Celebrating 80 Years of Excellence in Girls’ Education ... · Celebrating 80 Years of Excellence in Girls’ Education 2010 Annual School Report Hornsby Girls High School ... harmony

NSW Department of Education & Training

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Celebrating 80 Years of Excellence in Girls’ Education

2010 Annual School Report

Hornsby Girls High School Faith with Fortitude

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CONTENTS page Principal’s Message 2 P&C Message 2 Parent of Year Awards 3 Student Leaders’ Message 3 School Context Student Information 5 Staff Information 5 Top Teacher Award 6 School Achievements Creative & Performing Arts 6 Sport 10 Leadership & Service 12 Respect & Responsibility 14 Environmental Education 15 Multicultural Education 15 Aboriginal Education 17 Academic Achievements General 17 Higher School Certificate 21

School Certificate 23 NAPLAN 25

Progress on 2010 Targets 28 Key Evaluations 29 Community Satisfaction 32 Professional Learning 32 Specific Targets for 2011 32 Financial Summary 33

Principal's Message

Hornsby Girls High School celebrated its 80th

Birthday in 2010, and is proud of its outstanding traditions as a public selective school whose major focus is academic excellence and nurturing all students to reach their potential. Founded in 1930 and situated in heritage buildings in central Hornsby, the school has a distinguished reputation for eminent academic achievement in a caring and supportive learning environment. Our outstanding results in all external examinations – the Higher School Certificate, the School Certificate, NAPLAN and other state, national and international competitions – attest to our ongoing success. Our students feature prominently in academic merit lists, and they win prizes, scholarships and other awards in many subjects.

The girls are taught by highly qualified, experienced and professional staff. The widespread use of computers and interactive

white boards, and the availability of up-to-date Science laboratories and other specialist facilities in the various subject areas, ensure that modern technology plays a significant role in our teaching and learning programs.

We celebrate the excellence of our academic achievements, but they are not the only measure of our school’s continued success. The moral, ethical and social development of our students is equally important in our role of nurturing well-rounded individuals who will be responsible, articulate citizens and future leaders of our democratic society.

Our school philosophy centres upon a holistic educational approach which embraces strong values and offers many opportunities for our girls to enjoy a well-balanced education while fully developing their diverse individual talents. Hornsby students attain the highest academic success as well as exceptional achievements in Student Leadership, the Creative and Performing Arts, Sport, Cultural Activities, Citizenship and Community Service. We provide specialist co-curricular programs in instrumental and choral music, dance, aerobics, sport, visual arts, design, languages, debating and public speaking. Many students participate in leadership programs, the Duke of Edinburgh Award, environmental projects, exchange visits with our sister schools in Japan and Germany, charitable fund-raising events, and numerous other activities across many different fields.

We place strong emphasis on the welfare and well-being of all our students, staff and parents, both as individuals and as a cohesive school community. We have an excellent Student Welfare Team which implements pro-active programs based upon the principles of positive philosophy and resilience. Our school embraces 48 different cultural heritages, but intercultural harmony and cooperation are significant features of our school ethos.

All these aspects of Hornsby Girls High continued to flourish in 2010, and the highlights are outlined in this report. It is a celebration of the excellent and diverse achievements of all the exceptional students who attend our school.

I certify that the information in this report is the result of a rigorous school self-evaluation process and is a balanced and genuine account of the school's achievements and areas for development.

Robert Phillips Principal

P&C Message

2010 was another outstanding year for the parent and care-giver community at Hornsby Girls High. Events included cultural and social activities, information evenings and fund raising.

We are fortunate that contributions from parents continued to be high, and our community is to be thanked and congratulated for its generosity and

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commitment to supporting the school. Funds provided for the educational benefit of our daughters exceeded $96,000, and enabled the purchase of such items as interactive white boards, computers, musical instruments, upgrading the school computer network, hardware and software improvements, and landscaping in the school grounds.

The cultural and social calendar was managed by a fantastic team of willing parents, staff and student volunteers. The Father/Daughter Challenge and the Crazy Whist Night were great successes. The Annual Multicultural Fair again demonstrated the wonderful harmony at the school amongst a diverse range of cultures.

Our Grounds Days continued each term, and all the work has culminated in the near-completion of the planting and landscaping around the new front entry to the school. Our thanks go once more to coordinator Jonathan Sanders and the volunteers who take time out of their busy schedules to weed, dig, plant, prune, fertilise, mulch, and water to make the grounds even more pleasant for students, staff, teachers and visitors.

One of four P&C Grounds Days throughout 2010

Thanks also to our Treasurer, Ross Horsburgh who continued to keep our finances in order, and to the Annual Raffle coordinators, Nandita Bajaj and Elliott Nicholls, for another valuable contribution to our fund-raising efforts.

The musical talents of the students continued to flourish under the baton of Musical Director, Deb Dietz. Special thanks must go to the Band and Orchestra sub-committee, led by Ken Harrison, Melissa Jones and the team of dedicated parents.

Thank you to all the 2010 P&C Committee members. We must make particular mention of some long-serving P&C stalwarts who left us at the end of 2010 after many years of service. These include Rod Jackson, an innovative former President of our P&C; Yvonne Jackson, who was our tireless Functions Coordinator for many years; Elliott and Karen Nicholls, who were long-term coordinators of our P&C Raffle;

Rob Williams and Chris Newton, who gave tireless support to all our P&C events; and another former P&C President, Colleen Langron and her husband John, both of whom, among many other activities, coordinated our successful Career Expo. The dedication of these parents epitomises the true spirit of our P&C in support of the school.

A very special occasion was the afternoon tea provided by the P&C to say “Thank You” to the staff for all their hard work on behalf of the girls (see the picture above).

Congratulations to Mr Phillips, and to the school teaching and administrative staff for their innovation, dedication and support during another successful year. Greg Spencer President, H.G.H.S. P&C

PARENT OF THE YEAR AWARDS Congratulations to Greg and Nui Spencer – ‘Mr and Mrs President’ of our P&C Association – on winning Northern Sydney Region Parent of the Year Awards. The awards were presented by Regional Director Ms Jane Simmons at a special ceremony in November. Greg and Nui have two daughters at Hornsby and have been outstanding supporters of our school. These awards are fitting recognition of their hard work and dedication to the school.

Greg & Nui Spencer – Parent of the Year Awards

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Student Leaders’ Message

Many exciting activities and ideas were initiated through student leadership to enrich the life of our school in 2010. The Prefects and the Student Representative Council (SRC) are the most visible elected leaders of our student population, but there are also many other leadership positions within our school. These include House Captains and Vice-Captains, Peer Support Leaders, High Resolves Leaders, Band Captains and Vice-Captains, as well as many other students who were willing to take leadership responsibilities in a variety of formal and informal situations. It is this willingness to be part of our special events, and the preparedness to assist in organising activities, which create such a great unity and harmony among our students in all grades.

The leadership of the House Captains, Vice-Captains and the Prefects motivated the whole school and created an enthusiastic atmosphere at our annual swimming carnival, which provided an energetic start to the school year. With so many people participating and cheering and dressing up in house colours, the spirit amongst the girls and the staff was wonderful, especially from Year 12, who formed their own “Warehouse” and had almost 100% participation rate. As a result of this great contribution to the carnival, an inaugural Challenge Shield was presented to Year 12.

Year 12 ‘WareHouse’ at the Swimming Carnival

For the Prefects, our major events of 2010 were:

• Haiti Appeal Mufti Day, a special activity which raised over $1500 for the Haiti Earthquake Appeal.

• Lipsync, our annual charity concert which raised funds for Stewart House. The theme was ‘21

st Century Breakdown’, and there were

28 entertaining performances demonstrating the diverse talents of our students.

• The Prefect Respect Initiative, an anti-bullying and ‘Welcome to High School’ program in

conjunction with Normanhurst Boys High and Waitara Public School.

• Festivale, which this year was titled ‘Musicale: The Life of a Hornsby Girl’, and showcased Hornsby’s many talents and provided fun-filled “insights” into “typical” high school life.

• Nursing Home Visits, providing meaningful interaction and companionship for the residents of the Netherby Aged Care Facility.

• Multi-Religious Youth Forum, held once a month at lunchtimes to provide students with the opportunity to access information about a variety of different faiths, and promote the multi-religious harmony of our school.

• Peer Tutoring, to assist Year 11 in their transition to senior school, with Year 12 students providing tutoring at lunchtimes.

The SRC continued to promote the concept of intergradalism within our student population, and we organised a calendar of fun-filled events to encourage more interaction between the different year groups at school. These included:

• Our traditional ‘Welcome to Year 7’ Barbecue

• The Valentine’s Day activity in which over 1200 flowers were distributed to students across the school in the true spirit of friendship

• A great Harmony Day, involving a disco under the COLA at lunchtime, decorating the main corridor with our paper chain of student messages on the theme of ‘Put a little love in your world’, and forming a huge earth-shape with a heart at its centre to symbolise the need for love and harmony around the world.

• Several dances at our school in conjunction with Normanhurst Boys High.

• International Women’s Day activities, which included hanging posters of inspirational women, decorations of white balloons in the corridors, music on the themes of equality and female empowerment under the COLA at lunchtime, and a large wall-hanging on which students could

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place their painted hand-print to demonstrate their commitment to women’s rights.

International Women’s Day Banner

As usual, the highlight of 2010 for the SRC was Spirit Week, during the last week of Term 2. Each day had its own special theme. “World Cup Wednesday” was typical of the friendly atmosphere and support from students and staff alike. Lunch was provided by the SRC, and most people dressed in the colours of their favourite national soccer team.

The Staff join in the fun on World Cup Wednesday

The involvement of the whole school, including the staff, in the week’s activities was testimony to the dedication and enthusiasm which comes from the true spirit of Hornsby!

Prefects and Student Representative Council

SCHOOL CONTEXT

Student Information

It is a requirement that the reporting of information for all students must be consistent with privacy and personal information policies.

Student Enrolment Profile

Our enrolment numbers continue to be fixed at 120 students per year group in the junior school. In Years 11 and 12, we are able to accept some additional students whose academic performance and subject selections are compatible with those of our school. As a result, we had a total school population of 735 in 2010.

The Selective Schools Unit handles all enrolments into Year 7, based on student performance in the annual Selective Schools Entry Test. In 2010, our Year 7 students came from almost 60 different primary schools. Very few vacancies occur in other academic years, and these are filled by a process of application and entry test conducted by the school itself.

All enrolments into HGHS must be either Australian citizens or have permanent resident status. In 2010, 83% of our total student population came from a Language Background Other Than English (LBOTE).

Student Attendance Profile

Student attendance at HGHS continues to be well above Regional and State levels.

Management of Non-attendance

Non-attendance is a non-issue at Hornsby Girls High. When students are absent from Roll Call, an SMS text is sent to their parents’ mobile telephone requesting an explanation.

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Retention to Year 12

The retention rate of students through to Year 12 is almost 100%.

Staff Information

It is a requirement that the reporting of information for all staff must be consistent with privacy and personal information policies. There are no indigenous people on the staff at HGHS.

Teacher Qualifications

All teaching staff are appropriately qualified in their specialist subject areas and meet the professional requirements for teaching in NSW high schools.

Qualifications % of staff Degree or Diploma 100 Additional Postgraduate 30

Staff Establishment

Position Number

Principal 1.0 Deputy Principal(s) 2.0 Head Teachers 8.0 Classroom Teachers 39.7 Teacher Librarian 1.0 Teacher of ESL 0.2 Careers Advisor 1.0 Counsellor 0.6 School Administrative & Support Staff (SASS)

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Total 63.1

TOP TEACHER AWARD

Our English Head Teacher, Mrs Jo-Anne Drayton, was awarded the 2010 Paul Brock Award for Excellence in the Teaching of English. This is a statewide award presented to the teacher who has most significantly contributed to English Education in NSW government schools. It is named in honour of Dr Paul Brock, an outstanding

educational thinker in the NSW Department of Education who began his successful career as an English Teacher. Mrs Drayton has been an exceptional English Teacher and educational leader for many years, and she thoroughly deserves this prestigious award which was presented by the Director-General of the Department of Education and Training, Mr Michael Coutts-Trotter.

Dr Paul Brock, Mrs Jo-Anne Drayton, and the Director-General, Mr Michael Coutts-Trotter

SCHOOL ACHIEVEMENTS 2010

1. Creative and Performing Arts

80TH BIRTHDAY GALA CONCERT

To celebrate the 80th anniversary of the opening of

Hornsby Girls High School in 1930, a spectacular 80th

Birthday Gala Concert was held on September 16. The program consisted of performances by the all the school’s instrumental ensembles, choirs, dance groups, and aerobics teams, as well as duets and solo pieces by various students. There were audio-visual presentations by the Visual Arts and Textiles Departments, and a series of “Memory Lane” slide shows using original photographs from each decade of the school’s history.

Over 260 students participated in the Gala Concert. The finale was an amazing rendition of “When You Believe” from The Prince of Egypt, and involved over 200 musicians, singers and dancers. The whole evening was delightful - truly professional entertainment. The photographs on the front cover of this Annual School Report were taken at the Gala Concert.

SCHOOL MUSICAL

The joint production with Normanhurst Boys High School of Joseph and His Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat was a wonderful success. All members of the cast, crew, orchestra and staff who supported

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them should be very proud of their excellent performances. This was yet another showcase for the multi-talented students from both schools who never fail to impress with their abilities, commitment and hard work.

INSTRUMENTAL ENSEMBLES The HGHS Instrumental Ensemble Program included over 180 students in the various groups - i.e. 25% of the school population. This is amazing, especially when there are so many other activities on offer at the school. It is a tribute to the success of the program.

• Diamond, Gold and Silver for HGHS Bands

At the Yamaha Band Festival, the Symphonic Band received the Diamond Award for being the outstanding group in its section; the Concert Band was awarded a Gold rating; and the String Orchestra received a Silver rating.

At the NSW Band Festival, the Symphonic Band received a Silver Award in the A Grade division; the Concert Band received a Gold rating in C Grade.

The ‘Touring Band’ which went on a weekend trip to Dubbo consisted of 22 Year 7 girls, 13 Year 8 girls, and only 8 “senior” girls from Years 9, 10 and 11. Although having only limited time together for rehearsals, the girls played magnificently at several schools in the Dubbo area, and entered the inaugural Dubbo NSW School Band Festival. They received the only gold medal awarded in their division. • The Symphonic Band gave a brilliant

performance of ‘Mars’ from Holst’s The Planets Suite at our Annual Speech Day.

• The Flute Choirs performed at the Multicultural Fair, at the Catholic Community Services Christmas Luncheon, and as introductory entertainment at the 80

th Birthday

Gala Concert.

• The Jazz Band performed at the HGHS Multicultural Fair and at the Year 12 Graduation Dinner.

• The Concert Band played at the HGHS Open Day, the Year 6 Orientation Day and the Prefect Induction, as well as performing at Beecroft and Normanhurst West Primary Schools in a mini-tour in December.

• All three bands, the String Orchestra and the two Flute Choirs gave outstanding and entertaining performances at the HGHS Spring and Autumn Concerts.

• Two new instrumental groups were formed in 2010 by Music Teacher Mr Grant Hughson – a Guitar Group and a Brass Ensemble. These were well-supported by the students, and will further develop next year.

THE CHOIRS

The 2010 Choral Program was run by Mrs Johnston from our Music Faculty. The Senior Choir consisted of 40 girls from Years 10-12, while 63 girls from Years 7-9 formed the Junior Choir. The Chamber Choir was chosen by audition from members of the Junior and Senior Choirs. • A selection of 58 girls from the Senior and Junior

Choirs performed in ‘Opera By The Lake’, a concert organised by Pacific Opera and Galston Rotary.

• The Senior Choir gained 2nd Place and the Junior

Choir was Highly Commended at the Ryde Eisteddfod.

OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS IN MUSIC • The HGHS Year 8 Trio, consisting of Anika Ng,

Naomi Ng and Jasmine He, performed at the Hornsby District Schools Music Festival, and at a welcome ceremony for the 50

th reunion of the

Leaving Certificate Class of 1960.

• Neta Arad, Yvonne Chuk, Jessica Harvey, Cindy Huang, Shayna Levitt, Joanne Mackellar, Kristen McCormack and Prachi Nagrath were selected for NSW State Music Camps.

• Violinist Yvonne Chuk from Year 7 was selected for the Performing Arts Unit Orchestra.

• Violinist Valerie Wong from Year 10 was chosen for the Australian Chamber Orchestra Combined Schools Workshop.

• Vidushi Sharma of Year 8 was the star of Fire Water, a historical performance presented by the Sydney Harbour Foreshore Authority at Campbells Cove in The Rocks. Fire Water was performed 3 times per night from June 11-13, combining live actors, music, puppetry and multi-media projections to tell the story of a 1797 shipwreck near Tasmania. Vidushi was the narrator of the story from the perspective of a modern Indian-Australian girl who can trace her family back to a member of the shipwrecked crew.

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DANCE

Mrs Wallwork from our PE Faculty coordinated our three Dance Ensembles in 2010 – Hip Hop, Modern/Contemporary and Jazz, – involving 40 students overall. There was also a special group for the Gala Concert Finale. • All three Ensembles gave stunning

performances at the Sydney North Dance Festival at the Glen St Theatre.

• The Jazz and Contemporary Ensembles were Highly Commended in their sections of the McDonalds Performing Arts Challenge.

• Anika and Naomi Ng of Year 8 won the Gold medal in Classical Ballet Duo at the McDonalds Performing Arts Challenge.

AEROBICS There were 27 students in seven Aerobics teams this year. All teams competed in the State Trials and the State Championships, and they all qualified for the Australian National Championships in Melbourne. • At the State Championships, our teams were

awarded nine 1st Places, two 2

nd Places and

one 3rd Place.

• At the National Championships, HGHS won a Gold medal, one 4

th Place, three 5

th Places

and three 6th Places – i.e. all teams were in

the top six in the country.

VISUAL ARTS • Visual Arts Exhibitions in 2010

Our Visual Arts students mounted several outstanding exhibitions throughout the year:

The HSC Body of Work Exhibition displayed the creative work of the Year 12 students and was opened by Anne Ferran, Photographer and Senior Lecturer, Sydney College of the Arts. Ms Ferran is an Old Girl of HGHS.

Works from the HSC Art Exhibition

Years 9 and 10 Visual Arts students combined in an impressive multi-media exhibition of original works. Years 7 and 8 students also held a combined exhibition to display the imaginative results of their Visual Arts studies and stimulating excursions. • Georgia Clare, Belinda Guo, Leonie Kwok,

Eugenia Oh and Esther Rosenberg were selected for the National Art School’s Intensive Studio Practice.

DRAMA • Lucy Barber-Hancock and Bronte Small from

Year 10 won the senior section of the HGHS Shakespeare Competition, while Imogen Learmonth of Year 8 won the junior section.

• Imogen Learmonth was selected as a member of the NSW Public Schools Junior Drama Ensemble.

• The HGHS Enrichment Drama Ensemble entered two groups in the McDonald’s Performing Arts Challenge, with the first group gaining 3

rd place in

the ‘Group Devised Scene’, and the second group receiving a Highly Commended Award in the ‘Scene From a Play’ Section.

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DEBATING

2010 saw our students actively involved in Debating in all years. • The Year 12 Team of Miriam Barnes, Julie

Deng, Pradha Gurumahan and Alicia Wilson enjoyed their final year of debating, and were unlucky not to be Zone winners.

• The Year 11 Team of Nandini Bajaj, Esther Rosenberg, Sonia Saini, Priya Sivaraj and Arabella Vaughan won two of their three Zone debates.

• In the Years 9/10 Division, our Year 10 Team, which rotated Marra Aghajani, Ginny Graf, Cayci Levitt, Rhea Nair, Jacquelyn Ooi, Bronte Small, Cara Van Wyk and Elsa Young, won their Zone competition. Our Year 9 Team of Aparna Balakumar, Priya Gurumahan, Lisha Lobo, Abi Rajkumar, Praba Sekhar, and Nayomi Siriwardane won two of their three debates, losing the third to our own Year 10 Team.

• In the Years 7/8 Division, our Year 8 Team – Aurora Crain, Imogen Learmonth, Simone Luca, Jehannah May, Linda Nixon and Amy Thomas – won their Zone Competition and the Regional Semi-Final, but were narrowly beaten in the Regional Final. The Year 7 Team of Katherine Allen, Quin Brunner, Tian Du, Annabel Horsburgh, Sanjna Kalasabail and Mekala Shanker enjoyed their first year of debating, winning two debates but losing their third to our own Year 8 Team.

• Elsa Young of Year 10 was chosen for the Northern Sydney Regional Debating Team which won the NSW Schools Championships.

PUBLIC SPEAKING

Hornsby Girls High students participated in many Public Speaking Competitions throughout the year and enjoyed great success. • In the Rostrum Voice of Youth Competition,

HGHS was represented by Aparna Balakumar, Abi Rajkumar, and Alison Xiao in the Junior Division, and by Arabella Vaughan and Jennie Zheng in the Senior Division. Jenny was successful in winning her heat and went on to speak impressively at the Regional Final.

• Miriam Barnes and Arabella Vaughan both

gave winning speeches in their heats of the Sydney Morning Herald Plain Speaking Award, and represented the school in the Regional Final.

• After winning the Regional Final of the Rotary Four Way Test Public Speaking Competition in 2009, Arabella Vaughan progressed to win the State Final this year.

Arabella Vaughan

• HGHS had two successful participants in the Legacy Junior Public Speaking Competition. Imogen Learmonth and Jehannah May qualified for the Regional Final, and Jehannah won through to the State Semi-Finals. She also went on to compete in the State Final where she finished in a most commendable 3

rd place.

Jehannah May

• The United Nations Youth Association Public Speaking Competition aims to promote young people’s awareness of global social justice issues. Our representatives were Rhea Kohli, Cara Van Wyk and Alison Xiao. Alison won the Northern District Final and competed with great maturity in the State Semi-Final.

• In the heats of the Speak Up! Speak Out! Competition, HGHS was represented by Marra Aghajani, Imogen Learmonth, Jehannah May, Rhea Nair and Elsa Young. Imogen, Rhea and Elsa proceeded to the State Semi-Final, and Imogen and Elsa went on to the State Final, in which Elsa gained 3

rd Place.

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• Irene McBride was our representative in the Hornsby Rotary Public Speaking Competition in which she gave a highly commended speech on Australia’s response to asylum seekers.

• Mary Armstrong Cup

The school’s internal public speaking competition, the Mary Armstrong Cup, involves all students from Years 7-10, and two students from each year are selected for the Grand Final.

YEAR WINNERS

Year 7 Quin Brunner Madeleine Jones

Year 8 Amelia Scott Jehannah May

Year 9 Annabel Ellis Karishma Madan

Year 10 Hayley Cole Irene McBride.

Grand Final Winner - Jehannah May

Runner-up – Irene McBride

2. Sport

The Hornsby Girls High School Sports Programs provide an increasing variety of opportunities for our girls to participate and excel in enjoyable physical activity.

SWIMMING • One of the best features of our annual

swimming carnival was the excellent participation rate and enthusiasm of all the students. The Costume Parade and the Cheer Squad Competition provided wonderful additional dimensions to the day. It was very pleasing to see the enjoyment and fun which the girls had throughout the carnival. Scott was the Champion House, but Coghlan was only one point behind in 2

nd Place. Champion

of the School was Shori Hijikata – for the 5th

consecutive year!

HGHS AGE CHAMPIONS:

12 Years - Jessica Howard

13 Years - Carrina Lee

14 Years - Melva Yiu

15 Years - Elise Vanden Dool

16 Years - Georgia Hayes

17 Years - Shori Hijikata

• HGHS sent a team of 40 students to the Zone

Swimming Carnival, and we were placed 3rd

overall. It was a fantastic team effort – from the smallest school in the Zone. Carrina Lee (13 Years) and Shori Hijikata (17 Years) were Zone Age Champions, and special commendations should go to Georgia Hayes (16 Years) and Melva Yiu (14 Years) for their great efforts, but most impressive was the team spirit – HGHS had maximum representation in all events.

• 15 HGHS students represented the Zone at the Regional Swimming Carnival. Carrina Lee (13 Years) was Regional Age Champion.

• The following students were selected in the North Sydney Regional Team to compete at the NSW Combined High Schools Swimming Championships: Isabelle Yam (12) Carrina Lee (13), Melva Yiu (14), Elise Vanden Dool (15) Georgia Hayes(16) Shori Hijikata (17). Special mention must be made of Shori Hijikata who swam in 8 events in 3 days at the Championships, made the final in all her events, and won a Silver medal in the 100m Butterfly.

• Carrina Lee, Melva Yiu, Georgia Hayes and Shori Hijikata were selected to swim in the 17-19 Years Medley Relay at the All Schools Swimming Championships.

• Shori Hijikata competed in the Australian Schools Swimming Championships in Brisbane, winning a Gold medal as part of the NSW 4x50m Medley Relay Team, and a Bronze medal in the

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17-19 Years 100m Butterfly. Shori was also placed 5

th in the 50m Butterfly.

Swimming Champion, Shori Hijikata

CROSS COUNTRY • The school Cross Country Carnival was a

great success, with Scott being the Champion House. Only 9 points separated all four Houses in the final tally, which is a good indication of the wonderful participation rate at the carnival.

HGHS AGE CHAMPIONS

12 Years - Jessica Howard

13 years - Rachel Lee

14 Years - Bella Vick

15 Years - Clementine Kind

16 Years - Ariella Cabezas

17 years - Bethany Crane

• 65 students represented HGHS at the Zone

Carnival. We were placed 4th overall, and 11 of our girls were selected for the Regional Championships.

ATHLETICS • Our Annual Athletics Carnival at Sydney

Athletic Centre was again characterised by a large student participation rate. Stephens was the winning House, and Dana Halevi was Champion of the School.

• Our great team spirit was once more evident at the Zone Carnival, and HGHS came 4

th

overall. There were excellent individual performances by Madeleine Jones, Linda Nixon, Usha Ranjitkumar, Charity Ku, Clementine Kind, Cayci Levitt, Shayna Levitt, Ariella Cabezas, Elizabeth Miu, Bethany Crane, Stephanie Ascone, Dana Halevi and Natalie Yeung.

The School Athletics Carnival

• 16 HGHS students were selected for the Regional

Athletics Competition, and Madeleine Jones (13 Years) and Cayci Levitt (16 Years) qualified to compete in the CHS Athletic Championships.

EXTRA-CURRICULAR SPORT PROGRAM

The extra-curricular sports program continued to expand and to offer opportunities for HGHS students to experience different sports activities, to enjoy participating with their school friends and to strike a balance between study, exercise and relaxation. There were at least 6 sports offered each term, with Table Tennis and Oz Tag being introduced as new sports this year.

Over 300 students participated in this voluntary program throughout 2010. This would not have been possible without the commitment of the PE/Sport Staff and financial support from the P&C Association which helped to fund external coaches and referees. In particular, we thank Ms Erin Coggins from our PE Faculty for her dedicated coordination of this whole program, and also the parents who assisted as coaches and managers.

The sports in which students participated included Badminton, Basketball, Dance, Netball, Oz Tag, Running Club, Soccer, Sport Aerobics, Table Tennis, Taekwondo, Volleyball and Water Polo.

Volleyball Team 1 and the Water Polo Team were both Runners-Up in their respective competitions.

OTHER SPORTING ACHIEVEMENTS • Melinda Sun and Caroline Hu continued their

illustrious careers in Badminton. Both girls were selected to represent NSW in the Australasian U17 Badminton Championships in Perth.

• As well, Melinda Sun

- won the Ladies ‘A’ Singles and the ‘A’ Mixed Doubles in the NSW Easter Badminton Open;

- represented NSW in the Australian Juniors International in Launceston;

- represented Australia in the Pan Pacific International and New Zealand Junior

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International Badminton Tournaments in North Harbour, New Zealand.

Badminton Champion, Melinda Sun

• Margaret Cai of Year 8 was selected in the

Australian Junior Table Tennis Team for the 5th year in succession. She competed in the

World Junior Circuit Championships in New Zealand, winning a Gold medal as a member of the U15 Girls Team, and a Silver medal in the U15 Girls Doubles. In the Oceania Cadet Challenge, also in New Zealand, Margaret reached the Quarter-finals in the Girls Singles.

• Noni Cole (Year 7) was chosen in the U14 Cricket NSW Emerging Breakers Squad. Noni competed in the Women’s Country Cricket Championships in Newcastle, playing in four games and becoming her team’s equal highest wicket-taker for the competition.

• Linda Nixon (Year 8) was selected in the NSW U13 Girls Hockey Squad.

• Our thanks to the Burnett, Rowley, Halevi and Holden families for billeting country students who came to Sydney for the NSW Squash Championships.

3. Leadership, Community Service and Social Justice

Hornsby Girls High maintains a strong tradition of student leadership and community service, with increasing student participation in events organised through the school or through community organisations. • Miriam Barnes of Year 12 was one of five

state winners of the inaugural Marie Bashir Peace Awards, which were presented by the Governor, Her Excellency Professor Marie Bashir AC, at NSW Parliament House in September. Miriam won this award for her community service work, especially for her commitment to visit hospital patients who had come from remote villages in New Caledonia. Miriam befriended these patients and tried to

help them cope with the difficulties and loneliness of their situation.

Miriam Barnes with Her Excellency The Governor

• Cara Van Wyk of Year 10 was awarded a 2010 $2000 Education Scholarship as part of the NSW Premier’s Student Volunteering Program. Cara also received Diamond, Gold, Silver and Bronze Awards. Other Volunteering Award Winners were: Juri Heo:Diamond: Gold, Silver and Bronze Samantha Ho: Diamond, Gold, Silver, Bronze Maansi Jha: Silver, Bronze Irene McBride: Bronze.

• School Captain Saloni Sharma and Vice Captain Surbhi Misra attended a Leadership Program at NSW Parliament House and were presented to the Governor, Her Excellency Professor Marie Bashir.

• Saloni Sharma (Year 12), Evelyn Chan (Year 11), and Cindy Chee (Year 10), were awarded Australian Defence Forces Long Tan Awards for Leadership and Teamwork.

• 24 HGHS students attended various functions to celebrate International Women’s Day, including the official IWD Breakfast at the Darling Harbour Convention Centre, the annual breakfast function at Asquith GHS, the Pan-Pacific and South East Asian Women’s Association Luncheon at North Turramurra, and the RailCorp celebrations at Central.

• Peta Leigh of Year 11 was an outstanding ambassador for HGHS at the Zonta Young Women In Public Affairs Dinner.

• HGHS Student Representative Councillors Marra Aghajani, Georgia Hayes and Rhea Nair were elected to the District SRC.

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• At the NSW State SRC Conference, Hornsby was represented by Magna Chan.

• Margaret Gibbs of Year 11 was selected for the NSW Schools Constitutional Convention.

• Cherryl Bhatia, Cinddy Zhang, Sarah Spencer, and Jennie Zheng from Year 11 formed two Hornsby teams to participate in the Rotary Model United Nations Assembly (MUNA).

• At the Halogen Future Leaders Conference, Hornsby was represented by SRC members from Years 8 and 9, and four of the Prefects – 16 students in all.

Abi Rajkumar with Special Guest Anh Do at the Future Leaders Conference

• Hilary Chan and Silvia Wu of Year 10

attended the Youth Leaders Forum organised by the Community Relations Commission for a Multicultural NSW.

• Rhian Aghajani and Shori Hijikata of Year 11 participated in the Young Women’s Leadership Seminar held at Parliament House, Sydney.

• Evelyn Chan, Peta Leigh, Isabel Mitchell and Laura Mo from Year 11 represented HGHS at a Leadership Breakfast Seminar conducted at Abbotsleigh School.

• Cindy Huang and Sunny Li from Year 10 attended the Digital Education Revolution Conference - Leading The Revolution.

• Catherine Zhang of Year 12 was selected for the Lady Somers Leadership Camp.

• The Salvos Oasis Lunch at the Salvation Army Youth Care Centre was attended by Year 11 students Joanne Li and Andra Rucoi.

Fund-raising for Charity

In a remarkable and inspiring demonstration of sustained and selfless commitment to community service, HGHS students raised many thousands

of dollars for charitable organisations and humanitarian causes, including:

− Amnesty International − Anglicare Toys ‘N’ Tucker − Bandaged Bear Day (Westmead Children’s Hospital)

− Daffodil Day (Cancer Research) − Gently Used Shoes − Haiti Earthquake Appeal − Jeans 4 Genes (Medical Research) − Jump Rope For Heart (Heart Foundation) − Legacy Badge Day − Make Poverty History − MS Readathon (Multiple Sclerosis) − Pink Ribbon Day (Breast Cancer) − Red Cross Calling − Red Cross Blood Donor Appeal − Relay for Life (Cancer Council) − RSPCA − Salvation Army Red Shield Appeal − Stewart House − Valentine’s Day (Heart Foundation) − White Ribbon Campaign (Opposing Violence Against Women)

− World’s Greatest Shave (Leukaemia Foundation) – see below

− World Vision 40-Hour Famine − Y B Blue (Youth Depression) − 24-hour Mega-Swim (Multiple Sclerosis)

World’s Greatest Shave

With broad smiles and total commitment, two year 10 students – Kaitlyn Jones and Jennifer Worgan – sat in the gym at lunchtime on March 11 in front of several hundred students and some anxious parents. To gasps of admiration from the audience, first Jennifer and then Kaitlyn faced the scissors and razor as, clump by clump, each girls’ hair was cut off and head shaved as part of the World’s Greatest Shave Campaign to raise funds for Leukaemia Research. The girls raised over $6000 in sponsorship, and this dedication is typical of the generosity of spirit in our Hornsby school community.

Kaitlyn and Jennifer

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• A group of HGHS students, led by the Prefects, regularly visited the Netherby Aged Care Facility to sit, entertain and talk with the senior citizens.

• Prefects Joey Chan, Natalie Yeung and Amanda Yu represented Hornsby Girls at the ANZAC Commemoration Ceremony conducted by the Hornsby RSL Sub-Branch. Our girls participated in the parade and laid a wreath at the local war memorial.

• All our Year 10 Students participated in Australian Business Week in conjunction with Normanhurst Boys High School. Students are divided into ‘companies’ which undertake a simulated business experience throughout the week, developing skills in logical thinking, leadership, teamwork, creativity and marketing – as well as enjoying the social benefits of this interaction.

• Our Student Minerva Committee, in conjunction with the Year 9 Visual Design Class, worked over many months to produce the annual school magazine, Minerva. The magazine is produced by students, for students, and develops student skills in the entire process - from raw content to finished product.

4. Other Significant Initiatives and Achievements

RESPECT AND RESPONSIBILITY • Prefect Respect Initiative

The Prefect Respect Initiative, was an anti-bullying and ‘Welcome to High School’ program devised in conjunction with Normanhurst Boys High and Waitara Public School. Its aim was to give Year 6 students a snapshot of high school life, address the issue of bullying, and foster a positive and friendly environment. The high school Prefects ran several very successful workshops on these issues at the primary school.

• Student Anti-Racism Network

HGHS joined the Northern Sydney Regional Student Anti-Racism Network (SARN), which aimed to raise awareness of racism in the community and to promote projects in schools which combat discrimination, enhance harmony and engender cultural understanding.

Our students devised an HGHS survey, the results of which showed there were no racist incidents in our school, although some students reported experiencing discrimination in the wider community.

Michelle Castro and Abi Rajkumar represented HGHS at the Regional Anti-Racism Camp, giving an outstanding presentation on the activities in our school which combat discrimination and promote harmony, extend intercultural understanding and acknowledge our Aboriginal heritage.

• Live Below The Line Campaign

33 Year 10 students participated in the Live Below The Line Campaign. The campaign was designed to show students the realities of living below the poverty line, and they had to survive on only $2 per day to purchase ALL their food – which usually meant rice, rice and more rice!

• Social Justice Group

In 2010, the Social Justice Group met every Thursday at lunchtime to discuss issues related to disadvantaged groups, human rights, poverty, and related topics. Their activities included: - running a stall at the Multicultural Fair to raise

awareness of the various social justice issues

- organising a Shoe Drive of ‘Gently Used Shoes’ which were to be distributed to people in Nepal and Africa

- organising a fund-raiser for the RSPCA

- coordinating the World Vision 40-Hour Famine at HGHS, which involved more than 300 girls and raised over $13,700.

• Duke of Edinburgh Award

In our most successful year ever, 276 students enrolled in the Duke of Edinburgh Scheme. Any student aged over 14 can enrol, so this number represents over 60% of the eligible students at Hornsby Girls High. The Scheme aims to develop Leadership Skills, Team Responsibility, and Community Service. Many of the girls were from Year 9 and striving for their Bronze Award, although there was good representation from Years 10-12 as well.

The school organises the Adventurous Journeys, or field trips, with Somerset Outdoor Education Learning Centres during the school holidays, and 158 students took part in these camps. There were 12 students actively pursuing the highest level - the very difficult Gold Award. By the end of 2010, Alexa Thompson of Year 12 had achieved this milestone, and she will be presented with her Gold Award by the Governor of NSW in 2011. As well, 12 students attained the Silver Award and 30 students the Bronze Award

The participation rate in this program is a great tribute to the commitment of the students, and also to the dedication of Mrs Riches who coordinates the Scheme across the school.

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• High Resolves Program

This is a community-based and thought-provoking program which gives students the opportunity to investigate, discuss and suggest possible solutions to global issues about social justice. In 2010, 28 Year 10 Leaders worked with facilitators from the High Resolves Foundation on a community project in conjunction with Oxfam. The students were engaged with the United Nations Millennium Goals, especially those which related to poverty and extreme hunger. They set themselves the task of motivating at least 10,000 young people to respond to these goals and to voice their concerns to the Federal Government, with a view to increasing Australia’s and the world’s commitment to addressing these issues. With financial support from a Telstra Kids’ Fund grant, the girls undertook some major initiatives. They designed and organised the printing of a message postcard, which they took to assemblies in 14 high schools throughout Sydney, speaking on the issues of poverty and extreme hunger, and encouraging students to register their support. Over 8,000 of these cards were completed. The group also established a web blog which attracted wide attention and had links from other sites such as Oxfam, the United Nations and the Girl Guides. The girls also had promotional letters and articles published in the Education Journal and other local newspapers. They arranged for a large sign advertising the issues to be placed at Hornsby Railway Station for two months, and a ‘flashmob’ was performed on The Corso at Manly. Several DVDs were made to present the case for greater involvement and these, along with the postcards, were part of an audio-visual presentation by our students when they travelled to Melbourne to speak at a United Nations Conference and meet with international representatives. The whole High Resolves experience was amazing for the students involved. Even more pleasing is that it is estimated they reached over 80,000 young people through their diverse promotional activities!

ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION • Year 9 girls were involved in a research project

called What’s in Maroota which was conducted by the Gibberagong Environmental Education Centre and the National Parks Wildlife Service. The aim was to investigate and report upon the biodiversity of the Maroota Nature Reserve.

• Our Streamwatch group of girls from Years 7, 10 and 11 participated in a project to monitor the water quality at Hornsby Creek in Neal Park. They monitored the water every 2 weeks and entered the data on the Streamwatch Website.

This group also participated in the World Water Monitoring Day in October.

• Our student environmental group, F.R.E.D.

(Friends of Recycling, the Environment and Dirt)

- organised a team of 50 HGHS students to clean up rubbish from Neal Park as part of Clean Up Australia Day on March 14.

- organised a series of school activities during the week leading up to Earth Hour on March 27.

- arranged for recycling of paper, mobile phones and printer cartridges - ran an environmental photography competition

- participated in National Tree Day by planting several trees in the school grounds

- participated in environmental network meetings of local schools.

Clean Up Australia Day

MULTICULTURAL EDUCATION • Harmony Day

The SRC organised a great Harmony Day, involving a disco under the COLA at lunchtime, decorating the main corridor with a paper chain of student messages on the theme of ‘Put a little love in your world’, and forming a huge earth-shape with a heart at its centre

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to symbolise the need for love and harmony around the world.

This was another occasion for our school to show the harmony and cohesion in the HGHS student population – which includes 48 different cultural heritages. Harmony Day is dedicated to the eradication of racial, cultural and religious intolerance.

• Multicultural Fair

Despite the imperfect weather, our Annual Multicultural Fair on September 4 was another triumph of the Hornsby spirit. The wonderful community atmosphere of harmony, fun and cooperation was inspirational. The improvisation necessitated by the weather showed the innovative flexibility and resourcefulness of all involved.

This ongoing initiative by the P&C Association included colourful food stalls, cultural displays, children’s rides, cultural performances, and national costumes. This event continues to grow in strength and diversity. Our coordinator was Mrs Melissa Jones, who was supported by a tireless and hard-working organising committee. As in previous years, the 2010 Multicultural Fair was an outstanding showcase of our whole community in action, and profoundly demonstrates that our celebration of multicultural harmony is not just superficial rhetoric but a very real and inspiring feature of our school.

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• Student Exchange Experience

Our tradition of student exchanges and tours to promote intercultural understanding continued in 2010.

− In March, 20 German students from Graf Rasso Gymnasium, our sister-school near Munich in Germany, visited HGHS for a 10-day exchange program which included home-stay and a variety of other activities.

− In December, seven HGHS students went on a reciprocal visit to Germany, enjoying home-stay with the Graf Rasso Gymnasium students, an historical tour of Berlin, Dresden, Nurnburg and Prague, and an Austrian ski trip.

− Sewon Kim of Year 11 won a three month scholarship to Germany from the Society for Australian-German Student Exchange.

− 16 students from Shukutoku Yono High School near Tokyo visited HGHS for a two week home-stay and intercultural experience.

− HGHS played host for a one day visit by 45 students and 3 teachers from Nagoya Joshi Girls High School in Japan. For this short visit, the Japanese girls were teamed up with ‘host sisters’ from our school, and they participated in a variety of artistic and sporting activities, including bush dancing.

− We also hosted a one day study tour by 19 Mathematics Teachers from Japan in October. The visitors were interested in our approach to teaching Mathematics to students from different cultural backgrounds.

− Alice Lee of Year 12 was the Australian winner of the JSA Online Japanese Speech Contest. Alice clearly impressed the judges with her ability to communicate in Japanese, and also demonstrated great enthusiasm for sharing her knowledge of aspects of Australian culture with others. Her prize included a ten day trip to Japan.

Alice Lee

− Eugenia Chan and Valerie Wang from Year 10 won scholarships for two weeks of study and travel in Japan in December.

− Nina Karavdic spent several months on exchange in France, Laura Hannigan spent two months in France and Michaela Carnevale spent two months in Italy. All these girls were in Year 10

− Zoe Magnin, an exchange student from France, was hosted for three weeks by Sophie-Anais Barbeau-Scurla of Year 11.

ABORIGINAL EDUCATION • Mandatory elements of the Aboriginal Education

policy have been integrated into school teaching and learning programs.

• Our Year 12 Vocal Ensemble performed at the annual Children’s Voices for Reconciliation Concert. The concert was organised by Hornsby Area Residents for Reconciliation in conjunction with Hornsby Shire Council as part of National Reconciliation Week.

• Each morning, the Aboriginal Flag is raised at the front of the school as a daily affirmation of our school’s commitment to Reconciliation and harmony.

CAREERS EXPO

The 2010 Careers Expo in June was a stimulating and enjoyable experience. Over 400 students and parents participated in this wonderful event which aimed to provide up-to-date and realistic advice about career choices.

All the major universities from NSW and the ACT set up information stalls, and there were more than 100 individual presenters providing valuable insights into a broad range of career options. Most of the presenters were either members of our own parent community or were ex-students from the Hornsby Girls Alumni. Response from the current students was immediately positive and enthusiastic about the stimulating careers advice.

Our thanks to Expo Coordinators, Mrs Colleen Langron and Mrs Yvonne Jackson, and to the huge organising team of parents and teachers. The Expo was another striking example of the strong partnership between the school and the parent community for the benefit of the students.

Academic Achievements As well as outstanding results in the NSW Higher School Certificate, the NSW School Certificate and the national NAPLAN tests (see below, pages 21-28), the following academic achievements are noteworthy:

• Sensational Writing Success

Chloe Barber-Hancock and Rebecca Eames, both of Year 12, were joint NSW winners of the prestigious Somerset Novella Competition – and Chloe was also the overall national winner! Even more remarkable is that Chloe was also the NSW winner in 2009. This annual competition is a

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premier national literary event for school students, and the entrants have to write a novella of 15,000-20,000 words.

Rebecca and Chloe

• Rebecca Eames further demonstrated her

extraordinary creative writing ability by winning the inaugural Campion College Essay Writing Competition. Rebecca’s prize included a trophy and $3000.

• In the UNSW English Competition for Years 7-10, HGHS students received 35 High Distinctions, 143 Distinctions, and 225 Credits. This is an outstanding achievement and underlines the excellent literacy levels of our students who were examined on comprehension, spelling, grammar and punctuation skills. Irene McBride of Year 10 won a UNSW Medal for achieving the top score in her year level in NSW and the ACT.

Irene McBride

• The annual Creative Writers Camp – Write!

Camera! Action! was held with Normanhurst Boys HS at Collaroy and provided Year 8 students with an enriching experience and a wonderful opportunity to further develop their

skills in stimulating workshops with a variety of popular Australian authors.

• The annual Old Girls Union Writing Competition highlighted the creative writing skills of students in Years 7-10. 2010 winners were:

Year 7: Jasmin Borsovsky Sarah Thompson Year 8: Isobel Andrews Louise Chen Year 9: Chekia Law Melanie Mui Year 10: Michelle Lawson Belinda Yuan

• Premier’s Reading Challenge

Congratulations to all the HGHS students who participated in the Premier’s Reading Challenge. Our girls received 3 Recognition Awards, and the following students received Gold Awards:

Rea Agrawal Joanna Chan Jessica Fung Jenwai Huang Hannah Lee Sampavi Kanagalingam.

• In the Australian Mathematics Competition, HGHS students gained 17 High Distinctions and 196 Distinctions.

• In the Mathematics Challenge for Young Australians:

− seven students gained High Distinctions and nine gained Distinctions in the Challenge Stage

− Gizem Bilgin (Yr 7), Karen Cortez (Yr 7) and Jessica Wang (Yr 8) gained Distinctions and 13 students gained Credits in the Enrichment Stage.

• Year 7 participated in the Australasian Problem Solving Mathematical Olympiads. 7K was placed in the top 10% of teams, while 35 students had scores which were in the top 10% overall.

• 43 students from Years 9-12 entered the Australian Informatics Competition. Josephine Cheung (Year 10) achieved a High Distinction, and there were 7 Distinctions and 22 Credits.

• Three girls entered the Australian Informatics Olympiad. Karla Burnett (Year 12) gained a Gold Award, while Bethany Crane (Year 12) and Vanessa Ung (Year 10) achieved Silver Awards.

• Vanessa Ung was subsequently invited to attend the Australian Informatics Olympiad School of Excellence at ANU in Canberra.

• Karla Burnett received a Distinction in the Australian Computer Programming Competition, but was unable to travel to India to represent Australia because the international phase of the competition coincided with her HSC Examinations.

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• Stellar Scholarships

Melinda Blake and Florence Verity, both of Year 11, were awarded inaugural Stellar Astronomy Scholarships by the Public Education Foundation. The girls were among 12 recipients from across NSW who were presented with their awards by the Governor-General, Her Excellency Ms Quentin Brice AC, at a ceremony in the Powerhouse Museum in March. Professor Fred Watson, the Astronomer-in-Charge of the Anglo-Australian Observatory at Coonabarabran and Chair of the Selection Panel, commended the girls on their outstanding abilities. The scholarships are targeted at girls from public schools in NSW who were high achievers in Science and who showed a particular interest in Physics and Astronomy. Each winner received a two year $4000 Scholarship, a 200mm Dobsonian Telescope, a Lenovo Think Pad, access to the Sydney Observatory, and lots of books.

Florence, Professor Fred Watson and Melinda

• Robotics

A group of nine HGHS students joined students from other schools to enter the international FIRST Robotics Competition. It was the first time an Australian team had entered the competition, and their challenge was to design, build and program a robot which was able to play a form of soccer against other robots. The students worked with mentors from Macquarie University for 45 days, and the end product was WOMBOT – a most impressive robot which was capable of independent movement and remote guidance. Three HGHS girls – Cherryl Bhatia, Wendy Cheng and Felicity Jung - travelled to the USA in the “Thunder down Under” Team for the international section of the competition against 3000 teams from all over the world. The Australian team won the Rookies All Star Award as the best new team in the competition, and the Industrial Safety Award.

Robotics students with WOMBOT

• Robotics Lego League Challenge

A team of eight HGHS girls competed in the Robotics First Lego League Body Forward Challenge. In addition to designing and presenting a research project, they built and programmed a Lego robot to perform a series of specified movements. Over 50 teams entered the competition, and our team came 3

rd in the

research presentation and 11th in the robot

challenge.

• Bethany Horsburgh, Felicity Lee and Jessica Yap were selected to attend the Sydney University Science three day Gifted and Talented Discovery Program in April.

• Year 12 students Louise Young and Alexa

Thompson were selected for the National Youth Science Forum at ANU in Canberra.

• 493 Hornsby students entered the ICAS Science Competition, gaining 9 High Distinctions, 176 Distinctions and 200 Credits.

• In the RACI National Chemistry Quiz, HGHS students received 8 High Distinctions, 4 Distinctions and 9 Credits.

• In Term 1, all Year 10 Science students performed a research investigation on a topic of their own choosing. After judging at school, the best projects were submitted to the Science Teachers Association of NSW Young Scientist Competition. Shilpa Kala was awarded 3

rd place

in the Chemistry section, and other HGHS girls were awarded three Certificates of Excellence, two Certificates of High Achievement and one Certificate of Commendation.

• 32 students from Year 10 participated in the Regional Science and Engineering Challenge at

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Macquarie University. Our girls were the top team over the three days of the competition, which included 24 schools from the Northern Sydney Region. In the state finals, the girls competed against seven other teams from across NSW, finishing 4

th overall.

• 18 Hornsby Girls entered the NSW Schools Titration Competition, which involves teams of three students undertaking a highly demanding analytical task where students are required to determine the concentration of an unknown acid – to an accuracy of 1 in 10,000. The goal is to achieve as LOW a score as possible For the first time, 2 teams from HGHS scored below 100, earning Certificates of Excellence. As well, Natalie Yeung scored a perfect zero, and Amanda de Silva an outstanding 9 points as their individual scores.

• Annabel Ellis of Year 9 was selected as a member of the Taronga Zoo Science Week Mentoring Program. Annabel worked at Taronga Zoo in Sydney and at the Western Plains Zoo in Dubbo, mentoring primary school students about animal behaviour and endangered species.

• The Alliance Francaise Organisation invited

Georgia Hayes, Irene McBride, Michelle Lawson and Elise Vanden Dool of Year 10 to participate in the Concours La Perouse French Language Competition. Only 19 students from across NSW were invited.

• Year 9 French students reached the finals of the Alliance Francaise Concours Chanson Song Competition and gained 3

rd prize.

• In the Diplome d’etudes en Langue Francaise (DELF) Program run by the French Ministry of Education, Year 11 students Sophie-Anais Barbeau-Scurla, Alice Guirguis, Amadea Lazaro and Remy Shergill received High Distinctions. These qualifications are recognised around the world.

• Joanne Chan, Nicole Guan and Ruby Wang participated in the Aspiring Business Leaders Program conducted by the Faculty of Economics and Business at the University of Sydney. Nicole was part of the winning team.

• Shori Hijikata of Year 11 was awarded a

scholarship for a three week program at Yale University in July. The program is an academic enrichment course involving students from 40 different countries, and often leads to entrance into the top American Universities. Shori studied business management and graphic design in the Yale program, and she attributed her interest in these fields to her experiences in Australian Business Week when she was in Year 10.

• ‘Know The Deal’ Competition

Mr Hindmarsh’s Year 10 Commerce class won four awards in the statewide Know The Deal film competition. Teams of students had to make short films about aspects of industrial relations, employment and workplace safety. Out of 170 films from 65 schools, Shilpa Kala and Mathilde Ho won 1

st Place,

two HGHS teams came equal 3rd, and another team

was Highly Commended.

Know The Deal Winners

• Chess Teams

The 15 members of the HGHS Chess Teams had a most enjoyable and successful year.

The Metropolitan Secondary Schools Chess Competition ran on Friday afternoons after school. Of our three teams, the Senior B team did best and reached the semi-finals.

In the Open Division of the NSW Interschool Girls’ Teams Chess Tournament, our Senior Teams came 1st, 2

nd and 4

th, and our Junior Team came 3

rd.

As a result of these successes, the Hornsby Senior Team of Neta Arad, Pearl Elgindy, Elizabeth Joannou, Sarah Kung and Nicola Smith was selected to represent NSW in the Australian Schools Team Championships in Perth.

In an outstanding effort, the girls came 4th – for the

second successive year.

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• Tournament of Minds

HGHS entered three teams in the Tournament of Minds Competition, a national program designed to give students from Years 7-10 the opportunity to participate in creative problem-solving activities. The teams, members of which must be a mixture from the various years, undertook two types of open-ended problems – a long-term challenge which they had six weeks to prepare, and an unseen spontaneous challenge on the day of the competition.

All teams performed very well, and were enthusiastic and creative in their challenges, but they did not progress to the State Finals.

HIGHER SCHOOL CERTIFICATE

100% of HGHS Year 12 students attained the HSC in 2010. There were 22 students in Years 11 and 12 enrolled in TVET courses. Of these, the large majority were enrolled in Accounting.

100% of our 2010 Year 12 cohort gained placement in a university course.

DISTINGUISHED HSC ACHIEVERS • Miriam Barnes 1

st in State

Spanish Beginners • Surbhi Misra 1

st in State

Accounting • Piyumi Esselle 2

nd in State

Spanish Beginners • Meera Manokarathas 2

nd in State

Accounting • Nuria Diez Del Corral Dominguez

2nd in State Spanish Continuers

• Nuria Diez Del Corral Dominguez 3rd in State Spanish Extension

• Teresa Leung 5th in State

Accounting • Danielle Cook 5

th in State

Spanish Beginners • Rachell Li 7

th in State

Society & Culture • Catherine Wong 7

th in State

Visual Arts • Sunyoung Hwang 9

th in State

Visual Arts • Jing Ye 10

th in State

Society & Culture • Alexa Thompson 12

th in State

Ancient History • Rosemary Allen 13

th in State

General Maths

PREMIER’S AWARDS – ALL-ROUNDERS Students who gained over 90% in their best 10 HSC units: Rosemary Allen Maansi Arora Miriam Barnes Rianna Bunn Amanda de Silva Julie Deng Supriya Dixit Ann Emmanuel Maggie He Priscilla Huang Sunyoung Hwang Natalie Kent Jessica Lee Kenny Mak Meera Manokarathas Lynn Masuda Angela McCormack Surbhi Misra Emily Neo Angela Park Anshul Potnis Geneva Sekula Saloni Sharma Alexa Thompson Anna Wang Rebecca Wickham Jing Ye

TOP ATARs The school does not receive information about student ATARs unless the individual students inform us. Our top ATAR was 99.90, achieved by Surbhi Misra. The following students have informed us that they gained an ATAR of 98+ : Maansi Arora Miriam Barnes Rianna Bunn Karla Burnett Hilary Chan Ann Emmanuel Piyumi Esselle Pradha Gurumahan Maggie He Wing Ho Priscilla Huang Sunyoung Hwang Ema Karavdic Natalie Kent Rachell Li Kenny Mak Meera Manokarathas Lynn Masuda Angela McCormack Surbhi Misra Azelia Pan Angela Park Neha Pillalamarri Anshul Potnis Afrida Salma Geneva Sekula Saloni Sharma Alexa Thompson Anna Wang Rebecca Wickham Serena Wong Jing Ye • The following students gained full marks in the

specified subject: Rebecca Eames and Ann Emmanuel achieved 50/50 in English Extension 2 Surbhi Misra and Meera Manokarathas achieved 100/100 in Accounting.

• The following students had their HSC ‘Body of

Work’ selected for ArtExpress, the statewide exhibition of HSC Art Works: Sunyoung Hwang Lynn Masuda Catherine Wong Catherine Zhang.

The works by Erinn Goh, Anna Wang and Sylvia Wei were shortlisted for the same exhibition.

• Yolanda Chiong had her Major Textile Project

selected for TexStyle, the statewide exhibition of HSC textile works.

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• The HSC Music Performances by Joey Chan and Lynn Masuda were shortlisted for Encore, the Opera House Concert which features the best HSC Music works.

• Overall, Hornsby Girls High School increased its % of top-band results to 56% in 2010 (53% in 2009).

• HGHS girls were mentioned 443 times in the Merit Lists of students who attained over 90% in a subject.

Congratulations to all our students, and to the staff and parents who have worked magnificently in guiding and supporting them in their time at Hornsby Girls’ High School.

HSC Course Summary Graphs

The following summary tables provided by the Department of Education and Training show comparisons between:

− the average score in each of the school’s 2010 HSC subjects

− the school average over time (2006-2010) − the average in the Statistically Similar Group (SSG). The SSG for HGHS is our group of “similar” schools on the MySchool Website

− the state average.

N.B. The graph provides data only for courses with ten or more candidates within the school. The SSG data is not displayed for courses where there are fewer than 250 students enrolled statewide or 100 students in the relevant SSG.

Course

HGHS2010

HGHS2006 – 2010

SSG 2010

State 2010

Ancient History 92.6 90.4 83.0 70.7 Biology 87.3 87.3 83.0 72.2 Chemistry 84.2 84.0 84.0 73.8

Economics 87.2 87.4 82.0 72.6 English (Adv) 89.0 87.8 87.0 79.9 English Ext 1 89.2 86.1 86.0 80.1 English Ext 2 89.7 91.6 84.0 79.0 Food Technology 92.2 90.7 0.0 68.8 French Continuers 91.4 92.7 85.0 79.7 General Maths 94.2 90.6 77.0 69.0 History Ext 83.6 85.6 85.0 73.9 Japanese Cont. 90.1 91.2 85.0 78.3 Japanese Ext 86.4 84.2 0.0 79.9 Legal Studies 88.8 88.2 86.0 70.1 Mathematics 89.6 87.0 85.0 75.0 Mathematics Ext 1 88.8 87.2 88.0 81.3 Mathematics Ext 2 87.5 86.8 89.0 84.2

Modern History 89.3 88.9 83.0 73.7 P.D.H.P.E. 90.3 90.9 81.0 73.4 Physics 85.0 84.8 83.0 74.4 Society & Culture 93.5 92.6 84.0 73.2 Visual Arts 92.7 92.1 85.0 77.4

As is to be expected for a selective school, the HGHS average is far superior to the state average. The graphs also show that the school’s 2010 HSC performance is in most cases either consistent or better than in previous years, and is comparable or above the performance of its Statistically Similar Group in all subjects.

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

100

Ancient History

Biology

Chemistry

Economics

English (Advanced)

English Extension 1

School 2010 School 2006 - 2010

SSG 2010 State 2010

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

100

Mathematics Extension 2

Modern History

History Extension

Personal Development, H

ealth and

Physical Education

Physics

Society and Culture


SSG 2010 State 2010

23

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

100

English Extension 2

Food Technology

Legal Studies

General Mathematics

Mathematics

Mathematics Extension 1


SSG 2010 State 2010

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

100

Visual Arts

French Continuers

Japanese Continuers

Japanese Extension


SSG 2010 State 2010

Higher School Certificate relative performance comparison to School Certificate (value-adding)

The notion of the relative performance of students from the School Certificate in Year 10 through to the Higher School Certificate in Year 12 is the ‘value-added’ concept. The relative growth of the 2010 Year 12 cohort is outlined in the table below – and is again higher than the Statistically Similar Group. It must be remembered, however, that the gifted and talented students at a selective school such as HGHS are at a very high starting point when considering comparative growth over time.

N.B. HGHS has no students in the LOW or MIDDLE Performance Bands. By definition, the average ‘value added’ across the state is zero.

Average HSC Relative Performance

from Year 10 (value-added)

0.0

1.0

2.0

3.0

4.0

5.0

6.0

7.0

8.0

9.0

Low Middle High

School, 2010

School Average 2006 - 2010

SSG average 2010

2010 School Certificate In a selective school such as ours, where there is almost 100% retention rate to Year 12, the School Certificate as an ‘exit credential’ for school leavers has little relevance. Indeed there is considerable debate in educational and political circles about the perceived value of the School Certificate external examinations in general, especially with the imminent implementation of the Australian National Curriculum.

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Nevertheless, the HGHS School Certificate results continue to be excellent.

Results for the formal external School Certificate examinations are reported in six bands – Band 6 representing the highest achievement.

The DET has supplied the following tables of external test results in the core subjects of the 2010 School Certificate. The graphs show:

− the number and percentage of HGHS students in each performance band in 2010

− the school average percentage over 2006-2010 − the Statistically Similar Group (SSG) percentage in 2010. Our SSG is the group of “similar” schools on the MySchool Website

− the state percentage in 2010.

School Certificate External Tests

English Literacy

Performance band 1 2 3 4 5 6

HGHS in bands 2010

0 0 0 3 45 71

HGHS % in band 2010

0.0 0.0 0.0 2.5 37.8 59.7

HGHS Average % in band 2006 – 2010

0.0 0.0 0.0 1.2 42.5 56.4

SSG % in band 2010

0.2 0.5 4.5 25.2 50.7 18.9

State % in band 2010

0.4 3.9 19.4 46.4 25.9 4.1

School SSG State

Average mark 2010 90.3 83.0 75.1

Mathematics


HGHS in bands 2010

0 0 0 0 29 90

HGHS % in band 2010

0.0 0.0 0.0 0 24.4 75.6


0.0 0.0 0.0 2.0 31.0 67.0

SSG % in band 2010

0.1 3.1 11.4 17.3 29.9 38.2


0.5 19.9 33.6 22.8 15.1 8.1

School SSG State Average mark

2010 92.3 83.6 70.2

Science


HGHS in bands 2010

0 0 0 0 43 76

HGHS % in band 2010

0.0 0.0 0.0 0 36.1 63.9


0.0 0.0 0.0 3.2 53.2 43.6

SSG % in band 2010

0.1 1.5 6.3 18.0 42.8 31.3


0.5 8.4 24.2 32.7 26.7 7.5

School SSG State Average mark

2010 91.0 84.3 74.6

School SSG State

Average mark 2010 86.8 80.1

69.9

Australian History, Civics & Citizenship


HGHS in bands 2010

0 0 0 12 41 66

HGHS % in band 2010

0.0 0.0 0.0 10.1 34.5 55.5

HGHS Average % in band 2006 –2010

0.0 0.0 0.2 10.0 48.8 41.0

SSG % in band 2010

0.6 4.2 13.0 34.1 30.2 17.9


3.3 21.2 31.2 29.4 10.5 4.3

School SSG State

Average mark 2010 88.7 78.7

67.9

Australian Geography, Civics & Citizenship


HGHS in bands 2010

0 0 0 10 76 33

HGHS % in band 2010

0.0 0.0 0.0 8.4 63.9 27.7

HGHS Average % in band 2006 –2010

0.0 0.0 0.0 4.8 43.7 51.5

SSG % in band 2010

0.4 3.2 11.9 26.7 41.8 15.9


2.5 16.4 30.5 30.3 16.6 3.8

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Percentage of students in

performance band: Computer Skills

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

100

CND C HC

Performance band

Percentage of students

Percentage in Band 2010


SSG average 2010

State average 2010

N.B. C = Competent; HC = Highly Competent

School Certificate relative performance comparison to Year 5 (value-adding)

The notion of the relative performance of students from the BST in Year 5 through to the School Certificate in Year 10 is the ‘value-added’ concept. The relative growth of the 2010 Year 10 cohort is outlined in the table below. It must be kept in mind, however, that the gifted and talented students at a selective school such as HGHS are at a very high starting point when considering comparative growth over time.

School Certificate: Relative growth from

Year 5 (value-added)

0.0

1.0

2.0

3.0

4.0

5.0

6.0

7.0

English

Mathematics

Science

AHC&C

AGC&C

Computer skills

Relative growth

School 2010


SSG Average 2010

2010 NAPLAN In the National Assessment Program, the results for Year 7 literacy and numeracy assessments are reported on a scale from Band 4 (lowest) to Band 9 (highest). For Year 9, the results for literacy and numeracy assessments are reported on a scale from Band 5 (lowest) to Band 10 (highest).

The following graphs show comparisons of:

− the percentage of Hornsby Girls High students in each performance band in 2010

− the average percentage of Hornsby Girls High students in each performance band from 2008-2010 (when data is available).

− the average percentage of Statistically Similar Group (SSG) students in each performance band in 2010

− the average percentage of students across the state in each performance band in 2010.

− The average marks for HGHS students, SSG students and State students in 2008-2010.

N.B. The SSG for Hornsby Girls High in 2010 is our group of “similar” schools on the MySchool Website. It should also be noted that the “similar school groups” for HGHS have been very different each year since 2008.

It must be remembered, too, that the Year 7 students have only been at high school for just over 3 months when they sit the NAPLAN test.

Literacy – NAPLAN Year 7

Percentage of students in bands:

Year 7 reading

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

4 5 6 7 8 9

Band


Percentage in band 2010

School average 2008 - 2010

SSG average 2010

State average 2010

Year 7 Reading HGHS SSG State Av. Mark 2010 677.0 626.0 537.7 Av. Mark 2009 665.5 580.5 535.0 Av. Mark 2008 668.1 648.7 543.2

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Year 7 writing

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

4 5 6 7 8 9

Band




SSG average 2010

State average 2010

Year 7 Writing HGHS SSG State Av. Mark 2010 637.3 603.8 522.4 Av. Mark 2009 654.3 562.4 520.9 Av. Mark 2008 647.0 636.1 535.5


Year 7 spelling

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

4 5 6 7 8 9Band




SSG average 2010

State average 2010

Year 7 Spelling HGHS SSG State Av. Mark 2010 665.5 631.4 547.0 Av. Mark 2009 692.9 586.1 543.6 Av. Mark 2008 679.3 652.4 549.5


Year 7 grammar and punctuation

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

4 5 6 7 8 9

Band




SSG average 2010

State average 2010

Year 7 G & P HGHS SSG State Av. Mark 2010 691.1 636.7 529.2 Av. Mark 2009 686.3 581.9 530.4 Av. Mark 2008 680.3 651.9 537.3

Numeracy – NAPLAN Year 7


Year 7 numeracy

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

4 5 6 7 8 9

Band




SSG average 2010

State average 2010

Yr 7 Numeracy HGHS SSG State Av. Mark 2010 730.2 670.5 542.2 Av. Mark 2009 722.2 601.6 541.2 Av. Mark 2008 737.8 715.9 552.9

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Literacy – NAPLAN Year 9


Year 9 reading

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

5 6 7 8 9 10

Band




SSG average 2010

State average 2010

Year 9 Reading HGHS SSG State Av. Mark 2010 682.9 645.4 567.7 Av. Mark 2009 694.1 612.3 575.4 Av. Mark 2008 680.8 679.5 584.0


Year 9 writing

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

5 6 7 8 9 10

Band




SSG average 2010

State average 2010

Year 9 Writing HGHS LSG State Av. Mark 2010 698.2 640.1 551.9 Av. Mark 2009 695.2 598.0 553.7 Av. Mark 2008 718.8 679.5 584.0


Year 9 spelling

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

100

5 6 7 8 9 10Band




SSG average 2010

State average 2010

Year 9 Spelling HGHS SSG State Av. Mark 2010 733.1 668.8 579.1 Av. Mark 2009 728.4 615.6 577.4 Av. Mark 2008 701.0 682.6 586.4


Year 9 grammar and punctuation

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

5 6 7 8 9 10

Band




SSG average 2010

State average 2010

Year 9 G & P HGHS SSG State Av. Mark 2010 719.7 663.0 572.0 Av. Mark 2009 702.0 607.0 565.9 Av. Mark 2008 726.6 702.6 578.8

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Numeracy – NAPLAN Year 9


Year 9 numeracy

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

100

5 6 7 8 9 10

Band




SSG average 2010

State average 2010

Yr 9 Numeracy HGHS SSG State Av. Mark 2010 772.3 707.6 583.7 Av. Mark 2009 757.8 645.2 589.3 Av. Mark 2008 741.9 737.0 593.7

Minimum standards

The Commonwealth Government sets minimum standards for reading, writing, spelling, grammar and punctuation and numeracy for Years 3, 5, 7 and 9.

The performance of the students in our school in the National Assessment Program – Literacy and Numeracy is compared to these minimum standards.

In 2010, 100% of Year 7 students in our school achieved at or above the minimum standard, and 100% of our Year 9 students achieved at or above the minimum standard.

Progress on 2010 Targets

School Development 2009 – 2011

The school’s Strategic Plan 2009-2011 was developed through wide-ranging discussions with staff and parents.

The main targets of our three year plan evolved from long-term considerations. As a selective school, our core purpose is to enable each student to reach her individual potential. It was agreed by staff and parents that, given the nature

of our student enrolment, the minimum standard of student achievement in the major external examinations should be within the top 2 result Bands in each subject. While the school celebrates that the significant majority of students have reached this minimum standard in recent years, a number of individual students have not – for a variety of reasons. The school is justifiably proud of its pastoral care and supportive intervention in student welfare matters, and there have been many cases in which individual students with personal difficulties have been successfully nurtured through their secondary schooling at HGHS. Our three year plan seeks to apply the same focus to the academic progress of all students.

The long-term targets for 2009-2011 are:

TARGET 1: HGHS aims to have all students achieve within the top 2 bands in all subjects at the School Certificate and Higher School Certificate Examinations.

At the 2010 HSC, our students sat for a total of 789 individual examinations. Overall, there were 36 results (4.5%) outside the top 2 Bands, while 24 out of 34 separate courses had no results outside Bands 5 and 6 at all. This showed considerable improvement from 2009 where 56 results (7.3%) were outside Bands 5 and 6, and 19 out of 33 separate courses had no results outside the top 2 Bands.

On the other hand, in the 2010 School Certificate, HGHS students sat for a total of 595 individual examinations. There were no results outside Bands 5 and 6 in Mathematics and Science, and only 3 in English. Overall there were 27 results (4.5%) outside the top 2 Bands.

Although the number of School Certificate results outside Bands 5 and 6 showed a slight increase in 2010, there is little cause for concern. The HSC is the real exit credential for students at Hornsby Girls High, and our success in relation to this target at the HSC level is pleasing. Nevertheless, there is still much work to be done to achieve our ultimate aim.

TARGET 2: In striving to achieve Target 1, we must maintain the school’s wholistic philosophy and commitment to a well-rounded education.

Our ongoing progress in achieving this target is best demonstrated by perusal of the School Achievements 2010 Section of this report (see above pages 6-21) and of the comments in the Community Satisfaction Section (see below, page 32).

TARGETS for 2010

Within the framework of the HGHS School Plan 2009-2011, some specific targets were identified for 2010.

Target 1: Ensure all members of staff have appropriate expertise for the integration of up-to-date Information and Communication Technology

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into classroom practice to provide optimum teaching and learning outcomes.

It must be acknowledged that a major impetus for the outstanding progress in achieving this target was the provision of laptops for students under the auspices of the Federal Government’s Digital Education Revolution (DER). Student enthusiasm for using the laptops prompted many staff to further develop their ICT skills. The school’s structured response to the DER stimulus proved to be highly successful. Release time was provided for two selected staff trainers to run in-school, timetabled and regular professional learning workshops for faculty and cross-faculty groups. In addition, Regional and other support personnel were engaged to provide appropriate expertise and training for school staff. The number of teachers using the latest technology as an integrated teaching and learning tool, and the explicit and systematic teaching of relevant ICT skills in classroom practice, showed a dramatic increase. Many teachers reported greater confidence in using technology in their lessons, not only in classes which had been issued with the DER laptops (Years 9 & 10), but across the whole school.

These in-school Professional Learning strategies will be further developed in 2011.

Target 2: Review and revise the School Environmental Management Plan

A draft action plan was drawn up, based upon existing HGHS environmental education activities and upon possible future initiatives.

An evaluation of the school’s environmental action in 2010 highlighted the following:

• extensive activity by the student environmental group Friends of Recycling, the Environment and Dirt (FRED), by the Streamwatch group, and by the bio-diversity survey team – see ‘Environmental Education’ section above, page 15.

• full operation of the solar panels on the library roof

• expansion of the garden beds of native flora in the school grounds, especially in the Blue Gum forest area

• dual flush cisterns in the girls’ toilets

• the use of rainwater tanks from the COLA to service the girls’ toilets

• a rainwater tank from the Year 12 Cottage as a source of water for the gardens

• skylights in the COLA and Canteen

• timers on the lights in the Science laboratories.

There was considerable and lengthy discussion of proposals to extend air-conditioning to A Block (the heritage building) and F block (the History and Science building on the western side of the school). Staff, parents and students expressed a variety of views, especially in relation to the overall cost, the integrity of the heritage building, the need for an upgrade of the electrical infrastructure, environmental concerns, and the rising cost of electricity in general.

Ultimately, the principles of a long-term plan to make the school environmentally sustainable were established:

• conduct a comprehensive energy audit across the school

• proceed with the proposed air-conditioning

• explore additional measures which will reduce heating and cooling costs and promote more efficient energy use

• commit to the progressive installation of solar panels and additional energy-efficient measures to minimise the use of the air-conditioning and offset the power costs and environmental concerns

• enhance the school’s commitment to efficient waste management and recycling

• motivate student commitment to environmental sustainability

• ask parents to continue their tax-deductible donations to the School Building Fund with the clear purpose of financing these measures.

The plan will be further developed and implemented in 2011.

KEY EVALUATIONS It is a requirement for all NSW public schools to conduct at least two annual evaluations – one related to curriculum and one related to educational and management practice.

1. Curriculum

Phase 3 of the re-structured Years 9-10 Curriculum: the Self-directed Accelerated Independent Learning (S.A.I.L.) Project

Background

Following discussions over a number of years concerning issues of the overcrowded junior curriculum, the expectations and pressures on students in Years 9-10, and the need for more explicit and structured preparation of junior students for the demands and rigours of the senior school, a new

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curriculum structure for Stage 5 (Years 9-10) was implemented in progressive stages over 2008-2010:

− Students in Year 9 study two 200 hour electives and one 100 hour elective.

− In Year 10, students continue to study their 200-hour courses, but cease the 100 hour elective.

− The bulk of the time previously used for the 100-hour elective is used for a self-directed, independent learning project of the student’s own choice, thus gaining practical experience of the self-reliant learning skills they would need for the HSC, for university studies, and for lifelong learning.

The project was given the name Self-directed, Accelerated, Independent Learning (S.A.I.L.). In October–November 2010, an evaluation of the third phase of S.A.I.L. was done through written surveys of students and staff, and small group discussions with students. As well, the first S.A.I.L. Expo was conducted – a major exhibition of the projects students completed during the program

Findings and conclusions

STRENGTHS: 84% of the students felt that the program was worthwhile. This was also supported by the excellent quality of the projects exhibited at the S.A.I.L. Expo. These ranged from spectacular designer clothes, practical electronic items, screenplays, children’s books, beautiful art works, social justice issues, original music compositions, films and other IT-based audio-visual presentations.

The vast majority of the students were pleased with the outcomes of their S.A.I.L. projects, only 8 believing that they “could have done better”. The cross-faculty S.A.I.L. Staff Task Force was very enthusiastic about the program overall, while the teachers and parents who visited the Expo were most impressed with the quality of the student work.

FOR DEVELOPMENT: Over 60% of students believed that they had been adequately prepared at the start of the year to begin their S.A.I.L. project – this percentage should be improved. Over 40 students

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indicated that they were not sure that their parents understood the purposes and value of the program – a communication issue. The High Resolves Group of 28 students worked with mentors from the High Resolves Organisation, but there were only 12 other students who worked with external mentors, who were mainly parents or friends of parents. There were some questions raised about more suitable ways to group the students for the practical activities.

Two particular matters were discussed at length.

1. Some staff were still concerned at the potential “loss” of subjects from the curriculum when the 100 hour courses ceased at the end of Year 9. This concern was addressed by re-affirming the principle that student demand determined the elective curriculum, that the nature of student subject choices changed from year to year no matter what curriculum structure was in place, and that many schools only had two electives in Stage 5 anyway.

2. Despite the overwhelming enthusiasm for the program from the students, 20% of them still wanted to do a third elective rather than S.A.I.L. The response to this concern emerged from the school’s analysis of the NAPLAN results and other data from internal diagnostic strategies. This analysis showed that, if there was an ‘area for development’ revealed by this evaluative data, it was in the aspect of creative and original thinking (see below – Specific Targets for 2011: Target 2 page 33). Since personal initiative and independent thinking are significant skills encouraged by the self-directed strategies in S.A.I.L., the need for such an important program to continue for the benefit of all students was reinforced.

Future directions

• Revise the S.A.I.L. student handbook to provide more structure in the preparation phase, a more comprehensive timeframe, and more explicit statements of the program requirements.

• In term 1 of Year 10, all students will participate in structured groupwork to provide a thorough and solid basis in the strategies needed for an effective S.A.I.L. project.

• Prepare an updated audio-visual presentation to better explain the program to parent meetings.

• Explore more avenues for identifying and involving external mentors.

• In 2011, the whole cohort will have S.A.I.L. practical periods timetabled simultaneously, thus allowing for appropriate changes to the groups as the projects develop throughout the year.

2. Educational and Management Practice

Student participation in enrichment activities, with emphasis on leadership opportunities.

Background

Hornsby Girls High School offers over 180 co-curricular and extra-curricular activities to its students. Student achievements in many of these are detailed on pages 6-21 of this Annual School Report. A full list of the Enrichment Activities is available on the school website.

Such activities are essential elements in the school’s holistic philosophy – there is much more to real education than academic achievement, and HGHS aims to provide a well-rounded and balanced educational experience for all its students while fully nurturing their diverse talents.

The Minerva Award Scheme not only encourages students to participate in these enrichment endeavours but also provides a record of the various Bronze, Silver and Gold Awards which recognise students for their involvement, efforts and achievements. Student participation is also recorded on the Half-Yearly and Yearly Reports which are sent home to parents.

The data from these sources, and from student and parent surveys, was used to gauge the level of student involvement in the co-curricular and extra-curricular pursuits across the school. Particular attention was focussed on student leadership opportunities. The overall aim was to evaluate whether HGHS is actually fulfilling its stated aim of providing a holistic education for its students.

Findings and conclusions

Student participation in at least one enrichment activity was 82%. The lowest rate of involvement was in Year 7, which is understandable. The high participation rate across the school was reflected not only in the fact that new activities such as aerobics, chess and the High Resolves Program were quite popular, but also that well-established projects such as the instrumental ensembles, dance, charity fund-raising and the Duke of Edinburgh Scheme were attracting record numbers. Over 68% of students were involved in more than one co-curricular activity. 88% of respondents to the surveys indicated that the enrichment program was one of the major strengths of the school. Typical comments were:

- The extra curricular activities are fantastic and relaxing, also a great way to meet people across different grades.

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- The extra-curricular activities promote both independent and team learning.

In recent years, the school has adopted a deliberate policy of trying to provide more scope for student leadership, and to share the leadership opportunities among more students. The success of this approach is evidenced by the fact that 86% of student survey respondents and 77% of parent survey respondents believed that the school provided good leadership opportunities. However, there were a number of comments which suggested that the leadership roles should be “spread around to different people” and “share leadership opportunities around more”. In evaluating these latter comments, it was felt that they might have been the result of some students’ perception rather that the reality of the situation. Nevertheless, the issue did indicate some directions for possible future action.

Future directions

• Explore the options for expanding the number of student leadership positions in appropriate activities.

• Publicise to a greater extent the diverse leadership roles that are available.

• Acknowledge and reward those students who may not have ‘official’ leadership positions but who take on ‘informal’ leadership roles in many situations as they arise in the course of school life.

Community Satisfaction

In 2010 the school sought the opinions of parents, students and teachers in the normal course of evaluation of school events and activities. As well, there were major online surveys done by parents and students at the end of the school year.

Responses to our academic programs continued to be overwhelmingly positive, particularly in relation to the school’s results in external examinations and the favourable publicity which they generated in the media. At the same time, the school’s holistic philosophy of education in providing numerous extra-curricular and co-curricular activities continued to be highly praised.

The online surveys produced many enthusiastic comments which are best summed up by the following:

− It has been a pleasure to have my daughter spend six years at Hornsby Girls. I have seen her develop and love her time at school. It is a real community that she is proud of and I know will stand her in good stead for the rest of her life. HGHS rocks.

− We love HGHS! We feel it has developed and encouraged our daughter to put in her best

efforts and to get the most out of her learning. She also loves her school. Thank you to all the dedicated and enthusiastic teachers who make learning fun and interesting!

− Everyday my daughter is inspired, enriched and happy to be there.

− In relation to welfare, I have had so much help from the school that they could not possibly have done more to help my daughter.

− I have come to love Hornsby and I consider it my second home. Being here has taught me so many things and allowed me to broaden my perspectives and shown me the world through different eyes.

− Being a student of Hornsby Girls High has made me realise so many things about myself and has helped me learn many valuable lessons.

Although criticisms were few, there were some concerns that student leadership opportunities sometimes seemed to favour “the alpha females” or the “most popular” girls. There were several calls to improve the school website, and for teachers to overcome the jargon of “Report Speak” so that report comments were written in plainer English.

Professional Learning

Under the leadership of Deputy Principal, Peter Hatton, our Professional Learning Team coordinated numerous and activities at school level and Regional level. Our main focus was on ICT skills for staff, especially in connection with the new technology now available at the school – student laptops, interactive white boards, and video-conferencing. The key strategy in this regard was the release time provided for two selected staff trainers to run regular in-school workshops for faculty and cross-faculty groups (see TARGETS in 2010 – Target 1, pages 28-29).

There were other major Professional Learning activities concerning new HSC resources and student welfare issues. Development activities organised by the various subject-based Professional Learning Associations were also very valuable for staff. Professional Development funds provided by the DET were supplemented by school funds, and in all, HGHS spent over $40,000 on professional learning in 2010.

Specific Targets for 2011

Target 1: Continue to implement strategies to reduce the number of external results outside the top 2 Bands/Grades – thus achieving the first Target of our three year Plan. (See page 28)

Strategies to achieve this target include:

• analysis of data from the School Certificate, Higher School Certificate and NAPLAN tests, as

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well as from the school’s internal diagnostic processes, assessments and examinations

• explicit teaching of literacy skills across the curriculum, and the production of our own support documents to enhance this

• a range of strategies for individual and small-group intervention across all faculties

• monitoring faculty programs, assessment tasks and other relevant documentation in relation to the Quality Teaching Framework and Higher Order Thinking Skills

• ongoing implementation of the S.A.I.L. independent learning program in Year 10, and the Building Strengths Senior Skills program in Year 11.

Our success will be measured by the extent to which we achieve Target 1 from the three year Plan, i.e. all students achieving in the top 2 Bands/Grades in the School Certificate and the Higher School Certificate. At the same time, the school will maintain its commitment to its holistic philosophy and a well-rounded education for all students.

Target 2: To encourage students to be more original in their thinking in relation to educational problem-solving, creative writing, and examination responses.

While the school’s NAPLAN results are outstanding overall (see pages 25-28), deeper analysis of results in specific questions was undertaken, especially those items which require original and creative ideas. There are early indications that some of our students are tending to rely too much on rote-learning and regurgitating pre-prepared information, rather than using their own ideas and/or thinking laterally and originally in many situations . Although not a major problem at the school at the moment, some teachers did report an increasing trend towards this rote-learning approach among some students.

Strategies to address this target include:

• draft a short discussion paper on “Selective Students and Creative thinking” for use at meetings with staff, students and parents in various forums throughout the year

• encourage students to have greater confidence in their own abilities

• encourage more active learning in the classroom

• encourage educational “risk-taking” in the teaching and learning process

• encourage enquiry learning for effective conceptual development.

Our success will be measured by ongoing analysis of student responses to questions, tasks and learning activities which require original and creative responses from students. We will evaluate whether all students are using their own ideas and opinions rather than reproducing pre-digested content.

Financial Summary This summary covers funds for operating costs and does not involve expenditure areas such as permanent salaries, building and major maintenance.

Date of financial summary: 30/11/2010

Income $

Balance brought forward 548 495.32

Global funds 440 986.66

Tied funds 126 020.53

School & community sources 985 204.26

Interest 35 217.78

Trust receipts 516 675.86

Canteen 0.00

Total income 2 652 600.41

Expenditure

Teaching & learning

Key learning areas 175 747.26

Excursions 241 832.60

Extracurricular dissections 361 372.05

Library 16 498.25

Training & development 8 189.29

Tied funds 156 907.95

Casual relief teachers 116 396.73

Administration & office 282 432.46

School-operated canteen 0.00

Utilities 85 325.12

Maintenance 45 289.75

Trust accounts 490 972.94

Capital programs 104 172.58

Total expenditure 2 085 136.98

Balance carried forward 567 463.43

A full copy of the school's 2010 financial statement can be obtained by contacting the school.

School Building Fund

The generosity of our parent community in contributing to the School Building Fund has enabled the school to accumulate sufficient funds for the installation of air-conditioning in more classrooms in 2011.

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About this report

In preparing this report, the self-evaluation committee has gathered information from evaluations conducted during the year and analysed other information about the school's practices and student learning outcomes. The self-evaluation committee and school planning committee have determined targets for the school's future development.

Mrs J Sexton, Staff Representative

Mr P Hatton, Staff Representative

Mr G Spencer, P&C President

Mrs C Langron, Parent Representative

Ms S Misra, Student Representative

Ms C Van Wyk, Student Representative

Mr R Phillips, Principal

School contact information

Hornsby Girls High School

Edgeworth David Avenue, Hornsby. 2077

Ph: 94765711

Fax: 94822525

Email: [email protected]

Web: www.hornsbygir-h.schools.nsw.edu.au

School Code: 8120

Parents can find out more information about Annual School Reports, how to interpret information in the reports and have the opportunity to provide feedback about these reports at:

http://www.schools.nsw.edu.au/asr

Documents

Celebrating 80 Years of Excellence in Girls’ Education ... · Celebrating 80 Years of Excellence in Girls’ Education 2010 Annual School Report Hornsby Girls High School ... harmony