From Ms Gyton

Only 3 weeks to go until the fabulous P&F Festival on Forbes for 2026! Held once every two years, it is a true highlight on the SCEGGS calendar and a day of fun, connection and celebration, with a vast array of activities for the young and young-at-heart, delicious food stalls, exciting market stalls, a silent auction and so much more!

Our Class Parents and stall holders are already working hard, coordinating the arrangements for each of the stalls … but your contributions and support in the lead up to the day are vital too!

One way you can help now is by dropping off key items to our second Festival on Forbes drop-off tomorrow, from 7.30am.

Our volunteers would love to receive:

• Pre-loved clothes, accessories, sports equipment and books
• Prizes for the Chocolate Wheel and Coin Toss including new toys, pamper items and vouchers under $100
• Homemade seasoning blends, salad dressings, sauces, marinades, jams and other delicious treats for the Gourmet Pantry

Our friendly P&F volunteers will be in the Forbes Street car park to assist you unload your goodies.

Thank you in advance for your generosity and support – we couldn’t do it without you!

Together, we will make the 2026 Festival on Forbes a wonderful celebration of our school community.

So I look forward to seeing you at the drop off tomorrow … and at the Festival on Forbes on 23 August too!

Holly Gyton
Head of School

Rostrum Voice of Youth

The Rostrum Voice of Youth is one of the largest public speaking competitions in Australia. Over 900 students competed across five states in the opening rounds.  Last weekend the National Finals saw the best four speakers from Years 7-9 and 10-12 compete to be the national winner.  SCEGGS girls Pippa Brenner (Year 12) and Siena Walsh (Year 8) both made it through to represent NSW, and we are delighted to share the news that Siena won the National Junior Division.

It was a whole weekend event with a Welcome held at NSW Parliament House hosted by The Hon. Ben Franklin, the President of the New South Wales Legislative Council and a former National Rostrum winner.  The girls then attended a number of events before the National Finals began on Saturday afternoon.  Each student presented a prepared and short notice speech and the whole group were exceptional.  Siena and Pippa were outstanding and both delivered thought provoking, engaging, natural and very well-prepared speeches.  I could not be prouder of them both.

Congratulations, Siena! Winning the National Junior Division is a truly amazing achievement and we are all extremely proud of you!

Elizabeth Walsh
Speech and Public Speaking Co-ordinator

P&F Parent Information Evening

Food misinformation and body image pressure are two key issues affecting young people every single day.

So how can parents help their daughters to learn practical nutrition habits?

Save the Date

We invite you to join Alex Parker from The Biting Truth at a P&F Parent Information Evening.

When: Tuesday, 1 September 2026

Time:   7.00pm

Where: SCEGGS Lecture Theatre

RSVP: by Monday 31 August via this link.

The Biting Truth, is an organisation working with schools teaching practical nutrition habits that improve performance, concentration, and wellbeing. Food misinformation, body image pressure and study stress are affecting our young people every single day.

The Biting Truth have built a nutrition framework designed specifically for Australian schools which is grounded in a non-diet approach and eating disorder-informed practice. Alex Parker, a co-founder of The Biting Truth, is an accredited Practicing Dietitian and one of Australia’s most experienced nutrition educators.

Carol Bloomfield
Head of Student Wellbeing Programs

Festival on Forbes

This is just one of the many amazing items that you can bid on at this year’s Silent Auction at the Festival on Forbes!

We are grateful for the generous contributions we have received so far, but we need more to make this the most successful Silent Auction ever!

Funds raised through the Silent Auction will go towards growing our scholarship program to support more local students from diverse backgrounds.

Popular and highly sought-after items include:

• Holiday accommodation
• Restaurant and café vouchers
• Concert, theatre or sporting tickets
• Unique experiences or activities, including work experience
• Art and luxury items
• Clothing and beauty vouchers
• Wellness or day spa packages
• Premium wine and champagne

Any contribution, large or small, is genuinely valued and helps make a meaningful difference. Donors are acknowledged as part of the Festival, and prizes are showcased prominently as part of the auction.

How to Donate

To donate a prize or if you have any questions, please get in touch with the Director of Development, Bree Parker or the Fair Committee.

Thank you so much for your support. Let’s make this year’s Silent Auction a huge success!

The Festival on Forbes Committee

Years 7 & 8 Parent/Daughter Breakfast

The P&F are delighted to invite Years 7 & 8 students and their parent/carer to the Parent/Daughter Breakfast for a memorable morning of connection, conversation and inspiration.

We are thrilled to welcome Ruby back to SCEGGS to share her powerful journey from a successful career in fashion to now captivating young readers worldwide with her amazing novels.

Born and raised in Sydney, class of 2006 SCEGGS alumni Ruby Jean Cottle (Heery) studied Art History at COFA before embarking on a career in fashion and creative direction. During her time in roles in digital media, content creation and branding, plus a move to New York, Ruby was privately navigating undiagnosed endometriosis. After becoming a mother and having a clearer understanding of her body’s needs, Ruby decided to return to something she hadn’t done since high-school – writing.

Within a year of starting Ruby had signed a two-book-deal with Simon & Schuster Australia for her debut novel, Black River and its sequel, White Mountain – a coming of age take on the vampire genre set in the Adirondack Mountains of upstate New York. Ruby’s storytelling explores the power of the natural world through a lens of romance, the paranormal, fantasy and sci-fi. The books have since sold into territories around the world, including the US, UK, Spain and France.

Please join us on Friday 18 September to hear more about Ruby’s inspiring experiences!

Jeans for Genes Day – Kindergarten to Year 12

We’re excited to announce the return of Jeans for Genes Day on Friday 7 August, Week 3!

This national initiative raises funds for research into cures for childhood genetic diseases.

To show your support, wear your favourite pair of jeans or denim to school and bring along a gold coin donation.

It is an incredible opportunity for the school community to come together and contribute to the Children’s Medical Research Institute, an independent organisation which has for 65 years worked to improve the health of children affected by genetic diseases. By supporting this cause, you are helping the scientists at Children’s Medical Research Institute continue their vital work.

Thanks for your support!

The SRC

Old Girls’ Art Exhibition

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

SCEGGS OGU is delighted to offer for sale nearly 100 amazing art works, produced by Old Girls, current and former Visual Arts staff, and friends of the School community. With 30% of the sale price of every artwork donated to the school to support Old Girls’ scholarships, this is an opportunity for former students and families to support the next generation of SCEGGS girls.

We hope you enjoy browsing the 2026 Old Girls’ Art Exhibition and find that special artwork that you love!

Thank you for supporting this endeavour! 

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

SCEGGS Old Girls’ Union

Sienna Weir Poetry Workshop and Prize

For the last two years we have been fortunate to have Australian poet Jane Gibian work with a small group of Year 6 and 7 students as a part of the Sienna Weir Poetry Workshop and Prize. The students spend a day learning about poetry, writing and drafting their own pieces while also receiving feedback from Ms Gibian. After drafting, revisions and editing, each students’ work is published by the school and considered for a Speech Night prize. 

Sienna’s parents are generously supporting this workshop again this year and we are delighted to invite Ms Gibian back in Term 3 to work with a new group of students. 

Students are invited to apply for this opportunity by submitting one or two pieces of poetry  by email to either Ms Cristi Wilsmore (Year 6 students) or Ms Jenny Bean (Year 7 students).

Students may submit any pieces they have composed this year (including pieces they may have worked on in class or submitted for other competitions). 

All entries must be submitted electronically by Friday 14 August (Week 4, Term 3).

We look forward to reading the entries!

Jennifer Bean
Head of English

Jump Rope for Heart

House Families Skip into Action

Skipping ropes were in full swing throughout Term 2 as students across Kindergarten to Year 6 participated in this year’s Jump Rope for Heart program.

As part of their House Family groups, girls developed new skipping skills, challenged themselves and enjoyed connecting with students across different year levels. Our Year 6 leaders played an important role in the program’s success, supporting younger students and encouraging participation. A special congratulations to Year 6 leaders Ava Y and Charlotte W, who did an outstanding job leading our Jump Off to conclude the program.

The program culminated in a vibrant celebration of skipping, teamwork and House spirit, with girls proudly showcasing the skills they had developed throughout the Term. Along the way, students also learned about the importance of physical activity, healthy habits and maintaining good heart health.

It has been wonderful to see our girls embrace the opportunity to stay active, build connections and contribute to a cause that makes a real difference.

Kaitlin Ryan
Stage 3 Wellbeing Leader

Secondary Sport News

In Secondary School sports news this week read about:

• Netball
• Equestrian
• Hockey
• Football

Netball

Congratulations to Eve Tawfik (Year 7) and Alice Barnett (Year 8) who competed at the Netball NSW Junior State Titles over the holidays. The Netball NSW Junior State Titles is a three day tournament within the Netball NSW pathway that showcases the strength of grassroots netball with young players from all over the state coming together.

Eve was the captain of her team and represented St George District Netball Association in the U13s age division, who finished 10^th in their division. Alice represented Inner West Netball Association in the U14s age division, who finished 8^th in their division.

Term 3 Netball got off to a challenging start last Saturday with our top netball teams all going down.

SCEGGS 1 faced tough competition and were defeated 49-33 by Brigidine College. The SCEGGS 4 (Junior 1sts) also faced stiff competition and were defeated 44-26 by Abbotsleigh. While the Year 7 1sts faced a strong Frensham team. Onwards and upwards for next week.

Equestrian

Congratulations to our SCEGGS riders who competed at the NSW Interschools Equestrian Championships that were held in the July holidays: Ella McHugh (Year 11), Abby Simmons (Year 11), Scarlett Webber (Year 11) and Georgina Sharp (Year 6).

Pictured is Ella Mc Hugh with her horse Atticus who were very busy competing eight times over four days. 

Hockey

SCEGGS 1 had a thrilling 2-1 win over Ascham on the weekend. It was a terrific team effort with 2 brilliant reverse stick shots from Jess Weatherall (Year 12) to seal the win.

The Junior team had a tough match against Ascham and were defeated 5-2.

Football

In the school holidays six SCEGGS girls represented their respective team in Canberra at the Kanga Cup. The following students competed in the U14 division: Louisa Brooks (Year 9), Macy Barnett (Year 9), Tully Greiner-Sharp (Year 8), Diya Shankar (Year 8) Grace Evans (Year 7) and Rosie Wong (Year 7).

Despite the cold conditions, Louisa, Macy, Tully, Diya, and Grace represented the Easts team with great determination. Easts won their first three matches of the tournament and narrowly missed out on a place in the finals. A highlight of their campaign was defeating the team that went on to win the overall tournament.

Rosie Wong (Year 7) represented the APIA team, who enjoyed an outstanding tournament. APIA remained undefeated throughout the group stage to progress to the knockout rounds, eventually reaching the semi-finals where they were edged out 1–0.

Overall, the tournament was a huge success for SCEGGS girls which created lots of memorable experience they will cherish for life.

IGSA Fixtures, Results and Wet Weather

The IGSA website and platform for accessing wet weather, fixtures and team results can be found here.

SCEGGS at Play

Do you have any sporting news or photos to share in the Green Gate?

We love seeing our students being active and want to celebrate their passion and enjoyment amongst the SCEGGS community. Please send in any action shots from the weekend and any other interesting sporting highlights to Alison Gowan.

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact myself on 9052 2721 or 0418 491 521.

Alison Gowan
Director of Sport

Careers Corner

Please click here to read this week’s Careers Corner Newsletter.

Andrea Pinnock
Careers Advisor