News - Perth Modern School
News - Perth Modern School
News - Perth Modern School
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in this issue<br />
><br />
Exceptional schooling.<br />
Exceptional schooling. Exceptional students.<br />
Exceptional students.<br />
<strong>Perth</strong> <strong>Modern</strong> <strong>School</strong><br />
> <strong>News</strong><br />
Former Student<br />
New WA<br />
Governor<br />
Page 4<br />
Rowing<br />
Success<br />
Page 16<br />
April 2011<br />
Centenary Celebration under the Stars<br />
Monday, 14 February 2011 was a special day for <strong>Perth</strong> <strong>Modern</strong> <strong>School</strong>. The school day started with<br />
students, teachers and support staff receiving the <strong>School</strong> Centenary Pin at the commemorative<br />
Centenary Assembly. The day concluded with past and present members of the school community<br />
celebrating 100 years of public secondary education at the Centenary Gala Dinner under the stars.<br />
Guests were welcomed on the school<br />
concourse for pre dinner drinks by<br />
Principal, Ms Lois Joll, Emma Dyce and<br />
Sakinah Munday, President and Vice<br />
President of the Student Representative<br />
Council. As the 155 guests met many<br />
former friends, many of whom had<br />
travelled from interstate, they were<br />
entertained by the student String<br />
Quartet. Among the many distinguished<br />
guests were the former Principal of<br />
the <strong>School</strong> and her husband (a former<br />
teacher at the <strong>School</strong>), Dr Robyn White<br />
and Loren White, former Prime Minister<br />
of Australia Bob Hawke, Mrs Janet<br />
Holmes a Court, former Senator John<br />
Stone, prominent Western Australian<br />
political historian Professor David Black<br />
as well as Tonya and Malcolm McCusker<br />
QC, the Western Australia Governor –<br />
designate.<br />
Memories of school days past were<br />
recalled by many as the <strong>School</strong><br />
Choir commenced the formal dinner<br />
celebrations with <strong>Modern</strong>a Schola,<br />
L-R Carolyn and Tim Carey; Tonya McCusker;<br />
Arnold Wong<br />
the school song. <strong>Modern</strong>ians were<br />
transformed to their former school<br />
days as they listened to the Choir<br />
on the school steps under the 1909<br />
date on the original school building –<br />
marking the date when construction<br />
commenced of the original school.<br />
The oldest alumni member, John Down<br />
(96), welcomed the opportunity to<br />
meet Emma and Sakinah and share<br />
with them memories of his school days.<br />
Ms Andrea Mitchell MLA, read a<br />
message of congratulations from<br />
the Minister of Education, the Hon<br />
Dr Elizabeth Constable MLA, who<br />
was unable to attend. The letter of<br />
congratulations from Dr Ken Michael<br />
AC, Governor of Western Australia was<br />
read by Principal, Ms Lois Joll. As a<br />
former student, he stated that ‘<strong>Perth</strong><br />
<strong>Modern</strong> <strong>School</strong> is an extraordinary<br />
school and it can be immensely proud<br />
of its exceptional record that has seen<br />
a commitment during the decades to<br />
academic excellence and outstanding<br />
achievement. The <strong>School</strong>’s Alumni are<br />
testament to this with many former<br />
students holding high positions in<br />
local, national and international<br />
environments’.<br />
Mr Malcolm McCusker QC,<br />
representing former students, reflected<br />
and spoke about his school days and<br />
the impact the ‘modern’ education<br />
pioneered at the school had made on<br />
his life. His reflections captured much<br />
Bob Hawke with Lois Joll<br />
of the school’s remarkable history and<br />
traditions. He made many parallels to<br />
how in 2011 the school continues to<br />
foster students’ individual skills and<br />
abilities and provide an exceptional<br />
curriculum for exceptional students.<br />
In making the toast to the school, the<br />
Principal asked all to acknowledge 100<br />
years of public secondary education<br />
and past and present students – the<br />
school’s rich heritage and significant<br />
achievements – and to look forward<br />
to the future of <strong>Perth</strong> <strong>Modern</strong> <strong>School</strong><br />
continuing to make a difference.<br />
Fogarty<br />
Scholarship for<br />
Michael Taran<br />
Page 5
Exceptional schooling.<br />
Exceptional students.<br />
Exception<br />
2<br />
From the Principal<br />
The 2011 school year has had a very smooth start, despite the very<br />
hot weather in the first weeks, with students engaging quickly with<br />
their program, the timetable working well and very few students<br />
reconsidering their course selection.<br />
The staff has returned to the 2011 school year with the usual enthusiasm<br />
and commitment to the students. Given the excellent 2010 results, the<br />
first meeting of all staff was a time of celebration and affirmation.<br />
Whilst ensuring a swift and effective<br />
start to the delivery of the curriculum<br />
in class time, many staff members<br />
have been actively supporting the<br />
co-curricular and enrichment events<br />
offered at the school.<br />
We welcome a number of new staff who<br />
have joined <strong>Perth</strong> <strong>Modern</strong> <strong>School</strong> this<br />
year including:<br />
Steve Hounsome – English/Drama<br />
Felicity MacLeod – Home Economics<br />
Evelyn Doerenberg – Mathematics<br />
Alex Banyard – Science<br />
Joanne Dobb – Science<br />
Krista Jordan – French<br />
Glen McClelland – Mathematics<br />
Louise Secker – HOLA Society<br />
and Environment<br />
Lisa Kim – Mathematics<br />
Students at <strong>Perth</strong> <strong>Modern</strong> <strong>School</strong> are<br />
encouraged to engage in a range<br />
of co-curricular activities whilst<br />
maintaining a balance with their<br />
commitments to classroom learning<br />
and homework and extra-curricular and<br />
out-of-school activities. As adolescents,<br />
there are huge opportunities available<br />
to meet individual interests. It is<br />
important for all students to engage in<br />
a range of activities – and to learn to<br />
manage these.<br />
There has been a variety and quality of<br />
events that have taken place during the<br />
term including:<br />
• the outstanding success of the school<br />
swimming team at the Interschool<br />
Swimming A Division,<br />
• our students representing the state in<br />
Beijing,<br />
• a gold in Rowing,<br />
• the success of many debating and<br />
sporting teams,<br />
• the fun and community spirit of Mufti<br />
Day,<br />
• the wonderful Centenary Concert,<br />
• the very moving ANZAC<br />
Commemorative Service and<br />
• the fun Year 8/9 Club Mod evening<br />
These events are just a sample of the<br />
wealth of opportunity available to<br />
students at <strong>Perth</strong> <strong>Modern</strong> <strong>School</strong>.<br />
Year 8s have settled in well generally and<br />
along with new students in other Year<br />
groups, are being monitored to support<br />
their transition into the school. I do hope<br />
that your child has settled into school<br />
feeling confident and engaged in the<br />
learning program. If you are concerned<br />
at progress, or wish to talk with a teacher,<br />
please contact the classroom teacher or<br />
advocacy teacher through the <strong>School</strong><br />
Reception on 9380 0555.<br />
A very enjoyable House Swimming<br />
Carnival was held in the first week with<br />
students actively participating and<br />
supporting their House. The carnival<br />
was won by Parsons. Students selected<br />
for the Inter <strong>School</strong> Swimming enjoyed<br />
an evening of training and bonding<br />
finishing with a sleepover in the school<br />
refectory. The team went on to retain<br />
their place in A Division achieving a very<br />
commendable fourth place.<br />
Year 12 students enjoyed a wonderful<br />
<strong>School</strong> Ball which was held at the C<br />
Restaurant and dazzled everyone with<br />
their beautiful dresses and attire.<br />
The 2011 Student Council President<br />
is Emma Dyce and the Vice President<br />
Sakinah Munday.<br />
<strong>Perth</strong> <strong>Modern</strong> <strong>School</strong> > NEWS April 2011<br />
These students have ably managed<br />
their many duties including as speakers<br />
and student representatives at the<br />
Centenary Dinner, Master of Ceremony<br />
at both the Centenary and ANZAC Day<br />
Commemorative Service assemblies<br />
and leading the Student Council in the<br />
organisation and successful running of<br />
the annual Mufti Day to raise money for<br />
charity.<br />
Achievements of 2010 Leavers:<br />
Outstanding results were achieved<br />
by many students in the 2010 WACE<br />
Examinations including Michael Taran’s<br />
winning the Beazley Medal for the top<br />
WACE Examination Candidate and both<br />
Michael Taran and fellow student Mark<br />
Chia achieving General Exhibitions (of<br />
40 top students for WACE Examinations).<br />
Tessa Richards gained the Course<br />
Exhibition for English.<br />
In addition Jacob Collier, Mark Chia,<br />
Sasha Dawson, Michael Taran and Peter<br />
Trinh gained an ATAR (Tertiary Entrance<br />
Ranking) of 99 or more thus joining the<br />
prestigious 99ers club.<br />
Certificates of Distinction were achieved<br />
in Chemistry (Michael Taran), Design<br />
(Carli Steyntjes), English (Dominique<br />
Maberly, Tess Richards, Sam Scaife),<br />
Mathematics: Specialist (Michael<br />
Taran) and Philosophy and Ethics<br />
(Jacob Collier).<br />
Several courses were listed in the TOP<br />
10 across the state. These included:<br />
Design, Drama, Economics, Literature,<br />
Mathematics – Specialist, Media<br />
Production and Analysis, <strong>Modern</strong><br />
History, Music, Philosophy and Ethics<br />
and Visual Arts.
al schooling.<br />
Exceptional students.<br />
These excellent results were<br />
acknowledged at the Curriculum<br />
Council Awards Ceremony and at a<br />
High Tea function at Parliament House<br />
held by the Minister for Education<br />
to congratulate Principals of high<br />
performing public schools. Past<br />
Principal, Dr Robyn White, also attended<br />
both functions.<br />
2011 is the first year that all 934 Students<br />
currently enrolled in the school have<br />
been selected as academically gifted<br />
and talented. The incoming students at<br />
Year 8 come from around 100 different<br />
primary schools. Applications for Year<br />
8 2011 entry totalled 1505 and 196<br />
students were enrolled.<br />
Parent Information Nights have been<br />
held this term. These included:<br />
The Year 8 Information Night provided<br />
information on organisational skills,<br />
homework policy, co-curricular<br />
opportunities as well as outlining<br />
pastoral care and general support which<br />
is in place to support students in the<br />
transition from primary school to the<br />
more challenging secondary school<br />
environment.<br />
The Year 12 Information Night focused<br />
on explaining the complexities of the<br />
WACE requirements for Graduation,<br />
the WACE Examinations (previously<br />
TEE) and the data processes applied<br />
in the compilation of the ATAR<br />
(previously TER) for University entrance.<br />
Presenters covered a range of issues<br />
including ensuring a life balance, stress<br />
management, support strategies and<br />
‘tips’ for study from Year 12 students of<br />
2010. The PowerPoint presentation will<br />
be available to parents via email.<br />
The Year 11 Information Night focused<br />
on preparation and requirements for the<br />
WACE and senior secondary life.<br />
Parent – Teacher Interviews: A very<br />
positive atmosphere is evident as<br />
parents of students in Years 11 and<br />
12 recently talked to teaching staff to<br />
discuss student’s progress. This reflects<br />
the commitment of staff to ensure there<br />
are clear channels of communication<br />
with parents.<br />
Two Presentation Evenings have<br />
attracted over 600 people. The focus<br />
was to inform parents of prospective<br />
students of the opportunities at <strong>Perth</strong><br />
<strong>Modern</strong> <strong>School</strong> prior to the 21 March<br />
closing date for applications for 2013.<br />
The <strong>School</strong> Council has met twice this<br />
term. Arnold Wong has been elected<br />
Chair for 2011. The <strong>School</strong> Council<br />
confirmed its support of the school<br />
applying again in 2011 for Independent<br />
Public <strong>School</strong> status.<br />
2011 is Centenary Year for <strong>Perth</strong><br />
<strong>Modern</strong> <strong>School</strong> as it celebrates 100<br />
years of public secondary schooling in<br />
Western Australia.<br />
A series of events have been held<br />
and others planned to celebrate and<br />
acknowledge this special year.<br />
A Centenary Assembly was held on<br />
Monday 14 February for students, staff<br />
at the school and special guests. The<br />
occasion saw all participants presented<br />
with a Centenary Pin to acknowledge<br />
the significance of the year. At the end<br />
of the assembly everyone present sang<br />
Happy Birthday to the <strong>School</strong>.<br />
The much anticipated Centenary Dinner<br />
was held on the concourse in front of<br />
the Heritage Building on the evening of<br />
14 February. Despite a threat of a storm,<br />
the evening was a delightful success<br />
with perfect weather and a relaxed<br />
atmosphere. Nearly 160 guests enjoyed<br />
an evening of reminiscing with school<br />
friends, chatting to current parents<br />
and staff whilst acknowledging the<br />
celebration of 100 years of secondary<br />
schooling in WA. The beautiful singing<br />
from the school’s combined choirs<br />
added a wonderful dimension to<br />
the evening.<br />
A Picnic held on Friday 11 March to<br />
welcome new students was well<br />
attended with over 500 people<br />
enjoying a relaxed day at the school.<br />
Congratulations to the P&C who did a<br />
fantastic job organising it.<br />
The Centenary Music Concert, the final<br />
Centenary event for this term, was<br />
held on Saturday 9 April at the <strong>Perth</strong><br />
Concert Hall in front of 1200 people<br />
including the Governor, Governor<br />
Designate and Minister for Education.<br />
After many months of hard work<br />
from all concerned and the added<br />
dimension of international artists and<br />
commissioned works, the evening was a<br />
wonderful success.<br />
A Staff Cocktail Party is being organised<br />
by staff member Walter Wilson on behalf<br />
of the Staff Association on Friday 20<br />
May. This will be a terrific opportunity<br />
for staff, past and present, to enjoy<br />
collegial company whilst celebrating the<br />
significance of 100 years of teaching at<br />
<strong>Perth</strong> <strong>Modern</strong> <strong>School</strong>.<br />
The planned Centenary Summit will<br />
occur on Saturday 23 July, the last<br />
Saturday of the July holidays. The<br />
Summit, organised by <strong>Modern</strong>ian Dr<br />
David Black, is intended to provide an<br />
opportunity for around 60 members<br />
of the <strong>Perth</strong> <strong>Modern</strong> community to<br />
help shape the future of the school.<br />
Interested parents and community<br />
members will be invited to nominate to<br />
be part of this event.<br />
The Parent and Citizen (P&C) meeting,<br />
which is held on the third Monday of<br />
each month at 7.30 pm in the library,<br />
has met twice this term. Deb Cook was<br />
elected president and Ruth Thatcher<br />
Vice President. The P&C endorsed the<br />
school applying for Independent Public<br />
<strong>School</strong> status.<br />
In addition, the P&C undertook to<br />
develop and submit a response to the<br />
<strong>School</strong> Funding Review in support of<br />
government schools.<br />
The P&C also endorsed the concept of<br />
growing the number of parent groups to<br />
support various aspects of school life (in<br />
the model of Friends of Music). An insert<br />
to this newsletter is seeking nominations<br />
from parents and community members<br />
who would be interested in supporting<br />
one of these groups. All interested<br />
parents are encouraged to attend.<br />
Continued page 4<br />
<strong>Perth</strong> <strong>Modern</strong> <strong>School</strong> > NEWS April 2011 3
Exceptional schooling.<br />
Exceptional students.<br />
Exception<br />
4<br />
Continued from page 3<br />
The <strong>Perth</strong> <strong>Modern</strong>ian Society has met<br />
twice this Term. The Society, although<br />
only having a small number of active<br />
volunteers, is very supportive of<br />
the <strong>School</strong>. Thanks to their efforts,<br />
scholarships are being provided<br />
to students in need (the Sphinx<br />
Foundation), historical material has<br />
been provided for the P&C’s Centenary<br />
book, records of past students are being<br />
kept and archived, pieces of furniture<br />
and memorabilia have been or are<br />
being restored by a working party and<br />
a selection of items is being produced<br />
to promote and build the alumni to<br />
raise money.<br />
Independent Public <strong>School</strong>: Much<br />
discussion, several meetings and<br />
consultation has been undertaken with<br />
the school community in regard to the<br />
school’s consideration to apply again to<br />
become an Independent Public <strong>School</strong>.<br />
Inevitably there are many different<br />
perspectives and positions to be<br />
considered with a particular focus on the<br />
identification of benefits to the school<br />
whist acknowledging and working to<br />
clarify and alleviate any concerns which<br />
have been raised. With the support of<br />
many staff, the <strong>School</strong> Council and the<br />
P&C the school will go ahead and submit<br />
an application to the Department of<br />
Education to be part of Phase 3.<br />
<strong>School</strong> Buildings: As many of you will<br />
be aware, the gymnasium remains<br />
one of the biggest challenges when<br />
it comes to ensuring a high quality of<br />
Former Student is New WA Governor<br />
Former <strong>Perth</strong> <strong>Modern</strong> student, respected Barrister and Philanthropist, Malcolm McCusker AO QC was<br />
announced as the next Governor of Western Australia on 21 March 2011. Premier Colin Barnett made the<br />
announcement at Government House after her Majesty The Queen approved the recommendation for the<br />
appointment of Mr McCusker to succeed another former <strong>Perth</strong> <strong>Modern</strong> <strong>School</strong> student, Dr Ken Michael.<br />
<strong>Perth</strong> <strong>Modern</strong> <strong>School</strong> > NEWS April 2011<br />
Mr McCusker is currently a Senior Barrister, and together<br />
with his normal commercial and criminal legal practice,<br />
has lent his skills to several well-known public interest<br />
cases demonstrating a strong commitment to justice and<br />
equality. He is also a long-serving Chairman of the Legal Aid<br />
Commission and the Advisory Board of the Western Australian<br />
Constitutional Centre. He was appointed a Queen’s Counsel<br />
in 1982 and was made an Officer of the Order of Australia in<br />
2005. He was the WA Citizen of the Year in 2005, WA Citizen of<br />
the Year in 2010, Philanthropist of the Year in 2010 and WA’s<br />
Australian of the Year nominee in 2011.<br />
Mr McCusker, 72, is married to Tonya and has three children.<br />
He will formally take up the appointment from 1 July, 2011.<br />
Janet Holmes a Court and Malcolm McCusker<br />
building for students. There have been<br />
many plans and hopes for change over<br />
the past few years but unfortunately<br />
the Department’s financial constraints<br />
have seen little progress. Some further<br />
investigation is being undertaken with<br />
work in progress to gauge the possibility<br />
of sponsorship but the challenge is<br />
significant.<br />
Several science rooms are receiving a<br />
$1.3million government funded upgrade<br />
during this year. The school is working to<br />
identify and plan for the refurbishment<br />
or re-purposing to meet the current<br />
needs of staff and students in particular<br />
learning areas.<br />
With 2011 already off to an impressive<br />
start, I look forward to the remainder of<br />
our very special Centenary year.
al schooling.<br />
Exceptional students.<br />
Katy Champions Graphic Novel Literary Genre<br />
The Graphic Novel elective course in Year 10 English inspired Katy Bunn to be the first in the Girls’ Brigade to<br />
submit a proposal to the National Board to accept the Graphic Novel as a suitable genre and academic project<br />
for part of her application for the Queen’s Award, the highest international award in the organisation.<br />
Katy is commencing the two-year<br />
application process for the Award this<br />
year and will finish prior to turning 17. Her<br />
participation in the Graphic Novel Year<br />
10 English elective helped develop her<br />
passion for storytelling and art, which she<br />
is now channelling into a Graphic Novel<br />
that will be an allegorical tale.<br />
Katy’s involvement in the Girls’ Brigade<br />
requires many hours of participation<br />
outside <strong>School</strong>. Completion of the seven<br />
part application for the Queen’s Award<br />
will take two years and requires six<br />
months of Community Service; a two<br />
hour written examination on national<br />
history, systems of Government, the<br />
history of the Commonwealth and Girls’<br />
Brigade; two initiative tasks designed to<br />
provide service and support to the Girls’<br />
Brigade; Church service for two years;<br />
weekly service to Girls’ Brigade and a<br />
final interview with the State Panel. The<br />
seventh part of the application is an<br />
academic assignment requiring at least<br />
six months’ work. Katy wanted to create<br />
a Graphic Novel, but it was outside any<br />
of the current academic offerings. It<br />
crossed over ‘illustrated book’, ‘creative<br />
Michael Taran Wins Fogarty Scholarship<br />
Volunteer Host Families Needed<br />
Overseas students will be arriving in July 2011 and require host families. There are two different programs, ranging from five to<br />
11 months. Students will be arriving from countries including Chile, Austria, Switzerland, France, Italy, Germany and many more.<br />
Gain friendships that can last a lifetime. So – whether you have cattle or poodle, six children or none, you have the perfect family.<br />
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work’ and ‘visual media’ categories. This<br />
is what led Katy to make her successful<br />
appeal to the State Panel. She is now<br />
appealing to the National Board.<br />
Katy credits the Year 10 elective course<br />
with fuelling her interest in the Graphic<br />
Novel. In the course, she learned more<br />
about the process and skills required<br />
to create a Graphic Novel, and she has<br />
since built on those skills. Katy uses<br />
Photo Shop and Manga Studio to add<br />
to her inked drawings. She shared this<br />
process with the State Panel which led<br />
to her successful appeal.<br />
Recent Year 12 graduate from <strong>Perth</strong> <strong>Modern</strong> <strong>School</strong> and 2010 Beazley Medalist, Michael Taran has been<br />
awarded a university scholarship worth over $100,000.<br />
The University of Western Australia<br />
recently announced that Michael<br />
was one of 200 students recognised<br />
from around the state in the Fogarty<br />
Foundation Undergraduate Awards.<br />
Principal of <strong>Perth</strong> <strong>Modern</strong> <strong>School</strong> Lois<br />
Joll said that Michael was deserving of<br />
the scholarship.<br />
“Michael was an exceptional student at<br />
<strong>Perth</strong> <strong>Modern</strong> <strong>School</strong> and was named<br />
Dux of his year in general mathematics,<br />
specialist mathematics, economics,<br />
chemistry and physics.”<br />
“We are delighted that he has been<br />
awarded a scholarship and congratulate<br />
him on his academic achievements,”<br />
Ms Joll said.<br />
Michael’s scholarship, valued at over<br />
$100,000, includes payment of Higher<br />
Education Contribution Scheme course<br />
fees (HECS) and $1,000 per year.<br />
He plans to study medicine, inspired<br />
after a car crash in which he was injured<br />
when he was 12 years old.<br />
“I’m hoping to do maxillofacial<br />
surgery to do facial reconstructions,”<br />
Michael said.<br />
“If Michael’s study ethic continues in the<br />
same vein as when he was a student<br />
at <strong>Perth</strong> <strong>Modern</strong> <strong>School</strong>, I know he will<br />
do extremely well. He is an incredibly<br />
gifted and talented student and I’m sure<br />
that will transcend into his chosen career<br />
path,” Ms Joll said.<br />
<strong>Perth</strong> <strong>Modern</strong> <strong>School</strong> is proud to have<br />
helped develop a student of Michael’s<br />
calibre and the <strong>School</strong> community<br />
wishes him well in his future academic<br />
and career pursuits.<br />
<strong>Perth</strong> <strong>Modern</strong> <strong>School</strong> > NEWS April 2011 5
Exceptional schooling.<br />
Exceptional students.<br />
Exception<br />
6<br />
<strong>Modern</strong>ians Welcomed into<br />
Hall of Fame<br />
Three <strong>Perth</strong> <strong>Modern</strong> <strong>School</strong> Alumni were recently entered into the<br />
first 100 women in the Virtual Hall of Fame, announced at this year’s<br />
International Women’s Day. Irene Greenwood (nee Driver), Janet Holmes<br />
a Court (nee Ranford) and Margaret Nadebaum were honoured.<br />
Irene Greenwood (nee Driver) was a<br />
student at the <strong>School</strong> between 1913<br />
and 1916. Broadcaster and advocate of<br />
women’s welfare, Greenwood was an<br />
active participant in Mock Trials and<br />
Debating competitions during her time<br />
at <strong>Perth</strong> <strong>Modern</strong> <strong>School</strong>. She was a<br />
prolific writer for the <strong>School</strong> magazine<br />
and after leaving the <strong>School</strong>, remained<br />
a strong contributor to the <strong>Modern</strong>ians<br />
Society. She was awarded an AM in 1975<br />
in recognition of her contribution to the<br />
welfare of women. During her career,<br />
she was writer and editor of Dawn, the<br />
official organ of the WA Council for Equal<br />
Pay and Opportunity. As one of the<br />
first women to be employed by the WA<br />
Government in a professional position<br />
after WWI, she became a passionate<br />
supporter in the fight for women’s<br />
rights. This led to her developing a<br />
public profile as a broadcaster as well<br />
as holding official positions with the<br />
Women’s Service Guilds and the League<br />
of Women Voters. During the 1940s,<br />
Irene organised the Annual International<br />
Women’s Day Rallies. She was also a<br />
representative to Congresses of the<br />
International Women’s Suffrage Alliance<br />
and the International Alliance of Women.<br />
Janet Holmes a Court (nee Ranford) was a<br />
student at <strong>Perth</strong> <strong>Modern</strong> <strong>School</strong> between<br />
1956 and 1960 and was a teacher in<br />
1965 and 1966. Her well documented<br />
career includes involvement in the<br />
establishment of husband Robert’s<br />
Law Firm, Board memberships of the<br />
WA Cancer Foundation, the Australian<br />
Television Foundation, the Diabetes<br />
Research Foundation and King Edward<br />
Memorial Hospital for Women. Holmes a<br />
Court has also served as a member of the<br />
UWA Senate and the Board of Australia’s<br />
Reserve Bank. A committed contributor to<br />
the Arts in Australia, she is recognised for<br />
her philanthropic activity in this sphere.<br />
In 1995, Holmes a Court was awarded<br />
the AO for services to Business, the Arts<br />
and the Community. She was awarded a<br />
Centenary Medal for service to the Arts.<br />
She is Chair of WA Symphony Orchestra<br />
and the Black Swan Theatre Company.<br />
Margaret Nadebaum was a student at<br />
<strong>Perth</strong> <strong>Modern</strong> <strong>School</strong> between 1958 and<br />
1959. She received a Teacher’s Bursary in<br />
1958 and was a <strong>School</strong> Prefect in 1959.<br />
She graduated from Claremont Teachers’<br />
College in 1962 and after teaching at<br />
several high schools, embarked on<br />
an exchange to the UK in 1971. In the<br />
following year, she became Principal<br />
Mistress and later Deputy Principal at<br />
Thornlie then Willetton High <strong>School</strong>s.<br />
Nadebaum had a lengthy career in the<br />
State Education Department with roles<br />
including Superintendent of Education,<br />
Regional Officer, Director of Operations<br />
and Chief Executive of the Ministry of<br />
Education. In December 1992, she took<br />
up a position as Principal of Methodist<br />
Ladies’ College.<br />
Excellent Results in Tennis<br />
10 weeks of hard training paid off when <strong>Perth</strong> <strong>Modern</strong> <strong>School</strong><br />
Year 8 boys won the Lower <strong>School</strong> Cup in the Grand Final<br />
against CBC Fremantle on Thursday 7 April. Dylan Wood, Paul<br />
Burnett, Ben Hotchkin, Mitchell Gill and Thomas Almeida were<br />
the members of the Champion Team.<br />
<strong>Perth</strong> <strong>Modern</strong> <strong>School</strong> Upper <strong>School</strong> Boys’ team played off on<br />
Tuesday 12 April in the semi finals against Applecross to make it<br />
<strong>Perth</strong> <strong>Modern</strong> <strong>School</strong> > NEWS April 2011<br />
Drama<br />
Students<br />
Experience<br />
Trauma<br />
It’s hard to imagine the emotional<br />
trauma and terror people<br />
experience when involved in a<br />
national or local disaster. With<br />
this in mind, the Year 11 Drama<br />
Class performed a 60 minute<br />
improvisation which looked at how<br />
a class of students would react<br />
when the <strong>School</strong> was in lockdown.<br />
The students took on stereotype<br />
roles of Cheerleader, the Geek,<br />
the Sporting Jock and alternative<br />
teens in an American High <strong>School</strong><br />
in the 1990s. They had to dress<br />
accordingly and improvise realistic<br />
scenes in an attempt to understand<br />
how people would cope with a<br />
traumatic situation. There were<br />
outstanding performances from<br />
the Teacher, Eliska O’Connor and<br />
the Sporting Jock, Afro-American<br />
Tom Bolton. This was a unique way<br />
for the students to learn the skills<br />
of creating believable and genuine<br />
characters. A great start to the year.<br />
into the Grand Final. The team lost in overtime after a draw.<br />
In a nail biting game, they came very close to winning.<br />
This is an outstanding effort when it is considered that the boys<br />
were competing against specialist tennis schools. Students in<br />
the Upper <strong>School</strong> Boys’ team included Stefan Raovic, Jimmy<br />
Campbell, Kieren Bell, Lawson Smith, Eduardo Arteaga and<br />
Mark Teo.
al schooling.<br />
Exceptional students.<br />
A Hard Hitting Performance Visits<br />
<strong>Perth</strong> <strong>Modern</strong> <strong>School</strong><br />
Drama and English students were given a taste of professional theatre recently thanks to a visit by<br />
Barking Gecko Theatre Company.<br />
Staging the award-winning play Hoods<br />
on March 16 in the Drama Room,<br />
Barking Gecko’s actors Sam Longley and<br />
Andrea Gibbs showed how much can be<br />
achieved with versatile acting skills and<br />
just a few tech nical effects.<br />
At times confronting, at times amusing,<br />
Hoods tells the story of three children<br />
abandoned in a car-park by their<br />
mother. Two narrators are able to jump<br />
into the characters’ lives and play their<br />
story, influencing what could be a<br />
potentially disastrous outcome.<br />
After the one hour show the audience<br />
was able to direct questions to the<br />
two talented actors, giving students a<br />
rare insight into the rehearsal process<br />
and tips on launching a career in the<br />
performing arts.<br />
Year 11 student Alex Darcy described the<br />
show as “absolutely brilliant”.<br />
Lighting and sound director Craig<br />
Williams was equally impressed with the<br />
<strong>Perth</strong> <strong>Modern</strong> <strong>School</strong> students.<br />
“You could tell by their enthusiastic<br />
questions they were engaged through<br />
the whole show, which really helped the<br />
performers,” he said.<br />
Students are now set the task of writing<br />
a review, analysing the many aspects<br />
which contribute to a successful<br />
production.<br />
Meanwhile, Year 12 Drama students are<br />
busy preparing the school production,<br />
The Laramie Project, which runs for<br />
two nights on 30 June, 1 & 2 July (only<br />
suitable for senior students and adults).<br />
Dealing with the aftermath of a young<br />
man’s murder in small town USA,<br />
The Laramie Project promises to be a<br />
powerful piece of theatre. Bookings on<br />
9380 0572.<br />
Actors Sam Longley with Jacob Kotzee (Year 9) Madeleine Gibson (Year 10) Sam Minchin (Year 8)<br />
and Alex Darcy (Year 11)<br />
Chaplaincy at<br />
<strong>Perth</strong> <strong>Modern</strong> <strong>School</strong><br />
It’s the end of Week 8, and I’m blown away by how fast this term<br />
has gone! Highlights so far have been welcoming our new students,<br />
attending the Year 12 Ball and running a seminar entitled ‘Looking<br />
After Yourself’ on the Year 11 Focus Day.<br />
I also attended our YouthCARE State Conference this term, and really enjoyed the<br />
workshops I participated in on emotional intelligence, art therapy and dealing<br />
with grief. It’s always great to come back to school with a few more tools in your<br />
belt!<br />
This term I have been working with about 25 of our students to run a Quiz Night,<br />
with the aim of raising money for an Oxfam project in India. The event will be held<br />
on Saturday 14 May at the Cambridge Bowling Club, and will include a yummy<br />
feast of curry, chai and Indian sweets. The major prize is amazing – return airfares<br />
plus accommodation to Broome! It will be a night not to be missed – please<br />
contact me for tickets. Hope to see you there!<br />
Janina Cousins (Chaplain)<br />
<strong>Perth</strong> <strong>Modern</strong> <strong>School</strong> > NEWS April 2011 7
Exceptional schooling.<br />
Exceptional students.<br />
Exception<br />
8<br />
Donate Your<br />
Favourite<br />
Books to Your<br />
<strong>School</strong> Library<br />
Do you have a favourite<br />
fiction book? Would you<br />
like to share this book with<br />
other members of our school<br />
community?<br />
All you have to do is donate a<br />
copy of your favourite book to the<br />
library and we will make it available<br />
to students, parents and staff to<br />
borrow and share your enthusiasm!<br />
Donated books need to be in good<br />
condition and suitable for our<br />
students to read. If you are not sure<br />
if your choice will fit in with our<br />
collection please bring it in<br />
and show it to the library staff.<br />
Our students are such voracious<br />
readers that we need to build up all<br />
parts of our collection to cater to<br />
their needs.<br />
Don’t forget that everyone in our<br />
school community can borrow<br />
library resources, so please come<br />
and browse our collection and make<br />
your reading selection!<br />
Graeme Wood Shield<br />
The <strong>Perth</strong> <strong>Modern</strong> <strong>School</strong> cricket team qualified for the second round of<br />
the Graeme Wood Shield after comprehensive victories over Newman<br />
College and John XXIII College. These results place the <strong>School</strong> in the<br />
final 16 schools.<br />
Reuben Holt starred, averaging 92 with the bat and an incredible three with the ball.<br />
All players contributed to the performances, with captain Daniel Lucey ensuring<br />
each member of the Squad had their opportunities. Unfortunately, the team fell<br />
20 runs short in the first elimination final against Ballajura Community College.<br />
Congratulations to all participants for the way that they played and behaved.<br />
An excellent effort by all:<br />
Daniel Lucey<br />
Reuben Holt<br />
Lachlan Shakeshaft<br />
Christopher Chamberlain<br />
Joseph Elliss<br />
Tarquin Stone<br />
Jonathan Israel<br />
Radomir Kobryn-Coletti<br />
Aditya Banerjee<br />
Ian Kong<br />
Kieren Bell<br />
Myles Dennis<br />
Cameron Duncan<br />
<strong>Perth</strong> <strong>Modern</strong> <strong>School</strong> > NEWS April 2011<br />
Endorsed<br />
Programs 2011<br />
Enrolment for Endorsed Programs must<br />
be completed with Mrs Baljic by Monday<br />
6 June 2011. Evidence of completion<br />
(eg Certificate, portfolio) must be<br />
returned by Friday 30 September, Year 12<br />
students, or by Friday 2 December, Years<br />
10 and 11 students. Endorsed Music<br />
Programs within the school are handled<br />
by Mr Hey.
al schooling.<br />
Exceptional students.<br />
Remembering the Holocaust<br />
On 31 March, Year 10 ‘Square Pegs’ English students got the chance to meet Holocaust survivor and writer,<br />
Hetty Verolme.<br />
For over an hour, 80 year old Hetty talked<br />
openly about her experiences as a Dutch<br />
Jew in her home city of Amsterdam. She<br />
shared tales of discrimination following<br />
the surrender of Holland to Germany.<br />
The students listened, horrified and<br />
fascinated, to her account of how she<br />
and her family were banished from their<br />
homes, herded into one area of the city<br />
with other Jewish people, labelled with<br />
the yellow stars and eventually spirited<br />
away on trains to various concentration<br />
camps in Germany.<br />
Chairperson<br />
Vice Chairperson<br />
Treasurer<br />
secretary<br />
Auditor<br />
Bookkeeper<br />
executive Committee<br />
Canteen Liaison<br />
website Liaison<br />
wACssO Delegate<br />
school Council Representative<br />
Friends of Music<br />
Ballet support<br />
Buildings and Grounds<br />
Hetty was 13, the age of many of our<br />
Year 8s, when she was taken to Belsen<br />
with her family. She told of dirty rags<br />
posing as meat, 10 months of watery<br />
soup, and her amazing return trip from<br />
the firing squad. We learned how over<br />
45,000 people died in the camp where<br />
she was kept and her amazing, against<br />
the odds, survival.<br />
Unfortunately, time wasn’t on our side<br />
and the session ended too soon, but<br />
a few students got the chance to ask<br />
<strong>Perth</strong> <strong>Modern</strong> <strong>School</strong> P&c 2011<br />
Deb Cook<br />
Ruth Thatcher<br />
No nominations<br />
Katrina Tap<br />
Volunteer Auditor required<br />
for next year<br />
Annette Symonds<br />
Julie Pegrum; Jenny Fay;<br />
Alicia Brown; Paula Munt;<br />
Arnold Wong; Barry France<br />
Not elected at AGM<br />
Not elected at AGM<br />
No nomination<br />
Deb Cook<br />
Jenny Fay<br />
Liz Bell<br />
Deb Cook<br />
Uniform library<br />
Uniform Committee<br />
Year 8 social Organiser<br />
Year 9 social Organiser<br />
Year 10 social Organiser<br />
Year 11 social Organiser<br />
Year 12 social Organiser<br />
Centenary Book Committee<br />
Football Parking Liaison<br />
questions about what it was like to live<br />
through such times, what it was like to<br />
feel rejected by your own community<br />
and how hard it was to return to her<br />
home town after the War.<br />
Hetty now lives in <strong>Perth</strong> and it was<br />
obvious her life in Australia with her<br />
children and grandchildren had helped<br />
her heal enough to be able to tell her<br />
story all these years later. In fact, she<br />
told us that she has recently returned to<br />
Bergen Belsen with her grandson.<br />
Hetty’s two books (Hetty, A True Story<br />
and The Children’s House of Belsen) are<br />
both available in the <strong>Perth</strong> <strong>Modern</strong><br />
<strong>School</strong> library. Some students and<br />
teachers took the opportunity to get<br />
their copies of her books signed.<br />
It was a fantastic opportunity to meet an<br />
amazing woman who has lived through<br />
such life, and world changing times. For<br />
all of us the Holocaust came that much<br />
closer to home with Hetty’s visit. Hetty<br />
asked the students to remember her story<br />
and to tell their children, so an event this<br />
terrible could never happen again.<br />
Absorbed into Uniform<br />
Sub-Committee<br />
Rose Clapin; Rebecca Lee<br />
(Gorman); Ruth Thatcher; Libby<br />
Durk; Noi-teng Hia<br />
Debbie Glass; Libby Durk<br />
Robyn Fary<br />
Jackie Hair<br />
Kate Bunney<br />
Julie Pegrum<br />
Arnold Wong; Alicia Brown;<br />
Jacqui Macliver; Julie Pegrum,<br />
along with Val Furphy and Lois<br />
Joll; Charmaine Cave (Designer);<br />
Alison Woodman (Editor)<br />
Kate Bunney (Interim)<br />
<strong>Perth</strong> <strong>Modern</strong> <strong>School</strong> > NEWS April 2011 9
Exceptional schooling.<br />
Exceptional students.<br />
Exception<br />
10<br />
National Youth<br />
Science Forum<br />
– International<br />
Program<br />
Congratulations are extended<br />
to Ashley Ellis (Year 12) who<br />
has gained a place at this year’s<br />
June – July Russian Scientific<br />
Study Tour which is part of the<br />
International Program of the<br />
NYSF. The Russian Study Tour<br />
was created especially for the<br />
NYSF by the All-Russian Youth<br />
Aerospace Society, ‘Soyuz’. In this<br />
tour, six students are hosted by<br />
a Russian family and visit a wide<br />
range of institutions in Moscow<br />
and St Petersburg. The Tour has<br />
an aerospace and engineering<br />
flavour and features visits to<br />
some famous but restricted<br />
facilities including Star City, the<br />
home of Russia’s Cosmonaut<br />
training program.<br />
Applications for this Scholarship were<br />
restricted to students who had earlier<br />
attended the NYSF Summer <strong>School</strong>s.<br />
Ashley was one of 26 students to<br />
represent WA at the ANU Canberra<br />
Summer <strong>School</strong> for two weeks in<br />
January 2011. During her time in<br />
Canberra, Ashley attended lectures<br />
given by leading Scientists, visited<br />
scientific institutions and enjoyed the<br />
many organised social activities.<br />
She thoroughly enjoyed the experience<br />
and has offered to encourage current<br />
Year 11 students to apply to attend the<br />
next Summer <strong>School</strong>. Application<br />
details for the Australian NYSF<br />
Summer <strong>School</strong>s can be found at<br />
www.nysf.edu.au/application with<br />
applications closing Monday 30 May 2011.<br />
Have Sum Fun<br />
Mathematics Quiz<br />
On the evening of 18 March, 56 tables of students from around the<br />
metropolitan area met at St Hilda’s to compete in a Maths Quiz Night.<br />
<strong>Perth</strong> <strong>Modern</strong> <strong>School</strong> entered two teams in both the Senior and Junior<br />
divisions. The competition was intense but lots of fun (and sugar) was<br />
had by all our students.<br />
The Quiz consisted of four rounds of eight questions to be completed in 20 minutes with a<br />
tie breaker round to help place the teams. The questions ranged in degree but were quite<br />
difficult. Both Senior teams worked hard and were well placed throughout the night.<br />
At the end of the evening the places were awarded. First was St Hilda’s with a score of 27<br />
and a win in the tie breaker. Second place went to Hale <strong>School</strong> which led the competition<br />
for most of the evening. <strong>Perth</strong> <strong>Modern</strong> <strong>School</strong> Team 1 comprising Stuart Gould, Wilson<br />
Ng, Silas Otto, Yongzi Lau, Kimberley Krish and Aditya Banerjee came third with a score<br />
of 25. Congratulations go to all participants who represented our school with dignity.<br />
Have Sum Fun<br />
On Friday evening, 25 March, 12 students from <strong>Perth</strong> <strong>Modern</strong> <strong>School</strong><br />
attended the Have Sum Fun Junior Mathematics Competition<br />
organised by the Mathematics Association of Western Australia<br />
(MAWA). They formed two teams, each comprising of two Year 8<br />
students, two Year 9 students and two Year 10 students. Students in<br />
Team 1 were Jet-Kye Chong, Chelsea Xu, Zhixian Wu, Seamus Carey,<br />
Audrey Lee and Jacky Lin. Students in Team 2 were James Arcus,<br />
Theo Vickery, Henri Do Van, Satthya Krishnasivam, Conway Li and<br />
Daryl Chung-Wah-Cheong.<br />
It was a fun filled evening in which approximately 50 teams from dozens of<br />
WA <strong>School</strong>s competed in a quiz format, completing four 20 minute rounds of<br />
8 questions each. Our teams did very well on the night, with Teams 1 and 2 taking<br />
out third and fourth place respectively.<br />
<strong>Perth</strong> <strong>Modern</strong> <strong>School</strong> > NEWS April 2011
al schooling.<br />
Exceptional students.<br />
Beware –<br />
Pirates in the<br />
Library!<br />
Ahoy there! Cap’n Barr and the<br />
library crew welcomed Year 8s<br />
aboard for their Pirate Library<br />
Orientation this term. The<br />
budding buccaneers worked their<br />
way around 10 stations solving<br />
piratical puzzles and searching<br />
for clues to the whereabouts of<br />
the hidden treasure. During their<br />
hunt they learned all about the<br />
wide range of library facilities<br />
which will enhance both their<br />
academic research and personal<br />
reading.<br />
Science students across the year<br />
groups were introduced to the two<br />
online databases to which the school<br />
subscribes – EBSCO and World Book<br />
online – through the new Database quiz.<br />
This gave each student the opportunity<br />
to explore the databases, set up their<br />
own personal accounts within them and<br />
discover some of the features which<br />
will help them locate and use quality<br />
online resources.<br />
Tony Buzan’s ranking of the ‘Greatest<br />
Geniuses of All Time’ is proving to be<br />
a useful starting point for Year 8 Social<br />
Studies classes and their ‘Beautiful<br />
Minds’ research. Library staff are<br />
currently targeting research tools in their<br />
introductions to the research process<br />
including the location of high quality<br />
resources and the Harvard Referencing<br />
System to accurately record resource<br />
details. These class introductions are<br />
being supplemented by displays on the<br />
Habits of Mind, Biographies and the<br />
Buzan rankings.<br />
The Our <strong>School</strong> in History Project is an<br />
initiative of the State Library of Western<br />
Australia Foundation. Selected Year 9<br />
Society and Environment students have<br />
been invited to participate.<br />
This involves their registering on the Our<br />
Page in History Website and creating a<br />
link to the <strong>Perth</strong> <strong>Modern</strong> <strong>School</strong> Page.<br />
They then choose an aspect of the<br />
school to research and write an article<br />
about. This is then up-loaded with some<br />
appropriate pictures and becomes<br />
part of the <strong>School</strong>’s contribution. As<br />
registered users, individuals may also<br />
post personal histories about their<br />
families or their suburb on their own<br />
personal pages. If you would like to<br />
view the current (or future) entries<br />
(as time progresses) visit<br />
www.ourpageinhistory.org.<br />
Click on Explore Themes then click on<br />
View Theme Groups and then on <strong>Perth</strong><br />
<strong>Modern</strong> <strong>School</strong>. It is hoped that we will<br />
eventually have at least 50 vignettes<br />
prepared and posted by students.<br />
Current Event displays this term have<br />
included: ‘Cybersafety’ to coincide<br />
with Safer Internet Day in February,<br />
‘Chinese Year of the Rabbit’ and ‘Maths<br />
Day’ (2 March). ‘To read is to know’,<br />
‘The Guardians of Ga’Hoole’ book<br />
series and ‘Beware of Pirates’ were<br />
the emphasis for literature promotion<br />
displays. Photographs of students are<br />
also featured in the ‘2010 in Review’ and<br />
‘Year 8 Beware of Pirates’ displays.<br />
<strong>Perth</strong> <strong>Modern</strong> <strong>School</strong> > NEWS April 2011 11
Exceptional schooling.<br />
Exceptional students.<br />
Exception<br />
12<br />
New Leader for<br />
Social Science<br />
Department<br />
Dr Elizabeth Constable and Ms Louise Secker<br />
Ms Louise Secker has commenced her<br />
appointment as Head of the Social Science<br />
Learning Area. In her 19 year teaching<br />
career, Ms Secker has been an outstanding<br />
practitioner and her achievements clearly<br />
demonstrate her talent.<br />
Ms Secker has been involved in<br />
the development of Curriculum for<br />
Ancient and <strong>Modern</strong> History in WA<br />
and throughout Australia. She is<br />
currently a member of the Advisory<br />
Committee on National Curriculum, a<br />
position she has held since 2008. Ms<br />
Secker is Vice President of the History<br />
Teachers’ Association of Australia and<br />
has been a marker of the TEE and WACE<br />
examination for more than 10 years.<br />
These and other successes saw her<br />
recognised by WACOT (Western<br />
Australian College of Teaching) in 2009<br />
when she received a Mentor Award. Ms<br />
Secker was also named DET’s Woman of<br />
Achievement in that year. She followed<br />
these major achievements with Runner-<br />
Up place in the 2010 Premier’s Teacher<br />
of the Year Award.<br />
The Social Science Learning Area<br />
enthusiastically encourages students to<br />
participate in extra-curricular activities<br />
such as debating, UN events and Mock<br />
Trials and Ms Secker has an exceptional<br />
record in advancing such pursuits.<br />
<strong>Perth</strong> <strong>Modern</strong> <strong>School</strong> can look forward<br />
to many further benefits from the<br />
addition of such an outstanding leader<br />
at the <strong>School</strong>.<br />
<strong>Perth</strong> <strong>Modern</strong> <strong>School</strong> > NEWS April 2011<br />
SCIENCE NEWS<br />
Mr John Day; Ailsa Brown; Clare Moran (St Hilda’s); Prof Barry Marshall (Nobel Laureate), Prof Lyn<br />
Beazley (Chief Scientist)<br />
BioGeneiuS coMPetition<br />
Year 11 students Bonnie Paul and Ailsa Brown have made the Semi Final of<br />
the Statewide BioGENEius competition. They delivered a presentation at the<br />
Department of Commerce on Wednesday 30 March. At the Awards Ceremony on<br />
31 March, all participants were able to see the girls’ poster displayed along with<br />
those of the other Semi Finalists. The two Regional Finalists were announced during<br />
the Ceremony and they will travel to the US in May for the International Finals. The<br />
Regional Finalists were given the opportunity to say a few words and thank those<br />
who supported them. Aasha Riordan also participated in the Competition but was<br />
unfortunate to have not made the Semi Finals.<br />
AuStrAliAn BrAin Bee coMPetiton<br />
Science PrActicAlS<br />
If you look along the corridor or in the Science Classrooms of the East Building, you<br />
will very often see a range of investigations taking place. Recently, Year 9 students<br />
were growing seeds as part of the Thinking Science Program. Years 11 and 12<br />
Chemistry students were involved in distillation, separation and chromatography<br />
experiments. Year 12 Human Biology students were dissecting brains and<br />
discovering the effect of repetition on learning new tasks. Years 11 and 12 Physics<br />
students were using the corridor and classrooms to conduct investigations into<br />
forces and motion with ramps, trolleys and catapults. Practicals are an important<br />
part of the Science Curriculum and give students an opportunity to engage in the<br />
scientific process.<br />
BeijinG Youth Science creAtivitY coMPetition (BYScc)<br />
Two students, Eve MacDonald and Richard Pienaar were selected to participate<br />
in the BYSCC 2011 Competition which was held in March. The two students were<br />
selected as a result of the work they did through the UWA / <strong>Perth</strong> <strong>Modern</strong> <strong>School</strong><br />
student-scientist partnership, which took place during Skills Week 2010. Their<br />
presentation and report was deemed to be the best from amongst outstanding<br />
pieces of work from Year 10 students.
al schooling.<br />
Exceptional students.<br />
Oxfam Quiz Night<br />
Feeling competitive? Haven’t had your fix of winning<br />
lately? Want to prove that you’re The Man? Want to<br />
prove to your mates that you are, in fact, better at<br />
EVERYTHING! Then the Oxfam Quiz Night is for you.<br />
On 14 May (put it in your diaries now, competitors), Oxfam and<br />
<strong>Perth</strong> <strong>Modern</strong> <strong>School</strong> are collaborating their exceptional talents<br />
for you, the exceptional students, to shine. Family and friends<br />
are also welcome. If you are not the competitive type, come<br />
along to show your support of Oxfam’s project to increase<br />
access to education, health and social protection for poverty<br />
stricken areas throughout India. Our fundraising will help<br />
people overcome poverty by earning a decent livelihood with<br />
fair-trade opportunities and to deal with the impacts of climate<br />
change and natural and man-made disasters.<br />
Join us for the fundraising for a worthy cause. Bring some<br />
friends, bring your competitive edge – but don’t forget it’s not<br />
all about winning .... Just kidding – Be The Man!<br />
Abby Haslehurst and Jamilla Giles<br />
Oxfam Quiz Night<br />
Details<br />
Supported by <strong>Perth</strong> <strong>Modern</strong> <strong>School</strong><br />
when: Saturday 14 May 2011<br />
where: Cambridge Bowling Club,<br />
Chandler Ave, Floreat Park<br />
Dinner: 6.00pm Curry Bowls and Indian<br />
treats for purchase<br />
Quiz: 7.00pm questions start<br />
Tickets: $20 adult, $15 student /<br />
concession (under 10 free entry)<br />
Project: Funds raised will support Oxfam<br />
projects in India<br />
Purchase Tickets: caronye@iinet.net.au<br />
or 0427 970 836<br />
Thomas Serves<br />
His Community<br />
<strong>Perth</strong> <strong>Modern</strong> <strong>School</strong> student, Thomas Russell,<br />
is a committed and valued member of the Swan<br />
Communications Volunteer Bush Fire Brigade.<br />
Like his father, Thomas is involved with the<br />
Communications Brigade and has been a cadet<br />
member since 2008. He has attended a number of<br />
fires and played an integral role in the fighting of the<br />
Red Hill bush fire in February this year.<br />
The role of the Communications Brigade is to establish a<br />
forward command post at fires that are attended by more<br />
than five fire fighting appliances. They not only provide radio<br />
communication between the incident management team<br />
and the fire fighters, but also provide support in operations,<br />
planning and logistics.<br />
As a volunteer, Thomas has received training and developed<br />
skills that will be valuable in the future. These skills include:<br />
• Teamwork<br />
• Listening and communication<br />
• Responding in a constantly changing environment<br />
• Staying calm in pressure situations<br />
• Following a chain of command<br />
• Providing timely response<br />
• Managing priorities<br />
• Organisation and time management<br />
• Reading and interpreting documentation<br />
• Record keeping<br />
• Equipment operation<br />
• Senior First Aid<br />
• Occupational Safety and Health Awareness<br />
Thomas became a member of the Brigade to actively help<br />
protect people whose homes and personal safety is under<br />
threat of fire. Being a member of the Brigade gives him a sense<br />
of pride and accomplishment whilst serving his community. He<br />
is keen to pursue his involvement in a volunteer / career capacity<br />
in the area of community safety. Thomas has an ultimate aim<br />
to fly Helitac (fire bomber) helicopters and actively pursues<br />
experience in the aviation industry including work experience<br />
with Rotorvation Helicopters during the school holidays.<br />
<strong>Perth</strong> <strong>Modern</strong> <strong>School</strong> > NEWS April 2011 13
Exceptional schooling.<br />
Exceptional students.<br />
Exception<br />
14<br />
United<br />
Nations Youth<br />
Association State<br />
Conference<br />
Four <strong>Perth</strong> <strong>Modern</strong> <strong>School</strong> students<br />
attended the 2011 UNYA State<br />
Conference in February this year.<br />
Daniel Glamorgan, Ariel Mroz, Jaron<br />
Lee and Jonathan Israel participated<br />
in the Conference which was themed<br />
‘International Action and Justice’.<br />
Students were allocated a member<br />
nation of the United Nations and were<br />
required to represent their interests in a<br />
Mock General Assembly Debate.<br />
They explored the international justice<br />
system and how to achieve international<br />
action on issues that affect the world.<br />
Issues of sovereignty, self-determination,<br />
social and cultural identity and the<br />
environment were discussed.<br />
The student participants also focused<br />
on the role of youth in our society<br />
and discussed their concerns and<br />
ideas for the future on domestic and<br />
international issues.<br />
The United Nations’ Youth Association is<br />
an organisation run by young adults for<br />
young adults to promote an awareness<br />
of the role of the UN and develop skills<br />
such as public speaking, negotiation,<br />
debate and research via investigating<br />
international issues. The annual State<br />
Conference involves students in<br />
Years 10 to 12.<br />
At the conclusion of the 2011 State<br />
Conference, 10 students were selected<br />
to represent Western Australia at<br />
the National United Nations Youth<br />
Conference in Adelaide during July this<br />
year. Congratulations to Ariel Mroz and<br />
Jaron Lee who have been selected to<br />
represent WA.<br />
Evelyn Snook uploads a story to the Our Page in History website<br />
Year 9s Bring History to Life<br />
To celebrate the <strong>School</strong>’s Centenary Year, students in three Year 9<br />
History classes have been given the opportunity to engage in hands-on<br />
History research at <strong>Perth</strong> <strong>Modern</strong> <strong>School</strong>.<br />
Armed with cameras, recording devices<br />
and a keen eye, the students have been<br />
researching aspects of the <strong>School</strong> that<br />
may prove interesting and useful for<br />
those interested in the life and times of<br />
our most illustrious <strong>School</strong>.<br />
The classes, taught by Mr Conway and<br />
Mr Lowry, have compiled the results of<br />
their research on the My Page in History<br />
website.<br />
“It is a wonderful opportunity for<br />
the students to engage in their own<br />
historiography” said Mr Conway.<br />
<strong>Perth</strong> <strong>Modern</strong> <strong>School</strong> > NEWS April 2011<br />
“Too often History is associated with<br />
tasks that are not student-centred”<br />
added Mr Lowry. “This allows students<br />
to go beyond this in a wonderfully<br />
differentiated way.”<br />
The Our Page in History website was one<br />
that Library Head, Mr Barr, identified last<br />
year as of potential for <strong>Perth</strong> <strong>Modern</strong><br />
<strong>School</strong> students in this significant year.<br />
Now, all three teachers are working<br />
collaboratively to provide an exciting<br />
enrichment activity for the Year 9 Social<br />
Science Program.<br />
It is a wonderful opportunity for the students<br />
to engage in their own historiography.
al schooling.<br />
Exceptional students.<br />
Youth Sport and Recreation<br />
Committee Representatives<br />
Five <strong>Perth</strong> <strong>Modern</strong> <strong>School</strong> students have been selected to serve on the<br />
Youth Sport and Recreation Committee. Liam Tapsell and Amelia Toyne<br />
from Year 10 and Leah Vlatko, Sarah Lewis and Bonnie Larsen from<br />
Year 11 attended a two-day camp at Woodman Point during January<br />
where they were introduced to the other Committee members and<br />
participated in training and team building exercises.<br />
Each year the Department of Sport and<br />
Recreation invites nominations for their<br />
Youth Sport and Recreation Committee.<br />
<strong>Perth</strong> <strong>Modern</strong> <strong>School</strong> has many students<br />
who are natural leaders and are passionate<br />
about sport and we are proud of the<br />
students selected for the 2011 Committee.<br />
The Committee comprises students<br />
from various schools who meet monthly<br />
to provide feedback on youth issues,<br />
programs and initiatives within sport and<br />
Parents’ Day 2011<br />
recreation. This year, Committee members<br />
will have the opportunity to gain insight<br />
into many areas within the sport and<br />
recreation industry, provide feedback<br />
on issues and current programs, meet<br />
professionals, athletes and other industry<br />
leaders, develop important leadership<br />
skills and meet like-minded students from<br />
other schools who are similarly passionate<br />
about this field. The YSRC meets once a<br />
month during school hours.<br />
The University of Western Australia, in conjunction with the WA Health Department Centre for Clinical<br />
Interventions, is proud to support a one-day professional development initiative for all WA parents.<br />
Parents’ Day 2011 will be held at the<br />
Esplanade Hotel, Fremantle on Saturday<br />
14 May. This inaugural event coincides<br />
with National Families’ Week and has<br />
been timed to complement the United<br />
Nations International Day of Families<br />
on 15 May. Parents’ Day promotes the<br />
development and enhancement of<br />
positive community with a firm emphasis<br />
on developing positive family ties.<br />
Internationally acclaimed experts in<br />
parenting, Dr Michael Carr-Gregg and<br />
Steve Biddulph, will lead the day’s live<br />
main stage presentations and hands-on<br />
Lina Andonovska:<br />
The Magic of<br />
Flute<br />
Former <strong>Perth</strong> <strong>Modern</strong> <strong>School</strong><br />
student, Lina Andonovska,<br />
is making a name for herself<br />
in music circles with her<br />
outstanding talent as an<br />
emerging Flautist.<br />
Lina has performed all over Australia,<br />
Europe, Asia and North America –<br />
playing in concert halls, community<br />
halls and dusty village squares. She<br />
has recently spent time teaching music<br />
to Timorese children in the remote<br />
mountain town of Lospalos. Lina<br />
currently juggles her commitments with<br />
the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra and<br />
concert engagements around Australia<br />
while collaborating with artists such as<br />
Sudanese singer / songwriter Ajak Kwai,<br />
who will perform at this year’s Blues and<br />
Roots Festival in Byron Bay.<br />
Recently, 23 year old Lina was<br />
recognised as an emerging talent for<br />
an ArtStart grant from the Australian<br />
Council for the Arts and in keeping with<br />
her journey so far, will use the money<br />
to study with Wissam Boustany – a<br />
Lebanese flautist who uses music as<br />
a catalyst to support humanitarian<br />
projects around the world.<br />
workshops. Other presenters include<br />
eating disorders expert Professor Sue<br />
Byrne, who will talk about the need to<br />
promote a positive body image.<br />
For further information and booking<br />
details, visit:<br />
http://www.parentsday.com.au/<br />
<strong>Perth</strong> <strong>Modern</strong> <strong>School</strong> > NEWS April 2011 15
Exceptional schooling.<br />
Exceptional students.<br />
Exception<br />
16<br />
<strong>Perth</strong> <strong>Modern</strong> <strong>School</strong> Student Rows to Victory<br />
<strong>Perth</strong> <strong>Modern</strong> <strong>School</strong> is one of the few public schools to offer rowing as an extra-curricular sport.<br />
To counter the financial challenges of purchasing row boats, the <strong>School</strong> has established a strong community<br />
link with the Swan River Rowing Club.<br />
The <strong>Perth</strong> <strong>Modern</strong> <strong>School</strong> rowers had a<br />
very successful inaugural season after<br />
training consistently hard at the Swan<br />
River Rowing Club last year and they<br />
gained some excellent results at the<br />
2010 Head of the River competition.<br />
They came home with two Consistency<br />
Pennants and a superb trophy for the<br />
Freshman’s Quad A. In a sport where<br />
traditionally private schools dominate<br />
the field, the <strong>Perth</strong> <strong>Modern</strong> <strong>School</strong> girls<br />
made a strong impact on the rest of the<br />
competitors and will be a force to be<br />
reckoned with in 2011.<br />
From Monday 7 March 2011 to Sunday<br />
13 March 2011, five <strong>Perth</strong> <strong>Modern</strong><br />
<strong>School</strong> students participated in the 2011<br />
Australian Rowing Championships in<br />
Adelaide – Lilly Tinapple and Gemma<br />
Kimberley (Year 11) and Lauren Schillaci,<br />
Zoe Thornton and Ashleigh Blechynden<br />
(Year 12). The girls did extremely well<br />
in what was the biggest and most well<br />
attended Nationals regatta to date. They<br />
represented the Swan River Rowing<br />
Club and <strong>Perth</strong> <strong>Modern</strong> <strong>School</strong> in a<br />
range of events across the program.<br />
The outstanding result came from Lilly<br />
Tinapple in the Under 17 Single Scull<br />
who came from behind in the last 200m<br />
to win gold and claim the National<br />
Champion title for the event. Her time<br />
would also have seen her take out the<br />
Under 19 event. Both <strong>Perth</strong> <strong>Modern</strong><br />
<strong>School</strong> and the Swan River Rowing Club<br />
are very proud of the efforts of Lilly and<br />
her team members.<br />
<strong>Perth</strong> <strong>Modern</strong> <strong>School</strong> Principal, Ms<br />
Lois Joll, said that the girls displayed<br />
professionalism and dedication<br />
throughout their training for the<br />
Nationals Competition and their excellent<br />
results pay tribute to their hard work.<br />
<strong>Perth</strong> <strong>Modern</strong> <strong>School</strong> > NEWS April 2011
al schooling.<br />
Exceptional students.<br />
House<br />
Swimming<br />
Carnival<br />
Parsons House was the winner<br />
of the first major House<br />
Competition of 2011 when it won<br />
the House Swimming Carnival<br />
followed by Sampson, Brown and<br />
Downing. It was encouraging<br />
to see so many parents and<br />
supporters cheering swimmers<br />
during the carnival.<br />
Congratulations to the following<br />
individual Year Champions:<br />
Connor McPhan (Year 8 Boy)<br />
Naqia Lawtie (Year 8 Girl)<br />
Aaron Leighton (Year 9 Boy)<br />
Jacqueline Darmago (Year 9 Girl)<br />
Liam Tapsell (Year 10 Boy)<br />
Katherine Langford (Year 10 Girl)<br />
Trond Vlot (Year 11 Boy)<br />
Lilly Tinapple (Year 11 Girl)<br />
Jack Scott (Year 12 Boy)<br />
Lauren Schillaci (Year 12 Girl)<br />
Swimming Carnival Results<br />
Outstanding performances from <strong>Perth</strong> <strong>Modern</strong> <strong>School</strong> students resulted<br />
in the <strong>School</strong> maintaining its standing in the Division A Swimming<br />
Carnival for the first time. <strong>Perth</strong> <strong>Modern</strong> <strong>School</strong> finished fourth on<br />
515 points. <strong>Perth</strong> <strong>Modern</strong> <strong>School</strong> won Division D in 2004, Division C<br />
in 2005 and finished second in Division B in 2006, thus competing in<br />
Division A for the first time in 2007.<br />
In 2007 we finished eighth and were<br />
relegated to Division B for 2008. We<br />
came second in 2008 and, competing<br />
in Division A again in 2009, were once<br />
again eighth and relegated to Division<br />
B. After winning Division B in 2010 and<br />
competing in Division A again this year,<br />
we scored more than double our 2007<br />
point score.<br />
Congratulations to all our Squad<br />
members and to Chien Yi Loo<br />
(Runner-Up 14 Years Girls’ Champion)<br />
and Trond Vlot (Runner-Up 16 Years<br />
Boys’ Champion). Our morning training<br />
sessions at the UWA pool, swimming<br />
camp and PE swimming sessions have<br />
all been important in our improvement.<br />
Special thanks to our Swim Coach,<br />
Mrs Robyn Winter, who has worked<br />
extremely hard in developing our squad<br />
with innovations like the 5 Year Club<br />
and specialist stroke coaches. Robyn’s<br />
daughter, Lauren, who has recently<br />
returned from a university swimming<br />
scholarship in the USA, also made<br />
a huge contribution by coaching at<br />
morning training sessions and giving<br />
valuable advice to students on the<br />
Carnival day.<br />
<strong>Perth</strong> <strong>Modern</strong> <strong>School</strong> > NEWS April 2011 17
Exceptional schooling.<br />
Exceptional students.<br />
Exception<br />
18<br />
State Sports Representatives<br />
The following students have demonstrated outstanding physical skills and have been selected to<br />
represent the State in their respective sports in 2011. The <strong>School</strong> congratulates these students and<br />
commends them for their achievements. It is pleasing that these successful young athletes also represent<br />
the <strong>School</strong> in competition and mentor other students. The Health and Physical Education Learning Area<br />
will house an Honour Board to recognise all students selected to represent WA in sporting competition.<br />
AthleticS:<br />
Emily Gill (Year 12)<br />
John Newcomb (Year 8)<br />
volleYBAll:<br />
Simona Koncarevic<br />
Adin Pansing<br />
Manu Nair<br />
Henry McNulty<br />
Tim Chee<br />
Jonathan Thai<br />
Kieren Underwood<br />
(All Year 11)<br />
<strong>Perth</strong> <strong>Modern</strong> <strong>School</strong> > NEWS April 2011<br />
Back: Tim Chee; Jonathan Thai; Lilly Tinapple; Stefan Raovic; Manu Nair;<br />
Front: Simona Koncarevic; John Newcomb; Adin Pansing; Henry McNulty;<br />
Katherine Langford<br />
<strong>Perth</strong> <strong>Modern</strong> ARTchibald competition<br />
Visual Arts runs its own version of the Archibald Art competition in<br />
which all Year 12 Visual Art students take part. <strong>Perth</strong> <strong>Modern</strong> <strong>School</strong>s<br />
version is called the ARTchibald competition run by Adrian Norton and<br />
the <strong>Perth</strong> <strong>Modern</strong> <strong>School</strong> library. All <strong>Perth</strong> <strong>Modern</strong> students and staff<br />
are encouraged to vote for their favourite piece. 15 self portraits were<br />
hung in the library and admired by staff, students and parents over<br />
several weeks. It received a great deal of publicity and attention. The<br />
<strong>Perth</strong> <strong>Modern</strong> ARTchibald winner was announced in the same week as<br />
the real Archibald competition in mid April.<br />
This year’s works were exceptional. The<br />
winning entry was from a very talented<br />
Tiffany Burridge. Tiffany comes from<br />
a family of artists and her very proud<br />
grandmother – Rosemary Pratt is the<br />
schools Art curator. Rosemary is so<br />
impressed with each of the ARTchibald<br />
pieces she wishes to use each piece for<br />
the end of the year art exhibition and<br />
purchase several of the pieces for the<br />
school art archive. “Tiffany is a hard<br />
working and dedicated art student.<br />
She is practical and passionate about<br />
achieving attention to detail, in particular<br />
form and a general outstanding result.<br />
tenniS:<br />
Stefan Raovic (Year 11)<br />
SwiMMinG:<br />
Katherine Langford (Year 10)<br />
SAilinG:<br />
Virginia Horn (Year 10)<br />
BASeBAll:<br />
Tom Beyer (Year 12)<br />
rowinG:<br />
Lilly Tinapple (Year 11)<br />
FencinG:<br />
Lachlan Bunney (Year 8)<br />
Eden Rokich (Year 10)<br />
Technically she is brilliant” says Adrian<br />
Norton, an artist in his own right. He<br />
has seen Tiffany mature into the young<br />
concentrated artist she is today. Tiffany<br />
won a autographed picture from Rolf<br />
Harris and a $50 art gift voucher.<br />
2nd prize went to Georgia Payne also<br />
a very talented artist, who Adrian says,<br />
would be an amazing art teacher one<br />
day. She is an enigmatic passionate artist.<br />
All ARTchibald pieces will be on display<br />
during the Arts Technology showcase in<br />
week 4 and at the end of the year for the<br />
Year 12 final Art exhibition.
al schooling.<br />
Exceptional students.<br />
Please fill out this form to notify us of your interest and return it to the school reception by Friday 27 May.<br />
contAct detAilS<br />
NAME _________________________________________________________________________________________________________<br />
PARENT OF ___________________________________________________________________________________ YEAR ____________<br />
EMAIL __________________________________________________________ PHONE NUMBER _______________________________<br />
eStABliShed or recentlY ForMed GrouPS<br />
(PLEASE TICK AREA(s) OF INTEREST)<br />
Music Group Current Leader Jenny Fay<br />
Aquatic Current Leader Belinda Loneragan<br />
Information Technology Current Leader Grant Fisher<br />
Social Science Current Leader Barry Francis<br />
Visual Arts Current Leader Alicia Brown<br />
PoSSiBle roleS<br />
(PLEASE TICK ONE OR MORE)<br />
Group Leader<br />
General Participant<br />
Presentations to/Mentor students<br />
Plan an Event<br />
Run a Session<br />
Fundraising<br />
<strong>Perth</strong> <strong>Modern</strong> <strong>School</strong> Parent Groups<br />
On several occasions, particularly at the recent Centenary Picnic, I have had parents ask me “How am I able to get involved with <strong>Perth</strong><br />
<strong>Modern</strong> <strong>School</strong>? How can I help? How can I meet other parents?” Well, here is the ideal opportunity.<br />
For years we have had the Friends of Music parent group, the Ballet Parents and more recently we have a Rowing Group and there<br />
is soon to be an “Adventure” group relating to our World Challenge and similar teams. Now we wish to start some other “Friends of”<br />
parent groups organised through the auspices of the P&C.<br />
Our Principal and teachers are extremely supportive of this plan. They would be delighted to have support groups in all learning<br />
areas and wider. In the future I can see friends of Social Sciences, Mathematics, Science, Languages, Visual Arts plus areas such as<br />
Library, Technology and Building and Grounds. The list is extensive.<br />
If you would like to become involved in an area of interest please complete the details below. We are not asking for enormous<br />
amounts of time, just hope that you will seize the opportunity to become involved. Please tick the area(s) that you would like to<br />
consider. If you would be prepared to lead one of the groups don’t forget to tick that box.<br />
Please complete the interest form below and return to the <strong>School</strong> Reception by Friday 27 May.<br />
I look forward to lots more people getting involved in the <strong>Perth</strong> <strong>Modern</strong> <strong>School</strong> community soon.<br />
Deb Cook<br />
President <strong>Perth</strong> <strong>Modern</strong> <strong>School</strong> P&C 2011<br />
GrouPS to Be ForMed<br />
English<br />
Mathematics<br />
Science<br />
Languages<br />
Italian<br />
Chinese<br />
French<br />
Japanese<br />
Information Technology<br />
Building and Grounds<br />
Visual Arts (Design/Photography)<br />
Library<br />
Sports Sport of interest _______________________________<br />
Other _____________________________________________<br />
_____________________________________________________<br />
<strong>Perth</strong> <strong>Modern</strong> <strong>School</strong> > NEWS April 2011 19
Exceptional schooling.<br />
Exceptional students.<br />
Exception<br />
20<br />
Centenary Celebrations<br />
<strong>Perth</strong> <strong>Modern</strong> <strong>School</strong> > NEWS April 2011