Term 4

Issue 5

th

9 December 2014 Phone: 9476 5711 9482 2525

THE TORCH

Fax:

HORNSBY GIRLS’ HIGH SCHOOL

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Congratulations to Maddy Jones Year 11 who represented NSW in High Jump at the All Schools Athletics Championships in Adelaide on Saturday. Maddy was placed 5th in High Jump. This means that Maddy is placed 5th nationally in high jump. Well done! Thank you also to all members of the PDHPE staff for their encouragement to Maddy over the years. The Australian Children’s Music Foundation holds an annual National Songwriting Competition which music students are encouraged to enter. Congratulations to Naomi Ng Year 12 who has won 3rd prize in the secondary Classical Instrument category for her composition “Nautilis”. This is a great achievement for Naomi and also for her teacher Mr Hughson (Music) who continues to inspire our music students. Well done Naomi! Every year our school librarian Mrs Hardy encourages our students to participate in the Premier’s Reading Challenge. This year two students Paromita Mitchell and Jewel Soares both of Year 9 are awarded the Premier’s Reading Challenge Medal for having completed the challenge for the past nine years! Five students Oindrila Deb, Amitoj Grewal, Geena Gunasinha, Renee Jin and Sidkika Srinivasan receive a Platinum Certificate for their participation in the challenge for the past seven years. Eight students Amie Doan, Rachel Gong, Anusha Luharuka, Lauren Nguyen, Ammu Punnackal, Daphne Wang, Vivian Wang and Claire Zhou receive a Gold Certificate for four years of participation in the challenge. Congratulations also to the following students who completed the challenge this year: Catherine Bui, Jenny Chen, Amy Clarke, Tanisha Dasmohapatra, Chloe Lee, Amy Limpoairjana, Rachel Line, Senara Perera, Emily Tang, Eve Timms, Pooja Vyas, Bernadette Wong, Xinya Wu, Tina Yip, Hayley Yu, Kaveena Anantha-Siva, Hashini Fernando, Sarah Joung, Stephanie Lau, Sunanda Mani Mohan, Samantha Riezenkamp, Madhura Sabanayagam, Anya Sapra, Sabina Scott, Christina Shen, Jasmine Chen, Coco Huang, Rachel Yamamoto, Pu En Yeung, Song En Yeung and Sophia You. The school encourages students to participate in Schools Spectacular an annual event that promotes the wonderful performance programs in DEC schools

Email Address: [email protected] Web Address: www.hornsbygir-h.schools.nsw.edu.au

including musicians, singers, dancers and composers. This year Sian Crane and Tegan Sharpe both of Year 7 participated in the vocal program and Karen Cortez Year 11 was the principal cellist in the Orchestra. Karen was also chosen to be in the quartet for an original student composition called “Blue Eyes”. Well done girls!

I would like to thank all parents and members of the community who were able to donate to our Speech Day ceremony. Without your financial support the day would not be such a magnificent ceremony for the prize winners and all the student body. I also want to acknowledge Mrs Riches (HSIE) who is our Speech Day Coordinator. She has done another excellent job in 2014 in ensuring the day will be a wonderful celebration not only for the school but for public education. I am looking forward to seeing all of our parents in attendance at this very important school event on Tuesday 16 December from 10am – 12pm. Our technology costs associated with teaching and learning continue to rise. Unfortunately I have had to increase the Technology Support Levy from $120 to $170 for 2015 for students from Year 7 - 12. This will be the last significant increase in Technology Support in the coming years. It has been necessary to do this due to the end of the government funding for the Student Laptop Program which ceased in June 2014. Under this program a Technical Support Officer is also employed to manage the laptop program and assist with the School’s Computer Network system. With the ending of the government funded program the $50 increase to the levy will ensure that the school has the ongoing technical support to manage the school computer network and manage the laptop program. The other major expense associated with laptops in 2015 is the cost for Year 8 and 9 laptops. As previously mentioned in The Torch and at our P and C meetings students in Years 8 and 9 will be charged for a school issued laptop at a cost of $370. This is a one-off cost. Students will use the laptop throughout their school life and have it as their own to use at home as well. The P and C is subsidising the purchase by $130 for each laptop. We are currently finalising the details with the DEC and Lenovo so that students will have access to over 40 software programs which will be used in various classes. We hope to receive these laptops in March 2015. Thank you to the Year 8 and 9 parents (2015) for your ongoing support in this area. Reports for Years 7 – 10 will be issued on Wednesday 17 December. Please do not hesitate to contact the school on Thursday 18 or Friday 19 December if you would like further information on your daughter’s progress during 2014. HSC results will be available to Year 12 students on Wednesday 17 December and ATARs will be issued on Thursday 18 December at 11am. We look forward to seeing our Year 12s at the ATAR morning tea on Thursday 18 December. I am confident that our Year 12s will be very happy with their results. We wish them all the best for their future. Year 7 and 11 students return to school on Wednesday 28 January 2015. Year 12 will be attending the inaugural study camp at Pennant Hills Scout Hall on Wednesday 28 January. On Thursday 29 January Years 8, 9 and 10 return. Mrs Dietz will also be conducting auditions for the school orchestra on Tuesday 27 January. Students participating in the auditions should already have received notification of their audition time.

This will be the last edition of The Torch for this year. It has proven to be a very productive and fruitful year for the school. The students continue to gain in knowledge and confidence in their developing abilities across a wide range of interests and activities. It is certainly a very exciting environment for the students. Our teachers are continually participating in Professional Development courses to upgrade their skills and knowledge and are fully committed to ensuring your daughter receives the best possible teaching and learning. Our parent body represented by the P and C continues to work very effectively in many areas to ensure all students receive the finest education possible. I am positive with students, teachers and parents continuing to work together, that 2015 will be an equally enriching educational experience for your daughter at Hornsby Girls High School. I wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. Dr Justin Briggs, Principal

News from the Mathematics Department As the year draws to an end, we have been receiving results for the many students who have entered external competitions. Mathematics Challenge for Young Australians Enrichment Stage This competition involved completing a series of difficult problems, by first working through a theory book to develop the necessary skills and concepts. The results this year are outstanding! High Distinctions: Tina Yip (Year 7), Bernadette Wong (Year 7), Tanisha Dasmophapatra (Year 7) Distinction: Hayley Yu (Year 7), Swara Tapaswi (Year 7), Stephanie Lau (Year 8) Credit: Maggie Xu (Year 7), Amy Ren (Year 7) Dorothy Shen (year 8), Claire Zhou (Year 8), Sarah Liu (Year 8), Anna Liu (Year 8) Participation: Smirthi Ravichandran (Year 7), Christy Ma (Year 8) , Daphne Wang (Year 9), Nishka Tapaswi (Year 9), Theepiga Ramachandran (Year 9), Janice Chu (Year 9) Well done to these girls. Year 7 Australian Problem Solving Mathematical Olympiad A group of keen Year 7’s met up for five lunchtimes to complete in a Problem Solving Olympiad. The students achieved well and enjoyed the opportunity to develop their problem solving skills. Our team achieved in the top 25% of teams which is a great achievement. The following Year 7 students achieved in the top 10% of individual Hayley Yu, Geena Gunansinha, Amitoj Grewal, Rachel Line, Bernadette Wong, Jenny Chen, Claire Li

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The following Year 7 students achieved in the top 25% of individual scores: Tanisha Dasmohapatra, Oliva Park, Swara Tapaswi, Chaerin Park, Swara Tapaswi, Katherine Tran, Nancy Yan. Mathematics Challenge for Young Australians – Australian Intermediate Mathematics Olympiad (AIMO) Nishka Tapaswi, Jasmine Jiawei Chen and Daphne Wang (Year 9) sat a four hour Olympiad that involved answering a number of very difficult questions. Daphne achieved a Participation Award. Nishka and Jasmine achieved Distinction awards. Well done to these students!

BURNING BRIGHT is the English Department’s online publication which will be sent out to all parents of students at HGHS. It showcases some of the best writing from 2014 with contributions from students in Years 7 to 12. Please feel free to send feedback to Margaret Motherwell ([email protected]) in the English Department. We hope you enjoy reading it! Margaret Motherwell, English Teacher

Congratulations to the Year 8 Debating Team Avan Daruwalla, Deeksha Gallamudi, Sunanda Mani Mohan, Poppy Morandin and Sophie Shead who recently participated in the Janene Best Memorial Debating Competition for Selective Schools. They won all three prepared debates to meet Smith's Hill High School in the Final. Although they weren't awarded the Final debate they displayed outstanding debating skills throughout the day.

Year 7 Debating State Finals The Year 7 Debating Team: Emma, Pooja, Ella, Swara and Meha were on a three-day camp at the University of Sydney last week competing in the State Finals. They won two debates and lost two. They did extremely well and had lots of fun. It was an enriching experience that will stand them in very good stead for future years.

Schedule for remainder of 2014 Week 10- Speech Day Rehearsal – SB - all period 1 in the hall -Wed Dec 10, Thurs 11 Dec, Fri 12 Dec Set up in the hall before school on Wed Dec 10. Truck will be packed on Fri Dec 12. All members, including 2014 Year 12s, are to attend. Only the following instruments will be allowed on the truck: double bass, euphoniums, tuba, percussion, trombones, French horns, tenor saxes.

Week 11- Speech Day – Tuesday Dec 16 – Arrive by 7:30 am. Meet in the area between the Cathedral and the Town Hall as we will enter from a side door. If you are later, do not come in the front door. Wear normal summer uniform and bring some pegs to hold your music. If your instrument is coming back on the truck, make sure you collect it from school to practice during the summer.

2015 Japan Tour Rehearsals Our first rehearsal went very well despite the heat. Anyone who missed the rehearsal needs to give an explanation to Ms Dietz and pick up their music to practice. Rehearsal change- instead of Fri 19 Dec, the Japan Tour group will rehearse Fri Dec 5 and 12 before school in the usual Concert Band time of 7:25 am. There scheduled rehearsal on Dec 18 is the same from 9 am – Noon. All rehearsals are mandatory. Please do not schedule holidays at these times.

2015 First Rehearsals Thursday 29 Jan Symphonic Band 7:25 am– this is our only opportunity to rehearse as a full group before the SRC Induction in week 4. Friday 30 January- Concert Band 7:25 am –all new year 7s to attend Tuesday 3 Feb Jazz Band 7:40 am – new members welcome Wednesday 5 Feb String Orchestra 7:25 am – new members should attend 2015 Jazz Band Needs Trombones/Euphoniums/Tubas and Trumpets; Alto and Tenor Saxes More brass players are needed in the Jazz Band. Remember, we only play for fun and at school functions, so it is not a huge commitment of time. Please speak to Ms Dietz if you would like to join. There are NO auditions. Just come and have fun! 2014 School Spectacular Orchestra Congratulations to Karen Cortez 11 cello for being selected to play in the Schools Spectacular Orchestra. The orchestra is chosen by audition only. Students applying must be of a very high standard as selection is done state wide. Double Bass Players Desperately Needed The Double Bass is not hard to learn and plays much fewer notes than a violin. We have an excellent teacher coming to the school on Wednesday afternoons. Players receive 2 instruments-one for school and one for home, so you don’t have to transport it back and forth. We have ½ and ¾ size instruments to fit students of all sizes. Please see Ms. Dietz if you would like to become and member of the double bass section in our fabulous string orchestra. Brass Players Needed for Concert Band Students in Year 7 are needed to learn Trumpet, Trombone and Tuba for the Concert Band. Tutors can be recommended and instruments hired from the school. Tuba players get 2 instruments- one for home and one for school. Please see Ms Dietz before roll call, if interested. Deb Dietz, Conductor Melissa Jones, Committee President

Old Girls Union News We held our AGM in the School Library on 26th November and it was our pleasure to welcome Dr Briggs who updated us on school news and presided over our committee elections. What a progressive, vibrant environment continues within the School of today – as it has done for all generations of old girls. Thankyou to all the School staff for their ongoing support during 2014. We are so welcomed into our School. The Committee is looking forward to working with the School to celebrate the School's 85th anniversary in 2015 – such a happy time for all ex-students also. Our plans for 2015 include the ongoing digital archiving and printing of photos and records from the first decade of the school's existence, 1930-1939. 1940-1949 will follow as funds become available. Congratulations to the 2014 Literary Competition entrants and winners. We are delighted to fund this annual event. “Welcome new members to the OGU from Year 12, 2014… a membership for life”. Linda Patten, President OGU

PREFECT AFTERNOON TEA HOSTED AT HORNSBY GIRLS On Wednesday 19 November, private, independent and public schools from the district attended Hornsby Girls Prefect’s Willy Wonka prefect afternoon tea led by school captain Tian Du and vice-captain Sanjna Kalasabail. With engaging activities such as the newspaper contest, icebreakers and of course a chocolate fountain, the afternoon was a huge success. This afternoon tea gave the leaders of different schools a chance to interact with each other and exchange ideas about how they each contribute to their schooling environment. The prefects are eager to attend future afternoon teas at other schools and should be congratulated on this enjoyable event.

The Year 9 PASS class as part of their unit of work 'Promoting Active Lifestyles' organised and ran an inter grade Dodgeball Competition at lunchtimes over Week 7,8 and 9. The tournament was enjoyed by teams from Yr 7-9. The overall winners were the Yr 9 PASS Team -(no Favouritism !!!)

Year 10 Beach Excursion To conclude the Year 10 Sport Program and to be part of the Year 10 Life and Resilience Week, all Year 10's participated in a Surf and Beach Education Day on Thursday November 20th, at Manly Beach. The excursion is organised by the HGHS Sport Faculty and run by the Manly Surf Educate Company. The students spend 3 hours in the surf learning to enjoy the waves, surfing on the body boards and generally learning to have fun at the Beach whilst at the same time learning how to stay safe eg learning to 'read' the water for rips and the importance of swimming at all times between the flags. Many students are at times out of their 'comfort zone', but this exposure to 'positive risk taking' is such an important component for building personal resilience. The 2014 Year 10 Group throughout the day, acquitted themselves extremely well and certainly did themselves and their school proud! Many thanks to Olivia Utharntharm (Yr10) for all the great photographs on the day.

2014 Doubles Tennis Championships The Final for the Hornsby GHS Doubles Tennis Chamionships was held on Friday November 21st under extremely hot conditions. The girls rose to the occasion and gave a great performance!! Runners Up - Alisa De Borja and Nirosha Pillalamarri -(Yr 10) Winners Kiki Liang and Sabrina Hor - (Yr 8) Congratulations A special thanks to Mr Fish from the Music Dept who officiated the Final.

Duke of Edinburgh's Award Congratulations to the following students who have been awarded their Bronze Duke of Edinburgh: Elisabeth Henke, Coco Huang, Nicole Leong and Silver Duke of Edinburgh: Cherie Chen, Cherita Zhu.

Adventurous Journeys, April 2015 Somerset Outdoor Education have published the dates for the Adventurous Journeys in April 2015. For those planning 2015 the dates are as follows: Bronze Preliminary Training and Practice, Week 1, 8 - 10 April 2015 Bronze Test, Week 2, 16 - 17 April 2015 Silver Training and Practice, Week 1, 8 - 10 April 2015 Silver Test, Week 2, 13 - 15 April 2015 Gold Urban Challenge Practice, Week 1, 7 - 10 April 2015 Gold Urban Challenge Test, Week 2, 14 - 17 April 2015. Please note that Gold level participants need to contact Somerset direct and organize these camps themselves. Details and forms will be available at the beginning of Term 1, 2015. Mrs Riches Duke of Edinburgh Co-ordinator

Come and play football at Wahroonga Football Club Wahroonga Football Club is seeking junior boys and girls for the 2015 season and registrations will open in early January. Fixtures will commence the first weekend in April. The club’s aim is for children to enjoy playing football and have the opportunity to develop their skills. The club will provide assistance on how to join a team or form a team with your friends as well as hold a manager information night (tips on managing a team). We run free Grass Roots coaching courses for parents/team coaches. Wahroonga run teams for boys, girls and mixed teams from U6 to U18. More information can be found on the club web-site at www.wahroongafc.com.au or contact the Club Secretary, Anita Stickland, at [email protected] or on 0400 985 909. We are a family orientated club and we look forward to welcoming you in 2015.