High Notes, Vol 17 No 35, November 11 2016
High Talent
Our 15 years’ basketball team won the CHS Knockout
Competition at Terrigal last week. Carl-Joshua Gunther (9T) was named tournament MVP.
Congratulations to Carl-Joshua and to Alexander Bassil (9T), Noah Casaclang (9T), Campbell Green
(9S), Steven Li (10T), Julian Markworth-Scott (9E), Varun Narayanana (9F), Carter Opperman (10T),
Brendan Purdon (9R) and Kobe Shannon (10T), who all played so well together to bring home the
trophy. Congratulations also to Justin Lin (12M) for his 2016 Ministers Award for Excellence in
Student Achievement – highly Commended in Chinese.
Year 11 Reports
Too many students have not yet discussed their progress
with me. Clearance Forms have been issued to all boys and they should be meeting their
commitments. The boys are deciding on their courses for the HSC and it is imperative that I speak
to them all before Thursday 24 November. Please ask your son for his report and his plans for
courses for 2017. Boys need to start focussing on the important months of HSC learning ahead! As
from 24 November, strong negative consequences will have to be applied to force boys to comply
with school policy. They will be considered not to have commenced Year 12 if they have not met
their commitments for Year 11.
Personal Security
To protect personal valuables, the school has taken the
following measures. First, it has provided lockers for all boys who require them at a nominal
charge. Second, it made laptop lockers available for a nominal charge. Third, in PE classes and
at sporting events a ‘valuables bag’ is held by teachers and students are encouraged
to lodge with them any wallets, phones, keys and other important items that students may have in
their possession. Finally, the school has some active CCTV cameras recording movements in high
risk areas. It is important that parents reinforce with students the need to be responsible with
valuables. Any cash brought to school for school purposes should be taken immediately to the main
office for processing or safekeeping. Despite the best efforts of the staff and students, too
much theft has occurred at High this year. The school response to this troubling outbreak is to
reinforce our existing measures and to add supervision in areas where bags are left unattended.
Teachers are being asked to be especially vigilant on playground duty and around the Great Hall
during examinations when unattended bags are seen. Regrettably, it also means that our renewal
and extension plans for CCTV will need to be fast tracked and will be funded as an item in the
2017 budget allocation.
Traffic Movement on School Grounds
Staff members have complained that car
spaces in the Cleveland Street car parking area are unavailable in the mornings due to parents
occupying the spaces waiting in their cars or parents blocking access to spaces. School policy is
that parents are asked to enter Cleveland St. via gate one and drop off boys at the end of the
tennis courts and then proceed out through gate two. Cars driving through the car park and doing
three-point turns near the bus bay and driving out again cause congestion and can prove hazardous
to pedestrian traffic through the area. The safety of our students is paramount. Parents are
asked to try to stay out of the car park area around the gym.
Scholarship Applications
There are only two weeks left for students to
apply for the Phillip Day Memorial and Sir Roden and Lady Cutler Scholarships. If you have
financial needs due to family or special circumstances; if you are a great all-rounder; or if you
have a special talent that needs extra resources to help you develop, please consider applying.
Application forms can be downloaded from the school website: www.sydneboyshigh.com/scholarships.
Applications close on Friday 25 November.
Student Leave Requests – Reminder
Too many parents are ignoring or
pleading ignorance about the school policy on Student Leave of Absence Requests.
Parents are reminded that in Term 4, 2016 leave will not be processed or approved unless
four weeks’ notice has been given. The effect of this decision is that all
leave requests that involve that last four weeks of term must be lodged with me for approval by
the end of week 6, Friday 18 November. If you are planning to travel during the school term you
need to download, complete and submit the form for my approval by the closing date.
Dr K A Jaggar
Principal
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