Our Adjudicator, Ms Claire Christian, was clearly impressed with our students’ efforts as she offered feedback to both directors and cast members on Friday night. In particular, Ms Christian praised the Laver House ensemble for their diverse skills, use of space and the directorial decisions of Sebastian Angliss-Li and Trudi Morris in Character Analysis. Jessica Lekich set a new world record for 'the numbers of Rs rolled in 25 minutes with a thick European accent' and she took home a well-deserved Actors’ Award.
Ms Christian loved Franklin House’s capacity to embrace the “weird and wonderful” in Jinxed. Nikolas Sugden’s ’Allo ’Allo-like accent was singled-out as particularly convincing; and, on this front, Amy Jackson also amazing, in the humble view of the author.
Veivers’ House provided the "punctuation mark" amongst the madness in The Spaghetti Wars, with Ms Christian liking their treatment of more realistic themes; and Ben’s (Bella Harris’) 'wig'! The 'Wedding Scene', presented by Thomas Liu, Eva Wingrove and Shaiv Ranjith, was so poignant it took out the Adjudicators’ Award for the most memorial moment of the evening.
Could this be the reinforcement of a Starkey trademark with another cameo from a House Tutor?! Mr Keefer held his own amongst a strong ensemble in The Invited Audience. Michael Savic was reminiscent of a young Russell Crowe, for mine; and Calvin Walther was both convincing and energetic to the end of this break-neck-(nearly literally, Dom Bensley!)-paced aquatic adventure. Both Michael and Calvin took home Actors’ Awards.
And then came Andrews House who left most asking: was there anything else they could have included in their play?! We had amazing characterisation from Desmond Chuah (who I will not be able to look at in the same way ever again!), “rhymes with Cheezle!” Kurt Grgic, through to Ella Hammond’s, Actors’ Award-winning, portrayal of two, or was it three, characters!
But, proving a flash mob dance routine is still a favourite with audiences and adjudicators alike, Andrews took home the Best Play Trophy! A popular decision which, no doubt, will prove inspirational for Ms Lee’s 'troops' at this early stage of the House Competition!
A special thanks to Mrs Sue Roberts, Miss Greta Morley and Mrs Anna D’Arcy for their support of the Houses; I know our Heads of Houses, Ms Bronwyn Lee, Mrs Allison Foster, Mrs Sally Leslie, Ms Melinda Green and Mr Scott Walsh were very appreciative.
In case you missed the programme, it can be downloaded here.
The Year 5s were eager to see how our trip would connect to our current inquiry: Many influences shape a community. The island was a maximum security prison opening in 1867. Originally called Noogoon Island then later Green Island 2, St Helena got its name after Napoleon, an Aboriginal who was sent there for stealing an axe. St Helena Island, off the coast of Africa, was the place where Napoleon Bonaparte was banished, hence the commonalities between the names.
Our tour guides, prisoners 31, 321, a guard and a superintendent, led us around the island showing us the living and working areas for the prisoners and staff. The most exciting part was learning of the punishments, where prisoners 31 and 321 demonstrated the cat ‘o’ nine tails and solitary confinement. We were all happy to see Chloe Miller marry prisoner 31 to show how visitation was handled on the island and Flynn Carter got to test out the cat ‘o’ nine tails. Sadly, Chloe and Prisoner 31 divorced on the ferry ride home.
The excursion taught us so many connections between the past and present. For example, one superintendent brought about change by teaching prisoners to read and write. Today, this is common place and lays the foundation for rehabilitation back into society.
It was an enjoyable and exciting day but exhausting – we were all glad to get home…after a very long bus ride!
As I advanced with Basketball in Senior School, I became aware of the dedication and sacrifice so many people were putting in for me to do what I love. I was able to develop a Personal Project after noticing the benefits I gained from the support I was given.
In an attempt to give back to the community, I am coaching an under/15s Basketball team. This utilises my skills and IQ to help younger players grow on and off the court. With the help of Mr Whish and an AIS online coaching programme, I am understanding what it is like to be a coach, while helping the community greatly.
So far, I have started training my team and getting to know them. This process will continue for a few weeks, as I learn where each player’s strengths and weaknesses lie. This procedure is teaching me how to communicate with younger children.
Over time, the Project has taught me how important it is to give back to the community who sacrifice so much to get you where you are now.
The Australian Swimming Championships (Commonwealth Games Trials) were held at Southport Pool from Wednesday 28 February to Saturday 3 March. Eight athletes represented the Somerset Swim Club, including past student CJ Licuanan and current student Jorja Otto (one of the youngest at the event).
The four day event saw Somerset swimmers perform extremely well. I am very delighted to announce that both James Roberts and Ben Treffers were selected onto the Australian Commonwealth Games Team. James won the 50m freestyle beating a star studded field to win his first National Crown as well as placing fifth in the 100m freestyle and will be a part of the 4x100m freestyle relay team. Ben placed third in the 100m backstroke as well as second in the 50m backstroke, an event he will now get to defend his Commonwealth Title at next month’s Games.
Congratulations to those who competed at this elite competition and for coach Ash Callus for preparing and guiding the swimmers through the event.
We wish both Ben and James the best of luck next month and will be watching closely – some from in the grandstands.
Happy Swimming!
The Latern Festival marks the end of the CNY celebrations. On the evening of the Lantern Festival, people go out to watch the lantern shows and guess lantern riddles. Children carry lanterns and join in the lantern parade. Yuán xiāo (Sticky rice ball) – 元宵 is the traditional food for the Lantern Festival, as it is as round as the full moon.
After a warm welcome of the New Year on 16 February, our students in the ELP enjoyed a variety of Lunar New Year activities during their Mandarin lessons and over the course of their New Year celebration. Our Prep to Year 2 students thoroughly enjoyed the tastes of the special Lunar New Year food and snacks. Prep friends were very excited to meet our guest Chinese chef Tony Lee, who demonstrated Chinese cooking to the students, followed by delicious food tasting. Pre-Prep friends were excited to design their own dragon craft and painted their very own lantern, which they proudly presented during a lantern parade on the Lantern Festival.
Preparatory
Gold - Ling Rostas, Josh Rosentreter, Nate Van Den Brink
Silver - Maxine Stewart, Georgia Garlick, Josie Hanson
Elementary
Gold - Zara Punch
Silver - Elleisha Small
Preliminary
Gold - Annika Lim
Silver - Patrick Kelly Correa, Lily Hanson
Grade 1
Silver - James Kirk, Tatiana Leon, Bella Jellercic
Grade 2
Silver - Mia Huang
Grade 3
Gold - Kate Jordan
Grade 4
Silver - Joy Jeng
Grade 5
Gold - Stepan Tkatchenko
Grade 6
Silver - Aaron Ma
Aaron Ma also received a certificate for outstanding results in his Grade 4 Theory examination.
Annika Lim (piano), Bella Jellercic (clarinet), Fynn Buttison (Cello) and Kate Jordan (Flute) have also received awards for outstanding performances.
During a very hot Thursday in Week 6, over 30 students from the Junior School stepped up to clean up Somerset College, as part of Clean Up Australia Day. We covered the area from Prep to Year 6 and were surprised by the amount of rubbish we found. Shoes, chip packets, balls, bottles, lunchboxes and more were discovered, scattered through the grounds. Although it was great to clean it all up, it was surprising to see the hidden waste around our College.
The Return & Earn Scheme in operation in NSW. Queensland Containers come in on 01 November 2018
Our next mission is a recycle collection. Your recyclable donations will be collected and taken to the Return and Earn Scheme container in Chinderah, where eligible drinks containers receive a 10c Refund. Our project will provide a great way for us to be involved in recycling in our College community, reduce landfill, and help raise money for sustainable charities.
Please bring your waste into the College and support our Sustainable Spartan recycle initiative. More information on where to drop your recyclables will follow on Schoolbox.
Clean Up Australia Day - Remember: Pick it up. Bin it. Take 3 for the Sea!
These two teams always compete hard and this game was no different with the scores even at half time. Somerset and Grammar managed to rotate their players throughout, but it was the home side who started to gain momentum and pull away, having a comfortable lead going into the last quarter. The final quarter was fiercely contested with Grammar winning some vital ball, but Somerset remained controlled and calm under pressure taking the win 46 to 39.
Player of the Match for Somerset went to Kasey Collins.
We look forward to meeting Grammar again at QISSN and Vicki Wilson competitions.
All policies and procedures are outlined in the Senior School Sport page of Schoolbox, under “Sport Policy and Dates”. All students and parents are encouraged to familiarise themselves with these.Please note, practices are compulsory for both Winter and Summer Seasons.
Hinterland Trials are for strong performers to trial for representative selection in school Sport. These lead to Regional and State teams. Students wishing to trial for these teams must email or come to the Sports Department ASAP. All trials are listed on the sports page of Schoolbox (“Representative Sport” tile and announced in Notices during the week).
Every day at 7.00am to 8.15amMeet Ms McKenna and Ms Oppermann at the Track, all welcome
House Cross Country Carnival, Wednesday 18 April:In Week 1 of Term Two, we will host our Annual House Cross Country Carnival. Students will leave class at the end of period four and head to the Track area to prepare for their races (16 Years+ Boys race 6km, all others race 3km). Awards will conclude at the Track by 4.45pm.
Friday 9 March APS Winter Sports Trials #3/3
Monday 12 and Wednesday 15 March Compulsory APS Practices begin
Friday 16 March APS Winter Sports Back-up Round vs ASAS Friday 23 March APS Winter Sports Practice Round vs ASAS (Years 8 and 9 on Camp)
Term 2: Weeks 1 to 8 Winter Season Rounds 1 to 7 and Finals Day
APS Sport Photos
Click here to access photos of your sport or your team.
All Season details on Schoolbox Senior School Sports page. (“Winter Sports” tile for all season dates, and training schedules of the APS Season)
If you need more information, drop by the Sports Office in the Ray Building.
Student Injuries: If your son or daughter is injured at school sport, it must be recorded at the time by the school nurse/medical person present if parents wish to apply through the school insurance policy. If delayed signs or symptoms arise over the weekend, students must notify the school nurse on Monday morning.
All sporting details are posted on Schoolbox on the Sports page.
Oliver Yang and Kabilan Manuneedhi won all seven games, and shared first place. Unusually, they also had exactly the same tie break, so two individual gold medals were awarded. Kevin Song finished on 6.5, winning six and only drawing one game, to finish in outright third place. Byron Morris, also part of the winning team, finished on 5.
Other notable individual results included Charlie Liu, Ben Atia, Lyanna Chan and Jason Li, all on 5/7 and tied for fourth place. In B Division, Somerset Team 8 won the bronze medal: Kei Naito (5/7), Harrison Newing (4.5/7), Jonathan Wang (4/7) and James Bindra (3.5/7).
Congratulations to these Somerset players on outstanding rating increases:
The Queensland Junior Rating list is published every two months, and you can see the ratings here.
Byron Morris also had an outstanding result at the recently concluded Queensland Reserves Championship, with an equal second place. He was just half a point behind the winner, who qualified for the next Queensland Championship.
Clean Up Australia Day was the inspiration of solo yachtsman Ian Kiernan, who was shocked by the amount of rubbish he saw floating in the world’s oceans. Since the first national event in 1990, there has been growing global awareness about plastic pollution and its effects on wildlife, particularly turtles, marine mammals and seabirds. Scientists estimate that there are over 5 trillion pieces of plastic currently littering the oceans.
Solving the problem will require international collaboration both to close the source and remove what has already accumulated. This will include improving waste management practices to prevent plastic from entering the ocean and also banning single-use plastic products such as bags, bottles, straws and cups.
Later this year, the ambitious Ocean Cleanup Project will transport the first of 50 floating clean-up systems to the North Pacific Ocean. If successful, half of the huge collection of marine debris known as The Great Pacific Garbage Patch could be cleared within five years.
There’s so much we can all do to make a difference, so join the Somerset Sustainable Spartans Committee today.
Type on the line above then press the Enter/Return key to submit a new search query