Tickets on sale next week!

Dear Families

I am thrilled to announce that tickets for the Hope: SCEGGS’ 130 Anniversary Concert will go on sale at 10am on Tuesday 27 May.

I am so proud of the efforts of all the students, music staff and indeed the whole school for the enthusiasm and energy they have been applying to their rehearsals and preparations – I know how diligently you have all been working and I applaud you for this.

The Concert will be held on Monday 23 June in the Sydney Town Hall and will begin promptly at 6pm (late comers with a ticket will only be admitted during an appropriate break in the performances). 

Tickets will be $35 per person with a limit of two per family. SCEGGS students in Years 3-12 will not require a ticket. Further arrangements for the day (including rehearsal information, locations and timings for students) will be emailed to all families before the end of this week.

We are very excited to celebrate this joyful milestone with you as we mark 130 years of SCEGGS and look forward to seeing many of you there!

Jenny Allum
Head of School

Supporting Indigenous Voices on a Global Stage

Last Sunday a fantastic team of 15 dedicated students and six enthusiastic teachers made their way to Centennial Park accompanied by their furry friends to take part in a Walkathon. This wasn’t just any blustery stroll in the park; it was a mission with a powerful purpose, to raise funds to frame a stunning artwork created by the incredibly talented emerging artist, Aunty Ivy Minniecon. The goal? To ensure her masterpiece could be auctioned for the very best price.

We are thrilled to report that we are well on our way to raising the necessary funds to cover the framing costs. A massive “thank you” goes out to every member of our school community and beyond who has already generously donated. Your support makes a difference! While we have made great strides, there is still a little way to go, and we would be incredibly grateful for any further donations, no matter how small. Every contribution brings us closer to our goal!

Ready to Help? Click here to donate

Now that Aunty Ivy Minniecon’s artwork is beautifully framed, it is ready for its moment in the spotlight – the auction. The journey of this artwork doesn’t end there. The funds raised from its sale will go towards a very significant initiative, supporting Indigenous community leaders and accompanying young people as they embark on an inspiring journey to Canada next month. This group are attending the prestigious Indigenous Theological Symposium: Voices of the Matriarchs and Women in Community. This international gathering is a rare opportunity, bringing together Indigenous women of faith from across the globe.

This isn’t just about attending a conference, it is about empowering our future and present leaders, fostering cross-cultural understanding, and amplifying Indigenous voices on a global platform. We are seeking your support in helping our community achieve this impactful goal. By participating in the artwork auction, you are not just acquiring a beautiful piece of art, you are directly contributing to a vital movement that empowers Indigenous leadership and strengthens global connections.

Click here  to learn more about Aunty Ivy Minniecon’s magnificent artwork, delve into the artist’s story, or find out how to place your bid?

Together, we can make a significant contribution to this incredible journey and support the invaluable work of our Indigenous community leaders and young people.

Nicola Kidston (on behalf of the Student & Teacher RAP Committees)

SCEGGS AGM Reminder

SCEGGS Trust and SCEGGS Darlinghurst Limited Annual General Meeting

A reminder that members of the SCEGGS Trust and the School Company are invited to attend the Annual General Meeting (AGM) on Monday 26 May in the Joan Freeman Lecture Theatre. The AGM of the SCEGGS Trust will begin at 7.30pm followed by the AGM of the School Company at 8.00pm. If you are not a company member of the SCEGGS Trust or SCEGGS Darlinghurst Limited but are interested in coming along to the AGM, you are most welcome to attend. This is a great opportunity to hear more about the work of the Trust and School Board and to meet the Board Directors.

You can read more information about the SCEGGS Trust here and the School Board here.

Old Girls’ Art Exhibition

Support for the School and our community has long been part of the SCEGGS experience and the Old Girls’ Art exhibition is yet another way you can contribute.

The SCEGGS OGU is delighted to offer for sale over 150 amazing art works, produced by Old Girls, current and former Visual Arts staff, and friends of the school community. With 30% of the sale price of every artwork donated to the school to support Old Girls scholarships, this is an opportunity for former students and families to support the next generation of SCEGGS girls.

We hope you enjoy browsing the 2025 Old Girls’ Art Exhibition and find that special artwork that you love!

Thank you for supporting this endeavour! 

Kindly contact Jo Whiteman at school on 9332 1133 or via email if you wish to find out any further information.

SCEGGS Old Girls’ Union

Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award

A Year of Adventure, Challenge, and Growth

Halfway through 2025, SCEGGS students have embraced the spirit of the Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award with energy and resilience. Around 170 students have already completed their Practice Adventurous Journeys, exploring bushland and rivers across Sydney, the Colo, Kangaroo Valley, and the Blue Mountains. These experiences have not only built outdoor skills but also inspired many to tackle their Qualifying Journeys in the coming months. Recent highlights include a 3-day Silver Adventurous Journey with a scenic hike from Cowan to Berowra Waters and paddle to Twin Beaches on the Hawkesbury. The group was treated to beautiful weather, a foggy morning, and even two surprise “crew members” for the final stretch.

During the last school holidays, our Gold group undertook a memorable 6-day Adventurous Journey in the Kangaroo Valley, demonstrating remarkable adaptability and teamwork. Despite facing challenging conditions-persistent rain, cold, and fog at the start and end-the group maintained a positive attitude, supporting one another throughout the expedition. Midway through the journey, the weather shifted, blessing the team with three days of sunshine. This allowed everyone to fully immerse themselves in the magic of paddling and camping along the Kangaroo Valley River. The group navigated tranquil waterways and camped at remote riverside sites accessible only by canoe, truly embracing the spirit of adventure. Highlights included close encounters with local wildlife: a diamond python basking on the riverbank, a wombat wandering through the undergrowth, kangaroos grazing near camp, and an impressive array of birdlife, including kingfishers and eagles. Evenings were spent gathered around the campfire, sharing stories and playing games beneath star-filled skies. Throughout the journey, students developed new skills in efficient paddling, outdoor living and self-sufficiency-core aims of the Adventurous Journey component. Congratulations to the Gold group for their determination and camaraderie. Their achievements reflect the true spirit of adventure and personal growth that our school community values.

Gold participants also excelled in their Residential Projects, from bush regeneration and cultural learning to outstanding achievements like Coco Espie winning the 2025 Summer Down Under Wheelchair Athletics Track Meet and Chloe Yule participating in a swimming squad camp in Hong Kong. Others broadened horizons through cultural immersion trips and service projects, fulfilling the Award’s aim to learn new skills and/or contribute to the community while living away from home.

For those yet to complete their expeditions, residential or volunteering, opportunities remain open. Holdsworth, a not-for-profit, community organisation based on Holdsworth Street, Woollahra are currently looking for volunteers. Pittwater Eco Adventures has spots available next holidays where participants contribute to real-world conservation projects, like coastal habitat restoration and recycling. They also learn from Aboriginal facilitators about Culture and Connection to Country. Please remember to reach out and make the most of the year. Year 12s are encouraged to log activities and finish reports before academic demands further intensify.

Congratulations to all for your achievements so far. Your adventurous journeys are not just about reaching destinations, but about the growth, friendships, and memories made along the way. I look forward to sharing more adventures and successes in the months ahead.

Ms Jo Bower
Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award Leader

School Photographs

School photographs are taken and managed by Advanced Life Photography.

Group and portrait photographs can be purchased by following the link below or by the student returning the order envelope with your payment to Advanced Life photographers on school photo day.  

To order school photography packages via their website, you will need to enter the 9 digit SCEGGS Advanced order code, which can be found on the envelope and on the Parent Portal.

Please contact Advanced Life if you have any other questions.

Phil Rogers
Director of Administration

Fresh Fruit Friday

We’re excited to announce the return of Fresh Fruit Friday this year! It’s an initiative led by the SRC and is a great way for SCEGGS families from across both the Primary and Secondary School to come together and support others by donating fresh fruits and vegetables to local charities. If you would like to participate, students are asked to bring in this produce on Friday mornings before school of Weeks 4, 6 and 8 to the Jacaranda Gate (Secondary School) and the Primary Gate (Primary School). These will then be collected and taken to local charities.

We hope to see as many of you as possible dropping off your donation in these coming weeks.

The SRC

Primary and Secondary Music

130^th Anniversary Concert

We have an incredibly exciting second half of the term ahead with hundreds of students in Years 3 – 12 preparing for the:

130th Anniversary Concert rehearsal

Performances

Sunday Rehearsals

To prepare for this important event, we have scheduled two Sunday rehearsals:

Sunday 1 June

Sunday 15 June

Madrigal Ensemble

The Madrigal Ensemble had a special visit this week from Gabrielle Cunningham (2024), who wrote the poem that composer Paul Jarman used to create the lyrics for the Whole School Item, Trailblazer. Gabby generously answered the students’ questions about her writing process, the inspirations behind the poem, and how she captured the experience of being a young woman at SCEGGS.

Although Gabby will be overseas during the 130th Anniversary Concert, she was treated to a sneak preview of the piece, performed especially for her by the Madrigal Ensemble.

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.

Heidi Jones
Head of Music (Co-curricular)

Secondary Sport News

Cross Country

The IGSA Cross Country Championships were held at Frensham School last Friday. SCEGGS sent 50 students across seven age groups to compete. The team has been training hard all year at both the Wednesday morning Striders and the Friday morning cross country sessions. Several “lunchtime legends sessions” were also added in this term. A special thank you to Ms Thompson and all of our coaching team who worked tirelessly to prepare them for the competition. Thank you to Ms Axford and Ms Styles who also supported the team at Frensham.

Here is a clip from the day.

SCEGGS has some terrific results on the day and finished 12^th overall out of 27 schools.

SCEGGS won the Bronze Medal in the 17 years team event which consisted of Nancy Newton, Lily Cooney and Annaliese Stackpool.

Good luck to all runners who have now qualified to represent IGSA at the NSWCIS Cross Country Championships.

 Athletics

Well done to Annabelle Jessup (Year 9), Nancy Newton (Year 11) and Lily Cooney  (Year 11) who competed in the NSW 5km State Championships over the weekend (Sydney 10). All three girls had terrific races and achieved personal best results after backing up from the IGSA Cross Country.

• Annabelle placed 3rd in the U16s.
• Lily placed 4^th in the U18s
• Nancy placed 5^th in the U18s.

Best wishes to Coco Espie (Year 11) who flew out to Switzerland this week with the Australian Wheelchair Athletics Team to compete in 3 events. We look forward to hearing about her experiences upon her return.

Term 3 Sport Selection

 Activity Selection for Term 3 Sport opened on Friday 16 May, in Clipboard.

 To assist in the planning of all Sport for Term 3, we ask that parents / carers sit down with students to submit the online form by Friday 23 May.

Please click here to enrol for Term 3 2025 Co-Curricular Sport.

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, fixtures 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

Primary Sport News

Saturday Sport

It was a challenging weekend for all the IPSHA sports teams. In IPSHA Minkey/Hockey, the two SCEGGS teams had tough losses in their respective games. Pymble were too strong for the combined 5/6 team who lost 0-5 and the 4A team went down against Ascham despite making great improvements from their previous game. In IPSHA Netball, some of the teams came close to winning, including the 5B and 4B teams narrowly losing by two goals. Year 3 touch had a positive round, coming away with two wins. Edith Herceg (Year 3) was a standout for her team with her sharp footwork. The teams have been focusing on getting the ball forward by “Driving”, working together in defence to stop tries, and passing to their teammates.

NSW Netball Schools Cup

On Tuesday 20 May, SCEGGS entered the 6A team into the NSW Netball Schools Cup Gala Day at Randwick Netball Association. The 10 girls thoroughly enjoyed the experience and were highly competitive against some strong opposition. The team played five games throughout the day and managed two wins, including 14-4 against Moriah and 19-9 against Kambala. They had an extremely close 6-7 loss against Queenwood. Eve Tawfik (Year 6) was a standout with her accurate shooting. The team finished in 11^th place overall and had a great day.

TERM 3 Sport: Due Tomorrow!

The Activity Selection form for Term 3 Sport is OPEN and can be viewed in Clipboard. To assist in the planning of all Sport for Term 3, we ask that parents/carers sit down with students to submit the online form by Friday 23 May. However, the form will remain open until Monday 26 May at the latest.

Please click on this link to enrol for Term 3 2025 Co-Curricular Sport.

Sign up for Athletics Carnival Track Events

The Athletics Carnival is scheduled for Friday Week 7, however the 1500m races will take place on Monday in Week 6. In the process of preparing for the carnival, students are invited to sign up now for specific track events.

Please note the entry close dates listed below:

Years 3-6 Events

Years K-2 Events

K-2 students will be involved in some fun track races on the Carnival day. These will be listed in the program, available to parents closer to the carnival date.

Click here to sign up for Years 3-6 Track Events

Important Sports Dates:

Have a wonderful week!

Mr Adrian Hammond
Primary Sport Coordinator

Cape York 2024 Student Immersion

This week we return to Behind the Green Gate with a few more reflections from our Cape York Immersion travellers.

The Year 11s from the Red Group, Aida Tristram, Luella Walsh and Charlotte Wollard share with us their thoughts and experiences.

Cape York Reflection 

Aida Tristram

 This trip to me was not just a chance to camp with friends, but a chance to experience and immerse myself in the depths and peace of traditional land and Aboriginal way of life. Through stories and cultural practices, I was able to participate in with Ian, Tim, and Elaine in Kalkajaka and Panamunji Homelands, I was given the chance to deepen my understanding of Indigenous knowledge. Sitting down on the Kalkajaka black boulders, around the campfire eating damper, and watching the clouds settle behind the Panamunji landscape allowed me to develop a greater skill and appreciation for respecting traditional land and community. I felt the history imbedded in nature beneath my feet, and by sitting and listening to historical harmony echoing off the environment, I found comfort in sketching some trees.  

Luella Walsh

 From 29 September to 7 October a group of students including myself, travelled to Cape York. During our immersion, we experienced a once in a lifetime opportunity. Visiting two homelands, Kalkajaka and Panamuunji, these homelands had a significant impact on me, transforming my perspective on life. Over the nine days of travelling with the Red Group, I was able to form meaningful connections with the Elders while also building relationships with the year below.  

With an early morning 4am flight we departed from Sydney airport and started our journey, travelling to remote Indigenous communities in far North Queensland. When we arrived at our first homeland Kalkajaka we were greeted by our first elder Ian, as he welcomed us to his homeland and Country, we learnt that his welcoming would protect us and acknowledge that we were visitors on this sacred Indigenous land. As we partook in many cultural activities such as making damper and walking around the homeland looking for bush tucker, Ian guided us towards the green ants known as yunga in Ian’s language. We tried these live ants which had a sour taste to them.   

Leaving Kalkajaka we said our goodbyes to Ian and Monday (the dog). With a day’s worth of travel ahead of us we took off on the massive 4-wheel drive bus. Our journey continued to our second homeland, where we were greeted by Tim and a Welcome to Country Smoking Ceremony. Tim is one of the Traditional Owners at Panamuunji. We met his wife Elaine later that night. As we gathered around the fire most nights Tim and Elaine shared their personal stories to our group, from childhood stories to stories they experienced throughout their life. As our time together with Tim and Elaine came to an end, we were lucky enough to experience a language lesson with Elaine. This was important to both Elaine and the group as we helped to keep her language, the Guugu Yimithirr language.  

Throughout my journey experienced at both Kalkajaka and Panamuuji it has deepened my understanding and appreciation of Indigenous cultures. This experience has been transformative, broadening my perspective and deepening my commitment to cultural understanding and reconciliation. Having the opportunities to visit the homelands and communities this has given me a profound insight into traditions and cultures continued to be practised today. I was inspired by the deep connection to Land, and the stories passed down through generations.  

Charlotte Woollard

In the Term 3 holidays last year myself and 23 others went on an immersion to Cape York, being graciously invited into two homelands- Panamunji & Kalkajaka. We got to engage in various aspects of Indigenous culture, an experience I guarantee none of us will forget. Learning about Indigenous culture firsthand gave me the opportunity to learn new insights and listen to stories passed down from the Traditional Owners and their families. I was surprised to feel so refreshed and at ease without my phone or other technology, an aspect that was completely different from my expectations. This gave me the opportunity to think of how many ways of living there are, giving myself and others the gift of reflection and seeing the world from an unfamiliar perspective.   

Our first homeland where we had started our immersion was Kalkajaka and we were warmly greeted by Ian. When I think of Kalkajaka, my fondest memories revolve around campfire talks, bonding with the Year 9s and the amazing scenery of Black Mountain. We participated in activities such as painting and trying green ants on the homeland, as well as travelling further to experience the Cape. We visited Cooktown first and were guided around the museum, learning about the rich Indigenous culture through artefacts and stories as well as other significant historical events such as the Gold Rush and Chinese migration. After this we went to Quarantine Bay and tried our best at fishing, only to be out fished by the sea-whisperer Ian. Ian and the other Red Earth leaders helped us learn how to fish on a hand line, creating a grand total of two catches within the group despite Ian catching a massive fish every single time. These experiences taught me and the other girls many unique skills and practices that have been refined and passed down 60,000 years, making us all feel extremely lucky to have been invited into being taught this. Back at the homeland, we were all in awe of the beauty of Black Mountain right at our doorstep, using this to share ancestral stories and personally reflecting on the trip. 

Our second homeland that we visited was Panamuunji, which named after the mountain seen at the entrance of the homeland. Tim and Elaine warmly welcomed us into their home, a sacred space for them that they live on with their family. Panamuunji reminds me of storytelling, having countless laughs and story times around the fire. Whether this was Tim sharing his ancestral stories of country or us sharing impromptu horror stories, many rich experiences involved the art of speech. This homeland was where we worked on our community project, digging trenches to help with two flushing toilets and building a garden bed that utilises wastewater. No matter how many stops needed while shovelling dirt to avoid blistering hands, seeing the final work, and two flushing toilets, complete was worth it. After this, Elaine gave us a language lesson and shared her insights for her vision of reconciliation and empowerment. Her powerful way of speaking and sharing of language undoubtedly inspired our group and helped to keep her language alive, by being spoken and shared. Panamuunji was an incredibly unique homeland and gave me and the others a great sense of fulfilment and achievement, seeing what progress can be made by hard work from all of us.  

Careers Corner

On Wednesday 14 May, a group of Year 12 students attended a Formal Dinner at St Andrew’s College, at the University of Sydney (USYD).

SCEGGS students have consistently contributed to college life at many universities, including USYD, ANU and Melbourne Universities. Students interested in finding out more about living on campus while studying at university, are welcome to contact me or visit me in the Careers Office.

Careers Corner Newsletter

Please click here to view the latest issue of the Careers Corner Newsletter.

Andrea Pinnock
Careers Advisor 

Parents’ and Friends’ Association

Class Parent Events