Congratulations to Saachi Singh (HGHS Class of 2024) who was selected for the Young Writers Showcase 2024. Only 19 HSC students were selected for this great honour. The book launch was last week with Dr Richard Strauss attending to support and congratulate Saachi. Looking every bit the young writer, Saachi is featured in the Monday 2 June edition of the Sydney Morning Herald.

Last Tuesday morning we hosted a meeting of 20 local principals. The Acknowledgement of Country was given by Year 11 students Yvette and Olivia. This was followed by an excellent musical performance by the saxophone quartet consisting of Year 12 students Evie, Melodie, Ruby and Yi Ern. Thank you to these students for their leadership which highlighted our Gifted and Talented programs.

Four Year 11 students participated in our Leadership Program with tours of NSW Parliament House over the last week. Well done to Angelina Chen and Carina Quizon and Yvette Huang and Olivia Trinh who were guests of our local member James Wallace MP. This was a valuable experience for them and I’m sure they will use their new experience and knowledge of Civics and Citizenship at the school to assist other students.

Congratulations to Yuna Cho (Year 12) who the school nominated for NSW Youth Volunteer of the Year. Yuna has done some extraordinary volunteering in the community particularly in empowering young women, charity fundraising and raising awareness of environmentalism particularly in relation to her passion project of oceanography.

A reminder to Year 7 and 8 parents that our school Library is open from 7:30am – 4:50pm Monday to Thursday and regular school hours on Fridays. Our librarian Dr Heather Cleary is available to assist your daughter with research and study during these times.

This morning at 7:30 it was 5 degrees Celsius on the school oval for Running Club. Our previous record low was 6 degrees Celsius on the school oval in 2022. Needless to say, only two students decided to brave the cold and participate this morning. Well done to Year 7 students Misato and Hannah who ran around the school twice, completed 100 squats and then beat the Principal 21 – 10 in hand tennis. Students have the opportunity every day at Hornsby to succeed whether in academics, creativity, physical activity or in building respectful relationships.

Congratulations to the ZONTA Club and coordinator Mrs Viner (HSIE Faculty) for their leadership in raising $1003.45 for ZONTA with Wednesday's very successful barbeque. Well done to all students, staff and parents who contributed to this most worthy organisation that helps empower young women.

Deputy Principals' Message

Assessment Weeks

Well done to Year 9 and 10 for their hard work during the recent assessment weeks. You have all done well in following assessment processes.

We are very impressed with Year 10 who were able to use flexible attendance arrangements and demonstrated their exceptional responsibility and organisational skills in arriving on time to examinations and following illness and misadventure procedures.Well done Year 10!

Year 12 and Accelerated Year 11 students will commence HSC Assessment Block 3 on Thursday 12th June. Arrangements have been emailed to parents. We wish students all the best in their upcoming examinations.

Parent teacher interviews

Last Wednesday evening we welcomed our year 11 and 12 parents onsite to conduct our annual parent-teacher interviews. As always it was lovely to meet with the members of our school community, engage in conversations about a range of topics and give valuable feedback to parents regarding their children and their learning. Thank you to our teaching staff who so generously gave up their time during the night.

Year 7 and 9 Parent Teacher Interviews will be held on Wednesday 23rd July from 3.00 p.m to 7.00 pm. Year 8 and 10 Parent Teacher Interviews will be held on Wednesday 30th July from 3.00 pm - 7.00 pm. Information regarding making these booking will be sent out in Week 10 of this term.

Buildings and Maintenance

Work continues to occur around the school grounds to maintain and improve our teaching and learning environments. A large air conditioning system has now been installed in the Creative Learning Centre to improve heating in the winter months. All users of this space are very much looking forward to the increased comfort!

The Design Room has also had a makeover with both the interior and exterior being painted. This is an interim measure provided by the DoE while we are in discussions with our assets team to replace the demountable and upgrade our woodworking equipment.

Earlier this term three contractors came to look at our multipurpose courts to tender for the building of our new COLA. We will keep the school community updated on the progress of this tender. We are very excited about the idea of providing another covered outdoor learning space for sport and physical education, as well as improving the ability to use the space for recreation and meetings.

High Potential and Gifted Education Update

Congratulations to the following students:

• Shanning, Astrid and Jewel (Year 10) for their participation in the Model United Nations Assembly
• Charity (Year 8) who has been invited to attend the Huaxing Young Journalists Special Summer Camp in August
• Yuna (Year 12) who is nominating for the NSW Youth Community Award for all her advocacy and volunteering
• Yuna (Year 10) and Sophia (Year 9) for placing first in the Table Tennis Champions - NSW Secondary Girls School Cup
• Merrian Liu who was selected by the NSW Creative Arts Curriculum Team to be filmed to create a curriculum resource in music.
• Our Year 12 Titration Teams who competed at UNSW in the RACI Titration Competition. Laureen, Claire and Eleanor received a Bronze Award, Christine, Sara and Yi Ern achieved a silver award and Maya, Yuna and Akeesha also received a silver award.
• Serena Hoffman who has made it to Round 2 of auditions for the 2025 Schools Spectacular.

Attendance

When students are absent from school or late to arrive, parents and caregivers must respond to text messages from the school within 7 days to justify the absence. If this is not done the absence is recorded as unjustified aligning with NSW Department of Education policy.

We have had an increase in students communicating with the school about their own absences. Emails and correspondence regarding absences, late starts and early leave must be provided by parents and caregivers otherwise the absence remains unjustified.

Parent contacts

On occasion when your child is unwell or an incident has occured at school involving your child school staff will need to contact parents. Please make sure that the details you have provided the school are updated regularly and include contacts that are able to be reached during the hours of 8.45-2.50 pm. Additionally parents who work should ensure that their daughters have a work phone number saved in their phone if you cannot be reached on your mobile.

Lost Property

We have seen an increase in students losing possessions of high value including air pods, phones, bank cards, wallets, jewellery and more. Items of high or sentimental value should be left at home if possible. It is not always possible for the item to be located. If a student loses an item we will try to assist them and students should check with the bank office as property is usually handed in.

Reconciliation Concert

On Friday 2nd May, Dr Briggs and Mrs Wallwork accompanied Year 7 students to the Reconciliation Concert at Hornsby Mall. This concert featured a performance by Gawura Cultural Immersions. It was a unique opportunity for the Year 7 cohort to learn more about Australia’s history, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture and support National Reconciliation week.

Student Survey (tell them from me replacement)

The Tell Them From Me Surveys (TTFM) that were conducted each year through The Learning Bar have been discontinued by the Department of Education for 2025 and replaced with surveys that align more closely with the planned directions of Public Education. This term students in years 7-12 will have the opportunity to share their experiences at school, including their engagement in learning their wellbeing at school and their experiences of evidence-informed teaching. These insights will help us as a school to understand what is working well and where improvements can be made in alignment with the Our Plan for NSW Public Education, the School Excellence Framework and What Works Best.

Further information will be sent to parents via email regarding this in the coming week.

Variations of Routine

When parents and caregivers are sent online forms to consent to excursions and incursions please ensure that you send a copy of the organisation for the activity to your children. An easy way to do this is to take a screenshot and send the completed online form to your child through a text message. This helps develop their independence in being organised for events. Teachers regularly place notices in the Daily notices and also post incursion and excursion information in the Google Classroom for the activity, however it is also helpful for parents and caregivers to ensure their children have the information readily accessible and understand what they need to do when activities have been organised outside of normal daily operations.

Ms Gilmore and Ms Wallwork

PEER TUTORING FOR YEARS 7 and 8

When: Every Thursday at lunchtime

Where: Library Annexe

Ever been so confused about algebra or you just can’t figure out what Shakespeare’s saying? Never fear…Peer Tutoring is here! The Library Annexe every Thursday at lunchtime is the place to go (for year 7s and 8s) if you need help from a group of talented and friendly Year 9s to 10s. On top of regular homework help, we also run workshops on specific assessments, topics and study skills. Last term, we had a great turn-out for our creative writing and speech workshops (PS: hope you all did well in your assessments!). So, keep an eye out for any notices on Sentral about our upcoming workshops on SRP (Science Research Project) Shakespeare, and Maths! From Nova, Isha and Myra - Year 9 Peer Tutors

MINERVA ORCHESTRA

On the evening of Wednesday 28 May, the HGHS Minerva Orchestra proudly represented our school at the Northern Beaches Instrumental Festival, held at Pittwater High School. This inspiring event celebrates music-making across the Northern Beaches and beyond, focusing on performance and learning rather than competition. Our orchestra performed three pieces and received thoughtful feedback from an experienced conductor who ran a quick workshop with the students on stage. It was also a fantastic opportunity to enjoy performances by other schools and share in the joy of live music. Congratulations to all performers on a wonderful evening!

Ms N McCarthy Music Teacher

YOUNG WRITERS SHOWCASE

Dr Strauss was delighted to attend the launch of Young Writers Showcase at New South Wales Parliament House. Saachi’s work is among the pieces published in this celebration of excellent writing. Congratulations, Saachi!

Further information: https://www.nsw.gov.au/education-and-training/nesa/hsc-showcase-hub/young-writers

YEAR 11 DRAMA

Year 11 Drama students showcased their group performance assessment to audiences at lunch in the CLC. The performance was an exemplary demonstration of creativity and theatrical flair, and a testament to the dedication of the students. Thank you to all of the students who came to watch in support and congratulations to our performers.

Ms Mackenzie Carroll - English and Drama Teacher

LESTER PORTRAIT YOUTH PRIZE

Congratulations to Thenumi Hewafonsekage in Year 9 who had her Year 8 Charcoal Portrait exhibited at the Western Australian Museum Boola Bardip on Thursday 8th May 2025.

Thenumi was selected as a finalist for the Lester Portrait Youth Prize out of 250 entries which is a massive achievement!

In Thenumi’s words; “I didn't win, however, the event was nice and it was really cool to see all the other artists. I also saw all the drawings hung up in the art gallery, all of which were incredible. We also got the chance to explore Penguin Island (we didn't see any penguins, but we saw a sea lion!).”

Congratulations on this amazing achievement Thenumi!

Ms Farnon

HGHS DEBATING TEAMS IN THE KNOCKOUT ROUNDS

A standing ovation to our brilliant Year 12 debaters from HGHS, who have soared through five fierce interschool rounds to claim their place among the top 20 teams out of 175, a testament to their eloquence, intellect, and unshakable confidence.

Though Team A bowed out after a valiant debate with Sydney Girls, their journey echoes with courage and pride. Team B, undaunted and formidable, marches on, just three debates away from the state finals, holding strong at number two in the entire state.

In Team B’s last debate, where the motion centred on law and order, the adjudicator credited their win to their in-depth understanding of the legal system. A well-deserved accolade that also honours the dedication of our Legal Studies teachers.

Congratulations to all our students. This is not just debating; it is the art of conviction.

Ms Bhattacharya - English Teacher

YEAR 12 DRAMA WORKSHOP

Drama Alumni from the classes of 2020-2024 came to share their expertise and experiences with our current HSC Drama students on their monologues, theatre criticism, director’s portfolio, scriptwriting, costume and set design.

We are so lucky to have a wealth of knowledge available to us with our past students. Congratulations to our current Drama class for their tremendous efforts as they steadily work towards their examinations.

Ms M Carroll - English Teacher

Chemistry Champions Represent Our School at UNSW

On Friday, May 30th, three outstanding teams of Year 12 Chemistry students represented our school at the prestigious RACI Titration Competition held at the University of New South Wales. These students earned their place through our internal titration competition, where precision, teamwork, and scientific accuracy were tested in the school lab.

Titration is a common laboratory technique used in Chemistry to determine the concentration of an unknown solution. It involves slowly adding one solution to another until a reaction is complete—typically indicated by a colour change. It requires careful technique, attention to detail, and excellent collaboration, making it a perfect challenge for our most dedicated Chemistry students.

After a competitive in-school round, three teams were selected to represent our school at the regional competition:

Bronze Medalists: Laureen Talao, Claire Hwang, and Eleanor Swadling

Silver Medalists: Christine Liu, Sara Grados, and Yi Ern Han

Silver Medalists: Maya Singh-Grewal, Yuna Cho, and Akeesha Ekanayake

These students performed exceptionally well on the day, competing against top students from across the state. Their success reflects their commitment to scientific excellence and their hard work in preparing for the event.

We are incredibly proud of all students who participated and congratulate our medalling teams on their fantastic achievement!

Mr Li and Dr Jeong - Science Teachers

NSWCHSSA Gymnastics and Rhythmic Gymnastics 2025

Congratulations to the following students who represented our school as part of the Sydney North Regional team at the Competition last week.

Olivia Ryu - Year 9 - Amanda Mao - Year 8 - Nora Wu - Year 7 - Isabella Luo - Year 7 - 

Serena Wen - Year 7 - Individually, Amanda Mao achieved All Around Champion in Div C - combined L5 and L6 and Sydney North came in first in this Division. Olivia Ryu came second overall, while the SN team that also included Nora and Isabella placed first in Division B for Levels 7 and 8. Nora, competing in Level 7, achieved 4th place in Division B.

The Competition was a great experience for our very talented students. We have some fantastic photos of members of our team following the event. (Thank you parents!) Congratulations on representing us at such a high level.

In more news, during the recent Gymnastics NSW State Championships, Aggie Fan (Year 11), competing in Level 10 Rhythmic Gymnastics, was selected for the NSW state team and will compete at Nationals in July on the Gold Coast. The Australian Gymnastics Championships is the most significant gymnastics event in the country bringing together the best gymnasts from each State and Territory ahead of the 2025 World Championships and World Games. What exciting news. Good luck Aggie!

Tracey Sheppard - PDHPE/Sport Coordinator

TABLE TENNIS

Our students had a fantastic time at the recent NSW Secondary Girls School Cup - full of friendly competition, new connections, and impressive results! A shoutout to Elysia Zhao (Year 11) and Clare Liu (Year 9), who teamed up and battled their way to the semi-finals, securing 3rd place and huge congratulations to Sophia Zhou (Year 9) and Yuna Choi (Year 10), who played brilliantly and took home 1st place! Well done to all involved! 🏓🥇

HGHS ZONTA CLUB

On Wednesday the 4th of June, the smell of delicious sausage sizzles wafted through the school halls at Hornsby Girls, as the HGHS Zonta Club cooked up a storm to raise funds and awareness for the UNICEF startup foundation - Laaha: A Virtual Safe Space for Women and Girls. Laaha is a virtual platform designed by UNICEF and its partners to provide a safe and supportive environment for women and girls in crisis situations, and the Z-Club at Hornsby Girls decided to support this initiative by hosting a charity BBQ & Bake Sale!

It took many weeks of planning, organising, and campaigning, but despite the event being postponed once and the weather looking awfully grim for the event, everything fell into its right place and the event was a huge success!

The Z-Club successfully raised $1003.45 for the foundation, with the proceeds going towards Laaha to aid their provision of information on sexual and reproductive health, gender-based violence, and access to support services.

A massive THANK YOU to the extremely dedicated Zonta members and Z-Club executive team Archismita, Eleanor, Netli, Shelah, and Yujin, for their help on the day and their support in leading up to the event; and extending that thanks to the amazing Ms Viner, who helped advise and guide the Z-Club in planning and organising the event, we couldn’t have done it without her! Also a very special SHOUTOUT to Mr Moss, Ms Chin, Ms Ridgway, Mr Scott, Mr Li, Ms Turner, Mr Truong, Ms Brennan, Mr Kim, the wonderful GA, and office staff for volunteering their time and energy to help us with this event!

Thank you also to our local Woolworths and Bakers Delight for their kind donations of bread and sausages towards our BBQ! And of course, thank you to all our lovely Hornsbies who purchased a sausage sizzle or baked goods beforehand or on the day! This event was only possible because of everyone’s generosity, so from the bottom of our hearts, we thank you!