Chatswood High School

05/09/2026

⭐️🔵🟠Handwriting is our priority at Chatswood High School. Laptop use is limited. This reduces distraction. It’s better for deep learning. Every student handwrites in their course books. Our students acknowledge the benefits. They tell us that handwriting improves their concentration and the quality of their answers.
Great effort CHS students.

The Neuroscience Behind Writing: Handwriting vs. Typing—Who Wins the Battle?

Life (Basel). 2025 Feb 22;15(3):345.

The neuroscientific evidence highlights the cognitive advantages of handwriting in learning environments, particularly for younger learners.

The comparison between handwriting and typing reveals important differences in their neural and cognitive impacts. Handwriting activates a broader network of brain regions involved in motor, sensory, and cognitive processing, contributing to deeper learning, enhanced memory retention, and more effective engagement with written material. Typing, while more efficient and automated, engages fewer neural circuits, resulting in more passive cognitive engagement. These findings suggest that despite the advantages of typing in terms of speed and convenience, handwriting remains an important tool for learning and memory retention, particularly in educational contexts.

05/09/2026

Course Books Open. Pens Move. Minds Grow.
Handwriting is a Chatswood High School Standard. And a Cognitive Advantage.

At Chatswood High School, handwriting is essential. Every student brings a course book to every class, and every teacher actively promotes handwriting as a daily learning practice.
Why? Because writing by hand is proven to:
• 🧠 Boost memory retention
• 📝 Deepen comprehension and critical thinking
• 🎯 Improve focus and reduce distractions
• 📐 Strengthen fine motor skills and cognitive development
• 🗣️ Support clearer communication and expression

This is a school-wide commitment to deep learning. In every classroom, across every subject, students write to help their learning.

💻 Laptops are used strategically to access cutting-edge information, collaborate, and extend learning. But when it comes to building knowledge that lasts, pen on paper remains our foundation.

We’re proud to support our students with practices that are research-informed and grounded in what helps them thrive.

05/09/2026

05/09/2026

🧡💙Every Little Treat Made a Big Difference at Chatswood High School.

Last week, our Chatswood High School community came together in the most beautiful way to Treat the Teachers, and we want to say thank you.

From early in the morning, families and students arrived with cards, handwritten messages and delicious treats for our staff to enjoy. Every gesture, every note, every homemade snack and store‑bought goodie reminded our teachers that they are valued, supported and deeply appreciated.

Our staff felt the love. Thank you.

A very special thank you to P&C member Malvina, who drove this initiative with such kindness and care, and to Adam, our P&C President, for his ongoing support of our school community.

On behalf of all our teachers, thank you for lifting our spirits and reminding us how strong and generous our community is. Every little treat made a difference, and every act of kindness was felt.

Chatswood High School is grateful for you.

05/09/2026

🧡💙🏆Student Voice, Strong Teaching and Education with Clear Purpose at Chatswood High School. A Leadership Visit Highlighting Our Growth.

We were delighted to welcome Mr Craig Warner, Director Educational Leadership, to Chatswood High School. During his visit, Mr Warner spent meaningful time with our students, listening to their experiences and discussing the importance of student voice and belonging.
Mr Warner met with Abdullah Year 12, Joey Year 12 , Justinian Year 11, Roman Year 10, Serina Year 12 and Zaina Year 12.

Each student spoke confidently about their learning, their growth, and the value of being heard. We are incredibly proud of them.

Mr Warner also met with staff across key school priority areas, highlighting the strength and direction of our improvement work:
– Numeracy with Ms Susanna Siu, HT Mathematics (Rel)
– Transition to School / High School & Highly Accomplished and Lead Teacher Support — Ms Vanessa Lo, HT Wellbeing Stage 4, and Mr Francis Floresca, HT Growth and Attainment.
– Aboriginal Education and Forging Strong Connections — Mr Sam Beck.

Overall, this visit showcased the strength of our learning programs, the professionalism of our staff, and the promising direction Chatswood High School is heading.

We thank Mr Warner for supporting our school community.

05/09/2026

🟠🔵✏️Post‑Trials: The Next 39 Days. Year 12, Let’s Lift Together.

Last week, our Year 12 students took part in a powerful presentation on how to use their Trial Examination feedback to lift their performance heading into the HSC. The session, titled Post Trials: The Next 39 Days, focused on developing practical study plans, all with English Paper 1 on Tuesday 13 October firmly in sight.

Rowan, CEO of Art of Smart Education, delivered highly practical advice that our students responded to with extremely positive feedback. Thank you to Ms Bradbury our Head Teacher Wellbeing for organising this important learning experience.

Go Year 12! Stay focused, stay disciplined, and keep moving forward. We are here to support you, we are in your corner, and your teachers know you’ve got this.

05/09/2026

💙🧡✏️When an Executive Director visits our classrooms to learn about our handwriting focus, it’s a warm reminder that Chatswood High School is doing something genuinely impactful.
It was an honour to welcome Ms. Emma Truswell, Executive Director NSW Department of Education.

We were honoured to welcome Emma Truswell, Executive Director, Strategic Priorities Office of the Secretary, to Chatswood High School. Ms. Truswell visited to learn more about our handwriting focus. A practice grounded in strong cognitive research and championed by our dedicated teachers. Handwriting is important. Laptop use is limited, and only used to enhance the learning experience.

Ms. Truswell joined Kingsley (Y10), Tankhil (Y10) and Porsche (Y10) for a student voice session where students discussed the strengths of handwriting, and their experiences. Ms. Truswell then visited Year 10 Photographic & Digital Media with Ms Tyrrell, Chemistry Year 11 with Ms Dhurjati, and Science Year 8 with Mr Ross, seeing firsthand the strength, skill and commitment in our classrooms. Ms. Truswell discussed the power of handwriting with our teachers and students.

To finish the day, Ms Truswell joined Mr Liu’s Year 8 class in our student led cleaning initiative. A simple example of the pride our students take in their school. Ms Truswelll joined our students to pick up litter and clean our environment.

Thank you for visiting Chatswood High School, Ms Truswell, and for speaking with over a hundred students. We look forward to welcoming you again.

05/09/2026

💙🧡Please donate. Our students' book will be shared with hospitals across Australia and funds raised go to research into kinder, more effective childhood cancer treatments.

Team A fundraising page: https://writeabookinaday.com/teams/?id=1852
Team B fundraising page: https://writeabookinaday.com/teams/?id=1853

05/09/2026

💙🧡📝✏️Write a Book in a Day at Chatswood High School

We are delighted to share that our students have successfully completed the 2026 Write a Book in a Day program. We congratulate all of our participating students on this fantastic achievement.

This year, the program grew to two teams, reflecting the enthusiasm and talent of our young writers. Over the course of the challenge, students worked collaboratively to plan, write, illustrate and produce their own books within a single day. It was wonderful to see their creativity, perseverance, teamwork and ability to work towards a shared goal.

We thank our Year 8 participants from last year, who graciously wrote again this year alongside our Year 7 cohort and provided valuable mentorship and support throughout the process. Their willingness to share their experience and encourage our younger writers was an important part of the day.

Our students are also raising funds for The Kids' Cancer Project through their participation. If you would like to support their efforts, please feel free to donate using the links below:

Team A fundraising page: https://writeabookinaday.com/teams/?id=1852

Team B fundraising page: https://writeabookinaday.com/teams/?id=1853

We are hoping to continue building the program and scale up to three teams in 2027. The growth of Write a Book in a Day is a testament to our students' ability to collaborate, mentor one another, think creatively and write their own stories.

We thank Ms. Wardlaw and Mr. Floresca for helping to make this initiative a success for the second year running.

05/09/2026

🟠🔵Enrol at Chatswood High School and be part of a vibrant community where a dedicated, united team works together to inspire academic excellence every day.
https://chatswood-h.schools.nsw.gov.au/about-us/enrol