Jigsaw Semester 1 2011 - International Grammar School

Mia Sharma takes IGS science
to the international stage
The Science Teachers Association of
NSW invited IGS science teacher Mia
Sharma to attend the annual
International Science and Engineering
Fair in the United States. A convention
with over 2,000 participants from
around the world, the May event
showcased the best scientific
investigations students had
conducted over the past year and
had a number of teacher workshops
to discuss science teaching.
Mia was invited to present a
workshop on the IGS’s innovative
science program. She gave an
interesting presentation about
‘contextualised and differentiated
learning’ and how to construct a
framework that teachers could use
internationally to improve teaching.
“I was awestruck by the level of
student achievement from other
countries,” Mia said,”one student had
cultured algae on a mesh that could
be placed over the exhaust pipe of a
car. The algae would remove most of
the damaging carbon emissions from
the exhaust fumes and convert them
into oxygen”.
clockwise from top:
At the Science Center; Mia mixes it with
US Nobel Laureate J.Michael Bishop MD;
Ready to present.
IGS runners
across the line
IGS may be an urban school but we
know how to go Cross Country. A total
of 33 junior and senior runners
reached the Combined Independent
Schools (state) level. Individual senior
runners in the top 15 in their age group
at the CDSSA carnival included Gabriel
Wahl, Kip O’Rourke, Dominic Cox,
Ella Spear, Connor Denton, Caitlin
Bickerton and Jeremy Horniblow.
Nobel Laureates
blow things into
proportion
A highlight of the convention was the
session given by four Nobel
Laureates—they revealed how they
became involved in science (usually
by blowing things up in their
garages)* and suggested ideas to
help engage students in science.
Since returning home, Mia and IGS’s
science department have started to
contact local universities to see if our
students can work in real laboratories
on short projects.
“It just makes science so much more
interesting and fun if you can do real
research that helps people,” Mia said.
A short blog written by one of Mia’s workshop
participants is available at http://societyforscience.
typepad.com/
*Ed: Don’t try this at home
Top 10 at ASISSA in their age group
included Sebastian Robitschko, Izaak
Haupt, Timothy Pritchard, Evan Filo,
Elise Brennan, Layla Riley, Phoenix
Levy Bell, Stephanie Potter, Isabella
Clifton, Charlotte Howden, April
Brennan, Freja Andersson, Molly
McGrath, Isobel Kanaley, Lara Di Qual,
Erin Doyle, Imogen Brent and
Frances Howe.
Left: IGS junior runners Hannah Kroeger and
Isobel Kanaley across the line.
Meet our student leaders
Jigsaw caught up with head girl Charlotte Kitchin
and head boy Lewis Evans to find out what student
leadership is about.
How long have you been at IGS?
CK: I started IGS in year 7 so this is
my sixth year here.
LE: I have been at IGS as long as I
can remember. I started in preschool
going twice a week when the school
was still at the Surry Hills campus.
How did you come to be head
girl/boy?
LE: From the leaders that were
selected last year by students and
teachers, I believe that the Principal
then selected head girl and boy…
CK: Yes, that’s right. Beyond the
technical side of it though, I think I
became a leader through keen
participation within the school—
I think my enthusiasm was palpable!
What do you think your role
brings to the school?
CK: Ordinarily, I would say that the
head girl should represent the student
voice. However, at IGS the relationship
between all students and teachers is
strong and doesn’t usually need a
school captain to fill in the gaps.
LE: I think my role as head boy and
the role of the other leaders gives a
sort of intimacy between the staff and
students in the school. I try to be a
role model more than anything else.
What does being head girl/boy
mean for you personally?
LE: It is quite an honour. After 15 odd
years at the school it really felt
rewarding to be given the badge.
Being head boy has definitely been a
learning experience.
‘Never doubt
yourself;
IGS is full of
surprises’
CK: I’ve already learned a lot about
leadership—that being a leader
means stepping up when necessary
but also knowing when to step back
and listen. Thus far, it has been an
incredibly rewarding and humbling
experience.
Would you recommend younger
students aspire to the role?
CK: Definitely. It motivated me to get
involved at school and gave me a
really defined goal throughout my
senior high schooling.
LE: Yes, I definitely would too.
Throughout high school it was never
really something that I aspired to
openly. My advice is to never doubt
yourself, IGS is full of surprises.
What are your interests at
school—after academic,
of course…?
LE: I have a great passion for visual
arts—painting and drawing are some
of my pastimes. Sport also plays a
huge role in my life, especially this
year playing soccer a few days a
week has been a great mental and
physical release.
CK: I play netball outside of school
as well as coaching a team of
11-year-olds. I play piano (after a
long line of other instruments
including drums). Even though
I recently stopped lessons I still
enjoy playing in my spare time.
What for the future? More study,
special plans?
CK: My general plan is to take a gap
year for work and travel. I’d then like
to go to either Sydney or Melbourne
Uni to study resource economics or
environmental economics.
LE: More study is the immediate
plan. Next year I also hope to do
casual work as an aftercare
teacher—I may as well completely
fulfil my role as an IGS tragic!
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