Rel. Deputy Principal

From the desk of Candice Byrnes Rel. Deputy Principal

Dear Students, Parents, and Guardians,

At Beverly Hills Girls High School, we believe in the potential of every one of our students to Be Somebody who thinks deeply, engages with learning and makes connections.

Thinks Deeply

This semester, we have continued to engage in critical and creative thinking across all of our subjects. 

In Stage 4, our Year 8 students have engaged in the Learning Matters Unit, a unit explicitly designed to enhance the literacy and numeracy skills of our students. As part of this unit, students have engaged in active reading strategies as they have read widely and researched thoroughly to understand the demands of keeping a pet. In addition, students learned to: budget, understand how to calculate ‘best buys’ and create scaled models of their own dog houses. This will culminate in a Dog House Gallery Show later this term, where judges will select the most impressive kennels for awards. 

In Stage 5, our students have just completed their subject selections for next semester. They have engaged in Wellbeing initiatives and taken responsibility for their learning by selecting their own electives and ultimately, their learning paths.

In Stage 6, our students continue to strive to achieve their best. As Year 11 reach the last term of the Preliminary Course, we encourage them to reflect on their learning so far, their attendance, engagement and overall commitment to their education. As Year 12 head into their final weeks of high school, we remind them to continue giving their best, so that when they leave our doors next term, they do so knowing they could not have tried harder and that they are ready to face the challenges that lie ahead. Working hard now, will mean that they will leave being the best somebody they can possibly be. 

As we head towards the end of this term, we are excited for the BHGHS Learning Olympics that will be held in Week 10. Students in Stages 4 and 5 will be engaging in a range of collaborative and challenging tasks where they will use their problem-solving skills to tackle a range of brain teasers, requiring them to think deeply. 

Engages with Learning

A primary focus at BHGHS, continues to be our Quality Learning Behaviour Curriculum, an initiative which focuses on explicitly teaching the skills required to meet our high expectations for behaviour. Expectations that extend not only to students but staff and wider community stakeholders. We do this because we know, and empirical research supports the notion that when students behave better they learn better. Learning and behaviour go side by side. 

Expectation in focus: Be Somebody who follows teacher instructions and complies with all school policies.

As we head into the colder months, we remind all in our community of the importance of wearing the correct uniform. Students are expected to wear the correct uniform every day. Whilst we acknowledge that it is getting colder, we must hold steadfast to our strict uniform rules as research tells us that when students wear correct uniform, they engage more positively with their learning and feel a greater sense of belonging to their school. Furthermore, uniform is a safety issue and as such, you are reminded that fake nails are a hazard and therefore must NOT be worn. 

Should you need to purchase additional uniform items, please see our site: https://www.daylightschoolwear.au/beverlyhillsgirls/uniform-items?shop=6. 

The Uniform Shop on the school site operating hours are: 

Monday     8:00am - 11:00am

Wednesday 12:00pm - 3:00pm

Friday       8:00am - 11:00am.

Makes Connections - Honouring our ANZAC Legacy

We are proud to share the unveiling of our ANZAC Deck—a powerful new addition to our school grounds, proudly partially funded by a $1500 ANZAC Community Grant from the Office of Veterans Affairs and the NSW Government. This meaningful project was initiated and co-designed by the 2025 Student Representative Council (SRC), with the support of Ms Antoniadis (Head Teacher Teaching and Learning), myself and Ms Iemma.

Located in the Senior Playground, the ANZAC Deck is nestled between our Acknowledgement of Country and Indigenous Mural, creating a rich visual and cultural tapestry that greets everyone who enters through our main gates. Together, these elements form a striking introduction to our shared Australian identity and values—remembrance, reconciliation, and respect.

The mural itself is a heartfelt tribute to the ANZAC spirit and the ongoing legacy of those who served. Designed by our SRC, it features:

• Silhouettes of two soldiers—one playing a bugle and the other with a slouch hat and head bowed—standing guard at each end of the deck. These figures symbolise both the eternal watch over our fallen and the playing of the Last Post and Reveille to mark remembrance and renewal.
• Red poppies, evocative of the battlefields of World War I, symbolising the sacrifice of those who served in wars, conflicts, and peacekeeping missions.
• The Ode, reminding us with solemn clarity: "We will remember them."

Previously plain black, the deck is now a vivid tribute that not only enhances the space visually, but also offers a place for reflection, remembrance, and connection.

We unveiled ANZAC Deck in Week Two of this term, with a range of distinguished guests in attendance. 

Student speeches on the day captured the heart of the project:

“Since that day, 110 years ago, over 1.5 million Australian men and women have served our country... We owe, at least in part, our way of life to their bravery. We designed this deck to honour their legacy, so that it may be a permanent reminder of the ANZAC spirit, inspiring each of us to be resilient, care for one another and be all that we can be.”

“We hope this deck inspires all of us to live in a way that honours their sacrifice – by truly being somebody.”

Ms Iemma echoed these sentiments, challenging students to reflect deeply on what it means to serve a cause greater than oneself:

“Courage isn’t about fearlessness, but about facing fear and moving forward anyway... The ANZAC spirit reminds us that ordinary people can accomplish extraordinary things when guided by conviction and character. This deck stands as a testament to that spirit and as a promise to nurture those same qualities in each of you.”

“In declaring this ANZAC Deck officially open, I challenge each of you to honour the legacy it represents by becoming the somebody you are meant to be—courageous, compassionate, and determined to make your unique contribution to our world.”

The mural itself was painted by Urban Arts, who brought the SRC’s vision to life with passion and commitment—so much so that they returned on a Sunday to complete the final touches in time for the unveiling. As they expressed, they were “honoured to be involved in paying homage to the ANZAC spirit.”

Our school mottos—Women Can Do Anything and Be Somebody—along with the SRC’s values of integrity and service, shone through every stage of the project, from concept to completion.

The ANZAC Deck now stands not just as a mural, but as a living reminder of our shared past, our present gratitude, and our continued responsibility to remember.

Lest we forget.

Warm regards,

Candice Byrnes,

Rel. Deputy Principal Beverly Hills Girls High School