The School is in the middle of a number of concerts; we commenced with the Scholars’ Concert a few weeks ago and will culminate with Presentation Day on 4 December.

I simply cannot get enough of listening to the boys play music and watching them perform from the very young boys in the Bambini Ensemble to the ‘Tour de Force’ that is the 90 strong School Orchestra. I try very hard not to take for granted the quality of performances across the School and it is easy to forget that these boys are still only in Primary School. 

More importantly, I am grateful for what the opportunities and exposure to Music will give to them – socially, emotionally and academically, and how that transfers to their reading, mathematics and learning Italian for example. My hope is that this gift of music will be with them for decades to come.

I found this excellent quote on the benefits of Music.

Why Music?

I Music is a Science

II Music is Mathematical

III Music is a Foreign Language

IV Music is History

V Music is Physical Education

VI Music Develops Insight and Demands Research

VII Music is all of these things but most of all, Music is Art

• That is why we teach music…

• Not because we expect you to major in Music…

• Not because we expect you to play or sing all your life…

• But so you will be human…

• So you will recognise beauty…

• So you will be closer to an infinite beyond this world…

• So you will have something to cling to…

• So you will have more love, more compassion, more gentleness, more good

• In short, more LIFE

I would like to bring to your attention a landmark new ABC documentary that highlights the transformative effects of teaching music in primary schools. ‘Don’t Stop the Music’ follows one underprivileged Australian primary school in Perth and captures the School’s journey to musical literacy. Under the guidance of musical mentor, Guy Sebastian, the cameras followed a group of Year 4 students from Challis Community Primary School as they commenced their new music education programme with instruments donated by the community.

It was a magical experience watching the first episode last Sunday night. I witnessed the way music has far-reaching effects beyond the classroom and showcased some truly inspirational educators, including the wonderful principal who had a dream of having a band play in Assembly. Something I certainly take for granted.

I encourage you to find the first episode on IView and then watch the next one this Sunday night on ABC at 8.00pm.

The series goes hand-in-hand with a national impact campaign to encourage all Australians to donate funds or their old instruments so that every public school in Australia can build a music programme into their curriculum. A tragic fact that 63% of primary schools across Australia offer no classroom music. Access to quality music education in schools has become highly inequitable.

Musica Viva has joined forces with ABC TV and the Salvation Army to call on the public to donate money or instruments to bring music programmes to more schools. You can make a donation (of money or instruments) through Musica Viva’s Equal Music Fund or drop your instruments to any Salvation Army store.

Mr I Stephens

Some fabulous ‘academic’ words for this week!

Eagle-witted – extremely clever

Dapperwit – quick-minded young man

Sharpshins – an intelligent child (and also someone who runs quickly)

Head-languager (old Yorkshire) – a scholar or schoolmaster

Pericranics – intelligence, wits or mental faculties. This one is said to originate in the 1800s, presumably based on pericrane/pericranium which is the anatomical name for the thin membrance that covers the outside of the skull.

And our final word for this week (quite apt considering The Night of the Notables is on next Monday night) einsteinium – a mathematical or scientific genius.

I wish all eagle-witted dapperwits, sharpshins and head-languagers (and parents) a wonderful (hopefully relaxing) weekend in this very busy time of year!

Words of the Week – Week 6

Year 1 steer

Year 2 fortunate

Year 3 jagged

Year 4 indicate

Year 5 exert

Year 6 facilitate

Mrs C Greenup

Presentation Day

Presentation Day on Tuesday 4 December will be conducted in the John Vallance Hall at College Street - the entrance for which is via Yurong Street, Darlinghurst. The whole School will attend the ceremony which commences at 1.30pm. Boys are not required to come to St Ives in the morning but meet at College Street at their designated arrival time indicated below. 

Seating and Tickets

Boys from Kindergarten to Year 6 will sit in allocated seats and Preschool boys will sit with their parents in a reserved area. As in previous years there will not be any allocated seats for parents in the John Vallance Hall. Parents are asked to obtain a general ticket by clicking here, and sit in any seat that is not reserved for Presentation Day. It is important to obtain tickets for Presentation Day. Those unable to access the internet may contact the School Office to obtain a general ticket. Parents of Preschool boys do not need to book seats, as three seats have been reserved for each boy and his family. 

Arrival times

As boys in Kindergarten to Year 6 arrive, they are to meet their Form Masters at a designated room in the Foyer and parents are asked to move straight to the Hall. Arrival times for boys are staggered to avoid congestion in the Hall Foyer entrance. All class marshalling points and rooms will be clearly labelled with bright blue signs.

Boys in the Maffey Strings, Trumpet Ensemble, Barrios Guitar and Alhambra Guitar are to arrive at 12.00pm for a rehearsal. Boys will meet Music Staff (Mrs Fane, Mr Vickers and Miss Murray), be marked present, and then make their way into the Hall for a rehearsal.

All other boys in Years 3-6 are to arrive at 12.30pm. Boys are to meet their Form Master in the class marshalling room off the Foyer area. They will be marked present, and wait with their Form Master, who will take them into the Hall as a class. Parents are to leave their sons and move into the Hall to an unreserved seat.

Boys in Years K-2 are to arrive at 12.50pm. Boys are to meet their Form Master at the class marshalling room off the Foyer area. They will be marked present, and wait with their Form Master, who will take them into the Hall as a class. Parents are to leave their sons and move into the Hall to an unreserved seat.

Preschool boys are to arrive at 1.00pm. Boys and parents will meet Mrs Higgins at the class marshalling point in the Foyer area. They will be marked present and Mrs Higgins, boys and parents will then enter the Hall and sit in their reserved seats.

Please note the only entry doors for the Hall are: Doors 5 & 6 to the Stalls, Door 8 to the Lower South Gallery and Door 2 to the Lower North Gallery. Please fill the available seats without leaving gaps. Seats or rows without a reserved sign are available for parents and visitors. If the Stalls and Lower Galleries are totally full, then we will open up the Upper North and South Galleries. Please note that if you have a child with you under 8 years of age, they are not allowed to sit in the front row of the Lower or Upper Galleries for safety reasons. 

Conclusion

At the conclusion of the ceremony, at approximately 2.40pm, Mr Fraser will ask all parents and adults in the audience to remain in their seats until boys are taken to their class marshalling points and rooms for dismissal. These will be the same points that boys were brought to on arrival. Mr Fraser will then direct parents to leave the Hall and collect their sons from their Form Master. All boys need to be checked off the class roll by their Form Masters before leaving. From the Foyer area, there are three ways to leave the School; via Yurong Street, as per entry earlier in the day, by the exits which are found by heading back in the other direction, up steps, across the upper playground and either out through exits into Stanley Street or College Street. These stairways will be clearly labelled on the day.

It is recommended that all families use public transport on Presentation Day. Please note there will be no parking within the Senior School at College Street.

Presentation Day Rehearsal at College St – Thursday 29 November

On Thursday 29 November, boys in Kindergarten and Years 3-6 will travel to College Street by bus for Presentation Day rehearsals.

Kindergarten boys will leave at 8.45am sharp, so it is important that they are at School on time. They will return to St Ives by 11.00am. Kindergarten boys can have a Tuckshop order on this day, as they will be back for lunch.

Boys in Years 3-6 will be at College St for longer, and will need to take their lunch and recess with them, so please supply disposable containers and a plastic bag (labelled) to make it easier. No Tuckshop orders for boys in Years 3-6 on this day. 

Thank you and congratulations to all boys in Years 3-6 for the dignity and respect they displayed during the Remembrance Day Assembly on Monday morning.

Mr D Fraser

Arcangelo Strings

Congratulations to all the performers in last night’s Annual Concert 2. You were outstanding! Our Annual Concerts are such a wonderful celebration of music. Each evening salutes the dedication and commitment of all the boys and staff. Bravo!!

Charity Concert

Arcangelo Strings will be presenting a charity concert to be held in the School Hall on Friday 23 November at 3:30pm. Please join and support the boys in an afternoon of chamber music and solos for a good cause. Donations will be gladly accepted and passed onto Sir Eric Woodward School.

Ensembles

Once a group has performed at their Annual Concert, there are no further rehearsals for the year with the exception of those playing at Presentation Day. Particular note must be made for boys in Barrios and Alhambra Guitar Ensembles. You will share a combined rehearsal on Wednesday mornings at 7:30am in the Music Room to prepare for Presentation Day.

Summer Holiday Instrument Hire or Return

Your son’s hired instrument needs either to be hired for the holidays or returned after his final lesson or performance. Please pick up a holiday hire form from the Music Office and be sure to include your son’s instrument ID number in the space provided. The $30 holiday hire fee will be billed to your next account. Music tutors will also hand out copies during lessons. Boys in Year 6 or School Orchestra will need to return instruments to School on Wednesday 5 December for servicing. Please note that if returning a hired instrument, it must be left with a music staff member and NOT in the storeroom or elsewhere. 

Hired Instruments

Instruments requiring servicing will be collected by music tutors after final lessons and should be available to collect from school on Wednesday 5 December for those taking out holiday hire. 

Taiko Drumming 2019

Group lessons in Japanese taiko drumming are available to boys in Years 5 and 6. Boys currently in Year 4 will bring home an application form during Week 1 next year. 

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. 

Music lessons 2019

Application forms are available from the Music Office and also from Reception for boys who would like to learn a musical instrument at School. Please read the Music Information section on the School website and return forms before the end of term.

Discontinuing Music Lessons

If a boy is to discontinue music lessons at School, written or emailed notice to the Music Department must be received by Friday Week 5 of a term for lessons to cease at the end of that term. However, in Term 4, notice received by Friday Week 6 (23 November) is acceptable. 

Music Timetable for Term 4 Week 6

Click here for the Week 6 Music Timetable. Parents please note this is subject to change.

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

Diary Dates

Concert for charity from 3:30pm Friday 23 November in the School Hall.

Mr M Smith

Please note, there is NO Year 6 sport training on Wednesday afternoon next week due to the Year 6 Dinner. However, Year 5 tennis and softball remain on as usual.

Saturday Sport

Saturday Sport continues this week with Round 11. 

Next week will be the last week of after School training, Saturday games and Ball and Boy sessions. Well done to all the boys for their commitment to their teams and thank you to all the parents for supporting your sons’ involvement in all aspects of the Sports programme.

An up-to-date fixture list is on the fixtures website and can be viewed by clicking here.

Team Sheets are available on the above website after lunch each Tursday.

Sports Assembly

On Friday 30 November the Sports Assembly will be held to recognise individual achievements in Athletics, Basketball, Biathlon, Cricket, Football, Rugby, Softball, Swimming, Tennis and Triathlon. The Assembly will commence at 10.00am in the School Hall.

Swimming Squad and Swimathon

The annual Swimathon for the Swim Squad was held this week on Wednesday at lunch. All boys completed between 30-60 laps of the pool in 20 minutes and finished with a morning tea by the pool. The boys have worked really well together this year and the Year 6 boys have really shown great leadership and guided the younger boys through both terms of swimming. Well done boys and congratulations on raising $215 for Sir Eric Woodward School.

Mr B Townley-Jones

Sports Camp at St Ives Wednesday 5 to Friday 7 and Monday 10 to Tuesday 11 December.

The School will be holding another Sports Camp at the beginning of the upcoming holidays. The camp is popular in all grade levels from Years 1-6 and the participants always enjoy the week. Sports included during the camp include Athletics, Cricket, Tennis, Badminton and Basketball. Morning and afternoon tea is provided for each participant.

For an added bonus, afternoon activities will include Laser Tag games.

Click here to access the camp note, including a slip that needs to be returned to Mr Cranna. Also please fill in the online booking here.

Tennis Camp at Weigall Tennis Courts

There is an opportunity for boys from both Edgecliff and St Ives Prep to attend a tennis camp at Weigall Tennis Courts between Monday 10 and Friday 14 December. Please click here for further information.

Tennis Camp at St Ives Courts

Date: 12-14 December

Time: 9.00am to 12.00pm

Cost: $135.00

Children will be graded into groups according to their ability. The camp will involve lessons on all strokes, different games and a round robin tournament.

To book call Armond on 0418 242 626.

It was exciting to welcome author Catherine Greer and the piano quartet to our assemblies today. If you are interested in purchasing your own copy of picture book Jacaranda Snow which includes the score composed by past student of St Ives Alexander Lau, please download an order form. Please return all orders to the School Office by Thursday 22 November. The orders will be returned to you before the end of our school term.

Mrs M Darin

This is a reminder that bookings for Term 1 2019 are available now.

Term 1 Swimming lessons run from Wednesday 30 January to Tuesday 9 April.

Please contact us to secure your days/times. Your booking will only be confirmed once payment is received. Download our flyer for further information.

The programme details are:

LTS: $19.00 per lesson per 1/2 hour

Squad: $32.00 per 1 hour session

Private: $69.00 per 1/2 hour

Monday 2.45-4.45pm

Tuesday 7.15-8.15am and 2.45-4.45pm  

Wednesday 7.15-8.15am and 2.45-4.45pm  

Friday 2.45-4.45pm 

We are taking bookings now for Tennis Lessons commencing 4 February 2019. Lessons are scheduled before and after School. There are various groups for boys to be involved in such as the Hot Shots Group or an Advanced Group.

For all inquiries please call Armond Djani on 0418 242 626.

After a term and a half of designing storyboards, organising costumes and props, filming scenes and editing, the Year 4 boys presented their films at the Film Festival. Congratulations boys on all your hard work and creativity! I was very proud of your films and impressed with your enthusiasm, confidence and team work. Well done!

A big thank you to Kristi Street, Mr Bulger, Mr Palethorpe, Mr Beck, Mr Derrin, Mr Palmer and the parents of Year 4 for supporting this creative venture and for helping the boys with their costumes and props. Bravo!

Ms M Wheatley

This term Year 5 have been learning about electricity. This week they were given the task use some of this knowledge, to design and construct their own wire maze that demonstrates their understanding of circuits. They then had the opportunity to take their completed circuits down to share with boys in Year 1 and 2. The boys were able to demonstrate to some of the Year 1 and 2 boys what circuits need to operate, and give them the opportunity to test out their steady hands on the wire mazes. The connection across the campus through the language of Science phenonema was fun for all.

Mrs J McCarthy

Shop Hours

The Uniform shop will be open normal hours until the end of Week 7.

Monday 2.00-4.00pm

Wednesday 7.30-9.30am.

Thursday 7.30-9.30am.

Monday 3 December the Uniform Shop will be open 7.30-9.30am.

Please note the Uniform Shop will be closed on Wednesday 21 November due to Years 1-6 Orientation Day.

2019 Shop Hours

January 23 Wednesday 9.30-10.30am ( for St Ives Uniform only)

January 29 Tuesday 8.00-10.00am

January 30 Wednesday 7.30-9.30am

January 31 Thursday 7.30-9.30am

From February 5 normal shop hours: Monday 2.00-4.15pm, Wednesday and Thursday 7.30-9.30am

Mrs W Stephens