From the Principal
We have already had a number of significant events in the life of Port Hacking this year. On Friday, 20th February we inducted our new Student Representative Council members, along with the School Captains, Vice Captains and Prefects for 2009. This is the first formal assembly for the year, and the students' appearance and behaviour lived up to the standards expected on such an occasion.
We congratulated our two first place getters in the 2008 HSC at this assembly, Si Chen (UAI 98.95) and Chris Lee (UAI 96.55). Both are studying a Bachelor of Commerce (Actuarial Studies), Si at Macquarie University and Chris at UNSW. A list of students who achieved UAI's above 80 is published in this Deeban. The school's value added results for last year's HSC group, that is, the extent of their improvement from Year 10 through to Year 12, is significantly above average for all levels of achievement compared to all other schools in NSW. This is a great result for our students and their hard working teachers.
The swimming carnival on 13 February was well attended despite the rain and I saw lots of enthusiastic participation. Many thanks to Mrs Turner for her organisation and to the House Captains and patrons for revving up their damp supporters. A word of advice to parents - do not expect that you can text your child and have them leave the pool, or ring your child's mobile and have them thrust it at a teacher to negotiate early leave. We have a carnival to run, and we expect the students who attend to stay the full day. I know we live in a digital age, but we will not respond to dozens of kids waving mobiles at us with anxious parents on the other end.
I thank parents and students for their support of the new sports uniform. In the last three years, Port Hacking's uniform standards have improved dramatically, to the point where other schools now ask Lowes if they can imitate us. Our students should always look and act as proud Port Hacking students, and on Thursday we now have the new sports uniform worn consistently throughout the school. Recently, a group of European agents for exchange students whom I was showing around commented on how fresh and smart the uniform looked. We now have enrolment enquiries from Germany as a result. That's how it works - we look like a school that they want to be part of. I remind you that lace up sports shoes (not slip-ons) and school socks are required on Thursdays. Students have been warned.
Two moments have made me especially proud in the last few weeks - our students contributing over $4,000 to the Victorian bushfire appeal on Colour Day, and seeing Nadine Roberts (Year 9) singing the National Anthem for the official opening of the school year in the City Recital Hall. Great stuff!
Greg McGrath
Principal
