Djamarrkuli (children) running to school in the mornings. They took every chance possible to identify and foster leadership qualities in the students. Whilst sheer fun and laughter came from the joy of dance, the crew continually spoke with the students about their three rules - No Shame, Be Proud, Respect. Student attendance for the week was the highest we have recorded since the opening of Dhupuma Barker, with close to 100% of djamarrkuli at school as well as several students visiting from other communities. Our classroom and surrounding areas were filled with laughter, smiles, strength and positive energy. In addition to the daily dance workshops, the students and teachers collaborated with the IOP crew to write an original rap song to share their love for country and community. Once the lyrics were set, the kids took turns practising and recording their lines, under excellent guidance from the crew. There is no doubt that a week of hip hop dance, song-writing, music production and experiences with the fabulous IOP crew greatly benefitted the kids and community of Gunyangara. After spending time at two other nearby communities, Dhalinybuy and Yirrkala, it promoted unity amongst everyone. We invited the entire community to Dhupuma Barker to come and enjoy a showcase performance of the hip hop artists and students. With around 100 people packed into the classroom, the music video was screened for the first time. The response was amazing. Cheers, laughter and deep sense of pride burst through the roof and echoed throughout the community.

Lori Cross Dhupuma Barker Teacher