Dear Parents, Caregivers and Students,

https://yoursay.hornsby.nsw.gov.au/hornsby-town-centre-hpaa

I seek your support in completing the online form above in support of a permanent reduction in the speed limit in the Hornsby Town Centre.

Hornsby Council is currently consulting with the public regarding the proposed 40kmh speed limit in the Hornsby Town Centre (including Edgeworth David Ave which our students use each day to cross to enter and exit HGHS).

We have been in discussions with Council for a number of years to have a permanent reduction to 40kmh due to the high pedestrian traffic in our area and the need to slow traffic outside the school at all times.

Although the school is a designated School Zone from 8am - 9:30am and 2:30pm - 4:00pm vehicles are regularly speeding through the school zone at these times.

By having a permanent and enforceable 40kmh speed limit we believe that the area will be safer for students and staff and all members of the public.

The online consultation closes 5pm Sunday 3 November.

Thank you!

On Wednesday 6 November we will be hosting 123 students and 12 teachers from Nichidai Buzan High School Japan. Our visitors will be hosted by our Year 10 students who will meet them in P1, take a tour of the school in P2, do some student led activities in P3 and conclude with some farewell games and photos in P4. Thank you to Mrs Lawson's Japanese Language students for organising the day.

On Friday 8 November the last HSC exam for the 2024 cohort, Geography will finish in the early afternoon. We wish all of our HSC students all the best! It has been a delight to watch the students exit the exams and see the big smiles on their faces as they chat about the exams with their peers and teachers.

To assist with your planning for 2025 the Department of Education has now increased the number of School Development Days for all schools. Students will commence Term 1 2025 from Thursday 6 February. Staff will be onsite from January 31 2025 and school office hours will be from 8:15am to 3:15pm.

Kind regards,

Justin Briggs (Principal)

Deputy Principals' Message

Year 12

We continue to be impressed with our year 12 students as they work their way through their HSC examinations which conclude on Friday November 8th. Year 12 will have their final sign out days on Monday 11th, Wednesday 13th and Thursday 14th November. An email with further details regarding this has been sent to all students, parents and carers.

A reminder to Year 12 students that Graduation photos are now available for purchase. All details have been sent to families via email.

Year 11

Year 11 have had their reports distributed this afternoon. We congratulate all our students on their efforts and achievements over the last three terms.

All our HSC 2025 cohort have settled well into their first term of HSC studies. On the 15th November we will have our official handover of the Year 12 Cottage. This space can be used by our Year 12 students before school and at recess and lunch as well as during study periods. Parents have been invoiced for the upkeep of this resource.

On the first day of 2025, Thursday February 6th, Year 12 2025 will participate in the ‘Urban Challenge’. This excursion provides challenge and helps build team work and collaboration for our HSC students. Information has been provided to Year 11 in preparation for this. Thank you to Mrs Tutty and Ms Carroll for organising this activity.

Year 10

Best wishes to our Year 10 students as they commence their yearly examinations next week between Monday November 4th and Monday November 11th. Year 10 will be involved in the Japan Visit on Wednesday 6th November and on this day no exams or classes will take place. We know that they have been working hard in preparation for their exams and want them to focus on achieving their personal best.

Year 10 will be completing their Minimum Standards Tests on Friday November 15th. Students will need to bring a charged laptop and will complete three tests in Numeracy, Reading and Writing. These tests are very basic for our High Potential and Gifted Education learners and no student needs to prepare for the assessments. If a student is absent on the day, a reschedule will be organised.

In week 7 and 8 of this term year 10 will be involved in Life and Resilience week and Illuminate challenge. Further details will be communicated to families soon.

Year 9

Year 9 Examinations will start on the 18th November and finish on the 22nd November. Parents have been emailed a letter explaining arrangements and a copy of the examination timetable. Students are expected to be at school every day. When a student does not have examinations they are provided with supervision in the hall while they engage in private study.

Please remind your child that it is normal to feel nervous prior to examinations and to put the importance of these examinations into perspective. These assessments are a simply a snapshot of their skills at this point in time and give them an indication of areas to work on in 2025.

On Friday 22nd in period 4 students will be able to celebrate the end of year examinations with a movie screening. More information will be provided on this in the Google Classroom.

year 7

Congratulations to Year 7 on their terrific Charity Day Event on the 25th October. It was terrific to see the strong planning and team work that went into this successful fundraising for CANTEEN. There were some very fun hairstyles and accessories on the day.

Year 7 are reminded to also start looking at their Personal Best Goals for 2024 as they will be asked to reflect on these in the coming weeks. These reflections will be published on their Yearly Report.

Thank you also to all Year 7 parents for the discussions they have recently been having with their children regarding use of mobile phones and social media. Please remember that your child does not need messenger or whatsapp groups to communicate with others in their class about school related questions. Students can always post questions in their subject Google Classrooms or Grade Google Classroom.

Whole School Assembly

On Wednesday 23rd October we held a whole school assembly. This was a wonderful celebration of student success across a range of activities. Our newly elected House Leaders were presented with their badges by our outgoing House Leaders and students were recognised for their success in the Australian Mathematics Competition, State Wind Band, Science and Zone Debating. Many students also achieved Minerva awards. Thank you to our 2024- 2025 Prefects for their excellent running of this assembly.

Resilience in Our Teens Program 2025

This week 14 staff attended 2 days of training in the Resilience in Our Teens Program. This is an evidence based program which focuses on encouraging students to ‘have a go’, manage stress and anxious thoughts and not to avoid difficult tasks or situations.

In 2025 all students will complete the program as part of our positive educational psychology approach. The goal of this program is to develop resilience in our High Potential and Gifted Education students. Resilience is the ability to cope with stressful or difficult events and have a go rather than avoiding the experience.

Further information will be provided in future newsletters, a P&C presentation in 2025 and via email.

Extracurricular Activities

There is a wide range of extracurricular activities available at Hornsby Girls High School. Student led extracurricular activities and clubs have benefits including increasing student wellbeing through building a sense of belonging. Just some of the clubs available are:

• Book Club: Interested students talk to Ms Low as days vary based on availability
• Chess: Thursday Lunch / Room 302
• Ethics Debating: Friday Lunch / Library Annexe
• FRED(environment): Friday Lunch / Room 404
• Social Debating Club: Wednesday Lunch / Room 202
• Social Justice: Wednesday Lunch / Room 312
• Swifties Club (Taylor Swift): Thursday Lunch every 3 weeks / Room 312
• Table Tennis Club: Interested students talk to Ms Sheppard, or Table Tennis club senior members as days vary based on availability
• Running Club: Monday, Wednesday, Friday mornings / Oval
• Zonta(Women's rights): Tuesday Lunch / Room 207

Students should look out in the Daily Notices for announcements regarding participation in extra-curricular activities.

Deputy Principals Mrs Gilmore (Years 7, 9 and 11) and Mrs Wallwork (Years 8, 10 and 12)

Our student group leaders are developing an initiative to increase student participation and are currently working on plans to publicise the clubs available at the beginning of 2025 with information stalls so watch this space.

Elevate Education upcoming Webinars:

1. How You Can Help Your Child Alleviate Stress 13th November 6:30pm (AEDT)
2. How You Can Build Resilience in Your Child 27th November 6:30pm (AEDT)
3. How You Can Set Your Child Up for Success 11th December 6:30pm (AEDT)

Please register via the following link:

https://go.elevateeducation.com/auschoolwebinars

World Teachers Day

Last Friday we celebrated World Teachers Day. Students from the SRC sang to all staff at recess and were celebrated by lovely messages and cards from students. The P&C surprised the staff with a delicious morning tea. Our teachers were grateful for the kind gesture and acknowledgement.

Ms Vanessa Gilmore and Mrs Amanda Wallwork Deputy Principals

House Leaders

During a recent assembly, students expressed their gratitude to the outgoing 2024 House Leaders. The 2024 House Leaders were praised for their outstanding leadership across various events, including multiple school carnivals, House meetings, and House choir. These events required extensive planning, support, and coordination, all of which were executed flawlessly by our dedicated leaders.

Year 10 students who nominated for 2025 House leadership positions were also commended for their willingness to step up and make a contribution to our school. The newly elected 2025 House Leaders were congratulated and awarded their badges. We look forward to seeing the new leaders in action next year.

Ms Jane Hall

Carnival Convenor

Something’s Brewing! Year 9 Students' Barista Training Excursion

Fourteen Year 9 students who successfully applied to be HGHS Café Gratitude baristas for Term 4 2024 to Term 3 2025 had the opportunity to gain hands-on experience in the first week of this term.

The excursion involved a day of barista training, where our Year 9 students became coffee connoisseurs for a day. They stepped out of their comfort zones to learn the art and science of crafting the perfect cup of coffee.

The students were eager to roll up their sleeves and dive into the world of coffee. The friendly barista trainer, Lauren, guided them through the entire process, from bean selection to mastering the espresso machine. Students learned to grind coffee beans, froth milk to perfection, and create latte art designs.

Beyond the fun and excitement, this excursion was an excellent opportunity for Year 9 students to acquire valuable life and hospitality skills. While most may not pursue a career in the coffee industry, the skills they learned are transferable to various aspects of life. Attention to detail, time management, teamwork, and communication are essential qualities in any profession, and they were all exercised by the barista team during the training.

The new Café Gratitude team has already begun serving coffee to the teachers at HGHS and have been met with rave reviews! HGHS Staff can buy a coffee for a flat rate of $3 or purchase a loyalty card for $16 which includes six coffee credits.

M Carroll - English

BioTech Futures Symposium

Our 16 students recently attended the 2024 BioTech Futures Symposium, an inspiring event that featured prominent experts in biotechnology, engineering, and medicine. Key guest presentations included Professor Matthew L. Becker, Ph.D., from Duke University, who explored how new materials and additive manufacturing are transforming medicine; Dr. Lucy Buxton, a marine sustainability expert, who discussed the future of ocean conservation; and Dr. Don Perugini, an AI entrepreneur, who shared his experience in building global tech companies.

We are especially proud of Cindy Wu, Scarlett Shin, Rita Lin, Riah Kang, Tiana Ho and Elysia Zhao, who took center stage with their outstanding presentations at the symposium. Their research, ranging from bioactive materials to innovative biotech solutions, impressed both attendees and professionals alike.

In addition to these remarkable presentations, our students actively participated by presenting their own research work during the poster sessions. They showcased innovative projects in fields of biotechnology. Their posters sparked engaging discussions with industry experts and provided a unique opportunity to receive feedback from leaders in their fields. We are proud of their hard work and creativity, and we look forward to seeing how these experiences inspire their future endeavors in STEM!

“The biotech assignment was a fun and intriguing way of looking at science from a technological perspective. It was a unique opportunity for us students to occupy the theoretical role as a scientist and consider ways in which improvements to current services or inventions can uplift communities to make treatment more accessible and easier. It was a nice way to have fun with my teammates and work collaboratively with a leader to better my skills as a team player. Thank you for the opportunity!” (Scarlette Shin, Year 12)

“"BioTech significantly helped engage and educate me on the current technologies being innovated in the many branches and sub-branches of science, which aim to improve people's lives globally. The challenge required teams to develop a solution to an existing issue within a scientific field with the help of a mentor, usually a university student involved in similar degrees of science and research. It encouraged me to continue pursuing my interest in research and science while fostering important skills such as networking, communication, time management and problem-solving. Our group quickly realised that this project would be a journey of discovery, as we adapted to navigating vast collections of scientific journals, articles, and reports, to form a specific focus question and potential solutions.

BioTech is an exciting way to be directly involved with science and research, similarly imitating problem-solving in careers in these fields - I highly recommend this experience for students interested in innovation, scientific investigation, and developing solutions to improve society." (Isabella Chiu, Year 12)

Dr Jae Jeong - Science Teacher

Eloquence in action

In a remarkable display of eloquence, critical thinking, and teamwork, the HGHS Years 9-10 Debating Team B (Ishani Sri Ganeshwaran, Pranavi Challagulla, Amber McLean, Yashita Mohan, Catherine Yuan and Aditi Sunder Rajan) has reached the State Quarter Finals in the Premier’s Debating Challenge. The competition, starting with 316 teams, is now down to the last eight. Their triumph is a testament to the hours of practice, dedication, and intellectual rigor they have devoted to honing their skills.

The HGHS Years 7-8 Debating teams (Zinat Abdullah, Shivon Chakravarti, Tanika Sivasuthan, Tara Gilkeson, Luting Peng, Aanya Singh, Aadhya Paidapati, Emilia Matthews, Prisha Gargeshwari and Jemma Soukhavong) also participated in a day of debating workshop at the University of Sydney, and the Year 7 team won both rounds. This was particularly impressive since their opponents were senior students from competing schools.

In another impressive achievement, Aanya Chandel from HGHS Years 9-10 Debating Team A has qualified as the first reserve for the NSW’s Junior State Debating Championship, representing North Sydney.

Competing against some of the most accomplished teams in the region, our HGHS students impressed the judges with their persuasive arguments, sharp rebuttals, and unwavering confidence.

Anupama Bhattacharya - English Teacher

Figure Skating - NSW State Championship

Cassie J in Year 9 achieved an outstanding result during the NSW State Championship held over the holiday break, where she placed second. This achievement has also qualified her for the 2024 Australian Figure Skating Championship in December, which will be held in Melbourne. We are especially proud that this marks the third consecutive year that Cassie has qualified for the national championship, and she will be representing the NSW team once again. Well done Cassie!

Illuminate Enterprise Challenge -Yr 10, Week 8

During week 8, Year 10 students will be off their regular timetabled lessons and will be completing the Illuminate Enterprise Challenge. This program has been specifically designed for high potential and gifted students at our school and it focuses on how students can explore challenges in their community and overcome them with business models that create sustained change. Please see the infographic below for information on some of the capabilities this program will help develop in our students.

Source: https://illuminateeducation.com.au/programs/highschools/

Year 10 Parents/ caregivers- thank you to everyone who has completed the School Bytes permission form already, we have had an amazing response so far. If you haven’t completed this yet, please do so at your earliest convenience.

A reminder that there is also an online permission form for Illuminate Enterprise Challenge for you to complete. This one permits your child to use the online learning platform and to give or deny permission for photography use. Please find the link here: https://illuminateeducation.com.au/permission/

Thank you for your support of this program.

Stephanie Boden

Head Teacher HSIE

Year 11 Business Studies

Each year Year 11 Business Studies Students create a business plan up to 3,500 words presenting a creative idea for a small business. In their plan, students must include the business name, prime function, location, legal structure, staffing requirements, marketing plan, pricing, a financial plan and future prospects. These plans are then entered into various competitions, one being the Business Educators Australasia’s Plan Your Own Enterprise (PYOE) Competition.

Out of 282 entries (168 Division 1 and 114 Division 2) from 528 students across 33 schools in NSW, Clara Lim and Alisha Luong were selected as NSW Finalists for their business ‘Social Brew’. As finalists Clara and Alisha had to provide a 90 second pitch of their business idea to a panel of judges at Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand (CA ANZ). They also had to answer some clarifying questions after the pitch. Due to their enthusiasm and sophisticated knowledge of the strategies that make a business successful, Clara and Alisha placed third in the state! Well done Alisha and Clara!

Melanie Tutty - HSIE Teacher

Year 7 Geography Field Trip

Excursion to the Hawkesbury River

"On Tuesday the 29th, 7K and 7T went to the Sackville North area of the Hawkesbury Nepean River as part of our Water in the World Geography Unit. After a long and scenic bus ride, we started the day with our instructors Diyaan and Dave. Following a quick recess, we kicked off with dip net fishing. We were looking for different water creatures that reside in 2 different ponds to check which had better water quality. By using a long-handled fishing net, we collected insects, worms, and water organisms, to test the water quality of the 2 ponds. We compared the range of bugs to the sensitivity scale and found that as there were a higher number of extremely sensitive creatures in Pond 1, it had better water quality. We then walked to the beautiful Hawkesbury Nepean River cliff, stunningly capturing the river and gorgeous surrounding area. There, we tested the water quality of the Hawkesbury Nepean River, by using devices such as a Salinity Meter to test water temperature and Salinity. We also tested the Ph/Acidity levels, Oxygen and Turbidity of the water sample. We went back to the wisdom tree, our root location and headed to our final activity for the day after lunch. Following our instructor to a large clearing at the start of the bushland, we learned about the natural ways that erosion of rocks occurs, and the difference between an area with heavy rain flow versus a significantly less water-impacted area not very far off and what happened next was shocking. The results varied considerably, with the soil depth in the sunny clearing being only around 1 cm, while in the bush it was nearly 6 cm. We then headed back to wrap up the day and head home. Overall it was an amazing experience and a day very well spent."

Raavi Gujar - Year 7

Day of the dead - Year 7

With the upcoming celebrations of the Day of the Dead on the 1st and 2nd of November, Year 7 language students learned about the origin and the significance of this Mexican festivity and coloured in some “calaveras” and made some banners with “papel picado”. ¡Feliz día de muertos!