In the last few weeks, our students have been part of a number of wonderful opportunities and initiatives that I feel are worth sharing. On Tuesday, the Year 10 music class travelled to the Junior School campus to perform a short musical for our Year 3 students. What was impressive was that under the guidance of the staff, these students had written the entire music themselves!
Yesterday, our Year 8 students had the great privilege of a ‘French Immersion’ activity in which they tasted cheese and other gourmet foods as part of their study of language and culture. Whilst not all appreciate the wonders of a blue cheese (give them time…), I am again thankful for the opportunities which are provided for our students.
A number of exciting events still remain in the short time before Term ends, including:
House Arts Festival
At the recent Music Showcase, our Director of the Arts, Ms Sargeant, quoted the musician Jacob Collier, who said: “Making music together requires you to listen deeply, value others’ perspectives, and adapt—skills that mirror how we become better humans.” Next week, we will be celebrating our annual House Arts Festival, running this year for the fourth time. In my observation, our students’ enthusiasm for the event has been growing each year, and over the last week I’ve been really impressed with the involvement, effort and willingness of our students in representing their houses. The event involves a whole-house choir performance, a small band ensemble performance, a drama, a poster and a debating competition! It has been encouraging to see students participating and serving in ways that they might not normally have experienced. At this point, I return to the words of Jacob Collier – by encouraging students to work together with others (especially in musical settings), we seek not only to produce a moving musical performance but also to further their growth and develop their character as human beings.
Historically, the House Arts Festival has been a performance after school. This year a change has been made so that all students will participate in the festival during school hours, on Thursday 25 June. It’s important that all students are present that day to help their house in this important competition.
Friday Week 10 – World Cup
On Friday 26 June, the Australian men’s soccer team (the Socceroos) will play their third match in the FIFA World Cup. Students in the Senior School will celebrate the last day of Term by watching this match live in Aikman Hall.
Uniform Reminder
As the weather cools, I am reminding students that wearing hooded jumpers underneath their College uniform is not permitted under our uniform policy. It is expected that students will layer their clothing using approved garments within the uniform policy, without the need to wear hooded jumpers, which present an untidy appearance. If your child has been in the habit of wearing non-uniform items to school, please remind them of these expectations.
NSW Public Speaking Competition
Finally, congratulations to Year 11 student Bella Starr, who recently competed in the NSW Public Speaking Competition, representing the College in Cowra. Competing against speakers from across the Central West, Bella won the competition and will proceed to the finals event, which will be held at NSW Parliament House later in the year. We wish her all the best in the next stage of this competition.
Mr Daniel Odell
Head of Senior School
Year 8 French Day – A Celebration of French Culture, Food and Fun
On Wednesday, our Year 8 students were transported to France as they took part in a special French Immersion Day designed to bring language and culture to life.
To read the full story and see a photo gallery click HERE.
Boarding News
Ives House – Celebrating the Journey
There are many traditions we look forward to in Ives House throughout the year. From celebrating birthdays together to our themed dinners and special events, these moments help create the sense of belonging that makes boarding such a unique experience.
This week, the girls embraced our Italian-themed dinner with great enthusiasm. For one evening, we became the Italian Olympic Team. We may not have been dressed in Versace, but we certainly looked alla moda, and more importantly, we had fun. As the Italians would say, ci siamo divertiti moltissimo – we had a wonderful time.
Our house gatherings also provide an opportunity to celebrate the many achievements of the girls. We are always proud to acknowledge their efforts and successes, both in and beyond the classroom. This term, Bella won the Parliament of NSW Public Speaking Competition and now heads to Sydney, while Annabelle Webb has earned the opportunity to represent Adelaide in hockey against Malaysia. We also celebrate the ambitions of girls looking towards their futures, such as Heidi, who recently visited NIDA in Sydney as she explores pathways in the performing arts.
While the girls lead busy lives, one of our goals in Ives House is to help them understand that life is not simply about being busy. Through the Character Program, which has become an increasingly important part of life in the house this year, we encourage the girls to reflect on what truly matters. We want them to learn the value of giving their time and attention to the things that deepen their lives rather than simply fill them.
An important part of growing up is learning that challenges, mistakes and disappointments are not things to fear, but opportunities to learn. Every setback teaches courage, builds character and reminds us that we are capable of handling more than we often realise. We hope the girls leave Ives not only with academic achievements and memories of boarding life, but with a growing confidence in their own strength, judgement and ability to face life’s challenges with determination.
As Term 2 draws to a close, it is hard to believe how quickly the semester has passed. Our Year 12 students recently crossed the milestone of their final 100 days of school, a reminder that this chapter of their lives is moving steadily towards its conclusion. Next term promises to be full of exciting opportunities, including bush walks, community visits, theatre outings and many special occasions as we celebrate and farewell our Year 12 girls.
We look forward to welcoming everyone back for Term 3 and hope families will join us for our afternoon tea on the Ives lawn as students return to boarding. Until then, we wish all of our families a restful and enjoyable holiday break.
Madame Adamson
Head of Ives House
