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High Notes, Vol 26 No 30, September 26 2025

From the Principal

High Talent

Congratulations to Liwen Deng (11E) who won the People’s Choice Award ($150) at the recent Youth Photographic Competition sponsored by Woollahra Council.

Term 4 Ends

Thank you to all our teaching and non-teaching staff for nurturing and supporting our students this term. Thank you to coaches, parents, canteen and events volunteers and P & C Committees for their work, particularly behind the scenes. The term was eventful and productive. It tested our corporate character.

AAGPS Athletics

Congratulations to our winning athletes and school record holders at the GPS carnival. Dylan Dutt – school record 22.05 winning the Open 200m. Also won Open 100m. Ilya Tsoutsman – 1st in 100m hurdles in 14.16 (school record). Liwen Dang, Charlie Cheshire, Jiwan Cha and Sayyan Doke (2nd in 16 years 4 x 400m relay (3.48.52 school record). Jake Hybler -3rd in 15s 400m – school record 53.37.  The team had 5 second placers and 13 3rd places. Thank you to all the competitors, staff, coaches for their efforts and to Kurt Rich for his leadership and management of the program. 

The Myth about Sport Hurting Academic Success

Participation in sport is good for you; it gives your mind a break and helps your social life. It does not reduce your academic performance. Here’s why. There were 12 scholar-sportsmen awards at High this year for Trial HSC ATAR of 99.5 and competing in two sports in Year 12. There were 22 High Dedication Awards for Trial HSC ATARs of 97 + and participation in two GPS sports for six years.

Year 12 Farewell and Graduation Assembly 2025

The class of 2025 headed off to study vacation this week to prepare for their final HSC examinations. We wish them all well. My speech to them is reprinted below:

"Good afternoon Year 12, staff and parents. Welcome to our Farewell and Graduation Assembly for the Class of 2025. I acknowledge the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation on whose country we meet and pay my respects to elders, past and present. They represent the aspirations and spiritual connections of the traditional custodians to this land and waterways. I extend those respects to any Aboriginal people here today.

"One hundred and seventy-three of you are completing your six-year journey at High, today. When I wrote my Principal’s Message printed in the Year 12 Farewell Booklet, which you will receive today, the defining moment in your shared story had not happened – the tragic loss of your classmate Andrew Xu. Sadly, many students have had to confront and cope with adversity or loss, during their six years at High. Your cohort has demonstrated an impressive level of resilience and collegiality. Ironically, twenty years ago the class of 2005 suffered a similar loss of a very popular member of their year. They have had a special bond because of that experience ever since. In time, so will you, bound together by Andrew’s memory. Adversity must be experienced by everyone in varying degrees of intensity. What happens next is what matters. As Hemingway observed - ‘the world breaks everyone, and afterward, some are strong at the broken places.’ Whatever befalls us, we need to learn to lean in on each other to weather life’s vicissitudes and remain hopeful. We learn to grow as people better because we have experienced all facets of life.

"The Farewell Booklet contains a selection of notable results by graduating Year 12 students. To that list we add our Year 12s who have had more recent successes. James Cao was a member of the rifle shooting team which won the All-Schools Championship. Congratulations to our table Tennis Team - Alex Huang, Jasper Wu, Bryan Liu, Timothy Zhou and Thomas Cao – who earned 3rd place in the CHSSA Table Tennis Championships.

"Congratulations to 2nd Grade Volleyball for winning the 2nd Grade Volleyball Premiership (The Trinh Loi Shield) - Branson Chan was in the team coached by Old Boy, Edward Ly. Well done to our Year 12 representatives at state cross country – Tanish Sarathy, Aaron Chu, Matthew Taylor and Micah Jouravlev. Alex Shao was first in the NSW Weightlifting championships in the Junior Division. Dylan Dutt made metric High history at the GPS carnival by winning the open 100m and 200m double – a super impressive effort. (Ken Grover won the double in yards in 1965).

"As usual, my thanks go to our Student Leaders in all areas of school life for their dedication to enhancing our school culture, often without fuss, fanfare or recognition – Prefects, SRC, Community Service, PAWS, Equality, Social Justice, Environment, Captains of Sports Teams and Co-curricular Leaders. A special thank you goes to Jin Shim who led the school admirably this year, particularly in stressful situations. He was ably assisted by Liam and John.

"Wel done to the 32 students whose predicted ATAR was 99 or higher. I want to recognise and honour the 12 scholar-sportsmen who competed in two seasons of GPS Saturday sport in their final year and earned 99.5 ATAR or higher in the Trial HSC. I also recognise the 22 students who had a 97 or higher predicted ATAR and competed in two sports for six years while at High. These students will be presented prizes at Presentation Night next year if they receive no other major award recognising their efforts. Eleven students competed in three sports. Xavier Perry competed in three sports for six years – a notable commitment! Triple firsts were James McLoughlin and Tanish Sarathy. ‘Double firsts’ this year were Edward Barks, Dylan Dutt, Jacob Jim, Matthew Kuskoff, Julian Luchko, Aiden McManus, Jin Shim, David Sun, Matthew Taylor, Brendan Woo and Ruo Bin Zhang. In the ‘One-Two Club’ were John Fang, Jamison Lai, Nelson Lee, Bevan Shen and Andy Zhang. Our Double-Twos were Justin He, Hoger Kow and Jesse Wu. Congratulations to the 64 students who played two sports every year they were at High.

"I want to thank the 121 Year 12 boys who showed pride in their school and represented High in at least two GPS sports in their last year. 78 of these were selected in either first grade or second grade teams. This depth helped us to have solid sporting results over five or six grades. Another 64 played one sport. So, greater than 86% of the cohort showed their dedication to our scholar-sportsman ethos in their last year at school. I applaud our graduating Year group for their dedication, integrity, compassion and resilience. The level of ongoing Year 12 commitment affirms that our students value our ethos of scholarship and participation in school sport. Thank you to all the MICs, coaches and parents who helped in our sporting and co-curricular programs.

"Gentlemen, as you wind up school life and move into study vacation mode, try to maintain your revision and study routines over the next month or so. Routines are critical to eventual examination success. Help each other to stay on track. Share study time. Good luck in the HSC. My best wishes go with you all in your future endeavours. It has been an honour for me to serve you as your principal."
Dr K A Jaggar
Principal