1997 - What's On at Hutchins...

Stephens LibraryThis year has been an exciting one for the students andstaff in the Stephens Libray. Mr Herbert has continuedto delight the infant classes and the primary Years withhis storytelling.Bookaleidoscope, the theme for this year's Book Week,saw the library festooned with streamers and stainedglass windows. Many thanks for this work go to MrsMcNeill, Mrs Young and Mrs Pitman. Highlights of theBook Week assembly were the wonderful book weekcharacters from the Prep Department and the rendition,by Mrs Collis' Year 3, of The Midnight Gang, one of theshort-listed picture books. Visiting the classroom justbefore the performance was a surprise. The floor wascovered with boys waiting to have their nappies pinned!Several classes were lucky to hear some famousAustralian authors and illustrators through the courseof the year. We are very grateful to the State Library andthe Children's Book Council for organising them. Year 7heard Tim Winton speak about writing and his finalLockie Leonard book. He explained that he did not wantLockie to remain 13 for any more years as it just wasn'tfair. Year 4 were delighted with Alison Lester, who gavethem a special signature illustration which will betreasured forever, and Year 6 heard Narelle Oliver tellthem of her picture books depicting native Australiananimals and birds.In Term 2 the Stephens Bureau of Investigation openedits doors and, with the help of Spaldo the beagle snifferdog, proceeded to learn to use the six step informationprocess known as DLSOPA.Two Book Fairs were held in the Library and continuedto support the theory that boys who have their ownlibraries at home are keen, long term readers.The Stephens Library is blessed to have a largecontingent of volunteer parent helpers and we thankthem sincerely for their bright and cheery assistance.102-The team consisting of Mrs Pat McNeill, Mr TonyHerbert, and Mrs Louise Young are to be thanked fortheir service to the Lower School community.ScienceMrs M. HeadlamActing Director of ResourcesLearning is the only thing the mind never exhausts,never fears, and never regrets.Leonardo da VinciOnce again much happened in Hutchins Science in 1997.We welcomed Ms Jackie Handley as replacement for MrSmith who took a well-earned long service leave in Term3. During his absence Mr Starkey took up the reins asActing Head of Science. We welcomed old boy Mr ScottBrain for the year. He has gained a wealth of experienceafter a successful year of teaching Year 10 Science andMaths and Science in Middle School.All teachers report that 1997 was both an eventful andexciting year. Mr Fishburn and Mr Starkey note thatTerm 3 examinations went well and student feedbacksuggests they gained valuable exam experience. Year11/12 now await anxiously but confidently their finalTCE assessments.In the Tasmanian Science Talent Search the JuniorSchool achieved some commendable results, includinga 2nd place to James Buchanan, a merit to DougallMiddleton in the Photographic Essays Section, and amerit to Nicholas Young in the Technology Section.In the Australian National Chemistry Quiz 72 Hutchinsstudents participated and 25 of these achieved HighDistinctions, the highest percentage we have everenjoyed. Four students achieved equal 1st in the State intheir year group and scored in the top 400 in the SouthWest Pacific Region (89,606 entries). They were WilliamKay (Year 7), Chris Halse-Rogers (Year 10), StephenCatchpole and Martin Matthews (Year 11).Others to attain very highTasmanian placings in theiryear groups were GeoffreyKelly (4th in Year 7);Oscar Potter (5th in Year 9)and Ben Robinson (11 th);Tim Starkey (5th in Year10), Michael Ashbolt andAaron Buckland(equal 10th).There were someoutstanding achievementsof Year 7-10 boys in theEsso Australia AustralianSchools ScienceCompetition.Mr Young working with studentsin the Human PerformanceLaboratoryGold medallists Chris Halse-Rogers (Year 10) and IanPang (Year 8) achieved the top mark of all entrants inTasmania in their respective groups. Other students whoreceived high distinctions were John Eland, Ben McKay,Jesse Plumb and Nick Warren (Year 7); Alex Piekutowskiand Josh Tomlin (Year 8); Ben Robinson (Year 9); NickSonneveld and Ian Wilson (Year 10). Entries continue torise and congratulations go to all boys who achieved veryhigh standards and particularly those who participated.The Tasmanian Titration Competition produced somefine standards in Year 10-12 in chemical analysis, using atitration procedure to determine an amount of a certainsubstance An experienced chemist would expect a resultwith about 1% error. Thirteen students achieved in thisorder and received a Certificate of Achievement forOutstanding Performance in the competition. MatthewSmith (0.0% error in Year 10), Matthew Fishburn and IanWilson (0.1 % in Year 10), Martin Matthews (0.1 % inYear 11), Ben Robinson and Azman Haroon (0.2 % in Year9 and 12), James Mundy and Chris Halse-Rogers (0.3%in Year 9 and 10), Philip Potter (0.4% in Year 12), TimStarkey (0.8% in Year 10), David Roscoe (0.9% in Year12) and Tim Pitman and Roy Kwan (1 % in Year 11).These results were exceptional!Stephen Catchpole (Year 11) was awarded a place at theprestigious Rio Tinto National Youth Science Forum.Others to achieve creditable performances in Scienceinclude James McCreary and Jeremy Parker (Year 5) whowere State finalists and merit recipients in the ASTA/ICI103-Australasian Poster Competition. Philip Bender (Year12), Umesh Ratnagobal (Year 12), Zoe Rochford (Year12 Fahan) and Suzie Bishop (Year 12 Fahan) competedsuccessfully as a Hutchins team in the AustralianInstitute of Physics Quiz. Hutchins Year 11 Biologystudents Mark Evenhuis, Roy Kwan, Simon Binny,Jeffrey Brett, Kelly Rhee (Fahan) and ElizabethMurchison (Collegiate) qualified to take the BiologyOlympiad examination. Mark, Simon and Jeffreyachieved High Distinctions and Elizabeth was one offour Tasmanians to be invited to the Biology OlympiadSummer School in Canberra attempting to qualify forthe 1998 Australian Biology Olympiad Team.Science Subject Prizes represent the highest Schoolawards presented to Year 11/12 students at Hutchins.The recipients were Philip Bender for the Henry MartinPrizes for Physics and Chemistry, James Eddington forthe Roberts Ltd Prize for Rural Science and theEnvironmental Science Prize, Stephen Catchpole forthe Physical Sciences Prize and Azman Haroon for theBiology Prize.The quote at the beginning of the article was takenfrom a windcheater often worn by our Head LaboratoryTechnician, Ms Sally Dunn. The students mentioned inthis article have progressed a long way in Sciencetowards an understanding of its significance.Mr M. Fishburn