Greetings,

Arriving at the midpoint of the school year provides us all with a time for pause and reflection. I thank God for blessing us with committed students, staff, and parents, and I am reminded that “every good and perfect gift is from above” (James 1:17).

You will notice that Term 2 has ended on a high note with a variety of activities: Wonka Week, combined chapel, and the prep to year 1 Athletics day on Friday. The Year 11, 2026 Subject Selection on Tuesday was well attended and assisted students and parents to consider their Stage 6 subject choices. Early the following morning, our Year 10 StormCo team departed to serve a remote community in Tasmania for a week. I commend our chaplains and staff for their supervision and facilitation of this life-long memory experience. Our Primary students demonstrated their musical progress under the leadership of Mrs. Stanwell and our music tutors. Our basketball teams performed well under the able leadership of Jeremiah Amoah and his team.

Semester One reports have been released. We value the efforts of our teachers who have balanced the planning and delivery of lessons with marking and report writing during this busy period. Please take time to reflect with their child over the holiday break on their school journey during the first half of this year, by celebrating achievements and identifying areas for growth. Consider expressing appreciation to your child’s teachers or seeking clarification as needed. We look forward to seeing you at the upcoming Parent-Teacher Interviews in Term 3 as listed on our calendar. Research indicates that positive collaboration between parents and teachers correlates with increased prosocial behaviours and academic success.

The 2024 Yearbook, which was planned for release in Term 1, is now available. We hope you enjoy revisiting these special memories. Work is underway on the 2025 Yearbook, with the goal of releasing it at Speech Night at the end of this year. Our upcoming production of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory promises to be a wonderful showcase of hard work, talent and the collaboration between students, teachers, mentors, and parents.

Wishing you and your family a restful and enjoyable holiday and thank you for your ongoing support and collaboration throughout Semester One.

God bless,

Craig Young

Principal

Dear School Community,

We are stoked to share that our STORM Co team has safely arrived in Waratah, Tasmania, a lovely little town of just 250 residents. The journey was an adventure in itself! High winds buffeted the plane during takeoff, but we soon soared above the clouds, filled with excitement for the days ahead. After landing in Hobart, we took a scenic drive and arrived at the cozy Waratah lodge just as the sun set, greeted by a warm, crackling fire—a perfect refuge from the chilly Tasmanian weather.

Our STORM Co trips are more than just travel; they are opportunities to build character and broaden perspectives. Here in Waratah, our young people are serving this tight-knit community, practically demonstrating the love of God. As a chaplain and father, I am deeply grateful for our Christian education, a nurturing environment where our students learn to know God, embrace the joy of living in His ways, and make a positive impact in the world. STORM Co is one of many ways we strive to go beyond academics, instilling the values of God’s kingdom in the next generation.

We ask for your prayers as we embark on this meaningful journey. Please pray for our safety as we travel, for a warm reception from the Waratah community, and for our young people to create lifelong memories that shape who they are and who they will become.

As you enjoy the holiday season, we encourage you to take time to create cherished memories with your children. Thank you for your support and prayers.

Blessings,
Pr Nick
Senior Chaplain

This has been an exceptional week for our school’s basketball program.

On Monday Year 10 boys won division 2 49-31

On Tuesday our year 5/6 girls had a nail biter 22-21 in division 1 against 1st place who had not lost all season only 1 draw.

On Wednesday, our Year 5 boys completed their first season as a team in Division 3 with a perfect record.
On Thursday, the Year 8 Boys team (WAS Blue) finished their undefeated season in Division 1, marking a remarkable achievement.
Also on Thursday, the Year 8 Boys (WAS Green) narrowly defeated WAS Brown in a close match in Division 4.
Additionally, the Year 7 girls experienced a competitive, close loss to the top team in Division 2.

We extend our gratitude to Ignatius Ah-You, Caitlin McCartney, and Chris Starrett for their dedication in capturing multiple games.

Our school has established a strong reputation within the basketball community. We are proud to be the largest school program at Hornsby Kuringai Basketball Association, with plans to expand to 17 teams in Semester 2—an impressive milestone for a school of our size.

Special thanks to Chris Starrett for the foundational work you contributed years ago; your efforts have truly laid the groundwork for our success.

We also appreciate the ongoing support from everyone at the school. Thank you all for your continued encouragement and involvement.

Can you assist in hosting Vittorio from Italy or Martin from Spain for 5 months. Both the boys are due to arrive in Australia on the 12th of July for their exchange.

You will be provided a weekly stipend to support with meals and utility bills

You don’t have to commit to hosting for the full 5 months, the boys can have two families across their 5 month exchanges.

Any assistance would be much appreciated. Please reach out directly to the Director of Students of the World, Sandeep at [email protected] to discuss further.

Yesterday’s Years 3–6 Music Concert was a wonderful celebration of our students’ musical progress. It was fantastic to see the growth and confidence of our Strings and Band instrumental students as they performed. A heartfelt thank you to Mrs Felicity Stanwell for her outstanding coordination of the tutors and the concert, and to our dedicated Music Tutors for supporting and guiding our young musicians. Well done to all involved!

Last week, Stage 1 students had a wonderful day exploring the Sea Life Aquarium in Sydney as part of our Science unit on Living Things .

We enjoyed a guided tour and discovered a wide range of amazing marine animals and their habitats. The experience helped us learn more about the needs of living things, their life cycles, and how they survive in different environments.

A big thank you to our fantastic parent volunteers who joined us and helped make the day a smooth and memorable one!

On Thursday 27 June, our Year 10 Visual Arts students were privileged to spend the afternoon with award-winning local artist and illustrator Tannya Harricks. Tannya shared insights into her career as both a painter and children’s book illustrator, including her work on Mallee Sky , The Heartbeat of the Land , Kookaburra , and her upcoming book The Peach King (expected October).
She also gave a live painting demonstration, using bird portraits to illustrate her artistic process. Students were inspired by her techniques and stories, gaining valuable knowledge about creative pathways and professional art practices.

Congratulations to Dabi K (Year 6), Diana K (year 8) and Jaelyn Rim (Year 7, Hills Adventist College) on being awarded the Mixed Ensemble Prize in the 2025 “Strike A Chord National Chamber Music Competition”, hosted by Musica Viva Australia. Selected from over 170 ensembles from across Australia, Trio Arcelo’s achievement is a testament to their outstanding musicianship, dedication, and passion for chamber music.

This is an incredible recognition on a national stage — well done, Trio Arcelo!

***Jaelyn’s mum has given permission for her to appear in our school newsletter

In Term 2, select students had the opportunity to attend the da Vinci Decathlon, an academic competition inspired by the genius of Leonardo da Vinci, where students formed groups of 8 to compete across ten disciplines.

The competition includes events for different year levels, such as Years 5/6, 7/8, and 9/10, with regional, state, and national competitions. This year, 8 students from Year 7 to Year 10 competed at Knox Grammar School.

We competed against approximately 55 schools per year group in the NSW State competition. The ten key disciplines encompassed a range of school endorsed subjects like Geography (Cartography), the three core subjects like English, Science and Maths, and unique interests such as Code Breaking, Legacy (general knowledge), and Creative Producers.

This year’s theme was “light”, and we had an overall fun time, whether it was competing and helping each other with different tasks, creating a kaleidoscope, debating reflection verses refraction, deciphering language codes, listening to the end of day performances or looking at everyone’s table art. It was an unforgettable experience and was an opportunity to engage in problem-solving and teamwork.

Heidi C – Y10

Congratulations to Tilly C (12A) who received a Principal’s Award for achieving ten merit awards during her HSC Portuguese Continuers course at the NSW School of Languages. Merit awards are issued to students for effort, application and improvement in their studies.

This semester in Geography, year 7 has been working on a unit titled “Water in the World”. As part of this unit year 7 visited Coups Creek to assess the health of the waterway, the vegetation that surrounds it, the impact of humans on the local area and to practice geography skills such as field sketching. It was agreed by all that it was a great way to spend last period on a Friday!

Last Monday, the Year 10 Commerce class embarked on an excursion to the Police & Justice Museum and NSW State Parliament in the city, which provided an enriching learning experience aligned with their current Law, Society & Political Involvement (Legal) topic. Students explored the historical development of law enforcement and justice, gaining insight into how laws impact society and the role of legal institutions.

At the NSW State Parliament, the oldest Parliament in Australia, students observed the workings of government and legislative processes firsthand. They also engaged in role-playing activities to demonstrate how Bills are introduced and Laws are enacted within our legal system.

A highlight of the day was meeting Wahroonga M.P. Alistair Henskens, who shared valuable perspectives on his responsibilities as a Member of Parliament and local electorate representative, deepening students’ understanding of political involvement and civic duty.

“I enjoyed deepening my knowledge of our legal system.” Adam

“I enjoyed the chambers in the State Parliament, and the guides were really informative.” Amellia

On Thursday, our U15s Mixed NFL Flag Football team journeyed to the Gold Coast to compete in the inaugural NFL Flag Football National Tournament. After a triumphant win at the NSW South tournament earlier this year, the team dedicated themselves to rigorous training—practicing six times a week. They sacrificed Sunday mornings, Monday and Friday afternoons, and two lunchtimes weekly to prepare for this high-level competition.

Thanks to the generous support of NFL Flag, the team enjoyed an all-expenses-paid trip to the Royal Pines Resort, where they faced off against the country’s best. Our team tied for second place in the pool rounds but narrowly missed advancing to the playoffs due to point difference. Despite this, the fact that we defeated the teams that placed third and fourth in our pool highlights just how close we were to securing the top spot.

Having a school team ranked among the top 10 in Australia is an incredible achievement that the entire school community can be proud of. We celebrate the dedication and sportsmanship our players have shown throughout this journey.

Looking ahead, the U12s Mixed team is gearing up for their upcoming NFL Flag Football gala day in Week 3 of next term. Trials are currently underway, and we encourage all interested students to get involved.

Additionally, if your child would like to develop their flag football skills, Bring It On Sports is running school holiday clinics at Baulkham Hills:

High School Clinic

Date: Tuesday, 8th July

Time: 9:00 AM – 2:00 PM (arrival from 8:45 AM)

Cost: $55 per participant

Primary School Clinic

Date: Tuesday, 15th July

Time: 9:00 AM – 2:00 PM (arrival from 8:45 AM)

Cost: $55 per participant

For more information and to register, visit: Bring It On Sports Flag Football Clinics

We congratulate our U15s team on their outstanding effort and look forward to seeing more students embrace the exciting sport of NFL Flag Football!

Our Open and Junior Girls Netball teams recently took to the courts at the CSSA Netball Gala Day, representing our school with fantastic energy, teamwork, and determination.

Throughout the day, both teams faced tough competition from schools across the region, showing great resilience and skill in every match. The girls demonstrated excellent communication, sportsmanship, and a strong sense of unity—whether in defence, attack, or supporting each other from the sidelines.

A big thank you to the coaches and staff who supported the teams and helped make the day such a positive experience. Well done to all involved!

Last week, eight talented students proudly represented our school at the CIS Cross Country Championships — a prestigious event that brings together some of the best young runners from across the state.

Among the standout performances was Oliver H from Year 7, who placed an incredible 10th in his race. This top-10 finish has earned him qualification for the NSW All-Schools Championships, a phenomenal achievement and a testament to his hard work, determination, and athletic ability. Congratulations, Oliver!

On Monday, over 80 students from our school competed at the CSSA Zone Athletics Carnival, showcasing not only their athletic talent but also their school spirit, determination, and teamwork.

It was an action-packed day filled with impressive performances across the track and field, with students giving their all in sprints, distance events, relays, jumps, and throws.

A special congratulations goes to our standout performers who were named Age Champions for their respective divisions:

Nathanael R (Year 12)

Jimmy T (Year 11)

Arya K (Year 9)

Oliver H (Year 7)

Arya K, Oliver H & Kyle S (Y8) also broke the 1500m for their age respectively which is a phenomenal achievement.

Being crowned Age Champion is a tremendous individual accomplishment, reflecting both consistent high performance across multiple events and an outstanding level of athletic excellence.

We are so proud of all 80+ students who represented our school with pride and passion. Your efforts, sportsmanship, and encouragement of each other made the day one to remember.

On Friday 27 June, our Open Boys Volleyball Team competed at the NSW Volleyball Schools Cup. They have been training together for several months and were excited to showcase their skills and teamwork. The team qualified and participated in Division 1 which is fantastic! Congratulations to the boys for representing our school with pride.

Congratulations to Salani S (Y11) on being selected to swim for Samoa at the Mini Pacific Games in Palau.  Salani leaves for Palau on Jun 28 for the opening ceremony on the 29th, and swimming competition to begin the next day until July 6th. This is a fantastic achievement and we look forward to cheering for Salani.

Premier’s Reading Challenge:

Congratulations to Amartya G (KD), Andrew L (KD), Zara V (KC), Iris G (1B), Matthew T (1B), Isaac B (3K), Chloe C (4W), Harrison A (5L), Charlotte L (6A), Shourya M (6A), Lucas M (6A), Sean P (6A), Aleah M (7S) and Oliver L (9W) who have all finished the Premier’s Reading Challenge.  Great reading!

Remember, the Premier’s Reading Challenge does not finish until the 19th of September so there is still plenty of time to complete it.  Happy reading!!

Book Week Fundraiser - ROOP (Reading Out of Poverty):

For Book Week this year we have chosen to share the love of reading with those who don’t have easy access to books. We will be partnering with an association called ROOP (Reading Out of Poverty) who aim to build 5 pop-up libraries across Yarrabah, a remote Indigenous community in Far North Queensland. Along with asking for a gold coin donation for our dress-up parade on August 18, we plan to run a second-hand book sale for the whole school on Friday, August 22. We will be asking for book donations to stock our book sale in the weeks leading up to Book Week, so why not use the school holidays to sort through your bookshelves and put aside some pre-loved books to donate for our sale? Donations will be accepted from the start of Term 3.

Upcoming Library Events:

August 14: P-4 Book Week Performance ‘Treasure Hunt’

August 18: P-6 Book Week dress-up parade

Theme: Adventurous book characters

Gold coin donation for ROOP (Reading Out of Poverty)

August 18-22: CBCA Book Week ‘Book an Adventure!’

5-6 Library Bag Podcasts

August 22: P-12 Second-hand Book Sale – proceeds go to ROOP (Reading Out of Poverty)

September 19: Premier’s Reading Challenge entries due

Monday CLOSED

Tuesday CLOSED

Wednesday 8:20 - 9:30 AM

Thursday 2.30 - 3:30 PM

Friday CLOSED

Please order through Flexischools for any orders where you know your sizing and what you may need. Flexischool orders will be collected from the office for High School and dropped to classes for Primary school on Thursdays and Fridays.

A big thank you to everyone who made the Wild Robot family movie night such a great success! We were thrilled to welcome 125 people who enjoyed around 80 pizzas, drinks, and lollies.

Special thanks to Pastors Nick & Justin and the dedicated Year 11 students for serving pizzas and raising $1200 towards supplies for the Fiji Service Trip during the Term 3 holidays.

We also appreciate Jeanne for her organizing efforts and Katrina B for expertly directing traffic in the dark, ensuring a smooth arrival for all.

We trialled a hangout space for high school students and plan to continue expanding events to offer opportunities for both primary and high school students, as well as families, to build meaningful connections.

Thank you once again to everyone who made the evening so memorable! Don’t forget to get your tickets for the Wonka Musical to enjoy the show and connect with the school community.