2024 School Magazine

German Study Tour

Over the September holidays, a group of Year 10 and 11 German students had the opportunity to travel to Germany for an educational tour. The trip to Germany was the perfect way to immerse ourselves in the language and culture, practise the skills we learned in the classroom, and meet new people. Not only were we able to expand our knowledge of the German language and culture, we were also able to try traditional German cuisine such as currywurst, Döner kebab, pork knuckle, schnitzel, and apple strudel. Throughout the trip, we learned about Germany’s rich history, beginning our journey in Berlin, where we explored historic relics, such as the Berlin Wall, the Berlin Cathedral, and the Brandenburg Gate. The next stop was Munich, where we had the opportunity to visit Dachau Concentration Camp to commemorate the lives lost during World War 2.

The final destination on our trip was Neuwied for the homestay with students from Werner Heisenberg Gymnasium. Whilst some students were able to reconnect with the friends they made during the German students' trip to Australia last year, others were able to meet new people and form new connections. During the homestay, we had the opportunity to fully immerse ourselves in the German language and culture, and experience life as a teenager in Germany and observe firsthand the differences between the Australian and German schooling systems. During our week in Neuwied, we went on excursions to nearby towns and cities—notably, Cologne. There, we participated in a guided tour of the Cologne Cathedral where we learned more about the longstanding and impressive history of one of Germany’s most iconic landmarks. We are grateful to have had the opportunity to travel overseas. It provided a wonderful learning experience beyond the classroom and allowed us to extend our German skills in practical, real-life situations. Rebecca Chen (11W) and Ava Tran (11G)

NZ Music Tour

During the June-July holidays, four teachers and 32 students travelled to New Zealand for the Rhapsody Rotorua Music Festival. We engaged in public performances at a local school and the Sir Howard Morrison Centre, along with sightseeing and cultural activities. All the tour ensembles were created specifically for the occasion, with every student participating in the Philharmonic Orchestra and the Tour Chorus; we also had a more specialised String Ensemble and Chamber Choir. The Orchestra, String Ensemble and Chamber Choir were all adjudicated by professional, New Zealand-based musicians, with all three awarded gold for their performances. Highlights included: visiting Hobbiton; performing Dorothy Rae’s original composition Roads Go Ever On —inspired by The Hobbit; racing each other on the Luge and the Shweeb; and learning about Maori culture; all interspersed between spontaneous singalongs on the bus. We would like to thank Mr Jonathan Zorzetto for his dedication, planning, and brilliant conducting of the Orchestra and String Ensemble; Ms Ruani Dias-Jayasinha for her spectacular conducting and choral coaching; as well as Mrs Laurinda Davidson and Ms Ashleigh McLaren for their endless support. Scout Sommerfeld (12L) and Caitlin Trappett (11O)

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