Deputy Principal Teaching and Learning

Year 12 2023

Our Year 12 students in 2023 achieved a magnificent set of Higher School Certificate and IB results. This cohort navigated the complexities and unique opportunities within the HSC and IB and, consequently, has been awarded the strongest results Santa has seen in over a decade. Last week, we recognised over 95 students in the High Achievers Assembly. The categories included students who received a Band 6 or E4 in the HSC or a Grade 7 in the IB, a nomination or selection for a showcase for their Major Project and an ATAR greater than 90.

In the HSC, we had five top HSC All-rounders: Cece Addabbo, Ella Curran, Nesia Putri, Sophie Rigon and Allanah Tannous. We had 18 awards to students who placed in the top 5, 10 and up to 20th in the state. We had 18 students in Design and Technology nominated for SHAPE. Eva Whitbread will play her Music 1 piece at the Opera House in the ENCORE showcase in the coming weeks. Anna Le’s HSC artwork is not only in ARTEXPRESS at the prestigious Art Gallery of NSW, but it was also the piece chosen for the ARTEXPRESS Invitation and 94.5FM invited Anna to speak about her artmaking practice. Ella Curran has received an award from the History Teachers Association for her History Extension work. 

The 2023 IB Diploma students were collegial, curious and a cohesive group; their teachers spoke of how they dug deep when the workload got heavy. We congratulate our top-achieving students, Sophia Abdallah and Rosanna Cartwright, who both received an IB score of 44 out of 45. It is a rigorous broad course as all students are required to learn a language and complete study in all curriculum areas: English, Maths, Science, Humanities and the Arts. They also write an Extended Essay, complete a service component and study the Theory of Knowledge. 

In my speech to the students, teachers and parents, I also recognised the quiet achievers and the students who kept their teachers on their toes, sending them up to 10 years worth of past papers as practice for feedback. These students made such a difference not only for their mark but for the cohort. I congratulate every student in the HSC and IBDP as they worked hard and have been rewarded well. 

NAPLAN

NAPLAN is scheduled for March this year and we have started preparing students in Years 3, 5, 7 and 9.  It is an online test (except writing in Year 3), so the IT team is supporting each student as they upload the Lockdown Browser for their device. Parents will receive a letter with the dates and equipment this week. It is a requirement that each student has a set of wired headphones (not Bluetooth). Parents can learn more about it in the  NAPLAN information brochure for parents/carers. 

Dr Judith Locke 

In the staff days before the students returned at the start of the year, all teachers and non-teaching staff had the privilege of listening to Dr Judith Locke, a registered clinical psychologist, former teacher, and school counsellor on supporting our students to be confident and independent. Judith is also the author of Bonsai Child and Bonsai Student. She is an outstanding presenter who understands children’s challenges and how we can support them while at school. 

We have two parent evenings in March. Monday 4 March will cover parenting tips for children in Primary Years, and Tuesday 5 March is pitched to parents and carers of students in Years 7-12. I highly recommend parents attend one or both of the Parent Evenings. As a parent of older children myself, I can only say I wish I had Judith supporting me with parenting.

Jacqueline Pugh
Deputy Principal Teaching and Learning