Hornsby Girls' High School

Infobox Aust school
name = Hornsby Girls' High School


motto = "Faith with Fortitude"
established = 1930
type = Public, Single-sex, Selective, Day school
principal = Mr. Robert Phillips
city = Hornsby
state = New South Wales
country = Australia flagicon|Australia
coordinates = coord|33|42|23|S|151|6|5|E|display=inline,title
campus = Suburban
enrolment = ~720 (7-12)
colours = Fawn & Navy Blue color box|#C19A6Bcolor box|#000080
homepage = [http://www.hornsbygir-h.schools.nsw.edu.au/ hornsbygir-h.schools.nsw.edu.au]

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. [ [http://www.adb.online.anu.edu.au/biogs/A130288b.htm Brewster, Sarah Agnes Angus (1874 - 1957)] . Australian Dictionary of Biography.]

Academically, Hornsby Girls' is ranked as the top high school in the Hornsby region in terms of Higher School Certificate (HSC) results. [cite news |first=Bruce |last=McDougall |title=Public tops private across the state --- Special report: The best schools region by region |publisher=The Daily Telegraph |date=2007-12-26 |accessdate=2008-01-29 ] The school was ranked as one of the top three high schools in the state of New South Wales in 2005 by "The Sydney Morning Herald" using the HSC results. [Doherty, L., Norrie, J. & Burke, K., " [http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2005/12/16/1134703611489.html State school blitz of top HSC spots] ", "The Sydney Morning Herald". December 17, 2005. Retrieved on April 13, 2007.] In the same year, it was also ranked as the top girls' school in HSC English resultsFact|date=January 2008 and the second girls' school (sixth in the state) in HSC Mathematics results.Fact|date=January 2008

The 'brother school' to Hornsby Girls' High School is Normanhurst Boys' High School, a selective school founded in 1958 in the neighbouring suburb of Normanhurst. Both schools are of limited size, with a maximum of 120 pupils accepted into each grade.Fact|date=January 2008 However, in 2008, extra students were accepted into Year 11 as it was decided there was enough space in classes.

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)
*Visual Arts
*Cadets

Prefects

At Hornsby Girls High school, there is a prefect system with a Head Prefect, Deputy Head prefect and 26 other prefects. The Prefects are peer-elected and are chosen to represent the school in events in conjunction with other schools and with the district of Hornsby. They are the student leaders of the school community. Those elected act as a figure who uplifts the pride and spirit of their school. There are there to help you when you need it, and to help uphold the standards of the school. The prefects help in the organisation of Festivale (an outdoor concert and an indoor concert, often complying a certain theme) and LipSync concerts (a concert of dancing and miming).

RC

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" to promote school and community spirit.

Special regular events

* Festivale - This comprises an outdoor venue and an indoor concert, organised by the prefects. This year's theme was "Medievale".
* 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.
* 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.
* Battle of the Bands - Held in conjunction with Normanhurst Boys' High School. In 2006, BotB suffered a huge lack of competition, as Hornsby "boycotted" the event, having only been notified of the event two days prior.

Co-curriculum

Hornsby Girls offers students the opportunity to participate in a number of bands, amongst them the Concert, Symphonic and Jazz Bands. Smaller musical outfits are other outlets, such as the flute choir and the string quartet.

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.

Hornsby Girls also hosts dance groups, featuring ballet, jazz, tap and contemporary styles of dancing.

Students are also involved in Model United Nations Teams; recently, a pair of students representing Indonesia were highly commended for their contributions to the Rotary-run meet.

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

Other groups include:
* FRED - Friends of Recycling, Environment and Dirt; the environmental group responsible for the maintenance of the school oval and gardens and planting more trees, raising awareness of the environment and saving resources, especially electricity. FRED has weekly meetings and a Year 12 leader chairs an environmental discussion on a single topic.
* The Energy Committee - Dedicated to saving energy by switching off outlets of unused energy, decreasing the electricity bill, which results in free ice cream for the students.
* EXO - The Christian Community run by Year 11 students. They allow students to explore faith and discuss it in a friendly atmosphere; they also organise camps.
* 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.

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

Notable alumni

*Anne Elizabeth Boyd AM - Composer; Professor of Music at the University of Sydney (also attended Albury High School)cite encyclopedia| editor = Suzannah Pearce| encyclopedia = Who's Who in Australia Live!| title = BOYD Anne Elizabeth| accessdate = 2007-10-06| date = 2006-11-17| year = 2007| publisher = Crown Content Pty Ltd| location = North Melbourne, Vic]
*Judith Ann Clingan AM - Composer, conductor, performer and music educator; Director of Wayfarers Australia (formerly Waldorf Wayfarers) Australia Wide Choircite encyclopedia| editor = Suzannah Pearce| encyclopedia = Who's Who in Australia Live!| title = CLINGAN (Judy) Judith Ann| accessdate = 2007-10-06| date = 2006-11-17| year = 2007| publisher = Crown Content Pty Ltd| location = North Melbourne, Vic]
*Christine Elizabeth Deer - Emeritus Professor at the University of Technology, Sydneycite encyclopedia| editor = Suzannah Pearce| encyclopedia = Who's Who in Australia Live!| title = DEER Christine Elizabeth| accessdate = 2007-10-06| date = 2006-11-17| year = 2007| publisher = Crown Content Pty Ltd| location = North Melbourne, Vic]
*Stephanie Fahey - Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Vice-President (International) of Monash Universitycite encyclopedia| editor = Suzannah Pearce| encyclopedia = Who's Who in Australia Live!| title = FAHEY Stephanie| accessdate = 2007-10-06| date = 2006-11-17| year = 2007| publisher = Crown Content Pty Ltd| location = North Melbourne, Vic]
*Julie Kristeen Greenhalgh (née Stapylton) - Principal of Meriden School; Former Deputy Principal of Pymble Ladies' College; Former Head of School at Canberra Grammar Schoolcite encyclopedia| editor = Suzannah Pearce| encyclopedia = Who's Who in Australia Live!| title = GREENHALGH Julie Kristeen| accessdate = 2007-10-06| date = 2006-11-17| year = 2007| publisher = Crown Content Pty Ltd| location = North Melbourne, Vic]
*Susan Maria Halliday - Inaugural Chair of the Victorian Institute of Teaching; Former Federal Disability Discrimination Commissionercite encyclopedia| editor = Suzannah Pearce| encyclopedia = Who's Who in Australia Live!| title = HALLIDAY Susan Maria| accessdate = 2007-10-06| date = 2006-11-17| year = 2007| publisher = Crown Content Pty Ltd| location = North Melbourne, Vic]
*Marilyn Issanchon (née Kirk) - Vice-President of Unions New South Walescite encyclopedia| editor = Suzannah Pearce| encyclopedia = Who's Who in Australia Live!| title = ISSANCHON Marilyn| accessdate = 2007-10-06| date = 2006-11-17| year = 2007| publisher = Crown Content Pty Ltd| location = North Melbourne, Vic]
*Robyn Jennifer Lenn OAM (née Morris) - President of the National Council of Jewish Women of Australia; Music Educatorcite encyclopedia| editor = Suzannah Pearce| encyclopedia = Who's Who in Australia Live!| title = LENN Robyn Jennifer| accessdate = 2007-10-06| date = 2006-11-17| year = 2007| publisher = Crown Content Pty Ltd| location = North Melbourne, Vic]

*Robin June Parsons AM - Emeritus Professor at the University of Technology, Sydneycite encyclopedia| editor = Suzannah Pearce| encyclopedia = Who's Who in Australia Live!| title = PARSONS Robin June| accessdate = 2007-10-06| date = 2006-11-17| year = 2007| publisher = Crown Content Pty Ltd| location = North Melbourne, Vic]
*Hon. Justice Sally Gordon Thomas AM - Judge of the Supreme Court of the Northern Territorycite encyclopedia| editor = Suzannah Pearce| encyclopedia = Who's Who in Australia Live!| title = THOMAS Sally Gordon, Hon. Justice| accessdate = 2007-10-06| date = 2006-11-17| year = 2007| publisher = Crown Content Pty Ltd| location = North Melbourne, Vic]
* Jacki Weaver - Actress, "Picnic at Hanging Rock"Fact|date=January 2008
*Patricia Ann Wilks (née Thomas) - Director of Curriculum Support and Professional Learning for the Department of Education and Training, Australian Capital Territorycite encyclopedia| editor = Suzannah Pearce| encyclopedia = Who's Who in Australia Live!| title = WILKS (Trish) Patricia Ann| accessdate = 2007-10-06| date = 2006-11-17| year = 2007| publisher = Crown Content Pty Ltd| location = North Melbourne, Vic]

References