NAPLAN

Next Term, boys in Forms I and III will sit tests in literacy and numeracy as part of the National Assessment Program – Literacy and Numeracy (NAPLAN). The boys will be completing NAPLAN this year using pen and paper. The tests will be conducted on the 14, 15 and 16 May. The dates, which are set by the Government, are one week before our Half-Yearly Examinations begin. Information about the NAPLAN Tests and our examination timetable will be provided before the end of this Term.
 
Form V and VI Assessment
 
Boys in Forms V and VI will be completing non-examination style assessment tasks in clusters towards the end of Term I and Term II. Form V will complete Annual Examinations in Term III. There are no Half-Yearly Examinations for Form V. Form VI will complete Trial Examinations in Term III. There are no Half-Yearly Examinations for Form VI.

Form V

Boys in Form V will attend school as normal throughout the assessment cluster: normal classes will continue, except where special arrangements are needed for all boys to complete an assessment in a given subject at the same time. Assessments will be completed in regular class settings with the boys’ regular class master as far as practical.

Form VI

For boys in Form VI, note these special arrangements during the assessment cluster:

Monday 25 March – all boys in Form VI have a “stuvac” day: no attendance at school.

Tuesday 26 March to Monday 1 April inclusive – boys in Form VI attend school only for their scheduled assessment tasks (normal uniform requirements).

Tuesday 2 April to Thursday 4 April – all Form VI boys attend school as normal and complete assessment tasks during regular timetabled classes.

Medical Certificates

For all boys in Form V and Form VI, any lateness or absence during the assessment period must be justified by a medical certificate from a doctor who is not a relative.

Students Online: Forms IV, V & VI

All boys in Forms IV, V and VI have now been enrolled in their respective courses with NESA. Boys should now access their Students Online account with NESA to check their details, and add any personal contact details as appropriate. During their senior years, boys can use their Students Online accounts to find out information about the HSC, and to check their RoSA grades and HSC results. Please visit the following link.

Note that boys will need to use their School email account to get access to their Students Online account, please click here.

Maths Clinic

Monday and Thursday mornings, 7:40-8:20am, HB2

Boys who need extra help in Mathematics may find that the Maths Clinic meets their need. Maths Clinic runs every Monday and Thursday morning from 7:40am to 8:20am and is aimed at boys from any Form at any level.

If a boy is stuck on his homework, or just needs further help mastering a topic or catching up on missed work, the Maths Clinic is open for boys to bring general questions and specific tasks from their homework that they need help solving.

Boys are welcome to come occasionally, or weekly if they need more regular assistance. Some boys have found it a great place to do their Mathematics homework in a quiet environment in the morning before school.

When a boy seems to be struggling with his studies in Mathematics, parents sometimes consider tutoring as an option. Before moving in this direction, parents should consider whether their son is working conscientiously on his homework, engaged in class, seeking assistance from his teacher, and also making appropriate use of the Maths Clinic.

Dr AD Stevens

Medical Updates

It is vital that parents login into the School portal and update their son’s medical and emergency contact information. Please refer to the email reminder that was sent to families who have not yet completed this and follow the instructions here to confirm that our records are accurate, or to make changes.

Boys’ Electronic Communication with Staff at School

All boys are required to use their school emails for communication with any member of staff at the School. Information regarding Email, Schoology, School Apps, and login procedures can be accessed here. This information is also available on the School website located under quicklinks.

If any boy is having problems accessing any of the above, he should see the Technical Services staff, situated in the office in the Library. 

Duke of Edinburgh's Award Scheme

The Sydney Grammar School Athletics Championships coincided with the deadline for the Adventurous Journey permission forms (Wednesday 20 March). The deadline has now been extended and forms can be handed in by Friday 22 March. The hike permission form is located on the School website (please download the current form).

Ms RM Fin

Professor Tim Flannery Forum - Wednesday 15 May

I am delighted to announce that Professor Tim Flannery will be speaking at Grammar on the evening of Wednesday 15 May. Prof. Flannery has been recently appointed to the Australian Museum as Distinguished Visiting Fellow in Climate Change. His presentation, titled “Where are the jobs in the future clean economy?”, will be of interest to both boys and their parents. An invitation to this event will be sent closer to the date.

Mental Health Forum - Accessing Recording of Presentation and Hand-Outs

Parents who were unable to attend our Forum on mental health two weeks ago, are reminded that they can access a recording of the presentation and related hand-outs via the link Navigating your Teen's Mental Health under quick links on the Parent Portal.

Brent Sanders Presentation - Monday 8 April

Form V parents will be interested to know that we have invited Brent Sanders to speak to our Form V boys during the last week of term. The seminar, which will be held during school time, will address current issues that confront young men and will cover topics such as responsibility, respect, self-discipline and consent. Brent, originally from a police background, regularly lectures to school and university students in the areas of self-protection, conflict psychology and self-motivation. He was very well-received by last year’s Form V and we look forward to welcoming him back on Monday 8 April.

Mrs FM Wyndham

Sydney Grammar School Music Tour to Europe (2020)

The Music Department is organising a Music Tour to Europe in 2020. This tour will be open to boys in Forms III to VI in 2020. It will be for about two weeks in the June/July holidays.

A concert programme will be formed from the group of boys electing to tour – vocal and instrumental!

Musical Highlights include:

Masterclass at the Liszt Academy led by one of their finest musicians
Performance in the renowned Mattias Church or Fisherman’s Bastion, Budapest
Attend a concert and perform at Müpa (Palace of Arts), Budapest
Private guided tour of the Bartok Museum
Performance in Hviezdoslav Square, Klarisky Music Hall or St Martin’s Cathedral, Bratislava
Performance in the St Nicholas Church on the Old Town Square, Prague
Participate in a workshop at the International School of Music and Arts, Prague
Performance in the wonderful atrium of the Czech Museum of Music
Private backstage tour of the Estates Theatre, Prague
Enjoy an evening of traditional Czech Music in an authentic venue
Perform as part of the Mass and a concert in Linz Cathedral – the largest church in Austria 
Enjoy a private recital on the world-famous organ played by Anton Bruckner in the Abbey of St Florian. There may be a performance opportunity in the Abbey
Performance at St Stephen’s Cathedral, Vienna
Perform at Schönbrunn Palace or the Volksgarten, Hofburg Palace
Possible performance in the House of Music in Vienna
Backstage tour of the Vienna Opera House

An information evening will be held on Wednesday 3 April at 6:00pm in the Wallace King Room (WKR). Parking will be available in the Middle Playground from 5:45pm. Boys and their parents are encouraged to attend.

If your son is interested in participating in this tour, please complete the expression of interest form (click here) and return this form to Ms Sjahry at the Music Reception by Monday 25 March.

The Head of the River is the final event of the 2019 AAGPS summer sports program. With the athletics season now held in Term III, boys move straight into their winter sport. This is a reminder to both parents and boys, that boys are not allowed to commit to one sport for the year. It is very difficult when boys decide that they wish to commit to outside training for their summer sport thinking this extra work will enhance their performance in the 2020 summer season. Reports from recent scientific studies on elite athletes show that boys need cross training and benefit time away from their chosen sport.

All requests for exemption from a Saturday fixture should reach the Sportsmaster no later than the preceding Wednesday. Please note that exemptions cannot be assumed. In the case of an emergency where a boy is named in a team to play on Saturday but is unable to attend, the Director or Master-in-Charge should be notified in the first instance. The procedure for volleyball and rifles will be communicated to boys by the Master-in-Charge.
 
Boys in Forms I-V are required to play winter sport and attend training twice a week. Form VI boys who choose to play winter sport are committed to that sport for the whole season. They are required to attend scheduled practice sessions as well as the Saturday game. Winter practice arrangements are published on the School website.
 
Boys will only be excused from attendance at training because of an injury, if they cannot participate at all, even in a modified way.

Important Dates for Rugby

Saturday 30 March - Rugby Tens' Tournament 8:00am - 4:00pm (Weigall)
Saturday 6 April - Full School Fixture v St Patrick's College, Strathfield (Strathfield)
Friday 12 April - Sunday 14 April – AIS Rugby Tour - U13 and Opens Rugby
Monday 15 April - First XV Squad v Hale School 3:00pm (Weigall)
Friday 26 April - Weigall Rugby Camp (Preparatory Schools and U13 - U15 Rugby)
Friday 26 April - Saturday 27 April - Narrabeen Rugby Camp (Open and U16 Rugby)
 
Level of Competition

All teams scheduled for fixtures in rugby will be matched against teams of equal standard. This means that on occasions our “A” teams may be playing other School's “B” or “C” teams with a flow-on effect to our “B” and “C” team levels.

Safety in Rugby

Rugby Australia has implemented a new ‘Size for Age Guidelines’ as an initiative to ensuring the safety, welfare and enjoyment of all of our junior participants. If you have questions about this initiative, please contact Mr Mark Philp, Director of Rugby at mmp@sydgram.nsw.edu.au.
 
Rugby Training

All boys are required to attend their two nominated training sessions per week (Monday and Wednesday – Forms I, II and III; Tuesday and Thursday – Forms IV, V and VI). All injured boys are required to attend training as part of their compulsory sports commitment and return to play process. Injured boys will train under the guidance of our Physiotherapist on site at Weigall and assist their team's training sessions.
 
Optional Extra Training Sessions

All boys in rugby have the option to join the following sessions in the Sydney Grammar School Gymnasium:
Wednesday – 7:00am to 8:15am – Skills and Physical Development
Friday – 7:15am to 8:15am – Movement Skills and Unit Skills

Mouthguards

Boys playing contact sport are required to wear a properly fitted mouthguard both at training and at matches. Boys who turn up to training without their mouthguard will be provided with a new “unfitted” mouthguard, the cost ($20) of which will be charged to your son's account. Boys must not lend their mouthguards to other boys. 

Lost Property

Lost property from the Boatshed and Weigall is currently located outside the Sergeant’s Office. Please collect lost items before the end of Term.

Mr MA Curran

Details of Dry Glazed Wheel-Thrown and Manipulated Ceramics

The Headmaster warmly invites you to attend the official opening of

Touch – Recent Ceramics

By Simone Fraser, Art Fellow 2019

Thursday 28 March

Drinks 5:30pm – 8:00pm

Level 6, Stanley Street entrance

Limited parking will be available on the Middle Playground
 
Exhibition open for general admission Friday 29 March – Wednesday 10 April from 9:30am - 4:30pm

Sydney Grammar School is proud to announce the launch of our very own expedition to Cambodia, set for the June/July school holidays in 2020. The programme will be run by Antipodeans who are specialists in this area. We are hoping to see a group of inspiring young men from Sydney Grammar School embark on this life altering program of service and experience. 

For two weeks the boys will lead their way around the country and partake in an incredible, sustainable community project whilst working and living with local Cambodian families. They will trek, have adventures and take in all that Cambodia has to offer. We extend an invitation to parents and boys to attend our Information evening on Wednesday 5 June at 6:30pm in the Palladium Theatre.

This is being offered to boys currently in Forms III and IV and would be ideal for boys wanting to do their Residential Project for the Gold Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Scheme.

Mr J Rimmer

Our sincere thanks to the Headmaster, Dr Malpass, who generously hosted our morning tea for new College Street mothers at his residence. It was a wonderful morning enjoyed by all. We would also like to thank all the committee members who made delicious sweet and savoury treats for the morning tea.

Thank you also to the volunteers who helped at the Open Day on Thursday 14 March.
 
Weigall Canteen

Volunteers are needed for first Saturday sports day at Weigall on Saturday 30 March. This is a big day for the canteen as it is the Rugby Tens’ Tournament with a lot of very hungry boys and visiting families. If you can volunteer to work, please use the following link. We will need a lot of food and you can drop it off any time throughout the course of the day. Please click here to indicate what food you will bring as this helps us ensure we have a good mix of food available.

Form Parties

Form parties are a wonderful way to meet other parents in your son’s year group. This is a parents and carers only event. Tickets are $55 per person and can be purchased through Trybooking. For Form parties for Forms III, IV, V and VI, please click here
 
Saturday 6 April - Form Party for Forms III, IV, V and VI: 7:00pm (Big School)
Saturday 4 May - Form Party for Forms I and II: 7:00pm (Big School) - Trybooking link to follow

Form I and II BBQ

Invitations have been emailed to all Form I and II families to join us for the BBQ on Sunday 24 March at Weigall (from 12:00pm to 3:00pm). We do hope that boys, their families and friends are available to attend. There will be $3 gluten-free sausages and $2 drinks available for purchase. Thank you to the Senior Head Prefect, Peter Taurian, and Form VI Prefects who will be helping with the cooking of the sausages. This will be a great opportunity for parents and boys to come and talk to the Prefects about their experiences at the School. All funds raised will be donated to the Form VI's charity of choice, AIME. We are also looking for volunteers to man the stall for half an hour to sell sausages and drinks. If you can help or have any questions, please contact Sharmila Soorian at sharmila.soorian@ihug.com.au. To RSVP, please click here.

Literary Lunch - Friday 10 May

Our annual Literary Lunch will be held on Friday 10 May at the Boatshed. This year we are delighted to have Australian Novelist, Editor and Performer, Jessica Dettmann, to present her book, How to Be Second Best. Thank you Wendy Searle for securing Jessica Dettman as a speaker. Tickets will go on sale on Monday 1 April for SGSWA members and then to the public via the School’s Newsletter on Wednesday 3 April. Please book early to avoid disappointment. Tickets are $70 per person and we have allocated one ticket per person. You may nominate up to two names of whom you may wish to sit with and we will do our best to have you seated together.
 
We will also be running a silent auction at the Literary Lunch. Do you have items to donate that the SGSWA could use as a prize in the fundraiser? Holiday packages, wines, books, jewellery, handbags to suggest a few. Please let us know if you can contribute to the prize pool by sending an email to Sharmila Soorian at sharmila.soorian@ihug.com.au. All silent auction proceeds and contributions will be donated to Share the Dignity, a charity for women.

Grammar Shop

Jumpers and vests are now in stock. Boys requiring embroidery of Colours and Half Colours on their black blazers should bring them to the Shop after the summer sports awards have been presented in Assembly so that the blazers can be returned prior to Term II. A reminder to get your boys to come to the Shop well before the end of the term to purchase their grey jackets and black blazers.
 
The Grammar Shop is open:
Monday 12:00pm - 2:00pm
Thursday 12:00pm - 5:00pm
Friday 12:00pm- 5:00pm
 
A current Grammar Shop price list and order form is available by clicking here

For Grammar Shop roster please click here
 
Membership

As a Sydney Grammar School mother you are welcome to be a member of our Association with a one-off membership fee of $100. The Association is dedicated to supporting and building our school community. If you have not already provided your contact details, or need to update your details please contact Jenny Booth at sgswa@sydgram.nsw.edu.au or complete an online form. This will enable us to keep you up to date and send out invitations.
 
Save the Dates

Please note the following events and meeting dates for Term I and II:

Sunday 24 March - Form I and II BBQ, 12:00pm (Weigall) 
Saturday 6 April - Parent Party for Forms III to VI, 7:00pm (Big School)
Friday 3 May - General Meeting, 8:30am (Weigall Pavilion)
Saturday 4 May – Parent Party for Forms I and II, 7:00pm (Big School)
Friday 10 May - Literary Lunch, 11:30am (Boatshed)
Tuesday 21 May – Committee Meeting 6:00pm (AMTF)

General and Committee Meetings - (All Welcome)

General and Committee meeting on Friday 3 May at 8:30am in the Weigall Pavilion
Committee meeting on Tuesday 21 May at 6:00pm in AMTF
General and Committee meeting on Friday 26 July at 8:30am in the Weigall Pavilion
Committee meeting on Tuesday 20 August at 6:00pm in AMTF 
AGM and Committee meeting on Wednesday 6 November at 6:30pm in the AMTF
Committee meeting on Friday 22 November at 8:30am in the Weigall Pavilion

All the above information, calendar, contacts and event information is available on the SGSWA website.

Ms S Soorian

Winter BBQs

As the winter sports season approaches, we are preparing to conduct BBQs at the pre-season and GPS winter sport competition matches at Weigall.

Thank you to all who helped out with the BBQ at the Sydney Grammar School Athletics Championships.

The Rugby Tens’ Tournament on Saturday 30 March is a big event. All fathers are invited to come along and assist. Please enter your details here to register. This is a great opportunity to join other fathers and be directly involved in supporting our boys, whilst enjoying the exciting atmosphere of the tournament. 

BBQ Dates at Weigall – Terms I and II

Saturday 30 March
Saturday 11 May
Saturday 18 May
Saturday 25 May
Saturday 1 June
Saturday 15 June

Committee Meetings

All fathers who are Association members are encouraged to attend the meetings of the Committee held at 6.00pm on the first Thursday of the month that fall during Term. The meetings are held at the School in room SB8, are quite informal and are generally over within the hour. Our next meeting is on Thursday 4 April at 6:00pm.

All the above information, calendar, contacts and event information is available on the SGSFA website.

Mr M Scotter