5 November 2026 - 5 November 2026
Light Her Path Giving Day  12 November

Light Her Path Giving Day 12 November

On Thursday 12 November, the SCEGGS community will come together for our fifth annual Light Her Path Giving Day.

Since its launch in 2020, Light Her Path has had two ambitious goals: to create exceptional spaces for learning and to expand scholarship opportunities for girls who might not otherwise have access to a SCEGGS education. Thanks to the extraordinary generosity of our community, students are now enjoying the benefits of Wilkinson House every day. Now, we turn our collective attention to the campaign’s second and equally important goal: expanding the SCEGGS Scholarship Program.

Scholarships have long been part of the SCEGGS story, helping ensure that financial circumstances alone do not prevent a young woman from accessing the opportunities a SCEGGS education provides. Few things have the capacity to transform lives as profoundly as a quality education, and we believe every student should have the opportunity to pursue her own path to personal excellence, regardless of her circumstances.

Today, 52 students in the Secondary School benefit from scholarship support, with assistance ranging from partial to full support. This year, we are particularly focused on extending scholarship opportunities into the Primary School, including through the new Jenny Allum Scholarships, which seek to address inequity and social disadvantage by creating pathways for local students to access a SCEGGS education.

Reflecting many of the values at the heart of our School, scholarships allow us to celebrate excellence, embrace diversity and inclusion, and support meaningful reconciliation. Each scholarship recipient brings her own experiences, perspectives and aspirations to our community, enriching the learning environment for all and contributing to the diversity that makes SCEGGS such a special place.

Why Give?
Our girls, and SCEGGS itself, have benefited enormously from the generosity and philanthropy of past generations. Giving Day is an opportunity for our community to come together and pay that generosity forward for future generations of SCEGGS girls.

Philanthropy makes possible what school fees alone cannot. Every scholarship awarded is an investment in opportunity, potential and belonging. Every gift helps ensure that talented young women can access the education and opportunities that will shape their future.

Double Your Impact on Giving Day
For 24 hours on Giving Day, every donation will be doubled by our generous matching donors and every gift is tax deductible.

  • Give $100 and SCEGGS receives $200
  • Give $500 and SCEGGS receives $1,000
  • Give $1,000 and SCEGGS receives $2,000

There will never be a better day to give.

How to Give: donate at giving.sceggs.nsw.edu.au

K-12 Plain Clothes Day and House BBQ
All students from K-12 are invited to wear plain clothes on Giving Day and will celebrate with their Houses at a BBQ. Girls are encouraged to bring a gold coin donation to support the festivities and help mark this important day in the SCEGGS calendar.

Conditions of Enrolment

Conditions of Enrolment

All families are encouraged to ensure that they are familiar with the Conditions of Enrolment at SCEGGS. These conditions cover important information about areas such as:

  • Student and parent obligations
  • Payment of fees
  • The importance of disclosing any changes in the needs of a student
  • Requests for student leave in advance (required for all absences other than illness)
  • Process for providing at least one term’s notice before the withdrawal of a student and the charges if a shorter notice period is provided.

A full copy of the conditions of enrolment is always available publicly on the SCEGGS website.

Holly Gyton
Head of School

From the Chaplain

From the Chaplain

The SCEGGS Podcast “Walk The Mile” Episode 81: When A Pet Needs A Vet with Dr Aimee BOCK (2011)

It isn’t unusual these days to see a parent dropping off their kids in the morning whilst bringing a furry friend (or a few) along for the ride. Not to mention the copious dog walkers that stroll the local footpaths each day. It is a great way to meet our friendly neighbours! But pets aren’t limited to the canine kind. Pets are common amongst our school community and I am constantly hearing stories about the “other” member of the family. Dr Aimee BOCK (2011) has been working as a vet for the last eight years in Sydney’s Inner West. In this podcast, she talks about why she pursued this career, some of the challenges she faces and what she has learnt. Our conversation also touches on sensitive topics, such as pet bereavement and euthanasia, which may be upsetting for some listeners. 

And a reminder that we are published on Spotify, Apple Podcasts and other popular 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.

 

Christmas Collections 

The donations for all of our Christmas drives are starting to build and there have been many enquiries about all of the activities: Socks and Undies, Toy Drive, Tear Catalogue and the Christmas Hampers. Feel free to contact me here if you want to know more or have a look at last week’s edition of Behind The Green Gate for more information.

Rev. Garry Lee-Lindsay
School Chaplain

Year 11 Roughtober Sleepout and Urban Walk

Year 11 Roughtober Sleepout and Urban Walk

Congratulations to the 83 Year 11 students and 12 SCEGGS staff who participated in this year’s Roughtober Fundraiser and Sleepout on Friday, 30 October.

The students raised over $12,000 to support the work of Rough Edges and the Banksia Women program in Darlinghurst.

Throughout the evening, we listened to stories from people who have had experienced homelessness and living rough. The sense of hope and dignity that people told us they felt when visiting the Rough Edges café in Darlinghurst helped us to understand just how vital this service is. In 2019 the Banksia Women program was started by St John’s Darlinghurst. The Banksia, symbolising strength after adversity, was chosen to represent this support service for women experiencing domestic violence.

The students were outstanding ambassadors of the School, and deeply respectful and thoughtful in the way they listened and asked question. I could not be prouder of them!

The Roughtober Sleepout is only possible due to the support of staff. A huge thank you to Ms Andrea Pinnock, Ms Lisa Thompson, Ms Lidia Simpson, Ms Laura Connolly and Ms Sue Wymer who swapped their Friday night for next to no sleep at all! (as well as a number of other staff who accompanied us for the Urban Walk!) And thank you to all who gave generously to support the fundraiser! It is very much appreciated.

Dynielle Whitney
Head of Religious Education & Social Justice Coordinator

Class Parents 2027

Class Parents 2027

Looking for a way to be more involved with your daughter’s school?

Then why don’t you register as a Class Parent?

You will play a vital role in fostering connections between your Year Group, the P&F Association, the Trust and the School.

Click here to find out more and register today!

SCEGGS P&F Association

Vaccinations – Year 7

Vaccinations – Year 7

On Monday 9 November (Week 5), Year 7 students will be offered the diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis (dTpa) and human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccines through the NSW Health School Vaccination Program.

Thank you to all the Parents of Year 7 students who have completed their consent forms.  If you are yet to complete the form please do so ASAP as the vaccinations are next week.

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

How to provide consent:

  1. To complete online consent for your child’s school vaccinations, visit the NSW School Vaccination Portal: health.nsw.edu.au. The Vaccination Portal works best on Google Chrome.
  2. Follow the steps to log in to your existing ServiceNSW account. This is the same account you may already use to renew your driver’s licence. If you don’t have a ServiceNSW account, refer to ServiceNSW to create one.
  3. Update or confirm your personal details in ServiceNSW as required.
  4. Complete the School Vaccination Consent Form for your child/ren. You will need to:
    1. Enter your child’s personal details
    2. Provide the Medicare card details for you and your child
    3. Read the linked Parent Information Sheet and privacy statement
    4. Provide consent
    5. More detailed instructions can be found on the NSW Health website. This includes instructions for how to withdraw consent.
  5. You will receive a text and/or email when your online consent has been completed.

If you or your child do not have a Medicare card, consent can still be provided by requesting a paper consent form from SCEGGS Student Services or Reception.

If you have given consent for your child to be vaccinated at the school clinic, but they are absent on the day of the clinic visit, the school immunisation nurses will try to catch them up at the next clinic. Alternatively, you can speak to a GP or pharmacist about catching up on vaccinations.

For more information on school vaccinations, click here, or if you have any questions, please contact South Eastern Sydney Public Health Unit on: 9382 8333 (Ext 2).

 

Phil Rogers
Director of Administration

Paddle Pop and Icy Twists Day

Paddle Pop and Icy Twists Day

On Monday 23 November, the P&F Association invites Primary School girls to enjoy a Paddle Pop or Icy Twist at lunchtime in the Primary School Playground.

Please send your daughter with $3 on the day if she would like a treat.

Gabriela Grocott
Manager of Primary Administration and Operations

Visual Arts – Film Making and Animation Short Course Now Available!

Visual Arts – Film Making and Animation Short Course Now Available!

We are offering a short course in Film Making and Animation for interested students on Friday afternoons starting 20 November. There will be two sessions run by Claudia Leonard. Students are invited to come along, learn some basic skills and then let their imagination run wild, applying what they have learned over the holidays or in their spare time.

Claudia is an Old Girl (Class of 2020) who graduated with a BFA (Animation) from the Victorian College of the Arts. She works currently across animation, sculpture, projection, and spatial installation and more recently casting and jewellery design.

Claudia has directed animated short films including Searchlight (2023), Last Call At the Parade (2022) – which won Best Animation at the Sydney Women’s International Film Festival – and Unstitching (2021). Clauda has also just returned from showing her jewellery work at the 2026 Australian Fashion Week.

This activity is open to all students in Years 7 to 12. Students should arrive at JF4 to meet Claudia for their first class on Friday 20 November.

Sign up is via Clipboard. Enrolments will close on Friday 13 November.

This week’s banner is an excerpt of Year 10 student Juliette Horeau’s recent photographic series on Cockatoo Island/Wareamah.

Heidi Jackson
Head of Visual Arts

Drama News

Drama News

In the spotlight this week:

 

The Hound of the Baskervilles

The Scots College present a new adaptation of the iconic tale by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. ‘The Hound of the Baskervilles’ will play at The Scots College Drama Studio on the following dates:

  • Thursday 5 November, 7:00pm to 9:00pm
  • Friday 6 November, 7:00pm to 9:00pm

We are delighted that the production also features the talents of SCEGGS girls Mimi Hildage, Lucy Balderstone and Nova Lenard.

Bookings via the QR code.

 

Twelfth Night

Rehearsals have reached the ‘pointy end’ with production looming in two weeks. Our student cast have relished the opportunity to play in the land of Illyria in Shakespeare’s classic comedy – Twelfth Night.

Our director, Mr Colyer, has set the play on an imagined Caribbean Island; a perfect setting for sun, frivolity and music … lots of music.

Under a decidedly Latin influence, Illyria becomes a world of sugar-plantation grandees and merchant fortunes, where Orsino’s lovesickness and Olivia’s mourning play out against a backdrop of extraordinary privilege extracted under Spanish colonial rule.

In this play, love is its own kind of madness, upending order and formality; sudden, irrational and self-deceiving. To reinforce the Caribbean backdrop, the Emma Pask Band, with superb arrangements by Matt Moore, joins us to perform Latin pop hits (Shakira, Jennifer Lopez, Enrique Iglesias, Ricky Martin and more) that replace Feste’s original musical commentaries with songs of passionate fervour and romantic excess, Living La Vida Loca!

Twelfth Night Cast:

Orsino – Chico Nunes
Curio – Nina Fitzgerald
Valentine – Tia Mavritsakis
Viola/Cesario – Zara Anderson
Captain – Sarah Bird
Sebastian – Olive O’Keefe
Antonio – Seth Bogardus
Olivia – Josie Grayden
Sir Toby Belch – Aiden Plumbe
Maria – Olivia Phillips
Sir Andrew Aguecheek – Charlotte Self
Malvolio – Sophie Downes
Fabian – Grace Katekar
Feste – Camille Asher
Priest – Matilda Li
Officer – Adelaide Gilpin
Servant/Officer – Perdita Taylor

 

Ladies of Illyria

  • Sienna Morris
  • Eva Giurtalis
  • Miwa Gentile
  • Annabelle Coonan
  • Frankie Hayes
  • Annika Bennett
  • Perdita Taylor
  • Adelaide Gilpin
  • Ally Millin
  • Matilda Li

Emma Pask Jazz Band

  • Olivia Bolot (Trombone)
  • Stella Brenton (Percussion)
  • Klemintine Chylek (Drums/Percussion)
  • Harriet Cunningham (Alto Sax)
  • Ashanti Gillies (Trumpet)
  • Elodie Harvey (Alto Sax)
  • Charlotte Lowe (Trumpet)
  • Zoe Narev (Lead Trumpet)
  • Georgiana Porter (Tenor Sax)
  • Charlotte Randall (Bass)
  • Vivian Shi (Piano)
  • Lianna Taylor (Piano)
  • Ruby Tyrrell (Clarinet)
  • Giselle Wharton (Flute)
  • Sarah Bird (Guitar)
  • Grace Katekar (Clarinet)

You’ll be devo if you miss this one – bookings open Monday 9 November.

 

Did you know?

In Shakespearean English, the first-person pronoun (I, me, my, and mine) is essentially the same as it is now. The second-person pronoun is slightly different. Modern English only uses four pronouns for addressing a person or persons (you, your, yourself, and yours). The Early Modern English used by Shakespeare adds another six words to this list:

  • Thou = You
  • Thee = You
  • Ye = You
  • Thy = Your
  • Thyself = Yourself
  • Thine = Yours

 

Peter Eyers
Head of Drama

Secondary Sport

Secondary Sport

In Secondary School sports news this week read about:

 

Term 1, 2027 Sports Nominations

Activity Selection for Term 1 2027 Sport are now open in Clipboard.

We ask that current parents/carers sit down with students to submit the online form by Sunday, 8 November. New families will have until Sunday, 15 November to complete selections.

A reminder that all parents/carers must submit activity selections. Secondary students are not permitted to make their own co-curricular sport selections via Clipboard.

Please click on the link here to enrol students for Term 1 2027 Co-Curricular Sport.

 

IGSA Gymnastics

Congratulations to all students who competed at the IGSA Gymnastics Championships last Friday at the Sydney Gymnastics and Aquatic Centre (SGAC) at Rooty Hill. SCEGGS performed very well and placed 8th overall out of 24 schools.

Women’s Artistic Gymnastics (WAG)

  • Alexa Falzon, Bronte Garvan, Sienna Lim, Amelie Officer, Georgia Scott, Anise Stalbow, Jamilla Yamani

Rhythmic Gymnastics (RG)

  • Natalia Adrian, Olivia Hung, Sophie Scott, Catherine Skamvougeras, Eloise Switajewski, Giselle Wharton

Highlights of the day: 

LEVEL 9 WAG 

Jamilla Yamani
Bars      8th
Beam    2nd Silver Medal
Floor     7th        
Vault     1st Gold Medal 

Alexa Falzon
Bars      3rd Bronze Medal      
Beam    7th
Floor     7th        
Vault     6th

Bronte Garvan
Bars       9th
Beam    6th        
Floor     6th        
Vault     7th 

LEVEL 6 WAG 

Sienna Lim
Beam    10th

LEVEL 4 RG

Natalia Adrian
Freehand             9th
Hoop                    8th
Ribbon                 6th

LEVEL 5 RG

Sophie Scott
Ball                        7th
Clubs                    5th
Freehand            10th 

CATEGORY 3 TRIO

SCEGGS             6th
Giselle Wharton, Olivia Hung, Eloise Switajewski. Reserve Catherine Skamvougeras

 

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 alisongowan@sceggs.nsw.edu.au

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

Primary Sport

Around the Grounds:

 

IPSHA Basketball

In IPSHA Basketball, there were some hotly contested games, and it is great to see the teams continue to improve their teamwork, and using each other to advance the ball up the court. The 6A team had one of the games of the season against a strong Tara team, which went right down ‘to the wire’! The SCEGGS girls were behind, although never gave up. With 20 seconds left on the clock, Isabelle Lee managed to take hold of the ball and find the basket to end the game with the score ending 14-14. What a thrilling game it was and well done to the team for their ‘never-give-up’ attitude. The 6C team also had a fantastic game against Meriden and implemented good defensive tactics, such as defending the basket on a turnover and marking opposition players. The team managed a 22 to 4 win and are gong from strength to strength.

Good luck to all Year 3 and IPSHA teams for Round 4 this weekend and a reminder to all parents of the IPSHA Spectator’s Code of Conduct when watching games.

 

Spectators’ Code of Behaviour

 
  • Children play organised sports for fun. They are not playing for the entertainment of spectators only, nor are they miniature professionals.
  • Applaud good performances and efforts from each team. Congratulate all participants upon their performance regardless of the game’s outcome.
  • Respect the officials’ decision.
  • Never ridicule or scold a child for making a mistake during a competition.
  • Positive comments are motivational and encourage continued effort.
  • Condemn the use of violence in any form, be it by spectators, coaches, officials or players.
  • Show respect for your team’s opponents. Without them there would be no game.
  • Encourage players to follow the rules and the officials’ decisions.
  • Demonstrate appropriate social behaviour by not using foul language, harassing players, coaches or officials.
  • Comments should not interfere with the running of the game.
  • Focus on the efforts and performance of the children rather than the result

 

IPSHA Gymnastics

What a wonderful IPSHA Gymnastics Carnival we had at the Sydney Gymnastics and Aquatic Centre at West HQ! It was amazing to see participation from 34 schools with so much colour, buzz and excitement throughout the day! The girls did themselves proud, with some outstanding results. Thank you to Glen and his team of coaches for their support of the girls.

Teams

  • Level 2 – 6th Place – Temperance Kirchner, Olivia Kirk, Marley Nagendra-Fiebig, Phaedra Spiegelman Scholtz, Pearl Bongardt
  • Level 3 – 4th Place – Hazel Costello, Olive Manton, Ciara Rosswick, Chloe Harrington-Lowe
  • Level 4 – 1st Place – Charlotte Baker, Edith Herceg, Siena Bou, Fiona Wu

Top 6 Individual Finishes

  • Olivia Kirk – 2nd Place Beam
  • Temperance Kirchner – 4th Place Beam, 6th Vault
  • Hazel Costello – 6th Beam
  • Fiona Wu – 3rd Vault, 5th Beam
  • Siena Bou – 1st Bars
  • Charlotte Baker – 6th Bars
  • Edith Herceg – 5th Floor

 

The Rhythmic students did a fantastic job in their respective divisions and Rachel (Head Coach) was extremely proud of the effort made by the SCEGGS girls, who were well-prepared and performed brilliantly on the day. Special mention to Sofia Zhmurovsky who achieved second place in Division 2 Ball & Clubs. Congratulations to all the Rhythmic competitors and a big thank you to all the Rhythmic coaches.

 

Primary Swimming Carnival Program

A reminder the Primary Swimming Carnival is taking place on Wednesday, 18 November (Term 4, Week 6). The program for the day can be found here.

 

Student Achievements

Edith Herceg (Year 4) was recently selected to compete for North Bondi SLS at a NSW surf carnival being held at Wanda. It was a great competition, and Edith brought home two medals for her club in the girls sprint relay and girls flags. Congratulations to Edith!

 

Lark Xiao (Year 4) recently competed in the SMNW Metro Long Course Championships. She participated in four events and won a medal in every single one! Congratulations to Lark and we wish her all the best at the State Long Course Championships coming up at the end of next month.

 

Reminders

  • Saturday 7 November: Round 4 for IPSHA Basketball, IPSHA Tennis, and Year 3 Football
  • Wednesday 18 November Primary Swimming Carnival (Years 2-6)

 

Have a wonderful week at sport!

Mr Adrian Hammond
Primary Sport Coordinator

Careers News

Careers News

SciX@UNSW Summer School for High School Students 

Registrations are now open for the University of NSW’s summer school for senior high school students.

Date: January 18 to January 22, 2027 

Don’t just learn science. Do science. Access world-leading researchers and facilities at UNSW. 

The SciX@UNSW program is designed to support passionate high school students who are eager to delve into scientific research. This January join one of the research groups designed for HSC Extension Science, IB independent projects, or for those interested in a taste of a future career in research. The projects are overseen by our academic research staff and are delivered primarily by graduate research students. Students will be introduced to cutting-edge research tools and methodologies and guided to extend their scientific skills. 

The highlight and key component of the SciX@UNSW Program is a one-week intensive Summer School, held at the end of January at UNSW Sydney. You’ll be supported to develop individual hypotheses, conduct data collection, and build your own analysis. All this before the summer holidays are over. 

A limited number of fee waivers (either full or partial) is generally available depending on funding. Applications received from eligible students will be assessed based on level of need, with preference given to students enrolled in Extension Science. 

Registration closes at the end of Term 4.

Project allocation is on a “first-come, first served” basis, and we confirm most project allocations in mid-November. 

Click here to find out more.

 

Andrea Pinnock
Careers Adviser

P&F Class Parent Events

P&F Class Parent Events

Year 8 Parents and Carers End of Year Drinks

Date: Wednesday 25 November 2026

Time: 6.00pm – 10.00pm

Venue: The Four in Hand, Paddington

Cost: $60 per person

RSVP: 10 November 2026 via Trybooking