High Notes - Sydney Boys High School

High Notes, Vol 27 No 15, May 29 2026

2026-05-29T00:00:00Z

From the Principal

High Talent

Congratulations to our School Captain, Jude Ou, on his selection in the Australian Schools Debating Team. He will represent Australia at the World Schools Debating Championships in Africa. A rare achievement, indeed! Well done to Ben Wu (12F) who won gold at the NSWFL U19 Epee Individual Championships last Saturday. Great news for Jack Yong (SHS-2025) whose clay work was short-listed and selected for exhibition in the international Clay Gulgong festival in the Holtermann Museum. Congratulations to the 14 Legal Debating boys, who spent Thursday - Sunday last week competing at Harvard Model United Nations. There were nearly 500 students at the event, from all around the country and some international teams. Our students came away with a quarter of the awards, as well as the overall best delegation award. Well done to - Aarav Shah, Akshobya Kumar, Maxi Ibrahim, Charlie Cheshire, Alay Mahidadia, Vivaan Wadhwa, Om Dave, Tilak Patel, Tuyvan Mai, Aarya Retnasingham, Sharvil Pande and Hriman Joshi. All these boys are developing valuable life skills through this program. Thank you to Hazel Stephens who is a quiet achiever in legal debating and MUNA.

Interpreting Year 8 Reports Semester 1

All boys in Year 8 should now have their reports. Parents need to know that a few marks up or down near cut-off scores for Distinctions or High Distinctions can make a big difference in their son’s points’ totals. Also, these grades are sometimes calculated from only one or two snapshot assessment tasks, thus providing a narrow view of achievement. When moving from Year 7 into Year 8 students get to make a decision – one language or two? As a consequence, some boys do ten subjects as in Year 7 and others, nine. To calculate the boys’ scores, their best 9 subject outcomes are counted (27 points at credit level). So, boys doing more subjects may have an advantage. Conversely, they may be disadvantaged by having more subjects to master. Language choice can affect ranking outcomes. For example, some boys chose Chinese Advanced. Some chose Latin, others chose Latin and Classical Greek. These are demanding subjects. Getting Distinctions in these subjects is harder – fewer students do them, too. Boys not doing two languages have to have their PE results counted.

Sometimes boys in Year 8 start to think about what electives they might do in Year 9 and what the compulsory subjects there are. These projected future choices might affect their motivation to succeed in some of the compulsory subjects that they are doing currently. Because of the semesterisation of history and geography, students who perform much better in one of these disciplines more than the other can produce big swings in points earned at the half yearly or yearly report. Quite a few boys who have done well in their Yearly Report in Year 7, take their foot off the accelerator and coast through semester one, with effects on their ranking. Often, they get back on track by the time of the Yearly Report again. In short, there are many reasons for big swings in rank. I think that greater than +/- 20% of the cohort (36+) positions of swing means that something has altered. Their biggest issue usually is distraction, due to gaming, unrestricted device use, social media immersion or other myriad teenage activities.

Often, big positive or negative fluctuations are due to changes in learning behaviours: boys listening in class, acting on teacher feedback, being organised and managing their commitments, taking good notes, doing homework, accessing past papers and revising before assessment periods. Alternatively, if they stop doing these things, their results may decline. Circumstances in their domestic life may affect their learning concentration or motivation and result in big swings in the rank order also. Despite the shortcomings identified, our stable statistical expectations over more than two decades provide a fairly reliable overall academic profile for students and parents to consider. Also included in the reports are teacher statements about recommended next step/s for students to improve their learning. We hope parents will discuss these suggestions with their sons and encourage them to implement them.

Student Leave Requests – Reminder

There is a Department of Education and school policy on Student Leave of Absence – Extended Leave Travel requests. This applies to leave that is five school days or more in duration. Parents are reminded that as a matter of policy leave may not be processed or approved unless four weeks’ notice has been given. Also, cogent reasons for travelling during school term need to be supplied. The effect of this decision is that all leave requests that involve that last four weeks of term should have been lodged with the Principal for approval by the end of week 6, each term. If you are planning to travel during the school term you need to download, complete and submit the form for approval by the closing date.
Dr K A Jaggar
Principal

Assembly: 2026 National Day of Healing

"Good morning, I would like to begin by acknowledging the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation, the Traditional Custodians of the land on which we meet today. I pay my respects to Elders past and present. I extend that respect to any Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people here with us today. This assembly falls during an important historical period for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. Yesterday was National Sorry Day. It recognises the Stolen Generations. Children who were forcibly removed from their families and their culture was disrupted.

"Sorry Day asks us to acknowledge that truth and to recognise the ongoing impact of the decisions made in the past.

"Today, National Reconciliation Week begins. Today is historically important as on May 27, 1967, an important referendum occurred. One that saw a record 90.77% of voters vote "Yes" to amend the constitution regarding Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, specifically to include them in the census and enable the Commonwealth to create laws for them. A moment when Australia voted to remove discrimination from the Constitution. Reconciliation week ends on another historically significant date – 3 June - as it marks the anniversary of the Mabo decision. A decision that recognised Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples’ rights to land. Reconciliation is about stronger relationships between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and all other Australians. It recognises that our history includes dispossession, violence and racism. It recognises that while progress has been made, there is more to do.

"This year’s theme is All In for Reconciliation. Being all in means we do not stand by and allow reconciliation to happen without us. We commit to it, each day, in our words and in our actions. We show respect through the way we speak and behave. We deepen our understanding of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures. As a society, each of us has a responsibility to act and to contribute to meaningful change. Thank you."
George Barris
Deputy Principal

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High Notes, Vol 27 No 14, May 22 2026

2026-05-22T00:00:00Z

From the Principal

High Talent

Well done to Arjan Walia (7E) who demonstrated his community spirit by volunteering his time during Term 1 and school holidays to assist the Kids Giving Back organization. Their work is important in helping people in necessitous circumstances with food or care packages. At the NSW Fencing Roberta Nutt Shield, Ethan Li (12F) won silver in the U19 Men’s Sabre. In U19 Men’s foil (36 competitors) Tom Ye (12E) won a bronze medal eq. Congratulations to our fencers!

Valé Nikhil Autar (SHS-2011)

This week Nikhil lost his 15-year battle with leukaemia. He was unable to sit his HSC examinations in 2011 due to the onset of this debilitating disease. He struggled manfully to live a fulfilling life, being active and original in his social wellbeing efforts. He visited High on several occasions over the years to inspire us about investing in hope, social advancement and compassion for others. He loved basketball. He was adjudged Young Australian of the Year for his community work. Despite family tragedy, he achieved his life-long goal to qualify as a doctor. He valued life intensely and lived it to the full. Our condolences are extended to his family at this very sad time.

Financial Support for School Capital and Operational Projects

I am pleased to note that despite our voluntary contributions being capped at the 2025 level, 79% of these items have been paid. I encourage all parents who can help to make these contributions to ensure our school thrives. In respect of our tax-deductible items, the response to the Sydney High Advancement Fund request has been very strong at 77%. Our co-curricular supervision and technology levies have been paid by 84% of families – an encouraging level of support. However, our tax-deductible Library Fund (Student Research and Resources) is not faring as well, with a 55% response. We have a facility to purchase textbooks and accession them into the library stock and then loan them to students on an annual basis. These loans could be soft as well as hard copy. More support before June 30 tax time would help us purchase more new texts, which are so important as we implement new syllabuses across the school in 2026 and 2027.

Governors Centre Operating Committee Meeting

At last week’s meeting of the Operating Committee of the Governors Centre, it was agreed that we should spend up to $100k to have a landscape gardener refresh the Cleveland St. garden area. It has overgrown and been hard to maintain for some time. The work will improve the public facing view of our Governors Centre. As the facility has been in use for more than five years, we need to provide for a lifecycle (sinking) fund to repair or replace equipment, especially AV. Four significant term deposits, managed by Governors Centre Ltd, are in place to meet future financial obligations to maintain the building. The Governors Centre is in heavy demand by community hirers, due to its location, flexible use possibilities and competitive hiring fee. Thank you to Lisa Jennings, who manages all the bookings and to Michael Silva for his services to our clients as the Venue Services Coordinator for hirers.

Winter Sports Assembly 2026

My address to the assembly is reprinted below.

"Good morning to parents, staff, guests and students. Welcome our special guest, Judo dual Olympian, Nathan Katz (2016 and 2020) as we celebrate students selected in our GPS teams for Football, Rugby and Cross Country, at our first Winter Sports Assembly. We congregate before the first official matches of the GPS competition each winter season, to honour our elite sportsmen and also to thank all those people who give their time to support them.

"This winter our Football program is being guided by our new MIC, Jake Rowlands (SHS-2017). We wish him the best of luck for the season. I should acknowledge the great work of Sam Higgins who brought our program back from 0 wins in 8 open teams, 8 years ago, to winning a premiership in 2024. Thank you to our coaches Peter Denyer (first grade), Bruno Pivato (second grade) and Liam Cowan (3rd grade). Thank you to our staff coaches, Matthew Hood (16As and Bs) and Richard Gifford (13As). Jake will be assisted on Saturdays by staff members Shane Jennings, Jeremy Ohlback, Lauren O’Sullivan and Joyce Wang. Thank you to them and to our committed Football Committee, particularly Gilbert Parazza (President), Nicki Dadic (Vice President), Nikos Paipetis (Secretary) and Rajesh Lucknauth (Treasurer).

"Thank you to Edison Dorahy (SHS-2019) who has taken over from Viv Paul as MIC of Rugby. We thank Viv for his service and passion for rugby. Staff supervising rugby this season are Viv Paul, Matt Cotton and Matthew Bowman. Jack Bowditch has signed up for another season as first XV coach, assisted this year by Ethan Cusick (2020) and Saxon Gerstl (2023). Nelson Cheng (SHS-2022) is our medic and trainer. Guiding the 16s are Tom Britton (SHS-2022) and Oscar Greville (SHS-20023). Kridaya Singh (SHS-2024) and Jeremy Lu (SHS-2024) have the 15s group. On 14s are Joe Britton (SHS-2024) and Quan Nguyen (SHS-2023). Our 13s beginners are mentored by Jin Shim and Naeer Nibras (SHS-2025). Thank you to our team of Old Boy coaches and to our parents serving on the Rugby Committee (Andrew Kuo, Peter and Louise Zeng, Kelland He and Yves Stenning. We are looking forward to a season of fun and camaraderie in the traditional sport in winter at High.

"Thank you again to Kurt Rich, our cross-country MIC. He is managing our large contingent of runners with the help of staff members Lena Park and Lilly Gavin. Our coaches this year are Ren-Shyan Balnave (SHS-2018), veteran Neil Song (SHS-2015), Tanish Sarathy and Aaron Chu (SHS-2025). We have seen consistent mid-table results in the cross-country program for some seasons, thanks to good coaching and dedication by our participants.

"Today, my message is about the power of self-belief in sport. Most of my experience at High has been observing individuals or teams being intimidated by their GPS opponents, making a difficult contest even harder for them. Performing at your best is hard at any time without carrying the additional burden of disrespect from opponents. I have seen many teams underperform in the pressure cooker environment of GPS sport. Just as confidence and self-belief are eroded by sledging, mistakes and misfortune, so are the chances of success in sporting contests. Of late, some teams have built an admirable collective self-confidence which becomes contagious to its members – examples are our 2024 football premiership win, the recent CHS knockout victory in cricket and the improved performances of the rowers at the Head of the River. Our 15A cricket team has won 28 consecutive matches in GPS competition. As flowers bloom in the desert after rain, so repeated success reaches a tipping point at which self-belief carries teams to even very unlikely successes. It’s about building and maintaining high expectations and confidence that you can perform the basic skills repeatedly. Above all, we are there to compete until the end.

"As we approach this winter season, we need to emphasize the skills we have and what we do competently as teams. Doing the basics right every time is a good place to start to build self-confidence and team cohesion. At training this winter, we are trying to increase the intensity of the work we do. We want to emphasize skills training in our 4 x 15 minutes model – warm up, skill 1, skill 2, game simulation. If everyone trains hard and the drills and equipment are ready in advance, one hour ought to be enough for teenage bodies to exercise. Our Head Teacher Sport, Ms Jackson, has oversight of this new training approach, across our winter sports. If boys are disciplined and committed, skill development will happen, with accompanying gains in self-belief. Strength of mind and positivity go a long way in sport. Most of all, sport should be fun, even if you are up against more skilled opponents.

"Congratulations to all boys selected in the representative teams for the 2026 season."
Dr K A Jaggar
Principal

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High Notes, Vol 27 No 13, May 15 2026

2026-05-15T00:00:00Z

From the Principal

High Talent

Congratulations to Sharvil Pande (11S) who competed at the prestigious Rostrum State Quarter Final Public Speaking Competition. He was adjudicated as runner up – a great effort!

Staffing Changes

Thank you to everyone who is filling a higher position during my periods of extended leave, particularly George Barris, who is Relieving Principal. I hope these experiences will deepen the strength of leadership in our school. The success of any succession plan is measured by the quality of the continuity of programs, policies, processes and activities during the absence of the leader. Gaining leadership experience at the next level is also vital for professional growth as a potential leader. During the next few weeks, we plan to keep everyone in their current positions for the sake of continuity for the boys, who are always at the centre of our work. Mr Barris and I will work in parallel and share tasks.

Facilities News

There has been a great deal of work funded by DOE to upgrade our buildings – carpeting in blocks A + B and painting in the Junior Library – for which we are grateful. The P&C Association has assisted the Rifle Shooting Program with $20K to offset the rising expenses of consumables. It has also donated $78K to complete our 3-year laptop renewal program – a vital component of our blended ICT delivery system. We thank the P&C for getting behind important school projects. The ̽��Ƶ Foundation Ltd has made significant investments in school facilities. The tennis courts’ surfaces have lasted well past their normal life and were re-painted during the holidays at a cost of $55K. The Foundation is also committed to our network modernisation program to be completed in the medium term (2026-2030) at a cost of $80K per year. The Foundation Board approved a donation of $455K to enable a tender to be chosen for the construction of a Multi-Purpose Sports Centre on The Flat. This is a major project expected to cost c $1,100,000. The Foundation previously donated $500K. There are always variations and overruns – e.g. the increase in the price of steel – so we are asking parents to get behind our special appeal to finish off the project by donating to The Sydney Boys High School Building Fund, suggested $250 (tax deductible), before June 30. This facility is of particular importance to the 80+ table tennis families, given that there are emerging problems regarding venues being available next year to accommodate our large program. We hope to have the building ready by June 2027.

At this week’s meetings of the P&C and SBHS School Council, Mr Barris outlined the school’s policy on bullying, for which we have zero tolerance. Once the boys had a better understanding of the definition of bullying used in DOE surveys, emphasizing the repeated use of a power imbalance to inflict psychological or physical harm to another, the school survey revealed a lower incidence of perceived bullying around 18% of boys. However, the obstacle is getting boys to report bullying incidents. Fear of revenge by the bully or social ostracizing for reporting, impacts on willingness to report. Another problem is a lack of confidence that the system can actually stop the bullying. We need to talk about our response, which should address both the victim and the bully focusing on identifying the social issue and addressing it to reach an acceptable solution. We need to raise our behavioural expectations and intervene earlier and more comprehensively, whenever bullying is observed or reported.

UNSW Co-op Applications

Students should be aware of what happens to UNSW Co-op applications, considering how popular they have been at High. I haven’t got the 2025 figures but Australia-wide in 2024, 1003 applications were submitted from 277 schools but another 1,596 remained in draft form and so were never officially submitted. At High in 2024 there were 31 applications in draft and 30 were properly submitted [Takeaway –that was our best ever conversion rate. Once you begin a project, finish it!]. There were 320 interviews held for just 280 applicants. More than forty scholarships were offered. From High, there were nine interviews, with five short listed and two students received offers - Fynn Hopkins (Data Science and Decisions) as well as Justin Nguyen (Electrical or Telecommunications Engineering) [Takeaway – if you are really interested in a course, research it and put significant effort into your application because nearly every year someone from High is successful]. I do not have to process these applications until the last week in September. You need to complete your application and notify the Principal as explained by UNSW by email. Once all the applications are in, I can begin to complete the Principal’s form and upload your individual reference, once it is finalised. Please deal directly with the University and submit your application on time. You can liaise with Mr Cotton, our Carers Adviser, if you are unsure of how to complete your form.
Dr K A Jaggar
Principal

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High Notes, Vol 27 No 12, May 08 2026

2026-05-08T00:00:00Z

From the Principal

Leadership Assembly 2026

"Staff, students, parents and Prefects of Sydney Boys High, welcome to our formal recognition of student leadership and to the investiture assembly for our 2026 School Prefects.

"I acknowledge the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation as the traditional custodians of the land and waterways on which we meet. I pay my respects to Elders past and present, the keepers of culture and law. I extend that respect to any Aboriginal people with us today.

"Thank you to the many students who have served our school in leadership roles this year. The Prefects, SRC, Community Service, Peer Support, Equality, PAWS and the Wellbeing Team. You have led through service and influence. Putting your name forward takes courage. Doing the work well takes grit and time. You should be proud of what you have contributed.

"The strength of our Prefect body reflects our commitment to leadership for service. We want our most engaged and capable students to nominate as Prefect Interns. When students vote thoughtfully, we achieve a strong and diverse leadership team. Our Prefect traditions matter. They connect us to our history. At the same time, each cohort has the opportunity to build something new. Many fine Prefects have served this school. That legacy sets a high standard for those who follow. The tradition of our Prefects and Year 12 volunteering started in 2001, when then school captain Nick Armstrong became disillusioned with what was going on in other schools and changed muck up day into what is now the volunteer day. That day Nick organised a charity collection on Anzac parade and had a live cross with 2GB radio to explain how students could serve a purpose before finishing school, rather than creating havoc.

"The 2026 Senior Prefect leadership team has been active and innovative. School Captain Jude Ou, Vice‑Captain Arif Mohamed and Senior Prefect Eric Liu have strengthened ties with Sydney Girls High School through the High Stakes events. They expanded careers pathways seminars with the OBU, increased volunteering and engaged old boys to support academic progress.

"Our long‑serving Prefect MIC, Ms Rigby, continues to mentor and support generations of Prefects. She sets high standards and holds students to account. She does this with care, professionalism and commitment. She is a trusted confidant to our boys. I thank her for her dedication, her judgement and her leadership.

"To progress from Prefect Intern to School Prefect and to receive their perpetual badges today, students had to meet demanding requirements. Academic standards had to be maintained. Participation in school life was essential. Two GPS sports were required. Students had to earn a Student Awards Scheme Award in their final year. Behaviour, dress and punctuality had to be exemplary from the beginning of Year 10. Any serious disciplinary issue resulted in disqualification. These expectations are clear and non‑negotiable.

"Sydney Boys High Prefects are positive, respected and trusted leaders. They have earned their place in the history of this school. Congratulations to all students receiving their Prefect badges today. You will now sign the Prefects Register, a tradition since 1955. We thank you for your service to High and to your peers."

Year 12 Reports

All Year 12 students should now have their reports. For the first time in their schooling, students receive an ATAR estimate based on their best ten units. It is important to understand the limits of this estimate. At this stage, not all course content has been assessed. The first full examination of HSC courses occurs at the Trial HSC in August. So far this year, only a small number of topics have been completed and, in most courses, only one or two assessment tasks have been undertaken. Any prediction about final performance must therefore be treated with care.

Despite these limitations, the May report is an important indicator of possible HSC outcomes. Each year, many students improve significantly on these early estimates as they refine their study habits and preparation. However, where there is no meaningful change in approach to study and revision, early ATAR indicators tend to be broadly accurate, particularly if this year’s pattern of results aligns with that seen in previous HSC cohorts.

NSW Public School Parent Survey

Please complete the NSW public school parent survey.

https://sbhs.co/npsp

The NSW Public School Survey is a survey tool used by the Department of Education, and by extension, Sydney Boys High School to gauge your experience with the school. Responses are confidential.

NSW Public School Student Survey

All students will be undertaking the student survey.

Parents can opt out of this by completing the form: https://sbhs.co/npssoo
George Barris
Relieving Principal

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High Notes, Vol 27 No 11, May 01 2026

2026-05-01T00:00:00Z

From the Principal

High Talent

Congratulations to Maxi Ibrahim who was part of Sydney University team that recently won Gold at the Australian Youth Water Polo Championships (16 and U Male Green Division) held in Brisbane.

Study Skills

Study skills are built on habits, not intelligence. Students who make steady progress tend to have clear routines for homework, revision, and rest. The biggest challenge we see is not difficulty with content, but difficulty managing time and attention. Excessive computer gaming and unstructured screen time fragment focus and reduce the quality of study, even when total study time seems adequate.

Good study habits are predictable and planned. They involve starting work at a set time, studying in a defined space, and working in focused blocks without interruption. Late nights on games or unrestricted screen use disrupt sleep and reduce stamina the next day. Over time, this creates a cycle where students feel tired, rushed, and behind, despite being capable. Consistency matters more than intensity.

Exercise plays a critical role in learning. Regular physical activity improves concentration, sleep, and emotional regulation. Students who move daily generally study more effectively and cope better with pressure. Families can support strong study habits by setting clear limits around gaming on school nights, encouraging device‑free study blocks, and prioritising exercise as part of daily routines. Balanced students are better learners.

NSW Public School Parent Survey

Please complete the NSW public school parent survey. The NSW Public School Survey is a survey tool used by the Department of Education, and by extension, Sydney Boys High School to gauge your experience with the school. Responses are confidential.

https://sbhs.co/npsp

NSW Public School Student Survey

All students will be undertaking the student survey. Parents can opt out of this by completing the form.

https://sbhs.co/npssoo

George Barris
Relieving Principal

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High Notes, Vol 27 No 10, April 24 2026

2026-04-24T00:00:00Z

From the Principal

High Talent

Congratulations to Jad Jaber who was part of UNSW West Black team that recently won bronze at the Australian Youth Water Polo Championships (14 and U Male Green Division) held in Brisbane.

Congratulations to the following boys who completed their Bronze Duke of Ed recently:

Rhys Chen
Alexander Hwang
Ritaz Alam
Mohit Kapoor
Arnav Dixit
Yicen Shen (Yr 9)
Siddhanth Shankhla
Jason Niu
Jayden Lee
Ryan Liu

Congratulations to the following boys who completed their Silver Duke of Ed recently:

Leo Varthakavi
Wesley Hamilton
Zibo Ye

NSW Public School Parent Survey

ANZAC Day Address

"Distinguished guests, staff, and students, welcome to our ANZAC Day assembly.

"We meet today on the traditional lands of the Gadigal people. I pay my respects to Elders past and present and to any Aboriginal people with us today.

"We hold an assembly for ANZAC day because remembrance matters and it deserves time and attention. ANZAC Day is a day of reflection. A day to remember those who served, those who sacrificed, and those who never returned.

"Since 1915, Australians have served in wars, peacekeeping missions, and humanitarian operations across the world. Many paid the ultimate price. Many returned home changed by their service. All deserve our respect.

"It is also important to remember that service did not end in the past. Australians continue to serve today. Some are deployed in regions of instability. Others are preparing for conflicts that are only now emerging. They serve in a world that remains uncertain and complex. Given the current political climate, we do not know when the next armed conflict will occur, nor do we know whether we will be involved. Our armed forces must live in waiting to find out what their future looks like and where they will be stationed.

"We hold this assembly to remember what ANZAC spirit is about, it is about character. It is about how you treat others. How you respond when things are difficult. How you support those beside you, and, how you act when the right choice is not the easy one.

"In a moment, we will observe a period of silence.

"During that time, I ask you to reflect on the sacrifices made for the freedoms we enjoy. On the values that matter and on how you honour that legacy in your daily actions.

"Lest We Forget."
George Barris
Relieving Principal

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High Notes, Vol 27 No 9, April 03 2026

2026-04-03T00:00:00Z

From the Principal

School Cross Country Carnival

Thank you to Mr Kurt Rich for organising another great carnival. It was wonderful to see so many students enjoy the outdoors and get some long distance running in before the holidays. Well done to Nestor Chan on winning the Opens Cross Country division at the school carnival.

School Holidays and Student Wellbeing

School holidays can feel very different from the school term. Routines relax and screen times often increase. For many children, especially teenagers, this can lead to sleep problems, irritability, or conflict at home. This is common and manageable.

Children do best when some structure remains. You do not need a strict schedule. Focus on a few non‑negotiables. Keep sleep and wake times reasonably consistent. Eat meals at regular times. Set clear limits for screen use, especially at night. These anchors help children regulate mood and energy.

Regular physical activity is especially important during the school holidays. Research consistently shows that when the school day structure is removed, students tend to move less and spend more time sedentary. This can affect mood, sleep, and energy levels. Daily movement supports physical health and also helps regulate behaviour and emotions. Exercise does not need to be formal or competitive. Walking, cycling, swimming, or informal sport with friends all make a difference. Encouraging regular activity during the holidays helps students return to school more settled, focused, and ready to learn.

Social Media Policy

It is against school policy for students to post any photos in school uniform on personal or non-school-affiliated social media accounts.

There are only two (2) official and approved accounts which are overseen by the IT administrator and Deputy Principals:

The Sydney Boys High School Facebook AND The Sydney Boys High School Instagram account.

If students wish to operate a social media account that represents Sydney Boys High School in any way, they are required to complete the following steps in accordance with the School and DoE policy:

Seek approval from the Principal first.
Change the title/name of the account to include “UNOFFICIAL”.
Ensure an MIC previews posts.
Turn off comments on all posts.

George Barris
Relieving Principal

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High Notes, Vol 27 No 8, March 27 2026

2026-03-27T00:00:00Z

From the Principal

High Talent

Congratulations to the 1st XI cricket team for winning the Davidson Shield. It is the first time in 46 years we have won this event. A truly amazing effort from our 1st XI players, coach – Billy Barge and MIC – David Smith.

Congratulations to the 1st VIII who achieved their best result in 21 years. The crew consisted of Ethan Wilkinson, Alexander Lau, Jun Shim, Andrew Gu, Max McLeod, Gabriel Zhang, Roy Zhang, Roman Samsonov and Thomas Zheng. Coached by Gordan Su and Daniel Xu.

Head of the River

The school recorded an outstanding set of results at this year’s Head of the River. The 1st VIII finished within +5.5% of the winning time, only slightly over the +5% benchmark. This confirms the crew’s competitiveness at the highest level of school rowing and reflects sustained improvement across the season with a 12 second personal best on the day.

Across the regatta, five crews defeated at least one other crew. This is also the strongest overall result in 21 years. The school entered the highest number of crews for Sydney Boys High at a Head of the River Regatta, highlighting both depth and participation in the program. Collectively, these results demonstrate the strength of the rowing program and the positive impact of long‑term development and commitment.

Award Scheme

The Sydney Boys High School Student Recognition and Awards Scheme recognise students who show sustained commitment to school life. It values academic effort, co‑curricular involvement and service. The scheme is designed to encourage boys to take responsibility for their own engagement across multiple areas of the school. Students earn points in eight categories, including academics, sport, leadership and community service. Points reflect dedication over time and accumulate across a student’s school journey.

The scheme is student‑managed. Nominations are processed periodically during each school term rather than immediately after an activity concludes. Students should expect completed programs to appear in their records by the end of the relevant term. For example, summer sport points should be visible by the end of Term 1, once data has been finalised and processed. Students are expected to monitor their own records and raise any queries directly with the teacher responsible for the activity, not with the Deputy Principal who manages the Award Scheme process. Parents are asked to support students in this process but not to contact staff regarding Award Scheme points.
George Barris
Relieving Principal

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High Notes, Vol 27 No 7, March 20 2026

2026-03-20T00:00:00Z

From the Principal

High Talent

Congratulations to our 1st XI Cricket team who chased down 90 runs in 16 overs to progress to the Final of the Davidson Shield. A big effort travelling to Dubbo and taking the win. Well done to Nehan Hossain collecting figures of 3/14.

Good luck in the final next week in Bathurst.

Jameson Vu was selected in the GPS 1st Grade Tennis team. He is only in year 9 so to be selected, a fine effort from this talented sportsman.

Rowing Assembly 2026

"Special guest, Andrew Bowey (SHS-1977), rowers of Head of the River crews, parents, students, teachers, welcome to our 2026 rowing assembly. We come together on the traditional day before the big event to honour and congratulate our crews as they prepare for their extreme test at the Head of the River regatta tomorrow.

"Rowing participation is at an all-time High. Irrespective of the racing results, lots of boys are benefitting physically, socially and emotionally from their participation in the program. Tomorrow will be the first time we compete in the 3rd VIII race, and we have the honour of hosting two boats in that race.

"Twenty-six years ago, High boated 2 VIIIs, 4 IVs and 2 Junior VIIIs at the Head of the River in 2000. Tomorrow we will have an additional two eights competing at the Head of the River. The 1st VIII placed 7th in a time of 6.16.24 (winner’s time +5.09%) and the 2nd VIII were also seventh in 6.23.15 (winner’s time +5.32%). Since that day at SIRC, the first VIII performance has only been beaten once in 2005 and the second VIII effort twice, in 2005 and 2017. For the 1st VIII to match that they will likely need a time of 6:12 or better and the 2nd VIII a time of 6:19 or better. A tough ask as the top end is higher than it ever has been before, but I know these crews will do their best to try to attain this significant PB.

"I want to congratulate all the boys who have been selected to compete for High. Set your own goals and have fun. Your season of training comes down to less than 7 minutes on the water. I wish all crews the best of luck on Saturday and hope that the eight can beat 6 minutes and 17 seconds – a barrier we have not broken through since 2016 when one of the current 1st VIII coaches Daniel Xu was coxswain. Remember to make tomorrow better than today."

Online Safety

We are aware of a rise in harmful online content aimed at boys and young men. Some of this content promotes disrespectful language and attitudes towards others.

Our expectation is clear. Students must treat others with respect and behave appropriately online and at school. Sexist or harassing behaviour is not acceptable and will be addressed in line with our behaviour and anti‑bullying procedures.

The school continues to teach respectful relationships and critical digital literacy so students can recognise misinformation and make safe choices online. We ask parents to discuss online behaviour with their sons and to contact the school if there are concerns.

Wellbeing Ambassadors

Congratulations to the wellbeing ambassadors on running the digital wellbeing day on Tuesday March 17. It is great students are sharing important messages with other students. “Scroll less. Live more. Digital balance isn’t about quitting screens: it’s about choosing your peace of mind”.
George Barris
Relieving Principal

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High Notes, Vol 27 No 6, March 13 2026

2026-03-13T00:00:00Z

From the Principal

School Athletics Carnival

It was wonderful to see over 1050 students attend and take part in the school athletics carnival. The heat did not deter Year 12 from dressing up for the 100m race. The event was run with precision due to the careful planning of MIC Athletics Mr Kurt Rich and valuable assistance from teachers and athletics coaches. The annual Jaggar gift was a close finish, but the stagger was too much for fast finishing Nestor Chan (12R) with Wynston Lu (7R) getting the victory.

A special mention goes to Jusin Mao (9M) who broke the under 14 long jump record with a jump of 6.16m.

School Swimming Carnival

Over 1000 students participated in the school swimming carnival. Year 12 still dressed up for the 50m race with multiple heats of superheroes. The event went smoothly thanks to MIC Swimming Mr Jake Rowlands and support from teachers and coaches.

More records tumbled in the swimming carnival:

Kester Jan - 16 years 50m breaststroke - 31.96
Mark Yan - 17 Years 50m Breaststroke - 33.33
Joshua Park - 17 and Over 200IM - 2:32.68

The Duke of Edinburgh's Award

Thank you to Ms Chan for making the Duke of Ed process so clear for our students. In 2025 we had 45 students complete the bronze award and 7 complete the silver award. Over 90 have shown interest in this process in 2026.

How to Stay Safe Online

Staying safe online means being informed and setting clear boundaries. The eSafety Commissioner encourages parents to take an active role by understanding the apps and platforms young people use and by applying strong privacy and security settings. Families should agree on clear expectations about respectful and responsible online behaviour. Students should be reminded not to share personal information and to think carefully before posting or responding online. If something does not feel right, they should speak up early and seek support. Practical advice and reporting options are available through the Australian eSafety Commissioner website: https://www.esafety.gov.au/parents
George Barris
Relieving Principal

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High Notes, Vol 27 No 5, March 06 2026

2026-03-06T00:00:00Z

From the Principal

High Talent

Congratulations to Saharsh Subramanian who made it to the All Schools U15 Merit team in the National U15 Cricket competition. He finished as 4th highest wicket taker in the competition.

Iftar Celebrations

It was a privilege to be able to observe the evening prayers and share a meal to celebrate Iftar, on Tuesday evening in the Great Hall. The High Islamic Society has been a vibrant group of students for twenty years. The Old Boys sponsor the evening’s food, and the current students serve and clean up. Thank you to Ms Luu for her coordination of the event.

A special thanks to these teachers for supporting on the night - Peter Loizou, Kerryn Ibbott, Jessica Christodoulou, Lena Park, Neill Song.

Invoices for Summer

Invoices for summer activity co‑payments have now been emailed to families whose sons participate in activities with term‑by‑term commitments. These statements cover Term 1 activities.

Although these charges appear on your statement, most activities are significantly subsidised by the school. This support comes through direct budget allocations (including voluntary contributions), MIC allowances, Saturday supervision by teachers, WHS compliance costs, access to facilities and grounds, first aid services (co‑curricular supervision levy), and parking allocation support. Co‑payments are used primarily to fund coaching. In basketball alone, more than 35 staff, students, Old Boys, coaches, parents, and volunteers contribute to delivering the program and enriching your son’s school experience.

We would appreciate prompt payment of co‑payments for your son’s summer sport and co‑curricular activities. Thank you for your continued support of the scholar‑sportsman ethos.

Social Media

Social media continues to play a major role in the lives of everyone, but it also brings serious risks when it is used in ways that exploit others or spread misinformation and inappropriate content. When students follow, like, share, or post harmful material, the impact on both students and staff is significant. It damages trust, creates unsafe environments, and goes directly against three of our core school values: integrity, respect, and compassion. If it is likely to hurt someone, don’t post about it and don’t like such material. Don’t follow accounts that are doing these types of things.

Using or distributing images of others inappropriately is not just a school issue—it is a criminal offence. People who break this law could face:

up to three years in prison
a fine of up to $11,000

Law against image-based abuse | Communities and Justice

GPS Swimming Carnival

In his second year as MIC Jake Rowlands ensured a strong team was ready for the GPS carnival.

Congratulations to the following boys who did exceptionally well:

Kester Jan – 16 Years 50 Breaststroke championship 1st place.

Ryan Chai – 16 Years 50 Backstroke championship 1st place.

Joshua Chen – 15 Years 100 Freestyle Championship 2nd place.

Ryan Xu – 15 Years 50m Backstroke Championship 3rd, 1st place in the 15 Years 50 Butterfly Division.

Daniel Choi – 16 Years 50 Breaststroke Division 1st place.

Johnathan Zhou – 18 Years 50 Breaststroke division 1st place.

These boys have all qualified for the GPS team to compete at CIS:

Ryan Chai, Kester Jan, Maksim Kireev, Joshua Chen, Ryan Xu, Robert Lei, Will Meng, Marcus Wang, Archie Pham.
George Barris
Relieving Principal

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High Notes, Vol 27 No 4, February 27 2026

2026-02-27T00:00:00Z

From the Principal

High Talent

Jiekai Miao (11E) has been invited to sit the Australian Mathematical Olympiad examination, a very prestigious selection. We all wish him good luck!

2025 Budget Summary

Balance brought forward was $118,498. Total revenue was $19,038,613. The appropriation from DoE was $14,329,474. Total income from school and community sources was $5,518,208, including school generated revenue ($5,301,036); donations and individual contributions ($217,132); sale of goods and services ($62,708) and investment income ($28,223). Total expenses were $20,089,022, predominantly salaries and wages for staff ($16,063,210). This was an increase of $766,098 (5%). Operating expenses were ($4,025,811). This was a decrease of $597,926 (12.9%) including fees for service rendered ($174,098) and other operating expenses ($2,253,440) - teaching and learning ($263,506); property maintenance ($344,619); furniture and equipment ($219,169); and computer costs ($357,082). Deficit for the year was $150,408. The carried forward figure of - $30,910 does not include the unspent contract for ($450k), nor the building fund capital ($150k), that will be expended on the proposed Multipurpose Sports Centre.

Overall, expenses as a percentage of revenue were 101%, meaning we spent more than we earned. Salaries were again increased for teaching and support staff during the year without a budget adjustment. Our wages costs were again affected by rising oncosts (now >20%), including annual leave loading for casuals who are not entitled to receive it. We had capital infrastructure projects in the pipeline that we completed. We committed to using our carried forward buffer to preserve all our services to our boys and complete the projects. All the funds we received were spent to benefit your sons. We started 2026 with a negative balance of $255,000. We will have to cut some programs and services in 2026 to address the shortfall. We will have to increase income and reduce expenditure again to try to make sure we break even this year. We have no opex reserves. At High, the very strong reliability of our income flows from parents through donations and contributions, has allowed us to maintain an extremely high expenditure percentage for 26 years. I am counting on that great support continuing in 2026!

Foundation Grant

At the ̽��Ƶ Foundation Ltd. Board meeting this week, a further grant of $300k was made towards the school’s Multi-Purpose Sports Centre. Together with the initial grant of $500k made in 2022, we have sufficient funds to build a slightly smaller version of our original concept design. The QS report is in, and we will need $951k to build the centre, payable upfront. We have $100k in the DGR 8137 Building Fund, so there is a significant shortfall still, which will have to be made from school funds. I urge all parents to get behind our capital raising tax deductible ASHSF Advancement Fund to assist us to deliver this important project this year.

Junior Awards Assembly 2026

Our new Student Awards Scheme commenced for Year 7 last year. It will take a few years before the legacy points of the previous system are absorbed. It was somewhat harder to achieve the first nominations with 30 points. However, by Year 9, participants catch up. My speech to the Junior Awards Assembly is reprinted below:

"Good morning and welcome to our Awards Assembly for the Junior School, held on Gadigal land, to whose elders past and present I pay my respects as traditional custodians of the land and waterways on which we work and play. At these assemblies it is pleasing to see so many boys being recognised. We value integrity and dedication. You have shown them in your wide participation in school life. When the Student Awards Scheme is taken up seriously by our students, we also do better academically. High participation rates in the Student Awards Scheme help both co-curricular and academic success.

"We want all Year 7 and later-enrolling students to take up the challenge to participate in school life. There are five good reasons you should participate. First, you will develop your social skills more quickly in more contexts and you will build positive relationships with more people. Second, you will learn how to manage your time better because you will be busy. Third, you will be able to explore a wide range of interests. Fourth, you will learn the value of commitment to an activity over time - ie dedication. Finally, your self-esteem and self-confidence will be lifted by your involvement with others as you grow a stronger sense of connection with High.

"The Student Awards Scheme at High evolved from a six-level system with an honour board entry for all school trophy winners, when Nathan McDonnell (SHS 2008) earned so many extra Award Scheme points that we set up a 7th level for him. The McDonnell Award then became the honour board level. Shuming Wang (SHS-2013) earned so many extra points that an 8th level was added, named after the first Principal of High, Joseph Coates. An extra honour board was added for this award in recognition of the wonderful involvement in school life demonstrated by the recipients. Beyond that level, recognition is sought for boys at a state level.

"How the scheme works is if you earn 30 points within a category (there are seven categories) then you are awarded a nomination for that category. If you achieve three nominations, you will receive a Bronze Award. Eight nominations earn a Silver Award and 13 nominations, a Gold Award. It is possible to earn a maximum of two nominations in one category in any one year. This restriction preserves some breadth of participation in the Awards Scheme. The administration of the scheme is electronic, with a running tally of points being kept for every student. For any discrepancies discovered with a student’s individual tally, the student must contact the teacher in charge of the program. The closing date for adjustments to be made to a student’s tally is by Friday Week 9 of Term 4 in the corresponding calendar year. No retrospective points can be allocated once a calendar year concludes.

"Last year, students in Years 7 & 8 were awarded 118 bronze medallions (2024 -138) (2023-153); 42 silver (2024-43) (2023 - 54) and 7 gold (2024 -7) (2023 -11); and 1 platinum – making 221* awards in all - (2024 -181) (2023 - 217). [*New scheme]

"I want to thank each student receiving an award today. You showed by your broad participation in school life that you understand our driving purpose here – to enlarge ourselves as people, in our IQs, PQs EQs, CQs - as citizens, caring about other people and collaborating or cooperating with them. The Student Awards Scheme helps to develop character (strong mental and moral qualities). Above all, let’s show respect for one another as individual people. Our goals are collegial as well as individual. We want you to be dedicated students and participants. We hope you will show compassion through school or community service or just helping out a friend. Get involved this year for the first time or stay committed to the Scheme if you are in it. Show integrity by sticking with your activity. If you do, you will feel a greater sense of belonging to the school; and you will also understand better what we mean when we say, that we have High spirit."
Dr K A Jaggar
Principal

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High Notes, Vol 27 No 3, February 20 2026

2026-02-20T00:00:00Z

From the Principal

High Talent

Anosh Sivashanmukurajah (SHS-2008) was awarded the Royal College of Physicians Trainee of the Year Award, for an extraordinary contribution to the RACP. Only one trainee is picked from Australia and NZ annually for this award. Congratulations, Anosh. Jameson Vu (9T) is competing at the CHSSA tennis championships next week. Good luck Jameson! Well done to Leon Park (8T) who won a silver medal at the Judo Canberra International U15 U73kg class.

Staff changes

Regrettably, Mr Kay is unwell and will require treatment for leukemia for several months. He is looking forward to his return when he recovers. I will be on leave from March 3 until May 8. Mr Barris will be relieving Principal. Ms Luu will be relieving Deputy Principal for Years 8,10 and 12. Mr Ohlback will be relieving as Head Teacher, Teaching and Learning.

Presentation Night 2026

Guest speaker, Professor Ron Trent, spoke about changes in academic directions and in working life and how these applied to his own history as well as to his son Tim – an Old Boy. He outlined how resilience can be developed and applied throughout a career and how sometimes the long and more difficult path may lead to greater personal and professional satisfaction along the way. He stressed that above all, a happy family life is anyone’s crowning achievement. My speech is reprinted below:

"Special guest, Professor Ron Trent and Dr Pit Trent, Ms Angela Lyris OAM, Director of Educational Leadership, Department of Education, Ms Rachel Powell, Principal SGHS, Mr Richard Luxford, General Manager of ̽��Ƶ Foundation Ltd, Ms Jocelyn Yem (President SBHS P & C), Mr Jacob Ezrakhovich (President of SHSOBU), Life Governors - Mr Geoff Andrews, Mr Dennis and Mrs Linda Briggs, Lieutenant Sunny Liu, OC Sydney High Cadet Unit, Ms Virginia Flint and Ms Lisa Deroux, representing Sir Roden and Lady Cutler Foundation, guest presenters Mr Peter Kampfner, Ms Megan Morgan and Richard Halliday, Old Boys, staff, parents and prize winners – thank you all for joining us for this evening of celebration of student achievement at High.

"DP Jamie Kay’s two-week timetable was well received in 2025 and contributed to teachers being able to finish teaching their HSC courses comfortably. I think this extra time flowed into improved English and mathematics results at the HSC. The afternoon assembly roster worked well on Tuesdays. The built-in free period for lectures or meetings via a booking system, proved useful also. We are now in our final year of the teacher laptop renewal program, funded by the P & C, to whom we extend our heartfelt thanks.

"My thanks go to John Prorellis, Jim Crampton and Daniel Xu for the great planning and execution of our major works around the school in 2025. Finally, The Cooler Classrooms project has been completed and signed off. The re-roofing and internal and external painting of B-block (The Killip Wing) was a major investment by DOE, for which we are grateful. New furniture, wired up for desktop use, was installed in the Junior Library. We have a design for the new Table Tennis Centre next to the COLA. Shortly we will have a QS report and a price estimate for two options.

"In our last year of focusing on sentence conscious pedagogy, ‘closer reading, clearer writing,’ we made another big investment in literacy workshops, pull-out programs and remedial software. The language of our pedagogy is more consistent across faculties. We have developed materials and have strategies in place, reflected in our program modifications for all Years 7-10. Wellio software was deployed to Values Education classes, with some positive engagement by students. We are pivoting towards reading with more explicit teaching of super six reading strategies to be written into our programs for students 7-10. This year we have an external validation process.

"Our overall HSC results for 2025 were impressive. High was ranked 6th in the League Tables. High boys earned 649 band 6/E4s which was our highest number since 2017. The ATAR average for 2025 was 93.64 (SD 7.88) calculated for 208. The students who enrolled in 2020 earned a mean ATAR of 94.04. The later-enrolling students earned 91.89. 47 students scored 99 or higher - our best result since 2015; 80 earned ATARs between 95 and 98.95 – our equal highest number since 2015; 82.13% scored 90 or above – our best result since 2015. In terms of Band 5 and 6 percentages per course, 5 courses were at 100%, 8 at 95 to 99%, 5 at 90 to 94% and 12 below 90%. Our 2025 course means compared to 2024 – 15 increased and 8 decreased, and one was the same. When comparing High with a Statistically Similar School Group of selective schools, 18 courses were above the SSSG mean and 8 below. Our average school course mean was 89.16 (2024-88.49), compared to the SSSG of 87.60 (2024-87.09).

"Individual HSC results - top 10 in a course – Brendan Woo (Classical Greek 2nd, English Advanced 15th); Andrew Pye (Software Engineering -2nd); Xavier Perry (Mathematics Extension 2 – 4th); Arnav Agrawal (Mathematics Advanced-6th); Arin Bhargava (Business Studies 9th) and Liwen Deng (Geography – 9th). Musical performances nominated for possible selection in ENCORE: Jerry Chen, Liam Grreacen, Jacob Jim, Ryan Kirkland, Oscar Kuo, Kevin Liu, Andrew Yao and Jason Yu. For composition: Marley Masya and Vincent Wang. James McLoughlin had his major work in English Extension 2 nominated for inclusion in HSC Young Writer’s Showcase – a first at High in my time! Boris Zhang had his work nominated and selected for exhibition in ARTEXPRESS. Jerry Du had his flute and piano Sonatina nominated and selected for performance at ENCORE. Congratulations to all these highly talented students!

"Our boys won a GPS Premiership in Second Grade Volleyball. Axel Lam (C), Branson Chan, Kevin Bui, Ethan Yu, Isaiah Goh, Ethan Huynh, Anthony Ly, Eugene Cho, Ariz Mahmud, Kevin Lin, Kirby Li and coach Edward Ly, brought home The Trinh Loi Shield. Since 2006, High has missed out only twice on securing the GPS second grade premiership – an impressive demonstration of depth in the sport managed by Michael Kay. One student represented at international level. Three individuals and three teams competed at state level. A selection of significant individual and team achievements for 2025 is presented for you to peruse at the end of your program.

"In conclusion, I want to make you aware of the re-making of the geopolitical structure that you will work in. The era of Pax America, dominated by internationalism, free trade, a liberal world order and US nuclear supremacy, was forged between 1945 and 1990, flourished between 1991 and 2010 after the US victory in the Cold War, and has eroded since then, due to the rapid rise of China, the complacency of Europe, asleep under the USA’s nuclear umbrella, and the gradual dominance of nationalism over internationalism. Revivalist strongmen rule USA, Russia, China, Turkey and India – emphasising uniqueness, cultural exceptionalism and the once and future greatness of their nations. Instead of liberal internationalism and free trade, we see nationalism and weaponised trade, using the supply of oil, rare earth magnets, even lobster, red wine or barley, to coerce trading partners. We need to manufacture more at home, reshore critical industries, build our renewable energy capacity and pursue middle power trading alliances. There will be much for your generation to do to lift our productivity as a nation.

"Good luck to you all and stay connected. It has been my great honour and privilege to serve you as your principal."
Dr K A Jaggar
Principal

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High Notes, Vol 27 No 2, February 13 2026

2026-02-13T00:00:00Z

From the Principal

High Talent

Congratulations to Abhinav Nayani (12T) on his selection into the combined GPS cricket squad of 22.

New Parents Welcome Evening

On Tuesday evening around 200 parents and staff attended a welcome function hosted by the Sydney High P & C Association. Guests were entertained by a student music ensemble in the foyer of the Governors Centre. In the theatre, new parents were welcomed by Ms Jocelyn Yem (P & C President). She outlined the purpose and objectives of the P & C and described the role of the P & C and its representatives in the various governance organisations operating in the school. She discussed the ways in which parents could assist the strategic purpose of the P & C. My address outlined the history and function of the various High Family structures and activities. I urged parents to get involved in following the Saturday fixtures where their sons were competing and to engage with volunteering through our many Committees. I underlined the fact that the sixth day of every school week was funded entirely by parents, Old Boys, and parking proceeds. I asked for their financial support to help us maintain our wide range of activities, resources and coaching services. Ms Ibbott (rel. DP for Years 7,9,11) ran through a lot of orientation information to help parents and students become accustomed to their new environment. Professor Chyi Lee, a 2025 new parent, shared his experiences, insights and several tips for parents to help them and their sons to quickly acclimatise and get the most out of their High experience. A long Q & A session followed with many parents interested in grouping, study skills development and the impact of AI on learning. Supper provided by the Sailing Committee and Canteen Committee and served by student sailors in the foyer, rounded off the evening. The atmosphere was very positive and enthusiastic. Thank you to Ms Ibbott, parents and students who assisted in so many ways to make the evening a success.

Weights Room for 2026

High’s Weights Room, open each morning during term time 0700-0900, offers exceptional value for money with unlimited visits for members. The room has appropriate equipment for preparing the bodies of teenage boys and crucially, it is constantly supervised. When handling weights, technique is vitally important and boys need to learn the correct way to lift. Kurt Rich, our Head Strength and Conditioning Coach, is a well-credentialed and experienced trainer. His presence ensures that the boys are training safely and sensibly. So, as well as getting gym facilities, members have a trained supervisor and adviser to help them during their unlimited visits. The Weights Room operates much more effectively if all boys get their training in how to use the various pieces of equipment and in proper lifting technique, as soon as possible. Kurt Rich provides this service at the beginning of each year and can tailor individual programs for members after the introductory sessions. Having a fixed clientele makes his job more productive and leads to a better training experience for members and better strength outcomes for participants. Hence, we decided to close off memberships by Friday March 27, 2026. Boys who have not paid by that time can no longer attend the weights room in term one.

Costs for this service are held down to a minimum and reduced by boys taking out a full year’s membership. For 2026, a full year Weights Room membership costs just $330. As an incentive to Year 7 students, an introductory one-year membership is available for a mere $200. Our program is tailored to suit developing young bodies. Boys wishing to have full year membership must register and pay by Friday, March 27, 2026. There will be no extensions of time. In semester 2, half-year memberships will be offered to students for a short period of time at a cost of $185 for terms 3 and 4.

Summer Sports Assembly

"I extend a warm welcome to our special guest, Keeto Browne. I want to acknowledge our teams on their efforts in Term 4, 2025 and encourage them to work hard together for the rest of the competition season in Term 1 this year. Thank you to our MIC of Cricket, David Smith, for his ongoing dedication to the role. We welcome back Billy Barge as first XI coach with Gihan Ebert guiding the 2nd XI. Thank you to the Cricket Committee – Saiprasad Nayani (President), Anil Nittala (Vice President), Sreelatha Kolli (Treasurer) and Amit Patil (Secretary). Parking is coordinated by Lakshmy Joshi and Shweta Doke. Committee members – Suraj Sanka, Yogesh Kulkarni, Taran Aujila, Ashutosh Krish (who also looks after sponsorship and fund raising). Thank you also to the match day helpers who organise the catering –Aiying Law and Zunaid (1st XI), with Suren (2nd XI).

"In basketball, our veteran MIC & Coaching Coordinator Ben Hayman, has returned for another season - thank you Ben for all you do for the program. We extend our thanks to staff members - Viv Paul, Jo Curry, David Knox, Hazel Stephens and Lisa Jennings. Thank you also to our dedicated coaching staff: Lu Ming, Xannon Shirley, Jeffrey Qiu, Willard Fan, Callum Chen, Leo Zhuang, Anson Wen, Ary Bhalero, Jerry Lau, Andy Zhang, Lucas Adamson, Tommy Zhang, Shane Clarke, Victor Chen, Iver Liang, Michael Murphy, Elijah Thomas, Liam Cowan, Andre Baruah, Maroune Rahme and Angelo Kwo. Thanks to our GPS coaches - Keeto Browne [second grade] and Aaron Waban [first grade]. Thank you to our very committed Parents and Old Boys serving on the Basketball Committee and Association: Shiraz Biscevic, Grace Guan, Rita Zhang, Salena Nguyen, Judy Zhu, Kelland He, Israt Munir, Ken Shan, Colin Wei, Herbert Lau. Hayley & Matthew Pang, Hui Baruah, Kelland He, Pamela Jolly, Vidhya Balaji, Li Huang, Francois Flocard, Hiram Yeung and Dawesh Chand.

"In sailing, I want to acknowledge and thank our energetic MIC Matt Cotton for his usual seamless management of the sailing program. Thank you to our staff, Domeniki Damianos and Shane Jennings. Thank you to our coaches -Tom Whitehead, Zhitian Mai and Neil Ghosh. For the Sailing Committee have been doing a great job. From parking events, holiday programs, Christmas Party to tonight’s New Parents Welcome Evening - Arissa Lee, Vivian Wong, Sarah Lin, Bill Shui, Wendy Xin, Grace Zhou, Diane Hunter, Sarithya Guy, Fei Gao and Sandrine Tomei. Thank you to Woollahra SC and staff and to the assistance provided by Scots Staff.

"Thank you to Jessica Millar, MIC of Water Polo for her management of the program again this year and to Jake Rowlands who coached first grade; David Li second grade and Salvador Alfaro with our 16As. Our thanks go to our parent helpers, Magdolna Imre and Pascal Ibrahim.

"Thank you to Jake Rowlands, a great role model for our boys, as MIC Swimming. He was assisted by Ike Matsuoka (SHS-2021) and Salvador Alfaro in coaching our squad. We were grateful for the staff assistance from Peter Loizou, and supporters at the GPS Finals, including Mick Ormsby, Jamie Kay, Jess Christodolou, Lena Park and Neill Song.

"Thank you to Kurt Rich for his ongoing role as MIC of tennis. Thanks to Lena Park for her assistance on Saturday mornings. Stalwart, David Deep, is again High’s Coaching Coordinator and first grade coach. Irina Vasiliev mentors second grade. Thank you to Stepan, William Chen (SHS-2023), Lucas Chen (SHS-2024), Tanish Sarathy (SHS-2025) and Andy Watterson who coached our age groups. Thank you to all the parents of first and second grade who prepared the food and drinks for the players at home fixtures.

"I congratulate all boys selected in GPS teams this season. It is an honour and a privilege to represent your school in such an historic and challenging competition – an unforgettable life experience. It is always about self and team improvement through setting and pursuing collaboratively established goals. Strive hard! Good luck!"
Dr K A Jaggar
Principal

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High Notes, Vol 27 No 1, February 06 2026

2026-02-06T00:00:00Z

From the Principal

Welcome or welcome back!

Welcome to all our returning staff and students to another year of excellent achievement and persistent endeavour in all areas of school life. I want to welcome our 180 Year 7 students and our 38 new students in Years 9 and 11. I want to assure you of our commitment to foster your rapid and successful integration into the High culture.

Our focus this year is on completing the School Excellence Plan and planning for the future. We want to try and implement our modified teaching programs to influence better reading, clearer writing. We still need more clarity, coherence and quality in our written responses in all years. We want to join the literacy skills together to craft more coherent, insightful and complete essays. We want to read questions more closely and answer exam questions more appropriately. We have a small set of proven strategies that will be applied in small group tuition in Year 7. We want to revive PEWCC skills teaching and testing to develop selected dispositions in our students. We need to prepare for and be successful in the process of external validation. We need to raise awareness of the School Excellence in Wellbeing and Inclusion policy.

Staff Changes

We welcome also our new staff members for 2026. Samantha McFayden has been appointed permanently in English. In Science, Tennille Molino and Jose Burgos-Macedo are relieving. Liy Gavan has joined the PDHPE staff in in a Temporary position.

Properties - works maintenance and upgrades.

Teaching spaces: The Cooler Classrooms project has been completed and signed off. A really big job was the internal and external painting of B-block (The Killip Wing).

Public spaces: Block B roofing replaced and external guttering installed. New furniture wired up for desktop use was installed in the Junior Library but, regrettably, the new carpeting won’t be completed until the April holidays. The Great Hall steps and piano stage surrounds were painted – a much-needed lift! The Music stairwell in A block was also painted. The Boardroom and kitchenette were painted. On your behalf I thank the DET AMU (Assets Management Unit) for this very large investment of funding for our school.

ICT: Relocating and building network switching in Makerspace was finished off.

Grounds: The internal areas of the bear Pit were brightened up by painting. The Andrew Xu Memorial picnic table, benches, slab and landscaping were complete at a cost >$10k.

Thank you to Jim Crampton, Daniel Xu the ICT guys and John Prorellis for their work, mostly behind the scenes, to make all our improvements possible.

First Day Assembly for Year 7 - extract

"We welcome all our new students and expect you will grow as people and add value to the High culture during the time you spend with us. I urge all students not to waste time waiting and watching. You need to grasp every opportunity. Get organised and be prepared to work really hard. Set yourself academic growth goals and strive to achieve them. Focus on your own academic growth. You will need perseverance, resilience and conscientiousness. Many people are ready to help you. We have a school-wide BYOD policy. Look after the security of your device. Our IT Centre is where you can go for help. Adhere strictly to our mobile phone policy. Distraction is our greatest enemy. Master the possibilities of the CANVAS platform. Don’t forget that you should write by hand every day in your own words. You need to have legible, fluent handwriting to reach your examination potential. You need to build your written vocabulary to be able to recall it under the stress of examinations. Wide reading helps build your written vocabulary rapidly. You have time to do that in the Junior School. You need to grow your capacity to deconstruct questions and answer them in your own words and not in the regurgitated responses of others. Our focus on sentence conscious pedagogy, paragraphs and essay-writing is designed to help you do that.

"Our teachers will be endeavouring to work closely with you to find out more about your learning styles and individual needs. We will be trying to improve your learning. We will be fussy about focus, in order to get more out of each lesson. We will need you to pay attention in class, take notes and participate positively in activities. We need you to discipline yourself to stay on task. Relate respectfully to everyone at all times. We will expect excellence from you, not just adequate work. Care about compliance – do all the work that is set for you at the required standard and submit it on time. Our shared values – respect, compassion, integrity, dedication - permeate our pedagogy. We are dedicated trustees of our reputation and success at High. Together, if we work hard and help each other, we can maintain and enhance our excellent outcomes.

"I expect that you will all adopt our all-rounder culture and take advantage of activities at High. We want you to work hard, train hard and play hard. We will also expect you to give some of your time and effort back into school and community service. The Student Awards Scheme identifies the main ones available. Sport is a very important part of life at High. Our traditional involvement in GPS and CHS competitions makes us unique. Sport training is offered at High on at least two afternoons. Membership of our weights room is excellent value for money. My strong expectation is that you will play competition sports on Saturdays. Participating in GPS competition is an integral component of our ethos. We focus on team sports for educational reasons – group cooperation, team building, goal setting, collaboration, time management, grit development, managing loss, developing resilience and inspiring intrinsic motivation – these are most necessary attributes in modern work contexts.

"For each boy we want to build positive emotions about High, grow engagement with High programs, establish respectful relationships with everyone, find meaning in all we do and a feel a sense of accomplishment for your sustained effort. At school, in class, or at sport, show your teachers, peers, all staff members and volunteers, the respect they deserve. Ask them for help. Be responsible for your own learning. The pursuit of excellence is a lifelong discipline. Let’s pursue our goals hard. A balanced life requires time for fun and reflection. Find time to take time-outs. I wish you all a happy and productive experience at High."
Dr K A Jaggar
Principal

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