14 Annual Newsletter 2012 Week 50 [pdf, 10 MB] - Kelso High ...

SCHOOL SPECTACULAR
Denison College Kelso High Campus performers Teleatha
Prasser, Shannon Reedy, Chloe Hunt, Tayla Mutton,
Mikayla Ellsmore and Mel Horwell headed into the Schools
Spectacular on Saturday after receiving good luck wishes
from their principal, Keith Peasley.
MIND MARATHON
Living up to the theme, Our Time, Relieving Director, Sonja
Benson said this year’s show has ranked up with the best of the
29 Schools Spectaculars.
"Our theme, Our Time, was inspired by the Stephen Sondheim
song and the performers really lived up to that inspiration," Ms
Benson said.
"Mr Sondheim wrote from New York encouraging the students in
the Schools Spectacular.
"They performed as if they were those he wrote about" the
movers, the shakers, those we will read about in tomorrow's
papers."
"The Schools Spectacular is more than just a show like no other,
for each of the 3600 students who play some part in the event it is
an experience like no other.
"There is no doubt it contributes to their success in school, work
and life.
"They learn valuable lessons, such as collaborating with others,
striving for goals, attaining new heights and sharing the success
of a job well done.
"Teamwork, working co-operatively with others and playing a part
in the success of an enterprise are not only attributes they can
take into life, but they were fundamental to making this Schools
Spectacular one of the best ever.
"The Schools Spectacular is a tremendous example of the
opportunities, values and excellence that is the core of NSW
public schools."
Ms Benson said she was thrilled and proud of how everyone
played their part and put enormous energy into their role.
Mind Marathon is a competition that is aimed at Stage 4
boys who are academically capable. The event is organised
through East Hills High School in Sydney each year. This
year Kelso High and Bathurst High entered a combined
Denison College team. This team consisted of six Year 8
students, three from each campus. The Kelso High
representatives were Giles Lodge, Tom Hoban and Brandon
Oliver. All of these boys are academically capable and have
been performing well in class and with assessment tasks.
The day consisted of three sessions with tasks based on
Mathematics, Science, English, History, Geography and
General Knowledge. Each of the tasks were challenging and
completion of all questions extremely difficult. However, this
was the idea of the day with challenges designed to stretch
and extend our most academically capable students.
East Hills put on a great lunch which allowed Mr Stelling
(Bathurst High supervising teacher) and myself to discuss
the day so far. The boys all admitted that the day had been
challenging and they had been presented with ‘tough stuff’.
They were unsure how they were positioned as there were
300 students from all over Sydney and surrounding areas.
There was no progressive score on the day and teachers
were not permitted on the floor to discuss anything with
students. Consequently the result at the end of the day was
as big a surprise for us as it was for students.
The boys finished a fantastic second behind Davidson.
Mind Marathon is a large event and occurs over three days
with different schools participating each day. This means
Denison College was invited to a Mind Marathon mega
battle in November with the best teams from each day
fighting it out to determine a Mind Marathon winner for 2012.
"Everyone was a star in this year's Schools Spectacular," Ms
Benson said.
"Whether a featured artist, chorister, musician, dancer, foyer