Parent help for Spring Fair

• Parent volunteer registration form:
• Non-parent volunteer (eg. Aunt, grandparent) registration form
• Food and drink donation request

Spring Fair Instagram Competition - Join Now

Want to win a mystery gift box? Here's your chance!

To help us spread the word about the Hornsby Girls High School Spring Fair, we're launching a fun Instagram competition!

How to enter:

1. Post the official Spring Fair flyer (see attached) on your Instagram feed or story.
2. Get your friends to like your post!
3. By Friday 29 August, take a screenshot of your post showing the number of likes and email it to reneeli0815@hotmail.com.

✅ If your account is private, be sure to DM us a screenshot, or just email it in!

The winner (with the most likes) will be announced in the Student Portal the following week, and the gift box will be presented at the Spring Fair on Friday, 6 September

Let's fill IG with Spring Fair vibes and get everyone excited! Good luck and get posting!

Art Silent Auction- HGHS 2025 Spring Fair

Unleash Your Creativity. Inspire Your Community. ShapeCalling All Classes! Join a school-wide art collaboration and turn your class ideas into a gallery-worthy canvas masterpiece!

What to Do:

• Choose a theme
• Plan, design & paint your canvas (50cm x 70cm)
• Add a short description + fun facts
• Display your work in the HGHS Spring Fair Art Gallery

📅 Deadline: Please return artworks to the office by Tuesday, 2 September.

Include a typed A4 page with the title, fun facts, and date of creation.

ShapeThe Auction:

Your class artwork will be auctioned off in a Silent Auction on Fair Day!

• 🟡 Starting bid: $50
• 🟢 Top bids announced at the end of the day
• 🎯 Proceeds support school programs!

Let’s make this our most colorful, creative, and inspiring Spring Fair yet! Start planning with your class today!

Contact: Homa Motlagh Email: homamotlagh@gmail.com Phone: 0406 406 571

Quilts for Sale from Spring Fair

If you would like to order a quilt cover and pillow cases prior to the Spring Fair please complete the form - Quilts for Sale

Thank you to all the Parents and Students who have Donated and Volunteered. Please see the list here: Parent and Student Volunteers

Minerva signature for Volunteers Westfields Community Hub Saturday and Sunday!

A call for student volunteers to assist with raffle ticket sales for the Spring Fair at the Hornsby Westfield Community POD (outside Kmart) this coming Saturday and Sunday.

Having students involved would really help boost engagement and sales. If possible, it would be great if they could wear their school uniform to represent the school proudly. There will be at least two parents present on-site at all times to supervise. The time slots are:

Saturday: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM - Sunday: 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM

I’ll be there as much as I can throughout the weekend, and students (and parents) are welcome to contact me, Mrs Vivian Wei, on my mobile 0406 020 933 if they have any questions.

Thanks so much for your support – it’s truly appreciated!

Deputy Principals' Message

Year 9 Camp - Year 9 have returned from the Great Aussie Bush Camp looking like they had a fabulous time this week. We have heard a lot about the activities and fun they engaged in while challenging themselves. Congratulations to all on your great attitude towards trying new things and a huge thank you to the teachers who supported you Ms Lylan, Ms Cho, Mr Banks, Ms Sheppard, Ms Hoogerwerf and Ms Croudace. Special Mention to Ms Hoang year 9 Adviser for organising the camp.

Year 11 Examinations - Year 11 Yearly Examinations will occur in Week 8 and 9 from Monday the 8th September to Tuesday the 16th September. Information regarding this including the Assessment Timetable was emailed to parents this week. Please read the information carefully as in most cases the answers to concerns or questions are found in the information and Year 11 Assessment Manual. If you cannot find answers to questions or have further concerns please then contact Ms Wallwork - Year 11 Deputy.

After the Yearly Examinations, a meeting will be held with Year 11 to discuss their patterns of study for the HSC year. Ms Wallwork will explain essential requirements for achieving the Higher School Certificate and the process for making changes to the subjects studied. Many students will take the opportunity to take up extension subjects and information regarding this will also be provided. Students will be provided with access to their HSC Assessment Manual for 2026 and all assessment procedures will be explained including those expected by NESA.

Year 12 HSC and Graduation Update - Congratulations to our year 12 cohort who successfully completed the trial examinations last week. This is such an important part of the HSC journey and I would like to thank all students for their dedication and the year 12 teachers for their support. As Year 12 receive their trial HSC examinations back it is important that they focus on considering the feedback provided by teachers and think about how they can incorporate this to continue to improve in the lead up to the HSC Examinations.

The Prefects will also be organising HSC master classes for each subject which will run after school. Students who have strong examination technique will lead these master classes and encourage collaboration amongst the cohort. Thank you to the Prefects and those students leading the classes for this excellent consolidation of their learning.

Year 12 Graduation will be held at Hornsby RSL on Monday 22 September. The doors will open at 5.30pm for a 6.00pm start. If you wish to attend this evening a reminder was sent to parents and caregivers regarding payment earlier this week. Please review this and finalise payment via the link provided ASAP.

Information was also sent out to all parents and caregivers on Monday outlining the agenda for the Class of 2025’s graduation activities in Week 10.

Year 8 - On Thursday 28 August Year 8 participated in the 8 into 9 Subject Selection information session. Ms Gilmore spoke with students about the key considerations and process when choosing subjects for Year 9 and 10. An email to access all the materials and the Subject Selection website were sent out to all families on Thursday 28 August.

Please take the time to watch these videos and subject profiles with your child to make informed subject choices.

This is a very exciting time for Year 8 as they start to be able to choose some of the curriculum that they study. Ms Gilmore encouraged students to make choices that interested and motivated them and to put themselves at the centre of decision making on their Stage 5 elective courses.

Students are reminded that subject choices will be due 2.30pm on Friday 5 September.

Year 8’s Charity Day has been rescheduled to the 19 September. Year 8 will be raising funds for Westmead Children’s Hospital. This will be a mufti day. We thank Year 8 and their Year Adviser, Ms Cho for their organisation and planning.

Year 7 - Year 7 have been provided with information regarding selecting a language course to study in Year 8 in 2026. Their choice of language will be due on the 9 September.

Ms Gilmore would also like to congratulate Year 7 on their exceptional organisation for the Check In Assessments. All students attended with charged laptops and the assessments ran very smoothly as a result.

Year 10 - Parents, caregivers and students are reminded that from the start of Term 4 students are permitted to wear the senior summer uniform. This is available to be purchased from the on site School Locker shop on Wednesdays from 1.00pm to 3.30pm.

Year 10 recently selected their subjects for Year 11 in 2026. The outcome of these selections will be communicated to students in early September.

On Thursday 4 September students in Year 10 will be participating in the Batyr workshop ‘Looking out for your mates’. The workshop will cover how content on how to identify signs of troubling mental health in friends and strategies for providing support including reaching out to trusted adults and support services. Thank you to Mr Atkin for organising this.

In Term 4 Year 10 will complete the Yearly Examinations in Week 4 from the 3 November to the 7 November. After this they will be able to look forward to Life and Resilience Week in week 7 and the Illuminate Enterprise Challenge in Week 8. These events are a compulsory part of the school’s curriculum and provide opportunities to focus on wellbeing and enterprise skills in preparation for the transition to the senior school. Thank you to Ms Hoogerwerf and Ms Boden for their organisation of these opportunities.

Hands Off Policy - We have recently reminded our students of the Hornsby Girls High School Hands Off Policy. The policy is located in our Behaviour Support and Management Policy which is published on the Hornsby Girls’ High School website. This policy aligns with our school values including kindness and respect. A short summary is provided below if you would like to talk about this with your child.

Hornsby Girls High School has a 'hands-off' rule to preserve the safety, wellbeing, and dignity of all members of the school community. Feeling physically safe contributes to wellbeing. Safe environments optimise learning experiences for everyone. The policy applies to students whilst they are wearing school uniform and/or are engaged in a school related activity.

Guidelines -

1. No student is to touch another student in a manner as judged inappropriate by staff.
2. No student is to promote, encourage or use any form of physical conflict against other students, even in "fun" or as a "practical joke".
3. No student is to interfere with the property of others without the consent of the owner.

Consequences -If a student does not follow the guidelines the student is to be referred to the Deputy Principal, who may issue an afternoon detention or take further action to manage the inappropriate behaviour. Parents will be advised so that we can work together to reflect on conduct and improve safety and wellbeing at school.

Prefect Executives Election - Occurred today Friday 29 September with students preparing speeches delivered to Dr Briggs, Ms Gilmore, Ms Wallwork, Ms Tourikis and Mr Blake. It was wonderful to hear such inspiring speeches from all students and their commitment to our school. We look forward to working with our new leaders over the 2025 - 2026 year.

Elevate Education - The next webinar session run by elevate education will assist parents to help your child to take notes in the right way for effective revision.

Live Parent Webinar: How to Help Your Child Improve Their Note Taking

Wednesday 3 September 6:30-7:30pm (AEST)

Click here to register for free

Here’s what Elevate will be covering on the night:

• ✅ Helping your child to structure their notes effectively
• ✅ Helping your child to remember what they learn
• ✅ Using deliberate practice with your child to improve their grades quickly

Women in the Workforce

At one point in your life - you may have thought of yourself in your future career. Year 7, maybe writing a future letter for yourself or for the year 12 graduates leaving school this year.

However, it’s not just the plain purpose of having a set goal for the future like becoming a doctor or lawyer; the community surrounding you who continues to inspire us into the future diversity of our career.

Two icons - Azure Antionette (entrepreneur, GRAMMY considered recording artist, actress and more) and Tullulah Thompson (outstanding reporter against the race of time) both remain vivid examples of women who inspire us and enable the reshaping of our professional landscape.

Azure Antionette

“Ordinary” has never been her goal - known as the “Maya Angelou of the millennial generation” Azure Antionette is a commissioned poet, entrepreneur, actress, ted-ed speaker, GRAMMY Considered recording artist, entrepreneur and activist. She rose above all odds to face her life and wholeheartedly pursued to be the woman she knew she wanted to be.

It’s not just the jack-of-trades she has achieved in her career; her storytelling as a 14-year multiple sclerosis, who even played as a patient of the chronic disease in Grey’s Anatomy.

Though starting in corporate HR, she built a career through spoken word and storytelling, working with major brands and speaking at global stages. As an advocate for emotional leadership in business, Azure founded Teller Creative Group, a storytelling-focused enterprise that includes brands like Ticonderoga Press, Aalchemik Apparel, and The EGAMI Collective. She also launched Defib Your Brand™, helping companies bring empathy and authentic storytelling into their workplace culture. Through her nonprofit, STUDIO:alchemy, she empowers teen girls with tools for self-expression and creative writing. Azure has worked with brands like Beats by Dre and Johnson & Johnson, spoken at global conferences, and now advises Fortune 500 companies on diversity, inclusion, and building spaces where every voice matters.

Not only does Antionette speak as a global icon for her achievements - she empowers young women who are just as interested as her in business; inspires the future. She was never destined for the ordinary: Azure became a reminder of the modern workplace being not only about titles; the self expression of individuals who find their own way to lead.

Tullulah Thompson

Big stakes during the federal elections? National level shams exposed at Parramatta Magistrate or freak accident on a Sydney jet ski in the CBD? Whatever the news may be, network 10 reporter and producer, Tallulah Thompson is at the forefront, live to bring in the topics that concern and inform Australian society.

From days long gone as an UTS Journalism graduate and struggles as a freelance writer, if it wasn’t for an incredible break to working as secretary in the UTS journalism society and then reporter for The Sydney Morning Herald, Tullulah might have believed that she’d never have broken into the media industry. Working as a producer for the Weekend Today Show on Channel 9 and now, producer and reporter at 10 News First, it’s not easy having the guts to do what Tallulah does on a daily basis.

Everyday, she faces the perpetual race against the clock to seek out stories, ask the right questions and create entire scripts of news sections for live updates on the go, whether that’s on the drive from Ryde to Manly or waiting for an esteemed police conference. Life as a female reporter in a highly competitive field doesn’t begin mornings with a usual cup of tea, and definitely doesn’t end with easy conversations.

Running through unfamiliar streets in Auburn to interview witnesses of a horrific crime or battling winter chills on the scene with paramedics and first responders, reporters like Tulluah don’t just have to be first, but they have to be the best. She serves to not just ignite the sparks of unheard voices and stories that reside in a flame deep within us, but her drive, adaptability and hard work stands as an empowering testament for young girls and women of all ages.

A reminder to never lose sight of the goals we strive for, because despite the countless obstacles we are destined to face, our dreams could be a lot closer than we ever imagined.

Jaynee Vaghela and Yashita Mohan - Zonta Club

Year 7 Camp 2025

In Week 2, our Year 7 group headed off for camp at the Collaroy Centre. We participated in many fun activities, some of which included orienteering, high ropes, laser tag, vertical challenge, drop pole, initiatives, archery tag, drop-pole and a trip to the beach.

Orienteering included a scavenger hunt all through the Collaroy centre using maps and a compass, splitting into groups teaching teamwork and basic map reading skills.

Vertical challenge was an obstacle course where three people climbed at a time while the rest pulled them up with harnesses. Initiatives involved five group puzzles, including escaping a web, floor is lava, colour matching, river crossing, and a maze game.

Archery tag was divided into two teams: red and blue, with each team member having to run into the death zone and collect arrows while avoiding the other team's arrows. The game involved strategy and risk-taking. We played three different variations, each with new elements.

The next day, the whole grade went to Collaroy Beach to play volleyball and collect shells. Back at camp, we tried high ropes, choosing either the high or low course in harnesses. Laser tag followed, with teams rotating to see who could avoid revives while tagging the other team. The Giant Swing was terrifying but fun; it pulled us up high into the air, and it felt like a free fall for a few seconds before it swung into the trees.

We also did trivia in four categories and watched Jumanji in the theatre with popcorn and soda. Overall, the Year 7 camp was an amazing experience, letting us participate in many fun activities with our friends.

Aaradhya Pothuraju - Year 7

ZONTA

A very special guest speaker from Vinnies Hornsby attended Zonta's meeting at lunchtime on Tuesday 19 August 2025.

Shirley Kelynack OAM has been working with Vinnies for 20 years and is currently the President of the Waitara Conference (or team) and Vice President for the Hornsby Region, which includes a number of volunteer teams. Her working background is in nursing, where she cared for single mothers in the community for 12 years, based at the Mercy Family Centre.

She has wide experience in supporting those in crisis - she is an accredited Lifeline Counsellor, and a volunteer for the NSW Police for 20 years, supporting people who have been victims of crime, or are going through domestic violence court, juvenile interviews and community work orders. She is a Peer Support Officer for the Police. She is a font of knowledge and wisdom in this area of volunteering and has been recognised for her work through the award of an Order of Australia Medal.

SYDNEY EISTEDDFOD

Great News from the Sydney Eisteddfod! On the 9th of August, at Chatswood Zenith Theatre.

Our year 9 and 8 school drama group proudly won third place in the recent competition with their performance of The House of Bernarda Alba. A total of eight teams took part, and every group showed outstanding talent. Still, our team managed to stand out with their heartfelt performance.

The adjudicator was very impressed with our play and in the feedback we received for House of Bernada Alba, the adjudicator stated; “the work’s emotional pull was undeniable” and “the stakes were palpable; the audience not only watched the drama unfold but felt the emotion in the room”

The Year 7 group that also competed in another event at Zenith Theatre got a very high amount of points also. The atmosphere at the competition was busy and everyone was so excited and happy to be there.

This success would not have been possible without the guidance of Ms. Halina and the dedication of every actor, who put real emotion into their roles. The result reflects the many hours of rehearsal and hard work the students invested. Congratulations to the whole team on this wonderful achievement!

Celebrating Our Students’ Musical Achievements

The past term and winter break have been filled with incredible musical highlights for our students, showcasing their talents on some of the state’s most prestigious stages.

Opera House Performances - A special congratulations to Yvette and Yolanda, who delivered a stunning piano duet as a Featured Item at the Sydney Opera House. Their performance captivated the audience and was a proud moment for our school.

Our Concert Band also had the honour of performing as a Featured Item at the Opera House, a remarkable opportunity that recognised their dedication and musicianship.

In addition, Sara Chen and Vishruti Karthikeyan were selected to perform with various Arts Unit ensembles as part of the Festival of Choral Music, In Concert, and the Festival of Instrumental Music. These events brought together talented students from across the state and offered a valuable collaborative experience in a professional performance setting.

Junior Voices Success - Junior Voices also impressed at the Ryde Eisteddfod, achieving excellent results and demonstrating their growth, teamwork, and vocal skills. Congratulations to all members and Ms McCarthy for this fantastic achievement!

Winter Holidays Music Program - During the last week of Term 2, Jemma Soukhavong and Vishruti Karthikeyan attended the NSW Public Schools Senior State Music Camp, an intensive and enriching program for advanced music students.

Here is Vishruti’s reflection on her experience:

“It started off with an audition where I performed a scale, a prepared piece, and some sight reading. I was placed in the Grainger Wind Ensemble, where we worked on ‘Bushdance’ by Ralph Hultgren, along with other pieces such as ‘A Movement for Rosa’, ‘Abram’s Pursuit’, and ‘Beyond the Horizon’.”

“I was also part of a chamber Clarinet Ensemble on Bb clarinet. Our tutors introduced us to new techniques such as vibrato and glissandos, and we explored various musical styles including blues, Latin salsa, and swing. We concluded the week with a small concert, showcasing everything we had learned.”

“Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed camp and learned so much from the experience.”

Well done to all our talented musicians for their hard work and achievements this term.

Join CCMP

If you’ve ever thought about getting involved in music at school, now’s the perfect time! Everyone is welcome, and we encourage all students to register their interest in our vibrant Co-Curricular Music Program. Whether you're a beginner or experienced musician, there’s a place for you to learn, grow, and perform.

NSW PARLIAMENT HOUSE & POLICE AND JUSTICE MUSEUM EXCURSION

The students visited the Justice and Police Museum and NSW Parliament House (19/08). At both venues, they were guided by tour staff and participated in role play activities, including a Mock Trial and a Passing a Bill. Scripts were provided, and students took turns volunteering for various roles in both a courtroom setting and a parliamentary session. Below are some of comments from students:

Sriya Danda - The excursion to the NSW Police and Justice museum as well as to NSW Parliament is one of the best excursions I have been on! As well as consolidating our knowledge about the Justice system and Parliamentary processes, the fun role plays (where we got to act as lawyers and politicians in a real-life courtroom and Parliament) provided us with many memorable experiences in such renowned places.

Catherine Yuan - Our excursion to the Justice museum and Parliament was almost surreal as it felt like we were simulating our syllabus! We learned about forensics in uncovering the Pyjama Girl murder and roleplayed parliamentary arguments -- entertaining and educational!

Melissa Zhou - It was really interesting and enjoyable learning more about the application of the theory that we learn in commerce. Roleplaying was an engaging and practical way to learn.

Selena Gong - It was a very fun and interesting excursion, especially as we had the change to role play as different members of the parliament in the Lower House and Upper House. Learning about different crime cases in the Justice and Police Museum was an eye-opening experience as well.

Shreya Vasireddy - I found the justice and police museum very interesting, learning about crime and forensics, and I thoroughly enjoyed the NSW Parliament. I thought it was very fancy and insightful as a visual representation of what we’ve learnt.

Claire Wang - I really enjoyed how interactive our excursion to the NSW parliament and Justice museum was and the insights it provided me on how the government works as well as the history of Australia's justice system. Role playing in a local court as well as the Lower and Upper house were really unique experiences that made this excursion both interesting and informative for me.

Abi Kim - The excursion to NSW Parliament was very enjoyable due to its interactiveness and how it provided real life insights into court and Parliamentary proceedings. I liked how both the NSW police and Parliament structured the sessions to allow experiential learning rather than presenting information in a didactic manner.

Year 10 Japanese Students Connect with Japan and Australia in Online Exchange

On Wednesday 20th August, our Year 10 Japanese class participated in an exciting online exchange session with students from Saitama Prefecture, Japan.

We introduced ourselves in the opposing languages and discussed similar interests and interesting facts about our schools - a difference we found was that school often ends at 4-5pm in Japan. It was very interesting to learn about each other's schools and culture, thank you to WTOC (the organiser in Japan https://wtoc-edu.com/and Lawson Sensei for organising this session!!

Cynthia Liu - Year 10 Japanese student

Kids Giving Back

I’m delighted to share the wonderful impact Hornsby Girls High School student Misato Heming has made with the program Kids Giving Back between May and August of this year. Their generosity, kindness, and teamwork have truly stood out.

Celebrating Your Students’ Impact

Misato joined over 1300 young changemakers who prepared and delivered more than 11 500 meals, snack packs, and care packages, along with heartfelt notes of encouragement for those in need. Together, they supported 15 Sydney charities! A remarkable contribution that speaks volumes about the values our school instils.

Congratulations to Misato Heming - Year 7

Research shows that young people who volunteer build stronger social connections, better wellbeing, and a sense of belonging.

Our student embodied all of this, and we are so proud to see Misato leading with such empathy.

Water polo

Three of our students - Charity, Eva and Erica - Competed in the NSW Winter Metro Water Polo Grand Final on Sunday. After a hard-fought season, their team secured a place in the final — and came away crowned Women’s 14B Champions, bringing home the gold medal! What a fantastic achievement and a true reward for their dedication and teamwork. Congratulations, girls!

VISUAL ARTS SHOWCASE

WELLBEING NEWS

Evaluation of the NSW Strategic Plan for Children and Young People 2022 - 2024

The Advocate for Children and Young People Ms Zoe Robinson has evaluated the NSW Strategic Plan for Children and Young People 2022 - 2024. Click on the link below to read the report.

Today we launch the NSW Strategic Plan for Children and Young People highlighting the impact it has had in driving positive outcomes for children and young people across the state.

The Plan was designed to capture what was important to children and young people, advocacy actions and cross-government initiatives under six core commitments: hope for the future, love connection and safety, health and wellbeing, respect and acceptance, a good standard of living and environments for joy and fun."

CHARITY YAN

From August 11 to 22, 35 young reporters from around the world explored Xi’an, China. As the representative of Australia, Charity visited the Beilin Museum, the Qin and Han Dynasties Museum, the Xi’an History Museum, and the Terracotta Warriors of the First Qin Emperor, often hailed as the Eighth Wonder of the World. She was also honored with the Silver Prize and the Best Image Award at the Global Chinese Language Speech Contest Award Ceremony. Charity expressed her wish to contribute to the exchange and promotion of culture between China and Australia.

Help shape wiser screen habits – parent/carer & student survey

Our school has been invited to participate in a study on best practice screen use. Parents/carers can complete a 10-15 min anonymous questionnaire and/or, if they wish, give permission for their child to do a student survey: Parent/Student Survey You can opt to receive a summary of the statewide results. Your insights will directly inform new classroom resources and policy. Thank you for your support.

PSA SCHOOLS RECONITION WEEK

COMMUNITY NEWS