2013grad_program
- 1. GRADUATION Thursday, 5 December 2013 7.00pm, Elder Hall Mr Noby Leong, Class of 2006 has kindly consented to be guest speaker Claudia Davey and Aidan Singh Howard will host proceedings UNIVERSITY SENIOR COLLEGE at Adelaide University Inc.
- 2. UNIVERSITY SENIOR COLLEGE GRADUATION ELDER HALL, Thursday, 5 December 2013 ORDER OF PROCEEDINGS Guests and Graduates are to be seated by 6.50pm Ben Bai (piano) Andante and Grand Polonaise Op. 22 by Chopin The assembly is asked to stand as the Official Party enters Elder Hall (Enter at 7.00pm) Singing of the National Anthem by Ben Neldner Welcome from Claudia Davey and Aidan Singh Howard Acknowledgement to the Kaurna People The Principal will speak to the annual report Ben Neldner Accompanied by Sachiko Hikaka (piano) “This is the Moment” from Jekyll and Hyde, by Frank Wildhorn “Feeling Good” from Michael Bublé Year 12 Graduates, introduced by Lisa Temple (Year 12 Dean) Presented by Mentors, Bob Holloway and assisted by Murray Thompson Year 12 Mentors: Mishka Ammann Di Averis Anna Bassani Andrew Bee Kate Cutts Martin Gray Andrew Hartigan Robert Horne Ryan Jackson Graham Payze Zahra Pirvali Igor Plisko Sandra Reynolds Maurie Wetherall Yvette Winter Mr Noby Leong will present the Graduation Address Year 12 Academic Prizes will be announced by Lisa Temple, presented by Mr Noby Leong and assisted by Murray Thompson Mandy Xie Sonatina (Movement 3) by Aram Khachaturian (1959) Victoria Langton will present the Valedictory Speech Close of proceedings
- 3. UNIVERSITY SENIOR COLLEGE MISSION • In a diverse school community we aim to educate and prepare our students for tertiary study and lifetime success. VISION • We will provide learning that resonates with young people from all backgrounds and be the College of choice for pre-tertiary education in SA. VALUES • We recognise and value cultural diversity. • We endorse a culture founded on integrity, mutual respect and teamwork. • We accept only the best of ourselves and for our students. • We promote creativity and risk taking in the education process. PRINCIPAL’S ANNUAL REPORT 2013 I am pleased to present the Principal’s Annual Report. This provides members of the USC community with a summary of initiatives, activities and changes that have taken place within the school during 2013. This year we enrolled a total of 316 local and 59 International students in the SACE program. Additionally, during the second semester 23 International students were enrolled in our Intensive English course for new arrivals. USC offers students a unique learning experience through the senior secondary years and our transition program provides each individual with the experience and understanding to move on to tertiary studies with confidence and good critical thinking skills. To be part of the University of Adelaide learning precinct continues to add enormous value to a learning pathway guided by an experienced group of highly motivated subject specialist teachers. When you consider the positive characteristics of our student body, drawn to the school because of its university focus and uncompromising academic standards, it is not hard to understand why all the staff enjoy working alongside such an eclectic mix of optimistic young people. To the academic staff, teaching at USC is a privilege. GOVERNANCE Council Members 2013 Mr Brian Cunningham (Chair) Professor Denise Kirkpatrick Mr Dale Hassam (Secretary) Dr Ben Grindlay Dr Milton Haseloff Mr Mick O’Connor Ms Celia Le The Council’s role is to govern the school and provide strategic guidance consistent with the philosophy, mission and vision of the school. I have been grateful for the integrity, honesty and objectivity shown by all Council members in building a positive and co-operative relationship with staff and the senior management team of the school. During 2013 a great deal of time and energy have been given to issues concerning the long term accommodation needs of the school and the current refurbishment of the Jordan Laboratories represents a significant milestone in the provision of quality facilities for staff and students. During 2013 Dr Ben Grindlay was appointed to Council as a representative of the University of Adelaide. Dr Grindlay is currently the Director of Marketing and Communications with the University and brings broad experience and deep understanding of strategic marketing to Council.
- 4. Ms Celia Le (’06) joined the USC Council in June 2013 as our first representative from the Old Scholars’ Association. Since graduating from USC in 2006 Ms Le has completed a degree in law and is currently employed as a commercial litigation and dispute resolution Lawyer with Piper Alderman. Her youth, recent experience of university study and an understanding of USC culture brings a refreshingly new dimension to school Council. STUDENT ACHIEVEMENTS 2012 The 2012 graduating class distinguished itself with outstanding results in the Stage 2 SACE examinations. Full details were posted on our website in February; however, there are a few highlights that warrant inclusion in this report. Dux of School was Julia Conway and Anastassia Silaeva was Proximae Accessit. Joshua Ahn was awarded the Way Medal for Chemistry as the top SACE student in South Australia. Of the 165 students who completed their SACE studies, 10 received an ATAR above 99, and a total of 74 secured an ATAR above 90. In total 36 Merits were secured in university preferred subjects across the cohort. Two (2) students were awarded four Merits in their five subjects and ten (10) students secured A’s in all six subjects studied at SACE Stage2. Students from USC secured 20% of the Gold Medals awarded by the Royal Australian Chemical Institute for excellence in the 2012 SACE Chemistry exams. Joshua Ahn, Julia Conway, Roland Deek, Nathan Nguyen, Holly Morley and Anastassia Silaeva each received their medal at a formal ceremony held at the Flinders University Science and Innovation Learning Centre in March. Ninety four percent of USC students (Class of 2012) received their first preference offer to university. A total of 107 (65%) students were offered places to the University of Adelaide, 25 (15%) to the University of SA and 18 (11%) to Flinders University. The total number of enrolments confirms University Senior College as the most significant single feeder school to universities in SA. In the field of modern languages Roshen Arudkumar (Indonesian), Jovana Urukalo (Serbian) and Annika Burnside (Japanese) each received an Award for Outstanding Academic Achievement presented by the School of Languages. STUDENT HIGHLIGHTS 2013 (The Year of the Snake) During January Sean Liew was invited to attend the National Mathematics Summer School at the Australian National University in Canberra. Students were introduced to a fascinating array of mathematical topics through lectures, tutorials and problem solving. The cerebral challenge was balanced with a variety of cultural visits and social activities over a period of two weeks, which provided many positive experiences and the opportunity for all participants to build new friendships. In the 2013 National History Challenge, Chrispha Christy won the State Award for the category of Australia’s Heritage. Chrispha’s essay on Ned Kelly was declared the best submission in a very impressive field of contenders. Zoe Brown was the recipient of the Australian Defence Force Leadership and Teamwork ‘Long Tan’ Award for 2013. Nomination for this award was due to the confident manner in which Zoe conducted herself on campus throughout 2013, adding much to the positive tone of the school community through her demeanour and enthusiasm.
- 5. Aileen Zhen was one of a select group of students in Australia invited to undertake the examination to determine the Australian Mathematical Olympiad team. Aileen was commended for her strong performance in eight solid hours of challenging problem solving over two days. An International Cultural Engagement (ICE) Program was put into action early in first term. This is a peer mentor program designed to assist new arrivals from overseas adjust to the dramatic change in routine and environment. The program aims to support international students in the Intensive English course to familiarise themselves with Australian culture and their new environs. Local students who volunteer to be an ICE Breaker go through a formal training program to understand better the needs of new arrivals and how best to break down the barriers, to engage and communicate. Towards the end of June a second ICE Breaker Training Program was put into action and 21 local students connected with our mid-year intake of 18 international students. Strong friendships have been created and a heightened awareness of cultural differences on both sides of the fence has gone a long way to strengthen one of our core values – to recognise and value cultural diversity. During week six of first term, all Year 11 students engaged in a special program entitled ‘Why Be Positive?’ Over two days students listened to guest speakers and participated in small group workshops to better their understanding of positive thinking strategies, how best to control a digital footprint and ways in which to build positive relationships. Initially students were introduced to the Values In Action (VIA) Survey of Character Strengths developed by Dr Martin Seligman’s research group at the University of Pennsylvania. It is anticipated that many students will find this free web-based tool very helpful in future years. Six students, Frank Xu (Top 10 in SA), Sean Liew (High Distinction), Hanzi Jing (Distinction), Tony Gao (Credit), Lee Dongju (Credit) and Aileen Zhen (Credit) secured outstanding results in the Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE) SA Schools Mathematics Competition held in March. Three students, Joshua Ahn (Biology and Chemistry), Zoe Brown (History) and Ned Prosser (Japanese) were involved with the Headstart Program delivered by the University of Adelaide. The Headstart program provides an opportunity for a select group of highly motivated students to pursue tertiary studies while completing SACE. These students have demonstrated the capacity to cope with the academic challenge in a fully adult learning environment and have found this pathway to be an invaluable experience. The Annual College Formal was held at the Adelaide Hilton Hotel, Victoria Square on Friday, 12 April. Once again all those in attendance had a wonderful evening organised by Lisa Temple and an enthusiastic student committee. Wenqi Zhang was a member of a team involved in the FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition in Science and Technology) Robotics Competition. Each team was required to raise funds, design a team brand, and build a robot that could be programmed to throw a Frisbee at a target. In the ultimate challenge the robot was required to pull itself upwards through a pyramid of pipes. The team won the Rookie All Stars Award in Hawaii and was invited to compete in the finals in St Louis in June. On Tuesday, 25 June, Louise Small arranged our annual ‘Careers Expo Day’ for Year 11 students. Extensive collaboration across faculties within the University provided students with a chance to visit various facilities on campus and speak with academics and graduates about their work and career pathways. A number of USC Alumni and speakers from various professions and industries gave their time during the day to talk with students about employment trends, emerging occupations and future possibilities. Zoe Brown was selected to attend the 2013 United Nations Youth National Conference, which was held in Sydney during the July holidays. The conference provided an opportunity for young people from around the world to share their ideas and concerns regarding regional and global issues. To help raise funds for the trip, Zoe held a Bake Sale which sold out in record time, due to the support of Nadia Lovett and many other members of the school community.
- 6. In August, 40 students participated in the Australian Mathematics Competition. This is a truly international competition and 400,000 students throughout Australia and SE Asia took part on the day. Sean Liew was placed in the top 1% of candidates and secured a High Distinction. A further 11 students secured Distinctions and 15 others secured a Credit. Sarah Bagster (Distinction), Khaj Tokunaga (Distinction), and Natalie Cameron (Credit) distinguished themselves at the highest level in the 2013 Australian Geography Competition. Katie Mortimer-Murphy was selected to attend a full day workshop arranged by the ‘Women in Mathematics Group’. Katie had the opportunity to interact with a variety of women pursuing careers in mathematics and was inspired by the speakers and the diversity of opportunities in this area of study. Kaiying Wang, Yinan Li and Aileen Zhen are to be congratulated in making it through to the finals of the National Titration Competition. Greg Eather, Founder and former Director of the Adelaide Tuition Centre, provided students with some well-tested strategies to maintain motivation and a positive approach to study in an energetic and thoroughly entertaining presentation to the Year 12 cohort on Wednesday, 5 June. Greg’s candid and interesting address highlighted a host of advantages offered through the USC pathway and stressed the value of regular engagement with the experienced subject specialist teachers at USC. The Year 12 Drama students delivered a daring rendition of William Shakespeare’s final work ‘The Tempest’ in June. A talented cast and crew performed to packed audiences in the Little Theatre over three nights. The performance was used by examiners to benchmark standards across the state and positive comments were made regarding the high quality of the production and of individual performances. Martin Gray is to be congratulated for his professional direction and special thanks go to Meg Worby for her support through each rehearsal and performance. A number of Alumni returned to the school on several occasions during the year. Lana Tran (’12), Shayan Afshar (’11) and Michaela Udina (’12) (My experience of Year 12), Charlotte Pascoe-Purvis (’11) (University study) and Krystyan Evele (’12) (My Gap Year and Future Plans) advised students on a range of topics. The candid input from each speaker provided students with insights and options to help in their learning pathways. Music students presented a vibrant Sunday Concert for parents and friends in Scots Church during August. Geoff Rogers and David Garwood supported the students in the organisation and delivery of a thoroughly enjoyable and entertaining afternoon of musical items. Ben Ahern, Hannah Cescato, Colin Liu, Bethany Marsh, Ben Neldner, Reuben Petrovski, Mandy Xie and Ben Bai (’12) came together to present a program that showcased a wide variety of music and individual virtuosity. Zoe Brown and Catherine Douglas-Hill competed in EVATT SA (H.V.Evatt was a former President of the UN General Assembly). This is South Australia’s round of Australia’s largest schools diplomacy competition that operates under the banner of UN Youth Australia. Budding diplomats debate and negotiate some of the world’s most pressing issues in a format similar to the UN General Assembly. Zoe and Catherine performed admirably in the Grand Final that was held in the Adelaide Town Hall during September, featuring the top 15 teams from around the state. On Sunday, 15 September, 30 members of the USC community participated in the Sunday Mail City to Bay Fun Run. The competitors were blessed with a cool breeze and brilliant sunshine for their early morning workout and there is no doubt that this will become a regular feature of the school calendar.
- 7. The annual USC Art and Design Exhibition was officially opened on Friday, 8 November in the Charles Street Art Studio by well-known artists Anna Platten and Rod Taylor. Nasrin Jamion was awarded the Barr Smith Library Prize for her delightful lino-cuts. Ellen Mules, Harriet Culbertson and Darcy Wedd had their work chosen for exhibition at the annual SACE Art Show. During the year a number of staff and students involved themselves in the World Vision 40 Hour Famine to raise funds for poverty stricken villages in Malawi. Traditionally this event has involved participants foregoing food, but an innovative strategy this year encouraged participants to do without the ‘essentials’ of a western lifestyle such as transport and smart phones. A Quiz Night was held in September to raise funds for Red Cross. Ben Pascoe-Purvis organised the event as a component of his Research Project and followed it through to a successful conclusion by raising $800 towards a very supportive community organisation. The Annual General Meeting of the USC Old Scholars’ Association was held on Monday, 3 June 2013. Members of the Association expressed their gratitude to Carmen Bishop, USC Development Officer, for the time and energy given to supporting the membership. Elected office bearers Joel Beamish (‘05) Chair, Matthew Moss (‘04) Treasurer and Celia Le (‘06) Secretary & Vice Chair were joined by Josh Gutteridge (‘04), Michael Haydon (‘05), Justin Mencel (‘06) and Michaela Udina (‘12) to form the USCOSA management committee. A series of reunions and social events are planned each year to foster the association and maintain a connection with the USC community. More than 70 graduates from the Class of 2008 came together on Friday, 22 March to refresh memories and reconnect. The school is grateful for the donations from USCOSA to our annual appeal. In particular the provision of two special needs scholarships for students from a disadvantaged background and the support given to refurbishment of the Jordan Laboratories. USC graduates are urged to make contact with the Old Scholars’ Association and engage in a program designed to maintain friendships and build a professional support network. http://www.usc.adelaide.edu.au/uscosa/ Throughout the year, subject groups have engaged in a series of special activities, workshops and presentations on and adjacent to the university campus. The following list is not exhaustive but it does provide a snapshot of the diversity and quality of these activities: Accounting Staff and students were invited by the Institute of Chartered Accountants to attend a formal dinner presentation – ‘Food for Thought’. Speakers gave an insight into many career opportunities. Art Students worked in wax and collage with local artist Kathryn Hill, a member of the Adelaide T’Arts Collective. In May, Visual Arts students met with Nathan Crowne, Temple University’s Tokyo campus, and gained insights into opportunities overseas. Students were privileged to visit the Turner Exhibition at the Art Gallery, the Waterhouse Exhibition at the Museum and in term 3 they worked with distinguished Adelaide printmaker, Chris DeRosa. Biology Physiology and Microscopy workshops. Regular visits to the Botanical Gardens and the Royal Adelaide Zoo. Chemistry Matthew Bull, Technical Officer at the University of Adelaide’s Johnson Laboratories conducted a tour for all Year 12 Chemistry students and explained a variety of analytical techniques including gas chromatography, Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy (AAS) and UV- Vis spectroscopy. Class & Anc Stud Visit to the Museum of Classical Archaeology and attendance at the annual Australian Archaeological Institute at Athens lecture. Study of Greco-Roman classical architecture along the North Terrace Boulevard. Unparalleled access to Barr Smith collection for research. Design Students visited the SACE Design Exhibition; Russell Leonard’s Textile Design Studio and met with designers at the Jam Factory. Drama Material support and technical advice provided to the University of Adelaide Theatre Guild to enhance our professional relationship.
- 8. English Dr Peter Goldsworthy has been described in A Reader’s Guide to Contemporary Australian Poetry as “one of the most skilled and satisfying poets in Australia”. Year 12 English Studies students had the good fortune to hear from Dr Goldsworthy about the art of creative writing. English Comms During first term students enjoyed a lecture presented by Russell Schrale, National Sales and Marketing Officer for Oxfam Trading. The focus of the talk was on market segmentation and the power of branding. Economics Through the generosity of Dr Michael O’Neale, our Year 12 students were guests at two business lunches arranged by the SA Centre of Economic Studies. One meeting was addressed by Professor Gary Banks AO and Professor Gary Sturgess AO. Students also attended an insightful Macro Economics lecture with undergraduates and a Reserve Bank meeting. Geography Visit to the SA Museum to view the Australasian Antarctic Expedition exhibit celebrating the centenary of the work by Sir Douglas Mawson. Students engaged in a variety of activities through field trips in the immediate vicinity of the school including River Torrens precinct, Rymill Park, Bicentennial Conservatory and the Botanical Gardens. History North Terrace commemorative plaques historic walk, State Library collections and Migration Museum. Legal Studies During third term students visited the Supreme, District and Magistrates Courts. Students staged a Mock Trial in the old Supreme Court Building. A ‘Meet the Experts’ session was held in the Sturt Street Court and students had an opportunity to talk with the Chief Justice. Senior Constable Chris Lanchester provided insights into policy and practice in the Anangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara lands in far north-west SA. A visit from Professor Kent Anderson provided an opportunity to explore the meaning of law in our society. Mathematics During August our Mathematical Applications students received a Financial Literacy presentation from Travis Hobbs, a facilitator with the StartSmart program promoted by the Commonwealth Bank. Politics Dr Dean Jaensch, Dr Michael Wilmore and Mark Parnell MLC gave time to speak with students through the year. Visits were also conducted to Parliament House, the Migration Museum and collections in the State Library. Physics Students visited the fibre optics research facilities associated with the Institute for Photonics and Advanced Sensing. Psychology Beth Thorpe (‘07) conducted a research project with students regarding the impact of ‘perfectionism’ upon academic performance. PHYSICAL DEVELOPMENTS With the generous support of Federal Government funding secured through the Block Grant Authority (BGA), refurbishment of level 1 of the Jordan Laboratories commenced in late October this year. The provision of four contemporary laboratories will enhance our capacity to deliver a vibrant and stimulating science program. We acknowledge the financial support of $300K through the BGA and the generosity of the USC community. Individuals and family groups have contributed to our Building Fund to help raise the additional $1.2M capital allocated for this project. Work is well underway and we aim to have the facility ready for occupation at the commencement of the 2014 academic year. Designed by Andrew Pawlowski and Libby Warwick (SALT Studio), Ian Elliott (LUCID Engineering) and built by Bruce Interior Constructions (BIC), we have been most fortunate to gather such an enthusiastic group of professionals to see this project through to a successful completion. Staff and future students can look forward to many years of productive teaching and learning in a space that promises to be highly functional and truly inspirational.
- 9. STAFF MATTERS “It is the supreme art of the teacher to awaken joy in creative expression and knowledge.” Albert Einstein (1879 – 1955) In January Lisa Temple, Michael Jacobsen and Simon Sypek, three senior members of our leadership team, attended the Adelaide Thinkers in Residence Program delivered by renowned Psychologist, Dr Martin Seligman. Staff from the University of Pennsylvania, School of Psychology, delivered a comprehensive training program in the core principles of Positive Psychology, the science underpinning the theory of wellbeing that allows individuals, groups and institutions to flourish. Members of USC staff were engaged by the University of Adelaide during 2013 to serve as sessional lecturers in a number of disciplines. Kate Cutts (Psychology Methods) and Maurie Wetherall (Biology Methods) each contributed to the delivery of information and skills to support pre-service teachers. Martin Gray conducted a creative writing workshop with a focus on script writing and adaption to the stage. During 2013 seven academic staff continued to pursue post-graduate qualifications at Masters or Doctoral level in various fields of education. Ryan Jackson (Analysis of the SACE Research Project), Andrew Hartigan (Discursive Classrooms), Robert Horne (Creative Writing), Damien Coghlan (Human Services), Martin Gray (Creative Writing), Yvette Winter (Criminology & Criminal Justice) and Angela Di Sotto-Hames (Transition to Tertiary Study). On the last day of second term Nadia Lovett, along with career counsellors from a number of other Independent Schools, participated in a visit to Prominent Hill. The trip provided an opportunity for the counsellors to learn about the multitude of employment opportunities available in the mining industry. Using images and film taken during the visit Nadia created two short films which were posted on her blog for staff and students to access. In August we hosted three teachers from the highly acclaimed Number 5 Middle School Taiyuan City, Shanxi Province in China. XI Yan Yan, NAN Rui and LIU Kejing are teachers of English in Taiyuan and the purpose of the visit was to provide professional development in classroom practice. Their time at USC was divided between active participation with students involved in our Intensive English program and observation of the teaching of a broad range of SACE subjects. Time was also given to tour the university campus and the Adelaide environs. Fortunately the timing of the trip was such that our visitors were able to participate in an overnight excursion with the Intensive English students to Port Elliot and the surrounding Fleurieu Peninsula. It is with regret that I formally announce Sandra Reynolds will be moving on from USC at the end of this year. Sandra joined the staff in the second half of 2006 and came to USC with a distinguished background in the teaching of Chemistry and Science in a number of respected independent schools in Adelaide. Sandra also brought an understanding of the tertiary sector due to her teaching experience with the University of South Australia. Sandra’s ability to connect with young people and inspire their love of learning are consequences of her passion for teaching, her deep understanding of the subject material and her capacity to bring the subject to life. The high esteem in which Sandra is held by her peers was acknowledged through the award of the South Australian Science Teachers Association Award for Outstanding Science Teaching in 2011. Sandra’s empathy for young people, her capacity to excite an interest in chemistry and her ability to provide a meaningful context for abstract scientific concepts are without equal. She is an enthusiastic photographer, avid reader, prolific writer and passionate science historian; we will miss her conversation and those frequent facets on all matters scientific. More importantly we will miss her insights, clear thinking and her capacity to get the right answer, no matter what. Sandra has given everything to her teaching and is greatly admired by those students who have had the good fortune to be in her care and by colleagues who have had the privilege to work at her side. The USC community wishes Sandra good health, happiness and many more photo opportunities as she moves onto challenges beyond the laboratory bench.
- 10. STAFF ACKNOWLEDGEMENT As Deputy Principal, Murray Thompson plays a key role in the management and daily operation of the school. We are indebted to Murray for his empathy, good judgement and unbounded energy in his endeavour to accommodate the needs of each individual. Murray has taken on his professional responsibilities with integrity, consistency, a wonderful sense of humour and a genuine desire to assist all staff and students to make the best of the opportunities available at USC. We are indebted to the leadership and counselling skills of Lisa Temple (Year 12 Dean), Simon Sypek (Year 11 Dean) and Michael Jacobsen (International Dean) as they monitor the academic progress of students in their care and guide their mentor teams. The role of the Dean is a complex one and it is absolutely critical to the smooth operation of the school as it ensures that every student is supported throughout their time at USC, from orientation to graduation. Our school counsellor, Dr Nadia Lovett continues to have a strong influence on the wellbeing of our whole school community and provides generous support and clear direction for the students in her care. Nadia has the capacity to connect with young people and gain their confidence willingly because of her empathy and authenticity. In addition to the work that Nadia does in counselling, fundraising and building community spirit, we are indebted to her for the images that she captures each year to provide a pictorial record of specific events, highlights and developments across all sectors of the school. I am personally grateful for the support and guidance she provides in the senior leadership of a very dynamic and complex learning community. The delivery and administration of learning pathways at senior secondary level are complex issues especially when faced with the uncertainty of significant change. We are indebted to Kate Cutts (Director of Teaching & Learning) who has taken on a major role to guide staff through important changes, especially in the area of professional learning and performance appraisal. Along with Kate’s insight and wisdom we are fortunate to have the astute services of Yvette Winter (SACE Coordinator) to facilitate the myriad operational tasks and sensitive issues surrounding SACE. Additionally, Heather Wiseman's role as ICT Manager is pivotal and the impact of new technologies on learning strategies and teaching methodologies seems to increase the complexity of her role almost daily. As well as recognising the ongoing professional input from all the teaching staff I would like to acknowledge the wonderful contribution made by the administration staff: Candy Brown, Laurel Clewlow, Michelle Giavis, Lee Paschburg, Lisa Rechichi, Laurene Skinner and Carolyn Woods. In particular I give my thanks to Tash Pressley for the support that she has given me personally to keep operational matters on track and to Helen Webber for the role that she has undertaken to maintain student records and unravel the complexities of our timetable with Murray Thompson. Carmen Bishop is to be commended on the manner in which she has undertaken her role as Development Officer and has worked tirelessly to raise the profile of the school through the internet and social media. Carmen continues to be a strong advocate for the Old Scholars’ Association and has helped gather a strong administration group to build the association. Finally I wish to acknowledge our Finance Manager, Karen Boyd who continues to execute her role in an exemplary and thoroughly professional manner. Karen’s financial expertise and her understanding of operational matters within schools provide a wonderful combination of skills and knowledge to ensure high quality administration and governance.
- 11. TO THE GRADUATING CLASS OF 2013 When Nelson Mandela took power as President of South Africa in 1994 he remarked “It is what we make of what we have, not what we are given, that separates one person from another”. In a recent article by David Bainbridge (The Guardian Weekly, Vol. 189, No 25) he reflects that “far from being an irritating transitional phase between childhood and adulthood, teenagers represent a life-stage unique to our species and absolutely essential for its success”. Our current understanding of neuroscience tells us unequivocally that teenagers think differently to adults and it can be argued that there are aspects of teenage thinking that should be nurtured if we are to thrive. Creativity, risk taking and the capacity to create new perspectives are three areas in which teenagers are known to outperform their elders and each has a part to play in the future development of appropriate technologies and a more equitable global society. Each of you has had a unique learning experience through the senior secondary years at USC and gained valuable insights into who you are and what is possible. The eclectic mix of creative, energetic and inquisitive young minds has generated a vibrant, productive and very cohesive learning community. Each one of you has demonstrated growth in the areas of self-analysis, communication and social flexibility. More importantly you have all become more confident self-directed learners and you leave USC with an understanding that education should not be about material advantage but more about the excitement of learning and the opportunity for personal growth. The reality is that the more we know, the more we become aware of how little we know. There is no end point in learning, it is about the journey. You are about to move into tertiary education and embark upon a career pathway in complex and confusing times. Be mindful of yourself and of others, while focusing on what is meaningful and important in your life. Inner happiness and fulfilment come when your mind, body and emotions are nurtured by the choices you make. More than ever before in human history have we come to realise that we are all citizens of a global community. Consumerism and power have pushed aside the values of sustainability and equity. I encourage you all to pursue your passion but strive to build a more just, equitable and sustainable society. I hope that as a member of the graduating class of 2013 you are confident and brave enough to live life creatively and follow your dreams. On behalf of USC Staff and Council I wish you every future success and thank you most sincerely for the positive contribution that you have made to the depth and quality of our transition pathway over the last two years. USC BENEFACTORS 2013 Each year many members of the USC community come together through the Annual Fund Appeal. This helps to turn our vision of maximising educational opportunities for our students into a reality. This generosity of heart is an expression to support the values that underpin USC and provides marvellous opportunities for current and future students. USC Scholarship Fund Thank you to the following members of the USC community who have contributed to our USC Scholarship fund in 2013: Anonymous (6) Antonuccio Family Boyd, Karen Di Sotto-Hames, Angela Foley, Anj Hoa Que Do Family Trust Hill-Smith Family Thompson, Deryn & Michael Thompson, Murray USC Old Scholars’ Association Watters, Peters Winter, Yvette
- 12. USC Special Building Project Fund The $1.5 Million upgrade to the Jordan Building Science Laboratories commenced in October 2013. This is an exciting development that will add much to the quality of the USC learning experience. The redevelopment is scheduled for completion at the commencement of the 2014 academic year and will delivery state-of-the-art laboratories to support Chemistry, Physics and Biology. Thank you to the following members of the USC Community who contributed to the Special Building Project Fund in 2013: Foley, Anj Neldner, John The following members of the USC Community are acknowledged as Science Laboratories Founding Benefactors (Special Building Project Fund): Holloway, Bob and Ronda Liew, Sean and Beatrice USC Old Scholars’ Association Yeatman, Bonni FROM THE OLD SCHOLARS’ ASSOCIATION COMMITTEE The University Senior College Old Scholars’ Association (USCOSA) has made a donation of $1000 to the USC Building Fund to assist with the upgrade of the Jordan Science Laboratories. Along with being a means for previous University Senior College students to keep in touch with the school throughout their lives, the USCOSA is committed to supporting current students to achieve their full potential and transition seamlessly into university study. As many Old Scholars will attest, the world-class facilities at University of Adelaide made available to USC students, go a long way to preparing them for higher education. We look forward to keeping you up to date with the development of the school via the community section of our website: https://usc.adelaide.edu.au/community/. TO THE USC COMMUNITY On behalf of the USC Council and staff I wish every member of the school community a most enjoyable festive season and a happy new year. Bob Holloway December 2013
- 13. YEAR 12 ACADEMIC SUBJECT PRIZE WINNERS ACCOUNTING.............................................................................. Phoebe Wilson BIOLOGY ..................................................................................... Sean Liew AUSTRALIAN AND INTERNATIONAL POLITICS ........................ Zoe Brown CHEMISTRY................................................................................. Sam Bost CHINESE...................................................................................... Tony Gao CLASSICAL STUDIES.................................................................. Yasmin Kroon DRAMA STUDIES ........................................................................ Rachael Ingleton ECONOMICS................................................................................ Zoe Brown ENGLISH COMMUNICATIONS.................................................... Michelle Lieu ENGLISH AS A SECOND LANGUAGE........................................ Dongju Lee ENGLISH STUDIES...................................................................... Zoe Brown GEOGRAPHY............................................................................... Phoebe Smith INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY................................................... Zachary Fitzsimons LEGAL STUDIES.......................................................................... Naomi Henderson MATHEMATICAL APPLICATIONS............................................... Olga Pandos MATHEMATICAL STUDIES (Double)........................................... Sarah Makestas MATHEMATICAL STUDIES (Single)............................................ Aleks Badza MODERN HISTORY..................................................................... Zoe Brown MUSIC.......................................................................................... Ben Neldner PHYSICS...................................................................................... Naomi Henderson PSYCHOLOGY............................................................................. Kanita Chongvathanakij SPECIALIST MATHEMATICS...................................................... Sean Liew VISUAL ARTS – ART ................................................................... Madison Stockburger VISUAL ARTS – DESIGN............................................................. Harriet Culbertson
- 14. YEAR 11 ACADEMIC SUBJECT PRIZE WINNERS ACCOUNTING.............................................................................. Julian Russo ANCIENT STUDIES...................................................................... Riley Genders AUSTRALIAN AND INTERNATIONAL POLITICS ........................ Bridget Puczkowski BIOLOGY ..................................................................................... Jess Schmidt CHEMISTRY................................................................................. Ruth Keen CHINESE (BACKGROUND SPEAKERS)..................................... Jessie Chang DRAMA STUDIES ........................................................................ Georjette Mercer ECONOMICS................................................................................ Noel Williams ENGLISH AS A SECOND LANGUAGE........................................ Jerry Wang ENGLISH...................................................................................... Victoria Tomaszczyk GEOGRAPHY............................................................................... Chloe Gray INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY................................................... Andrew Graham LEGAL STUDIES.......................................................................... Naomi Currie MATHEMATICAL APPLICATIONS............................................... Kate Walsh MATHEMATICAL STUDIES ......................................................... Faith Brohier MODERN HISTORY..................................................................... Kate Walsh MUSIC.......................................................................................... Hannah Cescato PHYSICS...................................................................................... Ruth Keen PSYCHOLOGY............................................................................. Georjette Mercer SPECIALIST MATHEMATICS...................................................... Ruth Keen VISUAL ARTS – ART ................................................................... Maddi Foster VISUAL ARTS – DESIGN............................................................. Jeffrey Thomson
- 15. AUSTRALIAN NATIONAL ANTHEM ADVANCE AUSTRALIA FAIR Australians all let us rejoice, For we are young and free; We’ve golden soil and wealth for toil; Our home is girt by sea; Our land abounds in nature’s gifts Of beauty rich and rare; In history’s page, let every stage Advance Australia Fair. In joyful strains then let us sing, Advance Australia Fair. Our thanks go to Carmen Bishop, Candy Brown, Laurel Clewlow, Michelle Giavis, Martin Gray, Lisa Rechichi, Geoff Rogers, Laurene Skinner, Lisa Temple and Murray Thompson for helping with Graduation arrangements. We are indebted to Tash Pressley for taking on a major role in the organisation of this event. We wish to acknowledge the address given by Noby Leong as our guest speaker and the Valedictory Speech given by Victoria Langton on behalf of the Graduating Class of 2013. Special thanks go to Lisa Rechichi and Nathan Fuller (TOOLBOX) for compilation and production of the 2013 Year Book. Many others, including Michelle Giavis, Nadia Lovett, Tash Pressley and Heather Wiseman assisted with proof reading and the provision of photographs.