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High Notes, Vol 18 No 3, February 17 2017

From the Principal

High Talent

A mainstay of the High ethos is the development of character. Nowhere was this more apparent than in the honesty and integrity shown by Anthony Lin (9T) who found a large sum of money while participating in the 1.6k run and handed it in to his teacher, Mr Smith. Anthony is an inspiration to others in how to behave when faced with an ethical dilemma. Thank you for showing us the way, Anthony!

The Lak Saviya Foundation Report

The Lak Saviya Foundation helps the needy in Sri Lanka to help themselves. Since the 2004 Tsunami flattened the KRMV school, SBHS has been directing the proceeds of its Year 10 mufti day towards helping the school recover. The Lak Saviya Foundation did great work in Sri Lanka last year, including:

• Providing 90 scholarships for school students and ten university students;
• Funding a teenage girl from an orphanage to train as a dental assistant;
• Funding the production of 320 new artificial limbs and repairing 651 others; and
• Assisting the Kahawa Ratanasara Maha Vidyalaya with funds raised from Sydney Boys High School Year 10 fund raising, to fund a Tamil Language teacher, an English Language teacher, and to pay internet charges. A consignment of sporting and computer equipment was delivered to the school.

I urge the Community Service Committee and Year 10 boys generally to support this worthy organisation when this year’s fundraising program for Year 10 is planned.

The Equality Committee

Last year a couple of Prefects drafted a Constitution for a Committee to be focussed on social justice issues. The Committee will be established this year and, by consensus, will be called the Equality Committee. The aim of the Equality Committee is to promote greater sensitivity to societal issues of diversity and welfare, such that students become more informed and are hence encouraged to behave and conduct discourse in a positive, inclusive manner. Building respectful relationships is a key goal in our School Management Plan. The way we speak to each other is very important. It affects relationships and individual self-esteem considerably. Our community needs to know more about a range of societal issues, which this Committee will discuss.

Issues include (but are not restricted to):

• Race and religion
• Mental health
• Gender and gender identity
• Sexuality

The committee will organise and implement student-run initiatives designed to combat the ignorance and division around these issues in a positive and respectful, but assertive manner. We are seeking aspiring leaders for membership of the Committee. You can express your interest by composing a hard copy letter to the Equality Prefect, Kieran Shivakumaarun. The letter should address your knowledge of, experience with and commitment to, the aims of the Equality Committee. The Equality Team will meet at the same time as the SRC so that SRC members should not apply for these positions. You may be required to attend an interview with the Equality Prefect and a member of the teaching staff. The deadline for submitting applications is the end of school Wednesday 1st March.  Application letters should be handed in to Ms Powell.  I urge you to support this important student initiative.

High Rowing Rally

25 February at the Outterside Centre
Please support this Old Boys Union event, which is sure to be entertaining and rewarding for the rowing program. ‘Book now! Old Boys, parents & the wider High community have a chance over dinner to meet this year’s First VIII, its new coach Elliott Shackloth-Bertinetti & some outstanding former High rowers. Our MC is Sam McCool (1993), global event MC and corporate comedian, with very special guests including Champions & luminaries: David Anderson (1948), bronze medalist at the 1952 Olympic Games, Drew Bowey (1976), John Croll and Luke Simpkins (1981), Jack Singleton (1990) and Dom Grimm (2005). We are raising funds to buy new ‘Wavecutters’ to help develop our young rowers. $100 dinner & drinks. $75 for 2015 & 2016 Old Boys:     

 If you are having trouble using the link, go to and you will find the event link on the right-hand side.

Weights Room

A reminder to all boys who might have weights training as a requirement in their regime for a GPS sport. As was the case for 2016 it is proposed that no term memberships will be offered in 2017 for the Weights Room.  Boys who restart after absences of a term in the Weights Room have to be retrained by Kurt when he should be concentrating on adding value to the experience of existing members. Students requiring memberships should pay $240 by 28 February 2017. No further membership opportunities will be offered after that date.

Early Bird Discount Ends Tuesday 28 February

In order to help all areas of the school we offer a substantial discount to parents who pay their complete invoices before 28 February. Having substantial funds early in the year allows us to make sure that orders are made promptly and that the boys get the maximum benefit out of equipment and services deployed for them. Capital for the Building Fund can be invested to earn interest for longer. Our aim is to encourage at least 55% of parents to make this financial commitment to the school early in the year.

Collection of Reports

All boys should have collected their reports. Regrettably, there are still many boys who have not fulfilled their commitments, completed their Clearance Forms, and booked an appointment time to see me, to discuss their progress at school. This is an important step in our feedback loop and I insist on speaking to boys personally. Boys can come and get their reports before or after school and at lunch or recess on most days. I am focussing on Year 10 (2016) boys first. It is important that I get to talk to them before they get too involved in Preliminary HSC work. Please get organised boys before I start chasing you.
Dr K A Jaggar
Principal