Grammar Gazette- Issue 2, 2011

grammar gazette SPRING 2011

Australia’s top teachers This year, Mr Andrew Pennay, Head of Classroom Music was a recipient of one of the prestigious 2011 National Awards for Excellence in School Music Education which were announced during the Australian Society for Music Education XVIII National Conference in Queensland in July.

Thirteen awards for excellence and leadership in school music education were awarded to teachers. The awards recognised the recipients’ exceptional contribution to enhancing the status and quality of music education in their schools. Each award consisted of a grant of $5000 to enable the recipients to further their professional learning related to music education. As Head of Music at Brisbane Girls Grammar School, Andrew Pennay is continually reviewing and enhancing the music programme across all

levels to ensure students access ideas and practices in their learning that are motivating, inspiring and relevant to their current and future lives. He has initiated programmes to develop students’ skills in composition and recording as well as in performance. Mr Pennay has introduced courses in music technology which have ensured that students are confident in using emerging technologies, and he has worked closely with instrumental teachers to ensure that there is co-ordination with the academic music programme.

(image GG Sept 11 / 270 words

Music Maestro Wins Coveted Award

(L-R) Katherine Boys, Anne Devereaux, Elizabeth Redmond, Kathleen Simpson

Golden Year for Girls Grammar Fencers

It has been another successful year for our Fencing Club. In May, Girls Grammar won the Queensland State School Teams Championships for the fourth consecutive year. In June, the School won both the Year 9 and Year 10 Divisions in the Brisbane School Teams Competition, and was the highest placed girls’ school finishing second overall. Finally in August, our fencers won all three competitions in the National Secondary School Teams Championships, defending their Foil title from 2010 and adding the Epee and Sabre in the inaugural competitions. A number of fencers have also enjoyed success at a state and national level.

Elizabeth Redmond won the U15 Women’s Sabre State Championship, Kathleen Simpson won the gold medal in Individual Women’s Sabre at the National School Fencer Championship, and Anne Devereaux won the U17 State Championships in all three weapons, the gold medal in Individual Women’s Epee at the National School Fencer Championships, and also won the Cadet (U17) National Championship in Women’s Epee. In addition, six fencers from the School won gold medals as part of Queensland Teams for the National School Fencer Championships, and nine girls were selected in state teams at the Cadet and U15 National Championships in Perth.

Finally, several Girls Grammar Fencers have extended their fencing efforts to include the “green and gold”. Anne Devereaux was part of the Australian Women’s Epee Team which won a silver medal at the Asian Cadet Fencing Championships in Bangkok, and Kathleen Simpson represented Australia in both Cadet and Junior (U20) Women’s Sabre. Katherine Boys also represented Australia and finished 5th in Women’s Foil at the Oceania Cadet Fencing Championships. MR PETER CREESE, FENCING CO-ORDINATOR, DIRECTOR OF THE EXECUTIVE OF THE AUSTRALIAN FENCING FEDERATION AND ADMINISTRATION OFFICER AND SPORTS DEVELOPMENT MANAGER FOR THE QUEENSLAND FENCING ASSOCIATION.

Brisbane Girls Grammar School Director of Instrumental Music Mr Mark Sullivan has been awarded a National Excellence in Teaching Award (NEiTA).

The only secondary school teacher in Queensland to receive the accolade this year and one of only ten winners nationally, Mr Sullivan’s vibrant, inclusive programme sets him apart as a leader in musical tuition. Mr Sullivan said the award is national acknowledgement of the important role music plays in students’ education. The programme developed by Mr Sullivan has achieved wide acclaim for its breadth of opportunities and support of individuals to achieve to

their potential in an inspiring and exceptional musical environment. Its sheer volume alone is impressive— involving twenty-four instrumental staff, twenty-two band, string and choral ensembles of excellence engaging over half the School population of 1167 students. More than 30 of his students have gone on to become professional musicians or teachers. NEiTA are the only independent national awards for teachers in

Australia based on nomination by he school community. In 2011 the 10 winners were selected from more than 1000 nominations. Mr Sullivan plans to visit Venezuela to learn more about the El Sistema programme which aims to change lives through music. Working to lift children out of poverty through music, the programme is internationally recognised for its extraordinary impact on youth living in Venezuela’s slums.

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