WGHS P&C

Facebook.com/wghspandc

secretary@wghspandc.org.au

Next P&C Meeting will be held in: Tuesday 17 March 2020

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All parents are welcome at P&C meetings, held twice per term at 7.00pm in the staff common room (Access via front door)

Any queries or matters to be raised can be raised via the Secretary at the above email address at any

time.

FEBRUARY/MARCH 2020 CALENDAR

Week 5B 24 - 29 February Monday 24 Year 7 Peer Support Music Tour Information

Evening

Tuesday 25

Wednesday 26

Thursday 27

Friday 28 Saturday 29 Year 12 Japanese Extension

Workshop at Wenona School

Week 6A 02 – 06 March Monday 02 School Swimming Carnival Tuesday 03 Wednesday 04 Open Night 5.15-8.00pm Thursday 05 Year 7 Peer Support Friday 06

******** (Red typeface denotes the event is open to the public)

WILLOUGHBY GIRLS HIGH SCHOOL A Leader in Girls Education

NEWSLETTER

Phone : 9958 4141 https://willoughbg-h.schools.nsw.gov.au/ 21 FEBRUARY 2020

Principal’s Message

On Monday 17 February the school celebrated the 2019 HSC achievements at a special Gold Award assembly, attended by 2019 Year 12 students, their parents, teachers and other students in the school. At that celebration I outlined some of the wonderful achievements and provided some statistics on the cohort’s success. In 2019, 174 Year 12 students sat for their HSC and gained 192 mentions on the Distinguished Achievers Honour Roll for scoring 90 or more in a course. Our school was ranked first among all comprehensive public schools in NSW. Of the 171 students who requested an ATAR, 58 students (36%) achieved an ATAR of 90 or above. Congratulations to 2019 Year 12 DUX, Priscilla Yun who attained the top ATAR with 98.65. Six students were placed in the top ten of a subject:

Society & Culture - Mariam Arsalah 7th, Josephine Lee 8th, Tess Guo 9th and Zahra Kumarasinhe 10th

English Standard - Rose Stewart

Korean Beginners - Jackie Fenn – first in NSW. Two students, Nausheen Mazari and Danielle Sacks achieved All Rounder Awards gaining a Band 6 (a mark greater than 90) for at least ten units of study. Several students’ major works were nominated for the 2019 HSC showcases:

Kiyoka Hayashi – nominated for music

Zoe Petratos, Bianca Love and Grace Donaldson – dance (completed through Bradfield College)

Michaela Pisani – ArtExpress

Jacinta Chang – Textiles showcase

Jemma Chan and Tracey Lau – Design & Technology showcase

Jemima Brooker – Extension 2 English showcase

Willoughby Girls High School achieved nine awards for Society and Culture Personal Interest Projects:

Five students achieved High Distinctions– Karen Yoshimura, Georgia Topic, Mariam Arsalah, Mika Nakamura, Zahra Kumarasinhe

Four students achieved Distinctions – Anna Suzuki, Maria Ciccone, Cassandra Song and Eliana Digby

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148 students – 86% received direct University offers, and 139 of these were made prior to the January main round of offers. Most of the students whose achievements were celebrated at this special assembly achieved an ATAR of 90 or more, placing them in the top 105 of HSC graduates in NSW. We also celebrated the achievements of some students who exhibited outstanding learning growth in their final year of school or who managed to achieve excellent results despite some difficult personal circumstances. The greatest outcome for all these women is that they have so many post school options available to them. Priscilla Yun gave the DUX address and wherein she outlined her experiences at Willoughby Girls, stating that she has made many lifelong friends and praising her teachers for their commitment to her and all students’ learning. Priscilla is pursuing further study in medicine with the plan to work with communities in countries where access to quality medical care is not always readily available. Priscilla is a fine example of the kind of young woman we are so proud to have worked with during her school journey. I wish Priscilla, and all of the 2019 graduates a happy future in which they are able to pursue their interests and passions.

E Diprose Principal

Heba Ahmed Mariam Arsalah Sienna Austin Alexis Beuzeville Gibbes Lara Bezzina Carly Blum Caitlin Braddock Jemima Brooker Jacinta Chang Valerie Chang Daphne Cheng Ngai Wing - Erica Cheng Tiffany Cheung Yerin Cho Kelly Chung Maria - Vicky Ciccone Frances De asis Katya De Wit Eliana Digby Keiko Doi Zoe Emanuel Jacqueline Fenn Amy Fulton Tess Guo Shiqi - Charlotte Han Chloe Hannigan Kiyoka Hayashi Royaam Hoshiarpur Gyujin Jung Zahra Louise Kumarasinhe Beau Lapointe

Tracey Lau Eun Sol - Josephine Lee Nausheen Mazari Jordan McStraw Montana Mollai You Bin - Erica Moon Liah Naidoo Ingrid Norton Akino Pan-In Zoe Petratos Emily Ralph Danielle Sacks Emily Savage Phoebe Sedgwick Suhaana Shaik Qiyu - Sara Shi Cassandra Song Stella Stewart Anna Suzuki Jiyana Thankam Jaico Anna Thieben Sienna Togle Georgia Topic Gemma Tribbia Lara Warner Jasmin Wong Milica Yeh Nicole Yip Zin Yi Yow Xinyi - Cindy Yuan Priscilla Yun

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Satisfactory Completion of Courses

The NSW Education Standards Authority (NESA) determines the eligibility and pattern of study requirements for the award of Record of School Achievement (RoSA) in Year 10, Preliminary and Higher School Certificate. To receive a result in any course, students must satisfactorily complete that course. Satisfactory completion of a course involves following the course developed or endorsed by NESA. Students must apply themselves with diligence and sustained effort to the set tasks provided by their teachers and must demonstrate achievement of course outcomes. Students who are late or absent and do not attend lessons regularly are unlikely to be able to demonstrate achievement of course outcomes, and that they have applied themselves with diligence and sustained effort. We do not set minimum attendance for the satisfactory completion of a course. However, the Principal may determine that, due to absence, course completion criteria may not be met. To receive a RoSA, students must attend school until the final day of the school year. NESA requires schools to issue students with official warning letters in order to give them the opportunity to redeem themselves. Should such a letter be received, students are strongly advised to respond immediately and address the action required as detailed in the letter. Teachers will be reviewing the progress of all students who have received warning letters throughout the year. Final determinations will be made by the Principal towards the end of Term 3 and in Term 4. If a student (Year 10, 11 or 12) fails to comply with the requirements of a course, they will be given an ‘N’ (Non Completion) determination for that course. The student will be ineligible to have that course recorded on their RoSA or Transcript of Study. This may result in the student (Year 11 or 12) being ineligible to continue or complete the course. If a Year 10 student receives an ‘N’ determination in a mandatory curriculum requirement course, they will not be eligible for the RoSA. Ms J Atchison Deputy Principal

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2019 Wrap from the P&C President – Annual Report

The whole school community has been watching the new build near completion with increasing excitement. After many years of discussion, planning, exclusions and inclusions, we are finally at the point where we are about to cut the metaphorical ribbon. Many thanks to those parents who formed part of the PRG together with the school exec, to help facilitate and lobby for as many entitlements as possible. Particular thanks to William Pape and Scott Anderson for their active lobbying to the installation of air cooling, and for their ongoing support of the school executive by vociferously advocating for our school’s remaining entitlements. The music program continues to thrive and grow; 2019 saw the largest number of Year 7 enrolments ever. The new music block will provide a much-needed dedicated space which will in turn contribute to the program’s growth. Without scores of parent volunteers to hire conductors, coordinate rehearsals, purchase instruments, schedule performances, organise equipment transportation, fundraise and plan for local and overseas tours there would simply be no program. Thanks to Tom Johns and the whole of the music subcommittee. Willoughby Girls offers the widest range of sporting clubs outside school of any north shore public school. The netball club is one of the largest clubs in the NSNA competition. Thanks to Anita MacDonald, our paid convener who has done an outstanding job in fostering teamwork and camaraderie at the club as well as the usual seamless management of all things behind the scenes. Hockey covers indoor (summer) and field (winter) sports. Basketball and touch football round off the year-round sporting selection. Particular thanks goes to those parents who run these smaller clubs, they are often a one stop shop managing everything from coaches to kits, matches and fees. Thanks to Evelyn Bowes and Penny Longmire (hockey), John O’Donnell (basketball) and the departing touch football conveners John le Couteur and Andrew Carnegie. Your efforts on behalf of all Willoughby girls are very much appreciated. These extracurricular sporting and musical clubs also help to vertically integrate girls across year groups. By creating these opportunities for our girls we shine a spotlight on the school in the wider community. Parents choose Willoughby in no small part due to these programs. Thank you to each and every sports and music parent who has driven, fundraised, communicated, ordered, managed, volunteered, supported and cheerfully given up their time on behalf of their daughter and their school. In July this year, Kate Taylor on behalf of P&C organised a volunteering immersion to Vietnam last year. Sixteen girls from Years 9, 10 and 11 and five mums spent the July school holidays building a bathroom for a family in a rural community in a remote region of north west Vietnam. Houses in these rural communities often lack basic sanitation and facilities and local families are not able to afford to install a bathroom. The girls held a bake sale and raised $689, which went directly to the cost of the materials for the bathroom and wages for local tradesman. Plans are already underway for a 2020 trip to Nepal, which promises to be even bigger, truly putting Willoughby Girls on the map representing our school overseas. In August expert educator Rowan Kunz ran a study skills workshop for parents of Years 7-10 to great feedback, following a similar presentation tailored to HSC parents in 2018. P&C hope to repeat this as often as required.

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Noone’s management of our school uniform continues to provide an efficient and seamless service. Their new premises in Chatswood West offer full fittings, orientation times and also online ordering. We expect to start receiving royalties from the beginning of 2021. Particular thanks to Brenda Bridson, a parent who runs the second-hand uniform service on behalf of all students from her home. Thanks to all the year group list keepers and other subcommittees in grants and social media and events – P&C could not operate without you. And to the members of the executive, past present and future, I say the biggest thank you and a huge welcome. This will be my last year as president and many execs also are finishing their time at Willoughby so it will be a changing of the guard. Finally, a cohesive parent body cannot function effectively if it is not in step with the school executive. I believe that our P&C has two primary functions; to support the school executive in all matters relating to the education and wellbeing of our girls, and to provide a voice that’s heard when advocating for our school. All our discussions are framed by the common goal of maximising learning opportunities and excellence for our girls. Thanks to Liz Diprose, Janet Atchison and Jennifer Watts for fostering this collaborative approach. See you in 2020. Liz Foster WGHS – P&C President

president@wghspandc.org.au

https://www.facebook.com/wghspandc

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Year 7 Camp Reflection Even though the day was gloomy and it was lightly sprinkling, most of us were excited about the iconic Year 7 camp which all of the teachers were talking about. It was the camp where you would make all of your high school friends and ‘get to know each other’. When I first heard about this I thought I was going to be hopeless at making new friends. I came to Willoughby Girls’ knowing nobody, not knowing where to go, and petrified of a new environment, high school. However, my perspective was changed after camp. After the bus ride to Narrabeen and got to know the people who were looking after us over the next two days, we were separated into colour groups and got to know each other. Our first activity was ‘Initiative’ which was where we had to work as a team and solve problems through various activities. After explaining what the word ‘initiative’ means, we got into eight groups and my group had to fit through a ‘spiderweb’. The ‘spiderweb’ was full of lines that made either big spaces or tiny little gaps which seemed almost no way of fitting through. Eventually, our group did it after lifting everyone and trusting each other. Shortly after we had to hold on tightly to the ropes and try and balance a tin can out of the circle. It required concentration but, after a couple of attempts, we did it! After feeling accomplished, we moved to a new activity where you had to swing by a rope from one tire to the other tire and not fall off. It's harder than it sounds, but we had a lot of fun and I think that was the most important thing. After lunch, my group headed over to do the high ropes course. Even though some of us were terrified of being up 5-10 metres in the air, we cheered each other on. With the help of each other, we worked together somehow by encouraging each other and building each other up. After all that, we were pretty exhausted, but we kept on staying positive and looking forward to what we would have for dinner. Dinner came around and then the costume part! To all that participated, your costumes were amazing and a good job. We played some games, teachers included! We all ran away as far as possible from all teachers who had pool noodles in their hands. If you were tapped, you would lay on the floor and wait until four other kids would try and rescue you. It was enjoyable and afterwards we completed our ‘tree of life’ which examined who is in our life, what our goals are. Day two started out with some breakfast, and then my group was out canoeing early in the morning to noon. Mia and Abbey were both challenged to swap positions from one canoe to another, running as fast as they could across all canoes close together. When they met in the middle, Mia pushed Abbey in the water and that was pretty entertaining. When we finished canoeing, we had to quickly get changed and eat lunch. Some of us had sore arms already, but after lunch, we had rock climbing. Some people were absolute pros at this, whilst some others had never done it were very nervous to rock climb. But our whole group supported each other by shouting out names and cheering loudly. Camp was a great experience, and many of us met new people, made new friends, created relationships and earned trust with each other. I can see this year is going to be a good year, and even though some of us may lose contact, or keep in touch after our journey of high school, I hope we will never forget what it was like for us when we first went to camp, overcame our fears and met new people. Over the next six years, we may find new friends, but change is always good, and there will always be a bright side no matter what. ‘‘It is our choices that show what we truly are, far more than our abilities.’’ -J.K. Rowling

By Marcella L – Year 7

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Year 7 Camp Reflection - continued

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Library Lovers Day Library Lovers Day was celebrated on Friday the 14th February with student and staff given opportunities to go on a blind date with a book or recommend books that they love. There was much excitement at lunchtime with some successful dates where the romance novels were borrowed, and others not so and the books remained on the shelf.

Ms Parker Teacher Librarian

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COMMUNITY NOTICE BOARD

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COMMUNITY NOTICE BOARD