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- No after school sport training or Ball & Boy sessions next week
- Wednesday 23 November is Crazy Moustache Day (Gold Coin donation for Movember), normal uniform
- Please take note of information in Mr Fraser's section about Thursday 24 November (Presentation Day Rehearsal for Kindergarten and Years 3-6 at College St), and about Tuckshop orders on this day.
- All parents must book tickets for Presentation Day on Tuesday 29 November by clicking here
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Presentation Day
Presentation Day on Tuesday 29 November will be conducted in The New 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. 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 in The New Hall. Parents are asked to obtain a general ticket by clicking here, and sit in any seat that is not reserved during 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 will be asked 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 Stevens Wind Ensemble, Brass Ensemble and Maffey Strings are asked to arrive at 12.00pm to meet Dr Busan, Mr Smith and Mr Vickers (respectively) for a rehearsal. Boys will meet Music Staff (Mr Smith, Mrs Fane and Mrs Potter), 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.
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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 St.
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Presentation Day Rehearsal at College St – Thursday 24 November
Next Thursday 24 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 11am. 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 plastic bag (labelled) to make it easier. No Tuckshop orders for boys in Years 3-6 on this day.
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Parking for the Year 6 Dinner tomorrow night
The School carpark, off Ayres Road, will be open for Year 6 parents who wish to park there tomorrow evening (capacity is for around 60 cars).
The carpark will be open just before 6pm, with entry through the normal ‘exit’’ gate in Ayres Road. Once through the gate, please proceed to the parking area near Mona Vale Road, and only park in one of the marked car spaces. The exit gate will remain open once the Dinner begins until the end of the evening. For those parking in Ayres Road and surrounding streets please ensure that you park legally, and with consideration of residents’ access and convenience. There will be several gates open in Ayres Road for pedestrian access.
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From the Acting Director of Pastoral Care
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This week we enjoyed our Preschool – Year 6 Buddies Family Picnic. This was a lovely opportunity for parents to join their son at school for a relaxed picnic and to meet their son’s buddy.
In these final weeks of the term, boys have reflected on the time they have spent with their buddy and the following statements capture the special relationship that develops between boys.
- My buddy helped me to learn how to swim faster.
- My buddy taught me how to jump in the water without wetting my hair!
- I like my buddy because he taught me how to swim and dive safely.
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Some boys created an award for their buddy and some messages were:
- Thank you so much Ashton, for always keeping a smile on your face
- Thank you for being my best mate. You are a great guy
- Thank you for being a kind and thoughtful buddy
- Thanks for always being positive and a great buddy
- You are an awesome buddy!
- I hope you have a great time in the rest of your schooling. I have had so much fun with you
- Thanks for being such a fantastic buddy. I hope I can still play with you in the playground next year
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We look forward to our buddy programme again in 2017 as this is an important way for the older boys to nurture wellbeing across the School.
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Movember - Crazy Moustache Day!
We look forward to welcoming boys to School with moustaches on Wednesday 23 November to have fun and to raise awareness of the Movember organisation. Boys may arrive to School wearing their crazy moustache and we will enjoy looking at a variety of different moustaches during Registration. Boys will need to wear their school uniform to School on this day.
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We are hoping that all boys will enter the colouring in competition by donating a gold coin, to help us to support men’s health.
Extra pictures for each grade were in last week's Newsletter.
I wish you all a happy, restful weekend!
Mrs M Darin
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From the Director of Studies
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I always like to think of this time of year as the ‘Quicksand Weeks’. We are in arguably the busiest couple of weeks of the year. The boys are completing final projects and the teachers are busy conferencing achievement, writing report comments and wrapping up the year.
On top of this we have a series of concerts, ceremonies, School events and social occasions for students, parents and staff.
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This all happens at a time when people are tired. It has been a fabulous year filled with learning and growth but boys, teachers and parents are weary. It is this season where tempers of young boys fray and they can begin to feel like life’s demands are piling up all around them. As the 2016 train steams into the End of Year Station can I suggest some of these points as ways to protect young exhausted boys (and possibly their slightly less young but still exhausted parents):
- Try and keep the year in perspective. We are all proud of all the boys here for their efforts. Everyone has grown, matured and developed in their learning. Some may have shone in English, others in Art, others in History but all have improved. Celebrate your son’s achievements this year especially in the subjects that have been a challenge – that is where his true strength of spirit has come through.
- Acknowledge his tiredness and discuss with him ways to cope until we hit the sweet air of holidays! Some ideas here might include; an earlier bedtime, time away from his schoolwork to relax, a family outing perhaps?
- Explain to him that he’s not the only one that is weary and discuss how being tired might make his friends and classmates possibly a bit fractious. What should he do if this happens? It takes a strong person to realise they are reacting based on their physical state and a stronger one to bring empathy for others to the table as well.
- As adults we understand the ways we manage stress. Some of us exercise; go for a walk, swim or jog. Others sit down with a light read to escape and be entertained. How does your son manage stress and tiredness? It would be a worthwhile conversation at the dinner table as he may not know himself! His way of relaxing may not be yours! On a personal note, my son loves playing FIFA (PlayStation) with his mates. Now all the yelling and excitement that goes on doesn’t seem particularly relaxing to me but he finds it a great release from the pressures of school. With some parental guidance in terms of how long he is allowed to play, this helps him and helps the rest of the family too!
- Finally, at busy times of the year can I please suggest that we all make an effort to maintain family routines. Have dinner together and talk. By these informal chats you’ll be able to gauge how your son is faring in the quicksand. Good luck – the end is in sight!
Mrs C Greenup
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From the Director of Music
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Annual Concert 2
Congratulations to all performers last night. What a terrific concert!
Ensemble rehearsals Term 4
Ensemble rehearsals have now ceased for most groups following their Annual Concert performances. The exceptions are those performing at Presentation Day and at College Street on 22 November.
Ensembles performing at Presentation Day – Tuesday 29 November
Taiko Year 5, Brass Ensemble, Stevens Wind Ensemble, School Choir, RJ Lee Singers and Maffey Strings.
School Choir, RJ Lee Singers and Maffey Strings
Parents received a letter by email (click here) from Mrs Fane regarding participation in the Term IV Concert at College Street at 6.30pm Tuesday 22 November.
Holiday Instrument Hire or Return
Your son’s hired instrument needs either to be hired for the holidays at a cost of $30 or returned after his final lesson or rehearsal. Please pick up a summer hire form from the Music Office and be sure to include your son’s instrument ID in the space provided. Boys in Year 6, Brass Ensemble, Stevens Wind Ensemble and School Orchestra please return instruments to School on Wednesday 30 November. Please note that if returning a hired instrument, it must be left with a music staff member and NOT in the storeroom or elsewhere.
Second Hand Instruments
Please refer to the Parents’ Association website for sale or purchase of second hand musical instruments.
Music 2017
- Lesson times will be available in Week 1
- Instrumental lessons begin in Week 2
- Ensembles begin rehearsals in Week 3
- Band auditions will be held in Week 2
- Boys currently in Years 4 and 5 who are planning to audition for the orchestra tour should practise their audition piece over the holidays ready to perform it at auditions in Week 2
- Boys currently in Pennington Strings will be placed in Amati Strings (Thursday 7.30am)
- Year 4 string players will be placed in Sartory Strings (also Thursday 7.30am)
- Senior Strings and Maffey Strings rehearse at 7.30am on Tuesdays
- All boys who are in Senior or Maffey Strings and Stevens Wind Ensemble are automatically placed in School Orchestra (Thursday 3.00 – 4.30pm)
College Street Music Scholarships
Boys currently in Year 5 may also wish to apply for a Music Scholarship to College Street in 2018. The closing date for registration is Friday 3 March 2017. Click here for further information.
Mr M Smith
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All library books should be returned to the Library by next Monday 21 November.
Overdue notices will be issued next week as there is no borrowing over the summer holidays.
Please help your son or sons find any overdue Library books. Thank you.
Mrs S Hardwick
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All Summer Sport teams will be participating in their final fixtures this weekend. It has been pleasing to witness the efforts of all involved this season. I wish all the boys the best of luck for their final game! As a result, afternoon and morning training sessions have now concluded. Thank you to all parents for supporting your sons’ involvement in the Summer Sport programme this year.
Sports Assembly
On Friday 25 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.
Swim Squad
Training has now concluded on Monday morning. Best of luck to our swimmers who are competing at their last event for the term at Knox Grammar School today!
The Swim-a-thon was a great success on Wednesday. The boys completed a combined total of 793 laps and raised $85 for the Sir Eric Woodward foundation. A great way to conclude the season as a team!
Extra-Curricular classes
‘Bat and Ball’, Ball and Boy and Monday Swim Squad have all concluded for the year. Fencing is still running on Tuesday next week for Years 5 & 6, 7:30am – 8:20am in the Hall.
Tennis Camp
The Tennis camp, conducted by the SGS Director of tennis that is scheduled during December has been filled. Thank you for registering your interest.
College Street Rugby Tour – U13’s, 2017
For the past 4 seasons the U13’s rugby squad has toured to the ACT, staying and training at the Australian Institute of Sport, playing fixtures against Canberra Grammar and other schools and being mentored by the Senior School's 1st XV Squad. This tour is conducted immediately following the end of Term 1 and preceding the First Form Camp. It is scheduled for April 7-10, 2017. All boys entering Form 1 wanting to participate in rugby for 2017 are welcomed to attend the tour. Please click here for further information and to access the expression of interest form. If you have any questions please contact the Director of Rugby, Mr Fear, on lmf@sydgram.nsw.edu.au
Football Camp
From 16-20 January, FC Barcelona and their Youth Academy (the "Escola") will be running a holiday camp at UNSW (David Phillips Sports Complex). All sessions are taught by FCB Escola coaches, coming to Sydney directly from the club in Spain, following the same methodologies that players such as Messi and Iniesta would have followed during their time at the club's Academy. It is a world class football training program and a chance for Australian youths to get first-hand experience with a top European club. The camp is open to boys and girls 6-16 years old. For anyone interested, please speak to Mr Alasdair Gyngell (the co-ordinator of the FC Barcelona camps in Sydney) or click here for more information.
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Holiday Camp at St Ives: Wednesday 28 November – Tuesday 6 December
The School will be holding another Sports Camp during the first week of the upcoming holidays. The camp is popular in all grade levels from Years 1 to 6 and the participants always enjoy the week.
Click here to access the form to select which day and sport your child would like to participate in.
Mr P Derrin
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Buon appetito! Boys in Years 3 and 4 have been studying the delights of pizza. They have learned how to recognise and order one of the many varieties of pizza, and how to prepare this delicious dish. Our inspiration has been the wonderful Gennaro Contaldo (click here).
We have also practised choosing, ordering and paying for gelato and granita. Year 5 boys have been studying life in Ancient Rome and we thank Louis Bartlett for showing us a fabulous Roman spearhead and an enormous nail (part of his grandfather’s collection) found in northern Africa which had been part of the Roman Empire.
Any boy wishing to practise Italian or other languages over the holidays may like to use this website.
Ms J Matheson
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Mrs S Hardwick and Ms J Matheson
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Please note there will be NO Tuckshop available at St Ives or College Street for boys in Years 3-6 on Thursday 24 November (recess or lunch), when these boys attend the Presentation Day Rehearsal. (These boys must take recess and lunch in disposable bags with them to College St).
Please note that boys in Preschool to Year 2 are able to order lunch on Thursday 24 November.
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AND, the Tuckshop will be CLOSED on Monday 28 November.
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Last day open this term:
Monday 28 November 7.30 to 9.30am
Holiday Opening Hours
Wednesday 25 January 2017, 9.30 to 10.30am
Return to School
Monday 30 January 8am to 12noon
Tuesday 31 January 7.30 to 10am
Wednesday 1 February 7.30 to 10am
Thursday 2 February 2.00 to 4pm
Mrs W Stephens
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Last day open this term:
Monday 28 November 7.30 to 9.30am
Holiday Opening Hours
Wednesday 25 January 2017, 9.30 to 10.30am
Return to School
Monday 30 January 8am to 12noon
Tuesday 31 January 7.30 to 10am
Wednesday 1 February 7.30 to 10am
Thursday 2 February 2.00 to 4pm
Mrs W Stephens
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Transport for NSW has made the process for applying for Opal Cards more efficient as well as paperless.
Please click here to read the latest information regarding the application process.
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Lost Property in the Office
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