From Ms Allum

Welcome to the 2025 School Year (and SCEGGS’ 130th Year!)

To everyone in our community, parents, and students – my best wishes for a good year. I hope all of you are glad to be here and feel supported and cared for!

A particular welcome to our new students and their families. I hope that you soon feel part of the School community. I look forward to meeting you all soon.

There is a lot of information in this edition of Behind the Green Gate. Please take the time to read all of 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 a really 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 him or her.

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 discipline. 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 2025 can be found in the Who’s Who at SCEGGS in the 2025 guide which can be accessed via the SCEGGS Portal (login required).

This includes:

• Form Teachers and Year Co-ordinators in the Secondary School
• 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 – Ms Holly Gyton
• Head of the Primary School – Mrs Helen Dempsey
• Director of Curriculum – Mr Andrew Gallagher
• 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

I am also happy to talk to any parent – on the telephone or in person. Please ring if you would like to discuss a matter or come in for an appointment.

Welcome to (or welcome back to) SCEGGS!

Jenny Allum
Head of School

2024 Parent Satisfaction Survey Analysis

Firstly, I want to thank all parents who completed our parent satisfaction survey last year. This survey is really important to us all – we want to track parents’ satisfaction and identify areas that should be maintained or improved. I want us to be the best school we can possibly be, and we are definitely assisted in that by all your ideas, comments and suggestions. We really value your feedback!

We have been doing this survey every second year since 1997. As you know, we want an open and transparent approach in the administration of this school. It is very important to me that:

1. We know what parents think and use this to continue on our journey of striving for excellence and constant improvement.
2. We report to parents openly about the results of this sort of survey, so that parents know, too, what we are thinking and about the way forward.

I hope that this summary (login required) of the results of the parent survey from 2024 is clear and helpful. If you do have any comments or questions, please don’t hesitate to give me a ring.

IPSOS Australia was again commissioned by us to design and administer the survey and analyse the feedback and present us with the results.  Fieldwork was conducted in August/September of last year. The survey was completed on-line as usual. The structure of the questionnaire was like that used in the previous studies conducted for the school, with a few minor modifications.

In total, 268 questionnaires were returned – reasonably representative across students from Kindergarten to Year 12. We thank everyone who returned a survey – your feedback is very important to us, and I know your views will contribute to helping us grow and develop in the years ahead.

Jenny Allum
Head of School

2024 HSC Results

Please click here to view our 2024 HSC Results.

Parents’ and Friends’ Association

Dear Parents and Friends of SCEGGS

On behalf of the P&F Association, I extend a warm welcome to you all to the 2025 school year. A particular welcome to those families joining the SCEGGS community this year – we hope your SCEGGS journey is a wonderful one!

Our Committee organise a number of events, gatherings and guest speakers throughout the year and we hope you are able to join us for as many events as you can to get to know other families.

P&F Welcome Cocktail Party

A hugely popular event is our annual P&F Welcome Cocktail Party to be held on Friday 28 February from 6.00pm – 8.00pm on the Joan Freeman Terrace. Please see the invitation below for booking details.

Years 11 & 12 Parent/Daughter Breakfast  – Friday 14 February

Save the date for the Years 11 & 12 Parent/Daughter Breakfast from 7.00am in the Great Hall. Our guest speaker will be Melbourne-based Old Girl Poppy Grierson (COLEMAN 2000), who is the Director – Land Planning and Environment for the North East Link Program, which is the largest road project in Victoria’s history.

I look forward to meeting many of you over the year!

Rob Jessup
President, P&F Association

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 joy in all that you do.

Harvest Festival

In Week 3 this year, 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 Monday 10 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, Hop 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. 

We are starting a new method of signing up to be part of the roster this year. Coincidently, the program is called SignUp and here is the link. 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 thing for us as a school community to be involved in and a great thing for our local community as well.

The SCEGGS Podcast “Walk The Mile” Episode 61: Starting School As a Parent with Rob Jessup and Anna Chandler

I would like to invite all members of our community to have a listen to our school podcast “Walk The Mile”. The name comes from one of our popular chapel hymns that speaks about looking out for one another and sharing the load. The podcast began as an experiment during the covid lockdowns and has continued to provide conversations that anyone can relate too. It’s a good way of getting a feel for our community both inside and beyond the green gate.

As the school year begins, it can be a nervous time for some of our students for all sorts of reasons. This can also be the case for some of our parents too. This episode addresses the issues that might occur when starting school, from a parent’s perspective,  whether it be for the first time, a new school or a new year. Rob Jessup and Anna Chandler are both parents that have children in both the Primary and Secondary School. This year, they have one starting Kindergarten and Year 7 respectively. They share their concerns, good advice and experience as they get ready for what is ahead. I hope you enjoy the conversation and find it to be helpful.

And a reminder that we are published on Spotify, Apple and other podcast platforms, so you can access it easier from your preferred device. I always welcome your feedback or any ideas you may have for further episodes. You will find each podcast as they are produced in this newsletter and on the other platforms as well as our website.

Rev. Garry Lee-Lindsay
School Chaplain

From the Primary School

Welcome to a new school year, everyone! I trust you all had a relaxing holiday filled with sunshine, family, and friends. I would like to extend a warm welcome to all the new girls and their families joining us this year. We hope you settle in smoothly at SCEGGS, but please don’t hesitate to reach out if you have any questions or need support in the coming weeks.

This year, we are excited to welcome several new members to our Primary teaching team. You can find details about our new staff in Who’s Who contained in Ms Allum’s article in this week’s newsletter.

We are looking forward to seeing you all at our Parent Information Evenings in Weeks 2 and 3. These evenings are for all parents of girls from Kindergarten to Year 6. At these evenings you will hear from your daughters’ teachers about the classroom programs, the year’s activities, and how you can support your daughter’s learning at home. These sessions will take place in the girls’ assigned classrooms. Beforehand, we would love for you to join us for some casual drinks in the Primary Playground, a great opportunity to meet each other and to kick off the year with a positive start.

The Joan Freeman Carpark will be open for parking from 5.15 pm but will close promptly at 9.00pm. The entry of the car park is positioned on St Peters Street which can be accessed via Forbes Street.

Parent Information Evenings

We urge you to come along and meet our wonderful team of teachers and to hear about the exciting things that will be happening at the school during 2025.

Helen Dempsey
Head of Primary

2025 Parent 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 is available on the SCEGGS Portal (login required) to answer all of these questions and more! The 2025 Parent Information Booklet contains the most important logistical and organisational information for parents including:

• School attendance information for all students K-12
• 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
• SCEGGS App
• … and much, much more!

The 2025 Parent 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.

Philip Rogers
Director of Administration

Navigating the Primary School Car Line

Bourke Street Car Line

Navigating the Primary School Car Line can be a tricky part of the afternoon, especially as we settle into a new year and establish new routines for all involved. The great news is that, together as a community, we can make it run smoothly. Here are some practical tips to help ensure the Car Line operates safely and efficiently each day.

How can you help?

• Primary School pick-up times are 2.55pm for Kindergarten to Year 2 and 3.10pm for Year 3 to 6. Please arrive at the correct time, not earlier.
• Do not get out of your car. The teachers will assist your daughter to ensure her safe departure.
• Please do not double park. Always join the moving queue from the Northern end of Bourke Street, no matter how frustrating it might be. 
• Avoid leaving empty spaces in front of your car. Move up the queue as far as you can go.
• Always display your daughter’s name sign. If you require a sign, please contact the Primary Office.
• Follow the directions of the staff members on duty. They are in the best position to see the overall situation. 
• Encourage your daughter to quickly enter the car on its curb side with her bags. It is much safer to place bags into the front or back seats rather than the boot.
• If a vehicle is pulling out of the moving queue after collecting a child, please grant them easy access.
• Please avoid taking phone calls during this time as your full attention will ensure safety is made a priority.
• If you are approaching or leaving the school on foot and need to cross the street, use the Bourke Street pedestrian crossing. A traffic controller will also be on duty before school to ensure your family’s safety

A collective effort to follow the guidelines of the dismissal process will ensure road safety measures are in place, keeping your daughter, the teachers and you, safe. 

Thank you for your patience as these Car Line etiquette expectations become habitual for the year ahead.

Gabriela Grocott
Manager of Primary Administration and Operations

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.

Order 

1. Place your order

In the Flexischools App, swipe up and down to find the service category you are interested in, swipe left and right to find the service you are interested in and select the green ‘Order’ button.

2. Make your selection

Select the items you wish to order.

3. Make payment

Select your payment option and complete payment to place your order. 

Payment System

We have implemented a system to enable students to purchase items outside of the ordering window which allows them to make food and beverage choices at recess and lunch times, while ensuring parents can maintain visibility over the items they are purchasing.

Secondary Students are 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).

To enable this function, you need to enter the Student ID card number (located under the barcode on the Student ID card *A) into your Flexischools account in the Student card number field *B in the Settings tab.

Your Flexischools account must be in credit to utilise this function – see the Account tab or click Top Up Wallet *C.

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

From the Business Office

Firstly, we trust you were able to take a break over the school holiday period. No matter how short or long, it is important to recharge those batteries in preparation for another busy year. I would like to welcome back all returning SCEGGS families and provide a very warm welcome to new families joining us in 2025. We trust you will enjoy being a member of the SCEGGS community!

In this first issue of Behind the Green Gate for 2025, I would like to mention some important points from the Business Office: 

2025 School Fees 

The fee account for Term 1, 2025 was emailed to families in November last year. We send the Term 1 fee 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.

The first account is due for payment on Thursday 30 January 2025.  SCEGGS greatly appreciates the payment of fees on or before the due date which provides us with certainty of cashflow.  SCEGGS invoices tuition fees each term and we do understand the amounts are significant. If you would prefer to smooth your cashflow or line up fee payments with your cash inflows, you have the ability to pay amounts on to your SCEGGS fee account at regular intervals (eg monthly or fortnightly).

Future invoices for 2025 tuition fees will be emailed in April, July and September. For planning purposes, fees are always due on the first day of term.  

A final invoice for any supplementary charges will be emailed in November. 

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 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 the insurance coverage. 

School Shop and Flexischools

I am pleased to advise we have extended the use of Flexischools to the School Shop. You are now able to purchase items of school uniform online via your Flexischools account – using either money on your Flexischools account or credit card via the secure portal. Current SCEGGS families accustomed to using Flexischools for cafeteria purchases will see the “Shop” option when they log in to Flexischools. Elsewhere in this newsletter, we provide instructions on how to establish a Flexischools account for use at both the cafeteria and the School Shop which will assist new families as well as existing families who may not have previously used Flexischools.  

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 

Secondary Sport News

A big welcome to everyone who is new to SCEGGS sport in 2025. It has been a busy time in the PDHPE Department as we get ready to commence our Term 1 Sports. Please be patient as we await final draws and match times from our various associations. We are still finalising teams and once complete will upload everything onto Clipboard.

Secondary Swimming Carnival

Insight Creative Writing Competition

This Australia wide competition is open to all high school students and in 2024 they received more entries than ever – well done Anna!

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 2025 please fill in this form. The cut off date for enrolments will be 3 February 2025. 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

Technology Update

SCEGGS is continuing the 1:1 Computer Program in 2025. Every girl in Years 4 to 12 will have their own convertible 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

Primary & Secondary Music

All co-curricular music activities resume in Week 2 (from Monday 3 February) with the exception of Contemporary Vocal Ensemble, which begins on Wednesday 12 February.

Holst and Amati rehearsals will be on after the Swimming Carnival on Wednesday 5 February, but will be shortened to one hour from 3.15pm – 4.15pm. Girls should bring their instruments to school and come to the DB Centre for rehearsal after buses return from the carnival.

Please refer to Clipboard to confirm which ensembles your daughter is enrolled in.

Please contact our Music Administrator Alice Kotowicz if you wish to discuss enrolling in a music ensemble. 

Most music tuition lessons resume in Week 2, from Monday 3 February.

Timetables for individual music lessons can be found on Cognito and are usually circulated by the tutors. Please contact your tutor directly if you are not sure when lessons commence.

Eisteddfod

Our Annual SCEGGS Eisteddfod will be held this term with heats during Week 7 and two Highlights concerts at the end of Week 8.

Entry is FREE and open to all students.

Get ready to enter in Week 4.

In the meantime, practise, practise, practise!

Further information will be shared by Classroom teachers and Music tutors next week.

Rough Edges Christmas Party

SCEGGS choristers and string players brought some festive cheer to the Rough Edges Christmas Party last year. This annual event was held at the St John’s Darlinghurst Church Hall on the Friday after Speech Night. Special thanks to the students and staff who gave up time during the school holidays, especially Ms Stephanie Holmes and Mrs Anne Sweeney. Meaningful musical experiences beyond the Green Gate bring connection and joy to our local community.

Sydney Youth Orchestra Summer School

Two SCEGGS string players from Year 3, Bianca Roncolato (violin) and Audrey Fernandes (viola) joined over 400 students from all over NSW for a week of music making during the school holidays at the Sydney Youth Orchestra Summer School. Bianca and Audrey played in Orange Strings, while Mrs Anne Sweeney conducted Pink Strings. A wonderful showcase concert was held at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music. Congratulations Bianca and Audrey!

National Choral School

Gondwana Choir’s National Choral School annually brings together some of the finest and most enthusiastic young choral singers from all over Australia for rehearsals and performances.  SCEGGS’ Year 10 choristers Eva Ancher and Josie Grayden successfully auditioned to participate in this two week residential camp at Sydney University’s Women’s College in January.  Their experience concluded with two showcase concerts at Sydney Conservatorium of Music culminating in a massed performance with two hundred and fifty singers. SCEGGS’ Director of Choirs, Miss Allison Harrigan, enjoyed conducting one of four choirs at this event and SCEGGS’ pianists Mr Luke Byrne and Ms Catherine McKay accompanied choirs throughout this fortnight of music making.  SCEGGS have a long history of students participating in this event and Josie and Eva were pleased to be reunited with SCEGGS’ alumni Nicola Allen (2023) who is touring the United States and Canada performing in Gondwana Chorale.  

Heidi Jones
Head of Music (Co-curricular)

SCEGGS Scholarships

A reminder for parents that applications for scholarships for 2026 close on Sunday 2 February 2025. Registrations for Year 7 Academic Scholarships are being taken online through the ACER website. Applications for all other scholarships are downloadable here.

Any questions should be directed to the Enrolments Office on 9332 1133.

Sonja Richards
Registrar

Debating

Welcome to Debating for 2025!

I hope that 2025 will be a year where we see lots of new and old faces in our debating program. Debating is a great activity that helps you to think on your feet, builds your confidence speaking in front of people, and teaches you how to understand and construct arguments. There are various opportunities to debate at SCEGGS: You can be a part of a team in an inter-school competition, just attend training, or participate in our social debating program.

The easiest way to sign-up to debating is by attending the first training session for your year group, outlined below. There will also be an opportunity to sign-up at the co-curricular expo. If you have any questions please email here.

Detailed information with competition dates and times will be in the notes distributed at the first training session. 

Primary

Any Year 6 who is interested in the ISDA Debating Competition must come to trials on Friday 31 January and Friday 7 February, 3.10-5.00 pm. Trials will be held in the OG Building.

IPSHA training for Year 6 will be held at Friday lunchtime, beginning Week 3.

Year 7

For Year 7, there will be an Introduction to High School Debating session on Monday 3 February, 3.10-5.30 pm. This will cover the basics of debating, while also giving all students the chance to participate in a full practice debate. Any Year 7 who is interested in debating should come to this, even if they have done debating in primary school. Following this, we will be running internal debates on Friday 7 February, from 3.10-5.00 pm, which will also be used to help us sort our debaters into competitive teams. Regular training will begin for Year 7 on the Monday of Week 3, and will go from 3.10-5.00 pm.

Years 8 and 9

Training for Years 8 and 9 begins on the first Monday of term, 3 February. Training takes place from 3:10-5:00pm in the OG Building, and will be on each Monday afternoon. These sessions in the first two weeks will inform teams for ISDA and Eastside, so please do your best to attend.

Years 10 – 12

For Years 10-12, we will be holding our first training session of the year on Friday 31 January, from 3.10-5.00 pm. There will be a second session on the Friday of Week 2. After this, training times will be organised with coaches. Both Friday afternoon training sessions will be in the OG Building.

SCEGGS Debating

URSTRONG ‘Day of Friendship’ at SCEGGS – Tuesday 18 February 2025

In conjunction with our Form Time and Personal Development and Health programs, the girls in Year 2 to 5 will have the opportunity to participate in workshops, conducted by the URSTRONG organisation on Tuesday 18 February 2025.

For Year 2, 3 and 4 the workshops will occur during the school day and aim to empower the students with the skills, language and self-confidence to be better friends and develop healthier relationships. They will further their understanding of a common language for confidently managing conflict and create a culture that is rooted in respect and kindness. They will also discover what is normal in a friendship, the difference between healthy and unhealthy friendships and how to stand up for themselves.           

More information will follow for specifics on these workshops.

Sarah Johnstone
Deputy Head of Primary (Student Wellbeing)

Visual Arts

Welcome back from all of the Art Department! We are pleased to share our Co-Curricular program for Term 1!

Students are encouraged to attend the Co-Curricular expo on Thursday of week 2 where our Art Captain Mia Butcher will be present to answer questions about the opportunities on offer in 2025. Classes will commence in Week 3.

This term we offer Observational Drawing, Darkroom Photography, and a Painting 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.

Classes are as follows:

Classes are capped at 8 for each session of Darkroom Photography and 15 for Drawing and Painting with a waitlist option. Art students are given priority enrolment with possible non-elective student participation available if spaces are free. Further information and sign up is available through Clipboard.

Other opportunities in the Visual Arts Co-Curricular Program

We also have a student led Art magazine, SCOPE. Anyone can submit articles, reviews or essays to SCOPE and applications for the position of Editor will be open to Visual Arts students in Years 9 to12.  We encourage students to seize this opportunity to extend their leadership skills in this unique position or to develop their research, collaborative and critical thinking skills through being a writer for the magazine. Students will be emailed details of how to apply.

View the latest edition of SCOPE here.

Finally, back by popular demand we have another short course in large scale ceramic hand building this term. In this course Lilli Stromland will teach students how to build and glaze their own vase. This class is capped at 8 so watch out for the email.

Banner Acknowledgement: This week’s banner is a group work created by the 2024 Co-curricular Painting students.

Heidi Jackson
Head of Visual Arts

Student Health Information

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.

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 www.allergyfacts.org.au and www.allergy.org.au.

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 Sarah Johnstone, Deputy Head of the Primary School: Student Wellbeing in the Primary School.

Phil Rogers
Director of Administration

Dorothy Wilkinson Memorial Library

The Library is open to Secondary Students at the following times:

Hours

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

School Shop

Opening Hours

Monday to Friday
8.00am to 12.30pm
1.00pm to 3.30pm

This year we are happy to introduce school uniform ordering via the Shop icon in Flexischools.

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. If required, laundry markers are available from the School Shop.

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 to Plan International sponsored children.

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 but please note that no notification will be sent to the girls and no donation to charity is required to claim the items.

All unclaimed lost property, including any items of school uniform with no identification, 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