Our visitor recalled her time as a child in Egypt. Growing up in Egypt, she spoke Arabic, German, French, Spanish, English, Austrian and the Egyptian local language. This stunned many of us.
She spoke about her education as a woman in Egypt. Women had less rights and limited access to education. However, she had the privilege of attending three different schools. Of those she attended, there was a German school, an Arabic school and a French School. She told us about the place she lived in Egypt. It was a special apartment covered with marble, limestone and gold. Her family had a cleaner who cleaned the house and cooked for them every day. As part of her duty, the cleaner retouched the balustrades with gold paint daily.
Her family made the decision to leave Egypt when she was 11. When she left the country, she had to leave all her belongings behind because the president at the time would not allow people to take all their belongings, except for a suitcase. She landed in Australia and began her new life in a foreign country that she knew nothing about.
At the end of the presentation, she set out some food, made from recipes from Egypt. These Egyptian delights include fairy floss, biscuits, apricot treats and lollies. They were delectable.
Overall, I am captivated by the guest speaker’s story. The Ancient Egyptian Morning Extravaganza is a fun learning experience for Year 7.
“After walking out of the Dolphin Show I was frozen with awe from watching the humans and light-grey and blue dolphins bond and work together. It was such a magical and special experience to see. I was shocked when I saw the dolphins shoot up in the air like a rocket and perform a flip. When the dolphins flipped in the air, they looked so light as if they weighed a feather.”
Abhilasha Sarmah
“I jumped into the line, which was buzzing with excitement. When I finally got to the front cart, I jumped in and noticed it was shaped like a red and yellow speedboat. As I got ready, my friend Tom sat in next to me and the safety belts were lowered. We got ready to go. Suddenly, we started to move down the shimmering water and we began to go up.”
Dylan Bowden
“As I climbed into my cart, the sound of my fast beating heart echoed through my body. I sat down in the cart as it flowed quickly down the stream. It moved up and up, until the point where it turned down, moving as fast as a cheetah hunting for its prey.”
Georgia Bos
Students from Somerset College achieved excellent results in Kangourou Sans Frontieres (KSF), the Bond University Mathematics Extension Program and the Australian Mathematics Competition (AMC). Those students whose achievements were outstanding were rewarded with Certificates of Credit, Distinction, High Distinction and a Bursary Prize.
In 1991, two French teachers inspired by Australia’s AMC decided to start a similar online competition in France. They called it the “Kangaroo” to pay tribute to their Australian friends. The competition was a big hit and has since been adopted around the world. It is now known as Kangourou sans Frontières: (Kangaroo without borders). It is one of the largest international mathematics competitions in the world, with more than six-million participants annually.
Clare Hong (Year 12) was awarded a High Distinction certificate and achieved in the 100-percentile rank.
The Bond Business School Year 12 Mathematics Extension Program is a two-day workshop where students gain an insight into university life to assist the transition from high school to university. Bond University’s world class academics help facilitate the opportunity for students to experience an enrichment of the senior school syllabus through real world applications and the use of 21st century skills.
Shaiv Singh’s achievement was also recognised with a $5000 bursary
The AMC is a 30-problem competition that demonstrates the importance and relevance of mathematics in students’ everyday lives. The competition is designed by Australia’s leading educators and academics, who have a deep understanding of our national curriculum standards.
Clare Hong (Year 12) achieved in the 100th percentile rank
Momoe Gondo (Year 11) achieved in the 98th percentile rank
I would like to recognise the participation of students from Somerset College and congratulate them on their achievements.
For many Year 1 students this tournament was their first ever Interschool event!
In the A Division, the Somerset 1 team of Calen Tang, Alessandro Martinese, Michael Rossiter and Elijah Hadikusumo battled fiercely against a large number of students from King's Christian College and All Saints Anglican School throughout the day, finishing equal second to qualify for the Queensland Interschool State Finals in October. Another star in this division was Oscar Credland-Ballantyne who along with Calen finished as Somerset’s top scorers with 5/7. Somerset 2 finished in seventh position.
In B Division the star of the show was Year 1 student Dylan Hu who finished first with 6/7! Somerset also did very well in the teams component with Somerset – Baillie finishing in second place (William Baillie, Paris Liu, Michael Narizhniy, Zhander Griffiths) and Somerset – Yeung in equal third (Dylan Hu, Nate Van Den Brink, Kush Veeramachaneni, Jackson Yeung).
In C Division, Somerset again had another Year 1 star, with Oliver scoring 7/7 to win the division. Somerset – Moir finished equal third (Oliver Moir, Franklin Yang, Ansh Sutaria, Blake Nobbs) which is a great result for an all Year 1 team!
Playing in the lunch clubs, Interschool or external chess tournaments is a vital part of a student’s chess development and I would encourage all students to play as much as they can. ChessKid is another valuable resource that is available to all students enrolled in Somerset Chess programmes.
QLD Rapids: Saturday 12 September at King's CC, Reedy Creek. A great event for juniors and even adults are welcome to play. A number of students mentioned above are regular attendees! Register here.
Nell Van de Graaff Classic: Saturday 19 and Sunday 20th September @ William Duncan SS. Spots filling fast but a perfect event for rated players of all ages. Register here.
Gardiner Chess Online Holiday Program: Tuesday 22 to Thursday 24 with top Gardiner Chess coaches! A perfect opportunity to learn and then put it into practice with a tournament! Register here.
The latest Queensland Junior Ratings have just been released and year 1 student Harrison Qu is the biggest improve from Somerset with +43! Other significant jumps were Lyanna Chan +35, Charlie Liu +28, Dylan Hu +23, Lachlan Hartley +22, Elijah Hadikusumo +22.
For any questions on the Somerset Chess program please contact Andrew at Gardiner Chess.
There were loads of amazing models. There were many great activities including eating samples of ancient Egyptian foods.
There were chocolate pyramids! I mean chocolate pyramids!!!
Hamish Kennedy
The Year 7 Egyptian Day was good because it gave us a different perspective on the Egyptian’s daily life.
The talk from Gianni’s grandmother was excellent. Some other great things we did was making a clay Ankh which is the symbol of life, play Egyptian games, sample Egyptian food and we got to dress up! Overall, it was a great day learning more about the Ancient Egyptians.
Thomas Sanders
On Wednesday, Year 7 had a taste of Ancient Egypt, literally! Not only did we learn about Egypt in a fun and interactive way, we even ate some sweets from Egypt! Everyone dressed up in a costume and did a rotation of activities. Also, a special guest, Gianni’s grandmother - Mrs Marie Eades came to speak to us about her experience of Ancient Egypt. It was an enjoyable opportunity for all. After a unit of learning about Egypt, we finally got a real understanding and appreciation for the successful civilisation that developed into the world we live in today.
Jasmine Small, Leylah Zubair, Aimee Zhang
The U6s were on fire against Palm Beach, scoring to put them ahead less than a minute in. They kept a solid lead throughout the entire game thanks to great offense. Defence was instrumental in keeping the ball away from goal.
The side won 9 to 1 with Thomas earning Player of the Match.
Much thanks to Coach Marcus for his continuing support and solid instruction.
Under 7 Blue played against Palm Beach Purple at Somerset.
It was a tense game where both sides attacked and defended through the first and second halves. Unfortunately, the first goal went to Palm Beach but Jesse added two points and Abhiveer added one, returning the first half 3 to 5.
In the second half, Jesse added another point, making a hat-trick! After some time defending, Emily made a middle shoot. Unfortunately, Somerset lost 5 to 7 but not without a lesson in strategic positioning. The side is on its way to great success! Well done!
Jesse was awarded Player of the Week for the first time this season!
Under 7 Green played Palm Beach in a 4 to 2 win to opponents.
Blake taking, Player of the Match.
This is second time Somerset Under 7 White versed Robina Gold this season.
The final score, 10-nil.
Under 7 Orange played at home against Nerang Red in an exciting match. The Spartans came out on top 4 to 1.
A big thank you to Knox who helped by filling and scored an impressive three goals in the process.
Sam earned Player of the Match for his excellent passing on the day.
The Under 8s Green had a fantastic win against TSS with the end score, 4 to 1. Ollie once again showed his talent scoring two goals while Thomas and Edward both scored one each. Well done!
Max and Izaak were both named Player of the Week.
The camaraderie is very evident in this team. They celebrate every goal, congratulate each other during play and are all supportive teammates. This is what team sport is about and it is lovely to see.
Well done again on a great win Green Team.
By Abigail Hunt
"Our soccer match went pretty well even after losing. The main highlights of the game were James having a really great shot at goal but sadly missed. Lachlan was a very efficient defender and even got Player of the Match. The game was over, it was really fun and I can’t wait until next time."
The team, looking to maintain their unbeaten record, faced stiff competition from skilful and competitive opposition. Playing on a dry sandy pitch the ball moved quickly and initially Pacific Pines effectively broke through Somerset’s defence twice, despite Henry providing some staunch challenges and some great breakout runs by Harper, Connor and Alex.
The team kept their cool and continued showing great ball skills, looking out for each other, passing, and mounting the pressure. This was rewarded coming up to half time with a great run down the left wing and a goal from Harper, with the scores 2 to 1.
The boys came back after the restart invigorated and more determined. Alex dangerous in attack up front, Benedict, Hugo and Connor battling for the ball on the wings and midfield, and Zander, Danny and Henry continuing to defend leading to an urgent scramble on the goal line before providing some great match play up the field. Harper scored a second goal to bring the score-line equal. Somerset’s ongoing pressure and discipline made them increasingly more dangerous and despite Pacific Pines showing signs of frustration the Spartans remained focused.
Alex effectively received some great ball up the centre with support from Connor and Benedict scoring another three goals for the team.
The final score was a 5 to 2 win to Somerset.
Connor was awarded Player of the Match in recognition of his battling for the ball and bravery despite a bruising tackle that had left him with a sore leg.
Our U11 boys played at home against Pacific Pines.
Bailey was given the opportunity again to wear the Captain's armband and Sebastian opened the goal scoring in the first three-minutes.
Jacob showed great energy and speed from the first whistle which we needed as Pacific Pines kept us on our toes setting up a challenge from kick off.
Dash showed great goal-keeping skills as always and his vision of other players assisted our boys to hold possession of the ball and prevent the other team from scoring.
Bailey scored two goals with a great assist from Sebastian. Daniel had a power shot securing our fourth goal and Jacob scored an amazing goal from a free kick.
Pacific Pines had a lot of height advantages allowing them to easily steal the ball forcing our boys to work harder. Maarten spent a lot of the first half redirecting boys to on field positions. An area for them to work on listening to the coach's directive, improving this in the second half.
Chris and Josh showed great persistence attacking ball throughout the game.
Our Player of the Week was Sebastian, well done. Final score 5 to 1.
Have a question about Football at Somerset College? Please contact our Head Coach - Football and Futsal Maarten de Kruijf.Maarten de Kruijf
What if they have it backwards? We do not need to make the old young again, we need to make our youth wise before their time.
We are coming up to the student election season at Somerset and so the focus of the Year Elevens and the College leadership is on the gifts and talents of our students and how they could be best used. Over all my years of working with school students, this is one where the wisdom of age could have a great effect. So many school student leadership elections become popularity contests where candidates are judged on a very narrow range of talents. Students with different and less obvious skills, with potential to make an enormous contribution, either choose to not nominate or fail to win positions.
Youthful thinking about leadership drifts to the obvious and more flamboyant gifts. It is the athletic, effervescent, social, funny and, of course, good looking students who draw the quick and easy attention. As we age, wisdom grows and we realise that while those talents are important, and even useful to leadership, they are not the whole story. They are the marketing, the colourful shiny wrapping on the package, that brings people on board. However, for real leadership to be delivered the package needs substance and this is delivered by an entirely different, and much less obvious, set of talents. Wise people look for leaders who are honest, reliable, broad thinking, practical, compassionate, courageous, faithful, and much more … the list fills a very deep toolbox.
We encourage our students to consider this as they think about nominating and voting, but it is hard to break the youthful instincts.
We also encourage them to realise that while a student leadership position is a great honour, it is not the greatest nor last honour in life. As such, those who receive positions must do so with humility and those who do not should be encouraged that while this season is not theirs’, life will be full of opportunities to exercise their talents to great effect if they own them and practise them.
There is also a lesson for we who are already old (or whose children think we are) and should be wise. The glamorous and powerful who attract all the attention are the few, we are the many.
Our toolboxes mightn’t have their sparkling instruments, but that does not mean they are empty or without power. We all have a fine mix of gadgets and implements; social, emotional, financial, creative, adventurous, intelligent, spiritual and enlightened talents that when used with diligence and enthusiasm enable happy families and powerful communities.
We might not wear the badges or robes of office, or sit in the seats of power, but these talents unleashed drive a wonderful world. As the Apostle Paul said to Timothy “Don’t let anyone think less of you because you are young. Be an example to all believers in what you say, in the way you live, in your love, your faith, and your purity.” (1 Timothy 4:12)
“Pathetic.”
“This is why you don’t put women in charge.”
“The boys did it in two minutes and you didn’t get it done in the eight minutes!”
“Disappointing.”“Hurry up!”
“What is wrong with you?”
If you heard these things being said to someone, would you think it was wrong?
The more important question, would you stand up to the person saying it... even if he was an invited guest speaker?
Five volunteers were selected from the Year 7 girls to complete a task. I was ‘fortunate’ to be one of these people. We were given the mission, as a team, to rescue the ‘Year 7 cohort’ (a plastic container) out from the centre of the ‘acid’ using the tools – which consisted of rope, crepe paper, scissors, a mask etc. Sounds easy right? The only problem was that the pressure was intense! We weren’t allowed to talk to each other, 140 eyes were locked onto us, blaring music was ringing in our ears and as we attempted – and failed – to complete the challenge, our guest speaker Keneti was yelling out words of disdain and ridicule. The words written above.
After our failure, Keneti asked the audience what were the ‘barriers’ of this activity. Many hands shot up. The students were saying things such as “not being able to talk”, “the limited resources” and “the music”. However, when I told him my answer of how his comments weren’t very encouraging, his attitude changed. I was berated with “Oh! So, it’s my fault is it?” He told me to stand aside by myself and continued asking people for their opinions. Luckily two other girls Jodie and Aleeza gave similar responses saying that Keneti’s words were part of the problem. They too were sent away to stand next to me.
Finally, he reverted back to his original kind self and said that the behaviour he displayed was completely unacceptable and if any of us witness anyone acting in this aggressive manner, we must stand up to them. It was great to hear that this was the first session he had taught where three people stood up to him. By the end of the session, I'm sure all the girls in our cohort would have stood up to him!
We tried the mission again, this time with no boundaries. Since we had the ability to discuss strategy, overwhelming support from the audience, tranquil music and encouragement from Keneti, we completed the task in two minutes! This shows the power of unity and positivity. Afterwards my friends and I were discussing the message we took away and it was mainly about standing up for what’s right and that there is strength in numbers. So, the more people who stand up against abusers- the better.
Ayla Chirathivat-Geralds
Keneti’s talk was very inspiring, as he shared many of his valuable life lessons with us and encouraged us to stand up for what is right. He explained how hurtful comments can negatively affect performance. However, Keneti said if we learned to face them in the right way, there would be a greater likelihood for success. He says that teamwork and support create a sense of safety and encouragement. Standing up for what is right proves that we are united all together as one.
Jodie Lin
"This week, Ms Thompson came to talk to the Year 7 girls about the issues surrounding social media. We gained a deeper understanding of the darker side of social media and how it had impacted girls around the world. The girls who have been bullied and harassed online need support, but support from adults sometimes just isn't enough. They need fellow girls who can truly understand what they're going through. Of course, not everyone can relate, including myself. I can only imagine what they feel. The core of this problem is that many girls aren't educated on this topic. If this cohort of Year 7s can help make the girls out there feel just a little safer by spreading the message, I think we have done our job well."
Aimee Zhang
"The Year 7 girls were privileged enough to have Ms Thompson speak to us about Social Media. We learnt that social media has a great impact on girls’ actions and how they approach it different scenarios. Ms Thompson discussed strategies and techniques for dealing with online situations such as how to deal with situation and how not to deal with it. We also observed the results from a survey a few years back. Young girls just like us showed us, that more than 90% of girls our age have social media of some sort and use it for many different reasons, such as Instagram, YouTube and Snapchat. A little later on, all of us Girls and Teachers believed we should spread positivity for social media around the school for Girls, so we made little posters and put some inspiring quotes on them. All in all I believe this session with Ms Thompson was highly beneficial and educated us girls about social media. It also showed us that spreading positivity creates great change in the community, and as the younger generations us girls want to make a change."
Amelia Cotton
"On Tuesday this week, all of the Year 7 girls went to the Ray Dining hall for a talk with Ms Thomson. She talked to us about social media and how it impacts girls and what they do. We looked at some statistics and surveys from the previous years and also what people had to say about social media platforms, including Instagram, Snapchat and more. After this we got into groups of two or three and created posters saying short quotes for girls to use. These quotes are meant to be useful to girls using social media and also those who may be doing it tough. The session helped us look at social media from a new perspective and also helped us see what other go through on social media. Personally, the experience was very helpful and fun to do, and I really enjoyed finding helpful quotes and more."
Ava Henson
"During the session with Ms Thompson, the Year 7 girls learned about the impacts of social media and how we can improve our actions towards these apps in an appropriate manner that doesn't affect our personalities, relationships nor self-esteem. We learned how important it is to have qualities like kindness, empathy, and loyalty. Each girl made a quote which would be used to influence and inspire others to have these important values. From this lesson, each girl learned to be less influenced by these social media apps as it can impact negatively on us."
Emily Nickels
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