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High Notes, Vol 25 No 39, December 06 2024

From the Principal

High Talent

Congratulations to our 9A Volleyball team which won the NSW Schools Cup last Thursday, coached by Billy Nguyen. Leon Lu (9F) and his team High Voltage, recently participated in the First Tech Challenge Pymble Qualifier and received the Inspire Award and qualified to be in the National competition. Well done, Leon! Duke of Edinburgh Award participation this year was strong, with the following results. Congratulations to our Gold Award recipient Arthav Ramakanth (SHS-2024) and to our Silver Award winners Lucas Su (10) and Alisdair Yong (11). Bronze Awards were earned by - Ryan Allen (10), Joshua Campbell (10), Nestor Chan (9), Benjamin Dang (10), Liam Fong (10), Rajendra Krishnan (10), Shane Ma (10), Isaac Ng (10), Roman Samsonov (10), Lucas Su (10), Aiden Trinh (10), Leo Varthakavi (10), Ethan Wong (10) and Delbert Zou (10). Great work by all!

Interpreting Year 10 Reports – Semester 2

All Year 10 boys should be receiving their reports next week. They have also to complete their stage 6 compulsory Life Ready Course before the end of the year. It is a busy time. The timetable preparation is well underway. Parents are advised to work with their sons in the process of choosing Year 11 courses to be sure they have made the right choices, suitably aligning their abilities, interests, and possible post-secondary plans. It is really important for students to be sure about their selections. Choosing courses for Year 11 study can be assisted by evaluations of Year 10 performances. English and mathematics courses are determined by the school’s pattern of offered courses and by the results of the mathematics selection process for extension 1. For Year 11, 2024 the permitted number will be - as is our custom – seven classes only. Year 10 boys should have done their Career Voyage questionnaire during their Transition Education periods. These results should be discussed in the light of your son’s interests and abilities. Courses can be selected to underscore certain tertiary directions – eg chemistry for medicine, or economics for a commerce degree. Year 10 boys should all have had interviews with a member of staff to discuss their possible pathways and appropriate Year 11 course selections.

As for the semester 1 report, ranks are varied by several factors. Students who have not performed well in PE will have a slightly reduced ATAR prediction because the calculation is made on 12.3 units (using a pro rata for PE based on time spent). Students who do the online elective receive the average of the other units so as to neither advantage nor disadvantage them, whereas they may have taken another elective and earned an above average score or a below average score. Students accelerating have a harder task than non-accelerants as they are assessed at stage 6 standard. Consequently, their scaled marks may be lower, reducing their overall score, and hence rank. Students may also lose interest in electives they are not continuing and record weaker results. Electives done for enjoyment are in contrast to the serious efforts that will need to be made in their stage 6 courses. I do not make a judgement on these outcomes. Stage 5 satisfactory completion is all that is required in Year 10. What matters is what happens next, in stage 6. Therefore, students should choose their suite of courses for Year 11 ultra carefully, with insights gained after research and discussion with parents and staff and by acting in their own self-interest.

Year 10 Drama

Thanks to Anna Barry and her Year 10 drama class, there will be a production of The Book of Everything, by Guus Kuijer (adapted by Richard Tulloch) in The Governors Centre, on Wednesday, December 11. Your support for their efforts would be appreciated.
Dr K A Jaggar
Principal