Futurum Autumn 2008

S t P aul ’ s futurum GRAMMAR SCHOOL

St Paul’s Grammar School Penrith penrith, australia

No. 43 Autumn 2008

Celebrating Silver A record of contributions to the lives of thousands of students

ST PAUL’S GRAMMAR SCHOOL PENRITH

25 YEARS 1983 - 2008

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ST PAUL’S GRAMMAR SCHOOL PENRITH

CELEBRATING

25 YEARS 1983 - 2008

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St Paul’s Grammar School Penrith

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The entire school of St Paul’s Grammar School on its first day - 1st February 1983 - outside the Anglican Church at Cambridge Park

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This edition of FUTURUM was prepared by Ken Goodlet and Daniel Weatherhead in February 2008

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St Paul’s Grammar School Penrith

THE PRINCIPAL MR JOHN COLLIER begins by drawing our attention to the events being held this year to mark 25 years of Christian education at St Paul’s Grammar School: These functions will include a large Silver Anniversary Dinner on the evening of our Open Day, Saturday, 15th March. We hope to contact as many past students, parents, staff and council members as possible, to invite them to join with current members of our school community on this commemorative occasion. Other major functions will centre around the visit, in September, to St Paul’s of Dr Trevor Cooling, leading international authority in Christian education. Dr Cooling will give a public lecture as well as serve as keynote speaker at our staff retreat, preach at one of our local churches and undertake a number of workshops with school council members and staff.

Since its inception in 1983, St Paul’s has not deviated from its foundation purpose of being a Christian grammar school. It seeks to provide authentic Christian education, which brings God’s Word to students, in the context of outstanding academic education and pastoral care. In offering students extensive co-curricular and sporting opportunities, values and character building education, an international perspective, and civics and citizenship education, St Paul’s endeavours to prepare students holistically for Australian and global citizenship in the 21st century. God has richly blessed the school’s fulfilment of its mission over the years. Large numbers of students have embraced Christian faith. The school’s academic results continue to surpass those of a number of the elite schools of Sydney, and the school has diversified in many ways its opportunities for students. Currently all students from Pre-Kindergarten to Year 10 experience the globally esteemed International Baccalaureate (IB) curriculum, as well as state-based NSW Board of Studies courses.

The school continues to provide practical avenues for students to express a sense of community and Christian mission. The sense of community experienced through the school is manifested in bonds between students and between students and staff, which continue long after graduation. The sense of community is part of the social capital built by St Paul’s, and is a helpful corrective to the increasing individualisation of our culture, which can so often lead to fragmentation and isolation. Reaching out includes compassionate ministry, not just in our local area and wider Australian society, but also in service projects in Tanzania and the Congo, which are increasingly becoming part of our ethos.

In response to student need, the school has continued to extend its range of subjects and courses, the latest addition being the introduction, in 2009, of IB Diploma Film Studies. Currently 50% of our Senior School students undertake the Higher School Certificate and 50% the IB Diploma, with outstanding results achieved by students in each credential. The school has strengthened its specialist staffing with the addition of a second school pastor, a visiting psychologist, and additional staff in both the gifted and talented, and learning difficulty support areas. The appointment,

1983 - 2008

ST PAUL’S GRAMMAR SCHOOL PENRITH

CELEBRATING

25 YEARS 1983 - 2008

in recent years, of additional qualified library staff has enabled the school to deepen its emphasis on teaching students how to learn, and assisting their development of research methodology.

The school has continued to develop its technology infrastructure in order to harness the tools of best practice in teaching and learning. Over 500 computers are available on-site for student use, accompanied by the gradual introduction of interactive whiteboards, and growing facility for students to access our library electronically, and to communicate with teachers, as well as lodging assignments, from home.

The school has continued to develop exemplary programs in Visual & Performing Arts, in addition to ensuring that all curriculum areas are strong. Spectacular new buildings provide state of the art facilities for Visual Arts, Music, Dance and Drama. A Junior School strings program moves the school towards embracing a Kindergarten to Year 12 musical culture.

Lovely new classrooms are providing a suitable base for Technology and Applied Studies classes in Food Technology and Hospitality, with a new Textiles and Design room shortly to be constructed. A new learning difficulty support building, to be constructed in 20082009, will provide appropriate facilities from Kindergarten to Year 12 for this aspect of the school’s work. Our new Pre-Kindergarten unit has received its own designated building adjacent to the recently constructed Junior School entrance. Next year, one of the older High School blocks will be completely renovated. We are grateful for the assistance of federal government grants for these projects, this suite of grants being the first capital grants from government since the late 1980s. Receipt of such commonwealth monies enables the school to minimise any impost on fees while still developing our infrastructure to meet student needs.

In the sporting domain, the school has extended its range of offerings in recent years, with a return to rowing, and the introduction of whitewater sports as well as a huge development in rugby of a size to compare with our dominant High School sport of basketball.

Students continue to compete strongly in cricket and soccer, while netball and hockey have grown considerably.

Our International Student Program has been embellished with the forging of a very strong relationship with The York School in Toronto, Canada, with annual half a term exchanges of students.

The school has further developed its international Chinese program with a growing number of sister-schools, furnishing, in most years, approximately 20 students from China across Years 10, 11 and 12 at St Paul’s.

It is appropriate in our 25th year that we honour the collaborative work of the school council, staff, students and parents over many years. We seek to be an instrument of serving God and students in our community, and go forward into the next quarter century with thankfulness, confidence and hope.

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FROM THE PRINCIPAL

25 YEARS

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SILVER ANNIVERSARY MESSAGE

ST PAUL’S GRAMMAR SCHOOL PENRITH

CELEBRATING

ST PAUL’S GRAMMAR SCHOOL PENRITH

CELEBRATING

25 YEARS 1983 - 2008

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St Paul’s Grammar School Penrith

1983 The school site 1983, looking west towards Taylor Road in the distance

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At a glance

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1 February School opened with 14 students at Kindalin

Christian School March The school moved to the church hall at the

Anglican Church, Cambridge Park 30 June Mr Adrian Lamrock appointed Principal 23 October School began move to the present

Cranebrook site October The construction of the Science block and

The Hall began

Chairman of School Council: Dr Michael Barratt Acting Principal (to 30 June): Mr Joe Zarb Principal (from 30 June): Mr Adrian Lamrock

THE BEGINNINGS ST PAUL’S WAS LARGELY THE BRAINCHILD of Michael and Wilma Barratt, whose experience as parents with children in a large number of schools at one time or another set them on the road to establishing a school that would reflect their educational philosophy: The experiences gained in each of the pre-St Paul’s schools directly con tributed to our desire to set up St Paul’s. Through our experience with boarding school we met a slightly eccentric house master Adrian Lamrock and his lovely wife Kerrie. I rang to thank Adrian for his care and concern for our children and invited him to dine with us. After several hours of sharing our concerns about education, we proposed the fateful suggestion, ‘Why don’t we start a decent Christian school in Penrith?’ I shall always remember how rapidly over a meal the decision was made. The vision of a school of high academic and cultural pursuits unashamedly grounded in the person and work of Christ would only succeed with Christ’s blessing and we threw ourselves into it as though there was no tomorrow. Adrian and I, with a steering committee consisting of Joe Zarb, Warren Wilson and Peter Whale, set about the nitty-gritties of starting the process. We were helped by the fact that Kindalin Christian School had children approaching the end of sixth class. One of the main reasons St Paul’s was established was to provide a high school for Kindalin.

In the middle of 1982 we placed an advertisement announcing that St Paul’s would be commencing in 1983. More than 600 people rang over the next few days. Armed and reassured with enormous expressions of support, we set out in earnest to build ourselves a school.

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St Paul’s Grammar School Penrith

ST PAUL’S GRAMMAR SCHOOL PENRITH

CELEBRATING

25 YEARS 1983 - 2008

Moving in to what is now the machine shed, 23 October 1983

At the beginning of 1983, the school opened on the first morning at St Paul’s Anglican Church Cambridge Park. For the next three weeks the 14 students met in a back room of Kindalin Christian School. Then approval was given by Penrith Council to occupy the church hall at St Paul’s Cambridge Park. From March to October the school set itself up each Monday morning in the church hall and dismantled itself each Friday afternoon. Conditions were far from ideal and the winter weather was cold, but there was a certain esprit de corps among the students and a real sense of expectancy. The first need on our own land was to build some kind of temporary classroom that would service the school for the rest of 1983.

A prefabricated shed was built in the space of about three weeks on the northern boundary – it still forms a part of the school’s maintenance block. We moved in on a Sunday in October ready for the next day and for the nine inspectors who arrived in pouring rain to register the school for its 1984 intake. By this time construction of the first two permanent buildings, the Science Block and The Hall, was underway.

Basic as they seem now, the school buildings were constructed at a cost of $300 per square metre at a time when the going price was $1500.

By 5 March, after an inspection, the school was legally operating as a school with local government approval and was granted its incorporation as St Paul’s Grammar School Penrith Limited two weeks later. The nine inspectors who arrived in October gave the school provisional registration for 1984 subject to the completion of the permanent buildings.

Three important events of that first year were the camp in August at Rylston, the World Vision concert at Blaxland High School which did more for our reputation than can be calculated and the Speech Night in John Lees Centre in Penrith which was stacked to capacity, even on a hot December night.

Joe Zarb played a huge role acting as the main administrator of the school until I could arrive. He was lecturing at Hawkesbury Agricultural College but found time to teach Maths and Science throughout the year. I inherited staff members Ruby Holland, Jocelyn Swanston and Cheryl Whelan whose long-term contribution to the early years of the school will probably live as legendary in the memories of many students.

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Adrian Lamrock takes up the story from there: Michael and I looked at a number of large blocks of land, settling finally on the site of an old laterite gravel quarry in Cranebrook which had water, electricity and, best of all, was virtually equidistant from Penrith, Richmond and Windsor. All this for $200,000! A further nine acres to the south became available, so we opted to pay a further $70,000 for that. Michael had lunch with the manager of Westpac West Penrith and sold him the vision. From an initial suggestion of $70,000 to $80,000 to get the school on its feet, the school had borrowed $2,200,000 by 1986 from Westpac.

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MAKING IT HAPPEN

ST PAUL’S GRAMMAR SCHOOL PENRITH

CELEBRATING

25 YEARS 1983 - 2008

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St Paul’s Grammar School Penrith

1984 Principal Mr Adrian Lamrock in his office, 1983

At a glance

January Enrolment 178

Years 9, 10 and 11 commence.

March The Hall and Science blocks completed

Tutor system introduced

Parents’ Fundraising Association formed

Chairman of School Council: Dr Michael Barratt Principal: Mr Adrian Lamrock President of the Parents’ Fundraising Association: Mr Peter Horne

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MRS PATSY BECKETT’S RECOLLECTIONS MRS PATSY BECKETT CAME TO ST PAUL’S at the beginning of 1984 to work as secretary to the Principal, a position she continues to fill. Here she tells of those early days: I found myself early in January 1984 driving along Taylor Road towards the school house for my first day as secretary at St Paul’s. When I asked when I should start, I was advised of the date and, ‘Oh, would you bring your typewriter with you – as we don’t have one!’ Work in those early days is printed on my mind forever. They were hot, steamy days working in cramped conditions. We didn’t even have a filing cabinet then.

I will never forget the day we realised that the school would not be ready for occupation on Day 1. Fortunately, we were able to use UWS Kingswood Campus as a base until classes resumed there, and then we moved to a warehouse in Penrith for a time. . . all characterbuilding stuff. During that first January on the site I met and got to know the staff – Peter Clarke, Andy Georgiou, Robert Head, Ruby Holland, Norman Hunter, Terrie Keough, Barry Roots, Tony Smith, Jocelyn Swanston, Ray Vander Heiden and Cheryl Whelan. We were a very cheery group and there was lots of laughter as one or other of us had to meet a challenge, crisis, drama head on.

Finally the buildings were ready for occupation. In those early days life in the office was hectic and I was very grateful for the voluntary assistance that my new friends (and school parents) Wilma Hulbert and Ros Beaumont gave so willingly. In that first year it was either hot and dusty or wet and sloshy. You could almost predict it would rain if St Paul’s was planning an out-of-doors activity – or it would be ‘the hottest day on record’. There was no air conditioning then, and no fans either.

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St Paul’s Grammar School Penrith

ST PAUL’S GRAMMAR SCHOOL PENRITH

CELEBRATING

25 YEARS 1983 - 2008

Construction of what is now the Science block and The Hall, late 1983/early 1984

Then it became apparent that at least the library (now The Hall), including toilets, would be ready for the following Monday. What excitement! So we moved into the school for the first time. Daily we waited for the builders to finish each room. As each room was given the all clear, another class would de-camp and move to occupy new space in the Science block. The first term blurs into a mixture of turf being laid round the buildings and of most of the driveway being sealed. Around the May vacation, Joan Edwards, mother of Candice, a foundation student, decided a canteen would be a good thing and volunteered to be the first supervisor of it. During 1984 a camping program was established by Peter Clarke, using his vast ‘Outward Bound’ experience. It was an integrated program which was basically orientation for Year 7 leading through to full-blown survival skills with Year 11, our top Year then. 1984 was the year which saw every student and staff member involved in two afternoons’ extra-curricular activity – one afternoon of sport and the other of sport or some other activity. It was a huge organisational task. The Parents’ Fundraising

Association commenced in 1984 at the instigation of my wife. Our first carol service was a reasonably ambitious program and did a good deal to hold together the ragged edges of a weary staff. The year had been hard.

A 1984 STUDENT PERSPECTIVE Lizz Reay came as a student to Year 7 from Bilpin via bus from Richmond in 1984: When we first came to the present school site after having been in two other locations, there was only a shed (now the canteen) and The Hall. We froze in winter and were stinking hot in summer – and there was lots of mud and clay. But school proved to be a good experience. I met my future husband at the school – he started the following year in Year 8 and we were an item by Year 11. By the time I left in 1989, the school had developed a lot – the mudbrick library was the best feature. It was my Biology teachers who inspired me to do food nutrition at university and get my Master’s degree in dietetics. I feel good about the school and we have been happy to send our son there.

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Mr Adrian Lamrock gives a Principal’s perspective on the year: The 1984 academic year opened where the 1983 one had closed – the John Lees Uniting Church Centre. On a very hot summer morning we stood together at the front, in full academic dress, making promises to uphold the school and all it stood for. The Chairman prayed that if the school ever ceased to honour God and to uphold the gospel of Jesus Christ, that God himself would blight the school and close it down. That, together with morning tea, represented the first day. By dint of quick arrangements with bus companies we managed to have everything transferred to UWS the next day. At the end of that first week, it was quite clear that the new school buildings would not be ready for occupation on the Monday. The offer of a set of warehouses in York Road had been made, which we accepted. We were in the sheds for two weeks.

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THE MOVE TO CRANEBROOK

ST PAUL’S GRAMMAR SCHOOL PENRITH

CELEBRATING

25 YEARS 1983 - 2008

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St Paul’s Grammar School Penrith

1985

Administrative staff (back from left ) Mrs Patsy Beckett, Mrs Ros Beaumont and Mrs Wilma Hulbert; and (front from left) Mr David Craig and Mr Adrian Lamrock,

THE FIRST HSC GROUP

At a glance January Term 3

Enrolment 360 students

L Block and Art and Industrial Arts specialist rooms occupied First HSC class (8 students)

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Chairman of School Council: Dr Michael Barratt Principal: Mr Adrian Lamrock Dux: Lisa Veenendaal

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The sudden rise in enrolments imposed enormous strains on the limited resources of the school in 1985, leading to innovative solutions, as Mrs Moira Green, then Callaghan, new staff member in 1985, indicates of the first HSC group, who met in a converted bus: There were only eight [HSC] pioneers, two of whom were in my Ancient History class.

So many things were done for the first time, then changed because it was thought that perhaps there were better ways of doing things.

However, the underlying goal of working for God was a strong, driving and uniting spirit amongst the staff as we met challenges of room shortages, building projects, equipment shortages, inspections and deluges of rain that turned the dustbowl into a clay quagmire.

One solution to room shortages was unique. The Lamrock family vacated their house at the entrance to the school so that it could be turned into classrooms for Year 11. Teachers had to drive cars back and forth to lessons – walking would have taken too much time.

Teaching Ancient History in the lounge room between an Art lesson in the kitchen (with no door in between) and a piano lesson in the study was distracting. It was possible to know every student in the school and I felt that I was a part of a very large extended family.

HOME SCIENCE Mrs Yvonne Duffy was appointed in 1985 to develop Home Economics, was Year 12 coordinator and became Mistress in charge of Girls: The room for Home Science had one sink, four cupboards and a fixed blackboard. You name it, we needed it. The school had the first full intake of Year 7s – rooms were quickly running out. Two portable classrooms were hired and located parallel to The Hall on the southern side. There were 16 staff members that year and we were all housed in half of The Hall. Because of the small numbers, staff got to know each other well and we had some very happy social occasions.

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St Paul’s Grammar School Penrith

ST PAUL’S GRAMMAR SCHOOL PENRITH

CELEBRATING

25 YEARS 1983 - 2008

The first Year 12 with Mrs Yvonne Duffy, 1985

SCHOOL CAMPS

RANDOM STAFF MEMORIES

Rachel Cumming now Holman came to the school that year: I very quickly got used to life at St Paul’s and didn’t regret being sent there at all. School camps were an integral part of the school’s program and they brought mixed reactions from different people. One of the most memorable camps was when we were packed off in a bus to Morning Glory, near Campbelltown. It started off in a fun sort of way, with abseiling and camping. Then it struck – virus, food poisoning or ‘just a sickness’. It soon became necessary to turn the entire main hall into a sick bay. The vomiting people were bussed home and the healthy remained for another day.

Mr David Craig arrived as a teacher of Maths in 1984 and here are some of his memories of 1985: A pleasant memory of staff who were on board in 1985 is the staff meeting minutes lovingly prepared by Miss Anne Clark (later Mrs Commerford). There was always a rush to obtain copies hot off the press – they were a real morale booster, as well as their more obvious purpose of recording the events of those interminable meetings.

Design and documentation for Stage 2 was completed, consisting of the eight-classroom building with amenities and the Technics, Art and Craft building. Stage 2 construction commenced in April 1985 and was completed in December. The school was virtually ‘on a roll’ having commenced with a full complement of Year 7 and healthy enrolments in other grades. The accommodation provision had to keep one step ahead of student numbers, as headmaster Adrian Lamrock ensured that the growth would continue thanks to the almost instant good reputation and prospects that the school earned.

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Mr Robin McKay was the Penrith architect who had been working on the school’s design since 1982 and had shepherded it through Stage 1, the construction of The Hall and the workshop, in 1984: No sooner had the paint dried on the Stage 1 buildings than the remarkable landscaping expertise and energy of Michael and Wilma Barratt again became evident, ably assisted by nearby nurseryman Ton Peeters, Ken Dixon and parents, staff and friends. The gravel and clay patch bulged into mounds and turned progressively greener, radiating from the buildings across the site.

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SCHOOL DESIGN

The L Block (‘L’ for ‘learning’, abbreviated from the acronym GPLA – general purpose learning area – which appeared on all the architect’s plans) together with the Art and Industrial Arts specialist rooms, were eventually occupied in Term 3, to the great relief of all present.

Quite apart from the building delays caused by inclement weather, an indication of the administrative obstacles placed in the way of completing a project such as this can be gauged from this example. All three tiers of government were involved in directing how many tarsealed, line-marked car spaces had to be provided before occupation of the new buildings was permitted.

ST PAUL’S GRAMMAR SCHOOL PENRITH

CELEBRATING

25 YEARS 1983 - 2008

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St Paul’s Grammar School Penrith

1986 Mrs Ruby Holland teaching in the new L block, 1986

At a glance

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January 11 October October November November

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Enrolment 465 students ‘At Home’ Day (First Open Day) ‘Trial by Jury’ performed Pro Hart Institute launched by the artist First Art and Crafts Show L Block and the Arts/Industrial Arts complex completed School accepted as member of HICES

Chairman of School Council: Dr Michael Barratt Principal: Mr Adrian Lamrock School Captain: Dean Wright, first school captain Dux: Haolin Tran

AN EVENTFUL YEAR IN HIS LAST YEAR AS PRINCIPAL, Mr Adrian Lamrock gives this comprehensive picture of an eventful year: By the start of 1986, things were running reasonably smoothly. Unbelievably, the Arts/ Industrial Arts complex was completed in time, as was the L Block.

We had a number of senior students in during the last weeks of the holidays, moving furniture into the classrooms. There still wasn’t much lawn, but there was, for possibly the last time in the school’s history, sufficient room for everything, as evidenced by the Year 12 Common Room.

1986 saw the appointment of the first captain of the school. Following a model I had seen used effectively elsewhere, only one captain was appointed with the vice-captain being of the opposite sex. Dean Wright took up the office, supported ably by Jacquelyn Cabban. The other prefects included Careena Barratt, David Ridgewell, Scott Cairns, Britt-Marie Dwyer and Stephanie Vidler. The prefects had a difficult task. They had no clear, established lines of responsibility or authority along which to move, so they worked hard to make things happen.

Staff who joined us that year and stayed for some years included Jenny Bounds, our first full-time librarian, Geoff Voller, Wendy James (Head of Art), Heather Callow (Home Science), Barbra Whelan, Paul Innes and Geoff Gannon, each of whom has made a significant contribution. There were a series of break-ins that year.

Staff and concerned parents would volunteer to sleep nights at the school to try and deal with any would-be burglars. I did my share of these, sleeping on the sickbay bed mattress in my study with a hockey stick at the ready.

On October 11th we held our first ‘at home’ day – we avoided the title ‘open day’ because there was a sense in which the school was always

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St Paul’s Grammar School Penrith

ST PAUL’S GRAMMAR SCHOOL PENRITH

CELEBRATING

25 YEARS 1983 - 2008

The school staff, 1986

THE MEMORIES OF A SATISFIED PARENT Mrs Betty Peeters, a parent, recalls 1987 as the year her daughter left the school: We can say that our daughter, with the care and direction of her teachers has grown into a mature Christian girl ready to make a caring imprint on the people around her. She is ready to take on the leading role in society for which her education has prepared her.

That year the Fundraising Association organised the first of what is now a recurring highlight in the school year, the Art and Craft Show.

I remember how Pro Hart came back on Saturday morning after the opening night to show his skill to the students. He sketched a charcoal of a dragon fly and a mining town. At the end of the year, Adrian Lamrock left. In the formative years of a school, every leader will, by their decisions, make an imprint in the school’s history. Adrian’s love of and dedication to music will long be remembered.

CAMPS, STAFF AND ACCOMMODATION Staff member Mrs Yvonne Duffy’s memories of 1986 centre around camps, the staff and new school accommodation: Camps played quite a role in the life of St Paul’s. The Year 7 camp was held at Bonnells Bay on

The staff in 1986 increased by eight and was therefore still quite small. The staff moved to the Common Room in the Science block.

Staff numbers were still such that we knew each other well. Social occasions were organised, as were theatre parties and home gettogethers. As the J block was taking shape it was announced that the next building would be the Home Economics/Music Block. This was an exciting time seeing the building taking shape and to know that the time in the makeshift rooms was coming to an end.

THE FIRST SCHOOL CAPTAIN Dean Wright, school captain in 1986, started at the school in its first year, 1983: I went to the school because my parents trusted Adrian Lamrock. My parents thought I was in with the wrong crowd at my former school. My first impression was organised chaos. The teachers were easy-going and great. By the time I came to Year 12, much had changed for the better. I think the school may have introduced captain and prefects in 1986 so we could help showcase the school to visitors.

There was not a lot to do on the discipline side – the kids were good – and we got on well with the teachers. It was a good experience being at the school – whereas other schools often focussed on other things, the academic side was the key focus at St Paul’s, and we felt special, part of something that was going to be well regarded. The best thing about the school is that I don’t take away from it any seriously bad experiences.

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It was the week of Speech Day that the final report came back from the questionnaire which staff had filled out. There were some areas of concern about communication within the school and some other areas. At a meeting on 29 December I found I had been relieved of my position as Head. The purpose of this was for me to go and undertake management training. In 1987, I took up a new position as executive director of the Crusader Union.

the edge of Lake Macquarie. Everything went well until near the end of the evening meal an electrical storm broke. The staff had to cope with 120 Year 7 students and their squeals as the rain poured down on the tin roof. Water cascaded through the dining room. Students were jumping on chairs as well as squealing. Somehow students were sent to their tents which were still dry while staff attempted to restore some semblance of order in the dining room.

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open. As part of the weekend, the drama department under Paul Innes’ direction produced a dramatised version of Dickens’ Great Expectations and I produced better known numbers from Gilbert and Sullivan, along with a full performance of Trial by Jury.

ST PAUL’S GRAMMAR SCHOOL PENRITH

CELEBRATING

25 YEARS 1983 - 2008

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St Paul’s Grammar School Penrith

1987

The first elected school prefect body with prefect master Mrs Jenny Bounds, 1987

At a glance

January

Enrolment 522 students J Block and Music Block completed First prefect body elections First Duke of Edinburgh Scheme cohort

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Chairman of School Council: Dr Michael Barratt Acting Principal/later Principal: Mrs Ruby Holland School Captain: Ruth Holland Dux: David Atkins

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CONFLICTING IDEALS MRS RUBY HOLLAND BEGINS with an account of her taking over as acting Principal at the beginning of 1987: I believe it was the huge personal investment made by the founders that led rather inevitably to the conflict at St Paul’s in the early years. Idealism, a commitment to a vision for something better for the children of the area, and varying approaches to Christian education drove us. But to keep such a disparate group of idealists united and working after the initial burst of self-sacrificing enthusiasm, was to prove a daunting task. Eventually, their frustrations found a focus in the person of the Principal [in 1986], and he was asked to take six months leave. I was asked if I could assume the acting principalship for that period, a challenge I embraced enthusiastically if somewhat naively. I was one of those with a personal vision. I had hoped to be involved in a school which incorporated the best aspects of the larger independent schools with the newer aspects of the smaller Christian schools.

To that end, staff training days were organised to examine such areas as administration issues, and Christian approaches to knowledge and pastoral care of students. My experience in gaining my Masters in some of these areas has convinced me that it is both possible and desirable to work through the implications of our faith in a thorough, logical and academically respectable way, provided one is clear in pointing out the different starting point of the Christian.

I continued to experience a little of what Adrian Lamrock had experienced in balancing the interests and demands of council, parents, staff and students. Nevertheless, through some honest and gruelling interaction, a sort of sifting process occurred with our ideas. By the time the council had decided on a permanent replacement for Adrian Lamrock, the school appeared (to my eyes at least) to have attained a sort of equilibrium of direction and power.

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St Paul’s Grammar School Penrith

ST PAUL’S GRAMMAR SCHOOL PENRITH

CELEBRATING

25 YEARS 1983 - 2008

Richard Petty and Robert Moore in The Caretaker

PREFECT ELECTIONS

THE NEW SCHOOL LIBRARY BUILDING

This was the year that prefects were elected, and Mrs Jenny Bounds, who had been appointed to the school as teacher/librarian the previous year, was the first prefect master. Those elected consisted of a school captain, a vice-captain, four House captains, four House vice-captains and ten prefects.

Ray and Lynne Trappel are architects. Discussions about the building of a school library began in 1987, as Ray explains: Those on the building committee were Dr Michael Barratt, Mrs Ruby Holland, Andy Georgiou, David Craig, Mrs Jennifer Bounds and Peter Whale. The original brief called for a building that had a ‘warmer atmosphere’ and the use of timber was suggested. A most useful contribution to the design process was a trip to Canberra to see three school libraries which were some of the best in the country. From here we began our own analysis of a design layout for the school library. Mud brick construction was also suggested at this stage, something which further enhanced the unique qualities of the library. Inspection was made of two of our projects at the time and it was decided to give it a go.

They were given a special bar to wear with their school badge which was a mandatory part of the uniform, and a special hand-embroidered badge and pocket for their blazers. They had a difficult task as they established the role of student leadership and service. There were no prefects’ training camps for the first few years – just a barbecue and swim and get-together at the Bounds, but we coped, and those students set a very high standard of commitment to the school.

DUKE OF EDINBURGH

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The best hike was the first one I attended with about six girls and two boys. We, the girls, had decided not to bring a tent, not because we were tough, but because it was too heavy. With the guys convinced we would be rained upon, we settled down for the night, with no rain. We did, however, get wet the next day from walking through the creek rather than taking the time to find the stepping stones.

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Rachel Cummings (nee Holman) remembers being involved in the first year of the Duke of Edinburgh program at the school in 1987, when she was in Year 10: This interested several of us and we began by participating in a 25 kilometre hike through the Megalong Valley one cold weekend. It was fun in a scary kind of way and even though we came home absolutely exhausted, we were determined to go again in another few months.

ST PAUL’S GRAMMAR SCHOOL PENRITH

CELEBRATING

25 YEARS 1983 - 2008

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St Paul’s Grammar School Penrith

1988 The St Paul’s Duke of Edinburgh Scheme community, 1988

At a glance January 7 September

Enrolment 588 students ‘Noah’s Fludde’, Benjamin Britten production

by Music Department Year 7 Core program commenced First tennis courts completed First year of The Epistle

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Chairman of the School Council: Dr Michael Barratt Principal: Mrs Ruby Holland School Captain: Anthony Head Dux: Suvir Salins

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RECOLLECTIONS OF A SCHOOL CAPTAIN ANTHONY HEAD, SCHOOL CAPTAIN IN 1988, has these observations about his time at the school: At St Paul’s there were many opportunities for students to learn about what it means to become a Christian. Chapel services were a time of praise, worship and learning. I always found it interesting to hear how Christ has worked in the lives of teachers, students and visiting speakers. I really enjoyed being involved in the lunchtime Christian fellowship group. We sang, we prayed, and learnt more about our relationship with Christ. We learnt about being a Christian not only through chapel, Bible studies and Fellowship but also from the example set by our teachers.

The most exciting part of my time at St Paul’s was my year as school captain. I considered it a great honour to serve in this position. It gave me the opportunity to develop my leadership ability and grow in maturity. I felt encouraged by the support I received from my parents, teachers and other students. Without their help my duties as school captain would have been more difficult. There was one part of our Year 12 muck-up day that I will never forget. I organised for there to be a fire drill for the entire school before recess. When the alarm went off everybody assembled in the marshalling area. After a few minutes the Castlereagh Bush Fire Brigade raced down the driveway with lights flashing and siren sounding. A few of my ‘friends’ grabbed me and held me in front of the fire hose. After I was ‘extinguished’ we presented the brigade with the money that had been raised earlier in the day. After the HSC had finished I felt relieved that I had conquered a major milestone in my life, and looked forward to building my life on the firm Christian foundation that I had received at St Paul’s.

YEAR 7 CORE PROGRAM Mr Bruce Ferrington was employed in 1988 and worked in the Year 7 Core program: The acting Principal Mrs Ruby Holland, with the guidance of Dr Stuart Fowler, proposed a restructuring of the

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St Paul’s Grammar School Penrith

ST PAUL’S GRAMMAR SCHOOL PENRITH

CELEBRATING

25 YEARS 1983 - 2008

Cast members of the 1988 musical, Noah’s Fludde

Mrs Jenny Bounds, the school’s teacher librarian at the time, reflects on the first year of the publication of the school’s annual magazine: The Epistle was a rather slim volume, not because of a lack of things to report, but because no one really believed that at last we would get to print, and that it would be worth the effort of writing something. It was typed on the Apple IIe and sent to Riverstone Printing to be typeset.

WHAT THE SCHOOL AIMS TO DO In this extract from her Speech Night address in 1988, Principal Mrs Ruby Holland said: St Paul’s has always emphasised the importance of exposing students to the riches of Western culture. However, as teachers, we are not content to just develop an undiscerning love for our subject areas. We also want students to think critically about those subjects. As a Christian school, the reference point and guide for our evaluation is God’s word. To become aware of, to develop an appreciation and love for, and then to critically evaluate in the light of scripture, literature, art, music, science, whatever: this is the process we are leading our students through. It’s been said that to provide an effective, quality education, we need to provide opportunities to develop critical, constructive and creative thinking and an ability to

FAREWELL REMARKS At the end of 1988, Mrs Ruby Holland’s two years as Principal came to an end. The then Chairman of the school council, Dr Michael Barratt, made these comments about her time at the head of the school: Ruby was convinced that great Christian schools could exist in the western suburbs. Having studied Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar in first year high school herself, she had little sympathy for the current view that children had enough pressures on them growing up without being expected to study and work hard at school. During her time the school aims document, written with incisive clarity by Dr Stuart Fowler, was promoted enthusiastically amongst the staff and parents.

Along with Stuart, Ruby developed the basic ideas of the school’s Year 7 program, many of which are unique to St Paul’s education.

Ruby, when accepting the offer of Principal of the school, did so on condition that she stamp upon herself her own use-by date. Sadly this came when her husband Bill accepted a lecturing position at a missionary training college at Port Stephens, and a great and loyal friend of St Paul’s departed. The appointment of a new Principal in 1988 presented in many ways the most critical phase in the life of this young school. It became very clear at interviews for the new Principal that many of the highly talented applicants encapsulated quite different emphases in education. In retrospect, I believe that we were not merely appointing a Principal so much as affirming the very heart and direction of the school. The appointment process was long, tedious, tense and ultimately divisive. Had we not chosen Stephen Codrington the school would be a very different place.

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THE FIRST ANNUAL SCHOOL MAGAZINE

penetrate to the fundamental questions of meaning. To equip our students for loving service, St Paul’s intends to provide just such an education.

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curriculum for Year 7 in such a way as to present education in a Christian context, focused on the physical environment and presented as a coherent and ordered whole. Traditional barriers that separated subject disciplines were to be dropped and a classroom teacher was to be responsible for the teaching of a core learning base. Experiential learning became a central strategy for the presentation of the core studies program. This first group of Year 7 students was a very special group. They were given a very difficult task, that of being the trial group for a program that had never been implemented in quite this way. They faced particular stresses and tensions which they showed admirable strength in overcoming.

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CELEBRATING

25 YEARS 1983 - 2008

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St Paul’s Grammar School Penrith

1989 The school library under construction, 1989

At a glance

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January Enrolment 580 students 1 June Dr Stephen Codrington became Principal November Present library opened

Membership of the Headmasters’

Conference through Dr Codrington

Mandarin Chinese introduced into the school

Chairman of the School Council: Dr Michael Barratt Principal: Mrs Ruby Holland/Dr Stephen Codrington School Captain 1989/90: Angela George (now Jovanovski) President, Fundraising Association: Lesley Hillyard Dux: Sharon Gauder

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FIRST IMPRESSIONS DR STEPHEN CODRINGTON first reflects on his impressions on his arrival at St Paul’s at the beginning of 1989: It is a measure of the vision, efforts and heartache of my predecessors at St Paul’s together with the support of the early teachers that I was able to take the reins of such a young school, not yet six years old, which had a happy staff and a sense of its own direction and purpose. I really felt ready and rearing to go, and the time when I had met many of the teachers only increased my enthusiasm for becoming part of what I believe is one of the most exciting ventures in Christian education in the world.

But the first day was difficult and included a staff resignation: I was thrown back to God in prayer. By the end of the week I was confident and comfortable that the track we were on was God’s track for the school.

MOMENTOUS DECISIONS That first year Dr Codrington suggested consideration be given to introducing the International Baccalaureate (IB) to the school: I first became aware of the IB while attending a conference of the International Geographical Union in Freiburg Germany in 1984. I first suggested that St Paul’s look at the IB in late 1989 in response to a number of concerns then being expressed about the direction being taken in several NSW courses. The first formal suggestion to the teaching staff was in September 1989, leading to an exhaustive series of full staff meetings.

The idea was floated through the school newsletter, leading to discussions between the Principal and small groups. At a special meeting of parents, the concept of the IB was unanimously endorsed. The IB was discussed monthly at school council meetings from August 1989 until an application was finally approved on 1 May 1990. Another initiative that first year was the introduction of further languages: When I came to St Paul’s, only two languages were offered – Latin and French. The numbers

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St Paul’s Grammar School Penrith

ST PAUL’S GRAMMAR SCHOOL PENRITH

CELEBRATING

25 YEARS 1983 - 2008

Left, new Principal Dr Stephen Codrington, 1989; and right, library architect Ray Trappel, 1989

In 1989, the mudbrick library was built, as Stephen Codrington explains: When it became known that mud brick was to be used as the building material, there was widespread derision, with comments about it being washed away in the rain. Of course, such comments sprang from ignorance, as there are mud brick dwellings thousands of years old. Mud bricks were chosen primarily because they were the basis of the cheapest quote received.

To keep the costs down, several work parties were organised over several Saturdays comprising students, staff, parents and other parties to make the bricks. It was hard, hot work, and some people worked all day and into the night under car headlights. The superb stained glass windows in the north-eastern corner of the library were made

by Wilma Barratt, wife of the chairman of council, and comprised her major work in a postgraduate fine arts course she was undertaking at the time. The ‘gable’ windows were made by another postgraduate student, Cheryl Robinson. At the suggestion of the librarian, Jenny Bounds, a clock tower was added to the original design of the library about half way through construction. It was modelled on the clock tower built in the Sydney Rocks redevelopment.

A BUILDING OF BEAUTY Ray and Lynne Trappel were the architects of the library and Ray as builder takes up the library story: The library was composed of strong simple shapes and materials that embraced the attributes of timeless architecture. The construction method had a functional integrity and simplicity. The bones of the building were expressed, the ‘warmth’

The rain had held off all that day, but our turn was to come. Over the next few months we seemed to experience continual rain. The blocks, though covered, literally sat in water. We were able to retrieve only 600 of the original day’s tally. A hardy team turned up for another work day, and we added some cement to our mix and made up the required blocks.

The construction team was made up of local carpenters, bricklayers and labourers, most of whom we had worked with before. There was a real sense of something new being done with ancient materials that made it a very interesting project.

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THE FIRST MUDBRICK BUILDING

of the material left to speak for itself. The clerestory triangular windows let in strong even light to the centre of the building and gave a sense of openness and welcoming. Ray gives more detail of that eventful mud brick building day, Saturday 25 February 1989, the mud brick building having started at 7.00am: At 7.00pm, after the cleanup, the tally of mud bricks was 3,432! I have had something to do with mud bricks over many years and I had never seen such a day’s tally. It was a very special experience of working togetherness that I will long remember.

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in each subject were very modest considering the size of the school.

Chinese was introduced in 1989 and Japanese in 1990, both being taught initially by the highly talented Robert Head, who also taught French and some Latin.

ST PAUL’S GRAMMAR SCHOOL PENRITH

CELEBRATING

25 YEARS 1983 - 2008

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St Paul’s Grammar School Penrith

1990 Aerial view of the school, looking south-east, 1990

At a glance

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January 4 May 1990

23 July 1990 2 August 1990

August 1990

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Enrolment 621 students The International Baccalaureate (IB)

application submitted The Evening Academy established One of biggest floods of the Nepean-

Hawkesbury in living memory Introduction of first IB subjects First Year 7 tree-planting Chapel services and tutor groups became ‘vertical’ School musical Godspell Introduction of Blue and Green Certificates

Chairman of School Council: Dr Michael Barratt Principal: Dr Stephen Codrington School Captains 1990/1991: Simon Borland and Tanya Henry Dux: Damien Hennessy Chairman Fundraising Committee: Michael Johnson

THE AIMS OF THE INTERNATIONAL BACCALAUREATE (IB) THE INTERNATIONAL BACCALAUREATE application submitted in May 1990 stated that its aims were to be: to develop the gifts and talents of academically orientated and other interested students more fully; to improve the quality of curriculum in the school in general; to provide coherence and structure to all learning programmes through the ‘Theory of Knowledge’ course; to give recognition for students’ service to others through the Community and Service (CAS) programme; to open new outward looking channels of communication and contacts for both our staff and students; to attract students to the school; to open the doors of overseas university study to our students; to counter cultural parochialism and promote international understanding through a global perspective.

It was anticipated that the IB would appeal to academically gifted students. However, the school understood that the IB Diploma would be achievable by all students capable of matriculating.

HOW THE IB WAS INTRODUCED AT ST PAUL’S Dr Stephen Codrington indicates the way the IB was first introduced: It was intended to introduce the IB gently, with a small number of students ‘enhancing’ their HSC studies by attempting single IB subjects in Year 11 1991 and Year 12 1992, leading to the full IB Diploma programme in Year 11 in 1992.

The introduction was a little faster. Some ten St Paul’s staff attended the first conference and workshops of the newly formed the Association of Australasian International Baccalaureate Schools (AAIBS) in July 1990. The enthusiasm and more complete understanding generated by the workshops led four subjects – History, Economics, Chemistry

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St Paul’s Grammar School Penrith

ST PAUL’S GRAMMAR SCHOOL PENRITH

CELEBRATING

25 YEARS 1983 - 2008

The cast of the school musical, Godspell, 1990

Dr Codrington indicates changes that took place in student reporting at this time: Every student who applied himself or herself fully to study was capable of obtaining straight ‘A’ grades for effort, regardless of the level of academic achievement. Students who do so are eligible for the award of a Gold Certificate, introduced in 1989 as one of the highest awards in the school. In 1990, Blue and Green Certificates were also introduced for students receiving straight ‘A’ grades for effort with either one ‘B’ or two ‘Bs’ respectively.

STUDENT PLANTINGS OF NATIVE TREES Dr Codrington provides the background to the decision to introduce student plantings of native trees in 1990: When the school began, the St Paul’s site was a disused gravel quarry. There was hardly a blade of grass growing, and almost all the few remaining trees were so infested with white ants that they had to be removed. In 1990, the Agriculture teachers at St Paul’s had the soil tested, and it was found to be deficient in 19 of the 20 minerals tested, the single exception being sulphur (toxic for plants, not for people) of which we had some considerable excess.

From the beginnings of the school, it was decided that only Australian native plants should be planted. This was partly idealism (to create a functioning natural ecosystem which would attract other native flora and fauna – a functioning arboretum) and partly pragmatism (what else could survive such poor soil?).

Through the efforts of Michael Barratt and his good friend Ton Peeters, the vision of the arboretum has become a reality. Hundreds

The tree planting has been helped further by the practice I introduced at the beginning of 1990 that each student entering Year 7 plant a tree on their first day. It is a gesture of generosity towards the school by each new student, and the growth of the plant parallels the growth in wisdom which takes place as each student grows through the school.

The rumours that students whose plants die are expelled from the school are not true! The Year 7 1990 planting area was between the library and L Block.

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STUDENT AWARDS

of hours of time and an even greater number of plants have seen the St Paul’s site transformed so that today we have many examples of rare plant species, including some from Western Australia which are the only known examples east of the Nullarbor Plain.

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and Biology – to commence teaching the IB in August 1990 and the first single subject candidates completed their examinations in November 1991.

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25 YEARS 1983 - 2008

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St Paul’s Grammar School Penrith

1991 Construction of the breezeway, 1991

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At a glance

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January Enrolment 630 students July

Beginning of the construction of the

Administration block 22 October First meeting of ex-students’ association

(SPEXS) November First individual IB subjects examined

Oval, front gate, front fence, covered

walkways and school dam completed

Refurbishment of the Science Block

Year 8 Core program commenced

Gilbert and Sullivan’s ‘The Gondoliers’

performed

OpTech offered for the first time

Chairman of School Council: Dr Michael Barratt Principal: Dr Stephen Codrington School Captains 1991/1992: Alexander McColl and Troy Cinello Dux: Christopher Ellison

FOUNDATIONS OF THE SCHOOL DR STEPHEN CODRINGTON produced a book called ‘Foundations: The Principles and Characteristics of Education at St Paul’s Grammar School, Penrith’ in 1991, which aimed to ‘give a common vision and common sense of purpose to our educational enterprise’. These were what he saw as the five aims of the school: 1. To develop the school as an effective educational community that actively involves students, teachers, parents and friends, and develops active links with the wider community within which the school operates; 2. To acknowledge in all our educational programs the central role of religion as the most fundamental human commitment that gives shape to all of life; 3.

To provide the widest possible diversity of learning programs suited to secondary level; 4. To facilitate the highest possible levels of educational achievement for every student, according to individual ability, with equal recognition being given to achievement in differing ability areas; 5. To develop an educational environment that reflects, both in its organisational structure and in all its teaching programs, the view that the world of human experience, including the world of human thought and action, is an integrated, ordered reality, the coherence of which is secured in the person of God the Son by whom it is created, reconciled and fulfilled.

CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS In his annual report to the school, Dr Codrington outlined the year’s construction projects: The year has seen a continuation of the rapid pace of building, including construction of the oval, with its 400 metre running track, provision for athletics field events, spectator mound, irrigation system, cricket pitch, football field, and so on. Associated with this project has been the construction of an amphitheatre for drama and musical productions, an irrigation system to water the entire school sourced from a new 13.5 million litre dam, additional basketball courts and cricket practice nets. During the construction of the oval, we did not lose a single day’s construction due to wet

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St Paul’s Grammar School Penrith

ST PAUL’S GRAMMAR SCHOOL PENRITH

CELEBRATING

25 YEARS 1983 - 2008

Year 7 planting trees, 1991

Pressure came from several quarters including from the Science faculty because they were prevented from expanding because temporary administration rooms occupied the western end of the Science block.

The new administration building was located on what was named ‘the Rice Bubble Patch’ because of the crunching noise made by the small loose pebbles there. Building was completed just in time for the 1992 school year. Once again, making mud bricks became a community affair and this time the school appeared in the television program ‘The New Bricks and Mortar Show’.

SISTER SCHOOL RELATIONSHIPS Dr Codrington outlines the steps that were taken in 1991 to establish sister school relationships: The first such relationship was with Spets. Shkol’ 21 school in Moscow in October, followed in December, during a trip I made financed by the Asian Studies Council, with Fujieda-Nishi High School in Fujieda Japan, Shukutoku Sugamo High School in Tokyo Japan, Beijing Number 12 Middle School in Beijing China, Datong Middle School in Shanghai China and Weiyu Middle School in Shanghai China.

THE GONDOLIERS

Mr Adrian Lamrock, former Principal, appeared back on the scene in 1991 after an absence of over four years to produce Gilbert and Sullivan’s ‘The Gondoliers’: Stephen Codrington rang me in April 1991. With staff sickness and leave, there was no one to produce a school musical, and would I do it? My decision was not an easy one. In the end, the school was prepared to let me produce The Gondoliers, which I had done recently with another musical society. What a tentative group of students met at the first meeting! What a tentative producer!

The situation was saved from a likely theatrical disaster by the appointment of Mark Domars to the performing arts staff and the ready involvement of half-a-dozen ex-students from my earlier days at the school.

The memories of the musical are of moving a large cast about on a small, prefabricated stage, of a borrowed gondola which ran on and off on tracks and which caught the entire backdrop of Venice’s Grand Canal during one performance and threatened to drag it into its own depths. It is the memory of otherwise unprepossessing young students resplendent in satin suits and white court wigs and tights.

The ‘high’ of the day after the performance was tangible, and I had a real sense of moving away from something I had enjoyed a great deal. The ex-students had so enjoyed being back at the school that we were determined to work at rebuilding some of the relationships we had enjoyed back then. We met to discuss the formation of an ex-students’ association. Our first steering committee on 22 October laid plans for the future.

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In late July, we began construction of the largest building yet seen on the St Paul’s site, a combined facility which includes computing classrooms, administration offices, covered areas, students’ clinics and staff common room. All in the school community were so impressed with the warmth of the library’s atmosphere that it seemed natural to consider mud brick once again for the new project.

GILBERT AND SULLIVAN’S

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weather. After the topsoil and grass were laid, we hardly had a dry day! Consequently, the new dam was completely filled.

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CELEBRATING

25 YEARS 1983 - 2008

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St Paul’s Grammar School Penrith

1992 Construction of the Junior School, 1992

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At a glance

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January Development Office established under Mr

Adrian Lamrock

Administrative Block and Breezeway opened September Gilbert and Sullivan’s ‘Pirates of Penzance’

performed 3 September First Hilbrand Tanja awards presented 20 November The devastating ‘White Friday’ hail storm 27 November New basketball facilities opened

IB Diploma students began full Year 11

courses

Air conditioning introduced to all classes

An additional nine acres of land purchased

on the eastern side of the property

Chairman of School Council: Dr Michael Barratt Principal: Dr Stephen Codrington School Captains 1992/1993: Robert Kardos and Tamara Koziol Dux: Michelle Kardos President SPEXS: Damien Barratt

HILBRAND TANYA, LAND AND A PRIMARY SCHOOL DR STEPHEN CODRINGTON highlights the following in 1992: At the initiative of Stephen Kinsella, the Senior Master, we introduced the Hilbrand Tanja Award to recognise excellence of commitment in a broad range of five areas – academic, sport, performing arts, community service and citizenship/fellowship. The award is named after Hilbrand Tanja, a person who played a significant role in the establishment of the school and whose example in devoting his life to the service of God and others provides a model and challenge to us all.

The first three students presented with Hilbrand Tanja Awards were Raechel Farquharson, Elizabeth Shaddick and Kieran Lorraine.

The physical environment of the school was enhanced in mid-1992 by the purchase of an additional nine acres of land, adjoining the school site to the east. The land had been a piggery operated by a local identity whom I had come to know well from his frequent telephone calls about rubbish blowing over the fence or water draining from the school on to his land during heavy downpours. A phone call one day offered the school his farm at a very attractive price – $270,000 – as long as the school made the purchase ‘immediately’. The acquisition increased the size of the school to 20 hectares, giving us access through Londonderry Road and reasonable quality soil.

For some time, parents of students at the school had been asking for an infants/primary school that offered the same quality education as in the high school. Application was made to Penrith City Council and the commonwealth government to expand to a K-12 school. Approval was given to open in 1993, so 1992 was used for planning and building. Michael Davis was the successful architect, the final design being a combination of the ideas offered by Year 7 Core teachers, the architect and me. The original plan was for four classrooms, but events quickly overtook

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St Paul’s Grammar School Penrith

ST PAUL’S GRAMMAR SCHOOL PENRITH

CELEBRATING

25 YEARS 1983 - 2008

The memorable ‘White Friday’ hail storm, 1992

The Reverend John Campbell’s appointment as the first Head of the Junior School was made in October 1992 and announced in FUTURUM: Born in Launceston, Tasmania, Mr Campbell followed his teacher qualifications with a series of qualifications in music, speech and drama and is a Fellow of Trinity College London, a graduate of the Australian College of Theology and an ordained Anglican minister.

His teaching career spans four states and prior to his appointment as Head of the Junior School at Kinross Wolaroi School Orange he was Head of the Junior School at Launceston Grammar School. Rev John Campbell takes up the story: One of my major tasks initially was to prepare the necessary application for registration to enable the school to open in 1993. Another major task was the ordering of supplies, furniture and resources. The greatest amount of time, however, was taken in conducting enrolment interviews for approximately 220 students. On some days I conducted up to ten such interviews – exhausting but satisfying. During Term 4 1992, the staff and I came together on numerous occasions to get to know each other personally and professionally. This was a joyous and challenging time and all experienced a wonderful sense of excitement and anticipation.

THE GREAT HAILSTORM St Paul’s has experienced its share of natural disasters, one of the most notable being the hailstorm recorded in FUTURUM that year: It was amazing to see the transformation of the school site from its usual summer sunlight to a white winter landscape in a matter of two or three minutes. The ground lay covered in thick ice, looking very like snow, and mist shrouded the school as the ice and the warm ground reacted with each other. Less exciting were the 37 broken windows and the ensuing mayhem as roofs leaked from overflowing gutters and flooded rooms. Many cars were also damaged, but happily no one was injured. Thanks to the work of many people, under the direction of property staff and Mr David

Craig, the school started fairly normally the following Monday.

FAREWELL TO DAVID CRAIG

FUTURUM that year also recorded this tribute to Mr David Craig, who was farewelled at the beginning of December: Mr Craig came to the school in 1984 as senior master and to teach Mathematics. Since then his talents have led him to greater administrative responsibilities and he resigned from the teaching staff at the end of 1986 to become the first Registrar, with particular responsibility for finance and properties. The years of his service to the school have seen him take on roles which varied from playing the piano for assemblies to preparing annual budgets, from clearing blocked drains and emptying bins to reading the Prize List on Speech Night. He has done all this while acquiring a Masters degree in Educational Administration and qualifying as a certified practising accountant. He leaves to take up a position as administration executive with the Sydney Anglican Schools Corporation.

DEVELOPMENT OFFICE APPOINTMENT

Adrian Lamrock tells how he came to take up the job of Development Officer in 1992: A week after the production of the 1991 musical I produced, I met Stephen Codrington to give him a report on the production and to talk of future productions. This led to the desirability of an ex-students’ association, the long-range financial stability of the school and from there to the functions of a Development Officer. Somehow he came to offer me the position. It is not what I intended, but it became clear that this was the way to go. The work in 1992 was channelled into building links with people who were at the school in former days. This was done by the compilation of lists, lists and more lists: former students, former staff, former grandparents.

The publication of FUTURUM was begun as a way of keeping people up with what was going on in the school. The growth of SPEXS as a fledgling organisation has also been an encouragement.

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HEAD OF THE JUNIOR SHOOL APPOINTED

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the decision and it was decided to open with eight classrooms.

ST PAUL’S GRAMMAR SCHOOL PENRITH

CELEBRATING

25 YEARS 1983 - 2008

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St Paul’s Grammar School Penrith

1993 The opening of the Junior School, 1993

THE JUNIOR SCHOOL OPENING

At a glance

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2 February Inaugural assembly of the Junior School 6 February Celebration of the first ten years of the

school Easter First study tour of China (17 students) 12 September Official opening of the junior school 9-18 September Major musical, ‘The Mikado’

A St Paul’s variety of Banksia Ericifolia

available to the school community

School oval enlarged for soccer

First group of students to complete IB

Diploma

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Chairman of School Council: Dr Michael Barratt Principal: Dr Stephen Codrington Deputy Principal: Mr Barry Roots Head of Junior School: Rev. John Campbell School Captains, 1993-1994: Evan Martin, Elizabeth Shaddick Junior School Head Prefects: Michael Taylor, Edwina Lamrock Dux: Lisa-Jane Hunter President, SPEXS, 1993-1994: Mr David Ridgewell President, Fundraising Committee: Diane Finch

THE JUNIOR SCHOOL OPENING was seen in this way by Dr Codrington: Planning for the Junior School took more than two years. In many ways it was like a prolonged pregnancy, with the hopes, expectations, unforeseen complications and even the size of the project seeming to grow daily. It all came together, at last, on 2 February 1993. On that day, 285 new students in ten classes from Kindergarten to Year 6 arrived, with their parents, to assemble in The Hall (of the High School) for their official ‘in uniform’ welcome (we had an informal welcome barbecue on a Saturday afternoon 5 December 1992). Years 3 to 6 sat on the floor of the stage, Kindergarten to Year 2 sat on the floor in front of the stage, and as many parents as could find a seat filled the rest of The Hall.

With such a large gathering, in crowded conditions on a hot day, my speech had to be uncharacteristically brief. For me, it was genuinely one of the happiest days of my life, the culmination of hundreds and hundreds of hours of planning, praying, agonising and debating.

Addressing a High School assembly on their first day back for the year, the deputy Mr Barry Roots referred to the new Junior School students, warning the secondary students to ‘be careful and make sure you don’t tread on them’. There was little risk of that happening as so many of the High School students seemed to ‘adopt’ the little ones as their own, pointing out directions to those who were lost and even picking them up when necessary to give a much needed cuddle for comfort when a skinned knee started to bleed.

The Reverend John Campbell describes the conditions in those first few days: Because the enrolment numbers were stronger than anticipated, all ten classrooms were used for teaching (instead of the anticipated eight) and a demountable building was installed for use as library and administration areas. Working bees were held on the weekend prior to commencement to place furniture in classrooms and to erect the

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St Paul’s Grammar School Penrith

ST PAUL’S GRAMMAR SCHOOL PENRITH

CELEBRATING

25 YEARS 1983 - 2008

Chairman of the Board of Studies Mr John Lambert (left) and Principal Dr Stephen Codrington after the plaque had been unveiled at the opening of the Junior School, 2 February 1993

The official opening of the Junior School was reported in FUTURUM in 1993: The Junior School was officially opened Sunday 12 September by the Chairman of the Board of Studies Mr John Lambert. The ceremony was attended by approximately 1000 students, staff and friends of the school. Mr Lambert spoke of the first school which had opened in the colony of NSW in September 1793 and compared it to St Paul’s and what it offered 200 years later. Although the differences were many, the great similarity was the paramount concern to present education from a Christian perspective.

This ceremony followed an Education Day service in our hall which involved students from St Paul’s and three local schools. More than 350 squeezed into our hall to hear Professor Keith Watson of the University of NSW give the address.

TENTH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATIONS Foundation Day was the centrepiece of the tenth anniversary of the school, when more than 280 attended the thanksgiving service and 160 stayed on for a barbecue. The 1993 EPISTLE records the flower that was made available as part of the tenth anniversary celebrations: In its short

Banksia Ericifolia is a strikingly floriferous compact red form and has been chosen and cultivated especially for St Paul’s by Cranebrook Native Nursery, owned by Ton and Betty Peeters, parents of four ex-students, and the driving force behind the establishment of our Australian native plants. Indeed, if it were not for the expertise, enthusiasm, generosity and sheer hard work of the Peeters family, the grounds might look like the moonscape we inherited as a former gravel quarry ten years ago. St Paul’s unique, compact red form of Banksia Ericifolia has been planted in significant numbers in the school grounds around all the school buildings.

CHINESE STUDY TOUR The EPISTLE of 1993 reported on the China Study tour: In the Easter break, a group of 17 people participated on our first study tour to China. The group comprised a mix of students, parents, teachers, the Principal and the Chairman of the School Council. The group visited Guangzhou, Guilin, Yangzhou, Shanghai and Beijing. The most memorable times were connected with visiting our sister schools, Shanghai Datong Middle School, Weiyu Middle School in Shanghai and Beijing No 12 Middle School. The Principal and former Principal are very keen to encourage staff exchanges, both to give the Chinese staff a window on the outside world and also to infuse Datong with something of the Christian spirit which they see at St Paul’s and which impresses them. Preliminary arrangements were made for a teaching exchange between St Paul’s and Datong in 1994.

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The Junior School quickly settled into routine and before long it seemed that it had always been in existence. Over the next few months, landscaping was undertaken. All of the students planted a shrub in the gardens and assisted with laying the lawn turf. House captains and prefects were appointed and inducted together with class captains and library monitors. A strong sense of community and ownership quickly developed and parental attitudes were positive and supportive.

history, the school has already become famous for its native plants, with the entire 20 hectares developed as an arboretum of Australian plant species. So it was entirely fitting that one such Australian plant species, Banksia Ericifolia, should be selected as our special anniversary plant.

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playground equipment. Although rooms were ready for occupation, external work such as the covered walkway and paths were completed during the first month of the first term.

ST PAUL’S GRAMMAR SCHOOL PENRITH

CELEBRATING

25 YEARS 1983 - 2008

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St Paul’s Grammar School Penrith

1994 A Junior School Chinese class, 1994

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At a glance

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26

January Enrolments 1030 students

Fifth stream for Year 7

Castlereagh House formed

Student population exceeded 1000 for the

first time 1 February School history, The First of Many Decades,

launched February St Paul’s Conservatorium began operations 9-17 September Major musical, ‘My Fair Lady’ November St Paul’s Conservatorium officially launched

Wayne Adams first prize in Geography

Teachers’ Association (NSW) award

Year 11 team won National Chinese

Eisteddfod

Junior school musical ‘The Adventures of Mr

Toad’

Chairman of School Council: Dr Michael Barratt Principal: Dr Stephen Codrington Deputy Principal: Mr Barry Roots Head of Junior School: Rev. John Campbell School Captains, 1994-1995: Cyrus Adaggra, Sascha Gow Junior School Head Prefects: Hugh Weir, Aneta Smith Dux: Anita Kanetkar (HSC), Amanda Richards (IB) President, SPEXS, 1994-1995: Mr David Ridgewell

SCHOOL ENROLMENTS FOR THE FIRST TIME in 1994, the school population passed the 1000 mark, as the Term I 1994 FUTURUM points out: With the addition of new classes in the Junior School and a fifth stream in Year 7, the student population for the school now stands at 1030, 630 in the Senior School and 350 in the Junior School. Anyone who was part of the school scene as little as three or four years ago would be amazed at the number of students moving about at lesson changes, on morning assemblies and lining up for government buses. The school is a hive of activity throughout the day and even into the night with so many students and their families being involved in a host of activities and events.

THE FIRST OF MANY DECADES On 1 February 1994, the day after the tenth year was completed since the school first began in St Paul’s Anglican Church Hall in Cambridge Park, a school history was launched, as recorded in the Term 1 1994 FUTURUM: The First of Many Decades would tell you many things you either would hardly believe or have definitely forgotten. At its official launching, Deputy Principal, Mr Barry Roots, recounted the story of his first ‘encounter’ with Foundation Principal Adrian Lamrock and how Mr Lamrock managed to hook his suit coat over a door handle (while still wearing it) so that Mr Roots had to come and rescue him. Mr Roots launched the book with a can of Coke made in China. The symbolism of this will be realised by all who know that Coke is not normally sold to students at the school and that we are presently looking towards opening two joint-venture schools in China.

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St Paul’s Grammar School Penrith

ST PAUL’S GRAMMAR SCHOOL PENRITH

CELEBRATING

25 YEARS 1983 - 2008

The reconstruction of the school entry road, 1994

FOUNDING OF THE CONSERVATORIUM

JUNIOR SCHOOL – THE SECOND YEAR

An entry in THE EPISTLE for that year written by Mark Domars, Conservatorium director, records the founding of the school’s Conservatorium of Music: Its aim is to enhance the provision of musical education in the Nepean, Hawkesbury and lower Blue Mountains districts. It conducts classes in theory and chamber works as well as individual lessons in violin, clarinet, flute and piano. Our theory classes range from beginners to advanced with an AMusA class starting at the beginning of fourth term.

In his Speech Day report for 1994, Head of the Junior School Rev. John Campbell indicated something of the dynamism of the Junior School in its second year: I could not possibly, in the available time, do justice to the many successes of 1994 but let me remind you of a few of them: the production of ‘The Adventures of Mr Toad’, the Infants Christmas production, success at the Penrith Eisteddfod in both singing and verse speaking, the national Chinese speaking eisteddfod, community and charitable support and fundraising in excess of $5000, such combined K-12 activities as a carols service amid Easter, Anzac Day and Remembrance Day ceremonies, excellent results in State English, Mathematics and Science competitions, being the overall winner in our HICES athletics competition, the quality and variety of weekly chapel services, a range of excursions, successful outdoor education camps and the swimming and weekly sporting program.

The Saturday program encourages students who are learning privately to join an ensemble and experience the wonders of playing with other instrumentalists of similar ability. As well we also encourage the written/theory component through a weekly class of 45 minutes. In this time, students are encouraged to do AMEB exams as soon as they are able.

It involved 103 students, nine staff and more than 25 parents. It lasted three and a half hours and included 14 scene changes. However impressive these figures are, they do not convey the magic of each performance, the polish and professionalism of all the students involved and the extraordinary talent of those playing the principal roles.

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The school conducted two musicals that year, ‘Trial by Jury’ and ‘My Fair Lady’. The first was largely a fund-raising effort for the second, as the 1994 EPISTLE points out: $2000 was raised towards the cost of the major production and while we were very pleased with that result we were even more pleased with the spirit of camaraderie which such a season always brings. Of the major musical, ‘My Fair Lady’, FUTURUM states: More than 1800 people have just seen the school’s production which was staged in our hall. The show was, without doubt, the biggest production undertaken by the school.

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SCHOOL MUSICALS

ST PAUL’S GRAMMAR SCHOOL PENRITH

CELEBRATING

25 YEARS 1983 - 2008

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St Paul’s Grammar School Penrith

1995 The school Easter service, 1995

At a glance

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10-12 February

March 5-13 May September 17-18 October

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‘The Importance of Being Earnest’ presented

by Year 12 (coinciding with the centenary of its first performance) Appeal for multipurpose hall launched Major musical, ‘Iolanthe’ ‘Much Ado about Nothing’ by Year 10 Junior School musical, ‘Joseph and the

AmazingTechnicolour Dreamcoat’ OpTech – the Opportunity Technology

program - began Rebecca Crooks awarded a school

scholarship to study at Harbin Light Industry School, Harbin, China

Chairman of School Council: Dr Michael Barratt/Mr Graham Whelan Principal: Dr Stephen Codrington Deputy Principal: Mr Barry Roots Head of Junior School: Rev. John Campbell School Captains, 1995-1996: Ashish Sahasrabuddhe, Leonie Shaddick Junior School Head Prefects: Evan Cross, Amanda Taylor Dux: Paul Brigden (IB), Emma Symonds (HSC) President, SPEXS, 1995-1996: Ms Michaela Wilson

STUDY IN CHINA IN THIS 1995 ACCOUNT, REBECCA CROOKS talks of her scholarship to study in Harbin in 1995 which came after the completion of her IB Diploma in 1994: My IB included Mandarin Chinese which I had been studying for the past six years. My extended essay was a comparison between traffic flow patterns in Shanghai and Sydney and was inspired by a visit to the Chinese city on a school study tour in 1993. The scholarship covered return travel, accommodation and tuition fees. My aim was to immerse myself in Chinese language study to achieve fluency and pursue a career in advertising or marketing within an Asian context.

It turned out to be a positive experience, a precious gift, though at times I felt out of place, as if I was on a different planet. Sometimes it’s intimidating – strangers unashamedly staring, openly discussing my hair, eyes, skin. I have become the instant friend of almost everyone I’ve met and friend-to-be of everyone else. From practically the first week people were prepared to put up with my language inadequacies to get to know me, my country and my language. Time eventually did see our ability to communicate improve at the cost of a few private tears and a great deal of frustration. There was a lot that I learnt, adapted to, accepted – some things deeper than others.

Other ways of thinking my mind simply refused to accept, that I am Australian born and bred, not Chinese. Evidence of the massive population can be seen in people’s homes. They have such tiny homes, consisting of only a couple of rooms. People never have a rest from the people they live with. Students are daily touched by China’s population problems. Classes are big; 40, 50, 60 strong.

An incredible few get the chance to go to university. The school curriculum is rigidly set, there are no choices or electives. I think the thing that upset me most were the beggars. A country cannot hope to support such a large population and give aid to those without.

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St Paul’s Grammar School Penrith

ST PAUL’S GRAMMAR SCHOOL PENRITH

CELEBRATING

25 YEARS 1983 - 2008

A scence from Much Ado about Nothing

MUSICAL AND DRAMATIC PRODUCTIONS It was a year of many musical and dramatic productions – ‘Joseph the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat’ by the Junior School, ‘The Importance of Being Earnest’ by Year 12, ‘Much Ado about Nothing’ by Year 10 and the major school production of the year, Gilbert and Sullivan’s ‘Iolanthe’. The Term 2 edition of Futurum gives this brief account of the performance, held at the school: Nothing could be further from realities of daily school life than the unreality of a group of fairies falling in love with the House of Lords, but that is the basis of Iolanthe. The girls tripped hither and thither, the boys kept their aristocratic noses in the air and everyone had great fun. The chorus was led by some terrific principals, headed by Leonie Shaddick as the alluring Phyllis and Joel Firth as the ‘half a fairy, down to the waist’ Strephon. The singers were supported by our own orchestra which is now large enough to cover every part as they accompanied and subtly reworded songs to bring the politics of the 1880s right into the 1990s.

Chairman of school council since its inception in 1983 Dr Michael Barratt was replaced as chairman by Mr Graham Whelan, Dr Barratt remaining a member of the Board. The Term 2 edition of FUTURUM reports it this way: Mr Whelan has had links with the school which go back to its beginnings. His wife, Cheryl, has been a member of the teaching staff since 1983 and prior to joining the council in 1992, Mr Whelan spent a considerable amount of time assisting the school in a voluntary capacity. Before his retirement, due to the loss of most of his sight, Mr Whelan was Senior Systems Analyst at the University of New South Wales. He is an honorary lay assistant at St Matthews Anglican Church Windsor, and is currently completing an Associate of Theology course through the Australian College of Theology. He has been instrumental in the planning of the new multi-purpose indoor centre, serving as chairman of the steering committee in 1994 and the appeal which was launched in March 1995.

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Rebecca then went to ANU in Canberra where she studied for a Bachelor’s degree in Asian Studies Chinese, part of which was living in China for another year. After graduation, she worked as a tour leader in Vietnam, China and Cambodia and now works with AusAID at Sydney University.

CHAIRMAN OF SCHOOL COUNCIL

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They are a giving people and to me they gave a lot. The Chinese eagerly accepted me into their community and gave me invaluable support and encouragement. They have given me so many unexpected, precious gifts, opportunities I would never otherwise have had. The most measurable thing I have learnt has been the Chinese language.

I can cope with basic conversations and usually express what I want, even if it is in a roundabout way. The scholarship has opened my eyes to many things, I have learnt that I am stronger than I thought, and it has given me a foundation in Chinese language.

ST PAUL’S GRAMMAR SCHOOL PENRITH

CELEBRATING

25 YEARS 1983 - 2008

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St Paul’s Grammar School Penrith

1996

The Centre construction team, with school council chairman Mr Graham Whelan centre front, early 1996

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At a glance

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January 11 March

3-11 May 30-31 October 6 February

9 September

Enrolments 1230 students Opening of The Light of the World School, Harbin, China Major musical, ‘The Music Man’ Junior school musical, ‘Big River’ Library extensions, doubling the size of the library, were first undertaken Construction of The Centre begins Edward Boyce 2nd highest mark in the world in IB Diploma John Fowler highest mark in the world in IB Geography Rock Eisteddfod, ‘Don’t Let the Eyes

Deceive You’

Chairman of School Council: Mr Graham Whelan/ Mr Adrian Fox Principal: Dr Stephen Codrington Deputy Principal: Mr Barry Roots Head of Junior School: Rev. John Campbell School Captains, 1996-1997: Bree Paull, Craig Renshaw Junior School Head Prefects: Matthew Willis, Rebecca Miller Dux: Edward Boyce (IB); Alicia Watson (HSC) President, SPEXS, 1996-1997: Ms Renata Lackey President, Fundraising Association: Mr Roger Cook

LIBRARY EXTENSIONS The new library extensions were occupied during a February heat wave before electricity was installed and while the builders were still completing their work. Despite the inconvenience, this is how the Term 1 1996 edition of FUTURUM saw the project: One of the most pleasant experiences in the school is to visit the newly-extended High School Library. A first observation is how well the extensions blend into the existing library structure. This is largely due to the fact that we were able to employ the skills of the same architect and builder, Mr Ray Trappel, who designed and built the original library building. Inside, one of the first things one notices is the enormous sense of space.

This is the result of a cathedral ceiling over the central reading area and the general lack of interior dividing walls.

The extensive use of natural lighting, particularly through clerestory windows, adds to the ambience. The building has been made basically from mud brick – made on site once again – and a high level of Australian hardwoods including grey ironbark and Tasmanian ash. The heavy timber columns which support the structure are reminiscent of an Australian forest. Additional features of the new library are the senior study area with 52 carrels for individual study by senior students, a greatly expanded reference area with room for sitting and reading as well as research and an additional full classroom, separated from the main area, where whole class groups can gather for more energetic lessons without disturbing readers in the rest of the library.

LIGHT OF THE WORLD, HARBIN, CHINA This report from THE EPISTLE of 1996 tells of the setting up of the ambitious Light of the World School in Harbin China: On 11 March 1996, the climax of over two years of negotiations came with the official opening of the school. It is a direct initiative of St Paul’s, working through a special organisation set up to establish Christian

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St Paul’s Grammar School Penrith

ST PAUL’S GRAMMAR SCHOOL PENRITH

CELEBRATING

25 YEARS 1983 - 2008

The whole school inside the partially constructed Centre, 1996

I hope that the students who attend our new school will grow to become people of competence, conscience and compassion.’ The school is a co-operative partnership between Harbin Light Industry College and SPOSMaC, it operates on the campus of the college, almost all the finance is coming from the Chinese side, with the Australian side contributing curriculum expertise and direction, and selecting staff. Graduates from the school come to St Paul’s from 1997 to study the International Baccalaureate. Already, about 50 students have applied to enter the 1997 intake at the school.

Work on what was then known as a multi-purpose indoor centre (MPIC) – now called The Centre – began in September, this report being a combination of that in THE EPISTLE of 1997 and the Term 3 FUTURUM: It was 10 March that we held the first meeting for parents, staff and friends of the school who were interested in investigating the construction of the MPIC. Our builders, Beach Constructions of Leichhardt, expect it should be completed by the end of Term 1, 1997. We are approaching a total in gifts and pledges of $490,000. It is necessary to supplement the appeal with bank financing through a 15-year loan. Dr Codrington said: ‘This is a result of proposals and representations by parents keen to see the needs of their children provided for in this way. When the MPIC is completed, we should have a facility for indoor sport, whole-school assemblies and cultural activities that should be state-of-the-art.’

EXCELLENT YEAR 12 RESULTS The 1996 Year 12 examination results were particularly strong, as indicated in Dr Codrington’s report in the school’s weekly newsletter of 24 February 1997: A total of 13 students were listed in the top 5000 in the State, representing 15% of our Year 12 candidature. . . In the HSC, 60% of our students are in the top 40% of the State. . . Our top IB result, in which Ted Boyce received a grade of 44 [out of 45], placed him equal second in the world. . . St Paul’s students were awarded 10 Grade 7s (the highest grade possible. . . In the HSC course, Alicia Watson came seventh in the State in Studies of Religion, while in the IB, John Fowler topped the world in Geography. It is most encouraging that the efforts of our staff and students have been rewarded so richly.

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At the opening ceremony, Dr Codrington said: ‘The name of our school is very important. I hope that our new school will shine as a light to the world and bring new light where there is darkness in China. For me as a Christian, who is dedicated to loving and serving other people as Jesus Christ commanded, the name of the school has extra significance because Jesus described himself as the Light of the World. If students of the school can accept the teachings of Jesus about love for others, service towards others, honesty and truth, then the school really will bring light to our world.

MULTI-PURPOSE INDOOR CENTRE

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schools overseas, the St Paul’s Overseas Schools Management Corporation, or SPOSMaC. Present at the opening ceremony were about 70 interested students and teachers, and several high-ranking officials who have endorsed the project. The opening was widely reported in the local press. Dr Stephen Codrington was present, with two students from St Paul’s on exchange in Harbin, Ellen Horacek and Joshua Campbell.

ST PAUL’S GRAMMAR SCHOOL PENRITH

CELEBRATING

25 YEARS 1983 - 2008

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St Paul’s Grammar School Penrith

1997

New Principal Mr John Collier at swimming carnival presentations, 1997

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At a glance

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january Enrolment 1220 students 10 April Multi-Purpose Indoor Centre completed 24 March Principal Dr Stephen Codrington resigned to

accept a New Zealand principalship 2-10 May Major musical, ‘Fiddler on the Roof’ 14 June Multi-Purpose Indoor Centre officially

opened 10 September SPEXS’ production of Gilbert and

Sullivan’s musical ‘Patience’ 26 September Deputy Principal Mr Barry Roots resigned to

become Foundation Headmaster of Penrith

Anglican College

Junior School musical, ‘You’re a Good Man,

Charlie Brown’

Chairman of School Council: Mr Adrian Fox Principal: Dr Stephen Codrington/Mr John Collier Deputy Principal: Mr Barry Roots Head of Junior School: Rev. John Campbell School Captains, 1997-1998: Naree Anderson, Arran Green Junior School Head Prefects: Ashleigh Olsson, Alisa Bryce Dux: Sanjay Wavde (IB); Felicity Dougherty (HSC) President, SPEXS, 1997-1998: Mr Anthony Perez President, Fundraising Association: Mr Brian Jones

DR STEPHEN CODRINGTON LEAVES

Dr Stephen Codrington’s last school day at St Paul’s was 24 March 1997.

This tribute to him was written in THE EPISTLE of 1997: When Dr Codrington came, the school was beginning to emerge with its own identity. When he left eight and a quarter years later, the school enjoyed, and continues to enjoy, an enviable reputation. This was due, in no small measure, to the essential nature and work of Stephen Codrington. He is an educational thinker of formidable capacity. He is widely read on all matters educational and otherwise, and is also a capable writer and an eloquent and challenging speaker. His time at the school saw immense growth and change. He was the prime mover of that change and often the catalyst for making it happen.

His years at the school saw the introduction of the International Baccalaureate, the development of sister-school relationships in Japan, Russia and China, the construction and opening of the Junior School, the construction of the library and its subsequent extension, and the construction of the administration building and The Centre.

His final years here saw the establishment of the Light of the World International School at Harbin and the first group of students from the school who came to St Paul’s to study. It was his decision, too, to establish the Development Office.

In addition to these achievements, he was also an excellent classroom teacher. Throughout his time at the school he maintained a teaching load, sometimes in senior years of HSC or IB Geography, in both of which fields he was either senior or chief examiner. He never lost his love of teaching or his enjoyment of the classroom situation. He saw his achievements as an opportunity to proclaim the gospel through the work of this school. If, in the years ahead, we miss his Chinese proverbs, his gentle, dry humour and his erudite and challenging addresses, we shall know that we have benefited from his time among us.

In his final weekly NEWSLETTER OF 24 March 1997, Dr Codrington said: I have loved my time at St Paul’s. Like my wife and my four

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St Paul’s Grammar School Penrith

ST PAUL’S GRAMMAR SCHOOL PENRITH

CELEBRATING

25 YEARS 1983 - 2008

The school council, 1997

For the next three months, Mr Barry Roots, deputy principal, was acting principal. In his last weekly NEWSLETTER, he gives this account of the official opening of The Centre: The Centre was officially opened

by Dr Codrington, most ably assisted by Cameron Silvestrini and Annie Post, students in Kindergarten at St Paul’s. The ceremony took place in front of many distinguished guests, followed by student performances including excerpts from the Rock Eisteddfod, a Junior School debating team, the Hawkesbury Hoppers and girls and boys basketball matches against ex-students of the school. I would like to thank the many people who have given so generously to help make this building a reality.

MR BARRY ROOTS LEAVES THE SCHOOL

Mr Barry Roots left St Paul’s at the end of Term 3 1997, the following tribute to him in THE EPISTLE being provided by Mr Adrian Lamrock: Barry’s time at the school has touched, in some measure, every secondary student, every staff member and many, many parents.

Barry joined the school in 1984 in what we have come to regard as the first ‘big’ year – the year which began with 175 students. He has seen the school grow to 1220 students in the years which followed and it is reasonable to say that he was responsible in no small measure for helping make that increase. I had the pleasure of appointing Barry to the staff in those far-off days and I knew that we were getting someone of great worth. I don’t think I could possibly have seen, then, the impact and influence he was to bring to this school. Students of all ages, both past and present, will testify to the gentleness and compassion that he was so good at showing to those who needed it.

I speak from personal experience when I say that he knew how to comfort and encourage people who were facing difficult times.

APPOINTMENT OF MR JOHN COLLIER AS He certainly was known to be a superb classroom teacher. Whether PRINCIPAL In announcing the appointment of Mr John Collier as the new Principal of St Paul’s, Mr Adrian Fox, new Chairman of the School Council said in the school’s weekly NEWSLETTER: Mr Collier, an innovative and motivated educational leader who has for the past seven years been the founding Principal of Thomas Reddall High School in Ambarvale, was selected from a very strong field of applicants. He brings to St Paul’s a broad experience of educational leadership and management which will serve the school well in its next stage of management. A

it was Commerce, Economics or his beloved Geography, his students knew that they would have the benefit of his years of experience and his innovative ideas. His lessons may have been many things but they were never, ever dull! Throughout his 14 years at the school – 11 of those as Deputy Principal – he always maintained his sense of humour. He had a great ability to laugh with others and often at his own expense. As Barry leaves us we wish him every blessing as he continues his ministry in his new school.

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THE OFFICIAL OPENING OF THE CENTRE

man of clear Christian faith, Mr Collier shares the view that Christian schools like ours have a role to integrate the sacred and the secular – to strengthen and articulate a clear focus on what we have called a ‘Christian world-view in practice’ in preparing students for adulthood at the turn of the century. His background is in History teaching and, apart from his family, his loves are cricket and jazz.

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children, I feel a real sadness in leaving behind so many good friends.

And yet, I also look forward to new experiences in New Zealand.

I hope that St Paul’s will continue to foster habits of learning which develop a delight in discovery which is followed through by persevering and patient study. True learning in any field demands sustained attention, fidelity to what has been learned previously, a developing scepticism and a taste for complexity. And may St Paul’s always nurture the sense of balance that recognises that we are neither an academic factory nor a holiday camp. May God’s name be glorified as this school flourishes as an instrument of his will.

ST PAUL’S GRAMMAR SCHOOL PENRITH

CELEBRATING

25 YEARS 1983 - 2008

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St Paul’s Grammar School Penrith

1998 The prefect body with the Principal (centre), 1998

At a glance

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8-16 May

May

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Major musical, ‘The Revenge of Sherlock Holmes’ First school-based cadet rural fire brigade in NSW formed with 20 cadets

Chairman of School Council: Mr Adrian Fox Principal: Mr John Collier Assistant Principal: Mr Stephen Kinsella Head of Junior School: Rev. John Campbell School Captains, 1998-1999: Brooke Graham, Neil Shaddick Junior School Head Prefects: Joshua Little, Sally Gibson Dux: Surabhi Liyanage (IB), Georgia Boyce (HSC) SPEXS President: Anthony Perez Fundraising Association President: Brian Jones

THE FOUNDING OF THE SCHOOL RURAL FIRE CADET UNIT This report on the founding of the rural fire brigade cadets was written

by Mr Anthony Head, Officer-in-charge, in THE EPISTLE of 1998: In May 1998, the first school-based cadet rural fire brigade in NSW was established at St Paul’s in Years 7 to 11. The cadets meet for two hours after school each Friday and two Saturdays each school term. Training activities have included basic firefighter modules, inspecting fire tankers, fire stations and the communication centre, hose rolling, demonstrations of fire fighting by other brigades, hand tool exercises and championship training. In August the cadets took part in a two day mapping and communications exercise ‘Operation Sunny Corner’, between Lithgow and Bathurst, led by members of the RFS communications brigade. During September the cadets were involved in clearing a fire break along the northern boundary of the school property using hand tools – a very tiring task, but essential as part of the lead-up to the bushfire danger season.

There are currently 20 members of the brigade and this will expand to 30 in 1999. The cadet captain is Year 10 student Brent Webster.

Thanks must go to Penrith Rural Fire Service who have issued the brigade with a range of basic equipment and also provided firefighting equipment for all the cadets. Castlereagh, Glenbrook-Lapstone, Llandilo, Mulgoa, Penrith Communications and Regentville brigades have given their time voluntarily to help train the cadets.

RETIREMENT OF MRS JENNY BOUNDS Mrs Jenny Bounds retired after 13 years as High School Librarian and Head of Library and Information Services. The Principal Mr John Collier offered this tribute to her in THE EPISTLE of 1998: Mrs Bounds has been a great stalwart and personality of the school as the foundation incumbent of our beautiful mudbrick High School Library. She has seen its stock and its clientele grow rapidly as she

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St Paul’s Grammar School Penrith

ST PAUL’S GRAMMAR SCHOOL PENRITH

CELEBRATING

25 YEARS 1983 - 2008

The St Paul’s Rural Fire Cadets, 1998

However, with the support of council and four successive principals and the dedication of a very talented library staff, we now have a beautiful building, well resourced and at the cutting edge of library technology. Thank you all for your tolerance and friendship. Thank you for the Christian walk I have taken with you – an ecumenical dream come true – we come from many church backgrounds but the common desire of ministry to each other and to our students binds us closely.

MR TOM TRESEDER AND SPOSMaC Mr Tom Treseder, former state director of the Bible Society, became chairman of SPOSMaC in 1996 at the time that the Light of the World School in Harbin began. He said: The one-year course that began in 1996 with Miss Lisa Li as teacher resulted in the first group of students coming from Harbin in 1997, a source of great satisfaction to us in SPOSMaC. Another group of students who did the oneyear course in 1997 came to St Paul’s in 1998, the year the school in Harbin closed because its accreditation was terminated. No reason

SPOSMaC matched my interests – I had been involved in the setting up of the first Bible printing plant in Nanjing in 1987 and I had taken a Christian sporting team to China in 1982. I had maintained an interest in China and, in the light of this, Stephen Codrington had invited me to join SPOSMaC. It was, therefore, a disappointment to us when the Harbin venture folded. But we then, in 1998, pursued a number of other Chinese sister school connections as well. Four staff members including the Principal visited Nanjing Experimental School where a treaty of understanding was signed, Shenyang School and Datong Middle School.

The Rev. John Campbell spent six months and his daughter Dimi three months on exchange at Datong where Mr Campbell said he taught ten classes weekly and ‘this was a most enjoyable part of my work’. Mrs Gu from Datong spent the year at St Paul’s and fulfilled her obligations with enthusiasm and found her stay most interesting.

In early August, St Paul’s hosted a group of 25 students and staff from Datong, the highlight of which was a concert by them before an audience of 500 in the Joan Sutherland Centre on 11 August. So we keep doing what we have been doing in building opportunities.

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In her farewell reflection in the same publication, Mrs Bounds tells of her coming to St Paul’s in 1985: I felt a call to work at St Paul’s even though I was very happy at my previous school, York Public School.

But one day leafing through a part of the Herald I never bothered with, I saw the advertisement and applied for the position. I must admit I was daunted – this time there wasn’t even a building.

was given, but perhaps the school’s overtly Christian character was a problem. It was a venture that was an exciting experiment. It was the first school in China to bring God’s word to the people and to be given government approval – it was a distinct change from the thinking of the cultural revolution. It gave them the opportunity to engage with the International Baccalaureate and gave us the opportunity to provide quality Christian education. We were welcomed warmly; the parents wanted their children to come to Australia.

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has presided over our student body to ensure they respect the stock holdings and engage seriously in learning while in that domain. It is part of a librarian’s holy writ that they defend their patch, and Mrs Bounds has done this with remarkable energy. She has made a major contribution over some ten years as Prefects Master, having most ably and generously assisted hundreds of young people to grow into these important leadership positions.

ST PAUL’S GRAMMAR SCHOOL PENRITH

CELEBRATING

25 YEARS 1983 - 2008

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St Paul’s Grammar School Penrith

1999 The first school dressage team with their ribbons and awards, 1999

At a glance

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4-8 May 14-16 October

22 May

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Major musical, ‘Children of Eden’ Junior school musical ‘Rats’ Rock Eisteddfod ‘Into the Next Millennium’ First St Paul’s Grammar School Dressage Championships Kristin van Zwieten first in NSW in HSC 2 Unit Legal Studies Benjamin Daley gained 100% in HSC Music 3 Unit Lobe

Chairman of School Council: Mr Adrian Fox Principal: Mr John Collier Assistant Principal Head of Junior School: Rev. John Campbell Assistant Principal, Secondary Administration and Welfare: Mr Stephen Kinsella Assistant Principal, Curriculum: Mrs Ruby Holland School Captains, 1999-2000: Charlene Valentin, Hugh Weir Dux: Michael McGillion (IB), Kristina van Zwieten (HSC) Junior School Head Prefects: Hamish Weir, Jade Anderssen Fundraising Association President: Rev. John Campbell

INAUGURAL DRESSAGE CHAMPIONSHIPS The Development Officer Mr Brian Jones wrote in THE EPISTLE of 1999 about the inaugural dressage championships: The inaugural St Paul’s Interschool Dressage Championships were held at the Hawkesbury Showground, with over 260 entries being received. Our Junior School won the Champion Junior School Shield, while our High School team took out the Champion High School Shield. Ellen Mackay on Willowcraft Windsor was placed 1st, equal 1st and 2nd in her three events, and Nicole Rivett on Jackafella Colourbond had a 1st and two 2nd places. This event has become firmly established on the equestrian calendar and feedback on the day and since clearly indicates that it will be even bigger and better next time.

MRS YVONNE DUFFY RETIRES Mrs Yvonne Duffy, who had come to the school in 1984 and was Head of Applied Technology, retired due to ill-health. Cheryl Whelan paid this tribute to her in 1999: When dealing with students, Yvonne had an uncanny way of getting to the heart of the problem and finding out which student had done what they were not supposed to be doing.

However, during these dealings she was fair, firm and always consistent.

Yvonne had an eye for detail and thoroughness. While on the uniform committee, her research into what was appropriate for students in this climate meant that she left no stone unturned in her development of a new uniform. Yvonne also showed care and concern for staff, as well as for students. Staff morale, safety and professional satisfaction were always at the forefront of her push for change. She always relied on her faith for support. God is not just part of her life; he is her life. Yvonne’s Christian worldview was able to be seen in the way she cared for staff and students, and the way she carried out what was required of her in her calling.

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St Paul’s Grammar School Penrith

ST PAUL’S GRAMMAR SCHOOL PENRITH

CELEBRATING

25 YEARS 1983 - 2008

The Junior School performance of Rats, 1999

DRAMATIC AND MUSICAL PRESENTATIONS 1999 was a year of many dramatic and musical presentations. THE EPISTLE of that year reports from drama teacher Mrs Fiona Fitzgerald: In Year 8 Drama, both of our one-act plays – Dress Rehearsal by Alec Brown and Hands across the Sea by Noel Coward – were met with great anticipation as this was the first production of our class.

Each performer put a great deal of effort into their characters. Year 9 Drama’s was a collection of one-act plays called ‘Loyalties ‘ produced in November: These were Hockey Havoc, a humorous look at loyalty to the coach and team, even when you’d rather be anywhere but the playing field. Letter from Grandpa tells of a man who seems to belong to another planet, yet there’s something strangely appealing about his dreams. Bonds looks at the way walking away is not as simple as it seems. In Rachel, she is caught in the turmoil of her parents’ pain and is just hanging on. Year 10’s production was Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Drama teacher Mrs Joy Daley wrote this about Year 11’s production: Now known as Fusion Theatre Company,

The major musical event of the year, ‘The Children of Eden’, by Stephen Schwartz, was performed at the Joan Sutherland Centre in early May and was reported in the May FUTURUM: The sell-out season brought rave reviews from all in attendance over the two weekends that it was held. We were privileged to have the Australasian premiere of the musical, and the more than 2000 people who attended the sell-out season testified to the magnificence of the production, the high quality performance of the cast and musicians and the vitality and powerful nature of the message that it evoked. Under the combined talents of Dr Michael Webb, Mrs Joy Daley, Mrs Cathy Jarman, Mrs Fiona Fitzgerald and Katrina Mann, the musical lived up to the quality of previous productions. Rats directed by Mr Terry Hopkins and Mrs Ruth Phillips was the Junior School musical and was reported on by Terry Hopkins: Sarah Smith’s performance was stunning; a highlight of the show. Musically Rats provided an enjoyable range of styles from ballads to rock. The small band gave ample support without overwhelming them. Michael Webb, Luke Webb, Matthew Pearson, Tim Gannon and Carol Livingston are to be congratulated for their fine contribution to this production. It was great entertainment, from the massed choir to the narrator riding his unicycle.

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In his report on the Year 12 1999 HSC and IB results, the Principal Mr John Collier wrote: For the first time in the school’s history, two of our students came 1st in the state in an HSC subject. Kristin van Zwieten, with 99 out of 100 in 2Unit Legal Studies, was 1st in the subject in NSW, was in the top 10% of the state in six of her subjects and was one of the top 500 students across Australia. Ben Daley, with full marks on assessment and examination in the 3Unit component of Music was, by definition, first, and was invited to play his HSC performance piece at the Sydney Opera House. The International Baccalaureate results were similarly pleasing. In a small cohort of six students, four gained the maximum mark of 7 in one or more subjects, placing them in the top 5% in the world in those subjects.

Year 11 Drama presented a modern and traditional blend of Shakespeare’s The Taming of the Shrew. The members of the Fusion Theatre Company were the first group of IB Theatre Arts students at St Paul’s. They possess loads of energy and lots of talent.

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YEAR 12 RESULTS

ST PAUL’S GRAMMAR SCHOOL PENRITH

CELEBRATING

25 YEARS 1983 - 2008

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St Paul’s Grammar School Penrith

2000 Easter service, 2000

At a glance

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May Major musical, ‘Return to the Forbidden Planet’

Land – 9 acres – on Cranebrook Road acquired

Mrs Cheryl Whelan, on staff since 1983, resigned

Laura Johnson (Year 10) won Pan Pacific Walking

Championship

Mr Stephen Kinsella resigned to accept Northern

Territory principalship

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Chairman of School Council: Mr Adrian Fox Principal: Mr John Collier Assistant Principal, Head of Junior School: Rev. John Campbell Assistant Principal, Secondary Administration and Welfare: Mr Stephen Kinsella Assistant Principal, Curriculum: Mrs Ruby Holland School Captains, 2000-2001: Jordan Kennedy, Fiona Wheldon Junior School Head Prefects: Blake Freeman, Renata Commisso Dux: Manishar Kanetkar (IB), Kevin Stepniewski (HSC) President SPEXS: Mrs Angela Jovanovski President Fundraising Association: Mrs Trish Mills

BEING ON THE CUTTING EDGE EDUCATIONALLY A hallmark of the school had become its concentration on being at the cutting edge educationally. In his 2000 Speech Night address, the principal Mr John Collier said: We have invested a great deal of money in training and development of staff, including in such areas as multiple intelligences, preferred learning styles, boys’ education and technology. Top graded classes have been introduced in Years 8 to 10 for English, History, Geography and PD/H/PE to complement such classes already in existence in Mathematics and Science. We have undertaken a values audit of all our teaching programs. French will be introduced to our Junior School Extension classes. The school has created two additional Extension classes, one at Infants and one at Primary level. We have introduced Hospitality and Construction, taught as part of our own curriculum, in our own facilities. Two new courses being offered to our new Junior High School curriculum are Dance and Thinking Skills. Perhaps the most visionary of our innovations will be the introduction of the Primary Years Programme (PYP) and the Middle Years Programme (MYP) of the International Baccalaureate. The year 2001 will be a developmental year for these programs and in 2002 we will introduce them simultaneously to all years from Kindergarten to Year 7, progressing to Year 10 by 2005.

In the same speech, the principal outlined a new land purchase: With an eye to future developments, the school has purchased an additional nine acres of land to provide frontage on to Cranebrook Road. The school has also leased the property immediately adjacent to the Junior School with a view to providing an extension of playground space.

OUTSTANDING SPORTING ACHIEVEMENTS There were some outstanding sporting achievements during the year.

FUTURUM of October 2000 wrote: Mr Glenn Pyne, an Information Technology teacher at St Paul’s captained Australia in the Men’s

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St Paul’s Grammar School Penrith

ST PAUL’S GRAMMAR SCHOOL PENRITH

CELEBRATING

25 YEARS 1983 - 2008

Ensemble Worldview play at a school assembly, 2000

The musical that year was the blockbuster Return to the Forbidden Planet, reviewed in the May 2000 edition of FUTURUM: Loosely based on Shakespeare’s ‘The Tempest’, this rock ‘n roll musical was described as a true cosmic adventure through hyperspace. Classic hits from the 1960s saw many members of the audience being able to remember every word and sing along. The depth of talent at St Paul’s resulted in the need to create two casts for most roles in the production.

Congratulations were offered to each member of the two casts, the production team, band and the Performing Arts Department for their brilliant contribution, performance and dedication.

EXCELLENT YEAR 12 RESULTS The Principal Mr John Collier indicated that the end-of-year Year 12 examinations were the best in the school’s history: Fifty per cent of Year 12 on UAIs were in the top 20% of the State. Thirty-one students obtained UAIs above 90, 13 of whom were above 95. There were 20 individual IB scores of 7, the maximum result obtainable. Kevin Stepniewski’s 99% in 3Unit Mathematics was the highest individual score (he also obtained 96% in 4Unit Mathematics). The average scaled marks in four of our HSC subjects were more than 10% above the state average. The School Certificate results were the best in the history of this form of testing. Results of this quality do not just

RESIGNATION OF MR STEPHEN KINSELLA AND MRS CHERYL WHELAN Two resignations of that year were, first, Mr Stephen Kinsella, an appreciation of whom is provided by the Principal Mr John Collier: Mr Kinsella, who came to the school in 1986 and who for the last three years was Assistant Principal – Secondary Administration and Welfare, is leaving St Paul’s to become Principal of Kormilda College in Darwin, an International Baccalaureate school of 830 students, of whom 300 are boarders. In his most recent role, he has been responsible for the day-to-day organisation and management of the High School, for student welfare, and for much of the curriculum and staffing organisation of the High School. He has been known for his strong leadership, his pastoral heart, his outstanding Economics teaching, his trombone solos, his love of golf and his zany sense of humour. As International Baccalaureate coordinator, he has presided over a huge increase in demand for this curriculum at St Paul’s. His daily diligence, mastery of detail, strong presence around the school and endless collection of jokes will be greatly missed.

Also leaving was Cheryl Whelan, remembered in this tribute by Ms Diane Longland: She has been a teacher at St Paul’s for 18 years.

She has been Head of Humanities since 1994. Her students have valued and respected her for her knowledge, teaching skills, pastoring, professionalism, and untiring effort. She has unashamedly sought to bring the reality of Christ into the classroom and into her interactions with staff, students and parents. As a senior Head of Department, she is highly respected for her expertise and organisation. She has been a tremendous support to other colleagues as well as a fine role model.

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RETURN TO THE FORBIDDEN PLANET

happen; they have been the result of a major focus on best practice in teaching and learning.

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Sitting Volleyball Competition in the Paralympics. Played on a 10 by 6 metre court with the top of the net at 1.5 metres, the players are not permitted to jump for the ball. Born with spina bifida, Glenn eventually had his leg removed and replaced with a prosthetic one in 1976. The team known as ‘The Crabs’ beat the USA into 11th place.

THE EPISTLE of that year writes: Laura Johnson of Year 10 won the Pan Pacific Walking Title and, competing on Chile, gained tenth place in the world in her youth entry field, despite being the youngest athlete in the race.

ST PAUL’S GRAMMAR SCHOOL PENRITH

CELEBRATING

25 YEARS 1983 - 2008

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St Paul’s Grammar School Penrith

2001 Chinese Day, 2001

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At a glance

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9-12 May Major musical, ‘Once on this Island’

Hospitality kitchen, dance studio and multi-

media laboratory equipped

Junior School musical ‘Ali Baba’

Chairman of School Council: Mr Adrian Fox Principal: Mr John Collier Assistant Principal, Secondary Administration and Welfare: Mr Paul Rooney Assistant Principal, Curriculum: Mrs Ruby Holland Head of Senior School: Mr David Lindsay Head of Middle School: Ms Diane Longland Acting Head of Junior School: Mr Terry Hopkins IB Diploma Coordinator: Mr Antony Mayrhofer Middle Years IB Coordinator: Ms Kate Smith Primary Years IB Coordinator: Mrs Karen Turnbull School Captains, 2001-2002: Matthew Willis, Lucienne Ingold Junior School Head Prefects: Sean Sonter, Ashleigh Black Dux: Katherine Clay (IB); Elissa Calderwood (HSC) President Fundraising Association: Mrs Trish Mills SPEXS President: Mrs Angela Jovanovski

SIGNIFICANT CHANGES AT THE START OF THE YEAR After returning to school in 2001 from Christmas holidays, there were many significant changes, as Principal Mr John Collier indicated in the weekly newsletter Revelations: The Reverend John Campbell will become Acting Development Officer/Registrar. After 22 consecutive years as Head of Junior Schools, he will find this role to be professionally refreshing. He brings to the role enormous experience. Ms Diane Longland has been appointed as Head of Middle School with primary responsibility for discipline and uniform under Mr Paul Rooney. Mr David Lindsay will be Head of Senior School working closely with Year coordinators and with primary responsibility for student achievement, effort and attendance. He then outlined minor capital works: Our new dance floor has been installed in our recital room, an additional music room and practice room are nearing completion, our new combined Year 7 and Humanities staff room has been occupied, the multi-media technology laboratory has been completed, our Hospitality kitchen is on-line and our new photography darkroom has been outfitted. Our two new Junior School classes will take another few weeks to complete. Another change at the beginning of 2001 mentioned by the Principal at the end of the year had been the appointment of Mr Paul Rooney as Assistant Principal – Secondary Administration and Welfare: Mr Rooney has been extremely active, and is making a very substantial contribution to the school.

VOCATIONAL EDUCATION The school also provided vocational education in 2001, as the Principal’s article in the FUTURUM for Winter 2001 indicated: We have been able to develop two fully fledged Vocational Education courses: Hospitality and Construction, which credential our students to industry standard and, through kind arrangements with the Christian Community Schools Cluster group, we have been able to

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St Paul’s Grammar School Penrith

ST PAUL’S GRAMMAR SCHOOL PENRITH

CELEBRATING

25 YEARS 1983 - 2008

The St Paul’s Ball for Debutantes, 2001

The active character of the school’s Christian agenda is indicated in the Principal’s address at Speech Night: Rigorous surveying by our pastor of junior High School students has revealed very strong adherence to the major doctrines of the Christian faith. It is a delight to see the number of students who have become active, through the ministry of the school, in personal Christian faith, and are expanding their involvement to churches and youth groups in the local area.

There are approximately 50 students involved in Christian fellowship groups meeting weekly in Year groups for Years 7 to 10 and seniors.

Support is provided for a mission trip to Mexico. An annual beach camp was held at Bundeena. Prefects responsible for Christian input are working with the pastor to review student responses to chapel and to consider ways of improving these via increased student involvement and interaction.

Junior School students continue to prosper spiritually in daily devotions and weekly chapel. Their engagement with issues of faith and Christian values is enormously encouraging. We continue to develop our staff capacity to deliver outstanding Christian education through such means as our staff spiritual retreat and hosting the Western Sydney Christian Schools Conference. It was most gratifying to find 430 staff in attendance from eight Christian schools, and be able to publish the Papers from the last two conferences in book form.

The China trip from 17 to 27 May was very significant for the school, plans for which were outlined in the weekly Revelations by the Principal: The Chairman of Council, Mr Adrian Fox, and I are about to commence a trip to visit six of our eight sister schools in China. Travelling with us is our international ensemble, ‘Worldview’, led by Dr Webb, and comprising six Year 11 and 12 students. The purpose of the tour is to cement relations and meet in person with principals, and to make the arrangements for the next small group of Chinese students to enrol in our school. Part of our school mission is to engage with China.

It also reflects our desire to, in a small way, contribute to bringing the Christian gospel to China. It is noteworthy that all nine of last year’s graduating Chinese students were successful in obtaining either the International Baccalaureate or the HSC, despite having been in intensive English classes two years ago. On his return from this trip, the Principal wrote: The six student members of ‘Worldview’, Holly Downes and Lucienne Ingold (Year 11), and Alexandra Phelan, Hanako Ward, Luke Webb and Rachel White (Year 12) have returned from China as international celebrities. ‘Worldview’ played to approximately 10,000 people in nine performances in five cities.

The performances were given a very high profile: they were televised in Shanghai and Beijing, and featured in the daily press in Beijing, where the Australian Ambassador hosted their concert.

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THE CHRISTIAN CHARACTER OF THE SCHOOL

THE MAY CHINA TRIP

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deliver, offsite, a range of other vocational education courses such as Child Care and Retail, which will grant students advanced standing and exemptions in post-school TAFE courses. We have also been able to enrol some of our students in TAFE courses as part of the HSC.

ST PAUL’S GRAMMAR SCHOOL PENRITH

CELEBRATING

25 YEARS 1983 - 2008

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St Paul’s Grammar School Penrith

2002

Mrs Jenny Bounds, former school librarian, unveiling the plaque at the opening of the Junior School Library, assisted by Chairman of the School Council Mr Adrian Fox

At a glance

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January January

3 May May

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IB introduced throughout the school Mrs Christine Roberts commenced as Head of the Junior School Junior School Library opened Major musical, ‘Honk’ Land adjoining the Junior School on Taylor Road purchased

Chairman of School Council: Mr Adrian Fox Principal: Mr John Collier Head of Junior School: Mrs Christine Roberts Assistant Principal, Secondary Administration and Welfare: Mr Paul Rooney Assistant Principal, Curriculum: Mrs Ruby Holland School Captains, 2002-2003: Andrew Livingston, Catherine Lower Junior School Head Prefects: Travis Batten, Brianna Mead Dux: Eloise Wright (IB); Melinda Cooper (HSC) SPEXS President: Mr Stewart Cook President Fundraising Association: Mrs Maralyn Anderson

NEW HEAD OF JUNIOR SCHOOL

Mrs Christine Roberts, in her end-of-year report in THE EPISTLE, reflected on her return to St Paul’s in 2002: Having travelled and worked in other schools, I was pleased to return to St Paul’s knowing that its commitment to a holistic, enriched Christian education is second to none! She then gave an account of the opening of the new Junior School Library: Our school community rejoiced at the official opening of the Junior School Library held on 3rd May. Mrs Jenny Bounds, former librarian of St Paul’s, officially opened the library, witnessed by a large party of official guests, mostly volunteers who have been generous friends of the library and associated with its development over the last ten years. The long awaited facilities are destined to enhance learning outcomes for our students and particularly to facilitate the inquiry learning processes of the PYP. The environment provided is interesting and inviting, and students and staff alike are delighted with the work of the trades people, led by Mr Peter Males, our Property Manager. Mrs Roberts saw the land acquisition next door as important: Following the purchase of the five acres adjacent to the Junior School, we are very excited by the prospect of the development of a valuable, purposely designed playground for Junior School students. This represents a major financial commitment and we are thankful indeed for the provision of play space for our students.

HONK!

In the Winter 2001 edition of FUTURUM, the major school musical for the year was reviewed: Honk! is the enchanting, award-winning musical adaptation of the Hans Christian Andersen classic, The Ugly Duckling, which was produced by the Visual and Performing Arts Department early in May. It was a brilliant success from all points of view and played to full houses for a week’s season, being performed in our own Centre. More than 200 students were involved in conveying the show’s message of tolerance and empathy. Honk! is a witty and hilarious but deeply moving show and this was its Sydney premiere.

All audiences were stunned by the vitality, colour, dance, singing,

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St Paul’s Grammar School Penrith

ST PAUL’S GRAMMAR SCHOOL PENRITH

CELEBRATING

25 YEARS 1983 - 2008

The first day of school, 2002

The International Baccalaureate (IB) Primary Years Programme(PYP) Coordinator in its first year at the school was Mr Terry Hopkins whose report on its progress was in the Spring 2002 edition of FUTURUM: I have been committed to the program since I went to Armidale for a briefing in 2000 – it was a ‘revelation’. While the thinking behind inquiry learning at the heart of the PYP is not new, the program creates a structure that enables the very best methods in education to be implemented. Procedures are in place to ensure that the six units of inquiry are taught, assessed and integrated with each other to provide a holistic framework for education. All the teachers are enthusiastic because of the way the kids are responding. I believe the program is travelling well towards the goal of fulfilling the ten profiles – that each student should become a communicator, a thinker, an inquirer, a risktaker, knowledgeable, principled, open-minded, well-balanced and reflective. These goals fit well with the school’s Christian philosophy, values and attitudes, a connection the school makes to its students.

THE IB MIDDLE YEARS PROGRAMME In the same FUTURUM, Miss Kate Smith, a committed advocate of the IB, provided this picture of the way the Middle Years Programme was being implemented in its first year. Relevance is the first advantage that springs to her mind: Students can see the links between subjects and with life and this gives the subjects some purpose. Learning is more enjoyable because students make contact with other students around the world and more meaningful because the building blocks of the learning process, the skills associated with learning, are taught.

The community and service side is particularly important – students this year have assisted in places as diverse as retirement homes, horse stables, pre-schools and church child-minding centres and have

ELOISE WRIGHT AND MELANIE COOPER

In the 2002 Year 12 IB Diploma results, Eloise Wright received a UAI equivalent of 99.75 and she explains first why she chose to do the IB Diploma rather than the HSC: I wanted to do a number of subjects at the highest level, and the IB Diploma gave me a better chance to do that. I have always been motivated to work independently, and the IB Diploma extended essay let me go as far as I wanted. My parents were particularly keen for me to do the Creativity, Action and Service component of the IB Diploma; for Service, I helped out at a nursing home, a very special learning experience for me. She was then asked why she did so well academically: I was strongly supported by a group of friends at school who put no pressure on me – their friendship wasn’t dependent on my success. They didn’t define life in terms of material things and winning. I also had some good teachers. For me, those were the main advantages I had at school that enabled me to feel comfortable enough to do my best.

Melanie Cooper received the highest 2002 HSC result at 98.9 and explains why she decided to do the HSC rather than the IB Diploma: I felt I had more scope to specialise in my English and History interests; there was more emphasis on assignments, in which I performed as well as I did in examinations; and I found the learning style of the HSC suited me better. While I had always done well, I was able to maximise my result because of supportive friends; dedicated teachers who were prepared to take extra classes with me on four afternoons a week; challenging subjects; and a balance between work and such outside pursuits as friends, church and performing arts that enabled me to pace myself and relax.

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THE IB PRIMARY YEARS PROGRAMME

actively helped elderly neighbours. While St Paul’s has always sought to teach in this way, the MYP confirms, encourages and provides skills that go with these practices. How did she first get interested in the program? I saw its potential for improving and enriching students’ learning in a collaborative way.

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drama, instrumentation and scenery and the cast obviously enjoyed working under the direction of Dr Webb, Mrs Daley, Mrs Earp, Mrs Jarman and many others. Congratulations on a wonderful show!

ST PAUL’S GRAMMAR SCHOOL PENRITH

CELEBRATING

25 YEARS 1983 - 2008

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St Paul’s Grammar School Penrith

2003 The 20th anniversary all-school photo, 2003

At a glance

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5 March

22 March May

18 October

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Official launch of the K-12 IB program at St Paul’s New Kindergarten building opened Major musical, ‘One Night the Moon’ Celebration of the school’s twentieth

year Junior School musical, ‘Azura Galactic

Warlord ‘

Chairman of School Council: Mr Adrian Fox Principal: Mr John Collier Head of Junior School: Mrs Christine Roberts Assistant Principal, Secondary Administration and Welfare: Mr Paul Rooney Assistant Principal, Curriculum: Mrs Ruby Holland School Captains, 2003- 2004: Alison Foster, Mathew Goss Junior School Head Prefects: Christopher Haddad, Samantha Cooper SPEXS President: Mr Stewart Cook Dux: William Li (IB), Devina Daniel (HSC) President Fundraising Association: Mrs Maralyn Anderson

OFFICIAL LAUNCH OF K - 12 IB PROGRAM

The autumn edition of FUTURUM recorded the official launch of the International Baccalaureate Organisation (IBO) program across the school from Kindergarten to Year 12 in March 2007under the heading: ‘A Celebration of International Education in the midst of Global Strife’: There was a spirit of celebration amongst the 1500 students, teachers and friends of the school in the belief that this program had something worth offering the world. School Council Chairman Adrian Fox saw the event as ‘a day that would impact on the rest of our lives’ and an achievement in the twentieth year of the school that ‘could only have been done by God’s grace and mercy’. The Principal John Collier pointed out that St Paul’s was ‘one of the few schools in the world to satisfy the requirements of this rigorous program’. He saw it as special because it produces autonomous learners who have in depth learning skills and, by the integration of subjects, view learning as a whole rather than a number of parts.

IB Diploma Coordinator Antony Mayrhofer traced the course of the IB Diploma from its start in the school in 1990. It was introduced in order to provide ‘global perspective, cultural diversity and academic challenge’. Middle Years Coordinator Kate Smith concentrated on the service aspects of the program and the Year 10 personal project. Primary Years Coordinator Terry Hopkins saw inquiry as the key to the program: ‘In developing the skills and attitudes of the inquirer, you free yourselves from relying on others to help you learn and grow’. The IBO representative in Australasia Greg Valentine spoke of the value of the IB – its reliance on the latest research; its encouragement of lifelong learning; its ability to provide a benchmark by which students can gauge their progress compared to the rest of the world; its encouragement of lifelong learning; and its production of students ‘who are tolerant, compassionate, reflective, open-minded and knowledgeable’. The music by the school group ‘Sound-post’ and Oodgeroo poetry

by Year 11 did more than provide wonderful entertainment; it modelled IB internationalism in subject matter and presentation.

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St Paul’s Grammar School Penrith

ST PAUL’S GRAMMAR SCHOOL PENRITH

CELEBRATING

25 YEARS 1983 - 2008

The official launch of the K-12 IB program, The Centre, 2003

We live in troubling and challenging times and, with the grace of God, this school has been able to continue to strive for academic excellence in a positive and supportive Christian relationship. This has been a fundamental feature of the infants department where all the teachers go that extra distance to assist the students.

ALISON FOSTER, SCHOOL CAPTAIN In a speech presented to the school when she became school captain for 2003-2004, Alison Foster said, in part: I am extremely honoured and excited to accept the role of school captain and I welcome the responsibility of leading the school and I will do so through my faith in Christ, my involvement and enthusiasm. I am looking forward to facing the many new challenges that await us and witnessing how we all make the most of our final year at school. Being involved in bands I have learnt the importance of dedication, practice and team work. Musicians, yes, and drummers are musicians, have to work collectively, stay in tune and keep in time. This group effort results in a performance all can be proud of with a sound much greater than individual parts. I will attempt to use what music has taught me to maximise my personal abilities for your benefit. I will endeavour to

LEE OCKENDEN This tribute to member of staff Lee Ockenden, killed in a car crash on 11 June 2003, was written up in THE EPISTLE of 2003: His enthusiasm for teaching was infectious, evidenced in the delight his students showed in his classes and their positive involvement in activities, be it an archaeological dig in the agriculture plot for Year 11 Ancient History or the excitement of World War I stories in Year 9 History. His passion for telling others about the good news of Jesus was likewise inspirational. The year 10 chapel he spoke at where he shared with the students his love of God and encouraged them to think seriously about issues of faith was deeply appreciated.

DUKE OF EDINBURGH GOLD WALK The Duke of Edinburgh (D of E) Gold Walk by 21 students first on the Milford Track, then the Routeburn Track in New Zealand from 6 to 17 December 2003 was a highlight of the school’s D of E program, as indicated in the FUTURUM article on it. Expedition leader staff member Mr Geoff Newton said: I told the walkers that theirs was the best Gold expedition I’ve ever taken because of the ease of direction of the students – they were fun-loving – but they were also responsible, acting in a mutually respectful way. Mr Max McKay, coordinator of the school’s program, explains the extent of the program in the school: About 120 students are involved altogether, some 40 at the Gold level.

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The same issue of FUTURUM records the opening of the $180,000 Kindergarten Centre before some 200 guests on Open Day 2003. Mrs Anne Rogers, Deputy Head of the Junior School – Infants had this to say: It was with great excitement and anticipation in February 1993 I started at the school as Infants Coordinator. It was a day of 42 degrees, extremely uncomfortable. We also had no water as someone had cut the lines whilst digging with some heavy machinery down the road. Some other interesting highlights include the introduction of swimming lessons for all Infants children; a full outdoor education program including an annual two-day camp; mini-Olympics in 2000; the introduction of the IB in 2002; the peer support program; and the buddy system with Year 6 students.

provide the inspiration for you all to do the same.The community of St Paul’s is similar to a family. It provides an education beyond mere subjects and textbooks. St Paul’s teaches us to use our talents, to set goals for ourselves and to not be afraid to stick to our beliefs. In this sense, my role as school captain can be likened to that of a big sister. I want to be here as a representative of our school, as a friend, as a role model, a shoulder to cry on, a sounding board. We all want to be able to support and put forward your ideas, to encourage you and to lead you. Working together will provide opportunities for us all to get to know each other better in the coming year.

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OPENING OF THE KINDERGARTEN CENTRE

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ST PAUL’S GRAMMAR SCHOOL PENRITH

CELEBRATING

25 YEARS

St Paul’s Grammar School Penrith

1983 - 2008

2004 Dance moves, Babbacombe Lee, 2004

At a glance

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May

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Forging of links with The York School Toronto Major musical, ‘Babbacombe Lee’

Chairman of School Council: Mr Don Harwin Principal: Mr John Collier Head of Junior School: Mrs Christine Roberts Assistant Principal, Secondary Administration and Welfare: Mr Paul Rooney Assistant Principal, Curriculum: Mrs Ruby Holland School Captains, 2004-2005: Sarah Smith and James Gribble Junior School Head Prefects: Dianna Rouggos, Benjamin Bakowski Dux: Larisa Michalko (IB); Wayne Chung (HSC) SPEXS President: Mr Stewart Cook

MR ADRIAN FOX RESIGNS AS SCHOOL COUNCIL CHAIR At the end of 2003, Mr Adrian Fox stepped down as Chairman of the School Council, and had this to say at the annual Speech Night: After 20 years of direct involvement in the school, I believe it is the right time for me to retire from the Council. In recent years I have espoused two key principles for the school, and offer them again tonight. For these two are not quickly or easily mastered – excellence and integrity.

We seek to build intellectual and academic excellence and integrity through the school’s teaching programs. We seek to build moral excellence, personal integrity, through the shared life of this school community and sporting or community activities. And we want to encourage spiritual excellence – personal faith with integrity – through our focus on Jesus in words and behaviour. We want excellence and integrity to shape the skills, the values, the attitudes of both students and staff. That is a long journey for all of us! As the Psalmist wrote, Trust in the Lord – and do good.

MR DON HARWIN, NEW SCHOOL COUNCIL CHAIR A profile of the new Chair of the school council was given in the 2004 autumn edition of FUTURUM: Mr Harwin has been a member and director of the school council for the last six years and Chair of the council’s education subcommittee for the last four. From 1981 to 1987, he was Principal of Macquarie Fields High School and from 1988 to 1997, Principal of Menai High School. He has been a member of a number of government education committees.

Among his many community activities, Mr Harwin is involved in helping students who come to the attention of the juvenile justice courts in southern Sydney and is an accredited volunteer with the Australian Sports Drug Agency. Mr and Mrs Harwin

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St Paul’s Grammar School Penrith

ST PAUL’S GRAMMAR SCHOOL PENRITH

CELEBRATING

25 YEARS 1983 - 2008

The senior girls’ hockey team at the grand final, 2004

The school’s major musical for the year, ‘Babbacombe Lee’, was reviewed in the 2004 spring edition of FUTURUM: The production of the story of John ‘Babbacombe’ Lee, convicted of killing his employer in 1885 and three times surviving attempts to hang him, was a conscious attempt to bring together a creative, educational community. Director, scriptwriter, actors and singers, conductor, music transcribers and arrangers, artists, promoters, musicians, choreographer and dancers, crew, technicians and other encouragers and supporters formed what Director of Visual and Performing Arts Dr Michael Webb called ‘a rich local arts community’.

Marita Jansons is a singer and actor who had taken lead roles in a number of school productions since she arrived at the school in Year 7 six years before: Babbacombe Lee was an exciting project because it was a work in progress. None of us knew what was going to happen. I had confidence in the people working on the project – they have such wonderful imaginations. It was great to watch their creativity. The lead actor was not selected until well into rehearsals; it was not until the third rehearsal that we were given a draft script that was being worked on; and even at the matinee performance, new ideas were coming forward. It was a risky business.

What turned things around were the relationships that developed, particularly the way those with experience helped the newcomers; and the acting and singing abilities of the one eventually selected as the lead actor, Andrew Phillips, a teacher at the school and my son in the musical. I grew a lot as an actor and a person in the lead-up. I did have problems finding my character, who was much

GIRLS’ HOCKEY In 2004, the senior girls’ hockey team tied in the grand final in the Independent Schools’ Association (ISA) hockey competition, the last game being written up by Allison Berger in the 2004 spring edition of FUTURUM: The first half didn’t disappoint. We were the better team in the first half, although we had trouble converting our opportunities. The second half was more exciting.

With seven minutes to go, SCEGGS scored a goal, the first one scored against us in the competition. The girls could have given up, but the challenge spurred the team on and they played like they never had before. With one minute to go, Vicki Betts our centre forward took the ball up the field and passed it to Ashleigh Bell in the circle, who hit it in. With the goal scoring equal on 1-1, we went into extra time. Our side had better fitness and possession of the ball, but in the face of great defence by SCEGGS, we were unable to convert. So the premiership was shared between both schools, an exciting conclusion to a good game.

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BABBACOMBE LEE

older than me, and in seeing a member of staff as my son. But I was inspired to give it all I had and to learn something from it. It was during the performances that the whole thing clicked and I became involved in my character role. I’d like to pursue performing arts by becoming a teacher like those who have inspired me.

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attend an Anglican church where Mr Harwin has been a parish councillor and is currently a Bible study leader. He brings vast experience to the position and is an outstanding educator.

ST PAUL’S GRAMMAR SCHOOL PENRITH

CELEBRATING

25 YEARS 1983 - 2008

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St Paul’s Grammar School Penrith

2005 Inspection of the construction of The Arts Quarter, 2005

At a glance

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The Arts Quarter constructed The Junior School ‘kiss and drop’ completed IB Middle Years Program completed to Year 10 Before School Care facility opened

Chairman of School Council: Mr Don Harwin Principal: Mr John Collier Assistant Principal, Head of Junior School: Mrs Christine Roberts Assistant Principal, Secondary Administration and Welfare: Mr Paul Rooney Assistant Principal, Curriculum: Mrs Ruby Holland School Captains, 2005-2006: Janice Roche, Art McGee Junior School Head Prefects: Diana Rouggos, Benjamin Bakowski Dux: Claire Willard (IB); Gareth Bryant (HSC) President, SPEXS: Mrs Angela Jovanovski President, Friends of St Paul’s: Mr Bill Blakey

THE ARTS QUARTER The purpose of the Arts Quarter was, according to the faculty director in 2001, Dr Michael Webb, ‘to create and nurture an educationally coherent performance culture at St Paul’s Grammar School, a culture which strengthens the school as community and as a place of cultural excellence’.

In the Spring 2005 FUTURUM, Dr Michael Webb and Mrs Cathy Jarman, then Head of Performing Arts, speak of how the new building was an embodiment of some visionary principles: The new performing arts faculty site can become a physical space where performing artists and former students can meet with present staff and students to be a soul-filled space. It would be good to invite these people for the opening of the building in order to enhance the idea of a Christian and educational community and inspire students through an artistic relationship between students and artists – it is an emotional, creative thing (Cathy). Without highly competent staff and our help being ‘in the name of the Lord, who made heaven and earth’, as Psalm 124 says, we have nothing. With that, there is the real possibility of a future for this new performing arts space as a place for exploring life’s promise through the arts (Michael).

GIRLS’ AND BOYS’ BASKETBALL The year was particularly memorable for the school’s girls’ and boys’ 1st basketball teams, as indicated in the autumn edition of FUTURUM. Of the grand final, girls’ captain Katrina Taylor-Goddard said: The ISA grand final against St Andrew’s brought out the best in the team.

After establishing an 8-nil lead in the first two minutes, St Paul’s took possession of the game. How proud we are to have achieved a grand final win, along with a similar result for the boys. David Thomas, captain of the boys’ team, then outlined their win in the grand final against St Stanislaus: Our boys came out with a bang, leading by ten points in the first quarter. The third quarter was off to a flying start, St Stanislaus crawling their way back into the game, reducing the margin to two points. After a timeout, we gathered our composure

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St Paul’s Grammar School Penrith

ST PAUL’S GRAMMAR SCHOOL PENRITH

CELEBRATING

25 YEARS 1983 - 2008

Mr John Collier addressing the guests at Chinese Day, Junior School Library, 2005

In 2005, the Middle Years Programme (MYP) had its first Year 10 classes, completing the school’s transition to a K to 12 International Baccalaureate (IB) school. In the annual EPISTLE, MYP Coordinator Mr Michael Urquhart and Associate MYP Coordinator Dr MaryRobyn Lane have provided this outline of the MYP at the school in that year: St Paul’s was the first school in NSW to be a K to 12 IB World School. The MYP promotes student-centred learning, with emphasis on communication, holistic learning and intercultural awareness.

In order to ensure a smooth transition between the Junior School and the Middle School, the decision was made to assimilate Years 2-5 of the MYP into the existing Board of Studies Years 7-10. In 2005, Year 10 became the first group to earn MYP Certificates/MYP Records of Achievement/World School Awards as well as Board of Studies School Certificates.

The MYP encourages students to be actively involved in the learning process, and this in part involves reflecting upon their educational experiences. Here are excerpts of comments made by small groups of Year 10 students about the previous four years: ‘Community and Service has expanded our views of the world around us. Both through class activities and volunteering outside of school, we have gained a deeper understanding of the environment and our society. It has given us the opportunity to contribute to organisations such as WIRES, the Salvation Army, World Vision

‘Through the MYP, we have been exposed to the benefits of holistic learning. A highlight was Medieval Day in MYP Year 3. To the girls it was our chance to live out our childhood fantasies and dress up as princesses. For the boys it was an opportunity to stick their favourite teachers in the stocks. For the teachers, however, it was a chance to combine subjects like History, English, Maths, Science, Food Technology and Visual Arts into an interesting day that really was fun.’ ( Jordan Collier, Amanda Diaz, Karina Douglass)’

CHINESE DAY In August, the school hosted its annual Chinese Day in the Junior School, this particular year being special first because special guests included Mr Qiu Shao Fang, Chinese Consul-General in Sydney, and other officials from the consulate. In a FUTURUM article, Junior School Chinese teacher Mr Samuel Chan explains what the guests saw: They saw the spectacular performance of Bianzhong Chimes, Gong and Drums, Chinese shuttlecocks, Chinese costume parade, the lion dance, music and songs and folk dances. They saw the students’ proficiency in Chinese culture and language and performance and they enjoyed the delicious Chinese lunch. After Chinese Day, they contacted me to say they would give the school 800 books. St Paul’s is the only K-12 school in Australia to have received such a gift.

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THE FIRST MYP YEAR 10 CLASSES

and RDA. By participating in such activities we have displayed Christian perspectives modelled upon the example of Christ. . .’ ( John Benesh, Anne Bennett, Olivia Bush, Elissa Playford, Jessica Sloey);

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and managed to extend our lead once again. The final quarter saw spectators and coaches on the edge of their seats. Our team stepped up a level when it was needed most. With the opposition losing a couple of key players through fouls, we maintained our focus and lead, winning by 56 to 44.

ST PAUL’S GRAMMAR SCHOOL PENRITH

CELEBRATING

25 YEARS 1983 - 2008

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St Paul’s Grammar School Penrith

2006 The China Tour of 2006

At a glance

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February March

April December

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The Arts Quarter officially opened Dr Michael Webb withdraws from day-to-day teaching Language and music tour of China Mrs Christine Roberts and Mr Paul Rooney leave the school

Chairman of School Council: Mr Don Harwin Principal: Mr John Collier Assistant Principal, Head of Junior School: Mrs Christine Roberts Assistant Principal, Secondary Administration and Welfare: Mr Paul Rooney Assistant Principal, Curriculum: Mrs Ruby Holland School Captains, 2006-2007: Katrina Marrett, Ben Mills Dux: Annika Lees/Sarah Hellyer (IB), Ingrid Wright (HSC) Junior School Head Prefects: Bronte Goldstein, Jak Bukovinsky President, SPEXS: Mrs Angela Jovanovski President, Friends of St Paul’s: Mr Bill Blakey

DR MICHAEL WEBB LEAVES ST PAUL’S Dr Michael Webb left the school after ten and a half years, his many accomplishments including his work on the Arts Quarter which opened in 2005. His farewell message in the spring edition of FUTURUM is reproduced in part here: My years on the full-time staff of St Paul’s leave me with fond memories. Meetings and inspiration – with and from people like Stuart Piggin and Gordon Preece at the Christian education conferences of 1998 and 1999 at St Paul’s; with Robert Banks and the Macquarie Christian Studies Institute; with Brian Walsh, and with Jeremy Begbie at the ‘Music of the Spheres’ conference in Virginia, USA; and with Michael Frost and others at our staff retreats. There were friendships with so with many St Paul’s colleagues including Peter Males, Liz Ransom, David Lindsay, Ruby Li. The tour of China by ‘Worldview’ and the tours to raise money for Christian work in Africa remain with me, as do the steady stream of strong, engaged and lovely students; the five years of planning and the coming to fruition of The Arts Quarter; the carol services at St Matthew’s Windsor and St Finbar’s Glenbrook; the production of the innovative One Night the Moon; the support from such executive staff members as John Collier and Ruby Holland who sought to catch the vision; and exchanges of ideas with George Statheos and Peter Wilson from whom I learned about communicating the gospel. I worked with some fantastic people – Gary Daley, Steve Clark, Cathy Jarman, Dina Adams, Geoff Gannon, Vanessa Earp, Josie Jones, Adam Jarman, Andrew Tredinnick, the whole VAPA Department (I can’t name them all!) – people of skill, Christian empathy, strength.

An important memory is how we all contributed in the building of a thriving music performance culture at the school.

I believed my father when he told me in Year 12 that I would make a good music teacher. A cross-cultural background gave me a context

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ST PAUL’S GRAMMAR SCHOOL PENRITH

CELEBRATING

25 YEARS 1983 - 2008

Rebecca Round of Year 11 on a school working excursion to Tanzania, 2006

The year was a milestone for the school’s China program, with the language and music tour of China. Here, two of the 28 students who went, Zac Roberts and Max McNamara, drew these conclusions about their visit in the spring 2006 FUTURUM: First, Max: I went to China with the aim of speaking better Chinese, something I feel I was able to do. The tour has opened my eyes to the world. The trip has created in me a yearning to speak and write fluent Chinese. Ben Mills, Zac and I would like to go back for the Olympics and at some time travel and study Chinese in China. Second, Zac: Before I went to China I didn’t know what to expect. It is a very different place which cannot be understood or appreciated very well without going there. Given that China is likely to become a more dominant force on the world stage, our language-learning and cultural experience could be very beneficial.

RECORD-BREAKING YEAR 12 RESULTS The end-of-school Year 12 results were, for the fifth year, the best in the school’s history, recorded in the following way in the autumn 2007 FUTURUM: For yet another year, St Paul’s Year 12 students have achieved the best results in the school’s history in their final examinations and assessments. Almost one-third of students, 41

While there was a full range of responses by the Year 12 students to the results, some 90% of those the school was able to contact were happy with their UAI and an even higher percentage have been able to get into their course of choice. Of the small number of students whose career prospects did not depend on a UAI, most are happy with their apprenticeships and TAFE courses, ranging across electrical apprenticeships, drafting, event management and interior design.

Sarah Hellyer felt her 99.85 was ‘a good result’: I kept working right through. I chose subjects at school I had always been interested in – languages and other Arts subjects. I plan to do Arts and Social Work at university, a combination of subjects I have always been interested in and a career option that I would like. I may take a year off in 2007 to do volunteer social work. Annika Lees is equal first with an IB UAI of 99.85. She will defer for a year to spend time in France, partly to work on her French language, and then take up a place in international studies and possibly law at Sydney University in 2008 – she would like a job with an international agency like the United Nations. spgs PENRITH

CHINA TOUR 2006

in all, gained places in the top 10% in the state, and seven students, with UAIs above 99, gained places in the top 1% of the state, the top students, Sarah Hellyer and Annika Lees with 99.85, equalling the best results the school has ever received.

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in which to link creativity and diversity with Christianity as expressed in music, a glimpse I believe of a corner of the kingdom of heaven.

I always empathised with other expressions of culture, something I pursued in my teaching and which led me via academic pursuits into teacher education. I have taken a position as lecturer in music education at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music at the University of Sydney, where I hope to share what I have learnt in a different context. I will continue to play a role at St Paul’s when requested and cherish memories and value the ongoing vision of St Paul’s Grammar School.

ST PAUL’S GRAMMAR SCHOOL PENRITH

CELEBRATING

25 YEARS 1983 - 2008

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St Paul’s Grammar School Penrith

2007 Guests at the opening of one of the Visual Arts rooms

At a glance

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June

26 July 3-6 October

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the school hosted the inaugural National Career Development Week The refurbished Visual Arts block opened the school hosted the inaugural national fire cadet championships

Chairman of School Council: Mr Don Harwin Principal: Mr John Collier Assistant Principal, Curriculum: Mrs Ruby Holland Acting Head, Junior School: Mr Nigel Kleinveldt Head, Middle School: Mrs Diane Longland Head, Senior School: Mr David Lindsay School Captains, 2007-2008: Dean Astley, Cassandra Jennison Junior School Head Prefects: Damian Meduri, Sarah Roberts Dux: Chamath Ariyasinghe (IB); Karina Douglass (HSC) President, SPEXS: Mrs Angela Jovanovski President, Friends of St Paul’s: Mr Bill Blakey

FOR THE YEAR 2007, FUTURUM interviewed members of the school community who are doing particularly interesting things.

YEAR 6 EXHIBITION PROJECTS THAT MAKE YOU THINK Year 6 students Jordan Walter and Geneva Walker, along with the rest of their Year, addressed the statement ‘The responsible use of the environment can lead to a better world’ in their Primary Years Programme exhibition projects. Jordan said: I got the idea of doing the topic‘Carbon Pollution: The Solution Revolution’ from a project I did earlier on wind power.

I found two types of wind power blades: horizontal which is better for large supplies of energy; and vertical, which doesn’t need to be into the windstream. I found out a lot about how greenhouse works and would like to do what I can to help our environment.

Geneva’s project was about carbon emissions and alternative energy solutions: I explored different types of renewable energy and put together a particular proposal for the school which I discussed with Mr Collier. I worked out that the best way of supplying all the school’s energy needs was a combination of wind and solar power.

Solar works in bright sunshine and wind in dull weather. Rather than big solar units that can be fed into the grid and require expensive maintenance, I felt it was better to have 25 small solar panels (these needing cleaning only once a month) and 25 wind turbines (these needing cleaning only once a year). I checked with Integral Energy on the school’s electricity comsumption (I had to wait on the line for 20 minutes!) and believe this solution would meet the school’s power needs. One problem is that even though wind power holds more promise in the future than solar power, wind does not attract a rebate whereas solar does. My parents believe this is productive learning and some of my sustainability ideas to do with wind power will be included in the new house we are building. I’d like to go to university

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St Paul’s Grammar School Penrith

ST PAUL’S GRAMMAR SCHOOL PENRITH

CELEBRATING

25 YEARS 1983 - 2008

Left, Ben Mills with his church children’s group, 2007, and right, former student Nick Curran (with ?)

Ben Mills completed Year 12 in 2007 after a range of activities in his time at St Paul’s: I had been playing basketball since I was eight and was active in school basketball from Year 7 onwards. The highlights were winning the U13s and the Open ISA premierships and co-captaining the team in 2006-2007. I have grown up with the game and I enjoy playing, the team ethos and the mateship. I have played rugby since Year 9 when the coach Mark Bos convinced me that it links well with basketball and that it would offer mateship, fun and friends. This has proved to be true. Our best year was the 16s when we were runners-up in the championships. I have taken school scripture for a number of years and it became a CAS project. I run a youth group at church with the help of my parents and Monday Club at church after school, starting with a devotional and then playing games. On the academic front, I took the IB Diploma and have particularly enjoyed Economics and Biology, but have a particularly soft spot for Chinese – it gives me a lot of satisfaction when something just clicks and when I see the appreciation in the faces of Chinese when I use it. I’m taking up an Australian-Chinese scholarship in 2008 to a university in Zhejiang Province south of Shanghai, sponsored by the AustraliaChina Council. When I come back to Australia, I’d like to pursue university studies in international affairs.

Nick Curran also completed Year 12 in 2007 and was Strathdon House Captain in 2006-2007: I have been at the school since Kindergarten in 1995 and always wanted to stay – I had made many friends here.

I was involved in the Rural Fire Service Cadets from Year 7, taking part in various camps and state and regional championships and becoming Senior Cadet Captain in Years 10 and 11. I enjoyed the

BRIEF NOTES ON PRAISEWORTHY ACHIEVEMENTS FUTURUM notes in brief some further student achievements in 2007: School dux was Chamath Ariyasinghe who came from a Sydney school at the beginning of 2007 to improve on his 2006 result of 95, the result being a UAI of 99.8, enough to give him entry to his chosen field, Medicine, a success he attributes to his ‘brilliant teachers’.

Olivia Bush combated much time away from school through illness to achieve a UAI of 97.7. Zac Abela, who has shown high learning skills in a range of areas include guitar-playing and photography, had his Visual Art major work chosen for HSC ArtExpress, a work that dealt with the theme of identity and involved working at a highly conceptual level. Nicole Parise and Rhys Starkey received 100% in School Certificate test subjects, the first time the school had gained 100% in any subject. Natasha Jones and Shanil Dhanji gained 60 out of 63 in the MYP, a very substantial achievement, the highest result the school has gained. Jack Pollard and Paris Hansch, both in Year 7, were state winners of the National History Challenge. And one Year 12 2007 and 10 Year 12 2008 students went to New Zealand in the

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LOOKING BACKWARDS AND FORWARDS FROM A YEAR 12 VIEWPOINT

activities and the friendships that developed with students and staff.

I played basketball from Year 7 and was in the 1st V in 2006-2007.

I enjoyed the challenge, the physical competition. The highlight was the Queensland tour. I was involved in musicals from Year 6 onwards, the highlights being ‘Honk’ and ‘Babbacombe Lee’. Again, I was able to build up friendships through this and I am very involved in music and drama. The subjects I was most involved in were Music, Drama and Business Studies, and I hope to take a personal trainer’s course at UWS in 2009. In 2008 I’ll do labouring at Airlie Beach and go to Canada for a while. What the school has meant to me has been a safe environment, particularly in my tutor group. Some teachers, like my tutor, Year coordinator and Music and Drama teachers, have become friends. And I hope to take up RFS work while studying in 2009.

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and learn to design sustainable houses like the interesting ones I’ve found on websites.

ST PAUL’S GRAMMAR SCHOOL PENRITH

CELEBRATING

25 YEARS 1983 - 2008

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St Paul’s Grammar School Penrith

2007 spgs PENRITH

Left, former student Joshua Little receiving an award from state governor Professor Marie Bashir; centre, former student Ali Foster (centre) with members of the Ali Foster Quartet, and right, former student Luke Taylor

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Christmas holidays 2007-2008 to fulfil requirements for their Gold Duke of Edinburgh award. These are a few of the many successes of 2007 and all students who gave of their best are to be congratulated, along with these.

INTERESTING FORMER STUDENTS’ VENTURES Luke Taylor completed Year 12 at St Paul’s in 2006 and commenced a Bachelor of Advanced Science at the University of Sydney in 2007: I did Psychology, Molecular Biology and Genetics, Chemistry Special Studies and two Maths subjects this year, averaging high distinction in my subjects in second semester 2007. I’ll probably participate in the Talented Students’ Program in second or third year that I entered as a result of my school recommendation in 2006 as a means of gaining extra credits. In 2008 I hope to do Psychology, Biochemistry and Pharmacology in both semesters and Physiology and Neuroanatomy for one semester each. The following year I hope to major in Advanced Pharmacology and Psychology, then move into the four-year postgraduate medicine course. Outside my course work, I have a job teaching tap dancing, I am learning German from my Mum and hope to get back into the Rural Fire Service that I was so involved in at school.

Ali Foster was school captain in 2004: In January 2005, I applied for a place as a drummer in both the classical and jazz course at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music. There were only two places for drummers, 30 were auditioned for these two places, and I was not hopeful that as a girl I would receive an offer – but I did, in both courses, and I chose the Jazz Studies course. Getting in meant I was immediately into the jazz scene with wonderful teachers and received random calls to play at gigs; it also opened up the rock, country music and pop scenes. In the last three years, the highlights have been rewards of good marks for hard work leading in 2007 to a High Distinction for performance;

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St Paul’s Grammar School Penrith

ST PAUL’S GRAMMAR SCHOOL PENRITH

CELEBRATING

25 YEARS 1983 - 2008

Members of the Trappel family: (left to right) Ray, Zac, Jemima and Lynne

Joshua Little left St Paul’s in 2004 and graduated in 2007 with distinction in every subject over his three years’ Bachelor of Economics degree from the University of Sydney: I was going to go on to Honours in 2008, but decided to test the job market by applying for the one management trainee job available in the internal audit section of the Risk and Assessment Department at Qantas, along with a few thousand other applicants. Imagine my surprise when I was the one applicant selected!

It slots exactly into what I have been trained to do and I am to start working for them in January. Other activities I have been involved in are working at Woolworths head office since I was 14; participating in the university’s Commerce Society and International Business Society; being an alumni member of the Golden Key International Honour Society (an international body that recognises high achievers); being a business relations volunteer at the recent Sydney APEC leaders’ week; and tutoring disadvantaged students in HSC Legal Studies in a volunteer capacity, a source of particular satisfaction.

AND

Ray Trappel has worked as architect and builder for the school in the past and his family continues their long association with the school: My wife Lynne and I designed and built the 1989 High School Library and later its extensions, built the front fence and designed the school administration building. Lynne played violin at school events over many years, in 2004 began teaching a Junior School performance group and in 2007 began taking individual violin lessons. Our son Zac began at the school in Year 7 in 2004 and our daughter Jemima came into Year 11 in 2005. We have long-term connections with members of the music staff in particular. So we have multiple connections with the school.

Looking back over the years, it is fantastic the way the mudbrick buildings have stood up and how the wood has weathered. They give a warmth, an ambience, a softness to the school that complements the sharper newer buildings. The library has given the school a heart and the administration building order. My children, who were homeschooled for their early years, have liked the school.

Jemima decided to come herself – it has broadened her outlook and extended her academically. She was teachable, worked and had high quality teaching that made the whole process a team thing. spgs PENRITH

This year I was the winner of the Jann Rutherford Award, set up to recognise young female jazz musicians, the judges being Sandy Evans, Judy Bailey and Zoe Hauptmann, who have contributed so much to my development as a musician. I finish my course next year and look to applying for tuition postings in high schools and some private tuition. I’d like to encourage others to get into music. I see music as a way to bring glory to God and want to promote music as a community rather than a competitive activity.

A SCHOOL ARCHITECT, BUILDER PARENT’S LONG-TERM PERSPECTIVE

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working as part of Happensdance, the Jayne Derham band and the Pete McDonald Quintet; and, recently, the creation of the Ali Foster Quartet.

S t P aul ’ s futurum GRAMMAR SCHOOL

St Paul’s Grammar School Penrith penrith, australia

No. 43 Autumn 2008

ST PAUL’S GRAMMAR SCHOOL PENRITH

CELEBRATING

25 YEARS 1983 - 2008

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