Sydney Girls High School

How to be an IT Grrrl

We were thrilled to welcome SGHS alumna Carol Wapshere back to school for a lunchtime careers talk with our students.
Carol spoke openly about her path from Sydney Girls student to building a long international career in IT. A field that looked very different when she first entered it. Carol shared stories about navigating uncertainty, taking opportunities when they appeared, working overseas, and learning to adapt as technology and workplaces changed over time.

Carol is also the author of How to be an IT Grrrl: My Life in Tech, a memoir reflecting on her experiences as a woman working in the technology industry over several decades. The book explores the challenges, opportunities, and changes she encountered throughout her career, while offering an honest and engaging insight into life in the tech world.
Carol generously donated a copy to the school library for our students to borrow and enjoy.

It was especially interested to hear how careers can evolve in unexpected ways, and how skills like communication, curiosity, and resilience remain just as important as technical knowledge.

If you are a Sydney Girls High School graduate, we would love to stay connected. We are continually updating our Alumnae Database to strengthen our community and celebrate our graduates' achievements. Please take a moment to complete our SGHS Alumnae Form:
https://forms.gle/nuby5dAfii3aZkrQ6

This term, Year 9 visual arts students have been drawing inspiration from the Hermannsburg Potters of Ntaria, whose ceramic works tell stories of family, culture and connection to place.
Using similar techniques, our students are creating their own terracotta pots that reflect their personal connections to place and community.

Ceramics is a challenging and time-intensive process, and it has been wonderful to see how patient students were working on their detailing.
We used our new kiln to complete these beautiful masterpieces.

What would you do in an emergency?

Over the past few weeks, our Year 8 students have been learning exactly that.

As part of their PDHPE Emergency Care unit, they completed hands-on CPR and resuscitation training with instructors from the Royal Life Saving Association.

Our students learnt how to respond confidently in an emergency, including performing CPR, using a defibrillator, placing someone in the recovery position, and calling Triple Zero.
After successfully completing both the theory and practical components, they received a certificate recognised by the Australian Resuscitation Council.

These are the skills that could one day save a life.

D – Danger: Check for danger to yourself, others and the casualty
R – Response: Check if the person is responsive
S – Send for Help: Call 000 or ask someone else to call
A – Airway: Open and check the airway
B – Breathing: Check for normal breathing
C – CPR: Begin chest compressions and rescue breaths if required
D – Defibrillation: Use Defibrillator as soon as possible

Update from Ms Powell:
I got home from the Vinnies CEO Sleep Out this morning and I'm still thinking about the people I met last night: Daniel lost his career, his marriage, and his home. Vinnies helped him get an apartment, reconnect with his sons, and rebuild his life. Ketendu arrived as a refugee with nowhere to turn. Vinnies gave her and her son safety, stability, and a future.

On average, it takes a woman seven attempts to leave a violent relationship. And there's a new kind of homelessness: people with jobs who simply can't afford rent and are living in their cars.
I was also interviewed on ABC Sydney 702 about the night which was a real honour.

I am $1,000 away from raising $14,000. If you can spare anything, please visit my fundraising page. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.

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One night isn't a lot, but it can make a whole lot of difference.

Ms Powell is taking part in the Vinnies CEO Sleepout tonight and will talk about her experience on ABC Radio Sydney this evening at 8PM.

Please tune in and consider supporting Ms Powell as she works towards her fundraising goal of $14,000 for Vinnies, helping to assist people experiencing homelessness.

You can donate through this link:
https://www.ceosleepout.org.au/fundraisers/rachelpowell/nsw

Our Year 11 students had a fantastic time at camp, returning with plenty of stories and shared memories.

Over the course of the camp, students took part in a range of activities that challenged them, encouraged teamwork, and gave everyone the chance to connect as one Year Group.
As students move further in their senior years, opportunities like these are such an important reminder that school is also about friendship, shared experiences and enjoying the journey together.

What does life after school look like?

Our Year 11 students spent a day exploring study and career options at the HSC and Careers Expo at Randwick Racecourse.

With representatives from universities, TAFEs, employers and training organisations all in one place, students had the chance to ask questions, gather information and learn more about the pathways available to them.

Congratulations to Maddison Tong of Year 8, one of our GOLD athletes, on qualifying at the state level last weekend for the Australian Gymnastics Championships.

This is an outstanding achievement and reflects her hard work and commitment to gymnastics. She will now compete at national level and we wish her all the best for the competition ahead.

Three days, four sports and plenty of unforgettable memories: Armidale Sports Trip

Our students travelled to Armidale for a fantastic weekend of interschool sport, taking part in tennis, volleyball, netball and basketball alongside students from Sydney Boys High School during their annual excursion to The Armidale School in the NSW Northern Tablelands.
Beyond the competition, the trip gave students the chance to meet new people, strengthen friendships and enjoy time together.

What stood out most was the atmosphere across the entire weekend. Students cheered each other on with enthusiasm, competed respectfully and made the most of every opportunity both on and off the court.

Congratulations to our First Grade Volleyball team on finishing second in the Sydney East Region competition.

The team has now qualified for the State Finals. The tournament brought together the top 20 school teams from across NSW.

We wish the team the very best as they prepare to compete at the highest level.

Was and Will Be. A powerful night of theatre

This Sydney Girls High School and Sydney Boys High School co-production delivered an extraordinary performance featuring scenes written by Indigenous authors for non-Indigenous actors.

As playwright Jane Harrison describes, these works invite performers and audiences alike to “walk in our shoes for a moment in time and embody these narratives.”

The scenes highlighted what connects us as humans, as well as what we can learn from First Nations People. They spoke to modern and ancient culture and the space in between and what has been lost.
Every element worked together to create a performance that was moving, engaging, and deeply memorable.