jAYNEE vAGHELA yEAR 11 aWARD wINNER

Congratulations to Jaynee Vaghela (Year 11) NSW State Winner of National Schools Competition 2026 organised by UNWomen Australia. Jaynee’s mother received the certificate on behalf of Jaynee while Jaynee was in school camp. Here is the post from the organiser: We launched our National School's Competition for hashtag #IWD2026 and students across Australia truly exceeded every expectation. One submission that absolutely blew us away came from Jaynee, our winner from New South Wales. Her submission proposed a Women's Climate Time Bank, recognising and supporting the efforts women are already committed to across the region. Her submission reads "Dear Partners, In collaboration with Asia-Pacific nations, Australia is committed to strengthening climate resilience by better supporting those sustaining frontline communities - especially women. Women’s essential but unpaid work in disaster preparedness and recovery often goes unrecognised, reinforcing gender inequality and weakening climate efforts. To address this, I propose the Women’s Climate Time Bank, developed with Pacific and Southeast Asian governments, civil society, and UN Women. This initiative allows women to earn time credits for climate related work they already do, such as community education and emergency response. These credits can be exchanged for services like education, healthcare, childcare, or leadership training, recognising their time and contributions as valuable. Designed to be flexible and inclusive, the Time Bank supports micro-contributions, proxy participation for those facing time poverty and automatic crediting during climate events. By acknowledging time poverty as a gendered issue, the program values existing labour rather than adding burdens. Building on the UN’s Millennium Development Goals and advancing SDG’s 5 and 13, this initiative reframes women as leaders in climate resilience, benefiting entire communities. I look forward to discussing how we might pilot this model regionally and align it with current frameworks." (Jaynee Vaghela Year 11) At a time when the world is asking how we hashtag#BalanceTheScales, Jaynee reminds us that solutions don’t just come from boardrooms — they come from classrooms too. Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade Minderoo Foundation NSW Department of Education

Year 12 Japanese Extension Workshop

On Saturday 28th February, Year 12 Japanese Extension students attended a workshop organised by the Japanese Teachers Association at SHORE School. The workshop focused on the prescribed film Like Father, Like Son and provided valuable insights into its themes and cinematic techniques. Presented by Mr Damon Cooper (CCGS), the session was both engaging and informative. Students greatly benefited from and enjoyed this enriching learning opportunity.

Mathematics

The Mathematics Faculty offers the following enrichment opportunities for students. Australasian Problem Solving Mathematical Olympiad (APSMO) -all students in Years 7 and 8 are automatically entered The Olympiad consists of four separate contests held approximately one month apart between May and September. The overall aim is to encourage students to develop important mathematical problem solving skills in an enjoyable environment. Although students are competing against other members of their team and teams from other schools, they are primarily trying to achieve their personal best. Each of the four Olympiads is a 30 minute, hand written, non-calculator test of five 1 mark questions. Australian Mathematics Competition (AMC) - all students in Years 7-10 are automatically entered The AMC is a 75 minute, non-calculator competition consisting of 25 multiple choice questions and 5 questions requiring a numerical answer between 0 and 999. The AMC is held in early August and is done online during class time. Optional programs for interested students Maths Challenge The Maths Challenge is a problem-solving activity organised by the Australian Maths Trust (AMT), which is aimed at stimulating the mathematically interested students in their year level. The Maths Challenge takes place over four consecutive weeks from late Term 1 until early Term 2. Students receive a digital problem book containing six problems and are required to present written solutions to as many of these problems as they can. The problems are challenging and require time and persistence, but are based on maths that should be known at that level for students in the Junior (Year 7-8) and Intermediate (Year 9-10) levels. This program takes dedication as well as mathematical ability and is ideal for students who want to extend their mathematical knowledge and understanding. The Maths Challenge is designed to be an enjoyable and valuable learning experience for students.    WHICH STUDENTS SHOULD ENTER? Any student who has done well (top 5-10%) in the Australian Maths Competition (AMC) run by the Australian Mathematics Trust (AMT) or other problem-solving competitions.   CHALLENGE STAGE: Students complete 6 problems over a consecutive 4-week period. There is a  Junior Level  for Years 7 and 8 and an Intermediate Level for Years 9 and 10. Students receive access to a digital problem book containing six problems and are required to present written solutions to as many of these problems as they can. Four of the problems are attempted individually and participants may discuss the other two problems with a partner, who is also a participant at their level, before submitting their individual solutions. Working and solutions are to be written on A4 paper and handed in on the due date for making by the AMT in Canberra. The Maths Challenge is designed to be an enjoyable and valuable learning experience for students and the problems are challenging and require substantial time and persistence. Only a small number of students from each year group from Year 7-10 choose to participate in and complete this program due to its demands on time and effort.   COST: $25 ENTRY FEE + $30 MARKING FEE = $55 per student   To enter, ensure that you have read the information and looked at the past paper on Google Classroom so that you are aware of the time, effort and expense required for this competition.   Students have been informed about the Maths Challenge in recent weeks and registrations are almost complete. If there are any late entries, students must see Ms Murray (HT Maths) urgently.

Hinamatsuri Celebration

On Tuesday 3 March, Year 9 Japanese students enjoyed a mini celebration of Hinamatsuri (Girls’ Day/Doll Festival in Japan), in front of the beautiful hina doll display kindly donated by a former HGHS student. Hinamatsuri is celebrated on 3 March each year and is a special day to wish for the health and happiness of girls. Families traditionally display ornamental hina dolls representing the Emperor, Empress, and members of the imperial court. Students also shared authentic Japanese snacks as part of the celebration, making it a fun and meaningful cultural experience. Our Year 8 Japanese students also gathered in front of the beautiful hina doll display with Mr Aguilera and learned about the cultural significance of the festival. Mrs Lawson Relieving Head Teacher Languages and TAS

ART NORTH SaTURDAY 7 MARCh

On Saturday 7th March I attended the opening of Art North at the Grace Cossington Smith Gallery which acknowledges the outstanding artmaking practices of students across several schools in North Sydney. Our 2025 HSC Visual Arts students, Olive Gibson and Scarlett Shin, both had their outstanding works displayed at the exhibition which was opened by Member for Wahroonga, MP Alistair Henskens and was attended by the Mayor of Kuringai, Christine Kay and Deputy Mayor of Hornsby Sallianna McClelland. The gallery was full to the brim with supportive family members, teachers, friends and members of the community who stood amazed by the work of our talented students. Olive also had the opportunity to discuss her architecture degree with Salliana McClelland and her husband who is in the business himself! We are so proud to be included in this amazing showcase of talent! Ms Farnon, 2025 HSC Visual Arts Teacher

ZONE SWIMMing

Congratulations to all members of the HGHS Zone Swimming Team who competed at Ryde on 5 March. A special mention to the following students for their outstanding results:

• Alina Chen – 2nd in 100m Breaststroke, 2nd in 200m Individual Medley, 2nd in 50m Freestyle
• Charity Yan – 1st in 200m Freestyle, 1st in 100m Freestyle, 3rd in 100m Butterfly
• Emily Yu – 2nd in 100m Breaststroke
• Eva Zhang – 2nd in 200m Freestyle, 2nd in 50m Freestyle
• Katrina Carrizo – 1st in 100m Backstroke, 2nd in 50m Freestyle
• Riyaa Thejaswi – Equal 2nd in 100m Butterfly, 3rd in 100m Freestyle

Relay Team Results

• U12 4 × 50m Freestyle Relay – 3rd place: Claire, Emily, Katrina & Sunnie
• U13 4 × 50m Freestyle Relay – 3rd place: Stephanie, Christa, Talia & Tanny
• U14 4 × 50m Freestyle Relay – 2nd place: Charity, Charlotte, Erica & Eva Open 4 × 50m Medley Relay – 3rd place: Alina, Eva, Kelly & Riyaa

A huge thank you to our Year 10 PASS students who volunteered throughout the day and helped make the event a success.

P&C GROUNDS AND GARDEN DAY

Grounds and Garden Day is on Saturday 28 March from 8am – 10:30am with a nice morning tea from 10:10am. We have some planting (five Little Gems along Thomas St and one to be potted replacing a dead plant near the hall), pruning (the fence line along Edgworth David), weeding (outside the CLC, the outdoor Gym, and the fence line garden opposite the music and PE staffrooms and Rm 101, the camellia garden, and removing various weeds along the train line). There is also some mulching to do in the weeded areas mentioned. Unfortunately, all our mulch is in the back-car park so if you have a wheelbarrow, please bring it along! There is a lot of work to be done but what we don’t finish by 10:10am on Saturday we can plan our strategy for the next Grounds and Garden Days in Term 3 and Term 4. Students who participate will receive a Minerva Signature for School Spirit!

Sydney North Swimming

The Sydney North Swimming Championships were held on Monday 16 March at the Sydney Olympic Park Aquatic Centre. Congratulations to our swimmers who competed at this level. Outstanding results included:

• Charity Yan – 2nd place in the 200m Freestyle and 2nd place in the 100m Freestyle
• Alina Chen – 3rd place in the 100m Breaststroke
• 14 Years Girls Relay Team – 3rd place: Eva Zhang, Charlotte Xu, Erica Liu and Charity Yan

These students have now qualified to compete at the NSW CHS Swimming Championships, which will be held next term. Congratulations to all swimmers, and we wish them the best of luck at CHS. 

NSW CHSSA Sailing

We wish Year 12 student Elise Reynolds the best of luck in representing our school at the upcoming NSW CHSSA Sailing during the April school holidays. The regatta will be held from 7–10 April at the Belmont 16s Sailing Club, bringing together talented school sailors from across the state. Competing at this level is a fantastic achievement, and we are proud to see our students representing the school in such a challenging and exciting sport. We wish Elise fair winds and great racing!

Term 2 Carnival Reminder

Term 2 is a busy one for school carnivals. Our Cross Country Carnival will take place in Week 1 on Thursday 23 April at Pennant Hills Park, followed by our Athletics Carnival in week 3 on Friday 8 May at Sydney Olympic Park. Consent forms for both events have already been sent out. If you have not yet completed both consent forms, please log onto the School Parent Portal and do so as soon as possible. For the Cross Country Carnival, students have the opportunity to pre-order a sausage sandwich. Orders can be made via the School Parent Portal or in person at the School Bank. Sausage sandwiches are $5 each. Orders close 2nd April. For the Athletics Carnival, students have the option to catch a bus to and from the venue. As outlined in the consent form, seats can be booked via the Google Form Once the form has been completed, you will be invoiced $22.50 for the bus. Please note that seats are not secured until payment has been made. Students are also welcome to make their own way to and from the venue if they prefer.

SPECTACULAR DEBATING WIN

Hornsby Girls Senior Debating Teams had two spectacular wins in the first round of the Premier’s Debating Challenge. Team A (Serena Hoffman, Catherine Yuan, Simran Pandey and Thinolee Gunasinghe) debated against Castle Hill High School on the topic “Parents should be held criminally responsible when their children bully other students at school”. HGHS students took the negative stand and debated against the topic. Team B (Rashi Shree, Yashita Mohan, Ishani Sri Ganeshwaran and Audrey Strauss) debated against Mackeller Girls on the topic “University entrance requirements should be based on a portfolio of work instead of exam results”. HGHS team once again took the negative stand and debated against the topic, clearly articulating the benefits of the current education system. Their precision in planning, modelling and rebutting was truly impressive.

YEAR 11 CAmp

Our Year 11 Camp at Jindabyne was an unforgettable experience that combined adventure, challenge, and forming new bonds across our whole year group. We enjoyed many different activities, from canoeing on Lake Jindabyne and navigating the maze, to working together to solve the clues in the puzzle room. The games and trivia nights were fun and gave everyone a chance to work on their "friendly competition" skills. The highlight of the camp was our walk as a whole year group to the summit of Mount Kosciuszko, where we built even  stronger connections in our year group, dragging eachother up the hill, chatting, laughing and creating memories What an experience for all of us. A particular thank you to the staff who gave their time and energy day and night to come to Jindabyne with us - Mrs Gilmore, Ms Brennan, Mr Barr, Mrs Sutcliffe and Ms Hien - you are legends. Mrs Sheppard and Mr Atkin (Year 11 Advisers)

YOUNG CURATORS MEET AND GREEt

On Monday 9th March, Year 11 Visual Arts students met with Abbotsleigh Girls Visual Arts students at Grace Cossington Smith Gallery after school to discuss this year’s Young Curators Program. It was a rainy afternoon but inside the gallery, it was warm and cozy and we were surrounded by fantastic student artworks! Students discussed their upcoming work with Utopia Galleries Sydney and 3:33 Art Projects. They will be curating an exhibition at the Grace Cossington Smith Gallery that recognises indigenous and non-indigenous artists and their works. During this first meeting, students introduced themselves to the group, exchanged numbers and a few jokes and got to explore the gallery space. They also got the opportunity to tour the Art North Exhibition after hours! Through this program, the students will gain an insight into gallery curation, advertising and collaboration and work closely with artists. This is a fantastic program that we run here at Hornsby and we can’t wait to share the journey with you! Coming up next is our excursion to Clayton Utz in the city to view the selection of works that are available for our exhibition. Here we will decide on a theme, title and the works we want to include at GCS gallery! See the link below for what to expect! https://utopiaartsydney.com.au/

A Busy Start to 2026 for HGHS Musicians!

Hornsby Girls’ CCMP and Elective Music students have embraced opportunities with enthusiasm and commitment in Term 1.  The Music staff truly appreciate the time and effort that our musicians devote to their participation in musical activities.  The grit and focus that they develop through involvement in learning music are highly valuable skills that are transferable to all aspects of life at and beyond school. On Sunday 22 February, The Occasional Performing Sinfonia held a concert in the Agnes Brewster Hall.  The orchestra performed a range of engaging pieces including the first movement of Kabalevsky’s Piano Concerto No. 3, featuring HGHS soloist Yolanda Huang (Year 11).  Yolanda’s performance was outstanding, displaying high levels of skill and maturity to the captivated audience.  The orchestra was delighted to be able to give some of our students the opportunity to perform challenging repertoire and be mentored by experienced musicians and conductors.  Congratulations to Kelly Ha (Year 9), Eva Still (Year 10), Dana Kim (Year 8), Grace Wang and Sally Wu (Year 11) for taking up this fantastic opportunity.  We hope to organise more occasions for our students to play with this orchestra.

Year 12 Music students had the opportunity to see Encore 2025, NESA’s showcase of outstanding performances and compositions from the 2025 HSC.  Although they weren’t shared during the concert, Summer Pan’s (HGHS 2025) two musicology essays were recognised in the showcase.  Our students appreciated seeing the range of musical  styles and instruments selected for the concert and were inspired to continue striving to perform at the highest standard possible. Year 9 and Year 10 Music students have started preparing for this year’s In Concert event that will take place in the Sydney Opera House in June.  They will be performing as part of a massed choir, singing a range of repertoire including Faure’s Requiem, songs from Wicked and some contemporary songs in different styles.  The concert will feature Lucy Durack, who is most well-known for starring in the first Australian production of Wicked, where she played Glinda.  The Year 9 and 10 students will have one more day of combined choir rehearsal before taking to the Opera House Concert Hall for the performance.  They are looking forward to this wonderful experience created by the Arts Unit.  Ticket information for anyone wanting to see the concert will be shared when it is made available later this term or early next term. 27 Music students from Years 9 -12 visited the Opera House in Week 7 to see the Sydney Symphony Orchestra perform Tchaikovsky’s Symphony No. 5.  The concert was presented by conductor Ben Northey, who unpacked features of the music throughout the concert.  The students enjoyed the insights that were presented about the music and the composer, enabling them to understand and appreciate the music on a different level.  They will be attending a similar concert in June where they will learn about Elgar’s famous Cello Concerto.

Junior Voices students have also been busy, preparing for tonight’s Pulse Alive performance at Ken Rosewall Arena at Sydney Olympic Park.  The students have rehearsed and learned many songs from memory that they will sing as part of a combined choir with hundreds of students from public schools in NSW.  The concert promises to be an energetic and exciting experience for Junior Voices students as well as Vishruti Karthikeyan and Kelly Ha (Year 9) who will be performing as members of the Pulse Alive Showband and Millennium Marching Band respectively.

The CCMP recently announced a tour to Japan in 2027.  Ms Ridgway has been very busy communicating with the Department of Education and Hayes Tour Enterprises to gain approval for and organise an amazing opportunity for approximately 70 CCMP students to have both musical and cultural experiences in a wonderful country.  An information session was held on Thursday 12 March and invitations to participate in the tour have been sent to families this week.

P&C NEWs!

Easter Market Day- Only 11 Days to Go!

Act Fast—Pre-Orders Are Closing Soon!🐣 The countdown is officially on for our Easter Market Day on Tuesday, 31 March !  The window to secure your favorites is about to shut. To ensure our vendors have everything ready, we will be closing pre-orders shortly. Click the link to bundle up and save! HGHS Eater Markey Day Pre-Order & Bundle Deal

Support Us: Food & Cash Donations We need nut-free, grab-and-go donations (Easter treats, savory snacks, or dietary-friendly bakes) to make the day a success!

• Drop-off: School Office, 31 March (8:00 AM – 9:30 AM).
• Register Food Donation: [Food Donation Interest Form]
• No time to bake? Cash Donations Optons- 

Option 1 (Direct): PayID (ABN): 11465017203 (BSB: 032285 | Acc: 937070). Ref: Name + Year + Easter. Option 2 (SchoolBytes):  Select Menu "Payment - Add other Items - Category : General- P&C Easter Donation- Add quantity '1'- Add - Add Item- key in Amount Questions? Contact Yamini at 0480 138 058. 🙋‍♀️ Call for Volunteers We can’t do this without you! If you can spare some time to help run the event on the day, please register your interest.   DIGITAL EASTER RAFFLE – WIN BIG! Support HGHS with our 100% digital raffle—no lost paper stubs!

• 🍷 Special Prize: Premium Wine Selection (Value over $400)
• 💳 1st & 2nd Prize: $100 & $50 Gift Cards
• 🍫 3rd Prize: Large Box of Lindt Chocolates

Ticket Bundles: 1 for $2 | 3 for $5 | 8 for $10 | 🔥 20 for $20 (Best Value!) How to Buy:

• Option 1 (Direct): PayID (ABN): 11465017203 (or BSB: 032285 | Acc: 937070). Ref: Your Email | Message: Daughter’s Name + Year.
• Option 2: Pay via SchoolBytes. Select Menu "Payment - Add other Items - Category : General- P&C Easter Raffle- Add quantity '1'- Add - Add Item- key in Amount

P&C Merchandise We invite you to pre-order our P&C merchandise and help support our school community. We have a range of useful items available, including bucket hats, lanyards, tote bags, umbrellas, raincoat, notebooks and more. Every purchase contributes directly to supporting school initiatives and activities. Please place your pre-order by via the link or scan the QR code on the form below. Thank you for your continued support!

Supporting Community, Family and Student Wellbeing during Global Conflict

The global conflict in Iran and the Middle East may be unfolding far from Australia, but they can still deeply affect members of our school community. Students and families may feel worried about loved ones overseas or distressed by media coverage. These events can bring up complex emotions such as grief, fear, anger, helplessness, or even reawaken past trauma for those with lived experience. There are specific resources that you may find helpful during this time to reach out for support;  For your students, staff and families who identify as culturally and linguistically diverse:

• Transcultural Mental Health Line (NSW) — 1800 648 911
• Provides culturally sensitive mental health support in multiple languages and can connect callers to local services
• Witness to War Hotline — 1800 845 198
• A multilingual service supporting people distressed by overseas conflicts or concerned about family members abroad (operated through the Transcultural Mental Health Line)
•  If language support is required when contacting services, the Translating and Interpreting Service (TIS National) is available on 131 450.

Resources to specifically support students during this time:  

• Emerging Minds - Talking to children about war and conflict
• Emerging Minds - Traumatic events, the media and your child
• STATTS Hints for Healing - How are student in Australian schools affected by international crises
• Young people's exposure to war and conflict in the media

For students or staff who have family who are, or have, served as members of the Australian Defence Force:

• Open Arms – Veterans & Families Counselling (1800 011 046) Free, confidential counselling for Defence members, veterans, partners, children and families. They also provide group programs, resources and specialist support around anxiety
• Defence Member and Family Helpline (1800 624 608) A 24/7 central contact point for Defence families seeking guidance, referrals, or wellbeing support.

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