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High Notes, Vol 23 No 27, September 02 2022

From the Principal

High Talent

Congratulations to Oscar Li (9M) who won the National ASX Sharemarket Game and to Adit Mahidadia (11F) who, as a result of his performance in the Australian Geography Competition, will represent Australia in the Global Geography Challenge in Indonesia next year. These results continue our run of successes in national social sciences competitions. The Kibo Robot Programming Challenge sets problems for students to solve by programming free flying robots in the International Space Station. The Dream Rover Team (Ethan Li 10F & Joshua Li 8S) are representing Australia in the final round of this competition in October. Well done indeed, boys!

Thank You to our Relieving Leaders

During my leave during August, Mr Jamie Kay filled in again as relieving Principal.  He managed the 2023 locally selected enrolment process very successfully and kept the school running smoothly. Thank you to Madeleine Rigby for stepping into Jamie’s role as Junior School Deputy Principal and to Natalie Luu for doubling up as relieving Head Teacher History and Teaching and Learning. Extended relieving leadership experience is an important component of our professional growth.

Cadet Passing Out Parade

On Tuesday afternoon a gathering of around forty parents and Old Boy cadets were on hand to watch the passing out parade of the ̽»¨ÊÓƵ Cadet Unit. More than 70 cadets paraded in an impressive display of training and discipline. I was pleased to see SGHS students in leadership positions in the parade. The event ran very smoothly and was a credit to the program and the staff – Ronald Luo, Rachel Fong and Meredith Thomas. The parent group in cadets is engaged and keen to support the unit. It would be great if one more staff member would do the training and get involved in this worthwhile and expanding school activity

Illuminate 2022

It was inspiring to experience Illuminate 2022 in the Governors Centre after an enforced hiatus due to COVID. The Judy Cassab artwork prize entrants were displayed in the foyer with last year’s winner, along with autonomously operating robots on an obstacle course. The wonderful exhibition of student work in Industrial Arts and Visual Arts and Filmmaking was housed in the Conference Room. The theatre hosted films, monologues and musical recitals by students. The Festival is a week-long celebration of student creativity and innovation. The week is a tribute to Head Teachers – Jenni May, Rebecca Dam and Cassandra Pride - along with the Illuminate Team, Lynnea Stewart and her Media Team and the lighting crew headed up by James Walker. I was very proud of what everyone produced. Thank you all for your outstanding efforts.

Memorial Service for Robert Outterside AO, former Headmaster of High 1977-1991

On Wednesday a memorial service was held in the Great Hall for Bob Outterside. More than 150 people gathered to celebrate Bob’s remarkable life.  John Tuxworth, President of Randwick Rugby Club paid tribute to Bob’s career in sport. Family members, Cameron, Robyn and Lisa spoke fondly of him as a father. Sons-in-law played and sang songs admired by Bob and there was a video presentation of his life. It was a moving and high quality service.

My eulogy is reprinted below:

"Good afternoon and welcome to you all, particularly to Cameron, Robyn, Lisa and their children on this occasion when we come together to remember and celebrate the life of Robert Outterside, AO.  He was indeed a force of nature.  I held him in high esteem even before I met him.  He was a legendary Principal in the 1980’s. I heard about him when I was a Deputy Principal in Fairfield – this maverick who seemed to be able to be an independent leader in a very big system.  How did he manage to do it?  How did he sustain it over many years as leader at Manly and at High?  He was an innovator in introducing new courses, sharing classes with Sydney Girls and in forging university links. I was inspired by his example from afar.  I wanted to be a leader like he was.  When I met him in 2000, he impressed me with his charm, his ability to put people at ease, his gift as a raconteur, his incredible memory of people connected with Sydney High, his playful sense of humour and his passion for the School and its standing in the community.  He seemed to know everyone. He was very generous with his time. He was a great source of information and wise advice for me in my early years as High’s new Principal.

"Bob was invaluable in his support for my attempt to get an ethos enhancement class in Year 7 as one of the six incoming classes each year.  In June and July of 2002 we lobbied hard to make this change to allow more local residents to gain access to the school.  This effort was in response to the Selective Schools Unit Discussion paper of May that year.  Bob was the chair of the SBHS Placement Committee.  We introduced the idea of ‘complementary criteria’ as a tool in the selection process and the notion of a ‘commitment statement’ to be signed by families supporting the ethos of the selective school to which they had applied.  We suggested reducing applicant options to one or two (after a recent review the options have been reduced from 4 to 3).  We wanted a serious English writing component in the test (a scaled version of which was adopted by the Review).  We asked for regulation of Coaching Colleges in respect of their access to test questions (some of which were being repeated in subsequent tests).  These test questions were supplied by clients of the colleges. (Later these tests were made public to level the playing field). We proposed the idea of a template to score complementary criteria. We have used these templates at High since we finally were able to bring a class for ethos enhancement into Year 9 in 2007.

"We proposed four placement options developed for consideration by the Minister. One of the models suggested an immediate placement of 75% of students in a school by means of the test score alone, with 25% reserved for a consideration of a combination of test score and complementary criteria supplied by the applicants.  We had agreement from three selective school principals for this model as members of the Secondary Principals Council Interest groups for Selective Schools.  It is ironic that twenty years later, selective school entry rules have been modified along similar lines.  The Placement Committee was way ahead of its time.

"Bob’s reputation, stature with the Department and broad network of Old Boys, secured the Action Committee of Old Boys a meeting with Minister for Education Watkins.  We did not achieve our objective, primarily because of the media campaign run by the Sydney Morning Herald alleging our Old Boys were racist and were aiming to reduce the number of Asians enrolling at High.  The headline ‘Old Boys Tell Top School: Let our Sons In’ was damaging and completely misleading. Nevertheless, due to Bob’s persistence and influence, Minister Watkins granted the school at least a groundsman position for McKay and Fairland caretaking, which has been very helpful to the school over the years.  Bob behaved with integrity, forbearance and good cheer throughout the turbulent months of the campaign.  He was great to work with.  The Old Boys and the School had the same goal – to bring in more ethos-supporting students.  We were wedged by the media and a few individual comments by disgruntled Old Boys.

"I was fortunate to work with Bob for nearly a decade as he chaired the Outterside Management Committee of the ̽»¨ÊÓƵ Foundation.  He was able to gather people around him who believed in the cause of public education offering a unique opportunity to boys to experience a selective and GPS educational experience.  He helped steer the management of the property through several challenges until he retired from the role.  He had a school mobile for many years to keep in touch with the school community.

"I knew him as a devoted family man. He spent much of his retirement time caring for Dawn, until her passing. He focussed more energy on his extended family as they matured. His devotion to Sydney High had taken him away from them often. I know he really enjoyed the Rugby Reunion we held at the AJC in 2018. Bob loved rugby, mathematics, teaching, socialising and having a punt – not necessarily in that order. His wealth lay in his relationships and friendships. He was a champion of the working class – a rusted on Labor man. He enjoyed mentoring people to help them rise and achieve their goals. He was a scholar, international sportsman, educational leader, coach, family man and friend. He used to comment frequently that in life we can disagree without being disagreeable. He had an expansive, warm and compassionate demeanour towards people and they found it easy to like him. His life was impactful, full, loving and long. His legacy is assured. He will not be forgotten. Valé, Bob."
Dr K A Jaggar
Principal