Principals Message
Cantabrian Superstars
This week, we proudly celebrate one of our dedicated staff members, Ms Joseph, our wonderful Aboriginal Learning and Support Officer, who has been honoured as the Local Woman of the Year for the Canterbury Electorate! A proud Dharug woman, Ms Joseph’s unwavering commitment to student wellbeing, learning support, and social development is truly inspiring. Her role is vital in fostering inclusive education and empowering our students to achieve not only their educational goals but also their long-term social aspirations. The Local Women of the Year Awards recognise the remarkable contributions of women across NSW electorates, and this award highlights the significant positive impact Ms Joseph has on our school community. Congratulations, Ms Joseph!
As we pass the halfway mark of Term 1, it’s wonderful to reflect on the many exciting activities taking place across the school. While Year 6 students across the state are actively preparing for their high school journey, our staff and Year 9 student ambassadors recently visited local primary schools to speak with Stage 3 students. The students had many questions about high school life — from subject choices and co-curricular activities to homework expectations, canteen facilities, lockers, and lesson duration. Our ambassadors did an outstanding job answering their questions and helping to ease any concerns about the transition to high school. Many thanks to Ms La Grassa for organising these visits, which help build valuable connections within our local community.
Swimming Carnival
Our school swimming carnival was a fantastic day, blessed with beautiful weather and strong participation from all house colours. Congratulations to all our competitors and students who represented the school at the Zone carnival this week. A huge thank you to Ms Battaglia for her stellar organisation, and to our house captains and patrons for their spirit and enthusiasm. Carnival days like these offer a great opportunity for students to enjoy themselves beyond the classroom and strengthen community bonds.
High Achievers Assembly
We were delighted to welcome back our Class of 2025 graduates for the High Achievers’ Assembly, a special occasion to acknowledge and celebrate excellence across all year groups including out HSC distinguished achievers. Our Dux, Max Albany, delivered a thought-provoking speech reflecting on the challenges within the education system, and the enduring value of learning. Max generously shared five practical study tips and encouraged students to focus on their personal progress rather than comparing themselves to others—a powerful message for all learners.
We extend our warmest congratulations to all our top performers from 2025, including the Dux of each year group. Your dedication, hard work, and outstanding achievements are a credit to yourselves, your families, and our school community.
| Year 7 | Year 8 | Year 9 |
| Gracie Henderson – Overall Dux | Isabella Ristau – DUX | Aya Maltby – DUX |
| Jyothi De Martin 1st in 7P | Angelina Xu – 2nd | Emily Turnbull – 2nd |
| Hazkia Djamal 1st in 7M | Mia Chow – 3rd | Ashna Bichuka – 3rd |
| Ziqi Mu 1st in 7E | ||
| Esmie Brewer 1st in 7C |
| Year 10 | Year 11 | Year 12 |
| Ismini Stavropoulos – DUX | Dion Stefanis – DUX | Max Albany – DUX |
| Michelle Li – 2nd | Zara Brady – 2nd | Sofia Velasi – 2nd |
| Ellinor Gudmundsson & Georgie Smith – Equal 3rd | Ariunzaya Lkhundev – 3rd | Lola Di Bella – 3rd |
| Charlotte Earp – 4th |
International Woman’s Day
In recognition of International Women’s Day, leaders from Years 11 and 12 attended the UN Women’s lunch event at ICC Sydney. The theme, “Balance the Scales,” underscores the ongoing work needed to achieve gender equality. Our students were inspired by speeches from remarkable leaders and advocates such as Jennifer Robinson, Grace Tame, Vanessa Turnbull-Roberts, and Jess Hill, who shared their insights on leadership, advocacy, and creating positive change. We look forward to celebrating International Women’s Day as a whole school community on Monday.
The week ahead
We have a big week ahead! On Monday, the school will come together to celebrate International Women’s Day, an important occasion to recognise the achievements of women and promote gender equality.
Tuesday is our Co-curricular Clubs and Activities Fair — a fantastic opportunity for all groups to showcase their offerings and for students to explore the wide range of activities available at our school. I encourage every student to check it out, get involved, and let us know if there is a club or activity they would like to see started. I sincerely thank the SRC and Ms Henzell for their leadership in expanding this initiative from last year, helping to make it an even more engaging event for our community.
Tuesday evening is our Open Night, when we look forward to welcoming families and the wider community to showcase all that makes our school such a vibrant and supportive learning environment.
Additionally, NAPLAN testing begins next week for students in Years 7 and 9. This important assessment helps us to understand how students are progressing in key areas such as literacy and numeracy, allowing teachers to tailor support where it’s needed most. We encourage all students to approach NAPLAN with their best effort, knowing that their participation contributes to strengthening their learning journey.
We look forward to an exciting and productive second half of the term.
