From Ms Allum

It is with deep sadness that I share the news about the passing of Barbara Draper, the Head’s Secretary at SCEGGS from 1988. Barbara was appointed to the role during Miss Bowman’s time, having started work at SCEGGS in 1979 in what was then known as the “Bookroom”, similar to today’s General Office. And before that, Barbara was a SCEGGS girl herself, as was her daughter Danielle, from the Class of 1990.

Fiercely loyal and faithful to tradition, Barbara was a dependable constant for me for over 27 years and I am sure there would be many parents and students reading this who have been greeted by Barbara during this time. Stoic and unassuming, Barbara kept things ticking behind the scenes and was sensitive to everyone’s needs.

Just a month shy of her 80^th birthday, Barbara was working up until the end of Term 2 this year when she went on a few weeks’ leave. During that time, she was diagnosed with oesophageal cancer that had advanced throughout her body.

We are thinking of how to mark Barbara’s incredible service to the School and we will share with the community how this will unfold in due course.

We are all feeling her loss tremendously, and are finding comfort and strength in each other, sharing anecdotes, recalling her humour, care of others and sense of duty. In this way, we know that Barbara will continue to live on through our memories. Never has it been truer that once a SCEGGS Girl, Always a SCEGGS Girl!

Jenny Allum
Head of School

SPAN Presents Walk the Mile Live!

Bookings close tomorrow for SPAN’s Walk the Mile Live! Join Rev Garry Lee-Lindsay for a conversation about working in the Performing Arts.

If you are interested in working or studying as a performer, administrator or educator or simply want to be part of an engaging discussion, this event is for you!

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

Join Elizabeth Butcher (Arts Administrator), actors Charlotte Friels, Deborah Galanos and Poppy Lynch, as well as Head of Drama Mr Eyers as they share their experiences and insights about their profession.

Connect with other like-minded peers over a light supper and great conversations!

Click here to book your ticket today!

From The Chaplain

The SCEGGS Podcast “Walk The Mile” Episode 42:  It takes a village ….

Julie McCrossin is a well-known broadcaster, interviewer and alumni of SCEGGS. She spends much of her time asking people questions and facilitating conversations at conferences and other gatherings. In this episode, I get to ask her about her life and how her experiences and history have formed her passions and her beliefs. We discuss a whole range of topics, all bracketed by the ideas of purpose and meaning. I found this a very interesting discussion and I hope you do too.

And a reminder that we are published on Spotify, Apple, Google Podcast and Deezer, 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
Chaplain

Science News

Science Week – that’s a wrap!

WOW! It has been a BIG week! Thank you to everyone who participated. It was tons of fun and hopefully everyone learnt lots of new things and found the joy of Science!

On Monday, we had Physics Phun – students had a variety of challenges to solve. First, they had to race to get a number of balloons to stick to the board, then they had to race an aluminium can across the tables and finally, they needed to create a mini air-cannon from a drink bottle and race a straw across the ground.

On Tuesday, we had our fire day! Students used a home-made flame-thrower (safely) and held fire on their hands.

On Wednesday, students taught an Artificial Intelligence (AI) Machine to recognise healthy and broken bones, and then tested how accurate the AI was.

On Thursday, we had overwhelming numbers of students wanting to conduct dissections. We expanded our dissection plans to include rats as well as cane toads, and ran two laboratories full of excited students. Students are commended for their careful and precise scalpel work. Students were thoroughly impressed with the huge stomachs of the cane toads (who had obviously just had a meal before being culled).

Finally, on Friday, Science took over the Lawn and exploded a huge volcano. Students hypothesised on the height of the expected eruption and prizes will be awarded for those with the closest estimates.

Thank you to all, the Science department and everyone who participated!

Mia Sharma
Science Teacher

Visual Arts

The SCEGGS Art Department has a long and rich history of students excelling in the Visual Arts during and after graduation. In the past two years we have had the pleasure of sharing news of Imogen Zimmerle’s (Year 10) selection as a Young Archie with her portrait of Ms Allum, Eliza’ Gosse’s (Class of 2012) inclusion in the Archibald Prize in 2023 and 2020, and our drawing tutor and arts assistant Lilli Stromland’s (Class of 2012) sell out exhibition with Damien Minton in November last year, her show at Mars Gallery in Melbourne last week and another highly anticipated show scheduled for October in Sydney. You can view here work here:

You can view the full suite of works here.

Continuing the tradition of success, Georgia Brogan (Class of 2019) won the 2021 City of Sydney photography competition, Australian Life. She was the competition’s youngest-ever winner and received a $10,000 first-place prize for the cinematic capture of her younger sister. Lara Merrett (1989) also won the Professional Category of the Ravenswood Women’s art prize last year. Agatha Gothe-Snape (CLASS of 1997)  has completed several major public artwork commissions including Here, an Echo, co-commissioned by the Biennale of Sydney and the City of Sydney as and The Scheme was a Blueprint for Future Development Programs, 2015, at Monash University’s Caulfield Campus in Melbourne. Several new public artworks are currently in production. Louisa Dawson and Louise Willems (CLASS of 1997) are currently developing new Bodies of Work as part of a Visual Arts Department Staff show at the end of 2023.

So, we encourage all our current students to start getting involved with more Prizes and our current Year 12 students are invited to consider pursuing Tertiary Studies in Visual Arts at The National Art School Open Day.

The National Art School (NAS) is Australia’s leading fine art school, with an unrivalled studio-based teaching model that has delivered a rich tradition of artistic practice and generations of world-renowned alumni for the past 100 years. Leading into the 21st Century, NAS provides a progressive and holistic art education, and invites you to join them on Open Day to discover their creative community.

Ms Brennan in the Visual Arts Department has a wonderful new book to share with the School Community called Your Brain on Art.

Your brain on Art is a NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER and provides a life-altering journey through the science of neuroaesthetics, which offers proof for how our brains and bodies transform when we participate in the arts—and how this knowledge can improve our health, enable us to flourish, and build stronger communities.

This week’s banner is Sienna Monahan’s Year 12 HSC Body of Work called Memory’ Misadventure.

Heidi Jackson
Head of Visual Arts

Secondary Sport News

NSW Snowsports

Well done to the 23 students who represented SCEGGS at the NSW Interschools Snowsports Competition.

There were some outstanding individual results which included:

Our SCEGGS Cross Country teams performed very well in the Classic and Relay disciplines:

Unfortunately, due to the poor snow conditions the Australian Championships that were due to be held next week at Mt Buller, Victoria have been cancelled.

The SCEGGS Snowsports team will be back bigger than ever in 2024. Make sure you start booking your accommodation immediately for the Sydney Regionals, as lodges are booking out already. Early bird discounted EPIC lift passes are now on sale also with most events being held at Perisher next year.

Dates for 2024

Ice Hockey

Isabelle Flower in Year 8 has been busy on the ice trying her hand at Ice Hockey. Isabelle started her Ice Hockey journey over 18 months ago and has been gradually building up her skating and hockey skills on the ice.

Training predominately out of the Ice Zoo in Alexandria and Macquarie Ice Rink, Isabelle can be found honing her skills early before school each week. On top of these sessions, she can also be found rollerblading around her local neighbourhood.

Pictured with Isabelle is her father, Oliver, who also shares her passion for the ice and accompanies her for the early morning training sessions.

SCEGGS FIFA World Cup Challenge

As the sun sets on the “best ever” FIFA Women’s World Cup, we would like to share some photos of our students competing in their own mini world cup challenge at lunch time. Mr Crawford from the PDHPE Department organised a round robin competition during lunch times through July/August whilst the World Cup was on.

Competition was fierce and students across all ages participated in these matches. Cheering on from the sidelines were many friends in support. A highlight was the final day with staff competing against students. It was a wonderful celebration of female sport and soccer was the winner.

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 (Please ensure that photos are of your daughters only. We are unable to publish photos of non SCEGGS students without parental permission).

SCEGGS Training sessions before and after school plus Saturday Sport

Please check the @SCEGGSSport Twitter feed for the latest updates relating to cancellations and wet weather.

IGSA Fixtures, Results and Wet Weather

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

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

Alison Gowan
Director of Sport

Primary Sport News

IPSHA Athletics Team

Congratulations to the girls who participated in Wednesday’s IPSHA Athletics Carnival at SOPAC. Well done to all the girls who competed and gave their all in various track and field events. We are very proud of you.  A special shout-out to the following girls who made it through to CIS Athletics for their fantastic performances on the day. Come back next week for more detailed breakdown of all the results from the carnival.

 

Gymnastics Competition

Congratulations to our Artistic Gymnastic students who were selected to represent SCEGGS at a gym competition against MLC, Ascham and Kincoppal held on Sunday last week. It was a fantastic opportunity for the girls to compete before IPSHA Gymnastics is held in early Term 4.

Well done to the following students who were awarded placings on the day:

NSW Snowsports

Congratulations to our Primary School students who participated in the NSW Interschools Snowsports Competition. Click here to view the results.

Please help us celebrate any other achievements outside of school!

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

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

Tom Mitton
Primary Sport Co-ordinator

Music Matters

SCEGGS HSC Encore Concert and Farewell Year 12 Co-curricular Students

Congratulations to all Year 12 Music 1 and Music 2 students who performed in the SCEGGS Encore Concert last Thursday 24 August, 6pm in the Great Hall. This performance was the final chance for Music students from each course to present a selection of pieces from their HSC Performance program ahead of their practical examination in Week 8. It was lovely to see staff, students and friends who attended that evening in support of the girls. We wish the Music students from the class of 2023 every success in their final preparation for their practical exams.

We also took the opportunity last Thursday to farewell and thank our Year 12 co-curricular music students for their contribution over their time at SCEGGS. Year 11 co-curricular and class music students generously donated plates of food for the morning tea to celebrate the contribution from the Year 12 girls. The work by our 2023 Music Committee were also acknowledged and thanked in this celebration. Thank you girls and we thank YOU for the music!

Cello News

Our primary Cello tutor Ms Amelia McCluney is providing a wonderful opportunity for her students to participate in a Suzuki Cello group class in September with internationally renowned Cello pedagogue Mr Takao Mizushima. The girls will have the opportunity to prepare cello repertoire together in preparation for some students performing in the Suzuki Graduation Concert at the Sydney Opera House in Term 4. Mr Mizushima is a wonderful cellist and an inspiring teacher. Our primary cellists are lucky to have this opportunity! More information will be sent to parents in coming weeks.

Austa String Festival

Due to popular demand, the Australian Strings Association NSW is hosting a second String Festival in Term 4 to give young string players the opportunity to perform in a friendly, non-competitive and supportive environment. Participants are invited to play one piece either solo or with an accompanist to the best of their ability. Participants will play one by one in a small group with other players of a similar age and ability. There are no winners, all participants will leave with a Certificate of Participation, a trophy and an adjudicator’s report. Each session is expected to take approximately an hour.

Upcoming Music Events

Term 3

Pauline Chow
Head of Music

Debating

Congratulations to the Year 7A and Senior teams who have progressed through to the Archdale Grand Final! This is an enormous achievement, and next Tuesday promises to be a very exciting evening. All Grand Final debates will take place at MLC on Tuesday 5 September.

Commiserations to the Year 7B and Year 10 teams who were knocked out in two very high-quality debates. Both teams lost in 2-1 split decisions, demonstrating how close the debates were. We are all so proud and impressed with both teams for making it to the Semi Finals – 24 schools compete in the Archdale competition, so making into the top four teams is a huge achievement.

Imogen Harper
Debating Coordinator

Creative Writing

Mosman Youth Awards in Literature

Samara Foulds (Year 12) shortlisted

Congratulations to Samara Foulds (Year 12) who was recently shortlisted in the Mosman Youth Awards in Literature. Her compelling Short Fiction piece “Home and Hearth” powerfully explored grief and loss through the metonymy of a home. Samara has been an enthusiastic creative writer throughout her high school career at SCEGGS and we wish her all the best as she moves beyond the green gate next year!

Betty Behan and Gwen Cockell English Prizes

Invitation to enter Speech Night prizes

Each year SCEGGS invites students in Years 7 – 10 to submit their creative fiction and poetry writing into the Betty Behan Memorial Prize for Short Story and Gwen Cockell Prize for Creative Writing (awarded for Poetry). Named in honour of an old girl and former English teacher, these prizes are awarded at Speech Night and are a wonderful way of celebrating the writing of our students. Winning entries and extracts of commended pieces of work are also published each year in the Lux magazine.

Students are invited to submit work that they have completed in class, or which they have worked on independently over the year. Each year we are thrilled to have so many entries from the talented writers at SCEGGS. The closing date for entries is Term 4 Week 2 (Friday 20 October). Students can follow this link to read the instructions, upload their work and read winning entries from previous years.

Jenny Bean 
Head of English

Work Experience Placements – Can you help?

SCEGGS supports all students wishing to undertake work experience and presently we are searching for placements in law, medicine, criminology, design, veterinary science, communications and many more!

All students are provided with insurance cover whilst at a workplace.

If you are in a position to offer work experience to a keen and helpful young person in either Year 10, 11 or 12 for 2-5 days, please contact our Careers Adviser Andrea Pinnock

Andrea Pinnock
Careers Adviser

Whooping Cough (Pertussis)

A case of whooping cough (pertussis) has been reported in the Secondary School. Whooping cough usually begins with cold-like symptoms such as a runny nose, mild fever and cough. The cough then gets worse, and severe bouts of uncontrollable coughing can develop. Boosters for whooping cough are recommended for adults every 10 years (particularly parents or people who work with children), as well as women who are in the third trimester of pregnancy, preferably at about 28 weeks.

More information is available here.

If you are at all worried about your own health or the currency of your own vaccinations, or you notice any symptoms of whooping cough, please see your GP as soon as possible.

Phil Rogers 
Director of Administration