03 December 2009

IN THIS ISSUE

• From the Headmistress
• Woollahra 2025: Have Your Say!
• Feedback
• Calendar
• Holdsworth Bus Service
• From Hillingdon
• From Fiona
• From the Senior School
• From the Speech and Drama Program
• From the Music Department
• Drama News
• From the Parents' Association
• Uniform Shop/Bookroom
• Sports News

FROM THE HEADMISTRESS

It was a big week for the Junior School last week. As well as the wonderful 100 Years of Hillingdon Open Day Concert, Fiona held its annual Speech and Drama Performance Night on Thursday and the inaugural Year 6 Dinner on Friday evening.

The Speech and Drama performances included twenty six items ranging from mime to short plays, individual to group performances. Congratulations to all the girls who performed so well, and to the Speech teachers, Mrs Mileshkin, Ms George and Ms Vinson.

The Year 6 Dinner was a joyous occasion for the girls, their parents and teachers. Thank you to Mrs Neil for the concept and to the Ascham staff who ensured its success, in particular Fiona staff, our chef Mr Woodrow and the catering staff and Ms Shying who co-ordinates our events.

I am delighted to report a number of Day Girls are coming into boarding for one or two terms next year. We are so pleased we are able to accommodate them for what will be an unforgettable and enriching experience. Subject to availability, Ascham has always extended this possibility to our families and will continue to do so.

I have had several requests for early leave next week from parents who had assumed we were breaking up at the same time as the schools of their sons. We send all the term dates to all families with the January mailing, and again in July for the second half of the year. Indeed the school dates are on special cards for each section of the School. Term dates are also on our website. Please find the 2010 and 2011 dates here. School policy is that Leave is not approved in term time except in exceptional circumstances. And of course, no leave should ever be assumed. It must be requested from me. The educational and social progress of your daughters is our prime concern behind this policy.

Last week I reported on our attendance at the 1 Million Women Environmental Breakfast at the Hilton Hotel. Below is a photo of the Ascham contingent, kindly sent to us by a fellow invitee. With me are Mrs Dubb, Sarah Cohn (Chair Environment Committee 2009) and Antigone Anagnostellis (2010).

WOOLLAHRA 2025: HAVE YOUR SAY!

Woollahra Council is undertaking a wide-ranging community consultation process to inform the development of Council’s New Community Strategic Plan titled Woollahra 2025. Council is keen to engage with ratepayers, residents, school students and those who work or who own businesses in the Woollahra Municipal Council area (from Watsons Bay to Paddington) to hear their views on issues they feel are important to the area’s future.

The People for Places and Spaces has been engaged by Council to undertake the community consultation, analysis and reporting. Please email your completed survey to tony@p4ps.com.au by 10 December 2009.

For any further information about the community consultation survey, you may address your enquiries to the above email contact.

A copy of the survey is available for download here. Have Your Say Survey (Word doc, 4.7 MB)

FEEDBACK

As always we are happy to receive feedback regarding the eNews to Jennie Barrett (jbarrett@ascham.nsw.edu.au)

Any other issues please contact the school

CALENDAR 4 - 13 DECEMBER

CALENDAR SENIOR SCHOOL

CALENDAR FIONA

CALENDAR HILLINGDON

HOLDSWORTH BUS SERVICE

Randwick via Centennial Park and Bellevue Hill
The introduction of the small bus service for those girls travelling from Randwick (via Centennial Park and Bellevue Hill) has been beneficial in reducing environmental impact whilst providing a safe means of transport to and from school. There are limited seats still available on this service. If you are currently using this service and are happy with it, please tell your Ascham friends as it is dependent upon increased numbers if it is to continue. For details of the current bus route please contact Joe at the Holdsworth Centre, phone 9302 3605.

Application form Term 4
Consent form

FROM HILLINGDON

Year 2 Swimming Carnival

Congratulations to the Year 2 girls and to Mrs Maloney, Mrs Jollow, Miss Hesford and Miss Beesley for a most successful Swimming Carnival. The girls swam in freestyle, backstroke, breaststroke, butterfly and noodle events with most girls participating in at least 3 events. They all enjoyed the carnival and should be very proud of their efforts. Congratulations to 2-7 for winning the much anticipated Year 2 class relay from 2-8 and 2-9 in a very exciting finale to the swimming carnival. Sincere thanks to everyone for their wonderful support of the girls. It was a most enjoyable afternoon.

Parents’ Association Guessing Competition Winners

The winners of the various competitions on Open Day were:
Smarties (1,371) - Jemimah Keay Doak (1-6) guessed 1,400
Snakes (153) - Lara Lapcevic (2-9) guessed 154
Lindt balls (111) – Juliet Malcolm (K-1) and Zara Gracanin (1-5) were joint winners.

The handbag competition was won by Sophie Williams’ grandmother, Mrs Margot Johnston, who had the most accurate guess, only 10g off, guessing 2kg for her 1.99kg bag.

Our sincere thanks are extended to Mrs Mags Mead, Ms Susannah Quinn and Ms Camilla Learmonth for their wonderful enthusiasm and splendid organisation of the Guessing Competitions. They were greatly enjoyed by everyone.

Hillingdon Building Works

Our new library, stairs and the link into Hillingdon have all taken shape this week. The formwork for the lift has gone into place and the girls continue to be amazed at how quickly our new buildings are growing.

Matthew Doyle Visit to Preschool and Kindergarten

On Tuesday the Preschool and Kindergarten girls attended a presentation by Matthew Doyle in the Helen Grant library. Matthew is an experienced Indigenous performer. The girls learnt about places around Sydney and within Australia that are special to Indigenous Australians, and the importance of caring for these places. Matthew also shared information about his culture through the telling of Dreamtime stories and playing various musical instruments including the didgeridoo, which all the girls particularly enjoyed listening to. It was a wonderful opportunity for the girls to ask questions and interact with the performance.

FROM FIONA

As we near the end of a busy year, we must sadly farewell several staff. Amongst them Mrs Gill who has worked in Fiona for many years and of late, teaching Year 6. Mrs Gill is taking a new direction in her life and will be missed by all.

We also farewell our Art Teacher, Mr Hobbs who is relocating to Tasmania. We thank him for his contribution to the school and wish him well.

Two staff who have been here as Maternity Leave placements have contributed greatly to Fiona: Art Teacher Mrs Gigner and Year 5 teacher Miss Fizzell. We thank them for their new ideas and approaches.

Prize Giving: a Celebration of Learning
We are looking forward to welcoming all parents to our Prize Giving next Tuesday afternoon at 1pm in the Packer Theatre. All girls will be able to leave with their parents after this important event.

Wednesday 8 Dec is the last day and girls will be collected at 1pm from the carpark.

Grandparents Day

We welcomed many Grandparents last week who enjoyed a picnic lunch and a delightful Assembly.

Year 6 Dinner

Last Friday we celebrated the transition of Year 6 to Senior school. It was a most memorable night for all as we celebrated the achievements of the girls and the contribution of staff. this followed the Year 6 Drinks when all new girls entering Year 7 next year joined the committee to hear about their house and create cheers.

IPSHA Saturday Morning Tennis

Team Clijsters
On Saturday Team Clijsters was playing at the Ridge Street Tennis Centre and it was a scorching hot day. Due to the heat everyone was sweating but the players still played to the best of their ability. Emma and Ingrid played extremely well. Their ground strokes were hit with so much power. Samantha and Katherine were working together to try to reach the ball in time and they were very successful. Unfortunately, Catherine Barlin was unable to play, as she was competing in an athletics championship event in the 4 x 400m relay, but in other weeks she has played really well. The whole team contributed to the final score. Although we lost we tried our best and had a fun time.

Katherine Lambros

Randwick via Centennial Park and Bellevue Hill
The introduction of the small bus service for those girls travelling from Randwick (via Centennial Park and Bellevue Hill) has been beneficial in reducing environmental impact whilst providing a safe means of transport to and from school. There are limited seats still available on this service. If you are currently using this service and are happy with it, please tell your Ascham friends as it is dependent upon increased numbers if it is to continue. For details of the current bus route please contact Joe at the Holdsworth Centre, phone 9302 3605.

Application form Term 4
Consent form

FROM THE SENIOR SCHOOL

Technology Day

Year 7 participated in a Technology day on Monday consisting of three courses: portrait drawing and garment styling, taught by Natalie and Jill from the Whitehouse Institute of Design, and a stop animation course run by film maker, writer and producer Tony Radevski (with help from our very own Miss Charrington). The girls were particularly amazed with the idea of a 1 second frame being 12 camera shots. Congratulations to Martha Millet, Lucy Holden and Saskia Archer who were each awarded a holiday scholarship for a week’s class of styling, interior design and fashion at the Whitehouse Institute of Design.

FROM THE SPEECH AND DRAMA PROGRAM

Our annual Trinity Guildhall Speech and Drama exams took place here at school at the end of October. We had 113 students who participated in this exam, ranging from Fiona girls in Year 3 who sat for the Initial Grade exam and continuing through each grade and up to Grade 8 for one of our Year 11 students. Students were examined in either Speech and Drama, Performing Text or Communication Skills. The girls achieved some splendid results including 56 who attained a Pass with Distinction (over 85%), 48 who attained a Pass with Merit (over 75%) and 9 who Passed (over 65%). We congratulate all the girls for their commitment to this extra-curricular subject during 2009. Please refer to the detailed results attached.

FROM THE MUSIC DEPARTMENT

Annual Christmas Concert - 5.30pm Monday 7 December
(about 1 hour 15 mins in length)
Our end of year spectacular with the School's Choirs, Concert Band and Orchestra performing seasonal favourites. Come and sing along with some well known carols. This is a free concert but for a donation at the door you can have a ticket(s) for various Christmas hampers to be drawn on the night. Come and celebrate the end of the year. Seating is unreserved.

Flute Concert

On Friday 20 November Miss Hentschel’s flute students performed in a casual and relaxed concert held in the Studio. For many of the performers, this was the first time that they had played in front of an audience. It took great courage for many of the girls to play on an instrument that is difficult to master.

We were treated to a variety of lovely repertoire performed by Gersande Lockhart-Moisa, Alex Kennedy, Zoe Prieston, Rose MacMahon, Catherine Nemanic, Ella Michael, Annabelle Parmegiani, Patricia Huang and Martha Millett. A grand finale featured Hsiu-Wen Chang (Year 10) and Miss Hentschel playing a duet with Ms Leong accompanying.

Thank you to all the flautists who performed and to all the girls who came to support their friends and to hear a lovely concert. Finally, we offer a sincere thank you to Miss Hentschel for organising this concert and to Ms Leong for accompanying.

DRAMA NEWS

FROM THE PARENTS' ASSOCIATION

Would you like to be a Fiona or Senior School Year Parent in 2010?
The Ascham Parents’ Association would be delighted to hear from you if so. It is a fun and rewarding way to get more involved with the parents and girls in your daughter’s year group. Please look at the two attachments,

The Guidelines for 2010 Year Parents
The Expression of Interest Form

and contact us as directed. Looking forward to hearing from you by Monday 7 December. Thank you!

Would you like to be nominated as a member of the Ascham Parents’ Association 2010 Committee?
If you have the interest, time and energy to help us run numerous school-wide events and services in 2010 we would be delighted to hear from you. It is a great way to get more involved with the whole community – you will meet everyone. Please look at the two attachments,

The Guidelines for 2010 Committee Members
The Expression of Interest Form

and contact us as directed. Looking forward to hearing from you by Monday 7 December. Thank you!

Would you like to be a Year Parent or Class Parent in Hillingdon in 2010?
If so please contact Camilla Learmonth, VP for Hillingdon on camillal@bigpond.net.au

Year 6 Picnic
Please find the invitation attached.

UNIFORM SHOP/BOOKROOM

New Students 2010 Reminder - last chance to make appointments for fittings before Christmas, please call the shop for a time.

Swimmers and Raincoats - stock has now arrived.

Year 7 2010 - all senior girls will be required to attend swim trials on New Girls Orientation Day, 27 January 2010. Should you wish to purchase your house swim cap before this day please call into the shop and find out what house you are in, cost is $7.50 per cap. Also available are School and House badges, cost is $12.00 for both.

Christmas Closure – last day Friday 11 December and reopening Monday 11 January 2010. Appointments are still being taken for all new students in 2010. Please don't forget to make your appointment before the term ends. This is important even if you already have a child at the school.

Shop Hours 8am-4pm Monday to Friday (closed 12-1pm) during term time. Fiona and Senior students may attend before school (prior to 8.20am bell), recess and lunch, parents please after 8.30am, if possible. Contact number 02 8356 7062.

Price List - attached.

SPORTS NEWS

Mr Ken Richardson’s Tennis Australia Award
We are delighted to be able to let you know that Mr Richardson, who has been Head of Tennis at Ascham since 1996, will be presented with a Tennis Australia Award for Services to the Game. The Award recognises his “great contribution to Tennis Australia and to tennis in Australia at a national level over a long period".

Mr Richardson has been involved in tennis coaching over a period of 45 years, on a local and international level. He is one of the most respected tennis coaches in Australia and has had a fulfilling and successful career. Some of the highlights include:

• he was head coach at Beaumaris Tennis Club in Victoria, a centre of 14 courts and provided a thriving centre and melting pot for promising players who travelled from all over Australia and overseas to be part of his coaching school. Many of his pupils at that time have gone on to attain established careers within the tennis world including Steve Wood, current CEO of Tennis Australia and Nicole Bradke (Provis) current Federation Cup Captain who presented the Tildesley jumpers to our girls in 2008;
• being National Women’s Coach for International Touring Teams 1983 – 1994, this included Wimbledon, US Open and the French Open where Australia had a strong presence under his watchful eye, as well a being coach/manager for the 1985 and 1986 Australian Fed Cup teams; and
• coaching winners of Australian Junior Singles and Doubles, French Junior Doubles, Wimbledon Junior Singles and Doubles, United States Junior Singles and Doubles and a finalist in the French Junior Singles and Doubles.

We are proud that Mr Richardson has been honoured in this way and we are sure that you will join us in congratulating him. The formal ceremony will be held in Melbourne during the Australian Open.

Mr Richardson with Mrs Nicole Bradke and his wife Mrs Richardson (our Registrar)

Eastern Suburbs Touch Competition
Congratulations to all the teams who competed in the Eastern Suburbs Touch competition this term. All students represented the school proudly and we were delighted to have six teams compete in the Grand Final matches on Saturday 28 November.
The results from the season were as follows:

• Ascham 1 (Senior A) - 5th in the Senior B division.
• Ascham 2 (Senior B) - 4th in the Senior C division.
• Ascham 3 (Senior C) - Winners of the Senior E division.
• Ascham 4 (Senior D) - 3rd in the Senior F division.
• Ascham 5 (Senior E) - 3rd in the Senior G division.
• Ascham 6 (Junior A) - Winners of the Junior B division.
• Ascham 7 (Junior B) - 5th in the Junior C division.
• Ascham 8 (Junior C) - Runners up of the Junior D division.
• Ascham 9 (Junior D) - Runners up of the Junior G division.
• Ascham 10 (Year 7A) - Winners of the Year 7B division.
• Ascham 11 (Year 7B) - 6th in the 7C Division.
• Ascham 12 (Year 7C) - Runners up of the Year 7D division.

These were outstanding results which placed Ascham 2nd overall on the points table. Congratulations to all students whose participation in touch this term contributed to such a wonderful achievement! We are very proud of you all.

Water Polo
Congratulations to all teams for a great season this year. A special congratulations to Ascham 1 (Senior 1sts) who were premiers of their division and to Ascham 3 (Junior 1sts) who were joint premiers. A great effort to all girls, well done.
Final results:

• Ascham 1 (1C) - 1st overall
• Ascham 2 (2C) - 4th overall
• Ascham 3 (3C) - Equal 1st overall
• Ascham 4 (4A) - 3rd overall
• Ascham 5 (4C) - 5th overall
• Ascham 6 (5B) - 6th overall

Rowing
Please find attached the information for the weekend rowing camp which will be held on Saturday 5 and Sunday 6 December.

Please find attached the permission note and information for the January holiday camp.

Gym and Dance Display
A reminder that the Gym and Dance Display will be held tonight (Thursday, 3 December) from 5.30-6.30pm in the Packer Theatre. Come and watch a show case of the girls' work over the year as they have put in a tremendous effort. You will see individual and group performances from the dance group and rhythmic gymnastics groups. Your support would be greatly appreciated and we look forward to seeing you there.

Touch Singlets
Now that the touch season has finished for 2009, all singlets need to be returned to Miss Mannix in the PDHPE department by Monday 7 December. We would appreciate it if everyone could ensure that this happens so that all teams are able to wear the proper touch singlets next term.

Artistic and Rhythmic Gymnastics Holiday Training Note

Term 1 Swimming - Lane 4 Aquatics
Enrolments for Term 1 swimming lessons and holiday training are now due. Please complete the appropriate form below and return to Lane 4 Aquatics. Please note: the cost per lesson has not changed since 2009. However, as Term 1 is two weeks longer than Term 4 the cost per term has increased due to the increase in lessons.

• New Enrolment Form
• Re-enrolment form 2010
• Hillingdon 2010 Term 1
• Term 1 Pool Timetable
• Holiday Training

IGSSA Swimming 2010
There will be an intensive training camp in the final week of the school holidays for any student wishing to represent Ascham in the IGSSA swimming carnival. For more information, please see the attached document.

Ascham Aquatics
A couple of housekeeping items with regard to the upcoming carnivals:

State Championships
13-18 years, 4-9 January 2010; 10-12 years 16-17 January 2010, both at SOPAC

The entries are being done online by the swimmers/parents themselves at www.nswswimming.com.au, click on the icon on the right hand side of the screen. You will need your user name and password, so please call Verena Olesch on 0407 287 403 if you do not have those details. All times have been registered, so the process should be straightforward, with payment also online via credit card.

Speedo Sprint Heats
This is a great event for all swimmers, no matter what level. Races are all 50m for all strokes, 8-13 years.

The heats for our area, Metropolitan South East are being held at SOPAC on 6 February 2010, start at 8.45am.

Attached is the program for the event. There are pink and blue entry cards in the office at the pool - please fill those in and hand them to Verena Olesch with payment.

Duke of Edinburgh Expeditions
Bronze Award
All students participating in the Bronze ‘test’ expeditions held with both Southbound Adventures and Glenworth Valley on 12-13 December should have returned a medical form to Mrs Thomas by now. All girls will be transported to their respective venues by bus.

Glenworth Valley (horse riding) will depart Ascham at 7.30am on Saturday 12 December and will return at approximately 5.30pm on Sunday 13 December.

Southbound Adventures (canoe and mountain bike) will depart Ascham at 7.15am on Saturday 12 December and will return at approximately 3pm on Sunday 13 December.

If your form has not been returned, please complete the appropriate one below:

Glenworth Valley
Southbound

Outward Bound
All Year 8 students need to return their Outward Bound medical forms to Mrs Thomas by Monday, 7 December. Please find below the medical form if yours has been misplaced. Please check the following details are all complete before returning the form or it will be sent back:

• Medicare number and reference number
• Height and weight - this is very important as the packs provided for the girls are determined by this.
• Tetanus date - if a booster will be given prior to attending, please make a note of this.
• Signatures (page 4) - both student and parent must sign the declaration.

Outward Bound parent letter
Outward Bound medical form

Term 1 Sports Uniforms

Touch Football
All students must wear the following:

• navy bike pants
• numbered school singlet (issued by the PE department in Term 1)
• white socks
• touch boots are preferable but sneakers are allowed

Softball
All students must wear the following:

• navy softball knickers
• striped Ascham polo shirt
• long white socks
• shin pads
• softball cleats or sneakers

Tennis
All students must wear the following:

• Ascham tennis skirt
• Ascham tennis shirt
• ankle socks
• tennis shoes

Please ensure that your daughter has the correct uniform for the first match next term. For safety reasons, jewellery of any sort cannot be worn during matches.

Diving 2010
Please see attachment for further information.

Ascham Dance Club 2010
Please see attachment for further information.

Fitness - Term 1, 2010
Due to the success of our new Fitness program in Term 4, we will be continuing the program in Term 1. This program allows flexibility as students register for a set number of sessions each week and are able to vary the session they attend each week. We are aiming to cater for all interests and offer a range of activities that allow students to develop cardiovascular fitness, strength and flexibility. Please find the permission slip attached.