SGS crest

Volume 54 No. 13

From the Headmaster

It is rather daunting to consider the extensive range of what our boys and staff have been achieving across this very busy term. Of late we have enjoyed a range of concerts, performances, exhibitions, as well as the various end-of-season functions which have typified collectively the ongoing determination and ambition of our boys and staff to do things as well as can be done, and to do so with a camaraderie which I feel is quite uniquely ‘Grammar’.

Of course, as Term III reaches its conclusion, we reflect on the reality that our Form VI boys are coming to the end of their time here at College Street as they ready themselves for the HSC examinations. This is both an exciting and a very nostalgic time for those boys. Our Form VI of 2018 have been a delightful group of young men to get to know, and I will miss them greatly.
 
I wish everyone well for the upcoming holiday.

Dr RB Malpass

    From the Deputy Headmaster (Co-curricular)

    Duke of Edinburgh's Award Scheme

    The school holiday period is an excellent time for all boys to update their logs and if they have completed a hike, to do their hike reports and submit them to the correct assessors for sign off (e.g. Collaroy, Somerset).

    For each of the other areas, Volunteering, Skills and Physical, boys should set up the correct assessor in each category. They should NOT nominate me as the assessor unless it is for School Orchestra. For school sport, Mr Alan Campbell is the assessor. Please download the following document 'Information about the Duke of Edinburgh Scheme at Sydney Grammar' (click here) to obtain other assessors.

    Boys in Form VI are reminded that they need to complete all components BEFORE they finish school, either by the end of this term or after their HSC examinations, otherwise they cannot be signed-off by Sydney Grammar School. I need to know which option boys are taking and Form VI boys intending to complete their awards should see me urgently if they have not already done so.

    Ms RM Fin

      From the Acting Director of Music

      Form VI - return of instruments and clearing lockers, AMEB practical examinations and the Australian Combined Music Festival 2019

      Form VI

      All boys in Form VI who currently hire a school instrument must return it to the Music Department before the end of term. Form VI instrument lockers also need to be cleared before the end of term.

      Instruments should be returned to:

      Strings: Mr Nijs

      Woodwind: Dr Busan

      Brass: Mr Howard

      Percussion: Mr Scotland

       

      AMEB practical examinations

      Most boys entered for an AMEB instrumental examination will take them Monday 10 September to Friday 21 September. These examinations will be held at College Street and boys will receive notification of the exact day and time from their instrumental teacher.

      Australian Combined Music Festival 2019

      Sydney Grammar School is hosting the 21st Australian Combined School Music Festival (ACSMF) in 2019. Over 300 ACSMF pupils from over eight schools around Australia will need to be accommodated during the Festival (Wednesday 26 June to Saturday 29 June 2019). This is a call out to all SGS families who would like to and are able to billet our guests.

      If you are interested in discussing the opportunity to billet a ACSMF student, please contact Ms Francisca Sjahry on 9332-5895 or email foms@sydgram.nsw.edu.au.
       
      Mr PR Gaske

       

      • Term III Concert
        Term III Concert
      • Term III Concert
        Term III Concert

      From the Sportsmaster

      Holiday Camps

      Holiday Tennis Camp

      School holiday tennis camp will run from Tuesday 2 October until Friday 5 October 2018. 

      Preparatory School boys will attend from 9am until noon and College Street boys will attend from 1pm until 4pm. For further details, please click here.

      Holiday Cricket Camp

      School holiday cricket camp will run from Thursday 11 to Friday 12 October 2018.

      Available to Preparatory Schools (Year 3 - 6) and College Street (Forms I and II) from 9am - 12noon. For further details, please click here.

      Mr MA Curran

       

        From the Librarian

        Library School Holiday Hours

        The Library will be open from 9am to 3pm during the school holiday period. Boys attending the Library during this time are required to sign in and out at the General Office. 

        Dr J Hughes

          Upcoming Events

          Belvoir Theatre Subscription 2019

          An opportunity exists for members of next year’s Form V to attend up to six plays as part of the 2019 Belvoir Season. The Belvoir is one of Australia’s most respected companies and their theatre in Surry Hills is an iconic space within easy walking distance of Sydney Grammar School.

          This will be the ninth year Grammar has run this subscription program, and every year boys have been rewarded by eclectic, stimulating and challenging theatre made by some of Australia’s foremost practitioners.

          Amongst plays on offer are an exciting collaborative work with a set of Sri Lankan companies, performed in the Town Hall; a one-woman show by one of our finest practitioners, Kate Mulvaney; a revival of a smash-hit indigenous work combining music and story-telling; a new indigenous work; Andrew Bovell, one of Australia's most respected playwrights (Speaking in Tongues, The Secret River) and his most recent work, toured to acclaim in Britain; and the iconic pairing of Brecht (The Life of Galileo) and Colin Friels. Boys wishing to attend this exciting season need to commit to seeing all of the chosen plays. The cost is approximately $280.
           
          To book a place in this group for your son currently in Form IV, please email Mr Peter Rudge at epr@sydgram.nsw.edu.au, by Monday 24 September.

          Mr EP Rudge

            From the Master in Charge of Drama

            Peter Pan

            Come along for the journey of J.M. Barrie’s Peter Pan. Tickets are free and reservations a must. A gold coin collection will happen on the day of each performance in honour of the JM Barrie legacy. All proceeds will go to the Sydney Children’s Hospital.

            Performance dates are Friday 19 October 2018 at 6:00pm and Sunday 21 October 2018 at 2:00pm.

            Reserve your ticket for FREE at TryBooking

            For further details, please click here 

            GD Wilson

             

              Upcoming Tours

              Hawaii Volcanoes Science Tour

              New Dates (Thursday 3 October - Saturday 12 October 2019)

              In the last week of the September/October school holidays, 2019 Science Beyond the Curriculum is presenting Grammar boys, siblings and parents with an exciting opportunity to undertake an eight-day geological exploration of Hawaii. 

               

              The itinerary will most likely be:

              DAY 1 – Transport to accommodation. Local orientation and talk on the Big Island.

              DAY 2 – Hawaii Volcanoes National Park: Visitor Centre, Steaming Bluffs, Sulfur Banks hike, Jaggar Museum, Halema’umau overlook. Kau Desert hiking on easy trails.

              DAY 3 - Hawaii Volcanoes National Park (Introduction to Volcanic landforms): Chain of craters road day - visit eruption sites, see spatter ramparts, cinder fields of Devastation Trail. Thurston Lava Tube. Hike to Mauna Ulu lava pond and Pu’u Huluhulu.

              DAY 4 - South Point Day:  Hike to Green Sand Beach (swim). Dinner on a black sand beach and with turtle watching. Hike on easy trail. Dinner at from the most southern bakery in the USA.

              DAY 5 - Mauna Kea - Mauna Loa Day: Visit the tallest volcano on the island from sea level to summit. Explore climate zones and how they are impacted by altitude. Star gazing and observatory area tour.

              DAY 6 - Kona Day:  Snorkeling and swimming at Ho’okena Beach Park and visit Pu’uhonua o Honaunau National Historic Park. Dinner in Kona.

              DAY 7 - Ancient Volcano tour day: Akaka falls, Laupahoehoe, Point tsunami site, Wiapio Valley,
              Hulalailai overlook, Kohala views, Mauna Loa Road and picnic dinner on Hilo Bay.

              DAY 8 - Hilo sites - Coconut Island: Boiling pots, rainbow falls. Helicopter flights in morning.

              Accommodation is comprised of seven nights of hotel twin share rooms. The cost of the trip, including most meals, will be approximately $5000pp. The trip is for boys and accompanying parents. Siblings are welcome if vacancies permit. The School does not undertake to accept all applications.

              You can view a video of a similar trip run for teachers by the same organisation. The application form can be downloaded (here). Please address any questions to akbb@sydgram.nsw.edu.au

              Mr A Bowes

                SGS Women’s Association

                SGSWA Events

                'Sally Dowling SC', painted by artist Salvatore Zofrea

                Form VI Leavers’ Dinner – Thursday 20 September

                The Form VI Leavers’ Dinner is on Thursday 20 September at Cyren Bar-Grill-Seafood, Darling Harbour. The RSVP date was Monday 10 September. If you wish to attend, please contact Jenny Booth at SGSWA@sydgram.edu.au at your earliest convenience.

                SGSWA Survey

                Thank you to all who have participated in the survey thus far. To date we have received 269 submissions.

                The purpose of the survey is to review our events to better understand your interests and how you might like to engage with other Grammar mothers and carers. The survey will close on Friday 14 September. Here is a link if you would like to participate, please click here. Thank you to Wendy Searle, Sophie Lin and Sara Jackson for organising the survey. 

                Archibald Prize Artist - Salvatore Zofrea
                 
                If you have visited the Art Gallery of NSW in recent weeks, you may have recognised a familiar face amongst the gallery of distinguished portraits. A striking portrait of Sally Lancaster, a mother at the School is featured in this year’s Archibald Prize exhibit, entitled ‘Sally Dowling SC’, painted by artist Salvatore Zofrea.

                Grammar Shop

                Embroidery on Black Blazers 

                Blazers cannot be accepted for Colours and Half-Colours embroidery at the end of Term III as the Grammar Shop will not be open on Wednesday 26 September. Boys should bring their blazers in the first, second or third week of Term IV. The last day for collection of blazers will be Friday 2 November. Blazers not received by this date will have to wait until the end of the summer sports season for the next embroidery opportunity.

                Electronic Uniform Tags

                The Grammar Shop sells electronic tags which can be sewn into uniform items. The tagged item is linked to a mobile by activating a code. A sensor located at lost property will detect when a tagged item is there and the owner will receive a text message.

                The tags cost $10 for a pack of two and $20 for a pack of five. They are ideal for all uniform items, especially blazers, tracksuit jackets and jumpers.

                The Grammar Shop is open:

                Monday 12pm - 2pm
                Thursday 12pm - 5pm
                Friday 12pm - 5pm
                 
                For the Grammar Shop price list and order form click here
                For the Grammar Shop roster, please click here
                 
                Tuckshop

                For the Tuckshop roster, please click here

                Form IV Mothers' Drinks

                Please join us for informal drinks and an optional light dinner:
                Date: Thursday 13 September
                Time: 6.30pm onwards

                Place: Stanleys, 78 Stanley St, Darlinghurst

                Contacts: Jane Price hooton@bigpond.com or Kara Gabbett karagabbett@hotmail.com
                No need to RSVP, just turn up.

                Form VI Lunch

                Let’s all get together for lunch post trials and before the HSC.
                A table has been booked and the details are below:
                Date: Friday 14 September
                Venue: The Terrace Rooftop at Woollahra Hotel
                Time: 1pm onwards

                Contact Wendy Searle at searle_wendy@hotmail.com if you would like to attend so we can provide the venue with an approximate idea of numbers. It doesn't matter if you change your mind closer to the time. 

                Second-Hand Textbook Sale for Form VI 

                Date: Wednesday 19 September
                Time: 7.50am, recess and lunch (if there are still books to sell)
                Location: Grammar Shop
                A few copies of the following books only: Aeneid, Ancient Greece, Ancient Rome, Cambridge Maths 2U YR 12, Cambridge Maths 3U.
                 
                Please note that there are very few books available as there are new editions required for all of the Science subjects, Economics, Geography, Modern History, PDPHE and some Mathematics courses. 
                 
                We will also gladly accept any books you may wish to sell.

                Pink, Passion & Purpose Dinner – Wednesday 14 November

                Our annual PPP evening will be held on Wednesday 14 November from 6.30pm at the Weigall Pavilion.
                The topic will be a panel discussion on 'What Does the Future Look Like?'

                Joining the SGSWA Committee

                The SGSWA is one of the School’s volunteer parent associations that provide opportunities for parents and friends to participate in social and other activities that promote and celebrate the School and its community.

                Committee members attend two Committee meetings (CM) and one General meeting (GM) each term. The CMs take place on a Friday at Weigall Pavilion from 8.30am. They generally last 1.5-2hrs. (The GM usually occurs before one of the CMs and the AGM is in the evening in November).

                Members participate in one or two sub-committees to run an event (New Mothers' Morning Tea, Form Parties, Literary Lunch, PPP Dinner and Second-Hand Book Sale), attend our major events, and help with one or two (or more!) of the following: Open Days, Form VI Leavers' Dinner, Form I Dinner, volunteer at the Weigall canteen on Saturdays or sport days and help with stocktake at the Grammar Shop.

                We have one more CM before the AGM on Friday 19 October. Anyone who is interested in learning more about the Women's Association, please feel free to join us. The Committee is a great way to meet new friends and contribute to the School community.

                The following current incumbent executives are:
                President – Sharmila Soorian
                Vice-President: Dyan Comino (leaving at the end of the year)
                Treasurer: Carlie Losanno (leaving at the end of the year)
                Secretary: Anna Reed-Stephenson 
                Membership Secretary: Wendy Searle
                 
                Key Dates for Terms III and IV

                Thursday 20 September - Form VI Leavers’ Dinner
                Wednesday 7 November - AGM
                Wednesday 14 November – Pink, Passion & Purpose Dinner
                Friday 30 November - receiving second-hand books for Forms IV & VI, sale day for Form IV
                Monday 3 December – receiving second-hand books
                Tuesday 4 December – receiving second-hand books
                Wednesday 5 December - Second-Hand Book Sale

                SGSWA.COM.AU

                All the above information, calendar, contacts, secondhand instruments for sale and event information are available on the SGSWA website www.sgswa.com.au
                 
                Ms S Soorian

                 

                 

                  SGS Fathers’ Association

                  Annual General Meeting, Key Dates for Term IV and Contact with the Association

                  Annual General Meeting

                  Our Annual General Meeting will be held on Thursday 1 November at 6.00pm in the Foyer of the AMT. All members are welcome. Anyone wishing to join the Committee for 2018 should attend this meeting. The AGM will be followed by an informal dinner and we will provide the TryBooking details in the next newsletter.

                  Committee members attend two to three Committee meetings each term. The meetings take place on a Thursday evening at 6pm and last approximately one hour. Members participate in events throughout the year which range from BBQ activities to supporting our events for new parents and other functions. Next year, we will be looking for two BBQ Coordinators to share the duties of managing the BBQs we hold during the winter terms.

                  If you would like to nominate yourself for a position on the Committee or have any questions, please contact either myself or Wendy Scotter in the SGSFA office on 9332 5843 or email sgsfa@sydgram.nsw.edu.au

                  Key Dates for Term IV

                  Thursday 1 November  - AGM followed by dinner at a local restaurant.
                  Wednesday 21 November - Weigall BBQ for House Sports Day.
                   
                  Contact with the Association

                  Please feel free to contact the Fathers' Association about any matters of interest to you. The Association is only too happy to help. The most direct method of contact is via email sgsfa.president@gmail.com

                  SGSFA Website

                  We have launched our new website located at www.sgsfa.com.au which includes links to the BBQ roster, our newsletters and other information. We welcome your comments or suggestions.

                  Mr M Scotter