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High Notes, Vol 27 No 16, June 05 2026

From the Principal

High Talent

Congratulations to the Jazz ensemble who collected first place in the Sydney Eisteddfod Jazz Band category. Thank you to Ms Suzanna Lim for continuing to support these students with such passion.

Congratulations to the Stage Band who collected first place in the Sydney Eisteddfod Premium Stage Band category. Another huge thank you to Ms Suzanna Lim for arranging the event.

Well done to the following Fencers who achieved wonderful results at the NSW Schools’ Fencing League Foil Team fixtures for U16 and U19 Foil:

• U19 A Team: (Bronze) - Lyndon Chow 12E, Benjamin Dang 12R, Tom Ye 11T, Ty Traynor 11F.
• U16 A Team: (Bronze) - Ian Huang 10T, Keiran Tedjasaputra 10F, Xavier Xie 09T, William Tran 10R.

In the NSWSFL Epee U14 Individual competition the following boys achieved outstanding results:

• Ryan Truong 09S (Gold - 1/28)
• Owen Jiang 08F (Silver - 2/28)
• Danny Long 09T (Equal Bronze - T3/28).

Staffing Changes

Congratulations to Ms Hannah Jackson in receiving the substantive position of HT Sport through the merit selection process. 

Interpreting Year 9 Reports – Semester 1

By Friday, 5 June, all Year 9 boys should have seen me to collect their reports. Parents should note that Year 9 has fewer compulsory subjects: English, Mathematics, Science, History, Geography and PDHPE. Students now study two electives alongside these core subjects, having completed Music, Visual Arts and Technology in Year 8.

All Stage 5 requirements for History and Geography are completed in Year 9. There is significant content to cover and a range of skills to develop. As a result, students may receive warning letters if they miss tasks required to meet these compulsory requirements.

The benchmark for Year 9 is a total of 24 points (equivalent to eight credits). Small mark differences around cut-off scores can lead to large changes in points and ranking. The addition of 30 new students to the cohort further increases movement in rankings. Some students may also rise this year if they previously underperformed in subjects they did not intend to continue. Conversely, the increased demands of Stage 5 or an unsuitable elective choice may negatively affect results, particularly for those who performed strongly in practical subjects in Year 8.

Students in Year 9 are expected to develop increasing independence. They should manage their workload, plan ahead and keep track of upcoming commitments. Parents are encouraged to check their son’s organiser—electronic or paper—to see how well he is managing his time. Weeks should be planned in advance to balance school requirements with family, social and leisure commitments.

Parents should also review their son’s learning behaviours profile and the teachers’ next-step recommendations. Strong progress relies on a consistent partnership between school and home, with clear expectations and boundaries to support focus, behaviour and achievement.
George Barris
Relieving Principal