Student & School Community Achievements, School Management & Communication

Principal's Update for the start of Term 4

A warm welcome back to Term 4. I hope you all had a restful holiday break. It has been a pleasure seeing all of our students refreshed and back at school in their uniforms ready for the summer ahead. The holidays have been a productive time here at school with a lot of additional works undertaken and Year 12 teachers and students working hard on final HSC preparations.

Air Conditioning

This year we began the installation of some air conditioning to make classrooms and staff areas more comfortable for the summer and winter months. We have installed air conditioning units in the large future-focused teaching spaces, some science labs and provided upgrades to the library systems. Ahead, we have planned to air condition staff spaces, upstairs classrooms in B Block, C Block classrooms and additional rooms facing north or west. We expect that these works will be carried out near the end of this term and through the January holidays. It is expected that the solar panels will offset the costs of the air conditioning and we continue to upgrade the lighting to LED to offset any additional costs financially and environmentally. It is hoped that as we welcome students back to 2021 and work through the heat of February it will be with plenty of available cool spaces for learning.

HSC Exams

HSC Exams began on Tuesday October 20. We  communicated plans to all of our year 12 students and parents regarding arrangements for COVID safety. These include the limitation of 75 people in our hall, the provision of additional sanitiser and cleaning materials and the creation of back-up venues if we were to experience a short shutdown due to COVID. The school, Department of Education and NESA have extensive plans relating to the HSC exams in this unusual year and we feel confident in managing any situation that lies ahead.

School Planning

Our school plan for 2021-2024 is progressing well. We have completed our situational analysis and reflected upon the last school plan as a staff. We are now beginning to set future directions for the school. In consultation with the P&C and based on extensive feedback from our parent, staff and student surveys, we have arrived at the following directions: Differentiated teaching practices for student growth and attainment, Future-focused pedagogy, and Wellbeing and Learning Support Systems. We have appointed staff to lead professional learning in these areas and as we continue to progress with fleshing out these directions further consultation will occur with our community. I look forward to working with you on this process and thank you all for being so responsive to surveys as they are sent. 

Student Services Faculty

I am pleased to announce that we have created a new faculty for 2021 which will be led by Acting HT Stacey Naisbett. The Student Services Faculty will reside in the library and create a 'one-stop shop' for parents and students regarding support for wellbeing and learning. Our school learning support staff, EAL/D support, careers, librarian, study support, counselling and youth worker will all be in the one place for easy access for students and improved communication with families. This is the first step towards our third strategic direction relating to wellbeing and learning support and we are excited to be able to continue to refine the programs and supports on offer to students. 

Upgrades to Other Facilities

Over the holidays a range of upgrades have taken place. We were able to remove the last of the old block heaters from rooms in A Block. We have also created a new multi-purpose classroom to cater for our growing enrolments and our focus on future learning and STEM. We look forward to furnishing this space during the term and making it ready for learning in the new year. 

Year 11 into 12

Year 11 have spent the first few days of this term receiving their examination results and reflecting upon their time in terms 1-3.  I have met with each year 11 student and discussed their plans for year 12 and beyond.  I have seen a high level of reflection and some very considered and mature planning. The diversity of their chosen career and study pathways after school is astounding and I have enjoyed speaking to them in depth about this. As part of this planning, some students have indicated that they wish to drop one of their subjects to take only 10 units through to the HSC. This is a common pathway for many students and after we have discussed the pros and cons I will be sending them home with a form to be completed. If you have any questions about this process, do not hesitate to get in touch.

I am looking forward to the weeks ahead as we complete the assessments for the year and engage in some fantastic learning.

Belinda Conway - Principal

Uniform Checks

This term we have continued daily uniform checks accompanying period 2 roll marking, after some visible uniform blitzes in Term 3. 

Thank you to all families and students who make a great effort to be in uniform everyday. 

Our uniform code does have a range of choice and flexibility to allow all students to wear uniform comfortably, while also identifying as a member of the Canterbury Girls High School community.

Please read the Student Information Booklet and see the Uniform page on the school website.

Families may receive a letter if a student has been identified as being out of uniform. We seek your support and encouragement with your child/ren to have them attend wearing correct uniform each day.

Thank you to families who have replied positively to notifications over the last fortnight, indicating you are following up at home. We very much appreciate this.

Please contact the Deputy Principal for your child's Year if you have any concerns or questions: Years 7, 9, 11 - Ms Andrews; Year 8, 10 - Ms Ronayne

Year 12 Graduation 

Inspirational Graduation Assembly

This year's graduation assembly was very different to our usual graduation event!  While this was a disappointment we were so impressed with the way Year 12 celebrated the conclusion of their studies in 2020 in a socially distant way. Congratulations to all students and families on this heartwarming graduation, which was  livestreamed to the school community.  A particular congratulations to our Co-Captains - Michelle, Arame, Chaltu and Saba - and Prefects, whose conduct throughout this unusual year lead the way for all in Year 12 to rise to the challenge. Special thanks to Mr Zima for the IT support to make this happen, and to Year Advisers Ms Magoffin and Ms Michos who, together with SASS and Hospitality staff, ensured every detail of the Assembly was streamlined.

Memorable Year 12 Picnic

Additionally, a wonderful Year 12 Picnic was held on site on the Wednesday before Graduation Assembly on Thursday afternoon, with suitable games and activities, including BBQ lunch, to allow a COVID safe event. Thank you to staff, students, families for support in Graduation Week. Again, special thanks to Year Advisers Ms Magoffin and Ms Michos who had to completely overhaul the usual Picnic format. The handprint memory canvas you can see behind the students in the picture above was placed outside the MPC during the exam period to boost morale!

SRC Executive Team

Every year, once a new SRC has been elected, internal voting takes place to determine positions of office for the next 12 months.

The following Year 10 students have been elected and they will be a strong, balanced leadership team.

President: Honora Monagle

Vice President: Annabel Payne

Secretary: Hannah Geering

Treasurer: Stefanie Kostoglou

Year 11 Picnic Day

On Friday the 30th of October 60 year 11 students went on an excursion to Gunnamatta Bay to celebrate the end of year 11. Karaoke on the bus there and back was definitely a highlight, even the bus driver was singing along at some points! Some of us played soccer on the beach with Ms. Neves, and exposed our competitive sides which had been hidden away since P.E lessons in junior years, we ended up drawing 4-4. Luckily we had great sunny weather, a few of us ending up with sunburnt arms at the end of the day. Overall it was a lovely, fun day and a positive way to begin our year 12 journey. Words by Mieke van Wel (Yr. 12).

Year 10 End of Year Letter