From Ms Allum

Student Leadership

May the gift of leadership awaken in you as a vocation, Keep you mindful of the providence that calls you to serve. – John O’Donohue

The Term 3 student leadership season is a highly anticipated one on our School calendar and often one of mixed emotions. Assemblies, Chapel Services and Year Meetings are currently dedicated to addressing some of the philosophical aspects of leadership as well as some practical elements of the roles, including the qualities required to fulfil such a service.

Shortly, all girls and staff in the Secondary School will be invited to vote for the 2023/24 Prefects and House Leaders. First, voting for House Prefects, House Vice Captains and House Committee will take place in House Meetings on Monday 28 August. Then, voting for Head Prefect, Deputy Head Prefect, and School Prefects will take place after Assembly on Monday 4 September with all of Years 10, 11 and 12.

Students wishing to be considered as a Prefect or House Leader were required to apply by completing and submitting a written application to me and therefore only those students’ names will appear on the ballot forms. Before being elected to the position, I want every future student leader to have taken the time to reflect on the importance of the role and the extent of its influence. I want every future student leader to have considered how her personal values and School values are aligned and demonstrated. I often remind the girls how valuable it is that we are a school where young women are prepared to put themselves forward confidently. It requires courage to apply and own one’s God-given talents. In doing so we also risk failure and while there is great joy for many in the Term 3 student leadership process, it is accompanied by great disappointment for others. Not all students will receive the highly coveted badge or role. I know that many girls dream of being a student leader at SCEGGS. Lessons from women in leadership in corporate and professional life clearly teach us the importance of putting yourself forward and being confident of yourself and your abilities.

We seek not only good leaders in this process but also good followers. Good followers are discerning and judicious. When exercising their voting powers, good followers look up to and therefore elect those students who they believe lead by example. I want all girls to reflect on the qualities and skills they see exemplified. We expect that our student leaders will be: positive role models, loyal to the School, young women of integrity and honesty, enthusiastic and joyful, compassionate and caring, reliable and committed, capable and resilient.

Being elected to School Prefect and receiving the badge does not mean that you have arrived and reached an endpoint. It marks the beginning of something formal and it also marks the continuation of the display of good character that others have recognised. It reflects the quote above and reminds students that leadership is about service.

The newly elected student leaders will be announced in the Final Assembly of the term on Friday 22 September. I look forward to working with them all in Term 4 and beyond.

Jenny Allum
Head of School

HSC Examination Supervisors Needed

We are in need of parents or Old Girls who are interested in supervising HSC exams. No previous experience is necessary. For security reasons, an individual who has a child or near relative sitting for the examinations is not eligible for appointment as a paid supervisor. Those acting as supervisors will require a paid Working with Children Check.

The HSC starts on Wednesday 11 October and finishes on Friday 3 November. Shifts can be morning or afternoon and are various in length. If you are interested in supervising this year you must be available to work on Wednesday 11 October, Thursday 12  October and Monday 16 October in the morning. These are the busiest days and we will need a large number of supervisors.

Please contact our Presiding Officer, Mrs Alison Gavan, to express interest in becoming an examination supervisor. She will also be happy to answer any queries you may have. She can be contacted by email.

Andrew Gallagher
Director of Curriculum

SPAN Presents Walk the Mile Live!

SCEGGS’ beloved Walk the Mile podcast hosted by Rev Garry Lee-Lindsay is coming to you live.

Monday 11 September 2023
6.30pm – 8.30pm
RSVP Friday 1 September

Join Garry and the stellar panel who will discuss their careers in the Performing Arts.

This is a great opportunity for aspiring actors to hear from successful practitioners Elizabeth Butcher (Arts Administrator), actors Charlotte Friels, Deborah Galanos and Poppy Lynch, as well as our very own Mr Eyers! Read more about each panel member here.

Click here to book your ticket today for an entertaining and engaging evening!

Science News

Inter-House Science Competition

Last Wednesday, twelve girls from each House participated in the popular annual Inter-House Science competition, sitting on mats on the floor of the sports hall to battle it out over four rounds of questions.

The wide variety of topics ensured that all members of the groups had a chance to show off their unique skill sets and share things they’d been learning in class: I was amazed when a girl in my group knew off the top of her head where the Fahrenheit and Celsius temperature scales intersected.

In accordance with this year’s theme of Innovation: Powering Future Industries, many of the questions related to inventions, especially uniquely Australian inventions which were fascinating to discover. The Science Department’s creative spirit shone through in questions like “Which scientist needs lancing?” (Robert Boyle) or “Who was Neil Diamond before he was put under pressure?” (Neil Coal), which required a healthy dose of critical thinking and teamwork to piece together. The audience was the largest we’ve seen since before COVID, and it was so exciting to see girls from a range of year groups competing for chocolate while playing heads or tails.

The winners of the Super Science Bake Off were also announced, with prizes such as Science Oven Mitts, Science Cookie Cutters and other science-themed prizes.

Thank you to everyone who attended and to the Science Department for such an amazing event, and congratulations to both Langley teams who won the competition!

Jemima Louie Smith
Year 12 

Music Matters

Year 11 Music 1 and Music 2 Class Concert

Congratulations to all Year 11 Music 1 and Music 2 students who performed in the Year 11 Music Concert last Wednesday 16 August in the Great Hall.  It was wonderful to hear the progression of performance skills in each student.  Many thanks to music tutors and class teachers Ms Stephanie Holmes and Mr Michael Tierney for their preparation of each student.  Thank you also to Ms Heidi Jones for your support and accompaniment of performances.  Well done girls!

Upcoming Music Events

Term 3

Pauline Chow
Head of Music

Wear It Purple Day

Wear it Purple Day is a movement that aims to promote inclusivity and support for young people in the LGBTQIA+ community. It is celebrated on the last Friday of August, this year Friday 25 August, and individuals and communities worldwide wear purple to show their solidarity and acceptance.

Founded in 2010 by two Australian activists, Wear it Purple Day emerged to counteract the marginalisation, bullying, and isolation that many queer youth experience. The significance of purple lies in its fusion of pink, symbolising love and femininity, and blue, symbolising acceptance and masculinity, creating a powerful message of unity and support for those often marginalised due to their sexual orientation, gender identity, or expression.

Amnesty International, a global human rights organisation, plays an important role in supporting Wear it Purple Day. They are advocating for the rights of people around the world, including LGBTQIA+ communities in the 70+ countries around the world where this is still illegal. By using their influence to help raise awareness about Wear it Purple Day, Amnesty is helping thousands of queer people to live without fear of discrimination.

This year, the theme for Wear it Purple Day is Write Your Story. This helps promote the Wear it Purple organisation’s key principles of visibility, community and acceptance. This will assist in providing an opportunity for people to engage in conversations about diversity and acceptance, fostering a sense of unity and understanding.

In support of Wear it Purple Day, SCEGGS students are encouraged to participate by wearing a purple ribbon in their hair or on their uniform on Friday 25 August. Additionally, this week there will be Vivi screen displays and form time activities for Wear it Purple Day.

Wear it Purple Day is an impactful movement that celebrates diversity and supports LGBTQIA+ youth. By wearing purple, individuals and communities show their commitment to creating supportive, safe, empowering and inclusive environments. This special day serves as a reminder that everyone deserves to be accepted and celebrated for who they are, regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity. You can read more about what Amnesty is doing here.

Year 9 Amnesty International SCEGGS Committee

Primary Sports News

Touch NSW Gala Day

On Tuesday Week 4, 10 girls in Years 4-6 competed in a Touch Football Gala Day.

Below are some reflection about the Day from Year 6 students:

At Queen’s park, in week 4, 10 girls competed in a Touch Football Gala Day. We were out on the fields all day and had fun. The opportunity to meet and play with other schools was quite exciting as this was our first touch gala day. We all pushed ourselves to the limit, whether it was scoring a try, learning how to dive or even assembling a tent. While playing, I can confidently say that all the girls from Years 4, 5, and 6 had mud and grass stuck in the bottom of their boots and a forehead dripping with sweat. We all gave our best effort, played with enthusiasm, had fantastic teamwork and all with smiles on our faces! The weather was not too hot or cold. We had juicy oranges and lolly snakes supplied by the PE Department waiting for us on the sidelines and overall had a great day full of fun!

– Anna Slack

As the Matildas have shown us over the last few weeks, sport has the capacity to unite us and inspire us. With the Matildas inspiring performance in our minds, ten SCEGSS girls from Years 4, 5 and 6 attended the Touch Football Gala Day at Queen’s Park on Tuesday 8 August. It was a full day of fitness, skills, drills, and games against Coogee Public School. Highlights from the day included diving practice and playing in the same team with girls from SCEGGS across different year groups. It was a day of playing a sport we love, making new friends and challenging ourselves beyond our usual limits.

– Perdita Taylor 

A big thanks to Ms Thompson and our Touch Football Head Coach Matt for supporting the girls throughout the day.

IPSHA Athletics Team

Congratulations to the girls selected to represent SCEGGS at the IPSHA Athletics Carnival at Sydney Olympic Park Athletic Centre next Wednesday. We wish all the girls the best of luck as they participate in their respective events. We can’t wait to hear how they all go!

Primary Sport Achievements

Please help us celebrate any other achievements outside of school!

Does your daughter compete in any sport outside of school (for example, at a representative level or a sport we do not currently offer)? If so, I would love to celebrate their achievements by recognising them in this newsletter!

Please email any information (and photos, if possible) to Tom Mitton. These will be included in newsletters throughout the year.

Tom Mitton
Primary Sport Co-ordinator

Mondovision 2023

With all the concerts and talent shows taking place recently, you wouldn’t think our students would have the time for another musical extravaganza. Yet the variety of entries and the enthusiasm of those involved showed there is always time to delight an audience with multilingual covers of popular songs. Mondovision showcases students learning Chinese, French, Latin, Japanese or Spanish at school or those who want to share another language that they speak. This year again saw a range of years participating, from Year 7 students performing in Greek to Year 12 students singing in Chinese and French. The students involved should be praised for their creativity and the energy they brought to the stage– it was clear that they enjoyed the languages in which they were singing.

Thanks to Ms Brett, Ms Fabits and Mr Benbow for their judging talents. Their decision was not an easy one, but they awarded first place to the fabulous Year 11 group of Japanese students singing “Fortune Cookie of Love”. Congratulations to Amelie Byrne, Allegra Emery and Lauren Ransom whose performance stood out for their wonderful Japanese pronunciation and excellent J-Pop choreography.

Thank you to those who auditioned and performed. We loved all your acts and hope to see many of you back next year. Thank you also to Charlotte Katz and Yasmin Rubinzstein for hosting the event.

Angelique Deleeuw
Head of Languages

The SCEGGS P&F Term 3 Meeting with Special Guest Dr Caroline West

The P&F warmly invites parents and carers to join them for an insightful discussion on children and happiness with Dr Caroline West.

Dr Caroline West is a SCEGGS parent and Senior Lecturer in Philosophy at the University of Sydney. Having received her PhD in Philosophy from the Australian National University in 1997, she is renowned for her teaching and research on concepts such as ethics, the philosophy of happiness and wellbeing and feminist philosophy. She is a popular public speaker and writer with her expertise being often called upon by the media including the Sydney Morning Herald, ABC Radio and TV and she has been published in several academic journals. She is currently working on a book on the philosophy of happiness. 

Debating

Congratulations to all teams on what was an incredibly successful Archdale quarter-final! All four teams won their debates to progress through to the semi-finals – best of luck to Year 7A, Year 7B, Year 10, and Seniors for next Tuesday.

Well done also to Christian for winning Junior Interhouse Debating. It was fantastic to see so much participation across all houses, and the Grand Final debate between Christian and Badham was a fantastic end to Interhouse Debating this year

Imogen Harper
Debating Coordinator

SCEGGS and Sydney Grammar Trivia Night

On Thursday 3 August, Sydney Grammar hosted a Year 9 Games Night in their Big School. One hundred students from both SCEGGS and Grammar (50 girls and 50 boys) were included for a fun evening of trivia and games.

The trivia and games night was a great experience that allowed the girls who attended to create connections with both SCEGGS and Sydney Grammar students. We had a very fun night and not only learnt some new facts but also had a chance to engage with some of the Year 9 (their Form III) boys in a fun and relaxed environment. Each team consisted of roughly five girls and five boys per table with a total of ten tables and the room was buzzing with excitement. We had pizza for dinner and were treated to lots of snacks during the night.  Many girls walked away with new friends who we still talk to after this event and created some happy memories with our peers. In the midst of the competition, we got to know people, especially on our table, and learn a bit about them. This was a great way to make connections between SCEGGS girls and the Sydney Grammar boys.

We would like to thank the Year 9 and Form III parents who organised the event for us.

Paige Zillman and Finlay Simmons
Year 9

Parents’ and Friends’ Association

Special Events

Class Parent Events

An invitation to the SCEGGS Community from Sydney Grammar

Although tickets are sold out, students and parents may join the waiting list for the Sydney Grammar School Ithka Lecture series with Cathy Freeman OAM on Thursday 7 September from 6pm. It will be held at Alastair Mackerras Theatre and limited parking will be available on the Middle Playground from 5.30pm. For further enquiries please email here.