HiHo March 2020 Educating young women since 1883 Principal’s Message This year the Department of Education reinforcement of responsible use and socioemotional and physical domains has introduced new policies in schools effective communication. The school which are exceptional in their own relating to the Use of Mobile Phones will consult with the SRC and the P&C right. These often also accompany the and Digital Devices by students and on the optimum ways to ensure more traditional view of gifted the identification of gifted students students: students in the academic sphere. across NSW government schools, respect their peers and colleagues through the High Potential and Gifted We can see this in our school when so online Education Policy. many students are exceptional minimize potential distraction in athletes and sportswomen, In some schools these will bring the classroom performing artists, writers, designers, significant changes and have great understand that filming teachers leaders and demonstrate many other impact on the operation of classes. and classes without obtaining accomplishments. These gifts are Despite the fact that the policies will permission is not permitted from the socio affective and physical not produce such great changes at comprehend that accessing domains, described by researcher Sydney Girls High there are aspects of unsuitable online material can Francois Gagne as being part of a the policies which are relevant to our have profound consequences suite of talents which can be school. developed into gifts through Respecting others is part of the application and practice. In the new Mobile Phone context, both culture of the school. Communication the school and P&C Executives are in in person as well as online needs to The Department of Education is agreement that students at Sydney be constructive and considered. wanting to ensure that the potential of Girls HS are responsible and mature Students and parents will be asked to all young people is nurtured and the enough to be able to have their sign a school agreement showing that broad range of exceptional talents is mobile phones at school, especially conditions of acceptable mobile recognized in the population. Part of given the fact that many of our phone and devices use are the policy also addresses the students are travelling from all parts understood and will be adhered to. identification of gifted students from of Sydney and are a long way from diverse cultures, with disabilities, and family. Additionally, there are many The High Potential and Gifted from disadvantaged backgrounds who learning applications and class uses Education Policy is directed at the have been substantially under- that provide highly effective teaching wide range of capacities and talents represented in gifted education and learning strategies. These are in young people across a range of settings. At Sydney Girls High the regularly employed by SGHS teachers. endeavours. While NSW selective challenge is to recognize that not all Where the school will be making schools by their very nature focus on our gifted students present in the changes is the clarity of expectations high academic attainment in aspects same way. Additionally, some of students and the consequences of of learning across the core studies of students do have even greater any irresponsible use of phones and English, and Mathematics, gifted potential than is initially shown and digital devices. While the majority of students exhibit many other there may be inhibiting factors for students have always understood the attributes. Some of these relate to them to realize their full potential. potential negative impact of social academic learning such as high order These factors warrant investigation in media and messaging, there are some reasoning and argument in Debating, order to fully support students. occasions where thoughtful action has and mathematical prowess alongside been absent. Research tells us that deductive reasoning in Mathematics, Best wishes producing outstanding Chess players. the best course of action is not to Andrea Connell prohibit digital devices, rather the best There are however other talents that Principal outcomes are derived from are identified in creative, The next SGHS P&C meeting will be on: For more information, please contact: P&C Association Date: Tuesday 17 March 2020 Louise Fleck Time: 6:30 pm-8:00 pm P&C President Notice of (6 pm for tea and coffee) Email: [email protected] Monthly Meeting Place: Staff Common Room Topic: Annual General Meeting Deputy Principal Report The month of February featured Year 12 students are currently students travelling to and from Central several highlights, notably the Year 7 undertaking the second round of HSC railway station making use of the new Camp, ably organised by Head assessment tasks, with reports due transport system (see below) Teacher – Wellbeing, Ms Evans and soon after. This is a time when Year 7 Student Adviser, Ms Chau. The students reflect on their learning and As the term progresses students will camp is an important part of the have the opportunity to discuss be encouraged to transition to the school’s transition program for new strategies for improvement with their Light Rail in anticipation of the current Year 7 students, a program that is teachers. It is a time for fine-tuning parallel 610 bus services ceasing. For ongoing and seeks to support all Year their study skills at the halfway point students travelling eastwards, the 7 students in their first year at SGHS. of the school-based assessment for current plan is that the line to It was also pleasing to see so many the HSC. At SGHS, we are very Kingsford will commence operations Year 7 parents attending the annual fortunate to have the services of a in late Term 1 or Term 2. Again, Meet the Teacher event. This event strong learning support team, a team existing bus services to these areas has proved to be a successful way to that has a great record in assisting will continue during a transition period introduce new parents to the teaching our students to achieve their personal and further information will be staff and provide an informal forum best. I urge senior students in provided to families as it is received for questions and feedback. It was particular to make an appointment by the school. also great to see so many Year 7 with Ms. Cooke, our Senior Academic parents attending the first Parents Mentor, should they wish to access I wish all the best for the remainder of and Citizens meeting of the year. I this support. Term 1. urge parents to take the opportunity to participate in P & C as it is the Finally, the transition to Light Rail has Geoffrey Denyer principal way that they can have a progressed well so far this term, with Deputy Principal voice in the functioning of the school. Over the course of this term, the SGHS IT staff will be contacting parents inviting them to create an account for the new Parent Portal. The portal uses the Sentral application and allows the school to merge multiple sources of information into one point of contact. It was trialled last year with the departing Year 12 families, with Year 7, 2020 being the first current cohort to come on board. The invitation to participate is emailed to the parent email address contained in the school ERN database. This is the same address used to send notification for parent-teacher nights. Please check this account and ensure that you receive and act on the invitation. SGHS Online Canteen is now Open We hope you have discovered the benefit of using Qkr! to order your meals. But if you are still to download the App or need help, please do check out the student/parent portal for information on setting up a profile or for ordering meals https://web1.sydneygirl-h.schools.nsw.edu.au/portal2/#!/ resources Some information is also available on the School website https://sydneygirl-h.schools.nsw.gov.au/ community/canteen.html By using the Qkr! APP you will help us manage better our food preparation and the reduction in waste and will help cut queues. And you can also use Qkr! to order School gear from the Uniform Shop 2 P & C Hi! As this is the first P&C President’s the novel coronavirus outbreak in Matt Wade made the point that Hi-Ho report for this year, I thought I’d China has been dealt with in contributions from parents and from provide a quick introduction — my accordance with the NSW the P&C are essential to provide the name is Louise Fleck and I have a Department of Education’s rich co-curricular program that is daughter, Laura, in Year 11. I work for requirements and the whole available at SGHS. Macquarie University as Director of school community has cooperated Research Services (one of the central to keep us safe Construction work on The Governors units of the University). My Centre continues with an expected involvement with the P&C began school communication is being completion date of mid November shortly after my daughter started at transitioned to the Sentral app 2020. One of the concerns at the SGHS in 2017 as a Year 8 entrant, beginning of construction was that but my husband’s adult son and the Light Rail is now the principal there might be hidden (and potentially daughter attended SBHS and SGHS, means of transport from Central to costly) problems – for example, graduating in the early 2000s, so I do SGHS, though buses are still contaminated land – but happily have something of a history with the running for Year 7 students nothing like this has arisen. school.