Wellbeing - Senior School
College Events
With Term 1 drawing to its conclusion, I take this opportunity to acknowledge the time and effort taken by staff and students in preparing the many events that make up the life of the College.
Harmony Week celebrations and Year 11 Retreat Day during Week 8
Lenten Fundraising activities
Lenten Dances for Year 7 [Thursday 26 March] and Year 10 [Friday 27 March]
College Tours [Saturday 28 March]
Year 10 Vaccinations [Tuesday 31 March]
Holy Week Liturgies [Wednesday 1 April]
Year 12 Parent/Teacher Interviews [Wednesday 1 April]
New Zealand Rugby Tour [April Holidays]
When taken in combination with co-curricular training, excursions, assessment tasks and the daily routine of lessons it highlights the diversity of activities offered to students.
I encourage students to ensure that they are planning their days carefully, noting key events in their diaries and checking Daily Notices. Similarly, be conscious that friends, peers and teachers are also likely to be feeling drained; aim to continue treating everyone with respect, considering their daily workload.
Robert Simpson
Director of Senior School
Strathfield Girls High School International Women's Day Assembly
The recent International Women’s Day assembly at Strathfield Girls High School was both inspiring and thought-provoking, bringing together students, teachers, and prefects alike to celebrate the achievements of women while reflecting on the importance of equality.
The four of us - Christopher, Denzel, Zachary, and Matthew - had the unique opportunity to hear from students and teachers representing the school’s Zonta Club, part of a global organisation known as Zonta International. This organisation is dedicated to empowering women and promoting gender equality, bringing people together from across the globe. Through partnerships with international organisations and local community initiatives, Zonta uplifts women and girls in every aspect of society and inspires action towards greater inclusion. Along with Strathfield Girls, several other schools were present and collaborated through the Zonta Club, truly highlighting the collective empowerment of International Women’s Day.
The assembly included perspectives from women such as the Strathfield Girls Principal, Ms Mechel Pikoulas, who spoke about her experiences growing up in Sydney with a Greek background, as a young female who was often unsure of her surroundings. It was through the kindness of others, who saw beyond her differences, that she was empowered to give back to others as both a teacher and principal.
The musical item performed by Strathfield Girls students, “Letter to My 13-Year-Old Self” (Laufey), recognised the importance of self-acceptance in the lives of young women. Stemming from their own experiences, the students delivered a captivating performance that resonated with all of us. We also learned about various important women through a game of trivia, with figures such as Amelia Earhart, Malala Yousafzai, and Cathy Freeman being named, among others.
A particularly meaningful aspect of the event was the opportunity to speak with other prefects and teachers after the assembly. These conversations allowed us to share perspectives, learn from one another, and deepen our understanding of the challenges and progress surrounding gender equality.
Ultimately, this event served as a reminder that empowerment, respect, and unity are essential values to embody beyond a single day. We are truly thankful that Strathfield Girls High School offered us this opportunity, and we hope to bring these insights back to SPC to highlight the importance of gender equality in our own lives.
Christopher M | Denzel T | Matthew C | Zachary C
2026 Student Leaders
Harmony Day
Harmony Day this year was hard to miss. The school was lined with flags from around the world, students and staff proudly wearing jerseys that marked cultural and social links, [including Mr Byrne with the Parramatta Eels over his suit] and the day was marked by a whole school assembly and PCL activities centred on the core idea that everyone belongs. It was a clear celebration of the diversity which makes up our community, enriching our school to be the wonderful place it is.
Yet the day is often misunderstood.
At the assembly, my speech focused on challenging the simple idea that diversity alone creates harmony: “...a room full of difference doesn’t create harmony, just as a collection of puzzle pieces doesn’t create a picture”. While cultural diversity is something to value, it is not on its own what holds a community together. Instead, Harmony Day points to something deeper. It reflects that the reason we all live together so effectively isn’t because of our differences, but because beneath those differences, we are all fundamentally the same. It’s our shared humanity that unites us in living, learning and growing together in a respectful society.
This idea is significant, as it connects to the broader purpose of the day, intentionally coinciding with the United Nations International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination. While discrimination today is often less visible, it still persists in quieter forms - in language that excludes, in the assumptions we make about someone before we know them, in our compliant silence when someone else is treated as though they do not belong.
In our pastoral care lessons following our assembly, engaging with real-life case studies allowed students to explore issues of identity, bias, and belonging in a practical and reflective way. These discussions helped to build empathy, challenge assumptions, and equip students with the skills to respond to matters and support one another. Ultimately, the intended outcome as students left their lessons was to reinforce that while diversity enriches our community, it is our shared responsibility to foster understanding, respect, and genuine inclusion.
This is exactly why it is so pivotal Harmony Day isn’t reduced to a single day of celebration. Wearing jerseys over uniforms, recognising cultures, and putting up flags are all valuable acts, yet they are not what ultimately holds a community together.
Hence, the challenge is simple – move beyond tolerating diversity for the day itself. Don’t diminish the message of belonging to one day but carry it into your everyday lives by continuously embracing the people around you as yourself. Support them, listen to them, and stand with them when it counts.
After all, if we only celebrate each other for a day, then we’ve missed the point.
Benjamin K
Inclusive Community Prefect