From Ms Gyton

Whether it is welcome back, or your first welcome to the SCEGGS community, I hope you are starting the year feeling glad to be here, supported and cared for. And a particular welcome to our new students and families too – I hope the ‘newness’ feeling starts to wear off soon and that you feel part of the School community.

I must confess that writing my first From Ms Gyton piece for Behind the Green Gate is one of the many things that is feeling new to me this year! But as our Head Prefect, Zara Perkins, mentioned in our first Assembly yesterday morning, there is plenty of opportunity for me to get it right between now and apparently 2056 … and I am sure this will be the same with many things. So as your daughters start the new school year, I hope they spend a moment or two thinking about the things they are going to try for the first time this year – a new sport, playing an instrument, putting more effort into a particular subject, packing their bag the night before or even being on time every day! What will help you be slightly better tomorrow than you are today?

Behind the Green Gate

There is a lot of information in this edition of Behind the Green Gate, our weekly newsletter … mostly because there is always a lot going on at SCEGGS! And it can get overwhelming, so where might you start?

• Download a copy of our 2026 Parent and Carers Information Booklet, which answers all the procedural questions such as downloading our SCEGGS App, absence notifications, ordering lunches and the library opening hours. You mightn’t need it all on Day 1, so keep this document in a safe place for when you do.
• Dates for your diary: make sure you have the dates for the parent information evenings and parent teacher afternoons in your diary. They are a great opportunity to meet and talk with other parents, as well as the staff of the School.
• Update on Wilkinson House: have a look and see the photos so far. We are nearly there!

Once you have done these, please take the time to read the major sections, and skim through the rest, reading in detail the things which are relevant to you.

Most importantly, SCEGGS is a community of people who look after each other. If you do have any questions at any time, please do not hesitate to ask any of us – we really do want you to feel part of our community and know that we care that you get as much as you can out of a SCEGGS education.

Who’s Who at SCEGGS

We know that we will do a better job in educating your daughter if we have an open and trusting relationship. So, we do encourage you to ring us and talk any time – as we will too! We want to hear what is going on for your daughter – and for you and your family. So, if you are unsure of whom to contact – whether it is to share some good news, ask a question, or just talk about the education of your daughter – the following may help.

The Class Teacher or Form Teacher is often the best first port of call. These teachers will know your daughter best and will always be willing to listen and chat and can point you in the right direction if there is a better person to be speaking to, or just to help you navigate your way around the school. We encourage you to come to the relevant Parent Information Evening in the first couple of weeks of term to meet them.

Your daughter’s subject teachers, Years K-12, have the best information about how your daughter is going, and have day to day contact with her too. They will also have detailed knowledge about our programs of learning within their subject area. In the Secondary School, the relevant Head of Department can also answer questions about courses of study, subject choices and issues concerning their teachers.

In the Secondary School, Year Co-ordinators for each of the different Years may be able to address concerns – about academic, social or other issues.

In the Primary School, any one of the Primary Executive can help with more serious matters.

A list of the relevant senior and pastoral staff for 2026 can be found in the Who’s Who at SCEGGS in the 2026 guide which can be accessed via the SCEGGS Portal (login required). This includes lists of Form Teachers, Year Co-ordinators, Heads of Department, Primary Class teachers and the Executive for the Primary School.

Finally, if you have a serious matter to talk about, or something you feel is not being addressed adequately, (or if you just like one of us and have heard us say something that you want to follow up on!) please feel free to contact anyone from the senior staff:

• Deputy Head of School – Mr Andrew Gallagher
• Head of the Primary School – Mrs Helen Dempsey
• Director of Curriculum – Ms Amy Webb
• Director of Wellbeing – Ms Laura Connolly
• Director of Administration – Mr Phil Rogers
• Director of Operations – Ms Marlise Kalt
• Director of ICT – Mr Craig Whalland
• Business Manager – Mr Adrian Craig

As always, please feel free to give me a call if you would like to discuss a matter or make an appointment with my EA, Helen Stanish, if you would like to come in. I am looking forward to a great year ahead – and I hope you and your daughter are too!

Welcome to (or welcome back to) SCEGGS!

Holly Gyton
Head of School

2025 HSC Results

Please click here to view our 2025 HSC Results.

An update on our Wilkinson House Redevelopment!

We are excited to share the news that we are nearly there with Wilkinson House! While we don’t have an occupancy date yet, we are working towards staff and students being able to work and learn in the building sometime in March, which is very exciting.

The Wilkinson House redevelopment has been an exciting project in the life of SCEGGS, transforming a small apartment building (and our boarding house for a time) into new contemporary teaching and learning spaces, while retaining the heritage façade. William Smart’s vision is now coming to life as we move into the finishing stages of this adaptive reuse project, and we see a building that is both functional and beautiful starting to emerge from behind the scaffolding.

The interior of our Sports Hall has been resurfaced, and the Sports Hall roof is also now free from demountables – so this means we can start the year with two fantastic spaces for our PDHPE/Sport department.

So while there will be some re-rooming for some smaller classes in the Secondary School for the first part of the term, we are really looking forward to opening this amazing new building and sharing this exciting part of the campus redevelopment with the SCEGGS community.

For further information about the project, please don’t hesitate to contact me directly, or our Business Manager, Adrian Craig, or view further details on our website.

Holly Gyton
Head of School

2026 Parents and Carers Information Booklet

What time can I drop my daughter at school in the morning? How do I communicate an absence from school if my daughter is sick and away from school? What time does the Secondary Library close in the afternoon?

A booklet for Parents and Carers is available on the SCEGGS Portal (login required) to answer all of these questions and more! The 2026 Parents and Carers Information Booklet contains the most important logistical and organisational information for parents including:

• School attendance information for all students K-12
• SCEGGS App
• Arrangements for before and after school supervision
• Pedestrian safety
• Students driving to and from school and school activities
• Students riding bicycles to and from school
• Food allergy awareness
• Student accident insurance
• School shop opening hours
• … and much, much more!

The 2026 Parents and Carers Information Booklet is now available for all current SCEGGS families to download from the SCEGGS Portal and we would strongly encourage all families to be aware of the important information contained inside.

Phil Rogers
Director of Administration

Parent Information Evenings and Parent Teacher Afternoons

Upcoming Parent Information Events

Over the next few months there are a number of important parent information events.  These events are listed below by year group with a general description of each event at the end of this article.

Kindergarten – Year 2

Years 3 & 4

Years 5 & 6

Year 7

Year 8

Year 9

Year 10

Year 11

Year 12

Parent Information Talks and Evenings

These evenings are for parents and carers of girls from Kindergarten to Year 12. Parents will hear from their daughters’ teachers about aspects of the classroom programs, activities planned for the year and ways parents can assist their daughters at home, and from guest speakers on various topics. These are important sessions and all parents are urged to attend.

Further information about each event will be sent prior to the event and we look forward to welcoming many of you to each event.

Phil Rogers
Director of Administration

From the Primary School

As we begin a new school year, I extend a very warm welcome to our entire Primary School community. I hope the holiday break provided time for rest, connection, and enjoyment with family and friends. A special welcome is extended to the girls and families who are joining us at SCEGGS for the first time. We hope you feel supported as you settle into school life, and we encourage you to reach out at any time if you have questions or require assistance in the weeks ahead.

We are delighted to welcome several new members to our Primary teaching team this year. Further information about our staff can be found in the Who’s Who at SCEGGS section of the newsletter, included in Ms Gyton’s article.

We look forward to welcoming parents to our upcoming Parent Information Evenings in Weeks 2 and 3. These evenings are designed for all parents of girls from Kindergarten to Year 6 and provide an opportunity to hear directly from your daughter’s teachers about classroom programs, key activities for the year, and ways to support learning at home. The sessions will be held in the girls’ allocated classrooms. Prior to the sessions, parents are warmly invited to join us for informal drinks in the Primary Playground, offering a chance to connect with one another and begin the year in a relaxed and positive way.

The Joan Freeman Carpark will be available for parking from 5.15pm and will close promptly at 9pm.

Entry to the carpark is via St Peters Street, accessed from Forbes Street.

We warmly encourage you to join us for these evenings, to meet our wonderful Primary teaching team and to hear more about the rich and engaging learning experiences planned for the year ahead.

Helen Dempsey
Head of Primary

From The Chaplain

Welcome back to the new school year to everyone in the SCEGGS community. I look forward to catching up with all of you or meeting you for the first time soon (even if it’s just a friendly wave at the gate in the morning). I hope and pray that this year will be one of fulfilment and purpose in all that you do.

Harvest Festival

In Week 3 we celebrate Harvest Festival, an event in the Christian calendar which focuses on what we have and what we can give. Each girl is asked to bring to school at least one non-perishable food item which will eventually be distributed to those in our city whose lives have been affected by misfortune. Here is a list of items that we would be suitable:

It is estimated that over two million Australians need food relief at the moment due to the cost of living crisis and other unpredictable circumstances. Unfortunately, that number is growing each day with almost half of that number being children, as their parents struggle to put food on the table. Many of these children often go to school without breakfast, or to bed without dinner. The demand is urgent.

Harvest Festival recognises all of the good things that we have been given and the opportunity to give to those in need. We continue to pray for those affected and dealing with great loss and trauma. We will continue to consider ways that we as a community may be able to help in the process of restoration, particularly in light of the last few years.

Could you please have your daughter bring in her item or items by 9am on Monday 9 February. Each year, the Chapel is decorated beautifully with these items and other produce. At the end of the week the food will be delivered by me personally to a number of welfare services throughout Inner Sydney: Vinnies Community Centre Redfern, Glebe Assistance Partnership Program, Hope St Woolloomooloo and others. I appreciate your generosity and thoughtfulness in these difficult times.

Monday Food Delivery Program: A great opportunity that the whole community can be involved in.

SCEGGS has had a great connection to many of the local welfare agencies for a long period of time. We began a program in 2022 where families and individuals were invited to make fully cooked meals, enough for about 6-10 people, to feed those in need in our local area. Each week during term time, 10-15 families or individuals cook enough food to distribute amongst the marginalised and underprivileged around Sydney. 

For those that would like to take part, we use an app called SignUp and the link is here. The process is very straightforward and you will also find on the website a list of menu ideas, preparation requirements and other important information With the more people that we have involved, the more we can share the love around. The food gets dropped off to me at the Forbes St gate (or the Primary School office) on a Monday morning and I deliver it to a variety of services later that day. If you have further questions, please email me here. It has been a great activity for us as a school community to be involved in and well appreciated by our local community. 

Rev. Garry Lee-Lindsay
School Chaplain

From the Business Office

As I write this article, I look out across the School and see tradies all over the place!  Not just on the Wilkinson House project but just about everywhere.  Carpenters, electricians, plumbers, painters, gardeners as well as our hard-working Maintenance and ICT teams – all striving to ensure we are ready for the first day back at school.  It is an exciting time and I am always amazed at how much work gets done in this short window of opportunity!

I trust you have been able to take a break over the holiday period.  No matter how short or long or whether you travelled near or far, it is great to relax and spend time with family and friends before the year gets very quickly into full swing.

In this first issue of Behind the Green Gate for 2026, I would like to mention two important points from the Business Office:

2026 School Fees 

The fee account for Term 1, 2026 was emailed to families in November last year.  We send this statement out early to allow for cashflow planning.  If you have not received the email (or have perhaps misplaced it among other emails!) please contact the Business Office on 9332 1133 or email Accounts Receivable to arrange a copy to be emailed out to you.

The first account was due for payment on Wednesday 28 January 2026. SCEGGS greatly appreciates the payment of fees on or before the due date which provides us with certainty of cashflow.  We invoice tuition fees quarterly and they are due on the first day of the term.  We do understand the fees are a significant financial commitment.  We will always work with our families and, if you would prefer to smooth your cashflow or co-ordinate payment with your cash inflows, you have the ability to pay amounts on to your SCEGGS fee account at regular intervals (eg monthly or fortnightly).

Student Accident Insurance 

The School maintains a personal accident insurance policy which covers all students enrolled at SCEGGS.  If your daughter suffers an injury while at school or while participating in a school sport or activity, we will gladly assist in completing the claim forms and associated documents for insurance purposes. You will see a charge of $30 per girl on your Term 1 statement for this insurance. 

If you have any queries or concerns about your SCEGGS fee statements, student insurance or any other finance related matter, please feel free to contact the Business Office by email or phone so we can assist. 

Adrian Craig 
Business Manager

SCEGGS Scholarships

A reminder for parents that applications for scholarships for 2027 close on Sunday 8 February 2026. Registrations for Year 7 Academic Scholarships are being taken online through the ACER website. Applications for all other scholarships are available here.

Please direct any questions to the Enrolments Office on 9332 1133.

Sonja Richards
Registrar

Secondary School Wellbeing Questionnaire – Week 3

Over the past few years, the counsellors with the support of the Director of Student Wellbeing and Year Coordinators have conducted a brief survey of students in Years 7 to 12 to help give us a snapshot of student health and wellbeing. 

During Year Meetings in Week 3, the counselling team will be asking students in Years 7 to 12 to complete a brief questionnaire, which will take approximately two minutes to complete. The questions can help us to identify any students who may need some additional support, as well as informing initiatives and interventions for particular year groups and assisting us to set wellbeing goals for the year ahead. This is so important for us all as we plan for the new school year.

You are welcome to contact any of the SCEGGS School Counsellors if you have any questions.

The Counselling Team
Melissa Saxton, Philippa Gibson, Lauren Miles, Caroline Blyth and Olivia Whelan

Secondary Inter-House Swimming Carnival

Please find the link to the program for Wednesday.

Travel Arrangements

All girls must come to school (8.15am) in correct sports uniform and travel on the buses to the Carnival.

Girls are to go to their Form room and wait for instructions to move to the buses. Form Teachers will travel on the bus with their class.

The Carnival will finish at 2.30pm. All girls will travel back to school on the buses unless a written permission note has been given to their Form Teacher. Students may be dismissed at the conclusion of the Carnival, after consulting their Form Teacher. Parents should collect students from Little St near the Pottery Green Oval parking area.

Uniform

Girls must wear correct sports uniform to and from the Carnival. They may change into other decorative House attire once at school, before Form time. No girl is to travel to or from school in any clothing other than their correct sports uniform.

A school hat, sunscreen, sunglasses, a school jumper or tracksuit must also be brought to the Carnival. If it is particularly hot, we would also strongly recommend a light long sleeve top for further sun protection when not swimming.

Girls should swim in the SCEGGS swimming costume or approved race suit, and Swimming cap.

Lunch and refreshments

There will be no canteen facilities available. All girls must bring enough food and drink for the day.

Parents and spectators

Spectators will be permitted at the Carnival in the upstairs café platform.

General Information

There are to be no mobile phones, laptops, chewing gum or face paint (coloured zinc for sun safety is permitted).

Girls are to move to their allocated House area when they arrive at the pool.

Attendance at the Carnival is compulsory. Girls unable to attend on the day are required to submit an explanatory note to their Form Teacher and a student absence must be completed  via the SCEGGS App.

The most important contribution on the day is each girl’s support of her House.

Girls must adhere to the pool rules – no running, pushing, bombing, hanging on lane ropes, unsafe or disruptive behaviour.

Wet Weather

Be fully prepared for wet weather – bring umbrella and/or raincoat.

In the case of extremely wet weather or thunderstorm/lightning, a decision will be made at school on the morning of the Carnival. All girls should have some basic equipment with them (eg some paper and their pencil case) to participate in Day 8 lessons in the event the Carnival does not proceed.

Please Note

On the morning and afternoon of the Swimming Carnival, there will be NO Secondary Sporting co-curricular activities (with the exception of gymnastics which is optional). There will be some matches for Sydney Indoor Hockey in the afternoon/evening.

The CVE Choir will still rehearse before school but there will not be rehearsals for Amati Strings nor Holst Wind Ensemble.

Alison Gowan
Director of  Sport

Technology Update

SCEGGS is continuing the 1:1 Computer Program in 2026 with every student in Years 4 to 12 having their own convertible touchscreen laptop.

Kindergarten to Year 3 have access to class sets of iPads and some laptops are also used regularly in these years.

The parent information sessions run during the first part of Term I will include information on the 1:1 program.

Any girl currently without a laptop will receive them during the first weeks of school. Parents and girls will also be provided with important information about using and caring for the computer, as well as other essential information, such as cyber safety, ergonomics and accessing the technical support services at School.

If you have any questions about the program at SCEGGS, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Internet Usage

Typically both at school and home your daughter now has access to a technology-rich environment. Effective and appropriate use of the powerful tools within the IT sphere requires responsible behaviour to accompany use of the computers, mobile phones and the internet. Of real concern to us as a school, however, are some instances where there is reported inappropriate use of the internet by some students. The School has put in place a number of strategies to ensure our students use available technologies to achieve suitable and productive outcomes but there are some ways in which you can assist your daughter to make effective use of the internet within the home environment.

Important information and advice for students and parents about laws and other information relevant to the internet can be found in the front section of the School Diary. Students in Years 7-12 and their parents are asked to familiarise themselves with the Internet and Network Users Agreement. This agreement clearly states our belief that students should be responsible for their own actions and goes on to outline the conditions under which access to the internet and the School’s network is allowed. As a parent you are asked to sign the agreement to ensure that your daughter understands the agreement and to make you aware that use of the internet and School’s network is conditional.

The School takes other measures to ensure that our students’ online experience is productive, safe and appropriate. Web filtering is used so that our students do not access, intentionally or otherwise, inappropriate websites. Websites on block and allow lists are updated regularly and placed into categories that the School may choose to apply. At present the sites that are blocked fall into the following broad categories: ads, adult, aggressive, audio-visual, drugs, forums, gambling, hacking, pornography, proxys, violence, virus-infected and more. We are able to (and do) block other unsuitable sites not included in these classifications.

Students should treat their login passphrase as an important personal credential and keep it confidential, as they would a PIN for a bank account. If a student suspects that someone else knows their passphrase, or that it has been compromised in any way, she should immediately change it or request that it be changed by visiting the ICT Service Desk. Students must necessarily assume responsibility for any use of a computer accessed via their login name and password.

The School takes these measures to help ensure that each student’s experience on the internet is positive and productive but, unfortunately, it is not always possible to ensure that all students will use this resource properly. In the past some students have posted, from home and from school, unacceptable material on the internet. Students must understand that matters on the internet are accessible to the entire world and that, as a result, care must be taken not to malign other people, or institutions. Any such activity can be subject to legal redress. Parents should be aware that it is not realistic to monitor or control such activities from school computers or, of course, from home computers. Combating this type of activity requires persistent and continuing efforts on our part as well as by you, at home.

Because students’ access to the internet is not confined to their time at school it is important that you participate in the partnership with the School in educating your daughters about the use of the internet. The Australian Communication and Media Authority has published several useful articles and tips for parents and students. These can be found here. I strongly recommend that you read this and other sections of the site where you will find tips for children of different ages. Discussing these with your daughter and adopting some of the suggested strategies would be one practical way in which you could support the School in encouraging more appropriate internet use.

The internet can be a powerful and constructive technology that provides great educational benefits. Like many other technologies, the internet also has a negative side. Students need on-going education about internet use and the dangers and pitfalls present as well as the many benefits. Parents are encouraged to join with the School to ensure that the internet continues to deliver positive educational and social outcomes for all.

Craig Whalland
Director of ICT

Bourke Street Car Line – Working Together for a Safe Dismissal in the Primary School

As we move through the first few weeks of the school year, afternoon routines begin to take shape for families, students and staff alike. The Bourke Street Car Line is a key part of our dismissal process and, when used as intended, allows pick-up to run smoothly, safely and efficiently for everyone.

With a shared understanding of expectations, and a little patience, we can establish positive routines early and ensure the Car Line remains a safe environment for students, staff and families each afternoon.

What helps the Car Line run well?

For a safe and efficient dismissal, we ask families to please note the following:

Pick-up times are staggered to support traffic flow:

Year 6 pick-up arrangements

To assist with traffic flow, Year 6 students are asked to be collected from Forbes Street where possible. This approach helps reduce congestion and supports a more efficient dismissal for all families.
Families are welcome to continue using Bourke Street if a Year 6 student has a younger sibling being collected from the Primary School.

• Remain in your vehicle at all times. Staff on duty will assist your daughter to her car and ensure a safe departure.
• Join the queue correctly from the northern end of Bourke Street. Double parking or cutting in on the Car Line is not permitted and causes significant disruption and creates safety concerns.
• Move forward in the queue as space becomes available. Keeping gaps to a minimum helps traffic move steadily.
• Display your daughter’s name sign clearly. If you need a replacement, please contact the Primary Office  
• Follow staff directions. Teachers on duty have a clear view of the overall flow and are best placed to guide vehicles safely.
• Encourage students to enter vehicles promptly. Students should enter from the kerb side with bags placed on the seat rather than in the boot.
• Minimise distractions. Avoid phone calls during Car Line time so your full attention remains on safety.
• Use the pedestrian crossing. Families arriving or leaving on foot are asked to use the Bourke Street pedestrian crossing. For safety reasons, please do not cross between vehicles.

We all share a responsibility in keeping dismissal arrangements efficient. A calm and consistent approach from families makes a significant difference. By following these expectations, we help maintain a safe environment for students, staff and the wider community.

If you have feedback or suggestions, we welcome your input as we continue to refine these arrangements together.

Thank you for your cooperation and patience as these routines become second nature across the year.

Gabriela Grocott
Manager of Primary Administration and Operations

Student Health Information

Food Allergy Awareness

At SCEGGS we are concerned about the safety and wellbeing of all our students. Many of you will know someone who is affected by anaphylaxis, a life-threatening allergic reaction. A food allergy is an immune system response to a normally harmless food protein that the body believes is harmful. When the individual eats food containing that protein, the immune system releases massive amounts of chemicals, triggering symptoms that can affect a person’s breathing, digestion, skin and/or heart. Nine foods cause 90% of food allergies. Peanuts are the leading cause of severe allergic reactions, followed by tree nuts, shellfish, fish, milk, eggs, wheat, sesame and soy.

There are girls at SCEGGS from Kindergarten to Year 12 with mild to severe food allergies. The only way to manage a food allergy is avoidance. While the children with allergies are being taught to care for themselves at an age appropriate level, we also seek your support. To minimise the risk of exposure for these students, we request that no nuts, peanut butter or other nut products are brought to the school site or other school activities.

We also ask that you help us educate your daughter on the importance of not sharing food with others, washing hands after eating and calling out to an adult if she thinks her friend with allergies is sick. We can never totally eliminate the risk of an anaphylaxis episode, but we are all responsible for helping to lessen that risk.

Thank you for your help in protecting those around us. To learn more about anaphylaxis and food allergies, go to Allergy & Anaphylaxis Australia and ASCIA.

Student Health, Medical and Emergency Information

All parents are reminded to provide the School with accurate and relevant medical information.  When medical circumstances change, it is essential that our records reflect your daughter’s current health status. Please send through any changes to the relevant Secondary School Year Co-ordinator or to Helen Dempsey Head of the Primary School in the Primary School.

Year 7 and 10 Immunisation Program

NSW Health offers all school students free vaccinations recommended by the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC). These vaccines are important and protect students through to adulthood.

If your child is in Year 7 or Year 10 this year, you now need to provide consent online for their routine school vaccinations.

In Year 7, students are offered free vaccines for diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis (dTpa) and human papillomavirus (HPV). In Year 10, students are offered the meningococcal ACWY vaccine.

Vaccination will only be provided at school if consent has been received.

Further information and details on how to provide consent will be available in next week’s newsletter.

Phil Rogers
Director of Administration

Debating

Welcome to SCEGGS Debating in 2026!

We are delighted to launch another exciting year of Debating at SCEGGS. With our program continuing to grow, we look forward to welcoming both new and returning students in 2026. Debating is a wonderful opportunity for students to think critically, speak with confidence, and develop the skills to analyse and construct persuasive arguments. While SCEGGS participates in several inter‑school competitions, we also warmly welcome students who wish to attend training without competing.

Key Dates for the Start of 2026

Year 7 Introduction to High School Debating | Monday 3 February (Week 2), 3.10 pm – 5.30 pm 

An extended introductory session designed for any Year 7 student who is curious about debating or eager to learn more about the activity. These sessions will cover the basics of debating, while also ensuring all students have the opportunity to experience thinking of, writing, and delivering arguments.

2026 Trial Dates – OG Building

All students are encouraged to attend, regardless of their experience. Each session will include opportunities to practice speaking skills in a supportive environment.

Training Information

• Practice Debate for Years 10–12 | Friday 6 February (Week 2), 3.10 pm – 5.00 pm
• Training for Years 7–10 will take place on Monday afternoons from 3.10 pm – 5.30pm. If your daughter is unable to attend at this time but would still like to be involved, please contact me to discuss options.
• Training will begin for all teams on Monday 9 February 2026 and is compulsory for all students in Years 7 – 9.
• If students are unable to attend training, they must email their coach in advance and CC the debating email – found here.

SCEGGS Debating Commitment Policy

Please refer to the SCEGGS Commitment Policy which highlights that Debating is a team activity, clear communication about absences and expectations and consequences for training, competitions and use of mobile phones.

A link to the document can be found here.

How to Sign Up for Debating

There are two simple ways to join the program:

1. Via Clipboard
   Go to Activity Selection and choose as many competitions as you wish (subject to availability).
2. At the Co‑curricular Expo (Friday 6 February)
   Students may also sign up by visiting the Debating stall or by attending the next training session.
3. Training sessions
   Your daughter can turn up to any Monday training session throughout the year, just please inform Ms Kottegoda via email for attendance purposes.

Further Information

More details about the program can be found here.

If you have any questions, please contact Suvini Kottegoda, Debating Coordinator here.

We look forward to an inspiring and energetic year of Debating at SCEGGS.

Suvini Kottegoda
Debating Coordinator 

Primary Sport News

Welcome back! I hope you had a safe and enjoyable break. To those new to SCEGGS, a big welcome! We are excited for a fantastic year of sport. A reminder when selecting sports for your daughter, to consider your child’s full schedule to avoid overcommitting.

The following sports have been offered to primary students in Term 1:

For any changes to Term 1 sport, such as adding your daughter to another sport, we will do our best to accommodate, however this will be dependent on enrolment numbers. For start dates and locations, please click here.

Important Sports Dates:

Important Reminders:

• Please check Clipboard for all sporting fixtures. Any updates (such as wet weather) will be made through Clipboard. Please ensure you enable notifications.
• Year 3 Basketball trials commence on Tuesday 3 February 3.15 – 5pm at the SCEGGS Sports Hall. Students will be collected from their classroom by sports coaches and walked to the Sports Hall.
• IPSHA Football trials commence on Tuesday 3 February at CPSC – Synthetic Turf Field 3.15am-4.50pm.
• IPSHA Flippa Ball/Water Polo trials commence on Thursday 5 February at UNSW Aquatic Centre 6.30am-7.30am.
• Girls must arrive in the correct uniform, have a full water bottle and bring all other sports-specific equipment required to play (e.g. shin pads for football).

When participating in sport, a reminder that your daughter is expected to adhere to the SCEGGS Sports Values. You might like to go through them with your daughter to start the year. Click here to read the SCEGGS Sports Values.

Rhythmic Gymnastics

Congratulations to all of our Kindergarten – Year 7 rhythmic gymnasts for their participation at the annual Club PERO End of Year Celebrations held on 22 November at SCEGGS Darlinghurst.

Our Beginner (Kindergarten-Year 2), Junior (Year 3-6), Intermediate (Year 7+) and Levels 3-7 gymnasts shone in their confident performances of their group display pieces and their individual and small group routines. The afternoon was supported by all the gymnasts’ families and friends and the coaching staff celebrated the achievements of the entire club for the fantastic year we have had.

A special thank you to Alison Gowan and Adrian Hammond for their support of the Club PERO rhythmic gymnastics program this year, and a huge congratulations to all of our beautiful gymnasts on their hard work and growth.

We can’t wait for next year and we look forward to introducing new students to the inclusive sport of rhythmic gymnastics in the new year!

Student Achievements

Stasia Serafin (Year 7) competed at the School Sport Australia Track & Field Championships in Canberra on 27 – 30 November. She medalled in all three events she participated in. Stasia ran a personal best in the 100m final of 12.65, to earn a silver medal, a personal best in the 200m final of 26.67 to win a bronze medal, and she anchored the 11 Years Girls 4 X 100m relay, which won gold with a time of 51.04. This was her last School Sport Australia National Championship and a huge achievement. Congratulations to Stasia!

Georgina Sharp (Year 6) attended the Australasian Show Horse & Rider Championships which took place from 4-6 December. It was a competition where the top three for each state and territory in Australia and the top three from New Zealand in their categories were invited to compete in Victoria. Georgina and her pony Ben were awarded Reserve Champion in the open child’s pony category. What an excellent achievement and congratulations to Georgina.

Sofia Zhmurovsky (Year 3) was recently selected to join a transition program, which is an elite program for ballerinas on track for becoming professional and a difficult program to gain entry into. She will be one of the youngest students ever selected. All the best to Sofia and what a wonderful opportunity for her.

Primary Sport Achievements

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 Adrian Hammond. These will be included in newsletters throughout the year.

For any questions or issues, please email Adrian Hammond and the SCEGGS Sport Department.

Looking forward to a wonderful year of sport!

Mr Adrian Hammond
Primary Sport Coordinator

Five Year 10 students return from their exchange in France

After spending six weeks in Lyon, our students (Isabella Conroy, Orla Darroch, Pascale Otton, Scarlett White and Amelia Wilcsek) have returned from their language and cultural exchange in France. During their stay, they lived with host families, attended school at the Lycée Saint Marc, and experienced day‑to‑day life in one of France’s most historic and dynamic cities.

The exchange offered them the chance to use their French in authentic contexts and to gain a deeper understanding of French culture. Many have shared stories of navigating new routines, trying regional foods, and building connections with their host communities.

The students represented the school with maturity and enthusiasm throughout the program. Their return brings fresh perspectives to our language classrooms, and the insights they have gained will continue to enrich their learning and that of their peers.

The school is proud of what they achieved during their time abroad and pleased to welcome them back into our community.

Angélique Deleeuw
Head of Languages

Public Speaking – Speech Tuition

Speech Lessons are open to girls in Years 3 – 12. These follow the ASCA (Australian Speech Communication Association) Syllabus with graded examinations up to the Diploma of Communication (Year 12). The group lessons focus on all aspects of oral communication.

If you would like your daughter to continue with her Speech Lessons or commence lessons in 2026 please fill in this form.

Enrolments will close on 2 February 2026. Places are limited so please sign up early to avoid disappointment.

Contact Elizabeth Walsh at Elizabeth Walsh if you have any questions.

Elizabeth Walsh
Speech and Public Speaking Co-ordinator

The Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award at SCEGGS 2026

A big welcome to our new Bronze participants, and a warm welcome back to those continuing the Silver and Gold levels! We hope everyone enjoyed a relaxing holiday and a positive start to the new term.

Over the summer, a group of our Silver participants took part in a Pack and Paddle adventure on the Hawkesbury River, showing great teamwork and determination. Congratulations to everyone who completed this expedition, and to our Gold participants who successfully completed their Gold Residential Projects — a huge achievement!

A special mention goes to Coco Espie, who made SCEGGS proud as a Guest Speaker at the Gold Ceremony at Government House. Coco delivered an inspiring address celebrating her Gold Award achievement. Fellow Gold recipients Avalon Korda, Bridget Murray, Jessica Weatherall, Regan Madison, and I were also honoured to tour Government House and have a special meet and greet with Her Excellency the Honourable Margaret Beazley AC KC— an unforgettable experience and a proud moment for our school community.

Getting Started

For our Year 9 students, it’s not too late to sign up for the Bronze Award! Please send your permission note to Joanne Bower. Before you begin, take a moment to check the Award’s guidelines on the NSW Duke of Edinburgh website.

Taking part in the Duke of Ed is a wonderful way to step outside, try something new, and make new friends. Spending time outdoors is proven to boost your wellbeing, build resilience, and leave you with some incredible memories — sometimes a little mud and challenge make the best stories!

Looking Ahead

 A reminder to all participants: plan your practice Adventurous Journey early! Weather, injuries, or co-curricular commitments can sneak up on us — so getting organised is key. Don’t worry if you don’t yet know everyone in your group; some of the most rewarding memories and leadership experiences come from getting to know people outside your usual circle. Sign-ups for all Adventurous Journeys are on Cognito.

The Award encourages independence, so please take responsibility for your emails, forms, and journey logistics. If you have a clash with sport or another activity, do your best to coordinate and resolve it early, it’s up to you to manage and resolve it.

Key Reminders

• Return your permission note and complete your online registration.
• Confirm your Assessors early — if they’re not SCEGGS staff, please ensure they’ve read and returned the NSW Assessor’s Volunteering Guide.
• Update your online Record Book regularly with a quick reflective 1 sentence per log!
• If you hit any technical snags, contact the Duke of Ed Help Desk at 1300 4 DUKES (1300 4 38537) or email here.
• And most importantly — keep that positive spirit alive! Every small challenge brings an opportunity for growth.

We’re looking forward to another exciting year full of discovery, challenges, and laughter. Here’s to exploring new paths, appreciating the beauty of the bush, and making memories that last a lifetime.

Ms Joanne Bower
Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award Leader

English Competition Winners

Betty Behan, Gwen Cockell and Sienna Weir Memorial Prize winners

At the end of 2025, students from Years 7 – 10 entered work into the Betty Behan and Gwen Cockell English prizes. A group of students in Years 6 and 7 also participated in the Sienna Weir Poetry Workshops and subsequently submitted work to the Sienna Weir Memorial Prize. These prizes recognise exemplary creative writing in the Short Fiction and poetry forms. We were delighted to announce the winners of these competitions on Speech Night.

We received an excellent standard of entries this year and shortlisted a number of students who were all interviewed before selecting the final winners and Highly Commended pieces. During the interviews it was so exciting to hear about the passion for writing amongst so many of our students and to learn more about the inspiration for their pieces of work. It is such a privilege to work in a community of enthusiastic writers – the English department encourages our students to keep up their excellent efforts!

We would like to congratulate the prize winners again and to announce the Highly Commended works:

Betty Behan Short Fiction Prize (Junior)

Betty Behan Senior Short Fiction Prize (Senior)

Gwen Cockell Prize for Creative Writing

Sienna Weir Memorial Prize for Poetry

Students can access and read the winning pieces through Cognito.

Jenny Bean
Head of English

Visual Arts

The Visual Arts Department are pleased to share our Co-Curricular program for Term 1!

Students are encouraged to attend the Co-Curricular expo at the end of week 2 where our Art Captain Finaly Simmons will be present to answer questions about the opportunities on offer in 2026. Classes will commence in Week 3.

This semester we offer Observational Drawing, Darkroom Photography, Painting and a Filmmaking course. Tutors are highly experienced educators and practising artists. Darkroom Photography is run by Ian Lever who is a professional photographer with decades of national and international experience. His work is widely acknowledged especially his social documentation of Sydney Life. Painting and Drawing classes are tutored by Lilli Stromland who is both an Old Girl (Class of 2012) and a Graduate of the National Art School. She is an exceptionally skilled artist who has established a successful fine arts career. Lilli continues to build a strong critical and commercial following including winning the Ravenswood Women’s Art Prize (Emerging) in 2025. The Film Making course will be run by Claudia Leonard, a graduate of the Victorian College of the Arts and SCEGGS Old Girl (class of 2020). Already an award-winning film maker, Claudia won ‘Best Animation’ at Sydney Women’s International Film Festival and received a nomination for ‘Best Australian Short’.

Classes are as follows:

Classes are capped at eight for each session of Darkroom Photography and 15 for Drawing, Painting and Filmmaking with a waitlist option. Art students are given priority enrolment with possible non-elective student participation available if spaces are free. Reenrolments are taken at the start of each new term. Look out for a sign-up email through Clipboard.

We also have a student led Art magazine, SCOPE. Anyone across the school can submit articles, reviews or essays to SCOPE and we will ask for applications for the position of Editor shortly. This role is open to Visual Arts students in Years 9 and 10 and we encourage Visual Arts students to seize this opportunity to extend their leadership skills in this unique position. Students will shortly be emailed details of how to apply. Preview the latest edition of SCOPE here.

Please select carefully, as once enrolled it is expected that the student will remain in the activity for the duration once the term has begun.

If there are any applicable fees, these will be placed on the school account towards the end of the term. Fees will be charged for late withdrawals once the term has commenced.

Registrations for all Visual Art Co-curricular activities will close on Friday 6 February at 5pm, with classes commencing the following week.

We look forward to another wonderful term ahead in Visual Arts!

Banner Acknowledgement: This week’s banner is Kangaroo Flat by 2025 Year 12 student and ARTEXPRESS nominee Isobel Murray.

Heidi Jackson
Head of Visual Arts

School Cafeteria

The Cafeteria menu embraces the principles of Dietary Guidelines for Children and Adolescents in Australia and the NSW Healthy School Canteen Strategy. Girls will have the option to purchase from the specials menu, sandwich bar or the bakery.

The Cafeteria Menu for Term 1 is available here.

Opening Times are:

Recess orders must be placed by 9.30am and Lunch orders must be placed by 10.30am on the day of order.

Recess and lunch orders can be placed using the Flexischools online ordering system or the Flexischools App (see instructions below).

Please note that prices in the cafeteria have been increased in response to increase in prices from our suppliers.

Getting started with Flexischools

If you’d like to start ordering online, Please follow these instruction:

Set up your account 

1. Download the Flexischools App

Download the app from the App Store or from Google Play.
Note: for iPhone and iPad please select ‘Allow’ notification

2. Register

Open the Flexischools App and click ‘Like to register?’, enter your email address and click ‘Register’. You will be sent a registration email. Follow the instructions in the registration email to finish setting up your account. Once your account is set up, login to the Flexischools App, select the Profile icon on the grey navigation bar, select Student and ‘Add a student’, search for our school name, select their year level and class and enter their details.

3. Top-Up Your Account

To make ordering fast and simple, you can set up automatic top-ups.

Ordering Food

Once your Flexischools account is set up, you may order food through the Flexischools App or website. Simply click on the “Order food” button and follow the prompts.

Secondary Students are also able to use their Student ID card to buy items in the Cafeteria. Girls can select items and Cafeteria Staff will scan their Student ID card at the point of sale to complete the transaction (via Flexischools account).

Important Note

Primary Students must pre-order as they are not issued with a Student ID card.

Please also note that cash is not accepted at the cafeteria and students are not able to make purchases with their mobile phones or smart watches.

SCEGGS, together with our catering partner, Cater Care, will continue to work on enhancements to the Cafeteria as part of our continual improvement strategy.

Adrian Craig
Business Manager

School Shop

Opening Hours

Uniform items are available for on-line purchasing via the Shop icon in Flexischools. Orders are required to be placed prior to 10am for same day delivery. Items purchased for Primary students will be delivered to their classrooms. Secondary students can pick up their orders from the School Shop.

If you have queries regarding School Uniform or the Clothing Pool please feel free to contact us during school hours.

Lost Property

Ensure all clothing, footwear, books and stationery items are labelled. It is advisable to include the full surname and first name or initial so the items can be clearly identified and returned.

Years K-6 Lost Property is located in bins outside the Primary School Office.

Years 7-12 Lost Property is located within the School Shop. If the item is labelled, the girls are notified by email. A gold coin donation is required when claiming the item. All donations go toward helping Mr Garry Lee Lindsay support local charitable organisations in providing food and clothing for the homeless.

Lost lunch boxes and drink bottles are kept in containers just inside the School Shop entry. Girls can collect their lost items at any time. Please note, no notification will be sent to the girls and no donation to charity is required to claim the items.

All unclaimed lost property, excluding school uniform items will be displayed outside the school shop in the last week of the term for students to claim.

Items that are not collected will be recycled at the end of every term.

Clare Reid
School Shop Manager