Two days, 14 regional schools and endless opportunities.
Last week, staff packed the Storyfest van and travelled far and wide to Longreach to deliver a series of literary events and workshops to ignite creativity and imagination among children located in rural areas.
The festival consisted of children and adult workshops with some of Australia’s best selling children Authors such as Jacqueline Harvey and Louise Park. These workshops provided opportunities for both children and adults to develop their writing and storytelling skills.
Hannah from Barcaldine State School stated that the Somerset Storyfest sessions provided her with valuable English and story structure skills that she will carry out throughout her schooling years.
Outside of the workshops and author sessions, evening events took place including the Young Writers’ Dinner and the Literary Dinner. The Young Writers’ Dinner took place out on Nogo Station, around a campfire under the stars. The excitement of the children finding out what author they would be grouped with for the evening was contagious. The six groups used their creativity to create a new story, song or poem to share to the group. The evening was full of joy.
Major sponsor, Outback Pioneers, a winner of multiple tourism awards for holidays, accommodation, and experiences in Longreach. Outback Pioneers provided enormous support and made the festival possible. Not only did Storyfest offer opportunities to people in rural areas, but Storyfest also brought the community of Longreach together to embrace the importance of reading and writing.
This past week, the College conducted Parent Teacher Interviews (PTIs) in both the Junior and Senior School. These PTIs offer a unique and essential opportunity to strengthen the relationships between the trinity of those who are chiefly concerned with a child’s academic and personal development: the student, parent and teacher.
But, for students, these PTIs sometimes come with fear and trepidation. Questions and doubts regarding their personal performance and grades arise and culminate in apprehension that they could, or should, be doing better.
Many assume that possessing a high IQ or cognitive ability is a sure recipe for success. With this context in mind, school reports and PTIs are highly scrutinised regarding the academic grades a student is earning. Whilst there is certainly a place and a call to measure a student’s grasp and knowledge surrounding subject content, it is also incredibly important to keenly reflect on other vital areas of their education. More specifically, one must gauge the student’s individual attitude to learning.
Somerset College regularly outlines that possibly the most important reflection a teacher can make is one which discusses ‘effort’. Making an effort implies that students have utilised qualities such as risk taking, persistence, problem solving and focusing on a task to completion. Making an effort is therefore a combination of all the values and qualities that we encourage our students to develop and display in their day-to-day learning… and life for that matter.
Winston Churchill reflected that, “Continuous effort, not strength or intelligence, is the key to unlocking our potential”.
So, as parents and staff, how can we assist? Like with any human behaviour, effort can be increased in our children by providing reinforcement and by rewarding every attempt at effort, regardless of outcome. This does not mean that we should lavish compliments for doing something trivial, but rather focussing on and rewarding genuine effort and perseverance. If this is consistently recognised, then there should be no need for anxiety when it is time for formal academic reports to be released.
If a student makes a genuine effort to do their best, whether it be in a sporting event, homework task, examination or speech, then – irrespective of the ultimate grade – they will have succeeded… and we celebrate them for that.
Our Pre-Prep Red class enjoyed an exciting visit to the Senior School Science lab during Science Week. The Senior Science Committee students generously gave up their lunchtime to give some demonstrations and help the Pre-Preps try some of their own experiments.
The Pre-Preps watched incredible experiments by the older students who explained chemical and physical changes in compounds, making Elephant toothpaste and a magic rocket among other awe inspiring demonstrations. After watching, it was time for the Pre-Preps to have a go at some experiments themselves, blowing up a balloon on a beaker and making milk dance.
Thank you to Ms Hyman, Mrs Amores and Mr Hawtin for organising as well as the Senior Science Committee who gave the Pre-Preps an experience to inspire.
A highlight of the Year 10 Drama curriculum involves our students working in collaboration with Queensland Theatre. Each year, schools from around the state access a newly commissioned script.
In 2022 the playscript is Chromatown, written by Suzie Miller. The rules of Scenes are simple, create a 15-minute performance. The script can be cut, new work can be devised, it is basically a choose your own adventure with set, props and technology limited to whatever you can pack onto a bus.
This collaborative project encourages the sharing of ideas and allows our students to explore an avenue of creativity that interests them, including writing, script editing, designing, acting, and directing. The final step is taking the new work to Brisbane, to perform at QT’s Billie Brown Theatre.
This year’s text explored the impact of open cut mining through a fictional, colour draining substance called Chroma. It allowed students to consider this issue through the differing perspectives of many voices within a community and then use this understanding to frame their dramatic meaning.
Our students were fortunate to have Suzie Miller in the audience on their Outcome Day, adding further determination for them to share their story with focus and commitment. In the afternoon schools witnessed the professional production of Chromatown, directed by Travis Dowling, and sat together for a debrief session, analysing, evaluating and (most importantly) supporting the artistic journey of all involved.
Outcome Day offers our drama students important access to professional arts practitioners. They are encouraged to ask questions, learn about career pathways, and forge connections with people who share their passion for creating. Based on work shared by all schools involved, the future of theatre in Queensland is in capable hands.
This week the Pre-Prep friends have been making delicious pumpkin scones, taking a recipe and following the steps takes organisation and cooperation in a small group.
Exploring a whole pumpkin, looking at the seeds and thick skin, prompts conversations about where food comes from and how important farmers are.
Carefully chopping slices of pumpkin into smaller pieces to cook for our recipe helps develop fine motor control.
Following a recipe provides an example of a procedural text and develops number and letter recognition.
Measuring and weighing ingredients helps explore the concepts of quantity and weight.
Kneading the dough and cutting out the scone shapes, requires taking turns and encourages oral language development.
After baking the scones, the best part is eating the end product! After being involved in cooking sessions, many Pre-Prep students will sometimes try eating foods that they may not usually eat, (particularly when their friends are all trying some).
So much skill development in weekly cooking sessions that are so much fun.
Somerset College athletes Starr Scott, Bayley d’Hotman de Villiers, Kade Reynoldson and Michael Dobroskok (pictured) along with Sports Physiologist Dr Annette Eastwood and Strength and Conditioning Coach Casey Reynoldson, attended Griffith University for the annual ‘After the Siren’ workshop, 26 July.
The programme is designed for school aged elite and developing athletes based around good role modelling behaviour, tips on maximising opportunities and preparation for life as an elite athlete.
Some of the topics covered during the day included elite sport after school, leadership, mental preparation, social media as well as nutrition and recovery.
The students also had the opportunity to meet elite athletes from various sports and hear how they balance training and study commitments.
The workshop was an excellent opportunity for both Somerset College students and staff.
Over 400 Somerset Spartan Rowers took part in the South Queensland Regional Championships at Wyaralong Dam on July 16 and 17. For Somerset College this is a step up to Championship events after the school-based competition of Term Two.
With nearly twice as many competitors than Term Two, most athletes had to progress through heats to finals. With a medal haul of four Gold, five Silver and two Bronze, it was a great weekend for Somerset Spartans out on the water.
The first race on Saturday for Somerset College was the heat for the Year 8 Boys single scull with Angus Riddle winning comfortably and setting up a successful weekend. Two races later Byron Taylor crossed the line first in his heat setting up a great final with Angus coming home with the Gold Medal. Angus and Byron were then able to back this up with a Gold Medal in the Year 8 Boys Double scull.
The Year 8 Girls quads took to the water next with three crews racing for Somerset College. It was the crew of Brooke Bowden, Maddi McLaughlin, Isabella Vujanovic, Natalia Zotti and coxed by Josh Rosentreter that won their heat and headed to the final. In an outstanding effort against a tough field, they came home with the Silver Medal. Callum McClure and Thomas Gray have mastered rowing together winning both the Open Boys Pair and Open Boys Double scull. Four Gold Medals and a Silver made for a fantastic Saturday of racing.
Sunday’s racing saw Maddi McLaughlin win her Semi Final in the Year 8 Girls Single scull and progress to the Final, who with Aanika Soni also progressed to the Final in the Year 8 Girls Double scull. They were joined by Brooke Bowden and Alanja Thomasson who put in a fantastic row at the end of the day to win the Silver Medal. Maddi was pipped by half a length to come fourth in the Final of the Year 8 Girls Single. Bowen Mansell and Callum Miles were also pipped in the Final of the Year 10 Boys Double scull to come in fourth.
Georgia Daly and Eliza Strong took to the Year 11 Girls Pair and came home with a Silver Medal, not bad for their second row in that boat. They were joined by Emelia Fink, Maya Pearse and coxed by Zoe Benson to win Bronze in the Year 11 Girls Quad. Callum McClure and Thomas Gray returned on Sunday to race the Open Boys Single Scull with Callum McClure winning Silver and an impressive three medal haul.
There were three Year 8 Boys Quads entered with high hopes of taking a clean sweep and giving Angus Riddle his third Gold Medal. Unfortunately, the crew of Angus Riddle, Byron Taylor, Xavier Brand, Will Hoult and coxed by Kite Weintrop were beaten by Trinity Lutheran and won the Silver Medal, while the crew of Luis Pearse, Hugo Derksema, Michael Zeng, Xavier Foster and coxed by Raffi Brand won the Bronze Medal.
With a term of training ahead in preparation of the State Championships at Bucca Weir on September 17 to 19 these results should help spur the athletes on as they work hard in the cold and early mornings.
With the Inter-School Championships coming up very quickly, there have been a number of Somerset students getting practice in other external events recently.
The Cookies Chess Rapids were held 23 July with Eason Wang finishing =first overall with 5.5/7, and Paul Sang Yum finishing =first in the under 1000 division with 4/7. Oscar Credland-Ballantyne also took part scoring 4/7.
A Junior Rapid was held on the Gold Coast 24 July, which was split into two divisions. In the Novice division, young Taya Liu (pictured) scored 5/8 and picked up a trophy for her efforts. Gorden Hu and Ridhi Potumuthu also took part in their first weekend event. In the Open division, Oscar Credland-Ballantyne and Paul Sang Yum backed up from the day before and were joined by Sanaaya Mapabandara and Harrison Qu with all players doing well.
Taya continued her recent tournament appearances, travelling to Brisbane to take part in a girls only tournament 30 July. In the Beginner division, she scored 4.5/7 to finish in fourth position
In the Gold Coast Chess Clubs Autumn Classic, a number of Somerset students took part. Jared Consiglio-Cockle won the Division A prize with a score of 4.5/7 despite missing the final round. Oscar Credland-Ballantyne scored 4/7 in a good showing, whilst Lyanna Chan returned to regular competitive chess with 3.5/7 and young Harrison Qu scored 3/7.
Gold Coast Primary Hinterland – Tuesday 16 August
Gold Coast Secondary Finals – Wednesday 17 August
Cookies Rapids – Saturday 20 August
Fernvale Winter Weekend of Chess
Gold Coast Junior Championships
Gold Coast Primary Finals – Thursday 1 September
Don’t forget to come along to the Friday afternoon club from 3.30 to 5.30pm where we are continually growing our numbers to see a solid turnout every where week students have the chance to continue their chess practice and education.
For any questions about our Chess programme, please contact Andrew FitzPatrick, Somerset Chess Co-ordinator.
Type on the line above then press the Enter/Return key to submit a new search query