28May KRB News – Edition 8
Contents
- From the Principal
- Academic Care
- Peer Support Term 2
- Early Learning Centre
- Grandparents' Morning
- Junior School Students in Action
- Year 5 Heritage Tour
- Kindergarten Australian Wildlife Incursion
- Year 5 STEM Day
- Year 6 STEM Day
- Senior School Students in Action
- KRB Drama in OnSTAGE Exhibit
- DNA Replication and Protein Synthesis Modelling
- Sport
- Sport Updates
- KRB Winter Sport Skill Development
- Soccer
- K-2 MiniRoos Soccer Gala Day
- Year 3 & 4 Boys Soccer
- Update on Basketball, Football, Hockey and Netball teams
- Snowsports
- Sports Achievements
- Music
- Music News
- Year 7 Strings
- Misadventure is Becoming a Thrilling Adventure!
- Year 8 Music Workshops
- Canon in Year 5 Band and Year 5 Strings
- Music Cell Refurbishment
- Band Tutor Profie – Micheal Avgenicos
- Boarding
- Trip to SCG to watch NRL Match
- Trivia and Games Night with Cranbrook
- Mission
- News from the Mission Department
- Community
- From the Advancement and Community Office
Notices
Academic Care: Parenting Ideas Article
Don’t forget to download the latest Parenting Ideas article below, also available on the Wellbeing Parent Page on Aspire.
Sibling Enrolment 2022
Current enrolments for 2022 are filling up quickly.
We would like to remind and encourage all current families who wish to enrol younger siblings to submit an Enrolment Application Form at your earliest possible convenience to avoid disappointment.
Please contact admissions@krb.nsw.edu.au if you have any queries.
Downloads
From the Principal
I would like to begin this newsletter with an acknowledgment of the traditional owners of the land upon which our school resides – the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation. We acknowledge our elders, past and present and pay our respects to all Aboriginal people who have contributed to our School.
On Wednesday, we recognised National Sorry Day, with all students and staff from ELC to the Senior School wearing a touch of purple. This is a special day to acknowledge the mistreatment of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, specifically the “Stolen Generation”. Across the three campuses, students and staff jointly participated in creating a canvas of a Stolen Generation Commemorative Flower, using our thumb prints.
This week marks the beginning of National Reconciliation Week where we have range of activities and ceremonies to mark the occasion. These include a Cultural Diversity Assembly and a Reconciliation Ceremony. Students are also participating in ‘More than a word. Reconciliation takes action.’ In this each student will make a pledge, which will be then combined to make a Reconciliation Action Plan.
I would like to thank all students who have taken part in these events, especially our Indigenous students. It is extremely important for us all to be aware of the history that has taken place in Australia as well as the opportunity to experience different cultures so that we can create a better future with stronger relationships, compassion and understanding.
We were delighted to welcome over 100 visitors to the ELC Grandparents and Special Friends’ Morning last Monday. All visitors enjoyed a medley of songs sung for them by the ELC children and each student was very proud to lead their special guests through their classrooms to show off the work they have done and what they do each day. It’s so lovely to see the excitement in each of our youngest students when they are able to show family and friends around the ELC. We are very blessed to be able to have people visiting campus again and have special events like these.
I also enjoyed meeting new families last week at the final dinner for new families for 2021. Thank you to all the parents who joined me for the evening. It was wonderful to meet you all face to face and to share our vision with you. I look forward to the opportunities we will have in the future to come together again.
I am hugely appreciative to all the parents who have participated in the Consent Forums over the past few weeks. We held one for mothers and one for fathers of KRB and both events had very strong attendance. These forums have enabled us to gain further insight into the issues our students and parents face on the topic of consent. These insights will allow us as a school working group to create the framework and tools to support the education of consent to our students within the School, and at home.
I am very much looking forward to the boarding events we have in the coming weeks with the Boarders’ Dinner for Year 12 Boarding Parents, followed by our traditional Procession of Lanterns. Our boarding community is such an integral part of KRB, and this is a very special evening, steeped in history. We will share some photos in our next edition.
I wish you all a safe and happy weekend.
In Corde Jesu
Maureen Ryan
Principal
Academic Care
Peer Support Term 2
We welcomed back our Peer Support program for 2021 in Week 5. The Year 10 Peer Support Leaders were very excited and had been busy preparing earlier this term. The Peer Support program aims to help encourage connections and friendships between students across year groups. The Year 10 Peer Support Leaders are able to develop their own leadership skills and provide guidance, advice, and support through friendship and kindness, in order to help build connection and belonging. Through the Peer Support activities, the students learn things about themselves, others, their communication styles, how to manage and resolve conflict, the importance of empathy, kindness and understanding, and also how to collaborate and work together as a team.
“Tuesday the 18th May was the first peer support session that we shared with the new Year 7s. The goal of this first session was to begin establishing connections with our groups so that we could better relate to each other. Our group was very excited to participate in the session’s activities! All of the girls worked really well with each other and made sure that everyone was included. We shared lots of fun and laughs and cannot wait for the next session!”
Alex Bulman and Selina Lokan – Year 10
“On Tuesday of Week 5, the Year 10 Peer Support Team, including myself and my fellow group leader, Harriet, led our first session with the Year 7s. Though it was something that we were both a little uncertain of, it was a great opportunity for us to begin to develop relationships with many of the girls in Year 7. The activities were a wonderful opportunity for some of the Year 7 students to bond and to laugh along with those whom they may not have interacted with much before. It also helped us to break the ice a bit and make everyone start to feel a bit more comfortable around us and other members of the group. Further into the session, it was amazing to observe the Year 7s gaining more confidence and a sense of belonging within the group. For Harriet and myself, the most enjoyable aspect of this first session was getting a chance to chat to the Year 7’s casually about their current experiences and thoughts about Year 7. As previous members of Year 7 students, we felt we could offer some valuable advice and insight into the most challenging and most enjoyable aspects of life in Year 7.”
Lilli Meikle and Harriet Cassidy – Year 10
Early Learning Centre
Grandparents' Morning
Thank you to all grandparents and other special guests who attended the Early Learning Centre’s Grandparents’ Morning.
We hope you enjoyed the morning with songs sung by the students, morning tea and some time exploring the classrooms – the students loved showing you around!
The Early Learning Centre
Junior School Students in Action
Year 5 Heritage Tour
Last week, Year 5 participated in a Heritage Walk with Mr Mooney and Sr Mary Shanahan rscj OAM.
We spent time in the Chapel learning how to pray a ‘noise prayer’ which we found fun and reflective. Sr Mary Shanahan rscj OAM explained the importance of God in our lives and also taught us some important information about St Madeline Sophie Barat. She encouraged us to know the important lesson that ‘God is within all of us’. We said ‘God is in me’ and then ‘God is in you’ to our classmates. It was a special moment.
We then moved into the Mater Chapel and discussed the beautiful painting of Mary and its significance for women of that time. We learnt about the artist and the importance of the painting.
We finished the morning with a movement prayer outside to allow God to rest in our hearts.
We all enjoyed the morning!
Year 5
Kindergarten Australian Wildlife Incursion
It’s green, hops and it likes to live near our creeks, ponds and rivers. What could it be?…..
Well, Kindergarten found out when Australian Wildlife Displays visited us on Tuesday 18 May with all sorts of wonderful mammals, reptiles and amphibians.
In our Science and Technology unit, Kindergarten students have been learning about Living Things. The students loved the hands-on experience of touching and learning about animals Australian Wildlife Displays rangers have rescued.
We met ‘Princess’ the diamond python, ‘Trevor’ the tawny frogmouth, ‘Freddie’ the green tree frog, ‘Gumnut’ the ringtail possum, ‘Bubblegum’ the blue tongue lizard and ‘Snappy’ the saltwater crocodile!
This wonderfully engaging hands-on experience helped us to get closer and learn more about our amazing animal friends!
Megan Hollingsworth
Kindergarten White Teacher
Year 5 STEM Day
On Monday, Year 5 students had a STEM Day where students had to design and make their own Mars Rovers that can survive the rocky environment and terrain in Mars. Students had to use their problem-solving skills throughout the day to improve their design. In the afternoon, they tested their Mars Rovers over rocky and rough surfaces. Year 5 had a successful and creative day.
Meegan Flello
Leader of Learning (K‑6): English, Humanities & the Arts
Year 6 STEM Day
For our STEM day Year 6 had to design and plan a disaster-proof house that could survive an earthquake, flood and cyclone. The items we were allowed to use were baking paper, cardboard, tape, paper and plastic bottles. The requirements of your building were that it had to have a base which was 20cm by 20cm. The height had to be 50cm or taller. This exciting fun day wouldn’t have been possible without our awesome Science teacher Mrs Smyth.
Baylie Finley
Year 6 Blue
Senior School Students in Action
This term Year 7 History students have been learning about ancient Egypt. In their final lesson, they applied some of the things they learnt about the mummification process and certain students in their class were carefully wrapped in calico bandages. Obviously, they didn’t follow the exact steps of mummification as their classmates were alive!
“Learning about ancient Egypt this term introduced the classes to an interesting time in history. We learnt about the differences between our childhood and childhood in ancient Egypt, including what their schooling was like. We also learnt about the importance of religion which was amazing because it was very different to our own, but was very important in that society. The pharaoh was one of the main topics Year 7 focused on as he or she was the supreme leader of ancient Egypt. We also learnt about the importance of the Nile and the Egyptians’ clever farming techniques . One of the most fascinating parts of ancient Egypt is the pyramids of Giza. They were a great building achievement, especially for such an ancient society that only had basic tools to work with.
We enjoyed having the opportunity to learn about ancient Egypt in detail and understand why it was such an important ancient society.”
Claudia Summerhayes and Octavia Attard
Year 7
KRB Drama in OnSTAGE Exhibit
The best Individual Performances and Projects performances of the HSC Drama course are usually presented in a Term 1 production and exhibit at the Seymour Centre. This year NESA released this celebration in a digital format, available for schools across a three-week timespan.
Class of 2020 Drama student Sofia Muollo was selected by NESA and featured in the OnSTAGE online exhibit.
Sofia completed a Portfolio of Promotion and Program design for an imagined production of ‘Black Diggers’ at Sydney Theatre Company. Her evocative and captivating designs formed a marketing campaign consisting of a poster, flyer, theatre program and media feature story.
It was exciting for our current HSC students to see Sofia’s work in Drama showcased in this prestigious manner, and inspirational as they finalise their own major works in Drama ahead of the Trial Examinations early next term.
Nicole James
Drama Department
DNA Replication and Protein Synthesis Modelling
Students in HSC Biology are learning about the complex and highly technical processes of DNA replication and Protein Synthesis. As a consolidation exercise, the students modelled the steps of each process using a variety of lollies to represent critical components of DNA, mRNA, tRNA and amino acids. They did an incredible job constructing their models, photographing each step, labelling the important parts, and putting the images together into a multimedia presentation.
Congratulations to the HSC Biology students on going above and beyond what was required of them in this very challenging task!
Mrs Talia Gusen
Head of Science
Sport
Sport Updates
Sports Cancellations
Weekday training sessions: please ensure you have the KRB App on your phone and ensure you check the Newsfeed for Cancellations before heading to sport training sessions.
If there is a morning training cancellation, it will be posted by 6.00am on the training day. If there is no notification for your son/daughter’s sport, please assume that the training is going ahead. We do apologise if a game or training is cancelled and you are on your way to the venue, however, this is out of the Sports Departments control.
Saturday Sports cancellations: Please refer to the relevant Sports wet weather link on the individual sports page.
Sports Department Mobile Number
If you have an emergency on Saturdays please call the KRB Sports Department mobile number.
Please note this number will only be utilised on Saturday mornings from 7am to 1pm.
KRB Sports Department – 0455 996 229
Absence/Leave from Sport
All team members are required to be present for all weekend matches and must not make arrangements that will make them unavailable on Saturdays. In special circumstances, a parent may request a weekend’s absence from sporting commitments. This request must be completed the Tuesday prior to the Saturday match by completing the Saturday Sport leave form.
Requesting leave at the last minute is not acceptable.
If your son/daughter is sick and unable to attend a Saturday game or weekday training session, please contact the Teacher in charge of the sport or sportsadmin@krb.nsw.edu.au and explain the reason for absence.
For all Sport enquiries, please contact sportsadmin@krb.nsw.edu.au (the appropriate stakeholder will respond to you within 24 hours)
KRB Winter Sport Skill Development
The KRB Sport Department is excited to offer a winter sport skills development program during the first week of the school holidays (Monday 21st – Wednesday 23rd June, 8am-12pm). This includes Netball, Basketball, Hockey, Soccer & Athletics – and is open to Y2-12 Students.
It will give students who are motivated to improve their game an opportunity to work with KRB’s best coaches in an extended format. The focus will be on individual skill development. We are keen to get your expressions of interest/availability for this program. Clearer details will emerge as we gauge interest levels. If you are interested, please complete this form. For those who attend, a small levy will be charged to cover the cost for coaches to run this program.
Mary-Kate Churcher
Head of Sport
Soccer
K-2 MiniRoos Soccer Gala Day
On Saturday 15 May the KRB Fernon Fields were transformed into a happy vibrant atmosphere of keen and enthusiastic K-2 soccer players, from both Barat Burn and the Elite Soccer Academy.
Throughout the morning our K-2; and some brave Joigny boys represented Barat-Burn with pride and determination, by showcasing their soccer skills in a round robin format of competitive soccer games against the Elite Soccer Academy.
All players and teams played exceptionally well!
Throughout Term 1 and 2, our K-2 Barat Burn-Boys and the ESA have been working on the development of skills through the Elite Soccer Academy Cognitive Soccer Acceleration program. This program reflected the individual soccer skills and teamwork displayed by both teams at the Gala Day.
We look forward to the next KRB/ESA Gala day scheduled for Saturday 5 June which will provide opportunity for further growth in the match play and more.
Year 3 & 4 Boys Soccer
Barat Burn has two Year 3&4 boys seven-a-side soccer teams which train once a week and play competitive soccer matches against other IPSHA schools on a Saturday morning.
Both teams have shown grit and determination at training and on a Saturday morning when playing competitive games, winning most of their games so far this season.
We wish the boys the very best of luck for the remainder of the soccer season.
Update on Basketball, Football, Hockey and Netball teams
All KRB Sports teams are progressing well with round 6 matches coming up this Saturday 29 May.
There will be NO round matches on Saturday 12th June due to the Queen’s Birthday Long weekend. Next Saturday 5th June will be the final of Term 2 sports matches for all team sports with the exception of Netball. There are Netball matches scheduled for Saturday 19 June. This is the day after school breaks for the holiday period. We will still require all players to be available for the games scheduled for Saturday 19th June to avoid forfeiting matches. All Other KRB Sports teams (Basketball, Football and Hockey) will resume their Saturday matches at the beginning of Term 3.
All KRB Sports teams will continue training until the last day of term 2 and recommence on the first day of Term 3.
Snowsports
KRB Snow Sports registrations will be closing on Friday 28 May.
Please reference either of the KRB Snow sports pages below for all details.
Sports Achievements
The sports department would like to ensure all students are recognised for their individual and team sporting achievements throughout the year. This includes sporting achievements that may have been achieved outside the KRB Sports program, where a student has achieved outstanding results (eg., State and National level). To ensure we have the appropriate information to include in our KRB Newsletters and social media posts, please complete the form.
Music
Music News
Musician of the Month
Our Musician of the Month for May is Sienna Humphry. Sienna has just received a High Distinction in her Grade 1 AMEB Violin Examination. This required a great deal of effort and practise and Sienna should be pleased with this result. Let’s hope this inspires all our AMEB students this year.
Year 7 Strings
This week the girls have been working on ‘Goblin Dance’. Do enjoy their performance!
Misadventure is Becoming a Thrilling Adventure!
In the last KRB News we saw the Year 6 Band working on their exciting new piece ‘The Magnificent Misadventure’ by Melbourne composer Roger Schmidli. Their work continued in the MTC last week with our flute tutor Ms Sarah Ismail directing assisted by our tutors. It was delightful to pop in for a visit just as they were pulling it all together. Have a look at the video herewith and look out for the punchy percussion intro, dazzling glissandos on the trombones, chunky chords in the woodwinds and stamping saxophones! The score has some fantastic performance directions including ‘Ominously!’ and ‘Panicked!’. Year 6 look anything but panicked, in fact they look like this misadventure is a thrilling adventure. What a joy to hear them progressing apace.
Mark Stubley
Head of Music
Year 8 Music Workshops
All Year 8 students took part in one-day music workshops last week that focussed on contemporary performance and song–writing. The presenters Bonnie Stewart, a singer/song–writer from Ireland and Freya Shack-Arnott cellist and composer formerly from Melbourne (both pictured) engaged the girls and gave them ideas for their own song writing, improvising and composition. The pair work in an Indie-Pop and Experimental style. They demoed the use of loop pedals and layering to the students which had them fascinated. During Term 1 all of Year 8 have learned how to finger pick songs using the Mixolydian Mode on the guitar culminating in their recent assessment playing the melody of ‘Clocks’ by Coldplay. Now we are moving to song–writing.
The morning started with the girls learning how to play chords on both the guitar and with their left hand on the keyboards. These basic chords will allow for improvisation and song writing. The students can progress at their own pace, and as long as they are able to play the primary chords in any key they can compose with self-accompaniment.
Bonnie and Freya then demoed some of their own songs and talked about their compositional processes. The girls were then invited to join them in a song using guitars, voice, drums and percussion. Moving then into groups they improvised and created their own riffs, rhythms, melodies and songs, often with their own lyrics. It is wonderful to see the girls engaging in this way and at this level with music making. Their enjoyment of each other’s performances was palpable and the interest in Music is both encouraging and a joyous thing. Some of their performances are herewith for your enjoyment.
“The musical workshop was a great opportunity for us to practice and learn skills that will help us when writing our songs later on in the year. Listening to some of Bonnie and Freya’s music allowed us to understand the effects that are used in music and how they make different instruments sound.”
Daisy C.
“The music workshop was a fun experience and was a great opportunity to learn about song writing and different types of songs. We learnt how to use our voices in different ways such as through a loop machine, and we were taught about different types of song writing. Overall, the workshop was fun and we learnt a lot.”
Sophia P
If you are interested, Bonnie has her own playlist on Spotify entitled ‘Bonnie’s Songs’.
I particularly love her own song ‘1, 2, 3′.
Mark Stubley
Head of Music
Canon in Year 5 Band and Year 5 Strings
Year 5 had their band session in the MTC this week and the live acoustic gave a wonderful reverb to their sound. Our trombone tutor Mr Jacob Parks directed the band assisted by our tutors in a lively rendition of ‘Donkey Round’. I hope the girls and their parents enjoy the video footage below, and continue to work through their ‘Accent of Achievement’ books in their regular practise sessions at home. 15-20 minutes three-four times a week is a great start, but the sky is the limit!
On another note, I popped into our Year 5 violins on Thursday to hear them trying out some harmony playing. They are beautifully in tune and happy and engaged. Keep it up girls!
Mark Stubley
Head of Music
Music Cell Refurbishment
Our beloved Music cells on the basement level are having some refurbishment at the moment. Not many in our school community will be aware that the corridor to the Art Rooms containing the cells is known as ‘St Cecilia’s Corridor’ in honour of the Patron Saint of Music and Musicians. Herewith a photograph of the cell that was occupied for more than 50 years by our much-respected piano teacher the late Miss Patricia Gillis. Ceiling fans, radiators and a lick of paint will make these rooms fresh for the next generation of pianists.
A wonderful result of the cells being out of action is hearing Accomplishment lessons taking place in the music classrooms. I have been enjoying most especially the guitar lessons which have been using the ‘lodge’. Once the sole domain of Sr Portress this area behind the “old front door” has a lovely acoustic and beautiful light diffusion from the stained glass. Emily Chubb Year 11 was having her lesson today and you can hear her and her talented and encouraging teacher Mr Paul Peipman going over the accompaniment to 21st Century Machine by Catie Turner in the video herewith. My colleagues and I have enjoyed the gentle timbre of the guitar as it permeates the corridor of the PAC. Please contact me should your daughter be interested in guitar lessons.
Mark Stubley
Head of Music
Band Tutor Profie – Micheal Avgenicos
Mr Michael Avgenicos, our saxophone tutor, started playing the clarinet at 8 years of age and moved to the saxophone at 10. He is a graduate of The Sydney Conservatorium of Music (Bachelor of Jazz Performance, 2016) and was a finalist in the same year at the prestigious National Jazz Awards – Saxophone Competition in Wangarratta, SA. In 2017 he received the Big Brother Movement (BBM) award for excellence in Music. Michael’s performance career has taken him around Australia and abroad to Asia, Europe and the USA. Michael is an active member of a number of bands; having recorded albums with Eishan Ensemble, COAST, FRYJA, Gregg Arthur, Aaron Blakey and many more. He also co-leads and composes music for his own group, the Avgenicos Brothers, who released their debut album TREADING WATER in 2020.
Recent performance highlights include sold out shows at the Sydney Opera House with Eishan, opening for Brandon Marsalis at the Melbourne International Jazz Festival, performances for Sydney Fringe and VIVID festivals and album launches for Eishan and COAST. Michael works as a freelance musician, having performed on set for The Voice Australia and recording for Triple J Like a Version.
Michael has been a pedagogue of saxophone, clarinet and flute for over 10 years, tutoring private students of all ages and demonstrating workshops at schools and universities all over Australia. He is proud to be part of the KRB music team working with our talented students and staff. He says “learning and playing music is one of the most creative and rewarding experiences you can have. My students often ask ‘how much should I practise?’ and I would say ‘how good do you want to be?’ I’m incredibly fortunate and happy to be able to make music every day and share my wonderful experience in music with our fantastic students at KRB.”
The best thing he said to me is “I wouldn’t be where I am today without joining the school band”. I am delighted to say he is preaching to the converted! What a heart-warming sentiment full of encouragement for our band members.
Mark Stubley
Head of Music
Boarding
Our boarders have enjoyed a busy week of activities. On Saturday night we headed to the Sydney Cricket Ground to watch the Roosters take on the Brisbane Broncos and on Thursday evening our Year 9 and Year 10’s hosted Cranbrook for a trivia and games night. These events are an excellent opportunity to strengthen our community, and enjoy forging new relationships.
Polly Meckiff and Phoebe Horton
Year 10
Mission
News from the Mission Department
FEAST DAY OF SAINT MADELEINE SOPHIE BARAT
“Let your heart be more attentive than your head, for the Holy Spirit is love, and to take hold, it is more important to love than to understand.”
– Madeleine Sophie Barat.
We celebrated the Feast Day of Saint Madeleine Sophie Barat on Tuesday 25 May, erecting a shrine to Saint Madeleine Sophie Barat outside the Chapel which was in place Monday 24 May – Friday 28 May. Paper chains were placed around the shrine containing the names of students in the Junior and Senior Schools.
Community
From the Advancement and Community Office
TABLE BOOKINGS NOW OPEN FOR KRB LONG LUNCH 2021 – FRIDAY 6 AUGUST
BOOK NOW !
‘Bringing the Country to the City’
The KRB Bursary Long Lunch will be held on Friday 6 August at the Hyatt Regency Hotel. Book now as tables are selling fast.
Entertainment:
- Vince Sorrenti – MC
- Scott Finnie – The Piano Man
- Des Dowling – Comedian
All funds raised at the Lunch are directed to the KRB Bursary Fund.
We need your support to make this Long Lunch a really fun day with great entertainment and successful for the Bursary Fund:
- Tables of ten are available for $1,800 plus GST. Please go to KRBPay if you would like to reserve a table
- You might like to sponsor a table for $3000, $5000 or $10,000 plus GST
- If you own your own company or are a director of a company and would like to offer sponsorship, please contact me.
Mary Cook
Director of Advancement & Community
9388 6024
cookm@krb.nsw.edu.au