Edition 5 | Term One, Week 8, 2024

At dawn on a summer morning in 1899 the chaotic cries of Newsies can be heard throughout New York City. When the price of newspapers rises, the young newspaper peddlers decide to form a union and strike. And so was the tale of our Junior School Musical with a cast of students from Years 4 to 6.

Disney’s Newsies Jr. was shown to audiences over three shows in Week 9 of Term One. 

Well done to all those who performed, those who assisted backstage, the staff responsible for turning out a polished event and thanks to the audience who enjoyed the show.

Our Year 9s have embarked on a Rites of Passage journey, while on camp at Somerset Dam. 

In a new initiative, our Outdoor Education Programme has engaged The Rites of Passage Institute.

The Institute supports people of all ages, encouraging them to discover their unique gifts and create healthy pathways to follow throughout the next stage of their lives.

The group tackled raft building, hiking and sailing as they worked on individual and team growth. 

As well as the adventures on camp, our Year 9s returned to a welcome ceremony, greeted by parents with a welcome on Wyangan Oval.

For my Personal Project, I am writing a piano piece that I can then learn to play on the piano. 

I want to learn how to create an entire piano piece that I can play fluently and memorise. I have been learning piano for a long time – since Grade 2 – and so have developed a personal connection to playing and listening to music of any kind, but especially piano. 

I have faced many challenges in creating my piano piece. Firstly, it was very hard to find inspiration for my piece and figure out where to start. In addition, creating the right dynamics and tempo for my piece was also challenging. To overcome this, I worked hard to develop my knowledge of music theory which has helped me to be more comfortable and confident in my decisions. comfortably create my own piano song. 

My ATL skills have helped me throughout the process and I have developed my creative thinking and transfer skills, using my prior knowledge of music and piano theory and transferred these into creating a unique piano piece. I feel transfer skills are important for other subjects, as many skills transfer between different subjects, and so it a useful ATL skill to know and be able to identify in my own learning. 

The thing I am enjoying the most about the Personal Project is having the freedom to choose and create whatever I decide to rather than follow guidance and be restricted by songs written by other people. I am also enjoying creating music and sharing it with everyone else.

Members of the Show Choir were privileged to see The King’s Singers in concert at QPAC. 

The King’s Singers are a British a cappella vocal ensemble, named after King’s College in Cambridge.

 Consisting of six singers, the ensemble travels the world for its performances, giving 125 concerts per year.

After the concert concluded and the audience left the concert hall, the Show Choir were treated to their own private Q & A session with the members (including photo opportunities).

The students would like to thank all those who made this inspirational experience possible.

Mingling in Somerset style, the Somerset Social was an epic welcome to kick off the new school year.

Parents and teachers came together for a night of fun, food, and festivities. Hosted by Somerset's Parents' and Friends' Associaiton, the event was certainly a highlight but it wasn't just about the party. The night was about building connections and strengthening our community. 

Thanks to the wonderful P&F volunteers who pulled out all the stops to ensure this year's Somerset Social was a celebration to remember.

Be sure to look out for upcoming P&F events held throughout the year for an opportunity to enjoy friendship, laughter and good times with the Somerset community.

Somerset's Parents' and Friends' Association bid a sweet farewell to Term One offering baked goods from the Yarning Circle.

The baked treat sale is more than just a fundraiser; it's a celebration of community spirit and camaraderie. Parents, volunteers, and members of the P&F come together to bake, package, and sell an assortment of homemade goodies, each lovingly crafted with care and creativity. It's a labour of love that embodies the Somerset spirit, the collaboration and support defining our Somerset school community.