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High Notes, Vol 27 No 4, February 27 2026

From the Principal

High Talent

Jiekai Miao (11E) has been invited to sit the Australian Mathematical Olympiad examination, a very prestigious selection. We all wish him good luck!

2025 Budget Summary 

Balance brought forward was $118,498. Total revenue was $19,038,613. The appropriation from DoE was $14,329,474. Total income from school and community sources was $5,518,208, including school generated revenue ($5,301,036); donations and individual contributions ($217,132); sale of goods and services ($62,708) and investment income ($28,223). Total expenses were $20,089,022, predominantly salaries and wages for staff ($16,063,210). This was an increase of $766,098 (5%). Operating expenses were ($4,025,811). This was a decrease of $597,926 (12.9%) including fees for service rendered ($174,098) and other operating expenses ($2,253,440) - teaching and learning ($263,506); property maintenance ($344,619); furniture and equipment ($219,169); and computer costs ($357,082). Deficit for the year was $150,408. The carried forward figure of - $30,910 does not include the unspent contract for ($450k), nor the building fund capital ($150k), that will be expended on the proposed Multipurpose Sports Centre.

Overall, expenses as a percentage of revenue were 101%, meaning we spent more than we earned. Salaries were again increased for teaching and support staff during the year without a budget adjustment. Our wages costs were again affected by rising oncosts (now >20%), including annual leave loading for casuals who are not entitled to receive it. We had capital infrastructure projects in the pipeline that we completed. We committed to using our carried forward buffer to preserve all our services to our boys and complete the projects. All the funds we received were spent to benefit your sons. We started 2026 with a negative balance of $255,000. We will have to cut some programs and services in 2026 to address the shortfall. We will have to increase income and reduce expenditure again to try to make sure we break even this year. We have no opex reserves. At High, the very strong reliability of our income flows from parents through donations and contributions, has allowed us to maintain an extremely high expenditure percentage for 26 years. I am counting on that great support continuing in 2026!

Foundation Grant

At the ̽»¨ÊÓƵ Foundation Ltd. Board meeting this week, a further grant of $300k was made towards the school’s Multi-Purpose Sports Centre. Together with the initial grant of $500k made in 2022, we have sufficient funds to build a slightly smaller version of our original concept design. The QS report is in, and we will need $951k to build the centre, payable upfront. We have $100k in the DGR 8137 Building Fund, so there is a significant shortfall still, which will have to be made from school funds. I urge all parents to get behind our capital raising tax deductible ASHSF Advancement Fund to assist us to deliver this important project this year.

Junior Awards Assembly 2026

Our new Student Awards Scheme commenced for Year 7 last year. It will take a few years before the legacy points of the previous system are absorbed. It was somewhat harder to achieve the first nominations with 30 points. However, by Year 9, participants catch up. My speech to the Junior Awards Assembly is reprinted below:

"Good morning and welcome to our Awards Assembly for the Junior School, held on Gadigal land, to whose elders past and present I pay my respects as traditional custodians of the land and waterways on which we work and play. At these assemblies it is pleasing to see so many boys being recognised. We value integrity and dedication. You have shown them in your wide participation in school life. When the Student Awards Scheme is taken up seriously by our students, we also do better academically. High participation rates in the Student Awards Scheme help both co-curricular and academic success.

"We want all Year 7 and later-enrolling students to take up the challenge to participate in school life. There are five good reasons you should participate. First, you will develop your social skills more quickly in more contexts and you will build positive relationships with more people. Second, you will learn how to manage your time better because you will be busy. Third, you will be able to explore a wide range of interests. Fourth, you will learn the value of commitment to an activity over time - ie dedication. Finally, your self-esteem and self-confidence will be lifted by your involvement with others as you grow a stronger sense of connection with High.

"The Student Awards Scheme at High evolved from a six-level system with an honour board entry for all school trophy winners, when Nathan McDonnell (SHS 2008) earned so many extra Award Scheme points that we set up a 7th level for him. The McDonnell Award then became the honour board level. Shuming Wang (SHS-2013) earned so many extra points that an 8th level was added, named after the first Principal of High, Joseph Coates. An extra honour board was added for this award in recognition of the wonderful involvement in school life demonstrated by the recipients. Beyond that level, recognition is sought for boys at a state level.

"How the scheme works is if you earn 30 points within a category (there are seven categories) then you are awarded a nomination for that category. If you achieve three nominations, you will receive a Bronze Award. Eight nominations earn a Silver Award and 13 nominations, a Gold Award. It is possible to earn a maximum of two nominations in one category in any one year. This restriction preserves some breadth of participation in the Awards Scheme. The administration of the scheme is electronic, with a running tally of points being kept for every student. For any discrepancies discovered with a student’s individual tally, the student must contact the teacher in charge of the program. The closing date for adjustments to be made to a student’s tally is by Friday Week 9 of Term 4 in the corresponding calendar year. No retrospective points can be allocated once a calendar year concludes.

"Last year, students in Years 7 & 8 were awarded 118 bronze medallions (2024 -138) (2023-153); 42 silver (2024-43) (2023 - 54) and 7 gold (2024 -7) (2023 -11); and 1 platinum – making 221* awards in all - (2024 -181) (2023 - 217). [*New scheme]

"I want to thank each student receiving an award today. You showed by your broad participation in school life that you understand our driving purpose here – to enlarge ourselves as people, in our IQs, PQs EQs, CQs - as citizens, caring about other people and collaborating or cooperating with them. The Student Awards Scheme helps to develop character (strong mental and moral qualities). Above all, let’s show respect for one another as individual people. Our goals are collegial as well as individual. We want you to be dedicated students and participants. We hope you will show compassion through school or community service or just helping out a friend. Get involved this year for the first time or stay committed to the Scheme if you are in it. Show integrity by sticking with your activity. If you do, you will feel a greater sense of belonging to the school; and you will also understand better what we mean when we say, that we have High spirit."
Dr K A Jaggar
Principal