From Ms Allum

Celebrating Community Spirit: Our Festival on Forbes was a resounding success!

I am writing this at the end of a busy but magical day. Our biennial Festival on Forbes, just concluded, had all the best of SCEGGS on display. It brought together students, parents, staff, Old Girls, and community members for a true celebration of our school spirit and community.

From face painting and cupcake decorating, to the Dunk Tank (and some seriously brave students and teachers) and the Pony rides, there was something for students of all ages.  No Fair is complete without a delicious array of food, and this year did not disappoint – from an amazing Gourmet Pantry, cakes, Fairy Floss, BBQ, Gelato and Devonshire Teas. Our school community knows how to eat well! So many books, vintage clothes, sporting goods, handbags and shoes to be had. A beautiful array of fresh Spring Flowers too. And I loved the Music across three different stages – small ensembles, Rock Bands, and even the Staff Choir!

Here are some images from the day:

The money raised from this year’s Festival on Forbes will go towards the Wilkinson House Capital Campaign. It was exciting to think that this year’s Fair was held with the building site as a backdrop. At the next one – we will be well and truly using it, every day!!

But absolutely the most heartwarming aspects of the Fair was the genuine celebration of our school community. I want to thank all the Stall Holders, and their team of helpers, for the huge undertaking that was made to provide so fully on the day. To all the organisers, the logistics, the communications, the cooks, the craft makers… you were all amazing. A special shout-out to the SRC too!

A heartfelt thank you goes out to everyone who contributed to the success of the School Fair. There are too many to name here – but first and foremost our Fabulous Fair convenors – Bree Parker and Sam Masnick and all the Festival on Forbes Committee too. Thank you, too, to all the amazing Class parents and their helpers, the P&F Executive, led by Rob Jessup, and so many staff too – in the Music and Maintenance Teams, and particularly Tina Mavritsakis. To all of you – your hard work and dedication made this event possible. Your enthusiasm and support are what make our school community truly exceptional.

Jenny Allum
Head of School

SPAN Event – In Conversation with Petronella McGovern

Spend an evening with bestselling author and Old Girl Petronella McGOVERN (1986)

Petronella will read from her latest novel, The Last Trace, followed by a Q&A session hosted by fellow Old Girl and journalist Amy DALE (2005).

If you are a book lover, wordsmith or want to make it as an author, this event is for you!

Petronella McGovern (1986)

Petronella was a boarder at SCEGGS for six years, and always loved her English classes with teachers like Miss Hoddinott and Mrs Murray. In Year 12, she was a director in the House Plays competition, bringing home a win for Badham for the first time in decades.

Petronella is fascinated by what makes us tick, the lies we tell, and the secrets we keep. She is the bestselling author of four novels: The Last Trace, The Liars, The Good Teacher and Six Minutes. Her books have been nominated in the Ned Kelly Awards, the Davitt Awards and the Australian Independent Bookseller Awards. The Liars was selected in the Top 100 Big W/Better Reading list for 2023. Petronella has also co-written two non-fiction books – a travelogue and an Olympic memoir. Petronella has a Master of Arts in Creative Writing and tutors in creative writing. She grew up in central west New South Wales and now lives with her family in Sydney, on Gadigal Country.

Q&A Host Amy DALE (2005)

Amy is the Content and Communications Manager for the Law Society of NSW, and the Managing Editor of the award-winning Law Society Journal.

She is the host of Lawfully Explained, a podcast explaining everyday legal issues produced in partnership with LisTNR, and co-host of the Law Society’s Just Chat podcast. She frequently hosts author talks for Northern Beaches Council, as well as facilitated book club events.

Amy has 15 years of experience as a journalist, including five years as News Corp Australia’s Chief Court Reporter, during which time her book on the murder trial of Simon Gittany, The Fall, was published by Penguin Books Australia. 

Prior to joining the Law Society, Amy worked as a Communications Director and Senior Policy Adviser for the NSW Government, specialising in social policy and the prevention of domestic violence and sexual assault.

Parents’ and Friends’ Association

Term 3 Guest Speaker – Lucy Dahill

The P&F warmly invite you to hear from communications expert Lucy Dahill as she presents:

Skills for Life – Parenting for Independence

Lucy brings with her a wealth of experience in a variety of industries from media to healthcare and has just submitted a Doctoral Thesis titled ‘Words Matter, A mixed methods investigation of perceived parental comments on adolescents’ weight, shape, and eating’. Of interest, is how much of what we communicate is non-verbal and founded on a variety of influences. Lucy currently works as a Youth Worker in a High School and, although her primary area of focus is teenagers, what is clear from the work she has done through her working life with children and families, the foundations for communication in adolescence are founded on what children have seen, experienced and communicated to them through their parents in the early years. She continues post-doctoral studies in this area through academic research, podcasts and book writing.

The foundation in all Lucy’s projects is the importance of decency and respect in our relationships with ourselves and each other and the importance of finding our voice in expression. Lucy is a parent of three, now adult, children and has a wealth of experience to draw on from her own parenting role to share in her presentations. She has learnt through experience, it takes a village to raise a child, hence the resources she provides to support parents are contributions to that village that can be accessed by busy parents.

Sport News

Term 4 Sports Nominations now due

The Clipboard link to Term 4 Sports Nominations is now open. Please complete your sports nominations ASAP so we are able to start organising our teams and activities.

Paralympics Hub

The Old Gym will once again be open during recess and lunchtime for students and staff to come and watch some of the exciting action from the Paralympics in Paris.

Hockey

Congratulations to Jess Weatherall (Year 10) who has been selected in the Australian U16 Joeys Hockey team. This is a fabulous achievement.

The team will tour Europe in 2025 to compete in the European Easter Tournament as well as playing against some top ranked professional club teams in the Netherlands and Belgium. We wish Jess all the very best as she continues her training and development with the team.

IGSA Athletics

After weeks of dedicated training and preparation, the SCEGGS Athletics Team took to the track on Thursday and Friday of Week 5 at the IGSA Carnival, held at the SOPAC Athletic Centre. Our 36 athletes competed in both track and field events with remarkable passion and determination, achieving impressive results. It was inspiring to witness the sportswomanship, school spirit, and support for friends and peers that were on full display.

Congratulations to all who made it to the finals in their events. Medals and ribbons will be awarded at our next Assembly.

2024 SCEGGS Athletics Team

Year 7

Year 8

Year 9

Year 10

Year 11

Year 12

Snowsports

18 students represented SCEGGS at the NSW Interschools Snowsports Championships  held at Perisher last week. All students performed strongly, despite deteriorating snow conditions, rain and COVID.

Well done to everyone who was competing in cross country events for the first time. There was a lot of SCEGGS spirit on display across the mountain and we are very proud of our students.

Division 5 Alpine

Division 3 Alpine

Division 1 Alpine

Division 4 Skier Cross

Division 1 Skier Cross

Division 3 Skier Cross

Snowboard GS

Cross Country Classic

Division 5

Division 4

Division 3

Division 1

Cross Country Relay Event

Division 4

Division 3

Biathlon

Well done to Clementine Finlayson in Year 5 who competed in the NSW Biathlon Schools Racing event and placed 4th in her age group. The biathlon involved not only cross-country skiing but shooting at a target with a laser gun.

SCEGGS has 10 students who have qualified to compete at the Australian Interschools Championships next week in Perisher.

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

Primary Sports News

IPSHA AFL and Touch Football

IPSHA Touch Football Round 5 continued last weekend with all teams in actions. The 6A team played against a highly spirited St Andrew’s side who started off strong by scoring the first try. The SCEGGS girls worked as a team and defended as a cohesive unit to minimise scoring chances for St Andrew’s for the remainder of the game. The score ended 6-2 to SCEGGS. It is great to see this team incorporating new tactics each week. The 6B team had a close game against Ascham and despite some good athleticism from Giselle Yamani (Year 6) just couldn’t overcome their opposition, going down 4-3. The 4A team lost against St Catherine’s, although a big shout out to Alyssa Kisirwani (Year 4) and Georgina Sharp (Year 4) who backed up their performance by supporting the 5A team who were short on numbers. Well done, girls!

In IPSHA AFL, the Year 5 team deserve a shout out. The Abbotsleigh team were short on players, so showing the graciousness of our SCEGGS Sports Values, we offered them three players on a rotational basis to ensure a full 9-a-side game could be played. It was wonderful to see the girls play with another school and support their players, while also giving their own teammates a great challenge too!

Sydney Swans Academy Trial

On Monday, a small group of Year 5 girls attended the Sydney Swans Academy AFL trial. The girls put their best foot forward, showcasing some of their athleticism, AFL skills, as well as grit and determination against some tough opposition. We wish you the bet of luck for the selection process.

Interschools Snowsports

Last week, the NSW Interschools State Snowsports Championships took place at Perisher. Well done to all the girls who competed. Special mention to the Year 6 team of Holly Shennan, Evie Thorpe and Jessica Grace coming 4^th in the Cross-Country relay. What a fantastic effort and good luck at Nationals.

Click here to read more about Primary Snow Sports.

K-1 Sport

K-1 Sport has continued to run each Thursday afternoon in the Sports Hall. The students have been engaging in a range of fun games and the coaches have been impressed with the improvements to their movement skills. More importantly, what a fun way to finish the school day, playing games with friends! Keep up the great effort, girls.

Upcoming Dates:

Mr Adrian Hammond
Primary Sports Coordinator

Book Week at SCEGGS

It has been exciting to celebrate Book week in the Senior School at SCEGGS; sharing reading recommendations and the Book Council of Australia’s shortlist and winning books, running guessing competitions in the library and book quizzes in our English classes. Our celebration of Book Week culminated in a hotly contested library quiz this Monday – we were delighted to see a number of students from Years 7 – 12 joining their English teachers and the Library staff to share a love of literature!

The library has also hosted an individual book quiz and the inaugural “Book in a Box” challenge which was won by Ashley Diec in Year 9 who correctly guessed that the shredded novel was George Orwell’s Animal Farm – congratulations Ashley!

It has been wonderful to see our new Year 7 students begin their Senior studies with an eager and enthusiastic approach to library borrowing this year – the cohort has borrowed over 700 books this year – the highest of any year group so far!

Crime Fiction has been the most popular genre with our Year 7 – 9 readers this year with Holly Jackson’s A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder and Karen M McManus’ One of us is Lying the most borrowed titles from the library. Our Senior readers and staff at SCEGGS have been drawn to an eclectic mix of contemporary fiction, the most popular titles being Zadie Smith’s The Fraud, Paul Lynch’s Prophet Song and Haruki Murakami’s Norwegian Wood.

While the full shortlist for the Children’s Book Council of Australia is linked here, this year’s winner for Older Readers was Karen Comer’s Grace Notes, and for Younger Readers was Tristan Bancks Scar Town. These books are being profiled in the library along with the other shortlisted titles – we encourage our students to explore some of these new and exciting Australian titles!

All the best for a year of reading!

Jenny Bean (Head of English) &
Alison Conliffe (Head of Library)

NAIDOC Week Celebrations

In celebration of NAIDOC week, Year 9Ck played traditional Aboriginal string games in Form time. Many of us had learnt string games in primary school, so it was so fun to do this again and learn about Aboriginal culture. In traditional Aboriginal culture, string was and is used for activities including hunting, fishing, weaving, art, and as a game to entertain children. String was made from the bark of Stringybark trees, as well as grass and fibres. These could be woven together to create strong ropes. Through this activity we learnt to make three string aspects which reflect Aboriginal culture: ‘weitj djen’ (emu foot), ‘rlangga’ (billabong) and ‘karda’ (yam). The yam was definitely the hardest to make, with only a few of us able to master it. Overall, this was a great experience learning together, and it was so interesting to learn about Indigenous culture through Traditional games and art. Below are a few photos of our creations.

Josie Grayden
Year 9Ck

Splendour in the Great Hall

Next Monday 2 September, the SCEGGS Prefects will be hosting Splendour in the Great Hall!

This is an incredible night filled with some showstopping dances, bands and other incredible acts which will light up our Great Hall stage. With over 15 groups and more than 60 girls set to perform, this is a showcase you won’t want to miss. There will be nothing less than premium quality entertainment, you’re guaranteed a great night.

We would love for as many members of SCEGGS community to join as possible – whether you’re a student, parent, teacher, or friend, everyone is welcome!

Doors will open from 5.30pm, with the event kicking off at 6.00pm. Outside, you can enjoy a sausage sizzle for a gold coin donation.

Plus, don’t miss your chance to enter our raffle on the night – so not only will you leave with the wonderful sentiment of giving to charity, but potentially as a prize winner…

All funds raised will go towards the Women and Girls Emergency Centre (WAGEC), which supports homeless women and children by providing accommodation, monetary support and material aid. It would mean so much to see a lot of you there, supporting our amazing community and this important cause.

Get your tickets now!

SCEGGS 2024 Prefects

Primary and Secondary Music

Festival on Forbes – the stats

• 2 major equipment moves – thank you to all the students who helped
• 3 stages
• 8 hours of music
• 30 SCEGGS ensembles
• 300+ performers
• Hundreds of appreciative audience members

With special thanks to the SCEGGS Music Staff and tutors and the SCEGGS Maintenance team.

Here are some images from the day:

2025 International Music Tour

The SCEGGS Music Department are very excited to be travelling to Europe in 2025, with performances in Venice and St Peter’s Basilica just two highlights of the trip. A reminder that deposits are due on Thursday 12 September via Humanitix. Please contact Mr Gresham if you have any questions.

I would like to thank everyone who has shown interest in the 2025 Music Tour. While this will be the first international music tour for SCEGGS, I have had the good fortune to run three previous tours with Hayes Travel.

Students in secondary school ensembles are invited to attend, and we plan on taking a choir, band, and string orchestra. The bulk of the tour repertoire will be taken from the pieces learnt in these ensembles throughout the year. In addition, there will be Sunday afternoon rehearsals in Term 4, 2025, to learn the additional repertoire.

Here is the draft itinerary. This will be finalised once we have student numbers and flights are booked. The price range for the tour will be between $9,500-$9,750, depending on the number of students, exchange rate and final program. This price includes a down tour jacket. A deposit of $1,000 is required by Thursday 12 September, and can be paid via the link here. Tour payments will then proceed in three instalments (dates to be confirmed).

At present the tour is open to students currently in the secondary school. Any parent interested in travelling with us can give an expression of interest by replying to this email. For families who wish to extend their time overseas, details about split-offs at the end of the tour will be sent out at a later date.

David Gresham
Head of Music (Curriculum)

Encore Concert

Congratulations to our HSC musicians on their outstanding performances at the Encore concert. We wish them all the very best in the upcoming practical exams.

Cat Empire Project

Next week 50 SCEGGS choristers head into production week for The Cat Empire project.  This exciting performance opportunity sees our singers singing in Sydney Opera House backing Australian band The Cat Empire accompanied by the Sydney Symphony Orchestra.  These performances on Friday September 6 and Saturday September 7 are now sold out but families of participating girls are advised to register to attend the open rehearsal at the Opera House, register for the Friday night live streaming. All performers need to check the rehearsal schedule carefully as it is a busy but inspiring week. Please contact Allison Harrigan  for further information.

Theory Lessons for Secondary Students – Friday lunchtime in DB2

The SCEGGS Music Department will be starting free music theory lessons during Friday lunch in DB2. These are to prepare students for AMEB theory and/or musicianship exams. While the lessons are free, there will be a cost involved in the purchase of theory books and registration for exams. Mr Gresham will contact parents with recommendations for grade levels before any purchases are made. Please contact Mr David Gresham if you have any questions.

Contemporary Strings Soirees

Thursday 12 September 1.10-1.40pm in DB1 & Thursday 19 September 1.10-1.40pm in DB1

All string players in Contemporary Strings are invited to perform a short solo at one of two lunchtime concerts being held this term. Performances of this nature, in front of a supportive and appreciative audience are vital for a musician’s development and all players are encouraged to perform and support their friends. Mrs Sweeney will be organising the solo concert programs during Contemporary Strings rehearsals over the coming weeks. Please discuss with your instrument tutor a short solo piece that might be suitable to perform. Girls are also very welcome to perform a duet with a friend! Piano accompaniment will be provided at both concerts.

Australian School Band and Orchestra Festival – Sunday, 15 September

Several SCEGGS ensembles will perform at the Australian School Band and Orchestra Festival this year. The Festival is a non-competitive event where ensembles receive a Gold, Silver, or Bronze rating based on their performance. This is a wonderful opportunity for our SCEGGS ensembles to perform on stage, hear other school ensembles, and receive valuable feedback from professional adjudicators. Please find more information here.

Please see the table below for details of the events occurring on Sunday 15 September

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 3

Heidi Jones
Head of Music (Co-curricular)

Gateway8 Academic Challenge 2024: Showcasing Young Minds

On Thursday 22 August, Macarthur hosted the annual Gateway8 inter-school academic challenge, bringing together 23 independent schools from across Sydney. This year’s theme, ‘Connectivity-Unplugged,’ set the stage for an exciting day of intellectual exploration and competition.

Eight students from SCEGGS participated for the first time, with four girls from Year 5 (Annabel Ling, Eva Geha, Ying Huang and Harriet Hyde) and four from Year 6 (Serafina Kwok, Anara Murugesan, Aerin Murphy and Alisha Zahid) representing our school. The event featured a series of innovative and engaging tasks designed to stimulate the eight multiple intelligences outlined by Howard Gardner.

Macarthur staff from various faculties crafted challenges across Mathematics, Science, Music, English, the Humanities, and Creative Arts and Design, encouraging participants to think critically and creatively. The tasks required students to take risks, engage in productive discomfort, and work collaboratively as a team.

Our girls certainly exemplified the SCEGGS learning values throughout the day, demonstrating collaboration, flexibility, courage, curiosity, reflection, and persistence. It was a fantastic experience that not only tested their academic skills but also fostered growth in teamwork and problem-solving. Congratulations to the team who were awarded 3^rd overall, 2^nd in English and 3^rd in Science and Mathematics.

Kristy Williams
Year 5 Teacher

Debating

Congratulations to the Year 7B, Year 8A, Junior, Year 10, and Senior teams who have all progressed through to the Archdale Semi Finals! This a great individual achievement for each team, and to see SCEGGS represented in five of eight divisions shows our debating cohort’s consistency and support for each other – a big part of doing well in debating is knowing that it is a space where you can try your best and have fun. One of the highlights for me of Tuesday night was seeing all the teams check in on each other and ask how they were going.

Semi-finals will be next Tuesday, 3 September. They will not be hosted at SCEGGS. I will email teams with the details of their venues and opponents.

Imogen Harper
Debating Coordinator

K-6 Parent Information Session – Raising Your Child in the Digital World

You are invited to attend a session led by SCEGGS staff members on the important topic of how we can work together to support your daughter as she grows up in the digital world today.

Please use this link to RSVP your interest in attending.

Sarah Johnstone
Deputy Head of Primary, Student Wellbeing

Careers Corner

Welcome to Issue 54 of your Careers Corner Newsletter.

Included is a reminder of University Open Days. With many opportunities for you to explore different campuses, courses and interact with current students and staff.

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