Speech Night 2024

Speech Night will be held at the Sydney Town Hall on Monday 2 December, with rehearsals conducted throughout the afternoon and the ceremony commencing at 7.30pm. Students are not required to attend school on the Monday morning, as the school will be closed. Attendance at Speech Night is compulsory for all girls from Years 3-12. It is anticipated that Speech Night will conclude at approximately 9.30pm. Correct summer uniform should be worn (blazers are not required).

Students in the Secondary School will go straight to the Town Hall on Monday afternoon, arriving progressively for rehearsals.

• Musicians in ensembles such as the Special Project Orchestra and Combined Choirs will be required from approximately 2.30pm. Precise arrival times and rehearsal schedules for all musicians will be provided by the Music Department.
• All remaining students in the Secondary School will be required to meet their Form Teachers in St. Andrew’s Square (next to the Town Hall) at 4.45pm, for the full school rehearsal.

Parents of Secondary girls who are in groups that rehearse prior to the arrival of the majority of the Secondary School should be aware that girls will be dismissed for short, unsupervised breaks in the vicinity of the Town Hall. All students in the Secondary School will also be dismissed for a short dinner break from approximately 6.00pm to 6.45pm when students will also need to remain in the vicinity of the Town Hall. All Secondary students will need to be seated back in the Town Hall, with their Form Teachers, before 7.00pm.

For the Primary School (Years 3-6), girls will meet at school in the afternoon, and will travel by bus to the Town Hall accompanied by their teachers. Girls must arrive at school by 3.15pm for a 3.30pm departure. There will be supervision of the girls in their classrooms from 3.00pm onwards, and girls are asked not to be at school before this time. Primary girls are asked to bring with them an evening meal, clearly labelled with their name and class, packed in disposable wrapping. They should also bring with them a disposable water bottle. Primary girls will not be given permission to meet at the Town Hall, or to leave the Town Hall between the rehearsal and Speech Night.

Holly Gyton
Deputy Head of School

Class Parents 2025

Will your daughter be in Year 2, Year 6, Year 8, Year 10 or Year 11 in 2025?

Then why don’t you register as a Class Parent?

You will play a vital role in fostering connections between your Year Group, the P&F Association, the Trust and the School.

Click here to register today!

Year 2-6 Primary Swimming Carnival

You can preview the program here.

Parent / Spectator Seating Area

Parent / spectator seating is located on the balcony viewing area at the north end of the pool or behind the students in the 2nd tier of grandstand seating. Parents and spectators are not permitted to sit with students. Students must remain in their designated House seating area.

Parents / Spectators will be charged $3.50 per entry (16 Years and over).

On the Carnival Day

Students come to school in PE uniform with their swimmers on underneath. At the carnival, students may wear House coloured  clothing and accessories to enhance the atmosphere of the day. PE uniform must be worn correctly to and from school and students must arrive at school by 8.15am and attend Form.

Students will travel by chartered bus leaving SCEGGS at 8.30am. After the carnival, students will either return to school by chartered bus or can be collected by a parent /carer from the venue.

Written permission must be sent to your daughter’s classroom teacher if she is being collected from the pool after the carnival. 

Students taking the bus back to school will arrive in time for 3.10pm carline collection.

It is expected that students will stay for the entire Carnival.

The pool at Lane Cove Leisure Centre is an outdoor pool. While undercover seating is available, students must also take measures to stay sun-safe, including wearing t-shirts when not competing and hats when sitting in the stands. They are also expected to bring and apply sunscreen throughout the day. Students should wear their SCEGGS swim costume. They can also wear any other sun-protective swimwear for the day, such as a rash shirt. We ask that the students bring enough food and drink for the day.

Parents may sit behind the students’ seating area or on the balcony overlooking the pool’s finish line. While the canteen facilities are open to parents and spectators, we ask that no food or drinks are purchased for students.

Co-curricular Activities on Monday 18 November

Years 3-6 Monday swim squad will be cancelled on the morning of the carnival. All after-school sports activities will be on as usual; however, attendance is not compulsory. We do ask that you let the relevant Sports Coordinator know if your daughter is going to be absent from any after-school co-curricular activities, as per usual protocol.

IPSHA Selection

This year’s carnival will be used to select next year’s IPSHA Swimming Team. We encourage all students to get involved in all events and strive for their personal best! Any students who are absent on the day of the carnival and wish to trial for the IPSHA Swimming Team will be able to do so in early 2025. This date is yet to be confirmed.

We are looking forward to a beautiful day. In the case of inclement weather and the need to cancel the carnival, a decision will be made by 7.30am and communicated via Clipboard and the SCEGGS App.

For any questions, please reach out. 

Mr Adrian Hammond
Primary Sports Coordinator

2025 Book Lists Year 7-11

The Year 7-11 Book Lists will be live next week on Box of Books and available for purchase.

To ensure delivery for the start of Term 1 2025, Box of Book have indicated that all orders need to be received by 8 December 2024.

Please note – if your daughter is new to SCEGGS and/or you do not know your daughter’s email address as yet, please enter in her email as:
firstnamelastname@sceggs.nsw.edu.au (eg gracesmith@sceggs.nsw.edu.au)

Box of Books will then contact the school to confirm the details. This will only affect accessing the digital books, physical delivery will still be processed according to the details you provide. Once your daughter’s email is confirmed she will be able to access the digital versions as well.

Craig Whalland
Director of ICT

Cape York 2024 Student Immersion

We continue to share the personal reflections and photos from the students who were on this year’s immersion to Traditional Homelands in Cape York. This week we hope you enjoy the reflection from Jessica Gallie (Year 9).

For the previous week’s reflections see here.

Carol Bloomfield
Head of Student Wellbeing Programs

Reflections from the Cape York Immersion (Kalkajaka-Panamuunji)

The Cape York immersion to remote Indigenous communities in far North Queensland was a truly memorable experience that gave me a greater understanding of Indigenous culture. Learning about the deep connection Indigenous Australians have with the land, air, and waterways as well as each other through sacred stories left me awestruck, and I will forever be grateful for this rare experience.

After an early 4am flight we arrived at our first homeland, Kalkajaka. It was very different from Sydney being hot, dry, and surrounded by huge mountains. We were warmly welcomed by the Traditional owner, Ian, around the campfire. We learnt that being welcomed onto Country was to protect us and to acknowledge and that we are visitors on this sacred Indigenous land. This information was new to me and helped me recognise the enduring bonds between Elders and the land. Ian led us on a tour around the bush, where we explored the mountainous landscape, learnt about the uses for native bushtucker, and listened to ancient Dreamtime stories which explained how the land came to be. One of my favourite activities in this homeland was going for a late-night walk along a creek, where we spotted wildlife like eels, frogs, toads and lizards. I was amazed by the vast knowledge Ian had about each animal, which helped me learn not to fear wildlife but to embrace the uncomfortable.

On the final night, we had an amazing talent show, where groups sang, danced and performed some magic tricks that may or may not have gone to plan. There was a notable effort from the teachers who gave us a beautiful upside-down performance of “Bohemian Rhapsody”. This experience strengthened our relationships with each other as peers and group leaders.

It was sad to leave this beautiful homeland that made us reflect on how different our lives are in Sydney. That’s what made this new experience so special. The memories will stick with me forever because it gave me new insights into different ways of life, experiences which have shaped my perspective on embracing change.

After saying a sad goodbye to Ian, we all jumped onto the bus, leaving for our second homeland, Panamuunji. We arrived at a tiny town called Hopevale and did some sightseeing. All the facilities like the school, church, and supermarket were close together, so it was easy to see how interconnected the community must be. While we didn’t stay in the town, it was eye-opening to see how different the cultures are in busy Darlinghurst to quiet Hopevale. A short drive away were the Traditional Owners Tim and Elaine’s property where we would be staying. When we got to their home Tim performed a smoking ceremony as a formal Welcome to Country which made me feel very immersed in the experience. We explored the land surrounding our campsite where Tim shared with us knowledge of the land that had been passed down through generations. We discovered the medicinal benefits of bush tucker and other interesting uses for plants, like how the a seed from a tree which looked like a wooden bush peg can be used to hang up clothes, which became very useful after getting wet the next day! We went for a swim in the creek where we were shown a natural clay face mask which I thought was pretty cool. Tim reflected on his time at the creek as a young boy, how it was used for fishing, recreation and bathing. Hearing these stories, I realised how important it is to preserve Indigenous land so the rich connection First Nations Peoples have with Country can be preserved for future generations.

While at the Panamuunji homeland we helped build facilities so Tim and Elaine can continue to share their stories and experiences with future groups. We helped make a garden bed and finished work on a sewerage system. My job was to dig a trench outside the showers so the water could flow easily and to install plumbing for flushing toilets, which gave me a newfound respect for how difficult physical labour can be. While the tasks were challenging, it was rewarding seeing how collaborative work can create something that will benefit others. It was also a token of gratitude, from us, to thank Tim and Elaine for opening their hearts and homes.

While the Kalkajaka and Panamuunji homelands differed in many cultural aspects, both provided me with knowledge that has been passed down for thousands of years, which has inspired my everyday life. The immersion has motivated me to strive to be actively involved in reconciliation by sharing these stories and experiences with a wider community. It’s life-changing to hear traditional Elders share their culture and understanding and start conversations that will continue well beyond their Homelands.

Jessica Gallie
Year 9

From The Chaplain

The End of One Drive, the Beginning of Another!

Mr Lee-Lindsay Needs Toiletries By Friday 15 November!

Thanks to all of those people that have brought in toiletry items for those in need already. These items often get left off the list of essentials as many families and individuals prioritise food when budgeting. The type of items that are needed include:

• Pump bottles of soap
• Shampoo
• Conditioner
• Tooth Paste
• Tooth Brushes
• Razors
• Deodorant (preferably roll on)
• Small packets of Toilet Paper and Tissues

There will be a basket outside of the chapel where these items can be placed. I will deliver these items towards the end of Week 5 (15 November). Your generosity is always appreciated.

Festival of Lessons and Carols

Our Festival of Lessons and Carols is being held this year on Tuesday 26 November at 7.00pm in the Great Hall. Everyone in and connected to our community is warmly invited as we celebrate the joy and meaning of Christmas. We take a collection at this service every year and the money donated always goes towards a local charity. Please remember to bring cash if you would like to contribute to the offertory. I hope to see you there!

Christmas gifts collection

As part of our annual school Christmas service, we ask each student to contribute towards a gift for either a boy or a girl, wrapped in cellophane, to donate to different organizations that provide presents for families. These gifts will be distributed to children that may not otherwise receive anything at Christmas due to poverty or other family issues. The demand is ever increasing due to the unsettling times that many families face due to financial pressure and housing stresses. It is a great joy to be able to deliver these gifts personally to these organizations. The feedback that we get each year is that these gifts make a huge difference to children throughout our city, giving them the message that they are loved and cared for. We will be receiving those gifts up until Monday 25 November. More information will be delivered to students via their form or class teachers.

Rev. Garry Lee-Lindsay
Chaplain

Religious Education

Throughout this term in Religious Education, Years 8 and 10 have both been learning about something that in Christianity we consider to be foundational to our worldview and way of interacting with the world. This principle teaching guides and informs so much of what underpins Christianity, and it is something that here at SCEGGS we deeply value and care about. This principle is human dignity.

Through the unit of study “Jesus’ radical teachings and actions”, Year 8 students in their examination wrote about how Jesus taught us the importance of an inclusive and nurturing community, where people are cared for, because we take the time to notice and welcome all into our society, with love. The comprehension passage ‘More than an OpShop’, an article about Anglicare’s Hornsby OpShop, contained beautiful stories about two women, Olga and Emma, who both tried to live out the love of God through their actions. The student’s examination responses were sincere, well thought-out and insightful as they examined how Jesus’ teaching of love, justice and compassion for all can be lived out in our daily lives, and as a result, change the way we interact, to bring about a world that values all.

Similarly, Year 10 have also been considering how it is we help in creating a more just and loving world. Throughout this term, they have been considering what human dignity is and through a case study of the Truman Show, explored ethical questions regarding the ways that we deny or limit people’s self-expression and fundamental human rights. In their recent Assessment Task, amongst other questions, they were asked to reflect on how principles of justice and equity are expressed in the teaching of the Kingdom of God and whose responsibility it is to ensure the rights of all are upheld in society.

Attached are a few student responses to these very important points of reflection and consideration. The students have embraced these tasks with such deep interest and reflection, making it very difficult to choose only a handful of responses to print here.

Dynielle Whitney
Head of Religious Education

Extracts from Students 

The Christian worldview enables us to not only participate in actions that benefit ourselves, but also actions that benefit others, and the wider community. It’s a way of looking at life through the lense of Jesus and God’s teachings, a way to harness the good in life and live your actions with the hallowing sense of good. Jesus not only came into the world at a time that needed him, but also at a time where he knew stories and teachings of his actions would continue to benefit society for centuries to come. People needed a purpose in life and guidance, and they also craved love. Jesus gave them all of these things. ….From Emma’s (from the article) point of view, Jesus’ purpose is to serve others, so that is her purpose in life too. Jesus’ teachings offer many positive messages about the Kingdom of God and the values people can partake in to make their lives richer with kindness….Jesus’ radical teachings explores the progressive and compassionate nature of God as instead of following the oppressive societal norms of the time (like stoning a woman to death for committing adultery) Jesus defines these in a way that inspires others and in a way that teaches us how to treat everyone equally and with respect, even those considered different. An instance of this is the story of the final dinner Jesus had when he takes the role of the servant and begins washing everyone’s feet, even Simon’s who has sinned against Jesus, and Jesus knows this. Jesus washing everyone’s feet teaches us about the inclusive nature of God and to treat everyone the same. It also teaches us that we are not “above” anyone, and to express this, especially as a way of expressing compassion.

Josephine Hatherall, Year 8 Examination

Dignity is the concept of seeing a person beyond their usefulness. It involves treating all people with respect, love, justice, equality and allowing freedom. Genesis 1:27 states that all people both male and female are created in God’s image. From a Christian perspective God is seen to represent the value of dignity and the Genesis quote demonstrates that any person, no matter their gender or usefulness is sacred and displays God’s image, meaning they all show dignity.

Hannah Doolan, Year 10 Assessment Task

Dignity is the idea that all humans have an innate sense of respect that stems from being made in the image of God. Since everyone is made in the image of God, all humans deserve justice, peace, respect and equality…The Universal Declaration of Human Rights states “All human beings are born free and equal”, affirming that all people deserve dignity. From a Christian perspective, this fundamental dignity stems from being made in the image of God. In Genesis the Bible repeatedly refers to the inherent link between dignity and peace, for example saying “Let there be peace on Earth”. This is a direct result of being created by God, instilling a sense of basic human decency that all humans can recognise in each other, fundamentally as dignity. Ultimately, all people are made by God, and it is through His love and power, and through Jesus’ example, that people can recognise the basic shared dignity all humans hold, and the respect, justice and equality leading to peace that all humans deserve.

Natalie Assaad, Year 10 Assessment Task

English Writing Competition

Congratulations to Anna Slack (Year 7) and Ashley Diec (Year 9) for their recent successes in two prestigious writing competitions.

Anna has been shortlisted for the 2024 Insight Creative Writing Competition. This National Competition has hundreds of submissions each year and to be selected as one of the top five entries from Year 7 is a remarkable achievement. We wish Anna all the best for the formal announcement of the winning entry, and the celebration of the shortlisted works, in Victoria on Wednesday 11 December.

Ashley has been awarded a partial scholarship after entering an essay competition linked to the Oxford University summer school program she attended this year. Her well-researched and powerful essay explores the inequity of the Australian legal system for Aboriginal Australians who experience systemic disadvantage. Ashley must be commended on her engagement with this important and challenging issue.

Jenny Bean
Head of English

Secondary Sport News

Aquathon

On Tuesday November 5, SCEGGS sent a team of 34 competitors to the CGSSAA Aquathon that was held at Merrylands Pool. SCEGGS entered both Individual and Team Events on the day. Well done to all students, we are very proud of every one of you who participated.

Chloe Yule (Year 10) and Gemma Shennan (Year 8) were our only Individual entrants, and both performed strongly in the Junior and Intermediate age groups.

The SCEGGS teams were very successful in winning several age groups. The Intermediate teams were particularly strong and won the Gold, Silver and Bronze Medals in the team event!

Highlights of the day were as follows:

Junior Team

Intermediate Team

Following this event, we will now start to gather entries for the NSW All Schools Triathlon Championships to be held early in Term 1, 2025.

Indoor Hockey

Well done to the Indoor Hockey girls who have been training hard and competing in the Sydney Indoor Hockey Competition held over Wednesday and Thursday evenings. Pictured below is the SCEGGS 2 team that have performed strongly so far.

Touch

We celebrate some of the action from the East Touch competition.

Final Sporting Fixtures

Please note that the final round of matches for Easts Touch, IGSA Water Polo, IGSA Tennis, IPSHA Basketball and Year 3 Football will take place on Saturday November 30. The final day of term is on December 2 (Speech Night) so we will be training and competing right up to the final Saturday. All players are expected to honour their commitment to their teams.

Sports Nominations

All Sports Nominations for Term 1, 2025 are now overdue. If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact Alison Gowan.

SCEGGS at Play

Do you have any sporting news or photos to share in the Green Gate?

We love seeing our students being active and want to celebrate their passion and enjoyment amongst the SCEGGS community. Please send in any action shots from the weekend and any other interesting sporting highlights to Alison Gowan.

SCEGGS Training sessions before and after school plus Saturday Sport

Any cancellations or adjustments will be made in Clipboard and families will receive a notification or email when changes are made. Please ensure you have notifications enabled.

All Clipboard notifications will now come through the SCEGGS Mobile App too, so if you have been receiving notifications from Clipboard (eg when sport is cancelled due to wet weather), you will need to download the SCEGGS Mobile App to ensure that you continue to receive these push notifications.

IGSA Fixtures, Results and Wet Weather

The IGSA website and platform for accessing wet weather, and team results can be found here.

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact myself on 9052 2721 or 0418 491 521.

Alison Gowan
Director of Sport

Visual Arts

We are pleased to share the Howard Tanner Drawing Prize entries for 2024. It is wonderful to see such a diversity of practice and submissions from across all Year Groups. As a department we are thrilled to see our students extend their art making into their own time and to cultivate joy through their creative endeavour.

Drawing remains an important skill that teaches students close observation of the world around them, improves fine motor skills and provides an immersive space for contemplation. Drawing and working with visual mediums as a regular practice affords many opportunities to work on critical and creative skills to develop insight, awareness, understanding, and enhance articulation.

Drawing is a fundamental aspect of the SCEGGS Art Department programming, informed by a rich, exploratory investigation of drawing media, into both traditional and more experimental and expanded forms of expression.

These works will be on show during Week 7 alongside the co-curricular Drawing, Painting and Darkroom students work.

Details and formal invitations to be shared soon.

The winner will be announced by Ms Allum at Speech Night.

Congratulations to all these students!

Below entries reflects students work: 

Banner Acknowledgement: This week’s banner is from Year 7 student Erica Lansdown.

Heidi Jackson
Head of Visual Arts

Primary & Secondary Music

Musicale 4

Congratulations to all involved in the Musicale 4 performances last week. There is such value in bringing our musical skills together in ensembles and producing something much greater than the sum of the individual parts.

Here are some images from Musicale 4:

Alice in Wonderland

After months of practicing their singing, dancing and dramatic acting, Years 5 & 6 presented the musical Alice in Wonderland. The students created a realm filled with wonder and magic through their outstanding performances. The three performances were filled with family, friends and Years K-4.  Thank you to Poppy Lynch (Director), Allison Harrigan (Musical Director), Eddi Goodfellow (AV), Catherine McKay (Accompanist) and the Band. And a huge thank you to Mrs Helen Dempsey, Mrs Gabi Grocott, the Primary School staff, and all parents for your incredible support.

Here are some images from Alice in Wonderland:

Paddington RSL Remembrance Day

On Sunday 10 November, a group of students participated in the Paddington RSL Remembrance Day service. Their performance was a valued contribution to the event, honouring and commemorating Australia’s servicemen and servicewomen.

Festival of Lessons and Carols

• Primary students involved: Years 5 & 6 Choirs (all students in Year 5 & 6) & Cantare
• Secondary students involved: Choir, Madrigal Ensemble and Amati Strings

Further details can be found in these notes Primary and Secondary. 

Beyond the Green Gate

We love hearing about ways our musicians are involved in music-making outside of school. Please send details to Heidi Jones.

Clipboard

All co-curricular music ensemble schedules are now available on Clipboard. If you haven’t set this up yet, please follow the provided instructions. For any issues with Clipboard set-up, contact our Music Administration Assistant Miss Alice Kotowicz.

Upcoming Events:

Term 4

Heidi Jones
Head of Music (Co-curricular)

Primary School Paddle Pops and Icy Poles Day

On Tuesday 19 November at lunchtime, the SCEGGS Parents & Friends Association will be holding a Paddle Pop Day in the Primary School.

Paddle Pops and ice blocks will be offered. The girls are asked to bring $2.00 on the day if they want to enjoy a treat.

Careers Corner

Welcome to Issue 57 of your Careers Corner Newsletter.

Featured in this issue is information about:

• STEM & Medical Tertiary Study Information
• UNSW Elite Athlete Scholarships 
• University Information

If you have any feedback or information for future Careers Corner Newsletters, please get in touch with our Careers Advisor, Andrea Pinnock.

Andrea Pinnock
Careers Advisor

Parents’ and Friends’ Association

Class Parent Events