Athletics Carnival Reddamreddamhouse.com.au/PDF/2016/Primary/PrimaryVol16Issue22.pdf · The past week saw mass participation in an enjoyable Athletics Carnival, beautiful music performed

Primary @ Reddam

Dear Parents and Caregivers,

The past week saw mass participation in an enjoyable Athletics Carnival, beautiful music performed in the Concerto Competition, casual clothing galore across the school for Mufti Day today – and a whole lot of learning and fun in the classrooms and on the sports fields. There certainly isn’t a dull moment in the life of Reddam House Primary School!

Fortunately the rain held off so that the Athletics Carnival could take place, and a thor-oughly good time was had by all. Competitors showed true grit and determination and their supporters cheered them on with gusto. As always, the teachers and coaches pro-vided the backbone for the event to run smoothly and I thank all of them for their effi-ciency and for the enthusiastic spirit in which they encouraged the students. Thank you in particular to Matthew Carter, Tom Cooper, Phil Kable and the Sports Department for the planning and execution of a fantastic day.

Of course, there were those who stood out at the Athletics Carnival and I would like to congratulate the Age Champions. Runners-up and winners from the 8s through the 12s were, respectively: Imogen Baldassarre, Sky Russell, Tomi Reynaldo, Oscar Bakes, Diana Van Geuns, Eliana Debellis, Benji Rubinstein, Connor Kondilios and Bailey Benmayor, Mor-gan Ratner, Coco Batu- Sampson, Thomas Malki, Daniel Shields, Talia Shapiro, Aaliyah Ib-rahim and Frederika Schneideman, Julian Shalome, Jacob Gerber, Jade Zelinger, Zoe Costello, Brooklyn Berry and Harry Nunn-Price. Congratulations to these young athletes – and to all who participated with such fantastic spirit!

The annual Concerto Competition is always a musical highlight of the year and this year was no exception. We were joined by the internationally recognised violin soloist and string competition judge, Charmain Gadd. Ms Gadd, now retired, toured internationally throughout the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s. Since then she has continued to teach and she travels to many international string competitions to adjudicate.

The night saw 11 soloists perform with our productions orchestra - RHOBO. In the Upper Pri-mary/Middle School Section there were five participants, two of whom were from the Pri-mary School. Edward Machkevitch performed the 1st movement of the Rieding Violin Concerto in b minor with flair, for which he received a Participation certificate. 1st Place was awarded to Anthony Chuang, who performed the 1st movement of the Cello Con-certo No.1 in C Major by Haydn. My congratulations to both of these students, who are already performing with such aplomb, even while still in Primary School.

Our support of the Jeans for Genes Day goes back a number of years, and while it is ob-viously an enjoyable day for the students to come to school in mufti, it serves a critical purpose. Statistics reveal that ‘although most babies are born healthy, 1 in 20 children are born with a birth defect or genetic disease. On average, that’s one in every

classroom’.

The Reddam House Primary School Newsletter Volume 16 Issue 21 Friday 5 August 2016 Page 1

IN THIS ISSUE:

Athletics Carnival

News from Classrooms

Sport Fixtures and Results

As I watched our children enjoying Mufti Day, I could not but think of the many thousands of

children for whom every day is a struggle – and yet, through the Children’s Medical Research

Institute, the organisation behind the Genes for Jeans initiative, these children and their par-

ents are given support and hope. I thank all families for their backing of this fund-raising op-

portunity.

Although the following piece was submitted under the Year 5 and 6 Extension English section,

I felt that it was important enough for inclusion further up the newsletter, as it has relevance

for parents of children of all ages:

Something that arguably only the English Department could get excited about is a spelling

seminar, but this week’s professional development at the Australian Independent Schools As-

sociation proved more than worthwhile for teachers Belinda Tomarchio and Judith Reen.

Overwhelmingly, research indicates that explicit and systematic teaching is effective when

improving literacy standards, and in particular spelling accuracy. While many children are of

the impression that the spell check will take care of mistakes in their writing we know that

spell check cannot differentiate between the thousands of homophones in the English lan-

guage. We also know how one spelling mistake can lower the tone and erode the credibility

of a piece of good-quality writing.

So why is spelling so difficult in English? It is both a blessing and a curse that the English lan-

guage is so rich and varied; it allows us to express ourselves with a wide range of powerful vo-

cabulary but makes spelling a challenge. English contains over a million words (almost dou-

ble that of some European languages), including words borrowed from over fifty other lan-

guages from around the world. Hence the irregularity in spelling patterns. ‘Loanwords’ are a

result of cultural contact between language communities and the rich etymological history

of English.

What is clear is that we cannot teach spelling in isolation. If teachers were to teach and test

twenty words and three spelling rules per week this would still only amount to roughly 600

words or word families per academic year. Not nearly enough to reach fluency or reasona-

ble accuracy. The secret to good spelling, and to increasing literacy levels overall, is expo-

sure to rich models of language. This may be simple in principle but children are reading less

and less as apps, games, movies and Youtube devours more of their time. According to Niel-

son Book data, only 60% of children are reading for pleasure on a weekly basis.

Researchers such as Rosenshine and Hattie state that beyond Year 2 the only way to expand

a child’s vocabulary is through good books. While silent reading is a superb past-time and

better than no reading at all, maximum benefit comes from time taken reading to each oth-

er. So on these rainy days curl up with a good book and share the joy, even if your child is

bigger than you!’

Congratulations to Nathan Galper in Year 4, who went to a NSW Karate Tournament in Janalli

last weekend. He had four fights, of which he lost two and won two. Nathan came third over-

all, which is an outstanding achievement! Continuing on from his excellent performances a

couple of weeks ago, Egor Grachov won first place in the under 31kg category and first

place in the Special category at the Shinsei Judo Club. Congratulations Egor!


On Sunday, the Sydney Eisteddfod Public Speaking Competition takes place in the Adelaide

Hall and I wish all our aspiring orators everything of the best. Surely there can be few quite so

nerve-wracking activities such as standing up in front of an audience, and yet I am constant-

ly confounded by the verve and confidence with which our young speakers do just this.

On Monday next week the treat of Music Department offerings continues, with the Composi-

tion Competition taking place, while the Sydney Eisteddfod Public Speaking Competition

continues next Sunday. Rehearsals for the school musical, The Sound of Music, continue, and

there is a very real excitement for this, as songs and dances are learned, and the principle

characters make their way through pages of lines to be memorised.

Dee Pitcairn

Principal



REDDAM HOUSE

would like to wish a very happy birthday to

Hayden Phillips, Maritsa Apostolopoulos, Jade Chandra, Mathew Ching,

Maya Bauer, Zoe Costello and Kaolin Wolfe-Coote

who celebrated their special day this week!

We hope you had a fabulous day!

SOUND OF MUSIC REHEARSALS

Monday 8 August 3:30pm to 6:00pm Church Choir, Mother Abbess,

Sister Berthe, Sister Margaretta,

Maria, Sister Sophia, All nuns and

Priests Drama Room

Tuesday 9 August 3:30pm to 6:00pm Captain, Frau Schmidt, Franz, Ma-

ria, Liesel, Louisa, Friedrich, Kurt,

Brigitta, Marta, Gretl, Drama Room

Wednesday 10 August 3:30pm to 6:00pm All students involved with the

song ‘The Hills are alive” with the

Sound of Music Drama Room

Thursday 11 August 3:30pm to 6:00pm All Students involved with the

song “Do Re Mi” Drama Room

Friday 12 August 2:30pm to 5:00pm Full cast Rehearsal. Adelaide Hall

Monday 15 August 3:30pm to 6:00pm

All Townsfolk, The Choir of

Nonnberg Abbey, Father Abbess,

Maria, Sister Berthe, Sister Sophia,

Sister Margarretta. Song

“favourite things”

Drama Room

Tuesday 16 August 3:30pm to 6:00pm All Yodelers, Franz, Frau Schmidt,

Maria, Liesel, Rolf, All von Trapp

children. Song “The lonely goat

herd” Drama Room

Wednesday 17 August 3:30pm to 6:00pm Scene 6 – Captain, Frau Schmidt,

Max, Rolf, Maria, All von Trapp

children. Drama Room

Thursday 18 August 3:30pm to 6:00pm Scene 7 – Herr Zeller, Brigitta,

Captain, Maria, Kurt, The Choir of

Nonnberg Abbey Drama Room

Friday 19 August 2:30pm to 5:00pm Full cast Rehearsal. Adelaide Hall

SPORTING FIXTURES 30TH JULY 2016

Basketball

Girls

10R (Div1) (Jaimee) V All Blacks 14 - 9

12R Div 2 ( Jaimee) V Gems 24 -27

14 E Div 2 (Luke) V Sonics 9 - 35

18 R Div 2 (Jaimee) V Avengers 57 - 27

16E Div 2 (Jaimee) V Furies 0 - 20

Boys

10 R Div 1 ( Marcel) V Hurricanes 7 - 23

12 R Div 2 (Marcel) V All Blacks 45 - 2

12E Div 2 (Marcel) V Saints 8 - 21

12 D Div 3 (Marcel) V Maccabi 4 - 33

14 E Div 2 Primary (Henry) V Bye

14D Div 3 High School (Henry) V Blaze 22 - 25

16 R Div 2 ( Luke) V Magic 29 - 45

16E Div 3 ( Luke) V Phoenix 13 - 27

18E Div 3 Year 10 Boys (Luke) V Ballerz 25 - 28

Rugby

16A V St Josephs College 14 - 40

14A V Scots 31 - 5

Soccer

16 Girls V Queens Park 0 - 2

14 Girls V Queens Park 1- 1

Open Boys V St Patricks College 5 - 1

Year 10 Boys V Kings 1 - 1

Year 9 Boys V Sydney Grammar 0- 1

Year 8 Boys V Sydney Grammar 1 - 1

Year 7 Boys V Kings 0 - 2

12s Boys V Queens Park 5 - 0

11Rs Boys V Maroubra 2- 7

11Es Boys V Queens Park 4 - 0

10s Boys V Maroubra 3 - 1

9s Boys V Queens Park 3 - 1

Netball

Reddam 1 ( Intermediate) V Bye

Reddam 2 (15 Years) V St Catherines 0-16

Reddam 3 (14 Years) V St Catherines 22 - 3

Reddam 4 (14 Years ) V Mascot 6 - 62

Reddam 5 (13 Years) V St Catherines 7 - 34

Reddam 6 (13 Years) V Coogee 36 - 6

Reddam 7 (12 Years ) V Mascot 14 - 5

Reddam 8 (10 Years) V Randwick Rugby 5 - 15

Reddam 9 (Moddies) V South Eastern 8 - 7


SPORT RESULTS

Touch Football

Reddam V Chicks 12 - 2

SPORTING FIXTURES 6TH AUGUST 2016

Basketball

Girls

10R (Div1) (Jaimee) V Bye

12R Div 2 ( Jaimee) V Bye

14 E Div 2 (Luke) V Newtown 1.30pm Marrickville

Basketball Stadium Saturday.

18 R Div 2 (Jaimee) V Wildcats 5.05pm Alexan-

dria Basketball Stadium Friday. The bus will leave the sports office at Woollahra at 3.00pm

16E Div 2 (Jaimee) V Supersonics 4.20pm Alexan-

dria Basketball Stadium Friday. The bus will leave the sports office at Woollahra at 3.00pm

Boys

10 R Div 1 ( Marcel) V Bye

12 R Div 2 (Marcel) V Newtown 11.05am Alexan-

dria Basketball Stadium Saturday. 12E Div 2 (Marcel) V Bye

12 D Div 3 (Marcel) V Newtown 9.35am Alexan-

dria Basketball Stadium Saturday.

14 E Div 2 Primary (Henry) V Pirates 4.00pm Alex-

andria Basketball Stadium Saturday. 14D Div 3 High School (Henry) V Maccabi 2.20pm

Alexandria Basketball Stadium Saturday.

16 R Div 2 ( Luke) V Inner City 3.45pm Marrickville

Basketball Stadium Saturday.

16E Div 3 ( Luke) V Stars 6.00pm Marrickville Bas-

ketball Stadium Saturday. 18E Div 3 Year 10 Boys (Luke) V Rose Bay 3.45pm

Marrickville Basketball Stadium Saturday. Please check sydneybasketball.com.au to en-

sure there have not been any late changes to

the draw.

Rugby

16A V Barker, Parade Ground No.6 (where we

train) Centennial Park 12.00 noon Saturday. 14A V SHORE, Northbridge C Ground, 11.00am

Saturday The bus will leave Woollahra at 10.00am

Soccer

16 Girls V Maccabi, Christison Park 1, 9.30am

Sunday 14 Girls V Queens Park, Queens Park 01, 2.00pm

Sunday

Open Boys V St Patricks College, St Patricks Oval

No.3, 10.30am Saturday. The bus will leave Wool-lahra at 9.15am

The Reddam House Primary School Newsletter Volume 16 Issue 21 Friday 22 July 2016 Page 6

SPORT FIXTURES

Year 10 Boys V Sydney Boys High School, Pa-

rade Ground No.6 (where we train) Centennial

Park 10.00am Saturday

Year 9 Boys V Sydney Boys High School, Pa-

rade Ground No.6 (where we train) Centennial

Park 9.00am Saturday

Year 8 Boys V Kings, Lower Massie 10.00am,

Saturday. The bus will leave Woollahra at 8.30am

Year 7 Boys V St Patricks College, Parade

Ground No.6 (where we train) Centennial Park 8.00am Saturday

12s Boys V Mascot, L’Estrange Park 1.00pm Sat-

urday 11Rs Boys V South East Eagles, Waverley Park 2,

1.00pm Saturday 11Es Boys V Mascot, L’Estrange Park 1.00pm

Saturday 10s Boys V Dunbar Rovers, Queens Park 10A,

12.00 noon Saturday

9s Boys V Easts, Waverley Park 2, 11.00am Sat-

urday

Netball

Reddam 1 ( Intermediate) V Randwick Rugby

Heffron Netball Courts No. 22, 1.40pm Saturday

Reddam 2 (15 Years) V Butterflies Heffron Net-

ball Court No. 22, 9.45am Saturday

Reddam 3 (14 Years) V Coogee Heffron Netball

Court No. 6, 12.24pm Saturday Reddam 4 (14 Years ) V Bye

Reddam 5 (13 Years) V Reddam Heffron Netball

Court No. 26, 11.06am Saturday

Reddam 6 (13 Years) V Reddam Heffron Netball

Court No. 26, 11.06am Saturday

Reddam 7 (12 Years ) V Randwick Rugby Hef-

fron Netball Court No. 6, 11.06am Saturday Reddam 8 (10 Years) V Bye

Reddam 9 (Moddies) V Carnival Day 8.45am

(first game Court 33) Saturday

Touch Football - Final

Reddam V Touch Heads Queens Park Sunday

The Kindergarten classrooms have been filled with chatter about the 2016 Rio Olympic

Games which starts today! Throughout week 1 and 2 we learnt all about the history of the

Olympics and the Ancient Olympic Games and this week our focus was on the Modern

Olympics. Our students each selected a mystery sport to research and teach the class about

for their Show and Tell topic. We learnt about water polo, rugby, basketball, fencing and

many more.

Here are some of the interesting facts that we learnt this week:

Ethan Chang: The most common weapon used in fencing is called a ‘foil’.

Daniel Pinski: Wrestling is one of the oldest Olympic sports.

Ethan Song: The most famous boxer was Muhammad Ali. He was really good.

Nathaniel Weiss: The last time rugby was in the Olympics was 92 years ago!

Ruby Levitt: Water polo is played in a very long pool, 30 metres long and 3 metres wide.

Phoenix Palermo: In Judo matches are fought between 2 people on a large mat. One per-

son wears white and the other person wears blue.


KINDERGARTEN

One of our topics this term in Year 1 is ‘Living Things’. We decided to investigate and observe

how plants grow. We planted our very own snow peas, carrots and beetroot, and supplied

our plants with water and sunlight. However, for one of our investigations we will not be giving

one plant sunlight nor one plant water. We have made our predictions of what might hap-

pen without these two factors. We can’t wait to see the outcome!

This week we also studied the work of the artist; Romero Britto. We made our own interpreta-

tions of his work.

On Tuesday our Athletics Carnival took place and we continued with the sporting theme in

the classroom by finding out about the Olympics! We created our very own Olympic torches

and medals and found out about some of the 28 sporting events that will be held in Brazil!


YEAR 1

This week Year 2 students have been thoroughly enjoying our History focus on the Olympic

Games. Our students have been interested in learning about the history of the Games, from

the ancient Games to the modern Olympics. We have been engaged by interesting "Show &

Tell" presentations which have reflected numerous sports from the summer Olympics. Our Ath-

letics carnival on Tuesday was a wonderful opportunity to support our friends and show our

amazing team spirit. We are looking forward to watching the opening ceremony in Rio this

week. Year 2 have also discussed our cultural connections with Brazil. Our Geography lessons

this week have focused on the Amazon rainforest.

YEAR 2


This term Year 3 have been working collaboratively during their investigation of Australia and

the environments that we can find within our sunburnt nation. They have been using iPads in

small groups to investigate a climate zone and they have gained knowledge with their peers

in small presentations.

Australia has six different climate zones. The children have been investigating these different

climates and identified where each of the zones are in Australia. After making a climate zone

map, we were able to conclude that we live in a temperate zone because we experience

warm to hot summers with occasional rain, and cool to cold rainy winters.

The children have enjoyed working with their peers to investigate more about the country in

which they live.

Leo: I liked using the iPads during Geography and Science because we get to find out about

NSW. I learnt that each state has its own flag.

Diana: In Geography we had fun exploring NSW, we used the iPads to look up useful infor-

mation and we had lots of fun!

Benji: I liked Geography this term because we got to use the iPads and work in small groups

to find information.

Bailey: I enjoyed Geography because it was fun working with my group, using the iPads to re-

search facts about NSW.


YEAR 3

This week in History, students have been learning about ANZAC Day. Students researched the

origins of the day and discussed the difference between the concepts celebrate and com-

memorate. Thinking skills were used to explore issues of war and peace. This week in PDH, stu-

dents learned about the long and short-term effects of smoking and alcohol. Students also

discussed the people who form their support network and how they make decisions to stay

safe.


YEAR 4


YEAR 5 EXTENSION ENGLISH

Role Models

Year 5 students were invited to participate in this year’s ‘Write to Win’ competition run by Pa-

per Mate. For a chance to win, students need to explain in 300 words or less who inspires

them the most in their life and why. We have not collected all of the entries yet but we are

pleased to note that Mums and Dads are coming out on top so far.

Aaliyah Ibrahim

When someone asks me who inspires me in life and why, my

first thought is my mother. There are a number of varied rea-

sons why my mother was my inspiration. First and foremost,

my mother is a humorous, intelligent and beautiful person.

She is always coming up with these hilarious jokes that make

me laugh my head off. She is always there to save the day

when I need help with my homework. When I say my mother

is beautiful I don’t just mean her looks, but I also mean she is

a beautiful person inside.

My mother is also a selfless person. She doesn’t just care

about herself but she cares for others as well. My mother is

always giving money, food and clothes to people that

need it the most to survive. Another day to day example is

when my mother helps people that are struggling with their

groceries to the car. She also tells me to help and this

teaches me to be a good citizen.

My mother is amazing, she manages to take care of five children, including me, instead of liv-

ing her own life the way she wants. Whenever I have a sports carnival, examination, extra-

curricular sports, a play or a competition, she will always be by my side cheering me on. My

mother also wakes up really early in the morning to take me to either training, before school

activities or anything I need to help me with my future. My mother is always there for me,

emotionally no matter what.

Persia Behnia

My inspiration is my mother. I chose her for numerous reasons that I will point out in just one

second but before I do I’d just like to say that she has given up everything to care for my

brother and I. Firstly my mother has to wake up early every morning (even on the holidays) to

take care of me and my brother. In this time, which is also her free time, she cleans the

house, gets breakfast ready and much much more.

Secondly my mum has to deal with my brother, an adolescent male with his hormones

changing who gets very moody. And you thought I was the bomb! Anyway my brother can

get annoying and shouty and my mum is the one who has to pay. Unfair I know, but my mum

fixes things up firmly without ever complaining.



Finally, I chose my mum because she has time for her

kids even with a tonne of weight on her shoulders.

Whenever I ask for her to ‘play’ with me or something

she will come to me with a big smile on her face and

her arms wide open to hug me. She also sometimes

gives my brother breakfast, lunch and dinner in bed!

You’re probably thinking “Why is her brother eating din-

ner in bed? A time when the family sits at the table and

talks?” Well, as I told you earlier, he is a moody teenag-

er and sometimes just unbearable.

To conclude, my mother has to; wake up early every

day, deal with my adolescent brother and on top of

that, she has to deal with me, and she has time to so-

cialize with her kids. When I hear the word ‘inspire’ I

think of my mother. That is why I chose to write about

her today.

YEAR 5 MATHEMATICS

In Year 5 Mathematics, we wrote some ‘What am I?’ riddles to help us remember the many

properties of triangles and quadrilaterals.

Alannah Grocott:

My angles add up to 180°.

None of my angles are equal.

None of my sides are equal.

What am I? I am a scalene triangle.

Zoe Topper:

I have 2 acute angles.

I have 2 obtuse angles.

My opposite sides are parallel.

What am I? I am a parallelogram.

Jasmine Kaushansky:

I am a quadrilateral.

I have no parallel lines.

My two pairs of adjacent lines are equal.

What am I? I am a kite.

This week in Science, Year 5 have been investigating how light travels in straight lines. We set

up a simple experiment using mirrors to reflect light rays around an obstacle. One of the

groups used some clear red plastic to create a laser beam effect. We also looked at materi-

als that were translucent, transparent and opaque. Great work this week Year 5!


YEAR 5 SCIENCE

YEAR 6 SCIENCE

Year 6 continued with their investigations into air and weather. We looked at the various cli-

mate zones within Australia and the key differences between weather and climate. We also

recapped on the water cycle and defined key terms such as evaporation, transpiration and

condensation. Good luck to Year 5 and Year 6 students in their Science cycle tests next

week!

The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas.

This week Year 6 were asked to consider why we read historical fiction

and what it is that young Bruno, the nine-year-old protagonist, has failed

to understand in the story so far.

Daniel Maynard

We read historical fiction like The Boy in The Striped Pyjamas because it

helps the reader to relate the characters in a way textbooks can't and

helps to build a more vivid picture in the audience’s mind. Reading a his-

torical textbook or just learning the straight facts can help you to under-

stand history but not really relate as a true human being at that time

would have seen their world in first-person.

Another reason to read historical fiction rather than textbooks is historical fiction like 'The Boy

in the Striped Pyjamas can help improve our literary skills. Instead of History and English being

separate subjects, both can help provide valid information momentarily and merge together

to create greater learning. We can learn both the facts and first-person experiences of life in

that era.

The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas is about Bruno, a nine-year-old boy growing up during World

War II in Berlin. Throughout the book Bruno remains innocent about what is happening in his

world. He grows in his understanding of what is happening around him but what Bruno has

failed to understand is all the political notions building up in his country and the rest of the

world. He also believes that the world is a happy place with no hate or injustices filled with

lovely people. Even though ironically his father is high up in the Nazi order.

He also doesn't know what a Jew is and is surprised when he first hears the word, even

though most children in Nazi Germany were trained to hate Jews from an early age. Jews

were also depicted as being ugly and selfish money-lovers even in propaganda such as car-

toons and colouring pages Koko Bates

We read historical fiction like The Boy in Striped Pyjamas because it allows us to learn events

through a victim of the Holocaust's eyes. A character we can identify with helps to illustrate

the type of things people had to go through and makes the learning process easier and

more efficient as well as making it seem life like. If we learnt only through textbooks and

dates, it wouldn't create the same deep understanding of the Holocaust and we could un-

consciously dehumanise the victims. Without books like The Boy in Striped Pyjamas, and so

many other narratives historical events like the Holocaust could only be seen through dates

and textbooks. The Holocaust is an important event in history and must be remembered by

future generations to ensure this doesn't happen again.

Mia Seisun

We read historical fiction novels like the 'Boy in the Striped Pyjamas' so that we can see the

events unfold in the eyes of a character who was directly involved. This is better than reading

textbooks that give us dates and times and strictly follow these events in chronology for the

novel takes the reader on a journey from the point of view of a character who has been

caught up in these events and is seeing them unfold without knowing the outcome.



We also read historical fiction for a more entertaining way of learning about these events. A

book about a journey or someone's story is highly entertaining but is also educational if it's

about true events. A historical novel is also easier to pick up than a textbook for it is more intri-

guing and exhilarating than a textbook because it discusses human qualities like passion,

love, hatred and ignorance. While textbooks are written to inform the reader historical novels

are meant to build empathy and simulated experiences.

In the novel, what Bruno has failed to see the evil that is being supported by his father. Bruno

doesn't see this for he is a naïve child. He is able to see the concentration camp with his own

eyes yet he is too caught up in his own petty problems, such as his new house, that he has

blinded himself to the sins his father is committing. Instead he thinks of his father as a great

man and idolises him throughout the book. A quote to support this is; '… "Those people... well

they're not people at all."

"They're not?" He asked unsure of what father meant.' (Page 41, chapter 5).

This proves that Bruno is either gullible or unwilling to try and find the root of the situation and

simply puts too much faith in what his father says. Bruno has also has failed to see that some-

thing is wrong with his parents’ relationship. His mother and father had been fighting for nights

before he went into his father's office yet he did not mind it. He accepted the fact that his fa-

ther treats women such as his mother and Maria the maid very poorly and without respect.

Bruno is too young to understand the need to question his father's authority. Instead he cop-

ies his father and treats Gretel poorly and is not told off, yet when Gretel treats him poorly she

is in trouble immediately. This shows that his parents are playing out gender roles. The relation-

ships are symptoms of what leads to the mass evil being committed on the other side of the

fence.

Throughout the novel I wished that Bruno would feel more obliged to question rather than

accepting that that there were other people on the side of the fence that are being treated

as third class citizens. He simply accepts the fact that the soldiers treat the man who peels

the food and the maids awfully even when they are in his house and haven't done anything

wrong. Anybody who accepts these facts is unable to think for themselves or are too blinded

by ignorance. Bruno's father also shares the same trait of letting things go too easily. A quote

to support this is, '"Accept the situation in which you find yourself and everything will be so

much easier."' Who would say this to their child? The world will never be a better place if we

don’t question the mistreatment of others.

Rosa Gordos

An Australian soldier's experience fighting in the Battle of Gallip-

oli, a rich aristocrat hiding during the French Revolution or per-

haps a young boy whose father works for the Fuhrer; these are

all examples of the wonderful genre, historical fiction. Historical

fiction often has the perfect combination of fact and fiction to

engross the reader and is arguably one of the best genres. His-

torical fiction brings past events to life through characters. It al-

lows us to see through the eyes of someone experiencing

things that actually happened. We live the characters' opin-

ions, thoughts, actions and feelings. From these kinds of novels,

we can learn from mistakes we made in the past, understand

our present better and perhaps predict the future.



Young children can often be naive, easy to manipulate and sometimes completely oblivious

to what goes on around them. Bruno demonstrates this throughout most of the novel. He has

no idea that his father supports and works for a man called Adolf Hitler, who is killing thou-

sands, even millions of innocent Jews. The little boy is only nine years old so it's no wonder

that he is unaware that such a terrible project is going on under his nose. Bruno doesn't know

what the camp which is visible from his window represents. He doesn't know about the horri-

ble conditions the prisoners endure. He believes that the boys in the camp are lucky because

they have other boys to play with and at one point he even says to one of the inmates that

he wishes that he could go into the camp.



We had a very busy week in the French classes. While the Kindies were singing and dancing,

learning the parts of the body, the Year 2 students were learning to use a French-English dic-

tionary around the theme of vegetables. In the advanced class, Year 4 students were learn-

ing to talk about the weather and preparing a weather forecast, which they will present to

the class next week.


FRENCH

LIBRARY

There is a new issue of the Scholastic Book Club this term. Please make sure all orders are in

by Monday.

I would also like to ask everyone to please take a good look around at home and return any

Reddam library books you might find. I will print out an individual list for each student so you

will know which books I am looking for. I really appreciate everyone’s assistance with this

task. A big ‘thank you’ to all those parents and caregivers who have already found and re-

turned books.


ATHLETICS CARNIVAL

Age Champions Champion Runner Up

8's Girls Imogen Baldassare Skye Russell

8's Boys Tomi Reynaldo Oscar Bakes

9's Girls Diana Van Geuns Eliana Debellis

9's Boys Benji Rubinstein Connor Kondilios/Bailey Benmayor

10's Girls Morgan Ratner Coco Batu-Sampson

10's Boys Thomas Malki Daniel Shields

11's Girls Talia Shapiro Aaliyah Ibrahim/Frederika Schneideman

11's Boys Julian Shalome Jacob Gerber

12's Girls Jade Zelinger Zoe Costello

12's Boys Brooklyn Berry Harry Nunn-Price

BONDI COOGEE BRONTE

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The Reddam House Primary School Newsletter Volume 16 Issue 21 Friday 22 July 2016 Page 22

Documents

Athletics Carnival Reddamreddamhouse.com.au/PDF/2016/Primary/PrimaryVol16Issue22.pdf · The past week saw mass participation in an enjoyable Athletics Carnival, beautiful music performed