Somerset@Home - A Student Perspective

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A STUDENT PERSPECTIVE

At our Investiture Service in February, we said that never in our lives will we be surrounded by so many people who are dedicated to our success, and in these unprecedented times, this statement couldn’t be more true. To say that we are grateful for everything the school has prepared for us to continue our academics through online learning is an understatement.

While Zooming isn’t particularly the first thing you think of when someone says Senior year, it has been a huge success in its own regard. We can speak for many of our peers when we say that you can still have fun, laugh and learn even in an online environment. Also, if our calculations are correct, we have kept the Senior Learning Centre kitchen spotless, I mean absolutely spotless, for over a month now! What an achievement! I think that deserves a prize, maybe a ping pong table, not sure. But probably a ping pong table.

Senior cohorts around the world have all faced the same challenges but the

Photos: Paul Broben

ways in which we have handled and overcome these are a true testament to the strength and unity of our cohort who we are lucky enough to still have at the push of a button. We particularly want to thank Mrs Crowley and Mrs Cornell for everything they have organised for us throughout these weeks and checking in on how we are all going. If we could get through this, we can get through anything together.

Somerset has always been a busy place, teeming with eager students, loving teachers and so many wonderful people. Whilst the College grounds might seem somewhat eerie at the moment, the bustling and lively atmosphere that is Somerset College is now being experienced a whole lot more virtually. We can’t say we were ever expecting to bump into our siblings this often at lunch time and online schooling is certainly not how we were expecting senior year to pan out, but we truly are glad that we are all able to be in this together (but ironically apart) during these certainly interesting times.

The holidays and school feel like they’ve been overlapping each other for a while now and it’s great having all this extra time… for Netflix and the immense amount of exercise we’ve totally been doing, but we do miss the feeling of being within 1.5m of another human being – although we don’t really remember what it’s like anymore! When they said technology was the future, we’re not

sure if this is what they meant, but to be safe and healthy during this situation makes us realise just how fortunate we are.

Still being able to learn effectively and see our classmates and teachers is a reflection of the staff’s dedication to our success, and most importantly, the IT department that managed to get the majority of our entire schooling lives into the virtual universe as quickly as they did. The fact that our teachers, in particular our spectacular Heads of Houses and Year Level Coordinators, are so willing to reach out to us and make sure we’re all travelling (emotionally, not literally!) well, confirms that Somerset is truly a wonderful place to be, because “Somerset” isn’t our beautiful campus, but the kind hearts of those who are proud enough to call it home.

Jenna Goldie and Georgina Powell Year 12 - Franklin House Captain and College Captain

Spaces INNOVATIVE JUNIOR

JUNIOR SCHOOL’S NEW AITKENHEAD BUILDING

We have been incredibly excited with the addition of the new Aitkenhead Building to the Junior School. As a Junior School team we designed a building for all of our students to enjoy throughout their years in the Junior School.

The downstairs Moses classrooms create a Specialist Hub, with state of the art Music and Technology facilities as well as the addition of a STEM and Art room on the other side, which will be equipped with cooking and maker space resources for students to utilise for their Units of Inquiry from Pre-Prep to Year 6. The Languages Hub is close by on the top level of The Lamb Building. There are plenty of display cabinets outside our specialist classrooms to feature student work for all to see.

Outside the Moses classrooms students can enjoy time relaxing in the Piazza, or racing down the slide or having a yarn in the yarning circle, with beautiful images always displayed on the large LED screen.

Our Year 4 and 5 classrooms on the top level are spacious, with plenty of room for storage and displays for students. The views from the top level are spectacular.

We love the way that the Aitkenhead Building is central to the Junior School and allows a flow from Year 3 in the Rowe Building through to Year 6 in the Brown Building. We are all connected!

We are proud of what we have achieved with the architectural design of The Aitkenhead Building bringing together the beauty of all the surrounding buildings and spaces at the College.

Rebecca Collie

Head of Junior School

Reconciliation ART DRIVES

THE YARNING CIRCLE

Over a long weekend in May, local indigenous and established artist, Ms Narelle Urquhart and her daughter Jessica, collaborated with four Art Committee students and facilitated by Mr Brad Walker to complete a reconciliation project in our Yarning Circle, under the new Aitkenhead Building.

Marcus Ibsen, Nicholas Tan, Darcy Beynon and I painted and yarned with Narelle and Jessica. We loved being able to hear about Narelle’s journey from childhood to now and learn about the importance of reconciliation. This beautiful artwork about Indigenous and non-Indigenous people coming together further extends the amazing work many students have achieved on the College’s Barambah and Myall Creek trips.

Narelle, an Indigenous engagement office at Bond University told the Gold Coast Bulletin in a feature for this year’s National Reconciliation Week the Yarning Circle (Tuesday 2 June, 2020) “This painting represents Indigenous and non-Indigenous people

coming together in reconciliation from the Gold Coast and beyond. By working together to build a stronger future we will bear good fruit for generations to come.

“Having this artwork in the yarning circle brings a place that students and staff can reflect on First Nations people and to consider their part in bringing friendship and healing by coming together.”

The art reflects the theme of National Reconciliation Week, In This Together and represents the area surrounding the College. The visual shows the Hinterland and its mountains, to the city skyline, Mount Warning and the fish in the waterways all around.

It’s hoped the Yarning Circle is a safe place for students and staff to come together and respectfully discuss matters extending from the classroom where we can learn and build upon existing relationships.

Jacinta Mai

Academic Captain

Musical JUNIOR SCHOOL

PETER PAN

When rehearsals started on the first day of the school year for the ageold tale of Peter Pan, our cast felt a sense of magic in the air. After only seven short weeks of rehearsals, the global pandemic forced the unfortunate decision to cancel the scheduled performances of the Junior School Musical.

After all the hard work and effort that the cast and crew had contributed we

Photos: Paul Broben and Kate Grigg didn’t want to see it all go to waste. With a time frame of five days we decided “the show must go on” in a sense. With the full support of staff, students and parents we were able to pull some magic strings and run a full day rehearsal/ performance with amazing costumes and mountains of energy.

The cast was so excited to have the opportunity to perform and were very grateful to our Headmaster Mr Craig Bassingthwaighte and other members of staff who spared their time throughout the day to provide a small audience for the students.

A huge thank you must go to Head of the Junior School,

Rebecca Collie who without her support, this amazing opportunity would not be possible. She has helped to make our dreams come true, when we wished hard enough.

Thank you to the cast, crew, production team, backstage and entire company for your hard work putting this show together. It has been a joy to watch the students develop their skills and a lot of fun! Their enthusiasm and energy is our inspiration.

Kate Grigg Teacher - Junior School

House PLAYS - 2020

CELEBRATING 30 YEARS OF SOMERSET’S SENIOR DRAMA FESTIVAL

The House Play Festival celebrated its 30 th year in 2020 and the audience was treated to two spectacular evenings of performance, punctuated by laughter, energy and House Spirit. Actor and Playwright, Merlynn Tong was tasked with the almost impossible, deciding the major awards of the evening and the Overall Triumphant House Play. Starkey performed Heaven Can Wait, Laver, The Bible in 30 Minutes or Less, Veivers, Compass, Franklin, Did Someone Say Bingo?, and Andrews, Back to Reality.

After much deliberation, Starkey House was announced as the best Overall Play and Laver House won the Adjudicator’s Award for their ensemble work. Outstanding Actor awards were presented to Calvin Walther, Ella Stewart, Mitchell Wuth and Ella Kirk.

Thanks must go to the House Play Directors for their co-ordination of

five entertaining, impressive pieces of theatre and their talented casts, who worked tirelessly this term. The passion, energy and commitment of Mrs Anna D’Arcy, Assistant Head of Department – Performing Arts is enviable and her support, advice and guidance made the Festival one to remember. The Technical Services Crew provided much appreciated assistance throughout the process also. Thank you to staff who assisted during the Festival, providing such wonderful encouragement to our actors.

Allison F oster

Head of Senior School