探花视频

High Notes, Vol 26 No 8, March 28 2025

From the Principal

High Talent

Congratulations to Chris Moon, Kobe Shin and Junho Won, who were very active on the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination last Friday. They persuaded 200 students to sign 鈥淚 promise not to鈥� - statements, which they鈥檙e making into a colourful display to show that SBHS is a welcoming place that doesn鈥檛 tolerate racism. Events such as these spotlight our need for constant vigilance against any forms of racist remarks, social media posts, or playground slurs. The behaviours, left unchallenged, characterise our tolerance of racism. Well done for raising such an amount of awareness of what is right among our school community. Well done to Leon Park (7T) who added another Judo title to his collection 鈥� NSW champion for U13/ U66kg!

Weights Room Memberships Closed

Memberships for the Weights Room have now closed. The free trial period ended as of March 26. Thank you to the many boys who value this facility and have joined for 2025. Quite a few Year 7 students took advantage of our great introductory offer to join the Weights Room for their first year for just $190.00. Kurt Rich can now focus on the personal preparation, training and development of all members. From now on, training session times to suit all members can be allocated. Visits, when space is available, are unlimited throughout the year and extend to school holidays when the Weights Room is open but with reduced hours. The development and maintenance of core strength is enhanced through regular Weights Room programs and sprints sessions. Another opportunity to join the Weights Room will be made available in semester two.

Head of the River Results

More than 300 students made the trip to Penrith to watch their representative鈥檚 row in the annual Head of the River regatta on Saturday March 22. The water was nearly perfect, enabling fast times, so all crews were able to row PBs on the day, which is always a source of satisfaction for sportsmen. High boated nine crews for the first time since 2004. The first VIII had its best result since 2021 with a 6m19.42s, which was the winner鈥檚 time (WT) +9.06% and well inside the long-term average of 6m.26s. The first Year 10 VIII rowed WT+9.21% - the best result since 2017. The second VIII came in at WT+10.85%, our best result since 2018. Our depth was reflected in three 7th places, with the second IV taking out Sydney Grammar in the best row since 2018. The atmosphere was buoyant and the results full of promise for next season. Congratulations to Mr Barris and his team.

Staff Changes

I will be on leave for the last two weeks of this term. Mr George Barris will be the Relieving Principal. Ms Kerryn Ibbott will relieve for Mr Barris as DP. Mr Matthew Hood will be Relieving Head Teacher of Science for Ms Ibbott.

Early Bird Payments Closed

Recently, there was some commentary in the media about the budget summary I wrote in High Notes (HN 25.02.28). It was one part of my annual reporting to the wider community. My position is that I appreciate and support the voluntary nature of contributions to the public system of schools such as ours. Nevertheless, High has more compelling reasons than do most Department schools for being grateful to its community for their financial support. Those reasons touch on those differences which may have attracted them to High in the first instance as a desirable location for their sons' education. These differences I am determined to maintain.

High is different - in the facilities for co-curricular activities it offers; in the breadth of its programs, with 15 school-managed sports; in its membership of the AAGPS; in its six-day operation; in its additional staff, and in the heritage of its alumni, associated since 1892. These differences at High, not only benefit our boys during their time here, but also accompany them into their adult life and careers. In addition, High has the challenging academic ethos which accompanies a prestigious selective school. I am committed to our cause; it is a noble one. I am grateful for the intergenerational generosity that has made the school what it is today.

I am fully aware that economically, times are tough; yet I am confident in the high priority placed by all of our parents on their sons' education. By the end of the early bird period on March 21, 84.18% of parents had given the school their financial support in full or in part. On behalf of our wider school community thanks to you all for your unwavering and generous support for the ethos of our school.
Dr K A Jaggar
Principal