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.
WEEK 9, TERM 3, 20 SEPTEMBER 2024
PRINCIPAL'S MESSAGE
Another Spring, and another superb Spring Concert organised by our Music teachers, Mrs Sholl, Ms McCarthy and Mrs Sutcliffe with great performances on Tuesday night at the Hornsby RSL.
350 performers and wonderful conducting and directing by Mrs Sholl and Ms McCarthy created an exciting atmosphere for the students and parents who packed out the venue.
So many highlights including the Hornsby Chorale, Symphonic Band and the Year 7 singers.
Thank you also to Mrs Hoogerwerf, Mrs Viner and Ms Cho for supervising the students on the night and also to all staff who helped mark rolls and walk the students safely to the venue.
The school could not offer such great activities as the concert without the performance skills of our students and the support of staff. Well done all!
There was a great article featuring our very own Head of English Dr Strauss in the 18 September edition of the Sydney Morning Herald (p.4) discussing the changes to English Extension 2 commencing in 2027. There is also a great photo of our Year 12 students with Dr Strauss accompanying the article which is our featured banner photo above. Dr Strauss has been providing quality advice to NESA over a number of years regarding updates to HSC English courses as an expert in the study of English literature.
Thank you to Mr Blake (Maths Faculty) for organising a very successful Prefect Induction which included Ms McCarthy's excellent conducting of the Hornsby Chorale and Senior Choir. The ceremony was a great celebration for our student leaders for 2025. Captain Lauren Wilson and Vice Captain Helen Bui gave very thoughtful and entertaining speeches in accepting their new leadership roles. It was wonderful seeing so many parents and family members supporting the new prefects at the ceremony. We are very fortunate to have Mr Blake as the Prefect Coordinator. He has a great relationship with the students and is a very dedicated Prefect Coordinator. Thank you also to Ms Boden (Head Teacher HSIE) who settled the assembly down prior to the commencement of the proceedings.
Kind regards,
Justin Briggs (Principal)
DEPUTY PRINCIPALS' MESSAGE
A reminder to all parents that if your child requires an early leavers' pass please email the day before your appointment or with a signed note or email early on the morning of the day of the appointment with the time your child will be leaving the school to allow a timely and smooth leaver's arrangement. The Office Staff would be most appreciative if you could assist in this matter.
Year 12 - In Week 10 of this term we will celebrate our year 12 students at a variety of events across the week. Our Year 12 Graduation will take place on Monday 23rd September at Hornsby RSL Club. We look forward to inviting families and staff to farewell the class of 2024. Doors will open at 5.30 pm for a 6.00 pm start.
On Wednesday 25th September students from 7-11 and all staff will celebrate our Year 12 students once more with the final Clap Out Ceremony at HGHS. The class of 2024 will be remembered fondly as a cohort, who have supported each other consistently across the last 6 years and always demonstrating our core school values. We wish them all the best as they begin the final phase as year 12 students and present for the Higher School Certificate examinations starting from Tuesday 15th October- Friday 8th November.
As our Year 12s commence life beyond the walls of Hornsby Girls High School and pursue the next phase of their lives we hope that they follow their passions, and find success and fulfillment in whatever they choose to do. They have all left their mark at our school and we look forward to hearing from them as Hornsby Alumni in the future.
Congratulations to the Class of 2024. We are very proud of you.
Further details of year 12 student arrangements can be found via the link below.
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Pc6Ij-eEv60kvjw04195wAK7xJI199UvKCvmMXds0G0/edit2
Year 11 - Well done to Year 11 for their impressive and determined approach to the recent Yearly Assessment Block. HGHS staff and our invigilating team recognise the strong communication skills you all used when managing your way through this assessment block and when using Illness and Misadventure processes. We hope you all have a very restful holiday and are able to set up good sleeping, eating and recreation routines for your HSC year.
On Thursday I spoke with Year 11 about their promotion to HSC students in Term 4. Information was provided on HSC Assessment rules and procedures, changing patterns of study including picking up extension subjects, and the commencement of privileges in Term 4. An email has been sent to all parents with copies of the HSC Assessment Manual for 2025 attached.
If parents can ensure that all relevant forms and School Bytes consent forms are submitted by the 27th September this would be very much appreciated. Students have been provided with details on where to lodge paper based forms.
It was wonderful to celebrate the induction of our new Prefects on Thursday. We look forward to working with the leadership team over the next 12 months to hold events that build school spirit and connectedness.
Year 10 - Year 10 Accelerated Ancient History and Software Engineering students also attended the information session on HSC Assessment rules and procedures. This information has been posted in their Google Classroom and has been emailed to parents today.
Last week we were impressed with the Year 10 Food Technology Pop Up Restaurant. The food was great quality, the marketing innovative, and the atmosphere enhanced by the music played and sounds of happy students and teachers. Well done to Year 10 and the TAS faculty.
In Week 1 of term 4, October 16th we will be running our House Leader Elections for 2025. Students are encouraged to nominate themselves for House, Sport or Music Captains. We look forward to hearing your speeches in term 4. Good Luck.
Year 9 - Students have today engaged in a second Market Day selling a range of goods as part of their Running a Business topic in Commerce. Well done on your engagement in entrepreneurship and innovative marketing techniques. The buzz in the COLA on both market days was energising for all. Thank you to your Commerce teachers for facilitating this learning opportunity.
Year 8 - On Wednesday 11th September 30 year 8 and 9 students participated in the Write a Book in a Day initiative. Thank you to Ms Low, Ms Cleary, Ms Thompson, Ms Drayton, Mrs Foster and Mrs Hale for giving our students this worthwhile literacy opportunity.
Year 7 - Year 7 have been very busy over the last few weeks with excursions to the zoo, completing assessment tasks, attending the prefect induction and having their vaccinations today.
Next term Year 7 are preparing for their first ever grade Charity Day where they will raise money for CANTEEN’s Bandanna Day. This will occur on Friday 25 October. Look out for more information regarding this closer to the date. Thank you to Ms Redpath and Year 7 for organising this.
Lost Property - From time to time, students lose property at school. When this occurs they should check the classrooms and learning spaces they have used that day and ask if the item has been handed in at the Bank Office. Valuable items are kept secure by the Bank Office when they are handed in. Students should report lost items as soon as they know the property is missing. Students who are upset about the loss of their property can report this to their Year Adviser or Deputy Principal. Term 4 - We wish all students, staff and parents a safe and fun holiday. Term 4 commences on Monday 14 October. Students change to Summer uniform for the first day of Term 4. School Locker is open on Wednesdays from 1 pm to 3.30 pm. Students are encouraged to make sure they have a good supply of white socks over the next few weeks.
Term 4 - We wish all students, staff and parents a safe and fun holiday. Term 4 commences on Monday 14th October. Students change to Summer uniform for the first day of Term 4. School Locker is open on Wednesdays from 1 pm to 3.30 pm. Students are encouraged to make sure they have a good supply of white socks over the next few weeks.
Ms Gilmore and Ms Wallwork - Deputy Principals
R U OKAY DAY
HGHS Students Lead the Way in the Junior Science Olympiad
We are thrilled to announce that fourteen of our students recently participated in the prestigious Junior Science Olympiad (JSO) with four receiving a High Distinctions. The JSO is an international competition that challenges the knowledge of Biology, Chemistry, Physics, and Environmental Science through rigorous theoretical tasks.
Our students demonstrated outstanding problem-solving skills, critical thinking, and scientific curiosity throughout the competition. We are incredibly proud of their achievements and look forward to seeing them continue to excel in their scientific journeys! Below are our HD receiving students Abbie Qian & Jessica Lu of Year 7, Aarna Mayooran of Year 8 and Isabella Chen of Year 9.
YEAR 9 CAMP
In Week 6 Term 3, Year 9 set off to the greatest camp of all time, the Great Aussie Bush Camp at Tea Gardens! Even an awesome bus ride filled with snacks, gorgeous scenery, laughter and karaoke couldn’t prepare us for the fun the week would bring!
Once we arrived, we had little time to settle into our cabins before we were split into our activity groups and tackled our first activities, such as power-fan, flying fox, the Giant Swing and raft building. That night, we had the disco, filled with booming music, lights and moments that we will never forget.
On the second day, Year 9 was driven to the highly-anticipated Jimmy’s Beach, where we made sand castles (or rather, sand holes), paddled in the waves, splashed our teachers, took Insta-worthy photos and enjoyed the refreshing break.
However, it was Challenge Night that brought out the familiar Hornsby competitive spirit as the teams battled across various challenges for the coveted first place. It’s safe to say the hilarious fashion runway at the end would’ve given DTI a run for its money (Mr Frewin and Mr Atkin blew it out of the park!).
The main highlight of the third day was the Commando Spotlighting, which was a hide-and-seek game in the bush - students vs teachers. With ‘hostages’ to rescue and the constant thrill of hiding in the dark, Commando had everyone feeling like they were in a Hollywood-style action movie!
On the fourth day, it was finally time for the greatly anticipated Mud Run - the majority of the grade (and teachers) were absolutely soaked in mud. Movie night was a great year bonding opportunity, sharing snacks and having fun! On the final day, we completed our final activities and had to bid farewell to the awesome camp leaders who had made every day better than the last. The stay at GAB camp was an amazing week, and Year 9s will forever hold these memories close to their hearts!
Yashita Mohan - Year 9
Our cohort’s trip to the Great Aussie Bush Camp at Tea Gardens was an incredible experience for the entire grade, filled with adventure, bonding, and many challenges that pushed us out of our comfort zones. Spending five days together allowed us to grow closer as a year group while exploring nature and trying new activities. The mix of outdoor activities and bonding experiences made it very memorable.
One of the highlights included the giant swing, which encouraged both courage and teamwork, as we all had to pull each other up by a rope. Commando was another highlight—it was both fun and terrifying, especially when teachers would jump out and scare us. My team kept having to run back to the starting point to grab more life tokens because we kept getting caught, but it added to the excitement! The beach visit was a refreshing break, allowing everyone to relax and enjoy the natural beauty of the area, while the nightly campfires gave us time to unwind and bond as a group. Of course, there were some more nerve-wracking moments, like the Powerfan, which involved jumping from 12 metres high! Being so high up was scary, but the secret is to not look down. Despite the initial fear, finishing it felt like a real accomplishment.
One of the best parts was how the trip brought our year group closer together, as we had the chance to connect with peers we didn’t usually interact with. Of course, there were challenges along the way, such as overcoming personal fears during some of the activities, but these moments only made the experience more rewarding. Every challenge helped us build resilience and teamwork, leaving us with a sense of achievement by the end of the camp. Overall, the camp was a perfect blend of fun and challenging, with activities that confronted us and brought us together as a year.
Isabella Chen - Year 9
TOURNAMENT OF MINDS
Over the weekend, 21 students from Year 7 to 10 competed in the Sydney North Regional Competition for Tournament of Minds. Students were up against many different schools and had to compete in a wide range of challenges.
One of our teams consisting of Rashi and Aanya (Year 10), Aditi (Year 9), Atrin and Cathy (Year 8), Mughda (Year 7) and Prisha (Year 7), placed first in their division and have been invited to now compete at the NSW State Finals.
MACQUARIE BANK EVENT
The Macquarie: Empowering Women in Finance & Tech Event held at Macquarie Bank on 10th September 2024 was an inspiring and transformative experience that brought together a diverse group of female industry leaders and students. The event highlighted the challenges and triumphs of women in traditionally male-dominated fields like finance and technology. Throughout the day, we were immersed in interactive workshops and engaging panel discussions. These sessions provided hands-on advice on career advancement and embracing innovation. We can all say that we felt inspired listening to the speakers sharing their stories as they not only talked about their achievements, but also real struggles faced. By the end of the day, I felt that I have learnt a lot and was inspired by women driving change in finance and tech.
Melody Yang - Year 10
Year 12 Food Tech & 12 Spanish
In week 8, the Year 12 Spanish and Food Tech classes got together to enjoy a lunch time cooking up delicious Spanish food! We made a wonderful vegetarian paella, patatas baratas (roast potatoes,) topped with Senora Diaz’s homemade tres leches cake! It was a lovely afternoon, cooking and listening to Spanish music, and we’d like to thank the Food Tech Staff, including Ms Bloomfield and Ms Binskin for kindly lending their kitchen, as well as Ms Diaz and Ms Bloomfield for organising it :)
WRITE A BOOK IN A DAY
Over forty talented Year 8 students successfully completed Write a Book in a Day to raise funds for the Kids Cancer Council. Authors, editors and illustrators created their books in twelve hours - an amazing achievement. Huge thanks go to Mrs Drayton, Mrs Foster and Mrs Thompson for making the day such a fabulous literacy incursion. We hope to see the same students back next year to eat pizza and flex their creative writing muscles in 2025.
LYRICAL AND JAZZ EISTEDDFOD
We are pleased to announce both our HGHS lyrical and jazz teams placed 2nd in the Energy Express Eisteddfod on Sunday September 8 at the Saints Sports Club St Marys.
The students have worked consistently, displaying dedication and commitment to achieve such wonderful results.
The adjudicators and dance teacher were most delighted with both performances.
Good luck for the next competition on September 22.
Ms C Croudace - PDHPE Teacher
CHS Athletics
CHS Athletics was held at Sydney Olympic Park last week.
Congratulations to Tara Gilkeson who competed in the shot put and to Arabella Lewis who competed in the 4 x 200m relay winning the event with her team.
Aniela Knight is to be commended on her first in the 800m and second in the 1500m.
Our fifteen year old relay team of Summer Choi, Sophie Chen, Arabella Lewis and Alaysha Garg placed fourth, a very credible result.
Jane Hall - Carnival Convenor
GRACE ZHANG - YEAR 9
In August, Grace Zhang (Year 9) volunteered as a dental sterilizer and assistant with the AVCF (Australia-Vietnam Charity Foundation) where she supported disadvantaged locals in Binh Thuan Province, Vietnam. Her responsibilities included sterilizing instruments and assisting with patient care, offering her hands-on experience in an entirely new field. Despite the harsh conditions working with over 500 patients in Vietnam's hot, humid summer without air conditioning Grace demonstrated remarkable dedication. Her mentor praised her as a quick and hard worker. This transformative experience has not only enhanced her technical skills but also deepened her empathy and commitment to community service. Well done Grace!
YUNA CHO - YOUNG VOLUNTEER oF THE YEAR
Yuna Cho was extremely grateful to be chosen as the young Volunteer of the Year for the central Sydney region. Later this year, Yuna will represent the Sydney region at the NSW award ceremony. We congratulate Yuna and wish her all the best.
Message to students regarding social networking restrictions
From Day 1 Term 4, students will no longer be able to use their school email address (@education.nsw.gov.au) to access social media, gaming, instant messaging and similar platforms. This means students will also not be able to retrieve password-recovery emails and the like from these platforms.
Please immediately update your social media account emails
Dear students
The NSW Department of Education is making an important change to help keep our students safe online, reduce the risk of cyber threats and make sure your student email accounts are used for their intended educational purposes only.
What’s happening
Starting Day 1 Term 4, you won’t be able to use your student email address to sign up for, or recover access to any social media, gaming, instant messaging or similar accounts.
What you need to do
If you have signed up for a social media, gaming, instant messaging or similar account using your student email address, please change to a personal email address on each platform by Sunday 13 October to make sure you don't lose access to the account. Here’s how:
Log in to each account.
Go to the account settings and update your email address to a personal one. Add a mobile number too, if you haven’t already.
Why this is happening?
The Department of Education is making this change to ensure all student accounts are being used for their educational purposes, and to help protect you from risks online. Using your personal email address for these platforms instead of your student email address reduces the chances of someone gaining access to information in your school account.