From the Senior School

From our Head of Senior School

Food for Thought

The Food for Thought luncheon last week provided a wonderful opportunity for the Year 12 students to connect with last year’s graduates to seek advice and support. Our keynote speaker, Ms Tamsin Janu (2007), also provided a relevant and engaging reflection on the twists and turns life after school can take, and the importance of being agile and flexible in your thinking and in your career path. She urged the current Year 12 students to follow their interests and be available to opportunities as they present themselves. Having graduated with a Law degree and now writing a series of award-winning books for children, her message was authentic and engaging.

Here is some of the feedback from the Year 12 girls themselves:

“The luncheon was really great and very useful, as after hearing of the achievements of the Year 13 girls and the fabulous opportunities they are undertaking, it inspired me to dedicate myself to my studies.”

“The Food for Thought luncheon helped me to gain a new perspective on how to get through Year 12 and helped me to appreciate that there is a life beyond the HSC.”

Careers Expo

Many thanks to our Careers and Tertiary teachers, Mr Andrew Kozyra and Mrs Katrina O’Kelly, for organising the Careers Expo this year. It was exciting to see so many Senior School students engaging with the many presenters and considering their post-school options.

End of Term Break

On behalf of the Senior School team, I would like to take this opportunity to wish all the Senior School girls and their families a safe and restful end of term break. Please take some time to recharge the batteries. The Heads of Years 11 and 12 have sent all Senior School students helpful advice from our counsellors as to where to seek help and support for themselves or their friends if needed during the holiday break. These resources have been included for you here and here.

Mrs Nikki Wyse

Head of Senior School

From the Heads of Year 11

After a long and busy Term 1, Year 11 has finally made it! 

The transition from Year 10 is certainly a significant one. Adapting to a new building, uniform and change of pace is certainly a challenge. However, Year 11 girls have risen to the occasion. 

It was a relief to get the first round of assessments out of the way, as the routine should add some confidence for future terms. This term’s Directions program saw the year group navigating a range of topics and developing an array of practical skills. From time and stress management to positive self-talk and the Paul Dillon lecture, we hope that the aforementioned skills can be implemented in the short as well as long term. 

On Thursday 31 March, Year 11 participated in the RYDA Road Safety program at Homebush. The day helped educate the girls about their rights and responsibilities as drivers. Students were involved in a series of lectures, each with a specific focus.  

Rachel noted, “The RYDA program helped with awareness on road safety. I felt that the advice given was beneficial for new drivers. The three second rule of staying behind a car really helps with your ability to stop in time.” 

Pip added, “The lack of experience in new drivers can result in devastating injuries if not educated properly on road rules and safe driving procedures.”

Boarder from Narrabri Georgia was shocked to hear about the dangers of country roads. She reflected, “When driving on country roads, you are more likely to fall asleep, and the quality of those roads is not as good.” 

We hope you have a wonderful, well-earned break and look forward to seeing you for Term 2! 

From the Heads of Year 12

We want to congratulate the Year 12 girls on their hard work and dedication in what was a very challenging and busy term. The girls have so many things to celebrate and be proud of and we hope that this holiday break gives them an opportunity to reflect, relax and take some much-needed time out.

As the final assessment tasks conclude and the end of term fatigue sets in, we have loved seeing acts of resilience, strength and care across the Kate Mason Building. There have been many ups and downs across the term and it is always a joy to watch the girls support one another in times of need. This is something that we will continue to encourage and foster across the year with the girls.

The Food for Thought luncheon on Friday was a great opportunity for Year 12 to hear from our Alumni and speak to some recent College graduates about their life and path after their HSC. The Kate Mason atrium was abuzz with conversation and we hope this was a nice chance for the girls to take some time out of their schedules and to think about their post-College journey.

While the holidays is a good time for the girls to unwind, we hope Year 12 students maintain a level of routine over the break and not too far out of their positive study habits. With that being said, balancing rest and study is important. We look forward to seeing Year 12 back after the break for a positive start to term 2.