21 Dec 2019
Amazing year
What another amazing year it has been for our wonderful school community! I'd like to thank the staff and students for working so well together towards the common goal of best practice learning partnerships. We continue to lead the way in best practice learning outcomes as one of the highest growth high schools in NSW with literacy and numeracy growth greater than any other public high school in the state.
HSC congratulations
Congratulations goes out to Kevin Nguyen, our Dux for 2019 with an ATAR or 92 and scoring a Notable Band 6 (E3) in Extension Mathematics Extension 1 and 2. Maria Fragkedaki also earned a Band 6 in Greek language. What an exceptional effort!
Happy retirement
I'd also like to congratulate Judy Mascord on her retirement after a long and distinguished career in support student learning. We will miss you Judy! Enjoy the extra time you now have with your family.
Welcome aboard
On the flip side, welcome to Khalil Kouayder, Allira Cadogan, Marlaina Marangoudakis, Madelon Gillham, Georgie Katsiris and Kieran Beard as our latest permanent staff members who all earned their positions through a rigorous Merit Selection process. We also welcome Sulieman Sidiqqui and John Bacci to the Sir Joseph Banks family for 2020. So many new and exceptionally talented teachers are wanting to work at our high quality centre of learning!
Connected Curriculum launch 2020
In 2020 we will launch our brand new approach to high school learning that we have called our Connected Curriculum. We have 7 teachers - one from each subject area that will be taking Year 7 for 18 of their 50 periods per cycle led by the super amazing Brenda Stajcic. This is something that few schools are doing and we believe it will give our students the competitive edge as they become Futures Focused learners. Their curriculum is designed around creative and critical thinking, collaboration and communication - qualities, skills and abilities that universities and employers of the next generation of leaders are looking for in their teams. Well done SJB!
University entry 100% 5 years
Our partnerships with all of the major universities has been strengthened this year through our Head Teacher Transition, Ms Roumieh and we have developed a personalised pathway with students and their parents for transition into senior high school. This year we look forward to every student on an ATAR pattern of study attaining university entry for 5 years in a row! If your child wants to go to university, we will ensure they get there. Indeed we support every student to leave school with one foot firmly planted into their future.
Happy and safe holidays
I'd like to take this opportunity to wish everybody a happy, safe and relaxing holiday period and look forward to another exciting year of learning at SJBHS in 2020.
Remember - it's not about the me - it's the we at SJB.
Kind regards
Murray Kitteringham
Principal