WEEK 4, TERM 4, 7 November 2025
acknowledgement of country
We recognise the Dharrug and Kuringai people, the owners and custodians of the lands and waterways where we work and live. We pay respect to Elders past and present as ongoing teachers of knowledge, songlines and stories. We strive to ensure every Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander learner in NSW achieves their potential through education.
pRINCIPAL'S MESSAGE
Dear Parents, Carers and Students, Today was the last day of HSC exams for the Class of 2025. We wish our Year 12s all the best for their future and we look forward to congratulating them on their many successes on Wednesday 17 December when the HSC results are released. It has been a privilege to know and work with Year 12 over the last six years. They have grown into fine young citizens ready to take on the world. Year 10s have been completing their exams this week with other years to follow. We wish all year groups all the best for their final exams.
To celebrate the completion of the junior exams we have arranged an excursion to Qudos Bank Arena, Sydney Olympic Park, on Friday 28 November to see the Schools Spectacular Show. Our choir will be performing, Serena Hoffman (Year 11) will be performing as a featured artist, and Ms Ridgway will be the Assistant Conductor! The cost is $29 paid through School Bytes from Thursday next week. Students will make their own way to and from the venue. Roll Call will be from 9:30am and we will start moving into the venue from around 10am. Students will be dismissed from the venue around 1:45pm. We look forward to a great show! On Wednesday 12 November we will be hosting 71 students from Nichidai Buzan Girls High School, Japan. Thank you to the Year 10 Japanese class for organising the day's activities and to Mrs Lawson (Relieving Head Teacher Languages and TAS) for all her efforts in liaising with the Japanese school and tour operators. On Wednesday 19 November from 7:30pm in the HGHS Staff Commonroom we will have our P and C Annual General Meeting (AGM) followed by our regular P and C Meeting. All positions will be vacated and then filled at the AGM. At the regular P and C meeting that follows the AGM, the school will discuss the financial requests from the staff to the P and C so that we can continue fund the various programs and activities with the assistance from the P and C. I look forward to seeing you there. Kind regards, Justin Briggs (Principal)
Deputy Principals' Message
Year 12 - HSC Class of 2025
Congratulations to the Class of 2025 on completing the final HSC Examinations this week. We are extremely proud of your efforts and achievements. While we will miss each of you and your unique personalities and capabilities, we are also very excited for you embarking on this new stage in life. Sign out days will be occurring on Thursday 6th, Friday 7th and Thursday 13th of November. The locations of where to hand in your texts and other learning materials are posted in the grade Google Classroom. Donations of clean second hand uniforms to our Clothing Pool are also welcome. We hope that you enjoy a terrific break from studies between now and the commencement of university or gap year in 2026. On Friday the 6th of February, 2026 the Class of 2025 are invited to morning tea at 10 am to catch up with staff and update us on their future plans. Students received an invitation in their Graduation Folders. Details for the RSVP are included on this invitation and we encourage students to let us know if they will be attending.
Year 11
Year 11 had their reports distributed this week. We congratulate all our students on their efforts and achievements over the last three terms. Our HSC 2026 cohort have settled well into their first term of HSC studies. On Friday 21st 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. Some students have commenced obtaining their provisional driving licences. Parents, carers and students are reminded that students must complete a Student Driver Agreement and obtain a card to place on their dashboard when parked on school grounds. Students are only permitted to drive one other student who has completed a Student Passenger Agreement form.
Year 10
Year 10 finished their Yearly Examinations today and we have been very impressed with their organisational skills and following of invigilator instructions. Teachers will now be busily marking examination papers and finalising NESA RoSA grades and we thank them for their work. In the following weeks, Year 10 has a very busy schedule. Some of the highlights include: Friday 14th November - Minimum Standards Tests (periods 1 - 3) Monday 24th November - Friday 28th November - Life and Resilience Week Monday 1st December - Friday 5th December - Illuminate Enterprise Challenge These activities are compulsory parts of the wellbeing and enrichment programs of Hornsby Girls High School and full attendance is expected. If a student is absent a valid justification must be provided for this absence. Where students have been advised that they may wear mufti it is important that students wear clothes and footwear suitable for the activities being undertaken. Ugg boots and open toed footwear are not permitted for health and safety reasons.
Year 9
Year 9 Yearly Examinations will start on the 17th November and finish on the 21st November. This week an email explaining arrangements and a copy of the examination schedule has been sent to all students and parents. 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 simply a snapshot of their skills at this point in time and give them an indication of areas to work on in 2026.
Year 7, 8 and 9
On 28th November Year 7, 8 and 9 will be attending the School Spectacular Matinee Performance at Qudos Bank Arena to support the students that we have participating in the show. Further information will be sent to parents in the coming weeks.
Year 7- charity day event
Congratulations to the Year 7 Cohort who successfully ran their charity day on Tuesday 28th October. It was wonderful to see our students displaying our school values of inclusivity, kindness, social responsibility and respect.
Japan - Nichidai Buzan Girls High School
On Wednesday 12th November we will welcome 71 students and 9 teachers who will be visiting our school from Japan. Our Year 10 students will host our visitors. They have organised an exciting day filled with a variety of student lead activities. Including an exchange of student gifts, school tour, performances and lots more.
Remembrance Day
On Tuesday 11th November 2025 the school will take time to remember all those who died or suffered while serving in wars, conflicts and peace operations. The 11th of November is the anniversary of the Armistice of 1918 that ended fighting in World War 1. A Year 10 Cadet student will lead an observation at the front of the school with the Ode read by our Senior Prefects. Two other Prefects will read the Ode over the school’s public address system after which the whole school will silently reflect to remember all those who have served and died in war. In addition to our school based observations, the School Captain, Vice Captain and Mr Blake (Prefect Coordinator) will represent Hornsby Girls High School at Hornsby RSL. Thank you to our Prefects and Cadets for your leadership in this important observation.
Elevate Education- The following online workshops are being offered by Elevate Education. Please register your interest via the link below How To Help Your Child Alleviate Stress- 12th November 6:30pm (AEDT) How You Can Build Resilience in Your Child- 26th November 6:30pm (AEDT) How You Can Set Your Child Up for Success- 10th December 6:30pm (AEDT Register your place in our parent support series
Lost Property
The office has placed a large volume of lost property in the front corridor for students to collect. We have PE jackets, jumpers, school shoes, sports shoes, lunchboxes, glasses, hats, watches and more! Many of these are in good condition and some of the school shoes appear to be very new. If your child is missing items please ask them to check the table for them. The office also keeps valuable items such as airpods, jewellery, chargers and phones behind the counter. If your child has reported that they are missing these sorts of items please ask them to check in the Bank Office. Any items that are not collected over the next few weeks will either be donated to the Clothing Pool or charity. It is also a good reminder that when returning in 2026 all items need to be labelled.
NSW EduChat - NSW Department of Education Information
NSWEduChat is now available to all students in Years 9-12 and students in Year 7 and 8 will have access from Monday 17th November. EduChat has a ‘student mode’ which students can access. NSW EduChat encourages students to use critical thinking by offering personalised feedback, explanations and open-ended questions. Students will have access to this tool when at home and at school. A Privacy Notice and Information for Parents and Carers is found at the end of this newsletter.
World Teachers Day
Last Friday we celebrated World Teachers Day. Students from the SRC sang to all staff at recess and teachers were celebrated by lovely messages and cards from students. Our SASS staff surprised us with a delicious morning tea. Our teachers were grateful for the kind gesture and acknowledgement. Thank you also to our SRC for organising a fun teacher - student competition at lunch.
Ms Gilmore and Ms Wallwork - Deputy Principal
BIOTECH FUTURES SYMPOSIUM
Twelve 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 Stefano Curtarolo, Ph.D., from Duke University, who explored how new materials have been designed for the future energy generation; Daisy Weight, an undergraduate student from biomedical engineer, who shared how she revolved her research experiences.
We are especially proud of Chitrakhhi Banerjee, Summer Chen, Elyse Chow, Lily Fang, Zoey Jiang, Tanvi Marather, Sally Sun, Olivia Trinh, 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 outstanding presentations, our students also took part in hands-on activity, designing a catapult using their knowledge of energy transformation and everyday materials. They explored how energy can be transformed efficiently and effectively. We are incredibly proud of their creativity, and we look forward to seeing how these experiences inspire their future pursuits in STEM!
Dr Jeong - Science Teacher
Year 12 Textiles and Design Major Projects
This year, there were 5 incredibly creative students studying Textiles and Design for the HSC. The student's complete an MTP ('Major Textile Project' + supporting folio document) that contributes to 50% of their HSC mark. The HSC major textile projects were recently marked by NESA and have been on display in the HGHS library for all to admire the incredible amount of dedication that went into the major works. Each year a selection of exemplary major works are selected by NESA to be displayed at the 'SHAPE' exhibition. This year Rishona Francis has received a nomination which is a massive achievement. Congratulations to Rishona and the class of 2025.
Mrs Graham - Textiles Teacher
photography club
This week, photography club looked at shutter speed! When a camera’s shutter is open for longer, it lets in a lot more light and movement becomes blurred and layered. This is how people “paint with light” as the camera blurs together the trail of the light source.
Here are some of our light paintings from this week’s tutorial!
Photography club is on every Friday with something new to learn each week! There’s plenty of room and the opportunity to become a school photographer.
Ms Farnon - Art Teacher
HGHS Mock Trial Team Reaches the Semi-Finals!
The Law Society of New South Wales run an annual Mock Trial Competition which is open to private and public schools across NSW for students in years 10 and 11. The program aims to introduce students to the NSW judicial system by providing practical experience into the running of a court case in a true-to-life adversarial setting. Students learn advocacy, debating and problem-solving skills.
This year, a group of Year 11 students who are studying Legal Studies, formed a HGHS Mock Trial Team and they performed impressively throughout the competition. The competition started off with over 100 schools from around NSW and the HGHS team remained undefeated in every round, making their way to the Semi Finals as one of the top 4 schools in NSW. On the 29th of October, HGHS students (the Prosecution), faced off against Chevalier College (the Defence) who came all the way from Bowral, to compete in an intense semi final, where the case outlined a digital breach of restricted exam data. While the prosecution won the overall case, Hornsby missed out on the finals by only 4 points with the final score being 274 to 270! Regardless of this, both teams performed exceptionally well with the magistrate commenting that "the standard of both teams was exceptional – it was very much worthy of a grand final”
Our team worked diligently and wholeheartedly for all the cases this year upholding our schools KRISPIR values to the highest extent. With consistent effort and enthusiasm alongside Ms. Viner’s thorough facilitation, the mock trial team has reached the furthest our school has ever made it in the tournament and are incredibly proud of this year’s performance. Congratulations to everyone involved!
Rashi Shree (Senior Legal Studies Student)
2025 Prefects Leadership Planning Day
Last Friday, the Prefects spent most of the day in the Library Annexe, planning for the year to come as leaders of the school. They started off with an insightful speech and some Q&A time with a very familiar guest ~ The delightful HGHS’ 2019 Vice-Captain Catherine Bui! By listening to Catherine’s shared experiences as a former school leader, our Prefects were left feeling inspired, motivated, united, and ready to make a positive impact on school life in the year ahead. The Prefects have made many plans for numerous events they intend to host at the school, so keep an eye out on Sentral and on the Prefects Noticeboard! 😊
Mr. Blake – Prefect Coordinator
Lizard Island teacher study tour
In the last week of Term 3, Ms Chaikin had the incredible opportunity to travel to Lizard Island on a scholarship study tour for teachers. Alongside sixteen other educators, she was immersed in life and learning with marine science professionals at the Lizard Island Research Station. The program, made possible through the support of Big Blue Ocean and the Australian Museum, provided a truly unique “outdoor classroom” experience in one of the world’s most stunning and ecologically rich environments.
Throughout the week, participants explored reef conservation, coral reef biodiversity, and sustainable management practices, connecting scientific theory with real-world research and application. They gained hands-on experience studying the intricate ecosystems of the Great Barrier Reef and deepened their understanding of the complex relationships that sustain it.
Ms Chaikin described the experience as both enriching and inspiring, noting how it highlighted the delicate balance of coral reef ecosystems and the vital role of science in protecting them. The insights gained from the program will enhance classroom teaching and help engage students with authentic examples of ecological study and environmental stewardship.
Inspired by this opportunity, Ms Chaikin looks forward to sharing her newfound knowledge and passion for marine science with her students, encouraging them to explore the challenges of climate change and to contribute to a more sustainable future.
Ms Chaikin - Science Teacher
SPEECH DAY DONATION
Debating Success!
Congratulations to our Hornsby Team B, Year 7 and Year 8 debaters who successfully competed in three rounds of zone debating for The Premier's Debating Challenge and were declared zone champions. This team have also successfully competed in three regional rounds of debating and will now proceed to the regional final against Northern Beaches Secondary College, Manly. We wish them well for the final! Hornsby Team B speakers (left to right) Aadhya Paidipati Angela Zhang Jing Yuan Liu Rhea Pillai
Mary-Anne Shonoda, Stage 4 Debating Coordinator
New Zonta Club Board
The 2026 Zonta board, consisting of the executive and board members, were inducted last Tuesday. Janine from the District 24 Zonta Club read out the members' responsibilities before officially inducting them with a badge and a yellow rose as a symbol of Zonta friendship. She also gave a presentation, outlining the core values of Zonta. It was a fantastic reminder of Zonta's goals in the global sphere and how Z-clubs can contribute to that aim. Zonta International's mission is to build a better world for women and girls. They envision a world where women are able to achieve their full potential and are represented on an equal basis to men. Zonta promotes values such as friendship, respect, equality and inclusion and integrity, all of which the newly elected members will prioritise while serving the club. President: Alexis Feliciano Vice President: Halyn Kim & Yashita Mohan Secretary: Aditi Sundar Rajan Treasurer: Claire Wang Board Members: Thinolee Gunasinghe, Myra Rangra, Holly Stamm, Rebecca An If you would like to meet our new board, participate in fun debates and contribute to future projects, come along to room 208 during Tuesday lunchtimes!
Ms Viner - HSIE Teacher, Zonta Coordinator
World's Greatest Shave
Recently, Jemma Soukhavong from Year 8 donated her hair and raised money for the Leukaemia Foundation through the World's Greatest Shave. So far, she has raised $1126 and you can still donate! All donations are greatly appreciated and go towards supporting leukemia patients and research!
Wellbeing
Play More, Stress Less - Creative Hacks to Reclaim Joy
Feeling stressed but tired of the same old advice? This article explores fun and creative ways to relax and unwind - beyond deep breathing and meditation. There are quick mood boosting activities you can do between homework tasks, calming tricks that feel more like hobbies than chores, and simple hacks to reset your brain when life gets chaotic. It’s all about sparking joy by doing things that are low-effort, fun (the more ridiculous the better), and totally doable instead of feeling like another task to do.
Calming and Creative Activities:
- 🎨Paint or draw with ‘wrong’ tools - cotton buds, fingers, sponges, vegetables, anything but a real brush - perfection isn’t the goal here but to be in the moment and have fun! Or just paint normally if that’s your thing.
- 🥐Bake a new recipe - using all five senses to reach a state of relaxation. Making cookies involves touching the cookie dough as you shape them, seeing and smelling the fresh baked cookies, hearing the crunch and tasting them. You get the idea…, hungry yet?
- 🖼️Create a moodboard or collage using recycled materials, old magazines, photos and stickers, or Pinterest/Canva - purely for vibes.
- 🌱Gardening - spending time in the fresh air, planting flowers, herbs or cute succulents, can promote feelings of happiness and relaxation. It can help your body produce melatonin which promotes good night’s sleep.
Quick and playful hacks:
- 🕺Try a 5-minute “chaos dance” - Play your favourite song and move along with random movements, jumping around, punching, kicking and taking the stress out!
- 🎤Lip-sync or “perform” your favourite song like you’re on stage - complete cringe is encouraged.
- 🚶🏻♀️Get your airpods in and go for a brisk walk/run around the block or in the park.
Other stress relieving activities:
- 🐱Having a cuddle with a pet/stuffed animal
- 🧶Crocheting
- 🌸Origami
- 🧩Puzzles
- 🃏Playing card games/board games with family/friends
More ideas from Fun, stress relieving activities to try and Positive Psychology.