term 1 week 10 SOUTH SYDNEY HIGH SCHOOL

UNSW Year 11 Leaders Day

Sporting Champs

Well done to the Junior Girls Football team on their gritty performance against RHS.

Congratulations to Eva and Mahiliya who were selected in the U/16 Sydney East Rugby League team.

Congratulations to the Girls Volleyball team on their close game against Inner Sydney Girls HS.

The tradition continues

Congratulations to the Open Girls Netball team with their convincing win over Inner Sydney HS.

State and National Beach Volleyball Success

Congratulations to Adam on his Bronze medal for NSW in the U14 National Beach Volleyball competition in Coolangatta.

Congratulations to Kenta and Sora who clinched the Bronze medal in the National Beach Volleyball Championships.

Rugby League success

Congratulations to the SSHS Buckley Shield side with their solid win over Belmore Boys HS.

Surfing Success

Congratulations to Tuomo on his recent win in the U/18 NSW Regional Surfing competition.

Well done team

So close! Well done to the Girls Softball team on their thrilling game against Port Hacking HS.

Challenging Minds

Friday lunchtimes are buzzing with creativity and fun as students challenge each other in chess, master Rubik’s cubes, crochet with flair and solve complex puzzles. The South Sydney Club for Intelligent Minds (SSCIM) meets every week in the Drama Room. Come and see what it’s all about!

Recognition of Student Achievement

Congratulations to all the students who received awards at the recent Achievement Assemblies.

Let us be known by our Deeds

Talia has been nominated for NSW 2025 Volunteer of the Year by an organisation called Friendship Circle.

Friendship Circle is an organisation that works with children with disabilities, Talia volunteers every second Sunday and throughout the school holidays.

Year 12 Photo Day fun

Uniform Heroes

Attendance Warriors

Punctuality in school is essential for success. It ensures students don’t miss key lessons, fosters discipline, and teaches time management. Being on time shows respect for teachers and peers, reduces stress, and builds lifelong responsibility. It also improves academic performance and prepares students for future commitments. Developing this habit early leads to greater success in school and beyond.

ANZAC DAY 2025 Information

School Community Charter

Important Dates:

• Parent Teacher Night Yr 7, 11 and 12 - Tuesday April 8th
• Last Day of Term - Friday April 11th
• Students Return to School Term 2 - Wednesday April 30th
• Homework Club resumes - Tuesday 6th May
• Parent Teacher Night Yr 8, 9, 10 -Tuesday May 13th

Opportunity news

Empowering women into the 21st Century @ SSHS

The Empowering Women's Day excursion was a most valuable opportunity to see the experiences of a number of professional women and how their learning and life experiences have brought them to where they are today. We learnt about the journeys of our teachers and the professional women who volunteered their time, and how they overcame challenges and turned them into life lessons. The day allowed us to understand the different pathways that we could take and how we need to approach new challenges with a positive mindset rather than a fixed one. We were also taught about future job opportunities and careers and how AI will be incorporated. Activities such as the conversation cards let us connect to our peers on a deeper level and allowed the women to give us very good advice. At the end of the day, a panel Q & A experience gave us a place to ask even more questions and gain an insight into how the volunteers became who they are today. The Empowering Women’s Day was a wonderful experience and was so useful to us as we now consider the decisions that need to be made in our future. Many thanks to Macquarie Telecom, T.Rowe Price and United Way for making this day possible. Of course we would also like to thank our fantastic teachers Ms Ansoul, Ms Dawson and Ms Stell for their fantastic organisation and contributions.

Michelle & Sophie from Year 10 - Student Ambassadors of the Opportunity Program SSHS 2025

School Dance Ensemble Shines at NSW Pulse Alive 2025!

On Friday, 21st March, our talented Dance Ensemble students proudly represented our school at the NSW Pulse Alive 2025 event. It was a long but exhilarating day, filled with energy, passion, and dedication.

The students participated in multiple rehearsals, refining their routines and perfecting their performances. Their commitment and hard work truly paid off, as they took to the stage with confidence and enthusiasm, showcasing their incredible talent.

Pulse Alive provided a fantastic experience, offering students the opportunity to perform alongside other schools, collaborate with industry professionals, and be part of an inspiring celebration of dance and performance.

A huge congratulations to our Dance Ensemble for their dedication and outstanding effort. We are so proud of your achievements!

Ms Geldart & Ms Melani

SRC News

It has been an amazing, busy and challenging term for the SRC with lots going on! We started our year with our SRC Planning Day where SRC members old and new got together to spend the day planning for a jam packed year to come. In week 9 we successfully held out Bake sale to raise money for Epilepsy Australia, in honour of Epilepsy Awareness day. We are proud to say we raised $231.45 at our bake sale.

In week 10 we have been getting South Sydney ready for Easter with our ‘Guess the Eggs in the Jar’ competition in the library and Easter Raffle, we have two chocolate hampers up for grabs with winners to be announced in Week 11. Finally, to round out the term; the SRC will be hosting a writing competition and trivia (with prizes to be won) to celebrate all of our students for Youth week.

Enrichment Opportunities

Spotlight on Enrichment Opportunities

At South Sydney High School, we are proud to offer a rich and varied Enrichment program that supports students’ intellectual, creative, physical and social-emotional development beyond the classroom. These activities encourage students to explore their passions, develop new skills and connect with like-minded peers.

One of our most engaging programs is the South Sydney Club for Intelligent Minds, which runs every Friday lunchtime in the Drama Room. This club brings together students who enjoy strategy, creativity, and problem-solving, with activities such as Chess, Crocheting, Jenga and Rubik's Cubes. It is a welcoming and stimulating environment where students are encouraged to challenge themselves and others in the spirit of fun and friendship.

Other popular co-curricular opportunities include:

• Chess Tournaments - held regularly in the school library and open to all skill levels
• Debating Club - students develop confidence in public speaking and logical argument
• Coding Club - students meet every Thursday lunchtime in the school library, where they explore programming and digital technologies
• Drama Club - a space for performance, collaboration, and creativity
• Dance Group – offering students an outlet for expression through movement and rhythm
• Student Representative Council (SRC) – a chance for students to lead, represent their peers and shape school life
• PD/ H/PE Sporting Competitions – encouraging team spirit and physical fitness
• Music Acoustic Wednesdays - a platform for students to perform live music and appreciate the talents of their peers

We encourage all students to get involved and take full advantage of the opportunities available at our school. Whether it is developing leadership, discovering a hidden talent, or simply connecting with others, there’s something for everyone in our Enrichment program!

For more information about any aspect of our Enrichment program, please do not hesitate to contact Ms Angela Pyliotis. Email: angela.pyliotis@det.nsw.edu.au

English News

Spotlight on 9 Yellow English and their dystopian journey

This term, our 9 Yellow English class has been immersed in the study of Dystopian fiction, exploring the conventions of this compelling genre while sharpening their analytical and creative writing skills. Through high-level discussion and close viewing of the film ‘The Hunger Games,’ students have investigated how dystopian texts explore values as well as social and political anxieties while using these imagined futures to comment on real-world contemporary issues.

Year 9 Yellow students have gone beyond the core program, applying advanced techniques to deepen their thinking and elevate their writing. Students have been explicitly taught to use The Seldon Method, a structured framework that fosters clear and purposeful writing through cause-and-effect reasoning using complex sentences. This method has supported students in developing insightful responses, particularly when evaluating how dystopian texts challenge readers to reflect on the world around them. To enhance the academic quality of their writing, students have been incorporating techniques such as nominalisation and adjectival phrases, enabling them to express complex ideas with precision and sophistication.

Currently, 9 Yellow English students have turned their attention to the creative process, crafting their own imaginative dystopian narratives. They are applying sophisticated literary techniques to engage their readers, including the use of verbal cinema – language that evokes vivid, cinematic imagery – to bring their imagined worlds to life. In addition, students have experimented with motifs and sensory imagery to build atmosphere and reinforce important thematic concerns.

We look forward to sharing some of their imaginative pieces through the school’s literacy ‘Writing Unleashed’ project.

Here are some comments from 9 Yellow students about their learning in English this term:

“This term in English has made me think about how dystopian texts can tell us about out contemporary society. I found writing about a concern in our society involves lots of critical thinking. I’ve enjoyed my learning”- Greta

“I have used more of my thinking abilities and the work has been challenging, but engaging. Lots of independent work has allowed me to develop my organisational skills” - Kayles

“This year English has expanded my perspectives on real world issues thanks to studying a variety of dystopian texts” - Shana

Year 8 Literacy Lessons

At South Sydney High School, we are committed to supporting every student to become a confident, capable reader. In Term 2, our focus on literacy development in Year 8 has continued to grow through targeted programs and evidence-based teaching strategies.

A key initiative is our Inferential Reading Program, which is delivered through dedicated literacy lessons and closely aligned with the NSW Literacy Learning Progressions. This program is designed to help students move beyond surface-level reading by teaching them to make inferences, identify implied meaning, and engage critically with texts. These are essential skills across all Key Learning Areas.

We are also proud to be running the Scholastic Reading Program through our literacy classes. This personalised program motivates students to read regularly and helps them discover books that match their interests and reading levels. Every student completes a Lexile reading assessment, which identifies their current reading level. Teachers then use this data to set personalised reading goals and recommend both physical library books and digital books tailored to student needs. To further assess progress, all Year 8 students will sit a Literacy Skills Assessment in Week 11, focusing on spelling, grammar and inferential reading. The data gathered will help us identify individual strengths and areas for growth, enabling our teachers to provide targeted support.

Families are encouraged to support their child’s reading journey at home. Reading aloud together and asking questions about characters, motivations and plot events can deepen understanding and build connections between reading and real life.

Thank you for your continued support of your child’s literacy development and encourage all families to prioritise daily reading at home.

From the Library

Humour

Towards the end of a busy term, it’s always good to have a perspective with a sense of humour. Come down to the Library, grab a joke book, tell a friend and have a giggle.

Chess Tournament

After six pool rounds, followed by knockout rounds, Alfarro and Alexander were our finalists for the Term One Library chess tournament. Alfarro already experienced victory in the chess arena last year, while Alexander has twice been runner up. This term, Alexander was able to gain a tournament win. Congratulations Alexander!

New to the Collection Highlights

The Last Seed Keeper by Paul Russell

This is the first book in a trilogy that has two strong female characters and highlights the need for climate action. With themes of sustainability, asking questions, not allowing large corporations to control people, and working towards a better more equal and sustainable world, this is a terrific Australian dystopian novel with an important message.

Unhallowed Halls by Lili Wilkinson

This is a gripping dark academia novel with themes of magic and witchcraft, boarding school life and romance. Wilkinson delivers another incredible dark and mysterious novel which her fan base will devour.

Song of a Blackbird by Maria van Lieshout

A graphic novel telling the story in alternating chapters of the Second World War in Amsterdam from 1943 to 1945, and descendants tracing their history in 2011 to 2012. It shows the effects of war on one family and those associated with them, and then on their descendants as they try to understand what happened to their ancestors.

Wildlands by Brogen Murphy

Set 25 years in the future, where a large area of Britain has been left to nature and wild animals, an area called the Wildlands, where no humans are allowed. The only exception is the high speed train from London to Glasgow which runs through it. Two sisters begin a journey beyond their wildest imaginations, as they battle to survive against the odds. A wonderful story for nature lovers of ingenuity, survival and family.

Our History: Bold Ben Hall by Sophie Masson

A compelling historical fiction adventure, set during the Australian gold rush when daring, dangerous and bold bushrangers were both feared and legendary. Award winning author, Masson asks what makes a hero, or a villain?

Little Bones by Sandy Bigna

A beautiful verse novel that is easy to read but contains so many themes and ideas. The main themes are friendship and grief, but the gothic magic give it a whole other feel too. This is an ideal novel for lower secondary students, also containing themes of community, upcycling and diverse families.

Ms Maddocks, Teacher Librarian

Big Picture News

Charlie and Jackson from Year 10, planned a gym circuit for the big picture 1 class. This workout consisted mainly of body weight exercises like, pushups, sit ups, wall sits and some weights. The 15-station circuit was a hard workout for the group, but with Jackson and Charlie motivating and pushing the students along, everyone made it through. GREAT WORKOUT!

Jonathan from Year 9 was on his Big Picture Outlearning this week.

Opportunities in Big Picture

Big Picture side-projects for Jasper and Liam from Year 9, with Sky offering some guidance. The purpose of the side project is to improve skills as musicians and to have fun while learning. Thank you to Ms Sainty for being flexible with the music room.

HSIE News

Nan Tien Temple

Year 12 Society and Culture students and Ms Lopez were enlightened at Nan Tien Temple, one of the largest Buddhist Temple in the Southern Hemisphere. As part of their Depth Study of Belief Systems and Ideologies, Students have been completing a case study on Buddhism. The visit to the temple not only complimented their research but also provided opportunities to deepen their learning directly linked to the syllabus. Nan Tien Temple were vary gracious and generous on our visit, donating two books to further our journey of education and enlightenment.

Careers Hub

UNSW Gateway Leaders Day

On 24 March, students attended UNSW to learn the skills of what it takes to be a leader. It was a great experience and thank you to UNSW for hosting the event.

UNSW Year 10 Experience Day

On 31 March, Year 10 had the opportunity to experience life as a student at UNSW. Students had the opportunity to use this great resource from UNSW - http://insideout.unsw.edu.au