4 April 2025

From the Principal

It has been wonderful to see all students well settled into the 2025 school year, with so many students joining in on the wealth of opportunities available to them. Students have not only focussed on their course work and their assessment tasks, but they have also been involved in many co-curricular and extra-curricular activities, supporting their academic, social, emotional, creative, sporting and wellbeing development. Some examples include: excursions, incursions, peer support, vaccinations, Public Speaking and Debating, Harmony Day, International Women’s Day, knockout sports, NAPLAN, Homework Centre, Premier’s Reading Challenge, Music and Dance ensembles, Art Club, Community Access – just to name a few. It has been great to see so many students getting involved in things beyond the classroom.

Representative Swimming

Congratulations to our 37 students who qualified at the swimming carnival to represent the school at the zone swimming carnival. There was some great swimming and excellent times, with 22 qualifying to represent the zone at the regional carnival. Another successful carnival and congratulations to Sienna M Year 9 and Grace W Year 10 for qualifying to compete at the NSWCHSSA swimming carnival next term.

Fish Tank Competition

We are thrilled to announce that a team of our HPG Marine Studies students have taken out first place in the annual FishTank competition! Congratulations to Willow C and Helena P from Year 10.

FishTank, an initiative of the Volvo Ocean Lovers Festival, is a competition where secondary school students across Sydney are invited to contribute their ideas to help the ocean and turn ripples of action into waves of change to positively impact the ocean. This year, our team was selected by the panel of judges to be one of five finalists.

Helena and Willow were presented with their awards at a ceremony on Sunday, March 23 at 12:45pm on the Main Stage at Bondi Beach. Our girls beat entries from some prestigious high schools to take first place in the junior division of the competition, with their innovative concept and design of a Microplastic Filtration Pontoon.

To add to the success, the girls have been approached by some organisations to further develop their idea with a view to transforming the concept into a prototype.

Excellent work Helena and Willow! We are all very proud of you.

Student Achievements

A special congratulations to the following students for some wonderful achievements:

• Ruby P Year 10 – Selected in the Sydney East Girls Rugby Union team and will be competing in the NSWCHSSA championships in early Term 2.
• Sam K Year 10 - Selected in the Sydney East Boys U16 years Rugby League team and will be competing in the NSWCHSSA championships in early Term 2.
• Audrey V Year 8 - Selected in the Sydney East Boys Girls Australian Football team and will be competing in the NSWCHSSA championships in early Term 2.
• Sienna M Year 9 – competing in the NSWCHSSA Swimming Championships this week.

Diane Wilson
Principal

Deputies’ Report

Year 10 Transition Program to Oatley Campus 2026

The GRC College transition program to GRC Oatley Senior Campus will commence early next term. A series of events have been planned to support students in making a smooth transition to the senior campus.

The first event is the HSC Subject Information Day, scheduled for Thursday, 1 May, at GRC Oatley Senior Campus from 9:30 am to 2:30 pm.

On this day, staff from GRC Oatley Senior Campus will provide guidance on course content, assessment requirements, available resources, time commitments, and the key skills needed for success in each subject.

Attendance at this session is compulsory for all students, including those considering alternative pathways or enrolling in another school in 2026.

Further details and the permission note will be sent separately via School Bytes.

School Uniform

As we head into the cooler months, students are reminded to demonstrate responsibility by wearing the correct school uniform. Students are expected to wear the correct school uniform and completely covered, black, leather school shoes on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays. Students are expected to wear the school sports uniform and supportive sports shoes on Wednesday. For warmth, students must wear the school jacket, jumper or a plain navy jumper – at no time are hooded jumpers or those with logos and prints to be worn. Students who choose to wear undershirts for additional warmth must make sure that these are plain light blue or white, again without any logo or prints. When out of uniform, students are expected to collect a uniform slip from their PL teacher, and attend a reflection at recess or lunch. Visit our website for details of correct school uniform.

Uniform suppliers - These stores stock a wide range of uniforms but it is advisable to telephone the store first to check they have the correct GRC uniform in stock.

Lowes:

• 328 Forest Rd, Hurstville
  Phone: 9157 2502
• Centro Roselands
  Phone: 9750 3771

Second hand uniform shop - We have a second-hand uniform shop at school which is coordinated by the P&C. It is located in the foyer outside the administration office (Block D) and is open on Wednesday mornings from 8:00 - 9:00am during school terms.

The uniform shop sells donated items of clothing at very reasonable prices. We welcome donations, so please feel free to drop off any uniforms you no longer need (good used condition appreciated) to the administration office during school hours.

Further information on our school uniform can be found on the school website:

Student Learning and Wellbeing

Student learning and safety is always a priority at GRC Peakhurst and we are proud of the numerous and high quality wellbeing initiatives we have in place to support student connection and engagement. We have staff that are dedicated to student learning and wellbeing. To ensure we are best meeting your child’s needs, parents and students are encouraged to see the following staff members:

• Year Advisor: for any wellbeing concerns, such as a change in home situation or peer conflict.
• Class Teacher: for any queries regarding classwork, assessment tasks, or issues happening in the classroom.
• Office staff: for any queries regarding fees, leave or when needing to communicate with your child or a staff member. Mobile phones must stay off and away in school bags all day, including sport, incursions and excursions. Therefore, all contact between parents and children during school hours must be via the school office. Parents and all other visitors are reminded to attend the office rather than entering the playground or learning blocks.

Our office staff will know how best to direct your call in order to address your concern. Matters of a more serious nature will be referred to the appropriate staff member – Faculty Head Teachers, Head Teacher Wellbeing, Head Teacher Teaching & Learning, Deputy Principal or Principal.

Sophia Favuzzi – Deputy Principal Years 7 & 9
Scott Wilson – Deputy Principal Year 8
Amanda Vials – Deputy Principal Years 10

Year Advisors Report

As we approach the end of the first term, we would like to congratulate all of our students for having such a successful start to the new school year. We have had an exciting and busy start to the year with students engaging in different excursions and incursions, extracurricular activities and completing their first assessment tasks. We are particularly proud of our new Year 7 students, who have settled well into our school community and have made an enthusiastic transition into their new high school environment. We encourage all students to continue embodying our core school values of respect, responsibility and excellence as we continue through the year.

The holidays are a great opportunity for all students to reset, recharge and reflect on their new goals for the upcoming term. We would like to encourage you to use your break to develop good habits that will help you achieve new heights in Term 2. This may look different for every single one of you and we hope you proactively set yourself up for success. These could be small steps such as improving your sleeping patterns, creating a study routine, implementing new strategies for good time management or getting in some daily exercise!

We wish everyone a well-deserved break and look forward to an exciting term ahead. Happy holidays!

A Message to Year 8 - New Assistant Advisor

Hi everyone! I’m Miss Bukvic. You might have already seen me around as the new English teacher at GRC Peakhurst, but I also want to reintroduce myself as the new Assistant Year Advisor for Year 8. I’ve had the pleasure of meeting some Year 8 students already in my classes, and I’m excited to get to know the whole cohort.

So far, I’ve been really impressed with how Year 8 students are tackling their learning and school activities. Whether it’s a class discussion, group project, or just surviving a Monday, they’ve been doing it with enthusiasm, positivity, and a great sense of teamwork. Year 8 is definitely setting the bar high for the rest of the school year!

I’m thrilled to be working with Ms Otaki this year to support the Year 8 cohort. As she’s mentioned, we’re here to support students and families with any concerns, whether academic or personal. If parents have any questions or need assistance with anything school-related, I’m always happy to help, so please don’t hesitate to reach out via email or phone. Together, we’ll make this a year to remember!

A Message to Year 10

Formal

Miss Brown and Mrs Tzoumas have been busy organising the Year 10 Formal, which has been booked for Monday, 8^th December at Doltone House, Sylvania Waters. The formal is held to celebrate the graduation of our students, and serves as a farewell to the Year 10 cohort of 2025. Please keep an eye out for a note that will be going out via School Bytes for more information.

Student Emails

This year, students will have many opportunities to participate in a range of TAFE courses and work experience placements. Please make sure students are checking their emails and listening to daily announcements from Ms Arfanis to avoid missing out!

Elaine Cao Year 7 Student Advisor
Mai Otaki Year 8 Student Advisor
Yoliana Elnemasy Year 9 Student Advisor
Fotini Tzoumas Year 10 Student Advisor

FACULTY NEWS

HSIE

It’s been a busy and engaging month in HSIE, with students across all year groups now immersed in their learning.

Year 10 Commerce

In Commerce, Year 10 students had the opportunity to extend their learning beyond the classroom with an excursion to the Police and Justice Museum and the NSW Parliament House in Sydney. This valuable experience allowed students to explore the workings of Australia’s legal and political systems firsthand, making connections to key course content.

Year 9 History

Year 9 History students took part in an interactive World War I incursion, where they were able to handle authentic artefacts, including weapons, uniforms, and personal equipment used by soldiers during the war. This hands-on experience gave students a tangible connection to the past and helped to deepen their understanding of the impact of WWI on individuals and society.

Year 7 History

Year 7 History classes have launched into their study of the ancient world by investigating the intriguing story of Otzi the Iceman. Working collaboratively in small groups, students analysed evidence from Otzi’s preserved body, clothing, tools and weapons to form hypotheses about his life and mysterious death over 5,000 years ago

It’s been a fantastic term, with students showing curiosity, critical thinking, and enthusiasm for the learning across the faculty.

Hayley Diamond
Head Teacher HSIE

LIBRARY

As we approach the end of Term One, we encourage you to visit the library to borrow some books for your holiday reading! We have an extensive selection of both fiction and nonfiction titles for you to enjoy. We hope your holiday is filled with relaxing moments and fantastic stories!

While you’re in the library, don’t miss our exciting book displays. This month, we celebrated International Women’s Day, Harmony Day, and the theme “Seen the Movie… Now Read the Book”, all featuring great book recommendations.

We’d like to remind you that the Premier's Reading Challenge (PRC) is ongoing until Friday, August 22nd. This is a wonderful opportunity for students in Years 7 to 10 to explore a variety of books and develop a love for reading. To complete the challenge, students will need to read a total of twenty books—ten of their choice and ten from the PRC list.

The library is open every day before school, during recess, and at lunchtime. With end-of-term assessments approaching, please take advantage of the Homework Club in the library, which meets every Tuesday from 3 PM to 4 PM and Wednesday from 2:30 PM to 3:30 PM. Teachers will be available to assist students with homework and assessment tasks.

Wishing you a happy and safe holiday!

Happy Reading! The Library Team

Karen Deegan                                                                Claudia Manwarring
Librarian                                                                         Library Assistant

LOTE

Year 8

Konnichiwa, year 8 seito (students) have finished their "watashi" posters and are now getting ready to present! They’ll describe themselves using the information on their posters. The work is すごい (sugoi – amazing), with creative designs that mix Japanese culture and their own, plus beautiful hiragana writing. とても楽しみ (totemo tanoshimi – very exciting) to see their presentations!

Year 10

十年生 (juunen-sei) Year 10 students are working hard on their menu task in Japanese! They’re creating their own menus and writing a script for a role-play. Some groups have gone all out, designing menus that are impresu (impressive) and even making clay food that’s super かわいい (kawaii – cute)! Can’t wait to see their presentations – it’s going to be so much fun!

Japan Overseas Excursion | Year 9 & 10 Fundraising

As you may be aware, our Year 9 and 10 elective Japanese students were given the opportunity this year to travel to Japan! We are departing in the Term 3 holidays and are all looking forward to this immersive experience.

Throughout the year, in lead up to our departure our students have formed a fundraising committee with proceeds going towards a portion of the excursion costs.

This term we are fundraising with Cadbury Chocolates! If you see our students with a box and you feel like a treat, we would love your support!

We can’t wait for the next fundraising event—stay tuned for more fun ways to help!

Giulia Amado
Head Teacher LOTE

SPECIAL EDUCATION

As we near the end of Term 1, students in the Support Unit are keeping very busy and engaged in a range of activities in and out of the classroom.

Support Unit Sport

This term during Wednesday sport time, students have had the opportunity to participate in either a dance class led by Ms Cattanach, or a multi-sports, inclusive sports program run by Coach Nick from ‘No Limits Sports’.

Both of these activities have been provided to our students to increase student engagement to help meet the required hours of physical activity per week and to foster a healthy lifestyle.

The No Limits Sports Program provides a special needs Multi-Sport session every Wednesday, which has students engaging in a variety of skills across a number of sports. Students are developing new skills whilst forming peer relations and building sportsmanship and team work and they are having an absolute ball whilst doing so.

Support Unit Community Access

Red and Blue Support Unit classes have been participating in a Community Access Program this term, building connections with the Club Grandviews community. Thank you to Rob from Club Grandviews, for his fun lawn bowls lessons. Students are having a great time learning the sport and developing their skills.

Following their bowls lesson, students then have the opportunity to practice their social skills by ordering food at ‘The Views’ Bistro and enjoying a lovely lunch with their peers.

We are so lucky to have such wonderful support form Club Grandviews and amazing community members on our doorstep!

“My favourite part of Community Access is ordering satay chicken!” - Paul H
“My favourite part of Community Access is learning lawn bowls!” – Benji M
“I give the Grandviews chicken nuggets 5 stars!” – Ben T
“My favourite part of Community Access is the walk!” – Tamika L

Prev

Showing images 1 - 8 of 12

Next

Wishing all of our students and their families an enjoyable and safe break and we look forward to another productive and exciting term.

Peta Holm
Head Teacher Special Education

TAS

TAS Trivia

Have you ever inflated a balloon and coated it in strips of paper? This concept inspired Italian architect Dante Bini to design dome shaped buildings using concrete instead of paper. Our school was one of only 15 schools in NSW to have a Bini dome. Built in the 1970’s and used as our school hall, the dome was demolished in 2014 due to maintenance issues and the new hall built. A few of Bini’s domes remain with some being heritage listed because of their innovative design.

Course update

Year 9 Design and Technology are examining the work of another Italian designer/architect Ettore Scottsas who created the colourful, bold, geometric design movement of the 1980’s. They are using acrylics and the laser cutter to design Memphis design clocks.

Year 9 Food Technology has examined past and present foods eaten in Australia, from our traditional bush foods to our modern Australian cuisine that represents our multicultural history. Students excelled in preparing dishes from different cultural groups as part of their assessment task and did an outstanding job in researching the food patterns of a cultural group and comparing it to their own.

Year 10 Food Technology meanwhile have researched and prepared meals to help meet the nutritional needs of various age groups.

In Industrial Technology Timber, Year 10 are designing and constructing bedside tables while Year 9 have completed their first project, a toolbox and are now working on their serving trays.

Year 7 and 8 Technology Mandatory are continuing to work on their practical projects and design and production folios. We are seeing some very creative cushions, trinket boxes and wooden toys being constructed.

Safety requirements

A reminder for students undertaking practical work, they must wear enclosed leather shoes. In food practicals they must also bring a apron and container and in timber classes they are to ensure they wear PPE which includes safety glasses.

News From the Garden

Students in the gardening group have been busy preparing the soil ready for planting new seedlings. Vegetables suitable for winter have been identified and will be planted in the next few weeks. Students have also been harvesting cherry tomatoes for use in the Year 7 Technology Tasty Pasta recipe.

As part of their Food and Agriculture unit of work, our Year 7 students have also tested their green thumbs by planting radishes. We look forward to seeing their edible results!

TAS shout out

The following students have been excelling in TAS.
Charlie M Year 10
Ainsley P Year 10
Ashley H   Year 10
Mae F Year 10
Luci B Year 9
Gibson L Year 8
Darcy V Year 8
Flynn A Year 7
Daniel C Year 7
Abbie Rose O Year 7
Samantha M Year 7

Rosalie Gualtieri
Head Teacher TAS

ABORIGINAL EDUCATION

Congratulations to Dante of Year 7 for proudly representing GRC Peakhurst, at Peakhurst South Primary School in Week 7.

Dante was invited to take part in the launch of their new Acknowledgement to Country, a project he played an integral role in developing in 2024. His contribution to this important initiative is truly commendable.

Deadly work, Dante!

A reminder to parents and carers to complete the survey Miss Brown has emailed regarding PLP meetings. Your input is greatly appreciated.

Tully Brown
Aboriginal Education Coordinator
PDHPE Teacher

CAREERS

Careers Lessons

Year 10 students are undertaking careers lessons and the focus will be to assist students learn more about themselves because in understanding themselves, they can plan for possible future career pathways.  A Careers Google classroom exists for submitting work, as well as a GRC Careers website.

EVET

TAFE has offered two courses to students so they gain "hands on" skills, in a practical manner while building their knowledge of the industry. 

The following students are going to partake in an EVET course, over Terms 2 and 3.

A Certificate 1 in Hospitality - Stage 5, at TAFE, Loftus Campus, for the following students: Talara A, Gisele B, Bella C, Krystal D, Raziella D, Milica D, Evie F, Amira K, Jessie L and Alexcia X. Unfortunately a few students were not offered a place but TAFE taster course could be an option for them.

A Certificate 1 in Automotive - Stage 5 Ultimo Campus, for the following students: Sunny D, Eden F, Kieran G, Mohammed H, Qi En L, Jason M, Hamish M, Japmann S, Yoel T, Anthony W  and Christian Y.

Work Experience

In preparation for a great placement in Term 4, students should think about where they would like to attend and start asking employers if it is a possibility.  Exact dates are:

Week 6 : 17 November, 18 November, 19 November, 20 November, and 21 November.

Week 7: 24 November, 25 November, 26 November, 27 November and 28 November.

Students can ask Ms Arfanis for the Student Placement Record Form paperwork, if they require it sooner than it's official distribution in Term 3.

White Card Training

White Card Training will next be delivered at school on 9 May, Term 2 and 12 September, Term 3.  To put your child’s name on the wait list for future White Card Training sessions, go to see Ms Arfanis in Room D0.14 or email Ms Arfanis at antonella.arfanis@det.nsw.edu.au and inform her.  Please ensure all students have a Unique Student Identifier (USI) number.

Toni Arfanis
Careers Advisor

WELLBEING

International Women's Day

In celebration of International Women's Day, our school hosted an inspiring special guest talk that left students feeling empowered and motivated. The event featured our very own school Principal Ms Diane Wilson, who shared her personal journey and discussed the importance of gender equality, role models and resilience. Ms Wilson emphasised the role of education in shaping futures and the importance of supporting one another, as we work towards a more equal world on a global scale.

Harmony Week at GRC Peakhurst.

Harmony Week was celebrated at our school. Students connected together to share their affirmations of unity and respect during recess, further highlighting Harmony Week's celebration of diversity and inclusion.

MyStrengths incursion year 10

Students in year 10 engaged in a wellbeing initiative aimed at providing an opportunity to discover and harness their strengths. During the workshop students were able to debrief on their strengths and taught how best to apply them in an everyday setting.

Deborah Vlachos
Relieving Head Teacher Wellbeing

ADMINISTRATION

Stewart House Fundraising

It’s not too late to donate to the Stewart House Foundation.

Please ensure you write your child’s full name and complete all the details on the envelope before handing it in to the office with your donation. If you are opting in to donate via the QR code, please complete the details on the envelope, including your online receipt number.

Envelopes need to be handed into the school office by Wednesday 14 May 2025 to be posted to Stewart House in time for entry into their prize draw.

For further information, please refer to the Stewart House website at https://www.stewarthouse.org.au/.

Secondhand uniform shop

Our secondhand uniform shop is running low on stock. If you have any unused uniform pieces that are in good, used condition that you are willing to donate, we would really appreciate your support.

The secondhand uniform shop is open every Wednesday from 8 – 9 am during the school term.

Lost property

If you or your child have misplaced an item, please make contact with the office. We have a number of items that have been handed in but not collected. This includes, but is not limited to, electronic accessories, glasses, keys, jewelry, clothing/uniform, books, stationary.

Please note that after an extended period of time, if items are not collected, they will be donated or disposed of as deemed appropriate for the item.

Payments

If you are sending cash to the office to make a payment/purchase, could you please ensure you send in the correct change as we do not hold cash on the premises.

Doreena Kourtesis
School Administrative Manager

DUKE OF EDINBURGH

We are proud to announce the re-launch of the Duke of Edinburgh Award at GRC Peakhurst.

The Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award - Australia (NSW) (the Duke of Ed) is a fully inclusive global youth development framework, empowering young people aged 14-24 to explore their full potential and find their purpose, passion, and place in the world, regardless of their location or circumstance.

Taking part in the Duke of Ed is a life-changing experience, empowering young Australians to learn new skills, get physically active, be rewarded through volunteering and discover a sense of adventure outside the classroom.

The Bronze Award is open to any student aged 14+ and takes the form of completing 3 sections over a minimum of 6 months with the culmination being the Adventurous Journey which will usually take the form of a 2 day hike with an overnight camp.

The award fee is $153 and you can register your interest and obtain some more information with Mr Miller in the PDHPE department. Once expressions of interest have been made, we will hold a more detailed parents information evening early in term 2.

Robert Miller
Duke of Edinburgh Coordinator