The fiercely contested Year 6 House Debating Competition was held last Monday afternoon with a large number of boys participating strongly. Topics such as 'Australia should make renewable energy a priority' and 'We should spend more time learning outside the classroom' were eagerly argued and rebutted with narrow results achieved on most debates. I was very impressed by the way the boys grasped their opportunity to debate with and against their peers and the standard across the six debates was very pleasing.

Most of these boys have benefitted from their involvement in the Debating Programme for nearly two years. Every Monday morning the boys engage in learning about all the aspects of debating and develop the skills and confidence to enjoy such an important pursuit. The depth and quality of the Year 6 competition is testament to the success of the programme.

There are many benefits to participating in a debating programme especially at such a formative age. Learning to debate helps the boys gain broad, multi-faceted knowledge that cuts across several disciplines. It also increases confidence and poise and encourages rigorous higher order and critical thinking skills. Debating can enhance your ability to structure and organise your thoughts and develop analytical, research and note-taking skills.

Our boys are quick learners but attempting to form balanced, informed arguments and use reasoning and evidence takes time and practise as they overcome their fear and hone their delivery. One of the most rewarding aspects of debating is the opportunity to work as a team and enjoy competing together towards a common goal. There are many speaking and listening experiences the boys are exposed to throughout their time at the Prep as they build their skills and confidence, and there are plenty more for them to pursue as they journey on to College Street.

I look forward to seeing the Year 5 boys debate in their House Competition next Monday.

I have some important news to share with you concerning a change to the boys’ School uniform in 2020. The School has decided to eliminate the khaki summer uniform that the boys wear in Terms 1 and 4 and wear the Grammar blue and Grammar grey uniform that the boys currently wear in Terms 2 and 3 for the whole year.

The materials used in all our uniforms are breathable and suitable in all seasons and having one uniform year round is practical and much more cost effective. The vast majority of schools have only one uniform for the year and the blue and grey colours connect strongly with the uniform of the College Street boys.

From the beginning of 2020, year round all boys K-6 may wear short or long pants, long sleeve shirt, tie, jumper and socks.  In Terms 1 and 4 boys may have the option of wearing the short sleeve shirt.  In Terms 2 and 3 boys in K-6 will be required to wear long sleeve shirts and boys in Years 3-6 only will be required to wear blazers.  

2019 will be slightly tricky as the Uniform Shop runs down the current summer stock. I am happy to be flexible and understanding, especially in Term 4 as boys grow out of existing uniforms. To be clear, the uniform for Term 1 2019, will be the current khaki summer uniform and there is no change to the blazer, socks, tie or jumper.

Mr I Stephens

Mrs Darin has lent me a fabulous book from our Library, ‘The Cabinet of Linguistic Curiosities’ by Paul Anthony Jones. I love it so much I’ve been hanging on to it in a shamelessly selfish manner. It’s a book filled with interesting words and information about how they came to be introduced.  At some point I will have to give it back, but for now can I share with you a lovely new word I’ve discovered:

Twankle (verb) to play idly on a musical instrument.

“According to the English Dialect Dictionary (1905), to twankle is ‘to twang with the fingers on a music instrument’. In fact, that’s just one word for it: absentmindedly strumming or playing an instrument is also known as twiddling, twangling, tootling, noodling, plunking, thrumming and tudeling (the latter of which, perhaps rather aptly, has its origins in a German word, dudeln , meaning ‘to perform badly’).” Page 34

Can I wish all our musicians a wonderful week of twankling, twiddling, tootling, noodling, plunking, thrumming or tudeling but not dudelning!

Words of the Week

Year 1 decision

Year 2 extend

Year 3 loyal

Year 4 dense

Year 5 cautiously

Year 6 attribute

Scholars’ Concert at 6:30pm Friday 2 November in the School Hall

This is the evening we are treated to performances by our current Year 6 Instrumental and Vocal Scholars in what is always a wonderful concert. Percussion Ensemble I from College Street, together with the Form III String Sextet, will be our guest performers (many are former St Ives boys). No tickets are necessary. Please note that our audience needs to be seated by 6.20pm and that your sons must wear their school uniform to this event. Could I also ask that everyone remains in their seats for the duration of the concert, thank you.

Annual Concert 1 at 6:30pm Thursday 8 November in the School Hall   

Groups performing:

Alhambra Guitar Ensemble, Amati Strings, Arcangelo Strings, Beat-Buster Crew, Behind Bars, Flute Ensemble, Kenyon Concert Band, Percussion Powerhouse, Sartory Strings, School Choir, School Orchestra, Trumpet Ensemble, Taiko Snives RIKU 1 and KAZE 3.

Annual Concert 2 at 6:30pm Thursday 15 November in the School Hall

Groups performing:

Bambini and Pennington Strings, Barrios Guitar Ensemble, Bergonzi Strings, Blues Guitar Group, Kain and Ogden Guitar Ensembles, Maffey String Ensemble, RJ Lee Singers, Stevens Wind Ensemble, Saxophone Ensemble, Senior Strings, St Ives Brass, Taiko Snives SORA 2 and HONOH 4.

Click here for the Week 3 Music Timetable. Parents please note this is subject to change.

Years 2-5 strings and band instrument try-outs 2.00-4.00pm Saturday 10 November in the School Hall

This opportunity is open to boys whose parents intend to enrol their son in music lessons through the School next year. Boys who would like to learn a brass, woodwind or string instrument with the aim of joining a band, orchestra or string ensemble, are invited to come along on Saturday 10 November. Our music tutors will be here to assess boys on clarinet, saxophone, flute, bassoon, cornet, trumpet, trombone, euphonium, violin, viola and cello.

Extra lessons

Some boys reach their 30 lesson annual total quite early in Term 4. If music tutors are able to offer extra lessons until Week 7, your son will bring home a form which needs to be returned immediately so that lessons can either be scheduled or stopped. Any questions, please do not hesitate to contact the Music Office. 

Year 5 - Instrumental Music Scholarship Auditions – 1.00-3.00pm Monday 29 October

First round auditions take place from 1.00pm next Monday and boys’ times will be listed in the Bulletin (read out to boys at the start of each day). A reminder that vocal auditions are held the following week. Good luck boys!

College Street Music Scholarships

Boys currently in Year 5 may also wish to apply for a Music Scholarship to College Street in 2020.  Forms will be available via the College Street website later in Term 4.  The closing date for registration will be in March 2019.  

Diary Dates:

Scholars’ Concert at 6.30pm Friday 2 November in the School Hall

Annual Concert 1 at 6.30pm Thursday 8 November in the School Hall

Annual Concert 2 at 6.30pm Thursday 15 November in the School Hall

Saturday Sport

All boys in Years 3-6 made an excellent start to their Term 4 Summer Sport season last week. Saturday Sport continues this week with Round Eight. 

Fixture updates

Team sheets  and all fixture changes can be found by clicking here. Team Sheets will be uploaded onto the website each Thursday by lunchtime.

Ball and Boy sessions and Summer Sport training 

Ball and Boy sessions continue this week. Please click here to access all training times and days for Term 4. All boys in Years 2-6 are encouraged to attend.

Annual Biathlon and Triathlon House competition

The Annual Biathlon (Years 3 and 4) and Triathlon (Years 5 and 6) was held today during School Sport time. It was great to see boys improve on their personal bests!

Swimming

Swim team training continues on Monday morning in preparation for the Trinity Invitational Carnival to be held next week on Friday, 2 November. I wish the boys attending this event all the best. 

P-2 Swimming 

All Swimming lessons will commence next week, where boys will be involved in 4 x 30 minute sessions. The programme is safe and supportive of all abilities and will prepare the boys for their races in Week 4. Boys in Preschool and Kindergarten will be in small groups and have their own coach to tailor the lesson to each boy’s needs. Boys in Year 1 & 2 will have Mr Cook and another coach to support the boys with any specific needs.

Boys are required to bring their labelled swimmers, goggles and towel on Monday and leave it at school for the week. 

P-2 Swimming Carnival

All races are modified to suit each boy's own ability and confidence in the water.

Parents are not to permitted to attend the lessons, but can support their son at the Carnival on Friday 9 November.

Programme of Events (times are approximate)

11.05am Welcome

11.15am Year 2 Medley

11.25am Year 2 Freestyle

11.40am Preschool Freestyle

11.50am Year 1 Freestyle

12.00pm Year 2 Backstroke

12.15pm Kindergarten Freestyle

12.25pm Year 2 Breaststroke

12.35pm Year 1 Backstroke

12.45pm Year 2 Butterfly

12.55pm Year 2 House Relay

Mr B Townley-Jones

The Year 3 Boys have been undertaking a ‘Measure This!’ unit. Over the past two weeks they have been learning how to measure length and area using informal and formal units and a variety of measuring equipment.

They have thoroughly enjoyed measuring the school grounds and classrooms!

Mrs S Taylor

Boys currently in Year 5

Parents of boys currently in Year 5 may be interested in applying for a scholarship for Form I (College St) in 2020. The Scholarship Examination will be held on Sunday 10 February 2019. Click here to register online (closing date is 1 February 2019).