Deputy Principals' Message

Welcome back to the 2025 school year for all students and their families. For those students and families who are new to the school we hope that you have settled in well and are enjoying your start to the school year.

The term has been extremely busy already with a variety of activities happening. This includes the Year 7 Transition program, introduction of Resilience in our Teens workshops for students, the Year 12 Urban Challenge, HSC Class of 2024 Morning Tea and Project Rockit on top of starting new curriculum and classes for staff and students.

In 2025 we will be overseeing curriculum, assessment and wellbeing as follows:

Mrs Amanda Wallwork Deputy Principal - Years 7, 9 and 11

Ms Vanessa Gilmore Deputy Principal - Years 8, 10 and 12

We can be contacted using the school phone number or school email address.

RIOT - This year our school is undertaking a project to address student anxiety called the Resilience in Our Teens (RIOT) project. A central element of the RIOT project is for our students to be braver and to ‘have a go’- and not avoid difficult tasks or situations. All staff have undergone training led by a team of experienced psychologists and we will be implementing the strategies learnt across our teaching and learning programs throughout the year.

Our teacher facilitators have started the roll out of the RIOT program to all students in year 7-12 The first session focused on Reducing Anxiety and Building Resilience Thinking Skills.

Thank you to all the staff involved and Ms Davenport and the wellbeing team for the organisation of the program.

Uniform - All students have started the year well with uniforms building a sense that we all belong to the school community.

Students can purchase uniform items from the School Locker Shop at North Sydney. Details regarding this are on our school website.

The shop is also open on site at Hornsby Girls High School every Wednesday during terms from 1.00 pm - 3.30 pm.

Students are required to wear their Summer uniform which includes white socks and school shoes. Sports uniforms are able to be worn on sports days with white socks and joggers.

If a student is out of uniform they will need to attend the Bank Office to obtain a uniform pass and have it signed by the Deputy Principal.

Hoodies and non-school jumpers are not permitted. Please discourage students from bringing these to school.

Canteen - The school canteen can only provide a lunch order service. This is available every day of the week however, orders must be submitted through the FlexiSchools App prior to 8.30 am on the day of the order.

On occasions we have students who do not collect their lunch. Please make sure that your child knows they have an order. When this happens we email both students and parents of students in Years 8 - 12 to let them know that the lunch order was not collected. For our Year 7 students we will ensure that the lunch is delivered in Term 1 before moving to the same response as occurs for the other grades.

Homework Advice - We are frequently asked how much homework students should be completing. As a guide we advise the following:

Years 7 & 8- Homework should take a total of 1 hour to complete all tasks.

Mathematics - 20 minutes - English / Reading - 20 minutes - Other HW - 20 minutes TOTAL

Years 9 & 10 - Homework may take up to 2 hours to complete all tasks.

Mathematics - 40 minutes - English / Reading - 40 minutes - Other HW - 40 minutes

Years 11 & 12 - Homework and study may take 3 hours to complete. Students develop a homework/study timetable for their subjects. Homework set by the school is prioritised over homework set by coaches or tutors.

All students need a quiet space to complete their homework and should not be awake late at night completing homework and assignments. If you have concerns about homework and workload please contact your child’s Year Adviser.

Mobile Phones - The school community has decided that our school will follow an ‘Off and Away’ approach to mobile phones. This means that phones should be turned off and in bags during the school day including during recess and lunch. Please help your child by not sending messages to them during the school day. If a message needs to be communicated to your child this is best done through the school office.

Technology - Technology is an important and useful part of our education programs.

Classroom teachers and coordinators of activities often set up Google Classrooms to communicate with their students, upload educational resources and to incorporate technology in classrooms.

Whatsapp class chat groups are not necessary as students should communicate with their teacher and peers through the Google Classroom.

Year 10 and 11 Assessment Information Sessions - This week Year 10 and 11 both attended a meeting regarding assessment processes. As these students are eligible for NESA’s Record of School Achievement in 2025 we are required to provide them with an Assessment Manual which sets out the rules and processes with regard to assessment. Processes for malpractice were also covered in this session. The Assessment Manuals were emailed to all parents this week and posted on the Grade Google Classroom for students. If students and parents or caregivers have questions regarding this please contact the relevant Deputy Principal.

Extracurricular Clubs Expo - Our Prefects are leading an initiative to build school spirit, interconnectedness and leadership. The Extra-Curricular Clubs Expo will be hold on Wednesday the 19th February. Students will be able to see what extra-curricular activities are offered, talk with club members and consider joining these groups. Research shows that student feelings of belonging at school increase when they are involved in activities outside of the classroom and that this contributes to improved wellbeing and attendance. Students should look out for announcements in the Daily Notices and come along to the Expo to see what life at Hornsby can be!

Year 7 Transition Program - Year 7 commenced their first two days of school with a Transition to High School Program led by Ms Hall, Ms Davenport and Ms Hoogerwerf. Over the course of the 3 days students were able to meet with their Year 10 Buddy and Peer Support Leaders, engage in a scavenger hunt and play icebreaker activities. Important information was also covered including the importance of sleep, practicing mindfulness and advice on how to approach making friends.

As part of the program on Day 2 we were very lucky to have Enlighten Education - The Journey run workshops throughout the day that focused on Stress Management, Building Relationships and assisted students to connect with their new school environment. It was a wonderful way for our year 7 students to transition from year 6 to 7 and settle into HGHS.

It has been an excellent start to high school and we can see our students quickly building connections with their peers and staff. Thank you to Ms Hall, Ms Davenport and Ms Hoogerwerf for their organisation of this program.

Year 12 Urban Challenge - Year 12 students were involved in an action packed Clue Chase in Sydney’s CBD on Thursday 6th February. Teams needed to effectively work through a set of clues where they engaged in challenges that sent them to landmarks and businesses to receive their next set of instructions. The day was organised by Ms Carroll and enabled the students to work on team building skills that will assist them to deal with the challenges of their final year of schooling at HGHS.

Year 12 (2024) Morning Tea - We had approximately 80 students that joined staff on Friday 7th February for the Year 12 Graduating Class Morning Tea. It was wonderful to see so many excited faces and to hear about their plans for the future. Thank you to Mr Turong and the SAS staff for the organisation of the event.

Elevate Webinars - Elevate Education delivers high-impact workshops to our students that help to develop their study skills, motivation, and exam preparation. Over the next term, you're invited to join their parent webinar series, where you can help support your child at home by reinforcing the skills they're learning at school. Register today at: https://go.elevateeducation.com/auschoolwebinars 

Hear expert advice on the following topics:

How to Get (And Keep!) Your Child Motivated 12th February 6:30pm (AEDT)

How You Can Help Your Child Manage Their Time 26th February 6:30pm (AEDT)

How You Can Make Technology an Ally (& Not the Enemy!) 12th March 6:30pm (AEDT)

How You Can Help Improve Your Child’s Memory 26th March 6:30pm (AEDT)

Safer Internet Day - Tuesday 11th February was ‘Safer Internet Day’. This is a global initiative to raise awareness about safety issues when using the internet and how to resolve problems. In Australia the E-Safety Commissioner is encouraging us to Connect, Reflect and Protect.

On this day at HGHS our Year 7 and 8 students were involved in the Connect program from Project Rockit. CONNECT explores the positive potential of technology, upskilling students with online skills to build connected communities, support wellbeing and navigate harmful experiences. The main message of the program was that “every choice you make online has an impact, so the impact you make is up to you”

Further online resources are available via the link below. There are interesting statistics and conversation starters for all settings. We can all do our part in making the internet a safer environment.

Safe Internet Day

P and C Meet the Teachers

Information Night Wednesday 19 February 6pm – 8pm

A community evening for our new Year 7 Parents and Students to meet the Year 7 Teachers!

6pm parents and Year 7 students arrive outside the hall in the Central Quad outside the School Hall.

Year 7 students introduce their parents to their teachers.

7pm students move to allocated classrooms to work with their Year 10 mentors and then parents move to the Hall to meet the P and C members.

8pm students complete their activities and the P and C meeting concludes.

Come along and meet the teachers, other parents and get to know the P and C!

Mrs Radhika Prasanna - P and C President

2025 src induction ceremony

SCHOOL PHOTOS 28 february 2025

Dear Parents and Carers,

On Friday 28th February is photo day, run by Advancedlife Photography. Orders can be made online following the instructions in the flyer below. If you are unable to order online, the school office has a limited number of photo envelopes that can be collected to order and pay in cash.

Please note that extracurricular photos won't be available to order until after the photo day. A notification will be sent once they are online. Extracurricular photos are Leadership (Prefects, House Captains, SRC and Swellbeing) and Year 12 informal photos. There are no music group photos this year.

Monica Diaz - Head Teacher Languages

SWIMMING CARNIVAL - 21 FEBRUARY 2025

The Swimming Carnival will be held on Friday, 21st February at the Hornsby Aquatic Centre. Students are required to sign in with their ID card outside the pool by 8:40 am. The venue is a short walk from school or from Hornsby Station. Please refer to the map below for directions.

House Sport Carnivals are an important part of the school program at Hornsby Girls High School. They provide a competitive atmosphere while promoting support and encouragement of school and house spirit. Attendance at all three carnivals is compulsory for all students, and appointments should not be scheduled on these days.

Information regarding the carnival has been emailed to parents/carers via School Bytes. If you haven’t already done so, please complete the consent form at your earliest convenience.

Students are to dress in house colours or their school sports uniform. Swimming caps are compulsory and can be purchased from the PDHPE Staffroom or the marshaling area at the carnival for $2 each.

Students are encouraged to participate in as many races as possible to earn house points. In addition to the regular 50m, 100m, and 200m events, we will once again be running the Lizard Lane, where swimmers of all abilities can take a quick dip in the water. During the lunch period, we will also be hosting a 25m Race Your Mates event, where students can race their friends and even use a swimming noodle if they wish.

We are looking forward to a fun event!

Jane Hall - Carnival Convenor

YEAR 12 URBAN CHALLENGE

Last Thursday Year 12 started the term off wonderfully embarking on the Urban Challenge!

Students were assembled into groups of 15 and were allowed to dress up in fun themes, some choosing to dress up in Squid Game, Subway Surfers, Team Australia Olympics and Men in Black themed outfits. All groups were given a team phone and iPad to communicate and record the day, whilst additionally being handed snacks for fuel and a budget for the future challenges that awaited them. Roles including team leaders, journalists, photographers, caterers, transport officers were delegated to ensure the challenge ran smoothly.

Starting in Milson’s Point, students were sent all over the Sydney CBD on a clue trail hunt that took them to iconic landmarks and locations. Some places that were visited during the challenge included the Sydney Opera House, The Rocks, the State Library and the Botanical Gardens. At each location students were faced with a unique challenge they had to complete alongside the next clue which was in the form of a riddle.

All in all, despite the heat, Year 12 had a marvellous time returning back to school in the sunny weather exploring Sydney whilst engaging in a friendly competition! The Urban Challenge was an awesome start to the year, and gave Year 12 the opportunity to work on their teamwork and coordination skills alongside school spirit.

Huge thank you to all the teachers who came along to supervise, gaining 20,000 steps and to Ms Carroll (Year 12 Advisor) for her amazing coordination and planning!

Archismita Deb and Lauren Wilson (Year 12)

EXTRA CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES

dance auditions

Project Rockit & Safer Internet Day 2025

In conjunction with Safer Internet Day on Tuesday, February 11, 2025, Year 7 and Year 8 students participated in Project Rockit. During this program, students developed strategies to challenge bullying—both online and offline—enhanced their leadership skills and improved their digital well-being. Project Rockit also helped students recognize the benefits of diversity and fostered a sense of belonging.

To create a safer online environment for our young people, parents and carers are invited to attend the following webinars. These sessions will assist our young people in establishing good digital hygiene. The focus will be on fostering respectful online relationships, understanding responsibilities, and distinguishing between fake and real information.

Webinars for parents and carers:

Supporting healthy tech use as your child transitions into high school - explore the social pressures, peer influences, and technological challenges young people face as they transition into high school.

Algorithms and adolescents: rewards and risks of recommender systems for young people – explores both the benefits and risks, including:

· how they can affect the content young people see, shape their feelings and experiences, and influence the choices they make.

· how they are designed to keep young people online, and the impact and harms both from the type of content served and from ongoing exposure.

Parent/Carer Resources - - A range of resources are available for parents and carers to explore cyber safety issues such as Digital Tech and Mental Health, Cyber Bullying and Online Drama, and Online Image based Abuse.

Cyber safe parents | NSW Government

https://www.esafety.gov.au/

Welcome Year 7 Parents and Carers

Transition to High School Resource for Parents and Carers

The transition to Year 7 is exciting and challenging for students, their parents, and carers. Parents and carers are vital in helping young people develop the skills and confidence needed to succeed in secondary school and beyond.

Headspace provides valuable information on supporting young people during adolescence. Engaging in supportive conversations with your child is also beneficial. Here are some common topics to explore together:

Screen Time, Gaming & Online Safety - Healthy Eating & Physical Activity - Sleep - Mental Health & Wellbeing - Teen Disengagement & School Refusal - Maintaining Healthy Relationships - Vaping

You can learn more about starting secondary school herewhich offers a valuable overview of practical issues related to the transition and suggestions for supporting your young person.

HGHS is dedicated to collaborating with parents and students as they begin their first year of high school. If you would like to discuss your young person's experience, the following staff members are your primary points of contact:

· Year 7 Advisors – Ms Davenport and Ms. Hall - · Head Teacher Wellbeing – Ms Hoogerwerf.

We look forward to a rewarding and successful year with Year 7!

The Wellbeing Team

Who are your people?

Research has shown that having a strong supportive network provides a significant buffer against stress and helps us thrive in challenging situations. It contributes to our overall quality of life and subjective wellbeing. While technology plays an important role in our daily communication and can help us stay in touch with others, nothing beats face-to-face interactions when it comes to fostering strong friendships and relationships. So, get out there, get to know people, and start forming supportive connections. Surround yourself with individuals who appreciate and respect you, and who make you feel good about yourself.

Key Points

· Take your time building friendships and relationships and keep an open mind.

· Think of opportunities to meet new friends and solidify existing friendships. Consider sitting together at lunchtime, joining a club, or participating in school activities.

· Friendships should be mutually respectful and make each person feel included.

· Invest more energy in face-to-face interactions, as they provide richer cues that are important for maintaining healthy friendships.

· Think of three people you could reach out to when you need help.

· Identify two trusted adults you feel comfortable talking to. · Check out these resources on Friendships on HGHS Wellbeing Portal

And when you need a little extra help.

If you or someone you know may need a little extra help navigating a challenging situation or simply needs a trusted adult to discuss ideas with, consider reaching out to a trusted teacher, your year advisor, the Head Teacher of Wellbeing, the Student Support Officer, the Learning Support Teacher, or the School Counsellor.

The Wellbeing Team 2025

Year 7 Advisors – Ms Davenport and Ms Hall - Year 8 Advisor – Ms Cho - Year 9 Advisor – Ms Hoang - Year 10 Advisors – Mrs Sheppard and Mr Atkin - Year 11 Advisor – Ms Tourikis - Year 12 Advisors – Ms Carroll and Ms Kontos

Head Teacher Wellbeing – Ms Hoogerwerf - Student Support Officer – Eva Li - Learning Support Teacher – Ms Kontos

School Counsellors – Jess Cheok, Melissa Kostrin, Anthony Lai

The Student Support Officer and School Counsellor have self-referral forms that you could fill out for an appointment Student Support Officer - School Counsellor

Wishing you a fantastic school year in 2025!

The Wellbeing Team

CCMP

MICHELLE KIM

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