Hornsby Girls' High School

Hornsby Girls' High School
Faith with Fortitude
Location
Hornsby, New South Wales Australia
Coordinates	33°42′23″S 151°6′5″E / 33.70639°S 151.10139°E / -33.70639; 151.10139Coordinates: 33°42′23″S 151°6′5″E / 33.70639°S 151.10139°E / -33.70639; 151.10139
Information
Type	Public, Single-sex, Selective, Day school
Established	1930
Principal	Dr. Justin Briggs
Enrolment	730
Campus	Suburban
Colour(s)	Fawn & navy blue
Website	hornsbygir-h.schools.nsw.edu.au

Hornsby Girls High School

Hornsby Girls' High School is an academically selective, public high school for girls, located in Hornsby, a suburb on the Upper North Shore of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.

Founded in 1930, the school's first principal was Sarah Agnes Angus Brewster.^[1]

Academically, Hornsby Girls' is regularly ranked first in the Hornsby region in terms of Higher School Certificate (HSC) results and is repeatedly ranked as one of the top five performing schools in the state.^[2]^[3]^[4]

They also have a student exchange program with three of their languages - Japanese, French and German. Their Japanese sister school is Shukutoku Yono which is situated in Saitama, their German sister school is Graf-Rasso in Furstenfeldbruck and have visited New Caledonia a few times in recent years.

Faculties

The 13 faculties in the school are: Computing Studies, English, History, Geography, Languages, Mathematics, Music, Personal Development, Health and Physical Education (PD/H/PE), Science, Social Sciences, Technology and Applied Studies (TAS), and Visual Arts.

Prefects

At Hornsby Girls High school, there is a prefect system with a School Captain, School Vice-Captain, two Senior Prefects and 20 other prefects. The Prefects aim to serve the school community in four main areas: School spirit and environment, service, public relations and policy, and events. A new group Year 12 Travel Prefects have been introduced from 2010. Their main responsibility is to monitor the conduct of HGHS students when in the public domain, travelling to and from school.

Prefects are responsible for many school initiatives and each year continue the tradition of the school's bi-annual concerts. The first major event organised by the newly elected prefects is the Christmas Concert. This is a light-hearted day concert for the whole school (usually consisting of Christmas songs, chamber ensembles, solo vocalists, dances, skits, and short plays from the two after-school drama groups), and helps to maintain the Christmas and holiday spirit in the last week of school. Prefects and Year 12 combined organise the annual LipSync concert as their last official contribution to the school. The auditions for LipSync are form a free day concert for all students to see. From these auditions, outstanding performances are chosen to participate in front of a large audience of the public and the school community at the evening concert. Lipsync is a concert of dancing, miming and LipSyncing. The 'Teachers' Act' is traditional, as are the 'Prefects' Act' and the 'SRC Act'.

SRC

The Student Representative Council (the SRC) are a democratically, peer elected group of students who liaise with teachers and the principal. Students can express their concerns about the school or make suggestions which might be beneficial to the school. The SRC also organises mufti days and school dances with Normanhurst Boys' High School. The Battle of the Bands is also an annual SRC achievement (in conjunction with Normanhurst Boys').

The SRC organise "Spirit Week" during Week 10 of Term 2. This special week is full of fun activities such as 'The HGHS Fugitive' and inviting teachers to run the multi-stage fitness test affectionately called 'the beep test' by the girls. Another popular event in Spirit Week must include "The Great Debate" combined with Normanhurst Boys'High School. This consists of four representatives from both schools who compete in a variety of games and challenges leading up to a humorous debate to determine a winner. This event is showcased to grades Yr 9–12. The main purpose of Spirit week is to give the students relief from the probable stress stemmed from half-yearly exams, and most of all, to promote and increase school spirit and a sense of belonging within the school community.

Special regular events

Fashion Parade – This is an event organised by the senior textiles students whereby students from all grades present garments. The event happens every two years. The most recent theme being "Secrets".
Multicultural Fair – Takes place in late August to celebrate the variety of cultures within the school.
Lipsync – Occurs at the end of term 3, mainly organised by the Year 12's; an exhibition of dance and miming. The theme of Lipsync 2011 was "Magicale", Lipsync 2012 was "Technicale" and Lipsync 2013 was "Tropicale". Lipsync 2014 was "Physicale". Lipsync 2015 was "Mysticale".
Battle of the Bands – Held in conjunction with Normanhurst Boys' High School.
Christmas Concert – A festive talent show for students to enjoy at the close of the school year.
Genie Auction – Year 12 Prefects go under auction as the rest of the school bids to have them as their daily genie to do work for them. Profits go to natural disaster relief. It was previously called "The Slave Drive", however that name was announced politically incorrect.

Co-curriculum

Hornsby Girls' offers students the opportunity to participate in a number of musical groups, namely the Concert Band, Symphonic Band, Jazz Band and String Orchestra. Smaller musical outfits are other outlets, such as the flute choir and several chamber ensembles made up from those students who already play an instrument and wish to be involved in extra-curricular musical groups.

Other musical groups are the Junior and Senior Vocal Ensembles, who participate in a range of competitions, including the MacDonald's Performing Arts Competition and School Spectacular. They have received many awards, and high commendations from judges and critics. In 2008, they also appeared in Battle of the Choirs, screened on Channel 7.^[5]^[6] In 2010, a small chamber vocal ensemble was introduced with the aim of allowing some students a small ensemble experience.

Hornsby Girls also hosts dance groups, featuring ballet, jazz, tap and contemporary styles of dancing. Hornsby Girls' also enjoys great success in the area of aerobics gymnastics, with individuals and groups consistently achieving state awards.

Students have also been involved in Model United Nations Teams run by Rotary. In recent years, two students were highly commended for their representation of Indonesia, equipped with policy, background and knowledge of cultural values.

Debating teams, mock trial teams, chess clubs are also established.

Other groups include:

The Grapevine Committee – The student-run magazine by the students in Year 11; it aims to provide light humour at the end of each school term.
The Chess Club – The chess club at Hornsby Girls' meets on Tuesdays and Fridays at lunchtime. In 2009, HGHS represented NSW at the chess nationals, and placed 4th, narrowly missing out on a trophy. Dubbed the 'sport of kings', many talented 'queens' participate actively and enthusiastically in the chess club.
HUGG – Hornsby Ukulele and Guitar Group, run by the Music Faculty
The Anime Club - The Hornsby Girls' Anime Club was established in 2015. Meeting on Friday lunchtimes, they watch various anime which are PG and not above such as Free!, Kuroko no Basuke, Haikyuu, etc.

Hornsby Girls also participates in the Duke of Edinburgh's Award Scheme.

Alumni Associations

The Old Girls' Union was formed in 1930. Its primary aim is to promote and foster the interests of Hornsby Girls' High School and preserve its heritage. They are involved in funding and participating in events held at HGHS and also publish a biannual newsletter, "Nostalgia".^[7]
The Hornsby Girls' Alumni was formed in 2009. It is a website based association for all past students of Hornsby Girls' High School that aims to facilitate interaction between recent graduates of HGHS and the school.^[8]

Notable alumni

Anne Elizabeth Boyd AM – composer, Professor of Music at the University of Sydney (also attended Albury High School)^[9]
Judith Ann Clingan AM – composer, conductor, performer and music educator; Director of Wayfarers Australia (formerly Waldorf Wayfarers) Australia Wide Choir^[10]
Christine Elizabeth Deer – Emeritus Professor at the University of Technology, Sydney^[11]
Julie Kristeen Greenhalgh (née Stapylton) – Principal of Meriden School; former Deputy Principal of Pymble Ladies' College; former Head of School at Canberra Grammar School^[12]
Robyn Jennifer Lenn OAM (née Morris) – President of the National Council of Jewish Women of Australia; Music Educator^[13]
Robin June Parsons AM – Emeritus Professor at the University of Technology, Sydney^[14]
Hon. Justice Sally Gordon Thomas AM – Judge of the Supreme Court of the Northern Territory^[15]
Jacki Weaver AO – Academy Award-nominated actress, Silver Linings Playbook, Animal Kingdom, Picnic at Hanging Rock
Julie Goodwin – Masterchef champion (2009)

References

↑ Brewster, Sarah Agnes Angus (1874–1957). Australian Dictionary of Biography.
↑ http://bettereducation.com.au/results/hsc.aspx
↑ McDougall, Bruce (26 December 2007). "Public tops private across the state --- Special report: The best schools region by region". The Daily Telegraph. |access-date= requires |url= (help)
↑ Doherty, L., Norrie, J. & Burke, K., "State school blitz of top HSC spots", The Sydney Morning Herald. 17 December 2005. Retrieved on 13 April 2007.
↑ Choir Wars. The Australian. 14 June 2008.
↑ Battle of the voice boxes. Sydney Morning Herald. 16 June 2008.
↑ Hornsby Girls' Alumni Website – OGU Page. Retrieved on 21 December 2009.
↑ Hornsby Girls' Alumni Website. Retrieved on 21 December 2009.
↑ Suzannah Pearce, ed. (17 November 2006). "BOYD Anne Elizabeth". Who's Who in Australia Live!. North Melbourne, Vic: Crown Content Pty Ltd. Check date values in: |year= / |date= mismatch (help); |access-date= requires |url= (help)
↑ Suzannah Pearce, ed. (17 November 2006). "CLINGAN (Judy) Judith Ann". Who's Who in Australia Live!. North Melbourne, Vic: Crown Content Pty Ltd. Check date values in: |year= / |date= mismatch (help); |access-date= requires |url= (help)
↑ Suzannah Pearce, ed. (17 November 2006). "DEER Christine Elizabeth". Who's Who in Australia Live!. North Melbourne, Vic: Crown Content Pty Ltd. Check date values in: |year= / |date= mismatch (help); |access-date= requires |url= (help)
↑ Suzannah Pearce, ed. (17 November 2006). "GREENHALGH Julie Kristeen". Who's Who in Australia Live!. North Melbourne, Vic: Crown Content Pty Ltd. Check date values in: |year= / |date= mismatch (help); |access-date= requires |url= (help)
↑ Suzannah Pearce, ed. (17 November 2006). "LENN Robyn Jennifer". Who's Who in Australia Live!. North Melbourne, Vic: Crown Content Pty Ltd. Check date values in: |year= / |date= mismatch (help); |access-date= requires |url= (help)
↑ Suzannah Pearce, ed. (17 November 2006). "PARSONS Robin June". Who's Who in Australia Live!. North Melbourne, Vic: Crown Content Pty Ltd. Check date values in: |year= / |date= mismatch (help); |access-date= requires |url= (help)
↑ Suzannah Pearce, ed. (17 November 2006). "THOMAS Sally Gordon, Hon. Justice". Who's Who in Australia Live!. North Melbourne, Vic: Crown Content Pty Ltd. Check date values in: |year= / |date= mismatch (help); |access-date= requires |url= (help)

External links

Selective schools of New South Wales, Australia

Fully selective	Baulkham Hills High School Caringbah High School Fort Street High School Girraween High School Gosford High School Hornsby Girls' High School Merewether High School Normanhurst Boys' High School North Sydney Boys High School North Sydney Girls High School NBSC: Manly Selective Campus Penrith High School Smith's Hill High School St George Girls High School Sydney Boys High School Sydney Girls High School Sydney Technical High School

Partially selective	Alexandria Park Community School Blacktown Boys High School Blacktown Girls High School Bonnyrigg High School Chatswood High School Duval High School Elizabeth Macarthur High School Gorokan High School Grafton High School Karabar High School Kooringal High School Macquarie Fields High School Moorebank High School Parramatta High School Peel High School Prairiewood High School Rose Bay Secondary College Ryde Secondary College Sefton High School St Marys Senior High School Sydney Secondary College Tempe High School

Selective agricultural	Farrer Memorial Agricultural High School Hurlstone Agricultural High School James Ruse Agricultural High School Yanco Agricultural High School

High schools in the Northern Sydney Region

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