As I was walking down the Year 7 verandah today, I couldn’t help but notice a group of boys gathered on the grass just outside the Year 7 classrooms. As I wandered over closer, I could smell something somewhat different … and see smoke coming from this group of boys. While my first thought, having worked with boys for quite a few years now, was to go for the fire extinguisher – I soon I noticed their teacher sitting in the middle of this group.

When I approached the group it was wonderful to see how involved all the boys were. They were learning and enjoying it! However, the practical learning didn’t stop there for the lesson as I was quickly invited to join the group back up in the Resources Centre where they were to wrap toilet paper around each other! Why? Well … Michael Icely (East Lindfield) has taken the time to explain what exactly the smoke I saw and later the toilet paper were all about! This is his report:

Today at my history lesson Mrs Schofield, our teacher had told us that we were to go to Seminar 1 where she would tell us what we were going to do during the lesson. The bell had rung and my class had gone up there where she was waiting for us with some bags.

We had no clue what the plan was … but then she told us that we had to walk silently behind the language room. When we had got there she told us about what the first of two fun activities.

The first was that she was going to show us how the ancient Egyptians made smoke while talking to the gods. We had to stand 2 metres away so no one would get hurt. After a few interesting questions and answers Mr. Sidgreaves came down with a camera. He said “I could smell the smoke a mile away and decide to find out what it was.” I thought he knew because some how our history teacher Mrs. Schofeild told him before hand or Mr. Sidgreaves was very smart when it comes to smoke signals. After a few great snap shots Mrs. Schofield told Mr. Sidgreaves to come up in 15 minutes time to the Seminar room.

Then the better of two great activities happened. We had to get into groups of three and mummify one of our partners. I was lucky enough to be mummified with my two partners Mitchell Johnston (Drummoyne) and Ibbi Warfield (Longueville). The best mummifying got a Fredo Frog and I was confident that we were going to win! Mitchell started at the legs and had done most of it in 3 minutes. Mr Sidgreaves walked in and everyone was pretty much finished except my head. When we had finished it was time to decide who won … the make or break time! Problem was … I could not see or hear who it was that won except for knowing that everyone was ripping and throwing the toilet paper around in celebration becasue Mrs Schofield decided to give us all Fredos … and three lucky boys had two. Then Mrs. Schofield said that I could right the report for Mr. Sidgraves and … well … that was the best History lesson ever.

Pictured in Photo 2:  Jack Campbell (Gladesville), James Goodman (Hunters Hill), Mitch Frater-Baird (Killara), Ben Rooney (Avalon), Jarryd Yun (Castle Cove), Michael Icely (East Lindfield), Dylan Chin (Killara), Will O’Connell (Gladesville), Ibbi Warfield (Longueville), Harrison Fricot (Glebe), Max Taylor (Riverview), Will Wennerbom (Birchgrove), Chad Hazouri (Hunters Hill), James Pope (Russell Lea), Adam Dolin (Lane Cove), Ewan Spinks (Tennyson Point), Mitchell Johnston (Drummoyne).

Pictured in Photo 3:  Mitch Frater-Baird (I think), Harrison Fricot and Adam Dolin

One of the things that I love about Joeys is the diversity of opportunities offered to the boys. Different boys have different strengths and it is great to see boys being exposed to various facets of education. It is also wonderful to see the boys trying new things.

An example of this is in the boys’ Technology classes. Throughout the year, the boys will work on different ‘jobs’ which not only teach them new skills but also allows them to be creative. Many of you may have already seen the result of your son’s Technology classes in the form of a perspex photo frame. I know a couple of boys thought it only appropriate to present their parents with the frame containing a photo of themselves in it!

Today as I visited Class 7.7 I couldn’t help but notice how the boys were so enthusiastic about their work. The boys were working on their new job which is to design and create a storage system from perspex. This ‘job’ allows the boys to show their own flare as they not only create the job but also design it. They were spread across the room all completing different parts of their new job. Some boys were sawing, some sanding while others were on big machines (which I don’t know the name of or the function!).

Hopefully in the coming weeks you will get to see the result of your son’s efforts in their Technology class. Certainly if the effort of the boys in Ms Chapple’s class is anything to go by, I am sure you will be presented with something very appealing!

Pictured in Photo 1:  Angus Reynolds (Mosman)

Pictured in Photo 2:  Joey Falcomata (Hunters Hill)

This morning, all of Year 7 gathered in the Br Michael Naughtin Theatre for the finals of the annual Public Speaking Competition. This event is the climax of the assessment that all boys in the form have been preparing for some weeks now. I’m sure that your son has, at some stage, told you about his English assignment which was a “PowerPoint” presentation and speech about one of their class-mates.

All boys have presented this in class and from each class, the teacher chose the best presentation to go into the final against the best of each of the other classes.

The final this morning involved two presentations from each boy. The first was their speech from class about their class-mate. The second was a more challenging task of an impromptu speech. For the latter, the boys were given the topic and one minute to prepare before presenting a one minute speech. As you would appreciate, this is a very tough ask and the boys who represented their class did a wonderful job.

The topic for the impromtu for each of the boys was “Believe it or not!”. This topic certainly provided a diverstity of speeches which kept us not only interested but greatly entertained. It was fantastic to see the boys speak so naturally as they made their way through the heart-pumping minute.

Peter Ross and I were lucky enough to be the judges and were impressed not only with the content of the speeches but also the confidence that these boys showed in being able to get up in front of their peers and speak. We all know how tough it can be to speak in front of your friends – to do this at the age of 12 or 13 and in front of 150 other boys is a massive credit to each of the boys.

Special congratulations should go to Bayley O’Donnell (Hong Kong)who won the Public Speaking Competition. Bayley delivered a very interesting prepared presentation which was well balanced with content and humour. When it came to his impromptu, he showed a high level as confidence as he kept us all entertained with his animated but natural manner. Bayley was closely followed by James Ramm (North Epping) and Oliver Sumsky (Alexandria).

All six of the boys who participated this morning should be commended for their courage and efforts. Further to this, all the boys in Year 7 should be credited with the effort that they put into their English assessment task. The English teachers were very impressed with the standard of presentations.

Pictured in Photo 1:  Bayley O’Donnell (Hong Kong)

Pictured in Photo 2:  Oliver Sumsky (Alexandria), Alec Du Maurier (Northwood), Max Reginato (Turramurra), James Ramm (North Epping), Will O’Leary (Elong Elong) and Bayley O’Donnell (Hong Kong)

Written by Mrs Judy O’Connell
(Head of Library and Information Services)

Chances are that in a quiet moment somewhere around the College you’ll find a boy curled up and reading a book!

It’s wonderful to see so many of our boys come to Joeys as avid readers. But many other boys are a little reluctant to read, so it was it was good to see the outright enthusiasm of all of Year 7 who were engaged for an hour hearing about ‘what’s hot’ in books and discovering many great books to read. Paul MacDonald from the Children’s Bookshop at Beecroft has great experience in motivating students to read. Paul was a primary and secondary English teacher before ‘getting into books’ with his own bookshop.

Paul spent a really busy hour talking with the Year 7 boys, reminding them of the value of reading and writing for creative enjoyment and learning – and for their future careers. Everyone needs to be literate no matter what they do in life! Amongst many anecdotes shared by Paul, boys were particularly astonished to learn that new Australian author Rebecca James, who wrote Beautiful Malice, has had her book rights purchased for $1,000,000; and that boys of just 15 like Christopher Paolini can become famous for their writing. Boys learned about many new releases in a wide range of genres, including trans-literacy books, graphic novels and picture books. Paul shared lots of facts, and at regular intervals asked a quick quiz question! A Robert Muchamore Cherub beanie was the instant prize for each lucky winner. What a huge show of hands urging to be chosen to answer the question. What a motivation winner!

We were delighted to find that many boys raced in to the Resources Centre straight after lunch to grab books to read. At last count books were borrowed or reserved for authors such as Anthony Horowitz, Suzanne Collins, Matthew Reilly, Robert Muchamore, John Flanagan , James Paterson, Alex Scarrow and Christopher Paolini, and Gabriel Lord. Congratulations to Year 7 for being such an excellent audience, and for being so excited about books. Keep up the good work boys!

Pictured in Photo 1:  Marcus Britt (Cronulla), Andre Bezuidenhout (Castlecrag), Tom O’Connor (Ryde), Connor Berkery (Wahroonga), Matthew Walker (Paddington), Cain Nelson (Putney), Nathan Dufficy (Woolwich), Ben Williams (Hunters Hill) and Hamish McDonald (Hunters Hill).