WILLOUGHBY GIRLS HIGH SCHOOL
A Leader in Girls Education
NEWSLETTER
16 February 2016
Deputy Principal’s Report
All parents are invited to
attend the
P&C Meeting
Tuesday 16 February 7.00pm
in the Staff Common Room
SUBJECT SELECTIONS IN 2016
Willoughby Girls High School offers a very broad and balanced curriculum
that caters for a wide range of interests and abilities across Years 7 to 12.
In Years 7 and 8 students study compulsory subjects with little opportunity
for choice except for Language in Year 8.
Students entering Year 9 have the opportunity to choose from a wide range
of elective courses. These selections are binding from the start of Year 9
until completion at the end of Year 10.
February – March Calendar
Red typeface denotes the event is open to the
public
Week 4A
Monday 15
Tuesday 16
Wednesday 17
Sunday 21
Week 5B
Tuesday 23
Wednesday 24
Sunday 28
Week 6A
Monday 29
Tuesday
1 March
Wednesday 2
Thursday 3
Week 7B
Monday 7
Wednesday 9
Saturday 12
15 – 19 February
Gold Assembly
Year 12 evening Drama
excursion
P&C Meeting
All school Swimming
Carnival
Music Ensemble Workshops
22 – 26 February
School Photo Day
Year 9 Music excursion
Year 10 Welfare
Year 11 Wellbeing
Year 11 & 12 Religious
Seminars
Music Ensemble
Workshops
29 February – 4 March
Assembly
‘In Concert’ Choir
rehearsal
Year 7 & 8 Religious
Seminars
Year 8 Geography
excursion
Year 9 Textiles incursion
7 – 11 March
International Women’s Day
Celebration Assembly
Year 9 & 10 Religious
Seminars
Open Night
2017 Extension Class test
In Year 11 students again have the opportunity to choose from a wide range
of courses. Most courses in Years 11 and 12 are two year courses and
students cannot change from one course to another at the end of Year 11.
Since subject selections are binding for two years it is important that
students choose their subjects carefully. In making subject selections
students should select subjects which:



they have an interest in and will enjoy
are suited to their ability
best meet their future needs and career aspirations
It is possible that circumstances change, and as a result, students in Years 9
and 11 may need to reconsider their subject selections. In such instances the
student should bring a note requesting a change of subject to Mr Leavers for
consideration. Where possible and provided that a sound educational reason
is given for such a change, students may be permitted to change subjects
within the first few weeks of Term 1.
All subject changes must be completed by the end of Week 5 of Term 1.
Should you have any questions or wish to discuss your daughter’s subject
selections in 2015 please do not hesitate to contact Mr Leavers on 9958
4141.
Mr S Leavers
Deputy Principal
School Swimming Carnival
Wednesday 17 February 2016
Browning
Cavell
Fry
Nightingale
Principal’s Diary
New Students
Welcome to the 2016 school year. A special welcome to all students and families new to the school. The year has started
well with Year 7 already experiencing a range of activities designed familiarise them with the school. The two day camp
was an enjoyable opportunity for the girls to meet new friends and engage in a range of confidence-building programs. I am
pleased to see that many of the girls have already signed up for the Netball and Basketball competitions and hope many
will also join the music ensembles and other extra-curricular programs offered by the teachers and parents.
We also welcome approximately 15 new students to classes in Years 8 – 11. Changing schools is often quite daunting,
however, the students and teachers at Willoughby are always very welcoming of new students and keen to include them in
all activities.
New Teachers
While we were sad to farewell Ms Patten, Ms Brennan and Mr Van Helden at the end of 2015, I congratulate each of them
on their retirement and thank them for their outstanding contribution to public education in NSW and to Willoughby Girls
High School in particular
I am pleased to welcome some new teachers to the Willoughby Girls community.
Permanent appointments:
Ms Anastasia Neradovsky is replacing Ms Liz Patten in History. Ms Neradovsky will commence her duties on 22
February.
Dr Babara Kelly has replaced Mr Peter van Helden in Science.
Ms Alex Parker is our new Librarian, replacing Ms Jennifer Brennan.
Temporary appointments:
Ms Renuka Patel is replacing Ms Angela Dickson in Maths. Ms Dickson is on leave for 2016.
In Social Science we welcome three temporary teachers, replacing Ms Pettifer and Ms Baker, both of whom are on
extended leave this year,
Ms Maysa Hasan, Ms Sia Zakos and Ms Elif McPherson
Ms Lisa Perry is new to the PDHPE staff, filling a part time temporary position and Ms Rebecca Cornell is filling a
temporary position in English.
We also welcome back Ms Melissa Macnamee to the TAS staff, returning part time from maternity leave..
2015 HSC Highlights
Congratulations to Year 12, 2015 who achieved outstanding HSC results as a fitting reward for their hard work and
enthusiasm for learning, as well as the commitment of their teachers. All staff members are very pleased that this group of
outstanding young women earned such excellent HSC results and the feedback from students is that all are very happy with
the choices they are able to make for study and careers beyond school.
With a cohort of 146, students gained 179 mentions on the Distinguished Achievers Honour Roll (Band 6s) for scoring 90
or more in a course. Our school was placed 49th in the state on the basis of top-end results and achieved the position of top
ranked comprehensive public school in NSW.
Over 30% of students gained an ATAR of 90 or above and 88% of students received first round university offers.
Congratulations to 2015 Year 12 DUX, Eloise Ridley who attained the top ATAR (Australian Tertiary Admission Rank)
with 99.2.
Four students achieved All Rounder Awards gaining a Band 6 (a mark greater than 90) for at ten units of study:
 Beth Croft
 Ariane Suhood
 Brielle Wallington
 Eliza Wilson
In addition, Beth Croft achieved 9th place in the state in Society and Culture. This is the ninth year running that at least one
Willoughby Girl has achieved among the top ten in Society and Culture.
Several students were nominated for the 2015 HSC showcases:
Three for ArtExpress (exhibition of outstanding Visual Art works
Two for Encore (outstanding HSC music performances)
I look forward to celebrating these achievements next week at our Gold Assembly, the annual award ceremony where we
acknowledge and congratulate the 2015 HSC high achievers.
Ms E Diprose
Principal
Distinguished Achievers Honour Roll 2015 (Mark over 90)
Azam, Rayyan - Society and Culture
Bauer, Nina - Legal Studies, Music 1, Society and Culture
Chan, Nikki - Legal Studies, Society and Culture
Chong, Josephine - Ancient History, Business Studies, Textiles and Design
Cocks, Elizabeth - Legal Studies, Society and Culture
Crawford, Olivia - Society and Culture
Croft, Bethany - Chemistry, English (Advanced), Mathematics, Mathematics
Extension 1, Personal Development, Health and Physical Education, Society
and Culture
Ellis, Sophie - Mathematics Extension 1
Faigen, Ella - Business Studies, English (Advanced), Legal Studies, Modern
History
Farrar, Iman - Legal Studies, Visual Arts
Green, Jasmine - Music 1
Haggerty Mayers, Nicola - Legal Studies, Society and Culture
Han, Elisa - Mathematics Extension 1, Mathematics Extension 2, Music
Extension
Hanna, Claire - Biology, Society and Culture
Hayes, Vanessa - Society and Culture
Hopper, Allayne - Ancient History, History Extension
Howarth, Paris - Society and Culture
Hunter, Mischa - Design and Technology, English (Advanced), Personal
Development, Health and Physical Education, Society and Culture
Hyun Ye Bin - Heritage Korean
Ible, Avalon - Ancient History, Business Studies, Society and Culture
Imlay, Eleanor - Biology, Physics, Visual Arts
Jayalath, Gimmi - Society and Culture
Kilduff, Brianna – Legal Studies, Personal Development, Health and
Physical Education, Society and Culture
Kim, Ji Ah - Heritage Korean
Koura, Holly - Society and Culture
Kwan Neads,Isabella - Food Technology, Personal Development, Health and
Physical Education, Senior Science
Lau, Yik Lam - Music Extension
Lee, Belle - Business Services Examination
Lee, Sangok - English as a Second Language, Mathematics Extension 1,
Mathematics Extension 2, Korean Background Speakers
Lee, Yeun Jae - English (Advanced), Modern History
Lees, Isabelle - Society and Culture, Visual Arts
Li, Shiyao - Mathematics Extension 1
Limanto, Rebecca - Society and Culture
Liu, Chang - Chinese Background Speakers
Liu, Jiayi - Mathematics Extension 1, Chinese Background Speakers
Liu, Wanting - Mathematics Extension 1
Lu, Yuting - Mathematics Extension 1
Mandal, Mahima - Mathematics Extension 1, Mathematics Extension 2,
Modern History
Martin, Poppy - Biology, English (Advanced), Society and Culture, Visual
Arts
McDonald, Neridah - Dance, Society and Culture
Modabber, Layla - Biology, Modern History, Senior Science
Nguyen, Anna - Mathematics
Nguyen, Samantha - Senior Science
Nicolas, Isabelle - Legal Studies, Music 1, Society and Culture
Oh, Ji Yeong - English (Advanced), Visual Arts
Olalo, Mary - Biology, Business Studies, Senior Science
Oldfield, Rose - Ancient History, Legal Studies
Ollis, Theodora - Biology
Pak, Kristie - Music 1
Palmer, Isabelle - Mathematics, Music 2, Music Extension
Pang, Mengdie - Mathematics Extension 1, Music Extension
Patel, Puja - Biology, Mathematics
Pradhan, Nishma - Biology, Mathematics
Pullukaran, Erin - Business Services Examination
Richards, Alexandra - Society and Culture
Ridley, Eloise - English (Advanced), English Extension 1, Geography, Legal
Studies, Mathematics
Rogerson, Emma - Society and Culture
Ryrie, Elouise - Business Studies, Personal Development, Health and
Physical Education
Saylan, Saye Kaeo - English (Advanced), Legal Studies, Modern History,
History Extension, Society and Culture
Seaman, Ashley - Mathematics, Financial Services Examination
Seeto, Allana - Legal Studies, Mathematics General 2, Personal
Development, Health and Physical Education, Society and Culture
Seeto, Nicola - Ancient History, English (Advanced) Legal Studies,
Mathematics
Sim, Jodie - Food Technology
Sinaeimehrabani, Ronak - English as a Second Language, Legal Studies,
Society and Culture
Smith, Jillian - Society and Culture
Su, Yu-Ning – Biology, Mathematics
Suhood, Ariane - English (Advanced), English Extension 1, English
Extension 2, Mathematics, Music 2, Music Extension, Personal
Development, Health and Physical Education
Taylor, Brittany - Mathematics General 2
Thomson, Genevieve - Business Studies, Society and Culture
Trzecinski, Mia - Business Studies, English (Advanced), Legal Studies,
Modern History, History Extension
Wagner, Madeleine - English (Advanced), English Extension 1, Modern
History
Wallington, Brielle - Ancient History, Business Studies, English (Standard),
Modern History, Personal Development, Health and Physical Education,
Spanish Beginners
Wijaya, Cecilia - Biology, Mathematics, Music 1
Wilson, Eliza – Ancient History, English (Advanced), Legal Studies,
Modern History, Society and Culture
Xie, Yicheng - Mathematics Extension 1, Mathematics Extension 2
Yoon, Soo Jung - Heritage Korean
Young, Molly - Design and Technology, Senior Science
ATAR Honour Roll 2015
Nina Bauer
Josephine Chong
Elizabeth Cocks
Bethany Croft
Sophie Ellis
Ella Faigen
Iman Farrar
Nicola Haggerty Mayers
Elisa Han
Claire Hanna
Allayne Hopper
Mischa Hunter
Avalon Ible
Eleanor Imlay
Brianna Kilduff
Sangol Irene Lee
Yeun Jae Lee
Rebecca Limanto
Wanting Avril Liu
Mahima Mandal
Poppy Martin
Layla Modabber
Anna Nguyen
Isabelle Nicolas
Mary Joy Olalo
Rose Oldfield
Theodora Ollis
Isabelle Palmer
Puja Patel
Nishma Pradhan
Eloise Ridley
Elouise Ryrie
Saye Kaeo Saylan
Ashley Seaman
Allana Seeto
Nicola Seeto
Yu-Ning Kerrie Su
Ariane Suhood
Genevieve Thomson
Mia Trzecinski
Madeleine Wagner
Brielle Wallington
Cecilia Wijaya
Eliza Wilson
94.4
95.5
93.1
99.1
95.7
95.6
90.85
95.1
90+
94.9
90+
96.05
93.85
97.95
92.35
98.45
90+
91.85
90.95
90+
90+
95.05
93.85
93.6
96.4
94.05
90+
95.2
95.3
93.95
99.2
93.6
97.6
94.8
95.85
96.2
95.4
97.45
90+
98.85
92.3
97.7
96.8
98.75
Year Advisers and Assistant Year Advisers 2016
Mr James Chen
Year 7 Adviser
Mrs Cathy Davies
Year 9 Adviser
Ms Lani Blackman
Year 11 Adviser
Ms Hayley Brown
Year 7 Assistant
Year Adviser
Ms Naoko Konishi
Year 9 Assistant
Year Adviser
Ms Rana Morris
Year 11 Assistant
Year Adviser
Ms Jackie Pryor
Year 8 Adviser
Ms Lena Mak
Year 8 Assistant
Year Adviser
Ms Caitlin Alfonso
Year 10 Adviser
Ms Donna Elias
Year 10 Assistant
Year Adviser
Mr Will Troncoso
Year 12 Adviser
Ms Natasha Lemaic
Year 12 Assistant
Year Adviser
Willoughby Girls High School
School Lateness Policy
The school believes that lateness to class is detrimental to the education of your daughter. It
disrupts the flow of a classroom lesson and thus disadvantages the other students as well.
Furthermore, every lateness is recorded as a partial absence and contributes to the overall
calculation of satisfactory attendance.
We understand that on the odd occasion circumstances outside the student’s control can cause
lateness. However, if the lateness is recurring, strategies need to be put in place to resolve the
problem.
Lateness to school will be monitored within the fortnightly timetable cycle and any two instances of
lateness in a cycle will result in one lunchtime detention. Failure to attend this detention will result
in an automatic after school detention, unless the student is absent from school on that day. She
will then be required to make up the detention in the next lunch time detention session.
If your daughter’s lateness is due to circumstances beyond her control, and this has counted
towards a lunch detention, it is her responsibility to see Mrs Budd in the PDHPE staffroom and
explain the circumstance.
Where possible we ask that all appointments are to be made outside school hours.
Year 10 Geography Camp
The Annual Year 10 Geography Camp will take place at Broken Bay Sport and Recreation Centre
from Monday 14 March until Wednesday 16 March 2016.
The camp is a key element in the Stage 5 Geography course as students will be conducting
fieldwork within the natural landscapes around Broken Bay and Barrenjoey Headland. We are
fortunate to have these special ecosystems on our doorstep as they provide our students with a fun
and challenging learning environment while they investigate coastal management issues.
A note with further details has been sent to parents/carers. Payment will need to be finalised by
Monday 7 March 2016
Additional information is available on Sentral
The Sustainable Garden
The Sustainable Garden in 2016
The garden is blooming with petunias, cosmos,
cornflowers, sunflowers and impatiens planted by
the Year 8 students last year. The students grew
candy striped beetroot, rainbow chard, painted
mountain corn and red and green basil in
checkerboards, stripes, circles and zigzag
patterns. Term 4 last year ended with the garden
looking its best. The garden fairy kept a watchful
eye on the garden and kept the weeds at bay over
the holidays. It is now ready for the 2016 Year 8
students to work some magic of their own.
This year we have rearranged the way we teach
the Science syllabus so that we can combine plant biology, sustainability and experimental aspects
together into a single topic. The Sustainable Garden topic will run throughout the year on
Wednesdays. This will let us make the most of this teaching resource and allow the students to learn
many skills and gain the satisfaction of growing plants throughout the year. The students have begun
the year by taking cuttings of the verdant basil plants to find out how to clone plants
Ms C Watson
Science Teacher
Headway in Sailing……
Congratulations to Year 8 student, Avril Richardson , representing the Middle Harbour 16’ Skiff Sailing
Club (Skiffies), who, along with her skipper, Peggy Stanbury, won the 2015 Manly Junior National
Sailing Championships – Open Fleet Handicap Division, in sailing boat number 2757 Twiggy.
This was a 4 day event held in North Harbour off Manly between Christmas and the New Year where
38 boats from various sailing clubs competed in eight races in winds varying from 10 to 27 knots and
a constant swell of 1m-2m. Ten knots is a comfortable breeze, 27 knots is a howling wind, a two
metre swell is a big deal in a 2.5 metre boat – and Peggy and Avril completed every race regardless
of the conditions they faced.
The trophy was presented by Lisa Darmanin, the current Australian Female Sailor of the Year who
was recently selected to represent Australia at the 2016 Rio Olympics for the Nacra class. Lisa learnt
to sail in a Manly Junior at Manly 16' Skiff Sailing Club and was Best Girl Skipper in the 2005
Nationals.
All the best to Avril (pictured centre) for continued enjoyment and success in this challenging sport.
Fostering NSW
Ms N Best
PDHPE Head Teacher
Dear valued parent and/or guardian,
THIS IS YOUR OPPORTUNITY TO BECOME ENGAGED IN AN
EXCEPTIONAL COMMUNITY LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT COACHING
PROGRAM... JOIN THIS SCHOOL AS WE PARTICIPATE, ENCOURAGE
AND SUPPORT THE NORTHS MAX POTENTIAL PROGRAM FOR 2016 ...
Our Students greatly benefit from this program ... Now you can too!
What is Max Potential?
 Leadership Coaching Program that empowers young people.
 It increases the young adult’s self-awareness and helps unlock their potential.
 Runs over 22 weeks - March to September 2016.
 Focus: personal leadership development, goal setting and achievement, confidence building, development of life skills –
all achieved through coaching.
 Work with young adults to maximise their potential during the final years at school and beyond.
 Encouragement of students to focus on the local community and ways that they can work to improve it by doing a
community service project, developing a “can do” attitude.
 For more information on the program, please visit: www.max-potential.com.au
What’s in it for YOU as a community coach?
 Learn coaching skills (you will be given training and ongoing support throughout the program).
 Enhance your communication skills (great for conversation with your children, partners, friends and work colleagues).
 Learn the ten personal leadership principles and the opportunity to use these in practice with Max Potential
participants.
 Be part of a state-wide team making a difference in your local community, through your volunteered time.
 Feel empowered and learn to empower others.
 All coaches will have the opportunity to build coaching into a personal and professional leadership profile, including the
possibility of further coaching accreditation through Future Achievement Australia Pty Ltd.
 There will also be a certificate of participation which can be used for further career opportunities.
What’s in it for businesses leaders and employees?
 Become more effective as a manager and leader by understanding and adopting the proven principles of coaching and
empowerment.
 Expand your understanding of organisational and interpersonal dynamics (including moods and recurring patterns of
behaviour and culture) in ways that enable staff to empower themselves and others to achieve results.
 Become more competent in generating and maintaining effective relationships, both professional and personal,
resulting in increased levels of trust and accountability in the organisation.
 Opportunity to be part of a program that proactively builds community capacity through the enhancement of personal
leadership skills and the creation of strong and resourceful networks in the community.
 Raise your business profile through advertising opportunities in print, radio and online.
Recruitment is now underway for the 2016 NORTHS Max Potential Program. Great interest has been shown by young adults
from multiple schools in the North Sydney and surrounding regions for the 2016 program, so, it is our aim to not have to knock
back any young adults who want to apply and make a positive difference in their life! ... For this to happen, we need your
support in matching young adult numbers with community coaches and/or sponsoring businesses.
To become a Max Potential community coach, you need to be willing to learn new skills, open to challenge yourself and a
desire to want the best for the youth in our community - you will be given training, all the tools and 24/7 support along the
way!!!
Please share this email with your friends and colleagues!!!
For more information and to apply to become a community coach, please contact Dee Raquel Joma, the NORTHS Max Potential
Project Manager on the details shown below.
We look forward to engaging with you on this incredible program for 2016.
Kind Regards,
Dee Raquel Joma
Project Manager and Coach