From the Princi al
Acceptance of difference and ce lebrati on of diversity are ce ntral tenets of our School cultu re. Over this past six months students have experienced cultural diversity expanding their understanding of cultural difference through activities both within the School and outside as part of the wide r community.
Harmony Day is celebrated in the Primary and Preschool. It provides a community wide framework within which we can explore the concept of otherness with the smaller children. Orange symbolises cohesion and inclusiveness amongst the people of our nation.
Senior students undertaking their Duke of Edinburgh award designed and constructed a mural on Level 3Swirls of the Globe-Bridging Worlds, Embracing Diversity. Their work will remain a visual representation of their legacy of inclusiveness to students in years to come.
Middle years High School students hosted our first group of Chinese exchange students from Guangzhou Foreign Language School. This visit reinforced the value of building bridges between people and cultures. It was a most exciting time for our friends from Guangzhou and our students are looking forward to their return visit to China later this year.
Across the Visual and Performing Arts our students have had visitors into the School and have taken up opportunities to go into the community to expose themselves to the ideas, creativity and the expressions of others. For the musicians, a compose r-in-residence has offered a different perspective and broadened experiences in thi s domain. A new Tuesday afternoon sport, dragon boat racing, has similarly provided diversity in this area of School life.
The visit of Vietnam veterans saw History students hear of life 1n another time and space in our shared h1story in Asia.
Language students across the School continued with their stud ies developing the tools to enable them to access other cultures through their language development
This edition of Jigsaw richly embroiders the texture of these opportunities over these past few months. One cannot live a daily life at IGS without being deeply touched by a sense of otherness and the excitement of difference.
Kerrie Murphy Principal
Come in-we're open'
High School Open Night is a highlight of our calendar as IGS literally opens its doors to the community.
Students from IGS and other Primary schools and their parents were welcomed by our High School students at the front gate. They were given personal tours of the School by students and encouraged to ask questions and gain impressions of the School from its inhabitants!
Many families fi rst talked to IGS staff at our booth when we participated in the Independent Schools Expo in early March. It was perfect timing for
them to accept our invitation to join us on Open Night the following week to see the School and gain a first-hand impression by meeting our current students and staff.
Every High School department conducted a display, performance, workshop or experimerts and there was definitely something to interest everyone as our photos show Energy levels needed to be maintained and that's where the free bbq and drinks were very welcome I
A feature of the evening was the official opening of the mosaic, Swirls of
the Globe-Bridging Worlds, Embracing Diversity. This project was a collaboration led by James Covic, Year 12 with artistic adviser, Lea Kannar and a dedicated team of students who worked for around two years, including the last summer holidays, to create the masterpiece.
Staff from across the School including teaching, administration, IT and maintenance staff mingled with students and visitors, happy to talk about our unique School. Thanks to everyone who contributed to a most successful event.
China Exchan
In March this year IGS launched its exci ting new Chinese Language Exchange Program by welcorling 17 students and two teachers from the Guangzhou Fo reign Language School into our community.
The studen ts spent 15 memorable days attending lessons and experiencing the best Sydney has to offe r As with all our exchange programs many friendships were forged and fun times were had by all.
In September 2010 Chinese language students and members
2
10
of the IGS staff will make a return visit to Guangzhou. Being part of this exchange experience brings linguistic development, intercultural understanding and social development for all students involved.
Ben Garton and Karen Hill who, with their children Matilda and Alex hosted Nina, one of the Guangzhou students, were de lighted to receive a letter from her parents and an Invitation to visit in the future.
Rosalba Ge nua-Petrovic Director of Languages
'1/olA) do you do. We lA)r:t.e th:s letter to Send our 3ree61'j, thanf:s and :m:ta6on to you. !1/: na haS C.OMe baC.i: Sa:f'e, healthy and ho/1"/> she tells us a lot about your beaut:.f'u/ city 5ydney, her school, Stud:es and da:/y j;.f'e and eS,Pec.ia.//y about your .f'OM;/y.
She So/S ·Ben and Karen are Very f::nd, 3enerous, warM-hearted and /oaf: a..f'ter her /:f:e your olA)n c.hld. Ma6/da and Alex are lovely and .f'r:end/y." /heSe do/S she S,Pent w:th you are the ho/,P;est do/S she has eVer had. We are So 3ra.t.e.f'u/ .for a// these. 7hani: you Very MUC.h.
Guan3zhou :s a beau6.f'u/ C.:ty. /here are SoMe .f'OMoUS ,Plac eS to v:s:t and SoMe trad:t:o n a./ .foods to taste. AutuMn :s the beSt SeaSon to v:s:t. Would you /:f:e to C.oMe to have a tr:,P 7 We (A_}:// be So 3/ad to we!C.oMe you. Our hoMe w :// be your hoMe. We lA);// be your 3u:des. We are /oof:;l'j .forward to you C. oM;I'j·
/han/: you and ho,Pe to Meet you Soon.
YourS
!1/:na 's ,Parents
IGS celebrates Chinese Festivals
Ms Yue Feng's Chinese language classes celebrated the festivals surrounding Chinese New Year as part of their investigation into Chinese culture. Chinese New Year festival or Spring festival lasts 15 days culminating on the 15th day with the Lantern festival. Red and yellow lanterns are displayed prominently at this time outside shops and in the st reets and have become a visual recognition of this festival period. The colour red is the theme of the festivals as it symbolises luck, happiness and renewal.
The Dragon Boat festival and Middle Autumn festival are also celebrated in the middle of the year. The Year 8 students enjoyed their research and reported thei r findings to the class as creative and informative PowerPoint presentations.
Year 9 learnt a variety of Chinese poems and songs and performed these to the School community in assembly They also performed these poems and songs at the Harris Community Centre in Ultimo to celebrate Chinese New Year with the local residents.
Year 10 perfected the art of Chinese calligraphy and wrote greetings which were displayed along with posters and pictures in the Learning Centre. We decorated the learning centre with lanterns and red posters and displays of student work.
Happy new year, best wishes for your coming year.
Glynis Martin and Vue Feng
Year 4 lnstrumen al program
The Year 4 Band Program is well underway with many students electing to learn a band instrument and attend weekly band rehearsals as part of the Training Band. Some students elected to join the Orff Percussion Ensemble and have been tapping, shaking and creating a range of interesting pieces. The rest of the Year 4 cohort teamed up with Mrs Ellis in the Extension Ensemble. These students have been using the
instrument they have been learning for some years to perform and create a number of musical works. Later in the term the entire year group will form one ensemble to rehearse for the Yamaha Band Festival. Every student in Year 4 will participate in this fun and challenging event held at UTS Kuringai.
Alison Housley Director of
Musi c
Composer-in-Residence
Meet Daniel Rojas
Daniel Rojas is a composer, pianist and Associate Lecturer in Music Teaching and Learning at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music. His research focuses on the indigenous, folk and popular music of Latin America-particularly salsa, tango and Peruvian Andean music-and how these can serve as a resource for composition and improvisation. Rojas has won several composition prizes and awards and keeps busy as a composer, currently working on a number of commissions for Australian and international artists.
He has received performances by the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, Queensland Symphony Orchestra, Sydney Youth Orchestra and various ensembles and soloists. Rojas completed a PhD in composition in early 201 0 and teaches classes in music language and skills and composition.
Currently he is spending most of his time here working with our Year 12 music students. In Term 3, he will be composing a piece for performance at this year's Speech night
VRTIME: iSO n ; NOTE: ssucofZINE
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- Olafur Eliasson _ MCA - Balnaves Australian Contempor.uy An- AGNSW - R on Mueck _ NGV - l lrt Express at the Annory Sydn ey Olympic Park featuring Bianca Pecoticb and Pet;J Osmond
Visual Arts
Art Competitions
In Se mester 1, Vi sual Arts stude nts perf orm ed ex tre mely well in external art comp etitio ns . We had eigh t Yea r 11 students selected to parti c ipate in th e Nati onal Art Schoo l exte nsion cou rse which takes place in th e Jun e and Oc tober schoo l holid ays. These students are to be commended on their inclusion in such a prestigious course They are An ouk Be rn ey, Madeline Varian, Axe l Chemke-Dreyfus, Adr ie nne Lim, Lewis Evans, Brigitta Summers and Olivia Fay-Williams.
Art students also exc elled in the annu al Mo sman Art Prize with Lewis Evans of Year 11 an d Osca r Ni mmo of Year 12 having the ir works hung. Oscar also won second prize in senior pr intmaking . Four junior students' works have been selec ted for thi s year' s Operation Art. They are Stephanie Falk and Osca r Read of Year 8, and Mari e Harrowell and Zoe Rawlinson of Year 7.
Congratul ations to all these students on th ei r su cce ss.
Andrew Thompson (HOD) & Melinda Hodges Visu al Arts
BUNDANON REFLECI70N
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Vietnam Veterans visit Year 10
History came to life for Year 10 Australian History students earlier this year when Len Schulz of the Vietnam Veterans' Association of Australia, his 'better half', Wendy, and three other Vietnam veterans, Bernie and two Johns, visited IGS to speak about their experiences of the Vietnam War era in Australia.
The arrival of the veterans was timely Year 10 was in the process of completing an assignment on the war and the students had just returned from a trip to Canberra where one of the highlights was the visit to the Australian War Memorial.
The veterans vividly recreated the mood of the times and spoke candidly about such matters as the propaganda used to generate support for the war, national service (three of the four veterans were
"nashos"), the nature of the fight ing in Vietnam , the poor treatment veterans received upon their return home and their attitudes towards the protest movement in Australia Accompanying the team was a carefully constructed diorama which showed a typical Vietnamese village and the tunnel systems used by the VietCong. Other items on display included documents, photos and equipment such as uniforms and backpacks.
The presentation gave students an invaluable insight into the way in which people's lives can be affected by events over which they have no control and how ordinary people are called upon to carry out extraordinary deeds.
David Miller Head of HSIE
Drama
Drama is offered in the High School as both a curric ulum subject from Years 9-12 and as a co-curricular Company activity. Both programmes help to develop and support students' interest in Design, Writing, Physical Theatre, Theatresports, Shakespeare, Production and specifically Year 7-8 Drama.
2010 began with the successful High School production, Stories 1n the Dark, with students from Years 8-11 involved as part of our Drama Company Production group. They undertook weekend and afternoon rehearsals which began in 2009 and performed in Term 1 This wonderful play, written by IGS parent Debra
Oswald, proved to be a challenging experience for the cast who had to confront the hard hitting issues of war, survival and loss. The power of storytelling to help people survive and heal through adversity was closely explored. The journey from the page to the stage was one of insightful discovery throughout the production process and all students involved in the production were delighted that Debra was able to attend a performance
High School Open Night enjoyed a continuous flow of audience who watched incredible scripted work performed by our talented Year 11 class and Year 10 Thea tricks
students who presented their hilarious Melodrama devised scene.
Our Shakespeare Festival has seen a large number of participants create strong work which will be presented at the Regional level here at IGS with the hope of competing at the State Finals.
Both our Senior and Intermediate Theatresports Teams achieved excellent results by reaching the Qualifying Round of the competition. They fought hard with regular training and the Sen1or team won a place at the Grand Final at the Enmore Theatre on 20 June.
Rita Morabito Head of Drama
Swimming carnivals
Clubs
are IGS' lunchtime and after school activities and rest assured, there is plenty of choice! Whether having a philosophical discussion, creating amazing things using found objects, learning with Mathletics, taking a Seido Karate class or building using the principles of robotics-IGS Clubs offer something for everyone!
For information on conducting or participating in IGS Clubs, please contact Mr Paul Galea.
Preschool languages
French
Preschool French began their language group by greeting each other in French and then discussing the weather outside. There was no tricking Preschool French on this day despite Maya attempting to humour them with the claim that it was snowing outside. "No il pleut" they echoed back to her as they pointed to the rain outside. As their lessons continued the children sang songs and began to talk about emotions, creating facial expressions to represent triste (sad), content (happy), fatigue (tired), surpris (surprised) and tache (angry),j'ai peur (scared).
Italian
Preschool Italian commenced their language lesson with a joyful rendition of "Buon giorno e come stai" before exploring parts of the body and the clothing we wear. The children used their language and problem solving skills to complete puzzles requiring layering of different body parts and c lothes associated with each part. Later they played a memory lotto game matching items of clothing.
Japanese
Preschool Japanese began their lesson greet1ng and 1ntroduc1ng themselves in Japanese, followed by a review of the colours in Japanese. The children were prompted to use their Japanese to ask for a stamp in a particular colour Sing ing and danc1ng was very popular on this day in Preschool Japanese with the ch1ldren s1nging "Panda, Usagi, Koala" ?-tt=¥, :tr7 I Panda, Rabb1t, K:::>ala)--a much liked song about their favourite animals. Later Ma riko shared a story called 'Zou-kun no sampo' (Elephant goes for a walk).
Transition Languages
French
Transit ion Fr enc h are attempting to read and are quite enthused at being able to attempt to read in French. Th e c hildren started the lesson with a disc ussion on what the day and da te was. Some of the Trans itio n Frenc h children have been part ic ul arl y interested in shapes and so they engage d in a shape bingo game, where they had to listen to the inst ructions in French and match the name shapes as they were called out. Other groups of children have been looking at the weather and talking abou t the type of clo thes that are nee ded for va rio us weathe r conditions.
Italian
The weather has also been a topic focus for Transition Italian. In the lessons today the children were read a brief story that described the weather and seasons. The children were then asked (in Italian) to identify what the characters in the story would have worn to be dressed appropriately for the various seasons.
Primary language cam
Every year IGS students are treated to language, language and more language at a three-day language camp. Through a variety of interactive and experiential activities students are immersed in the target language German
10
Year 1 French using the laptops to revise French vocabulary and language structures on professions , colours and numbers
Reconciliation Council Challe nge
Years 5 and 6 students entered a Challenge run by the NSW State Reconciliation Comm ittee (SRC) and they have had some great success. The Challenge was for young people to use words or images to express their ideas about the theme Reconciliation. The Road Ahead.
We heard from the NSW SRC CEO, Leanne Townsend and the following children received awards
Years 5-6 Postcard Design
2nd Place-Roman Vournelis for "Two Hands with Road Lines"
Years 5-6 Poetry/Lyric writing competition
2nd place-Andrew Puletti
3rd place-Frances Howe
The students, parents and school were invited to attend the awards ceremony, held in May during Reconciliation Week, where they received their certificates
Term Dates 2011
Term 1
Fnday 28 January ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,Orientation Day for Year 7 (full first day of school)
Orientation for all new Preschool
Onentation for all new students
Mo nday 31 January ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,First Day Term 1 (for all other students)
Friday 8 April ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,Last Day Term 1
Term2
Tues day 26 April ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,First Day Term 2- all students return
Mo nday 13 June ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,Queen's Birthday holiday (tbc)
Friday 24 June ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,Last Day Term 2
Term 3
Monday 18 July ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,First Day Term 3-all students return
Fnday 23 September ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,Last Day Term 3
Term4
Monday 10 October ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,First Day Term 4-all students return
We dnesday 30 November,,,,,,,,,,,,,,Speech Day Years K-2
Friday 2 December"'"""""""""'""""""""" Preschool Concert
Monday 5 December ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,Speech Night Years 3-12
Tuesday 6 December ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,School Picnic Day and conclusion of Term 4
Imp ortant Dates 2010
Mo nday 19 July,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,Ciasses commence for Term 3
Fnday 24 September ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,Year 12 Farewells and conclus1on of Term 3
Monday 11 October ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,Classes commence for Term 4
Thursday 14 October,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,HSC Examinations commence
Friday 26 November,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,PTF Second Hand Book and Un1form Market
Wednesday 1 December,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,Speech Day Years K -2
Fnday 3 December ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,Preschool Concert
Monday 6 December ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,Speech Night Years 3-12
Tuesday 7 December ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,School Picnic Day and conclusion of Term 4
