From the Principal
Dear Parents/Caregivers,
Classics by the Cove
This week we were treated to the dramatic talents of our Year 7 students and Year 9 Drama students. Classics is a massive undertaking and I acknowledge every English teacher who worked with their Year 7 class to bring to life a modern day adaptation of a classic tale, in concert with Year 9 Drama (who transported me very happily to Bologna). To our amazing English/Drama teachers – Ms Young, Ms Purisima, Ms Philpott, Ms Campbell, Ms Reoch, Mr Hossain, Ms Mulcahy and Mr De Bres, congratulations on your incredible work in transforming so many classical literary works into captivating, student-centred pieces of art. Thankyou also to Mr Young and his team of audio-visual engineers for their efforts in bringing the performance to life. The audience turn out was huge and we thank all of our families for supporting this wonderful event. Elevate parent information session – Tuesday 2 December 5:00pm As mentioned in last week’s newsletter, the Year 10 program, Transition to Success, will take place for Year 10 for the next week and a half. This includes a Study Skills sessions from Elevate (all students have been reminded to pay for this opportunity) and there will be a parent information session in the school library at 5pm on Tuesday 2 December. We have also extended this opportunity to parents of Year 11. Please remember to RSVP via School Bytes. This session is free-of-charge.
Primary Links
It was wonderful to celebrate the Year 5 students and Year 8 mentors of our Primary Links program with a presentation afternoon tea this week. Parents were treated to speeches detailing the experiences of each group with accompanying videos. It was a wonderful, emotion-filled afternoon with all students and parents giving positive feedback about the value of this transition to high school program for gifted learners.
Pitchfest
I was delighted to be invited as a guest judge at the annual Pitchfest real world learning activity delivered by TAS. It is always so enriching to share the innovative ideas and solutions designed and prototyped by Year 7 in this futures learning activity. I was lucky that the TAS teachers had already culled the designs to seven presentations as the field was so competitive that it was hard to pick a winner from the seven! Congratulations to the Special Commendation team and the winners – they will all receive prizes and awards to celebrate this outstanding achievement. Please remember that the social media restrictions for young people under the age of 16, come into effect next week. This is the link to the e-safety commissioner for further information: Social media age restrictions | eSafety Commissioner
I hope you all have a wonderful weekend.
Louise McNeil Principal
🎓 Celebrating the Class of 2025 GO Scholars - Honouring Sharlae H and Matilda T-H 🎓
We recently had the privilege of celebrating our Class of 2025 GO Scholars with a warm and joyful graduation event on Gadigal Country at The Refectory, University of Sydney.
The evening brought together 35 GO Scholars from Sydney and Canberra, along with their families, teachers, and GO partners, to recognise not only their achievements, but also the communities that have supported and uplifted them throughout their journeys. Among this remarkable group, we were deeply proud to celebrate Sharlae Handley and Matilda T.H., two proud Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander GO Scholars. Their achievements reflect their hard work, cultural pride and the determination they carry with them every day.
For the past three years, Sharlae and Matilda have worked closely with Jay Wathen and myself. It has been an honour to walk alongside them, and we are grateful for Jay’s steady guidance, encouragement, and belief in their potential. His support has helped them grow academically, personally, and culturally.
We also extend our thanks to the families of Sharlae and Matilda. This brilliant milestone belongs to you as much as it does to them.
The celebration was made even more special by the presence of Former Minister for Indigenous Australians and Member for Barton, Linda Burney, whose attendance brought inspiration and pride to the room.
Guests were also moved by reflections from Ms Sonja Stewart, former Deputy Secretary within the NSW Department of Premier and Cabinet and former Deputy Commissioner of the NSW Public Service Commission.
Sonja encouraged Scholars to: - Never forget where you come from - Make choices that bring you joy - And when things feel uncertain, look to the strength of your ancestors. They are always there and will turn up.
Her words resonated deeply with both families and Scholars. The evening concluded with an uplifting address from GO co-founders Michael O’Loughlin and Adam Goodes, who encouraged all Scholars to embrace future opportunities with confidence, courage, and pride in their cultural identity.
It was a celebration honouring the determination, growth, and leadership of the next generation of Indigenous changemakers. We congratulate Sharlae and Matilda on everything they have achieved, and we look forward to seeing where their journeys lead next. You will be missed at Riverside and we are proud of the legacy you have left for the next generation.
Ms A Ghorra
Riverside Toy Drive
Year 10 Elevate Parent Information Night - Yuesday 2 December 5:00pm
The Year 10 Elevate Parent Information Night takes place next week. It will provide valuable tips and strategies to help your child succeed academically and is paired with the Effective Study Habits Workshop that Year 10 students will be partaking in during their Transition to Success week. Date: 2 December Time: 5:00 PM Location: School Library An RSVP link has been emailed to Year 10 and 11 parents.
Ms A Mihailou
Faculty News
TAS
Year 9 & 10 Textiles Excursion - Fashion Design Studio Graduate Showcase
On Thursday, our Year 9 and 10 Textiles students embarked on an exciting excursion attending the Fashion Design Studio (FDS) Graduate Showcase. This prestigious institution is known for producing some of Australia’s most celebrated designers, including Zimmermann, Dion Lee and Akira Isogawa, and offered our students an opportunity to see fashion work up close.
The journey itself was part of the learning experience. Students travelled by ferry, train, and completed a 2 km walk, showing maturity, enthusiasm, and resilience as they navigated multiple modes of public transport. Their behaviour was impeccable throughout from their cheerful waves to other passengers on the ferry to their respectful engagement in the exhibition space.
At the Showcase, students were captivated by the complex techniques and extraordinary creativity demonstrated in the graduate collections. They were able to experience firsthand the innovation behind advanced fabric manipulation, colouration, embellishment, and garment construction. Many left feeling inspired about future pathways in the fashion and textiles industries.
Beyond the creative experience, the excursion encouraged teamwork, independence, and confidence as students moved through busy public spaces and discussed what they observed with curiosity and insight.
Our Year 9 and 10 Textiles classes represented our school with pride, positivity, and genuine excitement. It was a pleasure to witness their engagement and see how inspired they were by the possibilities of design. We are incredibly proud of their conduct, enthusiasm, and openness to new experiences.
Co-curricula Activities
Year 7 Genius 75 Showcase
The 2025 Year 7 Genius75 Showcase will provide an opportunity for Year 7 students to showcase their Genius75 projects. A core component of the Genius75 program is that students are engaged within the showcase process to meet the expectations of the course. In particular, this showcase is important as it offers a chance of an authentic audience of Parents/Carers and the Riverside Girls High School Community, to share and acknowledge Year 7 students' efforts this year.
Careers
Please visit https://riversideghscareers.com/ for the latest information on careers and life beyond school. You can use this site to locate universities, TAFE and any other type of course across Australia, information about the HSC and job vacancies. Feel free to drop into the Careers office if you have any questions.
Ms J Low and Ms T Soares
Dates for the diary
P&C
If you would like to volunteer for various P&C activities, please sign up via the link below.
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeHE1OojbX6yWoo85D7kbRofz_1TmQOixDenmj-b-AkkxoJ4Q/viewform