Roseville College’s Library Celebrates the National Year of Reading
Roseville College’s Library Celebrates the National Year of Reading
Roseville College’s Library Celebrates the National Year of Reading
Head of Library Services, Mrs Jeanette Harkness, says an inclusive reading philosophy underpins the year’s activities and is driving the Library’s approach to helping students engage with literature and reading.
'Our philosophy pivots on inspiring each student to discover how they best connect' with literature according to their interests and preferred format,' explains Mrs Harkness. In combination with a creative space conducive to reading, students are enabled to engage with literature for learning and leisure, individually or in groups or as a class.
'A contemporary library provides access to reading material in a range of print and digital formats,' emphasises Mrs Harkness. Accordingly, the College collection provides access to both print and digital materials, so students can make their own choice.
This year, in addition to the makeover and launch of its e-Library, Roseville College Library is celebrating the National Year of Reading with a variety of activities. These include a 'Book Trailer' project that encourages students to create short films that promote popular new titles to their peers, a Book Club, 'Shopping Spree' at The Childrens' Bookshop to allow students to select hundreds of new print titles, the introduction of a College Writers' Club, participation in the National Reading Hour, coordinating visits from several authors, and 'LooReads' that put reading into the limelight in the most unexpected places!
Alice was nominated by her Year Adviser, Mrs Angela Knight, and Roseville College’s Director of Pastoral Care, Mrs Elizabeth Oakley. Both had observed her demonstrate an exemplary attentiveness to the needs and service of others.
“As a girls’ school that fosters community concern in our students, Roseville College is very interested in the advancement of women in broader society,” says Mrs Oakley. “Alice, who represents Year 11 in Student Council, leads by example in student government and by volunteering with community organisations, as does her fellow finalist, Year 12 Prefect and Student Council President Zoe McLaughlin.”
Introduced to the Roden Cutler Lodge in Gordon through a school initiative called ‘Building Connections’, Alice says she volunteers with the elderly at the Lodge because it matters. “Someone told me it is admirable that I give my time in a time-poor society, but I don’t think of it like that. I enjoy it and it matters. Volunteering was the decision I made in response to a need I saw.”
Alice hopes to study a Bachelor of Global International Studies and a Bachelor of Law, and to use what she learns to establish herself in a capacity for lasting impact in global development. “I want my personal contribution in life to mobilise many; attractive options are a national development aid organisation, the Red Cross or the United Nation.”
Founded in the USA in 1919, today Zonta International is a global organisation of more than 30,000 professionals in 65 countries working to advance the status of women through service projects and advocacy initiatives spanning economics, professions, education, health, law and politics. Australia has been part of Zonta International since 1966.
The Awards are open to women aged 16-19 years, who demonstrate leadership in a voluntary capacity and in student government. Among the 16 finalists were representatives from Abbotsleigh, Pymble Ladies College, Hornsby Girls High, Masada College, Brigidine, Killara High, Ravenswood and St Benedict College.
Twice the Honour for Sydney University's 2011 Year 10 Academic Excellence Awards
Twice the Honour for Sydney University's 2011 Year 10 Academic Excellence Awards
The Award scheme, initiated by the University to acknowledge and encourage academic diligence in NSW students, enables schools that have significant links with the University of Sydney to nominate a worthy candidate from their recent Year 10 cohort.
“Roseville College was offered a nomination in 2011; but it was simply too difficult to discern between two outstanding students, Natalie and Justine,” says the College’s Director of Curriculum, Mrs Georgia Kamperos.
“It is a great honour for the College – and for the girls involved – to receive news that both candidates would receive the Academic Excellence Awards for 2010. I don’t think that has happened for any school before.”
Accompanied by teacher, Mrs Karen Warburton, Natalie and Justine each received a certificate and a $50 Dymocks gift voucher at the official presentation ceremony at the University of Sydney on 2 May.
“All parents and teaching staff present at the ceremony were clearly very proud of the recipients,” Mrs Warburton says. “It is priceless to see the smiles of each high achiever who are thrilled that their hard work has been recognised at this level. I’m sure it motivates them as they now apply their attention to the HSC.”
Many Roseville College graduates continue to perform strongly in their post-schooling pursuits, including higher education scholarships for sporting and academic excellence, and awards for academic and community achievement.
Roseville Musician wins second consecutive Scholarship
Roseville Musician wins second consecutive Scholarship
Hotly contested by talented young musicians, the prestigious music scholarship, in its 6th year, provides them with an opportunity to be recognised for both performance excellence and service to music within their schools. Accordingly, entrants represent a variety of local public and independent schools.
Roseville College Director of Music, Ms Noni Katada, says Chermaine managed her nerves beautifully in front of the esteemed panel of judges, which included internationally renowned conductor Dr Nicholas Milton.
“Her performance of Malaguena by Ernesto Lecuona was characterised by sensitive musicality and a mature stylistic understanding,” Ms Katada says.
The evening had added significance for Chermaine and Roseville College, with a guest performance by 2011 scholarship winner and 2011 Roseville College Year 12 Graduate and Music Captain Sophie Podrasky, who won the 5th annual event by performing two technically challenging violin pieces.
The annual scholarship was inaugurated in memory of Gordon Waterhouse, a highly esteemed member of the Rotary Club of Chatswood
(www.chatswoodrotary.org.au) who dedicated his life to music and service above himself. As this year’s winner, Chermaine receives a $2,000 grant towards her music education.
Past Roseville College Music graduates have achieved NSW HSC Top 10 places in Music subjects, studied music at a tertiary level, and even secured prestigious appointments with organisations such as the Sydney Symphony Orchestra.
Roseville College Year 9 swimmer, Alice Stuart, has won gold in the 50m Butterfly.
Alice Flies away with Gold in the Pool
It has been a busy season for the talented ‘fly specialist, whose recent podium finishes include 3rd in the 100m Butterfly (and 5th in 200m Butterfly) at the Australian Age National Swimming Championships; 2nd in the 50m Butterfly at the IGSSA Swimming Championships; three gold medals (1st) in 50m, 100m and 200m Butterfly at the Combined Independent Schools (CIS) Swimming Championships; and, alongside her gold in 50m Butterfly at All Schools, 2nd in the 100m Butterfly.
I was always in the water as a toddler. When my brothers started swimming lessons, I just tagged along. By Year 4, swimming had ‘taken over’,” says the dedicated teenager, who attended an AIS Emerging Talent Squad in September last year. “While I enjoy other sports, too, like social tennis and weekend hockey, my dream is that my commitment in the pool might lead to an opportunity like the Olympics!”
Alice says she is inspired by Olympian Jessicah Schipper, whom she has met and found to be friendly, unaffected by her achievements and gracious. To follow in Jessica’s wake, Alice trains nine times a week, including eight pool sessions and one gym workout, as part of her rigorous training program. “I know that dedication and perseverance pay off and that the sacrifice is worth it. If I manage my time well, I can balance my school work and training, with quality time with family and friends.”
Since 2007, Alice has competed in representative swimming for Roseville College. Head of Sport, Mrs Ann Osborne, commends Alice’s diligence in the pool saying her success is very well deserved. “In person, Alice is very modest about her results. However, her goals align with both her commitment and ability. I would love to see her realise her dream to compete on the world stage.”
Alice is also one of several Roseville College students to represent NSW or Australia in sports such as basketball, softball, rowing, tennis and athletics in recent years. In the past three years, graduates have gone on to compete in their sport at Australian and overseas universities in athletics, basketball, softball, rowing and tennis.
Student Book Club Chose Library’s new Winter Book Collection
Middle School students choose new book titles of interest to girls aged 13-17 years.
Student Book Club Chose Library’s new Winter Book Collection
An enthusiastic group of Middle School students participated in the “shopping spree” to choose the new book titles of interest to girls aged 13-17 years.
In a student centred library like ours, with a passionate group of readers in the student body, it’s critical that the students themselves have a stake in building and developing their collection,” says Head of Library Services Mrs Jeanette Harkness. “So, we empowered our girls to select a range of fiction and non-fiction titles they and their peers would enjoy reading!”
Owner of The Children’s Bookshop, Mr Paul Macdonald, says it is exciting and inspiring for a School to hand the power of choice to its students.
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Roseville College is one of only a handful of schools I’ve seen doing this,” he says. “Together with a few College staff, the students and I toured the store exploring a range of sections and topics. The girls were then ‘set free’ to collect their thoughts and a handsome pile of books at the same time!”
One of these students was Year 9’s Sophie Riddell, an inaugural member of the Book Club who says reading has become special for her because “sometimes we need a break from real life and books give you another world to go to”. According to Sophie, there was excited screaming when Mr Macdonald presented the newly released City of Lost Souls by Cassandra Clare. “We have been waiting for this book to come out all year and it was only released in Australia two days earlier”.
The students’ new physical book collection will be complemented by an ebook catalogue for many of the same titles – as well as an extensive list of new ebook titles – in the College’s soon-to-be launched OverDrive ebook platform.
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Photograph: (L-R) Head of Library Services, Mrs Jeanette Harkness, with a collection of the books chosen from The Children’s Bookshop and members of the Roseville College Book Club: Eternity Lim, Yuka Nagata, Sophie Riddell, and Rebecca Long.
Year 6 students are using social media to share life experiences
Girls Delight in Exchanging Cultural Treats
Year 6 teacher Mrs Henrietta Miller says the highly successful initiative began on a whim as a “fun, authentic and interesting experience” for her students. “Many participants are blogging, and even Skyping, outside school hours,” she explains, emphasising that Edmodo, a moderated online learning environment, allows young people to interact with others of the same age in a safe, secure and interactive context.
“When we engage in dynamic activities like this, especially by our own initiative and in our own time, we benefit from ‘incidental learning’. That is, we develop and refine a range of transferable skills like researching, comprehension, writing and technological literacy without even realising it,” she says.
Earlier this month, a surprise box from Hanscom School arrived at Roseville College. It contained hand-picked magazines, souvenirs, toys, food items and gifts to add texture and context to topics that students had discussed online.
When asked about differences between our two cultures, as revealed through this experience, Emily Dawson mentions that “weird OREO cookies in ‘Spring’ and ‘Birthday’ flavours” arrived in the box, and Angelique Manconi noticed a baseball. “It took us a while to explain what ‘netball’ is!” she laughs.
In reply, the Roseville College students are finalising their own Australian-themed box of treats. Gemma King, who is the daughter of an American living in Sydney and has teenage cousins in the US, believes lollies such as Fantails and Minties will be well received, and Natalie Lackerdis thinks that a boomerang, a pair of “Australia Flag inspired sunglasses” and Australian wildlife books add to the box’s cultural element. Plenty of clip-on koalas, wash-off Aussie “tattoos” and mini Australian flags are also carefully included by Mrs Miller.
Creative and engaging activities, especially ones that transfer beyond the classroom walls and combine people with technology, are vital to the Junior School experience at Roseville College.
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Photograph: (L-R) Year 6 students Angelique Manconi, Emily Dawson, Natalie Lackerdis and Gemma King with a selection of items received from Hanscon School, Massachusetts USA, and the brimming “Australia” box they are posting in return.
History Students To Honour ANZAC Spirit at Villers-Bretonneux Dawn Service, France
Four students will present a Bible reading or a soldier’s epitaph at the Dawn Service, which is scheduled to broadcast live to Australia on the ABC channel.
History Students To Honour ANZAC Spirit at Villers-Bretonneux Dawn Service, France
The four students will present a Bible reading or a soldier’s epitaph at the Dawn Service, which is scheduled to broadcast live to Australia on the ABC channel.
Rose Davidson, Roseville College’s Vice Captain and HSC Modern History candidate, will read the Book of Wisdom 4:7-15 She says this opportunity has inspired her to learn more about her family, especially from her grandmother, Joan McLean, whose uncle, Ernest Roy Kingsman Roberts, is memorialised at Villers-Bretonneux. Ernest Roberts was 30 years old when killed instantly in battle by a single machine-gun bullet wound to the head.
“I’m looking forward to linking what I’ve learnt [at school and about my family] with the actual places where they happened,” says Rose.
Cassandra Smith, Prefect and Captain of Public Speaking and Debating, looks forward to Modern History coming alive as she prepares for her HSC exams later this year. Her great grandfather, Gordon Roy Asprey, received a Distinguished Conduct Medal for his services in France.
“Not only has it been really interesting to discover more about my family history, but it also brings a significant part of Australian history into a personal context”, adds Cassandra. “I’ve been inspired to investigate more about my great grandfather and, while away, hope to discover more about him and his time in France during WWI.”
Harriet Hodge, studying both HSC Modern and Ancient History, will think of her great great grandfather, Arthur Round, as she reads a soldier’s epitaph. A member of the 40th Battalion from Hobart who fought at Villers-Bretonneux, Arthur was 28 years old and already married to Harriet’s great-great-grandmother, Maud, when he enlisted.
“He served for four years and [we learnt from the National Archive medical records that he] was gassed in 1918 just before he came back. Still, he lived until he was 86 years old – luckily for me – and is buried here in Australia,” Harriet explains. “This will be an amazing life experience for me; I had no idea it was such a big deal when I first said ‘yes’. I am most excited that my Pa, Trevor Hodge [living in Hobart], will watch me on TV and be there with me in spirit – it is the trip he always wanted to make.”
Caitlin Byrne is also studying Modern History for her HSC and believes that the Study Tour is an experience that will outlast her final year of school. Her great grandfather, who served as a Doctor in the trenches at Iper and received a Military Cross for Valour, fought on the Western Front as did his three brothers.
“For me, being there will make the impact of war on my family more tangible – the graveyards, the war museums (including preserved trenches that show visitors what it may have been like) and the war memorials themselves,” she says. “I’ve always wanted to attend a Dawn Service abroad and I’m honoured to be involved and connect with part of my family history in this way.”
Head of History, Mrs Stephanie Binsted, one of five teachers accompanying the students on the Study Tour, says the students’ awareness about Villers-Bretonneux is now enriched by such personal family stories – their own and those of their peers.
“The Service was already on our itinerary; but now history is really coming alive for the students, and this has become an even more significant experience,” she believes. “One of the purposes of a study tour is to heighten awareness of historical legacies. In this case, the girls have connected in a real and personal way with their family histories and our national heritage.”
The students depart Sydney on 12 April. For more information about the Villers-Bretonneux 2012 services, contact the Department of Veteran Affairs or visit the Department of Veteran Affairs website.
History Students To Honour ANZAC Spirit at Villers-Bretonneux Dawn Service, France
05-Apr-2012Four students will present a Bible reading or a soldier’s epitaph at the Dawn Service, which is scheduled to broadcast live to Australia on the ABC channel.
