Principal's update
The secret is out!!
Open Day was a huge success with a sell out crowd in attendance.
Teaching staff worked alongside SASS staff, parents and over 130 students to showcase our wonderful school. We received much positive feedback on the great vibe of the event and how welcoming everyone was.
Make your move
The Chess Competition began last week and is being played every lunchtime in the library. It is fantastic seeing students from different year groups taking part and enjoying the competitive spirit. We certainly have some Chess Champions in the making.
Future Olympians and up and coming sport stars
There have been some fantastic sporting achievements from the students in our school sporting teams and competing at an individual level over the last fortnight.
Congratulations to:
Viliami and Luini for their selection in the Sydney East Open Boys Rugby Union team.
Tayne for selection in the Sydney East Rugby League team.
The boys Basketball team, a great effort and hard fought game against Caringbah High School.
The boys and girls Football teams, a great effort.
All the Zone and Regional swimmers who participated. Congratulations to our three Zone Age Champions:
- Jordan - 14 years Boys Champion
- James - 15 years Boys Champion
- Drew - 17 years Senior Boys Champion
CHS Swimming here we come!
Congratulations also go to Bengt, Drew, James, Freddo and Riley for making it through to the CHS swimming competition:
- Bengt - 13 yrs Breaststroke
- James -14yrs Breaststroke
- Drew - 17+ Backstroke
- Drew, James, Riley and Freddo - Open Boys Medley Relay.
Winners are grinners!
Congratulations to the Girls Touch Football Team for their win over Gymea Technology High School.
Gold, Gold, Gold! Congratulations to Luke who won 3 gold and 1 silver medal at the recent NSW State Surf Life Saving Championships.
Acoustic Wednesday a sell out!
The first Acoustic Wednesday concert was a fantastic event last week. Thanks Mr Benson for your coordination.
There were great performances from Zoe, Crystal, Trinity, Jasmin, Rocco, Laila, Catherine, Ms Accetta and Mr Dartchia.
What a fantastic opportunity for our Year 11 and 12 VET Entertainment students to fine tune their practical skills.
Happy International Women’s Day :)
At South Sydney High School, we are always in awe of the tenacity and drive our young women show.
To celebrate International Women’s Day a breakfast was held in the Hall last Friday morning for all female students and teachers.
The girls got to hear from Wendy Zveglic who gave an inspiring presentation focusing on the importance of trying, tenacity and trusting yourself in the uneasiness of life on being resilient to become strong, successful females.
Achievement Assemblies
Congratulations to all students who were recognised at the recent Achievement Assemblies. Wonderful to see those students acknowledged for their consistent level of work thus far in the term.
Lessons from the best
Year 11 and 12 parents are invited to hear from Dan Haesler, a leadership and performance coach who works with elite athletes and teams. The workshop is designed to help parents as they help their child through their HSC studies.
Tuesday 21st March, commencing at 6pm in our school library.
A final thought
Your education journey ultimately leads to your future pathway. As individuals the power to design your future is in your hands.
'The best way to predict your future is to create it' Abraham Lincoln
Janice Neilsen, Principal
Upcoming Events
- NAPLAN continues - 21st, 22nd and 23rd of March
- Tuesday 21st - Year 11 and 12 Parents Forum - Dan Haesler
- Friday 24th and 31st- Script writing workshops continue
- Tuesday 28th - Dress for Success day
- Parent Teacher Night Years 7, 11 and 12
In this issue
- TAS news
- Stars in uniform
- Science Cast
- Attendance champions!
- High Potential & Gifted Education
- Quality Behaviour Slip winners
- Year 8 Rugby League
- Library news
- Have your say...
- Community news & events
TAS news
What a great start to the year for Year 10 Food Technology class. This term they are focusing on the topic Food Service and Catering, looking at catering venues, both profit and non-profit, employment opportunities and legislations that impact the food industry.
This week’s menu included poached chicken served with a creamy mustard sauce, then for dessert students worked with puff pastry making strawberry vol au vents. The photos are evidence of their achievements, and they are working hard on improving the presentation of their work.
Great effort class. The excitement and fun continues down here in J block!
Mrs Stephenson, TAS/VET-Hospitality Teacher
Stars in uniform
We applaud those students who wear their school uniform with pride.
Science Cast
The South Sydney High School Science Cast is back! Staff and students are very excited to be recording our science podcast again. The Science Cast is a chance for students to interview members of the science community and learn how science can be applied in the real-world. We have a few guest speakers lined up and plenty of students who are keen to be involved. We will be recording our first podcast for 2023, before the end of Term 1.
To listen to the podcasts we've done so far, access them by searching for 'SSHS Science Cast' in any of your preferred podcast apps listed below:
Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Tune In or Google.
Attendance champions!
Attendance matters and we congratulate those students that have had excellent attendance so far this term.
Well done Nadira, Harrison and Chloe.
High Potential and Gifted Education
Public Speaking Club
As Week 7 was International Women’s Day the topic that our students decided to write speeches on was ‘Girl Power’. It was particularly wonderful to hear our male club members talk with appreciation and passion about the special women and girls in their lives. Our growing cohort of capable public speakers bodes well for our chances of finding strong speakers to represent our school at next term’s Legacy Public Speaking Competition.
The stand out ‘Girl Power’ speech of the morning on Thursday 16 March was by Indie Heron in Year 7. The transcript is included below:
Senior SSCIM Camp
Interesting project proposals are being submitted to Ms de Paor and Ms Gore for our Senior SSCIM Camp which will take place in Week 2, Term 2 from Monday 1st - Wednesday 3rd May.
This wonderful opportunity allows students from Years 9 – 11 to spend three days on Cockatoo Island completing a self-directed learning project of their own design. It is not too late to submit a proposal. Come to SSCIM Club in the Drama Room on a Friday if you are interested to find out more and to get help with designing your project.
Monitoring of application to learning & Enrichment Stream students
An email has been sent to our wonderful enrichment stream parents and caregivers to remind them of the expectations of students in these classes. We will be checking in with the teachers of enrichment classes to ensure that students in these classes are demonstrating maximum engagement with curricular and co-curricular programs offered at our school. In terms of curriculum the expectation is that these students should apply themselves diligently to their learning. We expect this of all students in our school but the expectation is even higher for enrichment stream students in terms of completing tasks set, engaging positively with their learning and conducting themselves in a respectful and cooperative manner in class. Indeed, it is expected in that NO student in an enrichment stream class would be applying themselves with less than full commitment to their learning in any subject in terms of application, timely submission of work due and behaviour. Should this occur the child and their parents or guardians would be contacted and their continued placement in this class will be reviewed.
This review process might involve an interview with the Principal on the advice of the enrichment stream coordinator who would also consult with class teachers.
We encourage parents to work with us to ensure that these students avail of the many opportunities that are offered at South Sydney to enrichment stream students within and beyond the curriculum.
Quality Behaviour Slip winners
Weeks 7 and 8
Congratulations to Nicholas, Darcy, Jasper and Devin shown against a backdrop of creativity in their Year 7 Music class. In addition, Isabella and Laila from Years 9 and 10, pictured with Ms Hall our wonderful new Art teacher.
Ms Walton, Deputy Principal
Year 8 Rugby League
The Year 8 Rugby League class has been benefiting from hands-on PE sessions from former greats and up-and-coming South Sydney Rabbitohs players. They attend the class three times each term to help the students hone their fundamental rugby league, oz tag, and touch football skills. Exciting future activities are planned as the relationship between South Sydney High School and the South Sydney Rabbitohs continues to grow.
Library news
Recent Fiction highlights
Please click on the link to take you to the Library catalogue and find out further information about the titles below.
Indigo in the Storm by Kate Gordon
Beautifully written, with themes of family in all forms, belonging, the importance of friendship, art, environmental sustainability and hope, this is a terrific and easy-to-read novel that is best suited to lower secondary readers.
The Sinister Booksellers of Bath by Garth Nix
This is a thrilling and action-packed fantasy novel as Susan and the Booksellers race against time to stop an evil spell from succeeding. With themes of friendship, learning who to trust, believing in yourself and being who you truly are, with an enthralling side of ancient mysteries, this is a fabulous book that will be particularly enjoyed by those who love fantasy.
Running with Ivan by Suzanne Leal
This is a terrific novel that through the use of a timeslip gives us both a view of the challenges of modern teenage life, and the extreme danger faced by a Jewish teenager during World War II. Containing themes of war, stepfamilies, survival and hope, this is an intriguing story for those in lower secondary.
This Time it’s Real by Ann Liang
This is a hilarious and sweet romance that explores fitting in, standing out, the meaning of home, the power of hope, and learning to show your true self to others. This will be loved by teen readers aged 14 and above, especially those who enjoy a good rom-com!
Recent Non Fiction highlights
Please click on the link to take you to the Library catalogue and find out further information about the titles below.
Straight Up by Ruby Tui
This is Ruby Tui. An open, raw and honest account of her journey from a troubled and unstable childhood, searching for a better option in life, to Olympic champion and the world's best rugby sevens player.
Last man out: A personal account of the Gallipoli evacuation by Louise Park
Collated by Australian author Louise Park, this is based on journal entries written by Louise’s grandfather, John Alexander Park, who was the last man out of the Gallipoli Peninsula when the Australian troops evacuated. His first-hand accounts show of the hardship experienced by those at Gallipoli, but also the mateship and camaraderie that bound these men together.
So Far So Good by Aaron Fa'Aoso
On his long path to success - from aspiring professional footballer to actor, director and producer - for every opportunity Aaron Fa'Aoso had, there were setbacks and heartache. In So Far, So Good, he talks frankly about love, pain, making mistakes and finding happiness again, and the impacts of racism and the challenges of remote communities.
The Boy Who Didn’t Want to Die by Peter Lantos
The Boy Who Didn’t Want to Die describes an extraordinary journey, made by Peter, a boy of five, through war-torn Europe in 1944 and 1945. With themes of war, hardship, endurance and survival but with an easy to read short format, this is an ideal story for lower secondary readers.
Ms Maddocks, Teacher Librarian
Have your say...
...on proposals for future high school within the eastern suburbs
Eastern Suburbs High Schools Community Consultation
The Department of Education has engaged SEC Newgate to carry out independent, comprehensive community consultation with the aim of understanding parent and student decision-making factors regarding high school enrolment choices in the eastern suburbs and views on a range of proposals for future arrangements at Randwick Boys’ and Randwick Girls’ high schools.
Community consultations will start Monday the 13th of March and end by Friday the 12th of May 2023. This is a 9-week period.
This consultation aims to:
- Determine parent and student decision-making factors regarding high school enrolment choices in the eastern suburbs
- Understand stakeholder and wider community feedback in regard to five proposals (in no order):
- retaining single-sex education at Randwick Boys’ High School and Randwick Girls’ High School.
- retaining single-sex education at Randwick Boys’ High School and Randwick Girls’ High School and, providing all local students an entitlement to enrol at an existing coeducational high school, as designated by the Department.
- merging Randwick Boys’ High School and Randwick Girls’ High School to establish a single coeducational campus in their current location.
- retaining single sex education for junior years at Randwick Boys’ High School and Randwick Girls’ High School, and merging the senior years from each school to provide a co-educational setting.
- establishing more shared co-educational classes between Randwick Boys’ High School and
Randwick Girls’ High School from years 7-12 where appropriate.
Ways to have your say
High school students
Online survey: High school students will be completing an online survey during school time. Surveys will be distributed by the classroom teacher.
If you do not wish your child to participate in the survey, please notify us by emailing metrosouthstpeters@det.nsw.edu.au Please be sure to include your child’s name, what year they are in and the school they attend in the email.
All high school parents and carers
Online survey: please complete the online survey for parents and carers here. Complete a survey only once.
In-language survey options: This survey will be available in Mandarin, Cantonese, and Arabic in the coming weeks. Please email easternsuburbs@secnewgate.com.au if you would prefer to complete the survey in language.
High school P&C Associations: In-person workshop: SEC Newgate will be conducting a workshop with the P&C executives from the 6 government high schools in the eastern suburbs. P&C executives will be contacted separately by SEC Newgate regarding this workshop.
If you would like to give further feedback or have any questions about this consultation, please contact the project team at easternsuburbs@secnewgate.com.au or 0415 071 119.
The NSW Department of Education greatly appreciates your time and support in assisting us to undertake these consultations.
This information will be useful to the Department in a number of ways. Hearing from your school community is
important in shaping the thinking and direction of educational offerings for students in years 7-12 in the eastern suburbs.
Community news & events
World Long Drive Golf Tour
Local Junior golfer and South Sydney High School alumni, Sebastian Twadell, is competing in the World Long Drive Golf Tour. Sebastian has lived and played Golf, and Baseball, in and around the Eastern Suburbs until November last year when he relocated to the Gold Coast for training.
Round 1 was held last Sunday morning in Mesquite Nevada USA, where Sebastian progressed through to the second round! He is the only Australian player remaining after Round 1. Sebastian's dad tells us he has it on good authority that Sebastian will again be competing on Monday 13th March at 2:00am Sydney time.
The telecast can be viewed on World Long Drive Youtube channel. Select Live or watch later for replays.
We wish Sebastian well as he competes against the world's best in this event.
Watch Sebastian and fellow competitor Matt Stubb prepare to take on the world’s best!
We acknowledge and pay our respects to the Bidjigal people, the traditional owners and custodians of the land we work on. We also pay respect to Aboriginal elders past, present and emerging, and extend that respect to other Aboriginal people.
Contact us:
Telephone | 9349 3868
Email | sthsydney-h.school@det.nsw.edu.au
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