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High Notes, Vol 25 No 35, November 08 2024

From the Principal

Year 12 complete their HSC Examination

The last HSC examination was held today, Friday 8 November. Typically, students experience a feeling of relief that the stressful period of study and examination sitting is over. A concomitant feeling can also be one of sadness as a six-year slice of their lives comes to a close. Year 12 portfolios are available from my office on proof of a completed electronic Clearance Form, where one is required. For example, texts or textbooks retained during the examination period. We wish all our graduating students a very relaxing few months before their university course or gap year commences.

Electives Process for Year 9 Boys going into Year 10

Students make an initial free choice with their electives. They are also asked to rank their choices so that if they do not get one, they will be considered for the next ranked choice. Many boys have shown interest in robotics, code-based game development and the online learning elective (OLE). Many others have aspired to accelerate in a particular subject. For those attracted to acceleration, a process is in place to apply and have applications assessed.

For Robotics and Game Design, Ms Dam culls applicants based on their demonstrated mathematics proficiency and previous interest in IA subjects. Usually, a D in Mathematics is a minimum requirement for entry into Robotics or Game Design. Boys who applied for both will be allowed to do only one of these subjects. For the OLE, students need to have an interest in autonomous learning, a proficiency in using excel spreadsheets and to have a rank of 100 or better to qualify.

Raw scores submitted by HTs are used to calculate the dux of the Year group, using z scores, and to rank all students. I cull the accelerant applicants. The criteria are academic in nature. Students apply to Head Teachers who send the forms of recommended applicants to me for assessment. Students have to be above average across their subjects at the Year 9 yearly examinations. They have to have a HD or D in the subject area in which they wish to accelerate. The cut-off rank for accelerants is 75. On rare occasions, highly talented students in just one subject area may be considered if they fall just outside of the cut-off rank.

Year 10 electives are designed for students to branch out and test their interests before settling into stage 6 study. Some of these electives are competitive entry subjects. Students need to choose carefully and follow their interests in a low stakes learning environment but may not always get what they want.

Remembrance Day 11.11.24

Remembrance Day (formerly Armistice Day) commemorates the service of all those who fought in wars in our country’s name. The ending of World War 1, then the most costly war in human history in terms of miliary and civilian lives lost, was seen as a most appropriate date, being the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month. The horrors of World War 1 were so severe that the victorious nations, rather naively, labelled it ‘the war to end all wars.’ Sadly, the international inability to resolve its conflicts peacefully and fairly has led to even more horrific global warfare since 1918. We like to celebrate Remembrance Day as an inclusive event. In our multicultural society, many of our citizens have fought in various wars and grieve for those who died from their extended families.

Our contemporary society has not shown any more skill or resolve to negotiate an end to two significant wars being fought in the Ukraine and Gaza-Lebanon-West Bank. On Remembrance Day we should take the time to consider the cost and ultimate futility of using warfare as a means of settling disputes among nations. The ubiquitous poppy, growing wild in Flanders Fields, is an historically significant symbol of the sadness of the loss of human life on those battlefields. Today, we wear poppies to remember the fallen and to be seen to remember them. Schools hold assemblies to take a minute’s silent reflection on the consequences of armed conflicts everywhere.

Scholarship Applications

There is only one week left for students to apply for the Phillip Day Memorial and Sir Roden and Lady Cutler Foundation Scholarships. If you have financial needs due to family or special circumstances; if you are a great all-rounder; or if you have a special talent that needs extra resources to help you develop; or if you are going into Year 11 and you have a strong background in community service, please consider applying. Scholarships are valued at $1500 in school credit per year. Application forms can be downloaded from the school website: /scholarships

Applications close Friday November 29.
Dr K A Jaggar
Principal