Archive for April, 2009
Posted April 24 2009Thought for the week
“Try not to become a man of success, but a man of value”.
Albert Einstein
“We are all inventors, each sailing out on a voyage of discovery, guided each by a private chart, of which there is no duplicate. The world is all gates, all opportunities.”
Ralph Waldo Emerson
Following a restful holiday, a highly energetic Senior School Athletics Carnival and a dignified ANZAC service, we look forward to a busy and focussed term.
Over the next few weeks we will all have the opportunity to attend the Huntingtower Old Students Association production of Hello Dolly. This is going to be a lot of fun and much hard work has gone into it over a long period of time. It really would be good to see it supported by the entire school community and I do look forward to seeing you at the performances. A few staff members have been actively involved in the show, either in set building or choreography and others have taken on-stage roles. They would love to perform to full houses, so please come along. Bookings can be made through the office. Please phone Kris Bruce on 9807 8888.
Recently I heard a comment from a parent that their children challenged the fact that they were prevented from attending a particular party because they felt that their parents did not trust them. Here are some thoughts along these lines. I hope you find them useful.
Distinguish between trusting their integrity and trusting their judgment. When they ask why you don’t trust them, make this clear to them: We implicitly trust your integrity–always have and always will. Unless we have rock-solid evidence otherwise, we trust your honesty and good intentions. What we must sometimes question is your judgment. It’s your inexperienced judgment that can make trouble for you and others; when teens get into trouble, the fault is nearly always bad judgment. Be patient. As you gain experience–directly through living, and indirectly through our experienced advice–you will have much stronger judgment, and then we can trust you entirely, right across the board.
Remind yourself of your real job as a parent: to raise adults, not children. Your job is not to keep your children busy and amused, nor just to keep them out of trouble and make them behave, nor to exercise a kind of “damage control” at home. The real job of parenthood is to lead children–by example, directed practice, and explanation–so that they grow up to be competent, responsible, considerate men and women.
Remember that “no” is also a loving word. There’s such a thing as loving denial. It is through their parents loving denial that many values are formed or moulded. So, permit nothing in your children’s lives that you morally disapprove of. Keep the electronic media under your discerning control. Allow nothing in your home that offends your faith, undermines your lessons of right and wrong, and treats other people as mere objects. This means no pornography, no gratuitous violence, no disrespect of others. Teach discernment in use of the media: to accept what is good, reject what is wrong, and know the difference.
Raising children in this world can be challenging and also a lot of fun. We must hold on to what we believe in and help them to become confident adults.
Sholto Bowen
Principal
April 24 2009 | All and Principals Message | No Comments » | 
Posted April 24 2009Diary Dates:
Mother’s Day Stall Junior School – Wednesday 6th May (wrapping night Tues 5th of May in M1).
Hello Dolly suppers – 1st, 2nd, 8th and 9th of May.
PTA, Class Rep and Fete Rep meeting – Thursday 30th April.
Huntingtower Fete – Saturday 7th November
The Huntingtower Fete – We need you!
Attention all Year 2, Year 7 and Year 8 parents! We still have yet to find that enthusiastic parent willing to take on the task of being a fete rep for this year. Please remember that the role is more of an organising one because the committee purchase a lot of the equipment for the set up of stalls. If you are interested, please contact Catherine Jenkins on catherine.jenkins@iinet.net.au
Also, if you are keen to donate food for preserves, lunch stalls or potting mix, would you please be so kind as to make yourselves known to anyone on the committee? We would like to avoid purchasing goods that are usually donated.
PTA, Class Rep and Fete Rep meeting
Just to remind you that the quarterly meeting will be held as usual in the Library at 7.30pm on Thursday the 30th of April. We will be moving a change of name to “Parent’s Association” and getting to the nitty gritty of how this year’s Fete is shaping up. This is also a great opportunity to hear the quarterly report from Mr Bowen which is always exciting.
Hello Dolly Suppers
The PTA will be providing the suppers for the HOSA “Hello Dolly” production. If you are available to help on the night, your support would be gratefully appreciated. Please contact Deb Davey on debbiedavey67@gmail.com.
Mother’s Day Stall
A reminder that Mother’s Day is fast approaching! As per last year, the gifts will all be $5 and we ask that children please bring the right money as we will not have much change available.
A wrapping evening will be held the night before in M1, with all parents welcome to join in. It’s a great opportunity to survey the gifts and possibly “suggest” which ones the mums might like before the children start their shopping!
Constant Fundraisers
Also worth noting are our constant fundraisers, being:
· Airstream Café – 5% donation on each meal purchased
· Farm Pride Egg Tokens – 50c per token paid six monthly to PTA. These need to be collected in each class or left at the office.
· Rebel Sport – 5 – 20% donated on each purchase as a credit to the school to use for sporting equipment. This just began in December 2008 after school finished and we already have a credit of $60.00 to use within the next two years.
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Posted April 24 2009
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Posted April 24 2009
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Posted April 24 2009SOLO CONCERTS
At least one solo concert and sometimes 2 or more solo concerts are held for each year level throughout the year. There are also special concerts for players in Years Prep, 1 and 2. Short Solo Concerts are also held for players from any year level throughout the school. These are especially useful for students who are preparing for exams, Eisteddfods or auditions or who would like more opportunities to perform.
In the final week of first term we enjoyed a marvellous concert by Years 5 and 6 musicians including 2 entertaining items played by the Year 5 and 6 Orchestra. The array of talent was amazing and we hope to have a similar concert later in the year.
We are looking forward to concerts for our Junior pianists, a solo concert for our Year 3 and 4 musicians and our very entertaining Little Choir and Little Symphony Concert (Years Prep, 1 and 2) so by the end of Term 2 almost all our Junior musicians will have performed for us.
Year 11 and 12 musicians will also perform this term and other Senior soloists will perform throughout Terms 3 and 4.
During the Easter holiday 4 small concerts were held for students preparing for AMEB exams – hearty congratulations to all involved and we wish you all the very best in your exam performances
HUNTINGTOWER ORCHESTRAS/CONCERT BAND
From the first week of Term 1 the three House Orchestras and the Junior Orchestra have been rehearsing enthusiastically. The House Orchestras involved every instrumentalist in the Senior School (Years 7 to 12) and these performers will now play in the Senior Orchestra, Middle School Orchestra and/or the Concert Band (for every woodwind and brass player from Years 7 to 12).
The Senior Orchestra will commence rehearsals every Thursday morning at 7.50am in the Orchestral Room at the start of Term II. Please check the orchestral lists posted around the school. Full attendance is required please.
The Concert Band will commence on the first Monday of Term II (27 April) at 7.50am in the Orchestral Room.
The Middle School Orchestra will also commence very early in Term II on Tuesday 12 May at 7.50am. (Please check the Concert Band and Middle School Orchestra lists).
The Junior Orchestra involves every player from Years 3 to 6 and Little Symphony (Years Prep, 1 and 2) will commence in mid Term II. All these instrumental ensembles (plus smaller groups such as string orchestras, brass ensembles, stage band and chamber groups) are a great source of enjoyment, fun, social interaction between students of all ages and intellectual stimulation creating a sense of belonging and self worth.
It is not too late to join!! If you are interested in learning an instrument and would like to investigate the possibility please don’t hesitate to contact Lynlye Bramble (BH 9807 8888 or AH 9803 7701) or email lbramble@huntingtower.vic.edu.au
SPECIAL DATES FOR YOUR DIARY
- Junior and Senior Orchestral and Choral Concert
Thursday 18 June at 7.00pm in the Performing Arts Centre. All choirs, orchestras and Concert Band (involving students from Years 3 to 12) will perform so please keep the date free and enjoy a fantastic evening!
- Waverley Eisteddfod Ensemble sections which usually involve every player from Years 3 to 12 on Saturday 15 August – please keep this date free also.
- Huntingtower Camerata Gala Concert
Sunday 11 October at 2.30pm. There will be many more details to come but once again all players (Years Prep to 12) and choristers (Years 3 to 12) are involved in this very important event.
MUSIC DATES – TERM II 2009
- Boroondara Eisteddfod
6.00pm 18 years and under Chamber Ensemble – Hawthorn Town Hall
- HOSA Musical “Hello Dolly” Performances
Friday 1 May
Saturday 2 May
Firday 8 May
Saturday 9 May
- Dandenong Eisteddfod (Ensemble Section)
Friday 8 May 9.00am – 3.30pm
- Years 11 and 12 Solo Concert
Wednesday 13 May at 7.00pm – Orchestral Room
- Open Day
Sunday 17 May 2.00pm – 4.00pm – TBA
- Boroondara Eisteddfod – Hawthorn Town Hall
Friday 22 May 7.00pm – Murray Sharp Award
Wednesday 27 May 10.00am – Junior Chamber Ensembles
Wednesday 27 May 11.30am – Junior Small Ensembles
Wednesday 27 May 6.00pm – Junior String Orchestra
- Little Symphony and Little Choir Concert
Thursday 4 June 6.00pm – Performing Arts Centre
- Junior Piano Concert (Years Prep to 6)
Tuesday 9 June 6.00pm – Performing Arts Centre
- Junior and Senior Orchestral and Choral Concert
Thursday 18 June 7.00pm – Performing Arts Centre
- Years 3 and 4 Solo Concert
Tuesday 23 June 6.00pm – Orchestral Room
- Mordialloc Eisteddfod (Senior Choir)
Thursday 25 June
April 24 2009 | All and Music | No Comments » |
Posted April 24 2009
Did you know we run classes at your school on Thursdays between
4.30 – 6.30pm?
Our internationally acclaimed programme includes speech, movement, creative drama, scripts and productions. We can help to increase your child’s confidence, self-esteem and communication skills!
We would like to invite your child to attend a complimentary demonstration class. This offer is for a limited time only.
If you are interested, please call Principal Tamara White on 8522 0007
HURRY PLACES ARE LIMITED!
April 24 2009 | Advertisement and All | No Comments » |
Posted April 07 2009Thought for the week
“The future depends on what we do in the present”
“Mahatma Ghandi”
“The more a man knows, the more he forgives”
“Catherine the Great”
We are living through an interesting time indeed. People are becoming more and more aware of the importance of correct thinking in creating their own outcomes and yet at the same time the world seems to be going through some really difficult times economically, socially and politically. Why is this? Could it be that this is the time that all these issues need to come to the fore to be dealt with, to be removed and to make place for what is going to be lasting and sustainable? This is what I believe and I feel that in many ways the right people are in the right place so that these issues can be effectively dealt with. When petty differences make way for genuine support and care for everyone irrespective of culture, religion or wealth, the world will become peaceful. When the focus is less on the things we want and becomes more of what everyone really needs, the world will become more sustainable. When corporations focus less on the bottom line and more on what is good for society as a whole, they will become even more successful and the world will become more equitable.
I know these things sound “utopian” but I think this is a good time to focus on what we want the world to be rather than on what we do not want it to be.
The end of the first, very busy term brings a time of reflection on what has been and also a look forward to what is coming. The highly successful activities of both the Junior and Senior School have provided the children with numerous opportunities to extend themselves and to excel. I really enjoyed the Junior School Swimming and Athletics Carnivals. The students put so much effort into all they attempted and did so well. The Junior School Class Music Concerts are always a great joy to hear and I encourage those parents whose children do not play an instrument to also come along and listen to the amazing progress that each child is making.
In the Senior School we heard of the amazing success we had with the Senior Swimming Carnival and how we won the Division One Carnival in the EISM Competition.
The House Music Festival was a joyous occasion and both evenings were very successful. It was wonderful to see the standard achieved by the students when led by the House Music Captains. We were very proud of them.
The Debating Teams started the year off with a real “bang” with 8 of our 9 teams winning their opening debate. We also had 8 best speakers. For the first time we have permitted year 8 students to take part in the Year 9 competition and this team also did very well competing, and winning above their age division. Debating is such good preparation for public speaking and generally presenting an argument; be it in an essay, a speech or a discussion.
Congratulations to the Tennis and Softball teams for winning their pennants for the summer competition and also to the Huntingtower Basketball teams for their outstanding success in having more than half their teams in their grand finals.
Thank you and congratulations to everyone involved in all the school activities this past term.
Next term sees the Huntingtower Old Students Association (HOSA) production of Hello Dolly and it will be a really enjoyable, fun show. Please come along and show support for the past students. There are 4 shows on 1, 2 and 7, 8 May. Please book through the office.
On the staffing front, we wish Mr Leigh Parsons well as he travels to England to play cricket for an English County team. He will be away for the rest of 2009 and returns next year. We welcome Mr Damian Magner as his replacement. Mr Magner is from New Zealand where he has been teaching for 5 years. He brings experience, enthusiasm and a great sense of humour to the school and we look forward to welcoming him into the Huntingtower School Community.
Mrs Kellie Jasper is our new Student Welfare Counsellor and has now been with us for two weeks. A number of students have already been in to see her and she has been made to feel very welcome. If any parents would like to have a talk to her in order to feel comfortable about their children seeing her, she would welcome a visit. Her email address is kjasper@huntingtower.vic.edu.au.
I hope that you are having a relaxing, productive and enjoyable Easter season and look forward to seeing you all back at school on Tuesday 21 April.
Sholto Bowen
Principal
April 07 2009 | All and Principals Message | No Comments » |
Posted April 07 2009Diary Dates:
Easter Colouring Competition (drawn last week of Term 1)
Hot Cross Bun Drive (Buns delivered Thurs 2nd April)
Mother’s Day Stall Junior School – Wednesday 6th May (wrapping night Tues 5th of May in M1).
PTA, Class Rep and Fete Rep meeting – Thursday 30th April.
Huntingtower Fete – Saturday 7th November
The Role of the PTA
Thank you to all of you who responded to last fortnight’s bulletin, proposing a change of name to the “Parent’s Association”. So far the feedback has been positive, so we will go ahead with tabling the change of name at the PTA meeting on the 30th of April. Feedback continues to be welcome to Catherine Jenkins on catherine.jenkins@iinet.net.au.
3yo Pre-Prep to Year 2 Colouring Competition
The 3 year old & 4 year old Pre-Preps, Preps, Year 1s and Year 2s have been busy entering our easter egg competition, drawing pictures of what Easter means to them. Anna Burke MP has kindly donated some lovely easter eggs as a prize and the winners will be announced during the last week of term.
Mother’s Day Stall
Debbie Jones has been having a lovely time shopping for Mother’s Day gifts to stock the Junior School stall for the 6th of May. The little presents purchased by Debbie are wonderful and we hope the children get just as excited as we are about the event. As per last year, the gifts will all be $5 and we ask that children please bring the right money as we will not have much change available.
A wrapping evening will be held the night before in M1, with all parents welcome to join in. It’s a great opportunity to survey the gifts and possibly “suggest” which ones the mums might like before the children start their shopping!
The Huntingtower Fete – One Year versus Two Years?
The PTA Committee is currently seeking your opinion on whether the Huntingtower Fete should be run annually or every two years. If you’re interested in contributing to the discussion, could you please email Catherine Jenkins on catherine.jenkins@iinet.net.au during the next two weeks. We are definitely committed to the fete this year but we need to have this debate now in order to make a decision for next year.
The Huntingtower Fete – Exciting new changes!
This year, due to their being 3 classes at each senior school level and only one at the junior school level, each senior school year level will be responsible for two stalls. We have a particular need for more food stalls. Of course fete reps will need additional assistance and the PTA Committee will work with them to ensure this occurs.
Some stalls will be allocated to fete reps where there has been an enduring history of that class running that stall. The rest of the stalls will be up for bidding by the fete reps, with allocation going to the “first in best dressed”, as we hope that if you are enthusiastic about running a stall then it’s sure to be a raging success! More details will be available soon, including a list of stalls and a date to put the bid in.
The relationship with the Melbourne Tigers Basketball Club is stronger than ever and the PTA Committee are investigating opportunities to involve them at the fete, possibly with signed merchandise for the silent auction or player auctions.
We would love to involve the students more this year too, with a possibility of better student stalls and allowing the students to perform as buskers should they wish.
We are also seeking ways of increasing corporate sponsorship, advertising and signage. Any parent experts in these areas who are willing to lend a hand would be very much appreciated (please contact Brett Stringer at brett@whitestone.com.au
April 07 2009 | All and PTA | No Comments » |
Posted April 07 2009SENIOR HOUSE MUSIC FESTIVAL 2009
During Term 1 the school has resounded with harmony as many groups (small and large) of choristers and instrumentalists took up the challenge of preparing for the 2009 House Music Festival. Every student in Years 7 to 12 was involved in the House Choir and over half of the students in each House performed in the House Orchestra. The House Music Captains delved deeply into the resources of their House and produced magnificent results in all sections. The orchestras and choirs played and sang with excitement, enthusiasm and a great variety of tone colour, the Instrumental Ensembles, Chamber Choirs, Soloists (6 soloists representing each House) and House pianists also performed with remarkable poise, brilliance and musicianship.
The Festival was held over two exciting nights, the first featuring talented soloists and Instrumental Ensembles. The second evening was held at the Besen Centre, Mt Scopus College, and the Huntingtower community must be thanked for the wonderful suppoort given to the choirs and orchestras as the vast auditorium was filled to capacity by an enthusiastic audience.
The final item, the “Light Entertainment” was enjoyed immensely by all. Many students from all three Houses displayed their unique talent for dancing and sincere appreciation is given to the Light Entertainment Director Catiray Poiani-Cordella and all the participants.
Hearty congratulations to all students who participated in the House Music Festival and were able to produce performances of such a high standard. Special thanks must be given to our wonderful House Music Captains who undertook the enormous task of directing their respective Houses and did so with such commitment and electrifying success.
HOUSE MUSIC CAPTAINS 2009
Bruce Shannon Bowen
Sarah Bunting
Mather Catiray Poiani-Cordella
Christian Smith
Warrell Jessica Clarke
Nicholas Duong
The adjudicator, Mr Brett Kelly spoke eloquently about the immense value and privilege of being involved in performing in such a Festival and he was extremely appreciative of all participants including parents and members of the audience and of the extremely high standard achieved by the students. He was very happy that Bruce and Warrell were equal winners of the House Orchestra section and Mather and Warrell were equal winners of the House Choir section. A wonderful result as all Houses deserved to be winners and the importance of the Festival is the participation not the result! Nevertheless Mr Kelly had to give an overall result and Warrell’s performance in other sections put them ahead of Mather and Bruce who were separated only by 11/2 points for 2nd and 3rd place.
SOLO CONCERTS
At least one solo concert and sometimes 2 or more solo concerts are held for each year level throughout the year. There are also special concerts for players in Years Prep, 1 and 2. Short Solo Concerts are also held for players from any year level throughout the school. These are especially useful for students who are preparing for exams, Eisteddfods or auditions or who would like more opportunities to perform.
Our first solo concert was our wonderful Senior Solo Concert held 2 weeks ago where we enjoyed 45 amazing performances from students in Year 7 to 12. As this Bulletin goes to press we will have just enjoyed another special concert from our talented students in Years 5 and 6 who will have also performed in their own Year 5 and 6 Orchestra.
Many more solo concerts will be held next term and during these coming holidays there will be opportunities for exam students to perform so please contact me (Lynley Bramble AH 9803 7701 or email lbramble@huntingtower.vic.edu.au) if you would like to perfrom.
HUNTINGTOWER ORCHESTRAS/CONCERT BAND
From the first week of Term I the three House Orchestras and the Junior Orchestra have been rehearsing enthusiastically. The House Orchestras involved every instrumentalist in the Senior School (Years 7 to 12) and these performers will now play in the Senior Orchestra, Middle School Orchestra and/or the Concert Band (for every woodwind and brass player from Years 7 to 12).
The Senior Orchestra will commence rehearsals every Thursday morning at 7.50am in the Orchestral Room at the start of Term II. Please check the orchestral lists posted around the school. Full attendance is required please.
The Concert Band will commence on the first Monday of Term II (27 April) at 7.50am in the Orchestral Room.
The Middle School Orchestra will also commence very early in Term II on Tuesday mornings at 7.50am. (Please check the Concert Band and Middle School Orchestra lists).
The Junior Orchestra involves every player from Years 3 to 6 and Little Symphony (Years Prep, 1 and 2) will commence in mid Term II. All these instrumental ensembles (plus smaller groups such as string orchestras, brass ensembles, stage band and chamber groups) are a great source of enjoyment, fun, social interaction between students of all ages and intellectual stimulation creating a sense of belonging and self worth.
It is not too late to join!! If you are interested in learning an instrument and would like to investigate the possibility please don’t hesitate to contact Lynley Bramble (BH 9807 8888 or AH 9803 7701) or email lbramble@huntingtower.vic.edu.au
These holidays may be a great time to arrange to come to have a try out of some instruments – looking forward to seeing you!
MUSIC DATES – TERM II 2009
- Boroondara Eisteddfod – 18 years and under Chamber Ensemble – Hawthorn Town Hall
- HOSA Musical “Hello Dolly” Performances
Friday 1 May
Saturday 2 May
Friday 8 May
Saturday 9 May
- Dandenong Eisteddfod (Ensemble Section) Friday 8 May 9.00am – 3.30pm
- Years 11 and 12 Solo concert Wednesday 13 May at 7.00pm – Orchestral Room
- Open Day Sunday 17 May 2.00pm – 4.00pm - TBA
- Boroondara Eisteddfod – Hawthorn Town Hall
Friday 22 May 7.00pm – Murray Sharp Award
Wednesday 27 May 10.00am – Junior Chamber Ensembles
Wednesday 27 May 11.30am – Junior Small Ensembles
Wednesday 27 May 6.00pm – Junior String Orchestra
- Little Symphony and Little Choir Concert Thursday 4 June 6.00pm – Performing Arts Centre
- Junior Piano Concert (Years Prep to 6) Tuesday 9 June 6.00pm – Performing Arts Centre
- Junior and Senior Orchestral and Choral Concert Thursday 18 June 7.00pm – Performing Arts Centre
- Years 3 and 4 Solo Concert Tuesday 23 June 6.00pm – Orchestral Room
- Mordialloc Eisteddfod (Senior Choir) Thursday 25 June
April 07 2009 | All and Music | No Comments » |
Posted April 07 2009Last week, the Year 8 students began an Integrated Studies unit entitled ‘Schooling: Past, Present and Future’. The students have identified their favourite places in the school at present, and have developed proposals to improve these areas. Their next task will be to acquire an understanding of how Huntingtower has changed by interviewing people of various ages on their school experiences.
It is envisaged that between 11am and 12 noon on Thursday 14 May the students will interview past students from a range of eras to obtain an overall picture of Huntingtower. If you feel you would be able to contribute your time to work with our students it would be much appreciated. You would not have to speak to the student body as a whole, but would be interviewed by a group of 2 or 3 students. Questions may cover the topics of: subjects, discipline, traditions, activities, favourite places and funny stories.
If you are interested in being a part of this activity please email me on mlawson@huntingtower.vic.edu.au by Friday 1 May. If you are unable to attend but would still like to be involved, your memories in written form would be most appreciated.
We look forward to hearing from you.
April 07 2009 | All and Announcements | No Comments » |
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