WEEK 4, TERM 3, 15 August 2025
acknowledgement of country
We recognise the Dharrug and Kuringai people, the owners and custodians of the lands and waterways where we work and live. We pay respect to Elders past and present as ongoing teachers of knowledge, songlines and stories. We strive to ensure every Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander learner in NSW achieves their potential through education.
pRINCIPAL'S MESSAGE
Dear Parents, Carers and Students,
Thank you so much to the Spring Fair Committee who are doing a wonderful job in promoting the Fair on Saturday 6 September from 10am - 3pm. Please see the promotional flyers below relating to donations, sponsorships and stalls.
Our P and C Meeting will be held online on Wednesday 20 August from 7pm - 8pm. Our focus will be on the Spring Fair and how parents can assist the school. The school will send an email with registration details on Monday. I look forward to seeing you at the online meeting.
The 95th photograph has been emailed to all students and parents and carers. It also availble on our website. We have a framed copy in the Administration corridor next to our 85th celebratory photograph.
Students are also encouraged to sign Mrs Pam Carey's card (HGHS Class of 1935) who at the age of 104 has only recently moved into a nursing home in Woy Woy. Please ask at the Reception Office if you would like to sign her card.
Kind regards,
Justin Briggs (Principal)
Deputy Principals' Message
Properties Update - In very exciting news the Department of Education has appointment a contractor to build a very large Covered Outdoor Learning Area over our multipurpose courts. Work commenced on this new infrastructure earlier this term. We now have all the supporting steel frames installed and the builders will next fabricate the roof to install later this term and in term 4.
HSC Cohort 2025 - Year 12 have finished their second week of HSC Trial Examinations. They have worked with diligence to achieve their own personal bests and have followed HSC rules and procedures well. Students will return to full time classes on Thursday 21st August (Week 5).
Parents and caregivers have been emailed information regarding the Graduation Dinner on the 22nd September. Please note that it is preferable for parents and caregivers to make payment for this event using the Parent Portal. Year 12 have also been given access to a form to provide dietary requirements for themselves and their guests.
In Week 10, the following arrangements will apply for Year 12:
Monday 22nd September - Students depart school at 12.30 pm for Graduation Dinner rehearsal at Hornsby RSL. A consent form has been sent to parents and caregivers via School Bytes.
Tuesday 23rd September - Students commence school at 10 am. Rehearsals for the Year 12 Concert will then occur and the Concert will take place on Tuesday in periods 3 and 4.
Wednesday 24th September - Year 12 Clap Out. Students should arrive for a 9 am meeting to the hall. This is an event for students and staff only.
Thursday 25th and Friday 26th September - Optional HSC Practice Examinations
We look forward to celebrating the class of 2025 in Week 10.
Year 11 - Year 11 have been very busy completing their Life Ready Sessions. This has included the ‘Money Talks’ program which aims to help young people develop healthy management of their finances. The two workshops completed on this included content on rights in the workplace, superannuation, taxation and developing financial independence.
On Tuesday the 5th August, Year 11 also attended the B Streetsmart program created by the Westmead Hospital Trauma Unit. This program engaged Year 11 in identifying and talking about risky driving behaviours and the consequences of making dangerous choices on the road.
We hope that Year 11 have returned home from these experiences and continued their learning in discussions with their parents and caregivers.
Thank you to Ms Hoang for organising these opportunities for Year 11.
Year 11 Examinations will commence on Monday 8th September and finish on Tuesday 16th September. Students and parents and caregivers will soon receive information regarding this via email and on the grade Google Classroom.
Year 10 - Year 10 have been very busy selecting their subjects for 2026 over the last few weeks and many students have been organising work experience opportunities. Please remember that Year 10 can see Dr Turner or Dr Royce to organise work experience. In Term 4 the opportunity to complete work experience ends on the 21st of November.
Next term, students in Year 10 will be promoted to wearing the Senior Uniform. The uniform shop is open every Wednesday from 1pm to 3.30pm for students to make preparations and purchase the uniform for the start of next term.
Year 9 - Year 9 competed their Check In Assessments in Reading and Numeracy on Tuesday. Students were reminded by Ms Gilmore that these assessments are about checking progress at one point in time and that they have no impact on class arrangements for 2026 or ROSA and HSC results.
Year 9 were very organised with charged laptops and the examinations were well run as a result. Thank you to Ms Thompson and Dr Cleary for their work in organising these assessments.
Year 9 should be looking forward to their upcoming camp. This is a great opportunity to build stronger connections with their peers and to challenge themselves and develop resilience in the activities they attempt. Year 9 should look out for announcements and information regarding camp in their grade google classroom. If they have questions they should see their Year Adviser, Ms Hoang.
Year 8 - Year 8 Games Day will be held on Wednesday 20th August. This is a great opportunity to compete against other schools and enjoy a day of physical activity. Thank you to the PDHPE Faculty for their organisation of this.
A subject selection meeting for Year 8 will be held in period 1 on Thursday the 28th August. This meeting is for students only. Parents and caregivers will be provided with access to a website on the 28th August which will provide videos regarding subject choices, a booklet and presentation on the process of subject selection.
We are also very much looking forward to Year 8’s Charity Day on Thursday September 4th. Year 8 will be raising funds for Westmead Children’s Hospital and we thank them and their Year Adviser Ms Cho for their hard work on preparing this event.
Year 7 and Year 8 Check In Assessments 2025 -Year 7 students will complete their check in assessment on Tuesday 19th August, Week 5 in reading and numeracy. This is an annual online assessment for all students in secondary public schools from year 7 - 9. The tests provide feedback to teachers on our numeracy and reading programs. Students will need their laptops and headphones for these assessments.
Students in Year 8 will complete these tests on Tuesday 26th August, Week 6.
These assessments have no impact on school results and simply provide information to the school regarding our teaching and learning approaches.
Thank you to Ms Thompson for supporting us in organising and running these tests.
Parent - Teacher Meetings - Thank you to all parents and caregivers who attended the Parent-Teacher Meetings this term. The night is always so positive and we thank our teaching staff for taking the time to provide important feedback in how students can work towards achieving their learning goals
Social Media - We frequently have questions from parents and caregivers regarding setting boundaries with regard to technology and social media use by students. At school there is an ‘off and away’ policy where students are asked to have their phones off and in their bags during the day but in the home regulation of use of technology can be much more complex.
The e-Safety Commission has recently updated its information in preparation for the Social Media Ban for under 16s which is due to come into effect later this year. The link below provides answers to frequently asked questions and information on how to prepare for the new laws.
https://www.esafety.gov.au/about-us/industry-regulation/social-media-age-restrictions/faqs
Deputy Principal (Years 8, 10 and 12) Mrs Gilmore and Deputy Principal (Years 7, 9 and 11) Mrs Wallwork.
HORNSBY GIRLS 95 BIRTHDAY
screen acting debut
Congratulations to Saiesha in Year 12 who has had her screen acting debut in an original Australian TV series. Saiesha plays Raffy in Playing Gracie Darling, which was released on Paramount Plus yesterday. We are incredibly proud of this achievement!
Ms M Carroll - English Teacher
Term 3 Extracurricular Sports Are Up and Running!
Our Term 3 Extracurricular Sports (ECS) program officially kicked off on Monday, 4th August, and it’s been fantastic to see so many students getting involved and staying active after school. Despite a few rainy afternoons, we’ve been lucky to enjoy some clear skies, allowing most sessions to go ahead as planned.
This term, we’re excited to introduce new additions to our ECS program: pickleball, netball coaching, soccer, and basketball. Meanwhile, our long-time favourites—tennis, badminton, and taekwondo—are still going strong.
It’s been great to see such high levels of energy and enthusiasm on the courts and fields.
A reminder to all students: Please check the Sentral Daily Notices for any changes or cancellations to sports. If you're unsure, do not assume it's cancelled due to wet weather—always check the Daily Notices first. For further clarification, come and ask at the PDHPE staffroom.
Keep up the great work, and we hope everyone continues to enjoy their time in ECS this term!
Ms. Hoang - PDHPE Teacher, Extracurricular Sport Coordinator 2025
Year 11 Life Ready Programs
On Tuesday, 5th August, our Year 11 students had the opportunity to attend the B Street Smart excursion at Qudos Bank Arena – Australia’s largest road safety event. This was the school’s first time attending the exhibition as part of the Life Ready program and it proved to be a valuable, and confronting experience.
The day featured live car crash re-enactments, giving students a real sense of the chain of response that follows a major road accident—from the moment of impact to the actions taken by emergency services. There were also many guest speakers, including survivors and family members affected by road trauma.
In addition to the main presentations, there were numerous interactive stalls outside the arena. These stalls provided valuable information about road safety, CPR, the Towards Zero initiative and other emergency services, offering students hands-on opportunities to engage with safety equipment, ask questions, and learn more about staying safe on and around the road.
The overall message was clear: one moment of distraction or recklessness can change lives forever.
In addition, on Friday the 8th August, Year 11 attended a 60min workshop presented by Talk Money with Ectra Foundation. Students explored ways to make money to help build financial independence and how to navigate the workplace including understanding rights at work and managing superannuation and tax. With one more workshop to go, student will have completed their Life Ready program, a Department of Education mandated program designed to prepare and support senior students as they encounter situations related to health and safety – as they become more independent and gain more responsibilities.
We hope it leaves a lasting impact on our Year 11 students and encourages safer choices in life.
More information about the program can be found here: https://bstreetsmart.org/about-the-event/
Gold Medallist at the NSW State Gymnastics Competition
Congratulations to Olivia Ryu for her success in the NSW State Championships Rhythmic Gymnastics National Level 8 Senior. Olivia won first place in both Hoop and Clubs, and placed the Gold Medal for All-Around Rhythmics Gymnastics National Level 8 Senior NSW Champion!
We are incredibly impressed and proud of her continual dedication to her sport.
Ms. Hoang - PDHPE Teacher, Extracurricular Sport Coordinator 2025
MyTH BUSTING - SORTING HSC AND ATAR FACT FROM FICTION
Please see the Sydney Morning Herald article and accompanying video from NESA regarding some common misconceptions around the HSC and the ATAR.
WELLBEING NEWS
TEENAGE SLEEP 🥱
Not getting enough sleep, waking up already feeling tired, your anxiety robs you of getting a quality sleep… Sounds familiar? These are only some of the common issues many teenagers face every day. Needless to say, the quality and the quantity of sleep has a profound impact on how we function in our day to day activities. I can almost hear you saying “I’ve heard it all before”, but have you actually, really tried doing something about it??
There are some simple but effective strategies you can start tonight. Researchers have shown over and over that these strategies have worked and are scientifically backed up. You may ‘know it all’, but actually doing and not doing can make a huge difference in your mood, your performance at school, your social life and your overall wellbeing.
If you want to start waking up feeling fresh, have more energy throughout the day, and be the best version of yourself, why not give some of these tips a try! The key is consistency - try it for at least two weeks and see if you feel any different. It may take a little time to adjust your body clock, but after about 4 weeks you should really start to feel a significant difference. Even just start with a couple of tips and build on. It may be well worth the effort!
💡TOP SLEEP TIPS FOR TEENAGERS 💡😃
Have a regular, relaxing bed-time routine. 😌🎧🧘🏽♀️
Reading a book, listening to calm music, yoga/stretching/deep breathing/
meditation etc. - whatever helps you to relax.
Have a cup of warm milk 🥛or herbal tea 🍵as part of your bedtime routine if this works for you. Camomile has a relaxing effect.
Set up a regular bedtime and wake-up time ⏰to get an 8-10 hour sleep.
Set up a comfortable sleep environment. 🛌
Make sure your room is not too hot/cold. Is your pillow/mattress comfortable?
Keep your bedroom dark 🌌at night.
Use a night light /dimmed lamp while you go through your bedtime routine, and turn it off completely when you sleep.
When you wake up in the morning, expose yourself to the sunlight. ☀️
Get active during the day. 🤸🏻♀️💃
Have a brisk walk in your break or dance/move your body to your favourite music if you’re not into exercises.
Avoid any form of screens at least an hour before bedtime. 📵
Set your phone on night shift mode to avoid bright light, if you have to use your phone. Set your notifications off, or better still, turn your phone off during the night. (If you need your phone for an alarm, set it on airplane mode).
Avoid food/drinks containing caffeine late in the day ❎☕- coke, energy drinks, coffee, tea including matcha, dark chocolate.
Avoid staying up late on the weekends.
I know this is a tough one but it can undo your hard work.
Article: “Teenagers who go to bed early and sleep longer have sharper brains, study finds” 🧠🤓
This article discusses the study of over 3000 teenagers, and how early bedtime led to sharper mental skills and better scores on cognitive tests.
This site has a summary of causes, effects, and prevention of teenage sleep deprivations including tips for parents.
5 ideas for better sleep, and breathing technique videos. Links to Study Break Yoga and Yoga for Stress Relief videos. 🧘
https://kidshealth.org/en/teens/tips-sleep.html
Sleep is the golden chain that ties health and our bodies together.” – Thomas Dekker 😌
WRITE A BOOK IN A DAY
On Thursday 14th August, seventeen Year 8 authors, illustrators and editors wrote and published an entire book in 9.5 hours! This mighty endeavour celebrated HGHS's sixth participation in Write a Book in A day, an initiative of the Kids Cancer Council to raise funds to help further the educational needs of sick children in hospital. Our intrepid authors produced books which will be read to kids undergoing hospital treatment. They will also be published online in October on the Write a Book In a day website. Huge thanks to Mrs Drayton (retired Deputy Principal) for being a fabulous mentor during the day, to Mrs Thompson for all her assistance during the day and who also continued working on the upload at home and to Mrs Pike and Mrs Hale for their additional assistance during the day. We look forward to WABIAD 2026!
Dr Heather Cleary - Librarian
Parent help for Spring Fair
Parent volunteer registration form:
Non-parent volunteer (eg. Aunt, grandparent) registration form
Food and drink donation request
Spring Fair Instagram Competition - Join Now
Want to win a mystery gift box? Here's your chance!
To help us spread the word about the Hornsby Girls High School Spring Fair, we're launching a fun Instagram competition!
How to enter:
1. Post the official Spring Fair flyer (see attached) on your Instagram feed or story.
2. Get your friends to like your post!
3. By Friday 29 August, take a screenshot of your post showing the number of likes and email it to reneeli0815@hotmail.com.
✅ If your account is private, be sure to DM us a screenshot, or just email it in!
The winner (with the most likes) will be announced in the Student Portal the following week, and the gift box will be presented at the Spring Fair on Friday, 6 September
Let's fill IG with Spring Fair vibes and get everyone excited!
Good luck and get posting!
Art Silent Auction- HGHS 2025 Spring Fair
Unleash Your Creativity. Inspire Your Community.
ShapeCalling All Classes!
Join a school-wide art collaboration and turn your class ideas into a gallery-worthy canvas masterpiece!
What to Do:
✔ Choose a theme
✔ Plan, design & paint your canvas (50cm x 70cm)
✔ Add a short description + fun facts
✔ Display your work in the HGHS Spring Fair Art Gallery
📅 Deadline:
Please return artworks to the office by Tuesday, 2 September.
Include a typed A4 page with the title, fun facts, and date of creation.
ShapeThe Auction:
Your class artwork will be auctioned off in a Silent Auction on Fair Day!
🟡 Starting bid: $50
🟢 Top bids announced at the end of the day
🎯 Proceeds support school programs!
Let’s make this our most colorful, creative, and inspiring Spring Fair yet! Start planning with your class today!
Contact: Homa Motlagh Email: homamotlagh@gmail.com Phone: 0406 406 571
HGHS 2025 Spring Fair Committee
sponsors for spring fair
Credits:
Photo