10 minute read
Student Achievements
STUDENT SUCCESS AT THE HIGHEST LEVEL
Freya Neville, Lila Pearce, Emily L’Estrange and Emma Choi Olivia Wass and Peter Alston
There is a huge amount of pride in seeing students succeed at KWS. These are just a few of the inspiring and extraordinary achievements both from the classroom and beyond. Australian Lit Quiz Champions
KWS students Freya Neville, Lila Pearce, Emily L’Estrange and Emma Choi finished first in the Kids’ Lit Quiz National Final. Winning by 19 points, it was the first time a KWS team has won the Literature competition.
With 172 schools participating, it was the biggest year of competition to date. It involved students writing down answers to questions in 10 rounds in a format similar to trivia events. Students were quizzed on everything from nursery rhymes, fairy tales, classic and modern novels, all from a variety of genres. The final consisted of five rounds with 12 long questions each with teams buzzing in to answer the questions.
The Year 7 girls will travel to Auckland, New Zealand, in August to compete in the World Final. While the girls will need to strap their thinking caps on tightly, there will be plenty of time for R&R exploring the natural wonders New Zealand has to offer. They will visit three volcanoes located at Mt Eden, One Tree Hill and Rangitoto Island. They will also visit the Stardome Observatory and Planetarium as well as attend the International Board on Books for Young People World Congress event. Latin Students Excel at Nationals
Over 150,000 students across 20 countries worldwide sat for the National Latin Exam (NLE) this year, and KWS students have again performed at an excellent level, with all students achieving well above average.
The NLE, sponsored by the American Classical League and the National Junior Classical League, is a 40-question, multiple-choice test with a time limit of 45 minutes, offered at various levels. There are questions on grammar, comprehension, mythology, derivatives, literature, Roman life, history, geography, oral Latin, and Latin in use in the modern world. The basic purpose of the NLE is to promote the study of Latin and to encourage the individual student.
Special congratulations are due to Year 10 student Jemima McPhee who achieved the top score for KWS of 97.5% and a gold medal, followed closely by Year 9 students Molly Harris and Benjamin Gillham who were outstanding with their score of 95% in the examination. Year 10 student Emma Holman was awarded a silver medal while Year 9 students Duncan Suthers, Luka Mihalich and Olivia Small received achievement certificates.
Alexandra Butcherine (92.5%) and Maxwell Eastwood (90%) topped the Year 11 class, receiving gold medals for their scores, while Declan Vials finished with a silver medal.
In Year 12, Olivia Wass and Head Prefect, Peter Alston, made very few errors with both being awarded a gold medal.
If you are inspired by the thought of translating Virgil’s poetry or Cicero’s speeches, then maybe Latin is for you.
Sophia Redenbach and Daydream Believer Phoebe Litchfield
Dynamic Duo Shine
Just 11 months ago, Year 10 student, Sophia Redenbach, began riding her horse, Daydream Believer.
The pair competed at the NSW State Interschool Competition at the Sydney International Equestrian Centre. Sophia and Daydream Believer proved to be the perfect match with fabulous dressage results landing them a position on the NSW Interschool team at the Australian Interschool Championships.
All the hard work and effort of the pair came together at this year’s Royal Easter Show. Sophia and her beautiful horse finished first in both the Novice Hunter Hack 16-16.2 hands and Child’s Hunter Hack, placed fourth (out of 44 competitors) in the Novice Girl Rider 12 and under 17 years, and fifth in the Open Girl Rider 15-17 years.
To achieve a placing in one class at the Sydney Royal Easter Show is a huge achievement. To either win or place in every class that the pair competed in is remarkable. The win in the Child’s Hunter Hack was particularly special for this talented duo as this qualifies them for the 2017 Grand Nationals to be held in Sydney next March. It also gave them the opportunity to be in the line-up for the Champion Hunter Hack at Sydney Royal Easter Show (with the best Hunter Hacks in Australia). An incredible honour for a 15 year old girl!
Following in the Footsteps of a Champion
Phoebe Litchfield’s sporting achievements throughout 2015 were remarkable. The Year 7 student represented Combined Independent Schools (CIS) in Hockey, Cross Country and Cricket. Phoebe was a major contributor in all the teams and was selected for the NSW Hockey and Cricket teams.
In hockey, Phoebe was selected for both the CIS Hockey and NSWPSSA teams. At the Schools Sport Hockey Championship, NSW placed second overall. Playing striker/inner for the NSWPSSA team, Phoebe scored three goals throughout six matches.
Phoebe ran exceptionally well at CIS Cross Country and placed eighth overall in the 12 Years Girls’ event at the NSWPSSA Cross Country. Additionally, Phoebe represented Orange Little Athletics at Zone, Regional and NSW State Athletics Carnivals, most notably finishing first in the 800 metre final.
Phoebe also captained the NSW team at the School Sport Australia Under 12 Girls’ Cricket Championship. She was nothing short of inspiring in her role as captain, displaying unbelievable form to lead her side to a dominant, undefeated title victory. Bearing in mind batsmen are required to retire at 50, Phoebe finished the five-day carnival with 202 runs from four innings.
Phoebe’s determination, incredible sportsmanship and leadership ability throughout 2015 were recognised at the CIS Awards. With Principal, Mr Brian Kennelly in attendance, Phoebe was awarded the VM MEDWAY Award for Outstanding Girl, the Red Bar Award for Cricket and the Red Award for Hockey. This was truly an outstanding and thoroughly deserved achievement!
At the awards, Phoebe was fortunate enough to meet Hockeyroo Champion, Sharon Buchanan, who had some words of inspiration for all the athletes saying, “Find your passion, work harder than you ever thought you could, and be the best you can be”.
Phoebe is definitely following in the footsteps of a champion!
STUDENT SUCCESS AT THE HIGHEST LEVEL
Rowing Nationals Rowing State
An Oarsome Season for KWS Rowers
The Rowing team at KWS has enjoyed tremendous success this season, with hard work, determination and commitment reinforcing their place amongst Australia’s rowing elite.
To start the season, a 74-strong squad travelled to Canberra’s Lake Burley Griffin to compete in the Head of the Lake Regatta. KWS earned 36 wins, 18 seconds and 14 third placings to win the overall boys’ point score and finish a close second in the girls’ point score. This proved to be the perfect preparation for the Head of the River.
The keenly contested Head of the River was another significant event this season with the team winning 19 gold medals, 15 silver medals and 9 bronze in total, giving the school victories in the boys’ point score and girls’ senior point score.
The State Championships saw many participants from Victoria and Queensland in particular. Across the two day event, 55 members of the KWS rowing team competed, and all demonstrated outstanding sportsmanship and talent. A deserving Harry Crouch from Year 10 won four gold medals, two in Open Schoolboy and two in Under 17 Men’s competitions. In the points score for the Championships, the KWS team was announced as the runners-up behind the University of Technology and decisive winners of the Schools’ point score.
At the Australian Open Schools Rowing Championships, one of the three signature events at the Sydney International Rowing Regatta (SIRR), there were some thrilling competition and nail-biting finishes. KWS rowers earned an amazing two gold medals, three silver medals and two bronze medals across the seven day event. Kate Hall and Jocelyn Date claimed gold in the Under 19 Women’s Coxless Pairs, clocking 7:54:60 in the final to win. Isabelle Robson, Phoebe Skene, India Kermode, Ailish Seedsman, Harriet Haege, Sally Uttley, Maggie Yeomans, Thea Allen and Charlotte Anderson also contributed to the medal tally finishing in a speedy 7:05.66 to win the Under 17 Schoolgirl Coxed Eight against Somerville House. KWS crews in Schoolboy Coxed Quadruple Scull, Under 17 Men’s Coxed Quadruple Scull and Under 19 Men’s Coxless Pairs all won silver medals, while the Under 19 Women’s Coxed Eight and Under 19 Men’s Coxed Four won bronze. Pushing through the pain, the strong rowing season was wrapped up with a total of 26 students each coming home with at least one medal from this National Championship.
Individually, Kate Hall had a tremendous rowing season. Sitting in the second seat, Kate raced for National selection in the NSW Schoolgirl Eight in April, winning the interstate race – a first for NSW! Although the NSW crew was not selected by Rowing Australia as one of the six crews to compete in the Junior World Championships, undeniably this was a great achievement in itself.
Benjamin and Josie Gillham Connor Whiteley Dominique Holland
The Gillhams Make a Splash
In what was a keenly competitive carnival with more than 1,700 swimmers from 296 clubs, swimming stars, Benjamin and Josie Gillham, performed remarkably at the 2016 Georgina Hope Foundation Championships in Adelaide. Here, swimmers between the ages of 12 and 18 were eligible to compete upon obtaining a national qualifying time in their favourite event(s).
With the opportunity to be crowned Australian Age Champion at stake, swimming stars Josie and Benjamin stepped it up a gear and gave it their all. Josie swam a personal best in the Girls 16 years 50 metre Freestyle to place 31st while Ben was just 0.3 off his personal best in the 100 metre Breaststroke to place 34th overall.
Coming off an already successful start to the year at the 2016 Swimming NSW 13-18 Years State Age Championships, where Josie scored two top-twenty finishes while Benjamin finished ninth in his Boys’ 14 years 100 metre Breaststroke race, there is no doubt that swimming is a talent that runs in the Gillham family. Whiteley a Triathlete to be Reckoned with
Connor Whiteley has had extraordinary success this year, demonstrating that he has what it takes to compete in what is arguably the most gruelling sport around.
After three stellar performances at the NSW All Schools Triathlon Championship finishing in sixth place, Connor qualified for the National Triathlon Championship, held in Hervey Bay, Queensland. While this was his fourth year competing in this event, it was his most successful yet.
His NSW team claimed a gold medal in the All Age Relay where each athlete competes in a full triathlon consisting of a 200m swim, 6km cycle and 2km run. Individually, Connor finished seventh in his Male 17-19 category individual race (750m swim, 20km cycle and 5km run), clocking an hour and 33 seconds. There was only one minute and 21 seconds between Connor and the winner from Western Australia. This year the race was a draft legal, allowing him to achieve a result which reflected his performance and hard work in preparation. Assuming he qualifies next year, Connor hopes to get top three podium finishes in both the relay and individual races.
Photo contributed (Central Western Daily) Athletics Champion
Year 10 student, Dominique Holland, began hammer throwing when she was only 12 years of age. Every year since, Dominique has attended Nationals and this year was no exception.
Typically, Dominique trains most days of the week, beginning her day at 6.00am with strength and conditioning training at the Robyne Ridge Centre on the PLC site and finishing with a throwing session after school. In addition, she travels to meet with her Sydney-based coaches every two to three weeks.
Dominique’s dedication, commitment and hard work paid off earlier this year when she travelled to Perth to compete in the Australian Junior Athletics Championships. At this event, she successfully finished second in the Under 17’s Women’s Hammer with a personal best throw of 50.66 metres, an improvement of three metres on her previous personal best.
