Celebrate by Hunter Valley Grammar School

Celebrate

Year Twelve 2021

SUCCESS THROUGH ENDEAVOUR: A HIGHER SCHOOL CERTIFICATE YEAR LIKE NO OTHER... It goes without saying that Year 12 for the Class of 2021, indeed their entire Stage 6 journey, has been unique and formed a story like no other. In NSW, Australia and around the world young people over the last two years have amazed us with their determination and resourcefulness and our Class of 2021 is no different. They have demonstrated the resilience and agility necessary in our everchanging world. The 2021 results reflect our students’ academic mastery but also go well beyond this measure of success. The success of the Class of 2021 is also seen in their ability to be flexible, patient and adaptable no matter the social and educational challenges they encounter.

Cover: Acoustic Fianeur by Olivia Blissett.

We may have never predicted students would be sitting HSC examinations in December, socially distanced, wearing masks and adhering to mandated protocols. Still, our mature HVGS graduates did so without complaint, maintaining a sense of purpose and commitment to their goals. For this we sincerely thank the Class of 2021 for their efforts, integrity and support. It is also important to acknowledge the incredible hard work and professionalism of our staff, particularly our HSC teachers who routinely went above and beyond to ensure students were supported and academically challenged right to the end of the HSC examinations. 2022 is now upon us, and our graduates are preparing for the next stage of their academic and personal journeys.

This year’s edition of Celebrate serves to acknowledge the outstanding academic achievements of students, including Lucy Saywell, who achieved first place in NSW in HSC English Extension 2, and the many students who achieved their personal best. Above all, Celebrate recognises all HSC graduates who through determination, perseverance, commitment and sustained effort realised their potential. Our educational aim at HVGS continues to focus on building depth of character in our young people through opportunity and encouragement, as much as it is about pursuing an individual’s academic potential. It is rewarding to witness our graduates depart HVGS ready to tackle new challenges in different environments, equipped to make active and positive contributions to society, and prepared to be the leaders and role models of tomorrow. The community of students walk past the School’s motto Success Through Endeavour emblazoned on the Administration building each day. Our HSC graduates in 2021 showed us all what this looks like in practice, in the face of disruption, adversity and uncertainty. It has been a privilege to share in their journey, and to watch them develop academically, grow in character, and flourish. Rebecca Butterworth Principal Nick Jolliffe Dean of Academics

LUCY SAYWELL First in HSC English Extension 2 Lucy Saywell has achieved outstanding results in her HSC, including in the highly challenging English Extension 2 course, finishing first in New South Wales with a perfect result of 50/50 for her Major Work poetry composition. Lucy was honoured at a ceremony in Sydney streamed live on Wednesday 19 December. English Extension 2 is the highest level of English in the NSW HSC, attempted by more than 1300 of the State's highly capable students. Congratulations Lucy on this incredible, and much deserved, accomplishment.

LUCY SAYWELL What advice would you offer the 2022 HSC cohort? Don’t stress when changes come up, adapt and grow around it. Listen to your teachers and family, they are a good support system. Keep a balance between your studies, exercise and seeing your friends.

HSC success starts long before Year 12; what experiences at HVGS in Yr7-10 equipped you for achieving so highly in your final year? Overcoming some of my setbacks like a poor assessment mark, learning how to ask for help and take criticism and work with it. The English faculty from Year 7 – 10 was amazing. I remember Ms Dwyer in year 7 had such enthusiasm for literature and this really inspired me. Equestrian definitely reinforced resilience and learning from mistakes.

What further study do you intend to do after the HSC?

TOP ACHIEVERS LIST Lucy Saywell was also honoured on the NSW Education Standards Authority Top Achievers List which celebrates students who achieved one of the top places in a course and a result in the highest band possible in one or more HSC courses.

Double degree of law and social science at Newcastle University. I’m hoping that will give me a good foundation for working on social justice initiatives. I would like to work overseas, hopefully in Europe and apply my French speaking skills. Your personal philosophy for how you approached and overcame the challenges of 2021? Do your best, where I hoped I would end up and where I got to was different. I was able to finish Year 12 content and I was content that I had given my best shot. How do you define success? For me success is being able to meet your goals. Being able to realistically achieve goals you can be proud of.

HSC HIGHLIGHTS NOTABLE MENTIONS Highest HVGS ATAR Angus Rogers 97.95 More than 85% of all 2021 HSC results were at Band 4, 5 or 6 – our best collective result against this measure in recent years.

Student achieved NSW First in Course Honours

Band 6 results (from 27 students)

27 students shared in a total of 53 Band 6 results across all HSC courses examined. Morgan Clyne received top Band results in 9 of her units of study – an outstanding result. Charlotte Coakes-Jenkins achieved Band 6 results across 8 units; both Lucy Saywell and Angus Rogers achieved top Band results in 4 courses each. 3 students received an ATAR above 95, 15 students above 90, and 32 students received an ATAR above 80. More than 90% of the Business Studies candidature achieved a Band 5/6 result. HSC Drama Band 6 & Band 5 results achieved were significantly higher than State averages.

Students on the Distinguished Achievers List

Student on the Top Achievers List

Students received an ATAR above 90

Nominations for HSC major works and performances

More than 90% of English Standard candidates achieved at Band 4 or higher – more than double the State average. All English Extension 2 students achieved were in the top two Bands (E3/E4). In addition to Lucy Saywell’s Statetopping 50/50 result in English Extension 2, both Sophie O’Brien and Molly Fisher received 48/50 for their Major Work compositions. HSC Food Technology students all achieved a result of 85% or higher, more than three times State benchmarks.

HSC HIGHLIGHTS NOTABLE MENTIONS continued... Angus Rogers received an outstanding top Band mark of 93% in the most challenging of Mathematics courses, HSC Extension 2. All HSC Geography students achieved Band 4, 5 or 6, with double the State average for a Band 6 results.

Angus Rogers

More than double the State average of HSC Engineering Band 6 results were attained.

What further study do you intend to do after the HSC?

75% of Legal Studies students achieved a Band 5/6 result, significantly higher than State average. Emily Fortunaso-Klocker achieved a course-topping mark of 97% in Mathematics Advanced, adding to her other top Band results in PDHPE and Mathematics Extension 1. Nearly 80% of all HSC Music 1 students received a Band 6, compared with only 20% of the State. Asher Gale received an outstanding result of 97%. Olivia Blissett and Ellen Dungavell achieved amazing top Band results in HSC Music 2 and HSC Music Extension. Olivia attained a perfect 50/50 in the challenging Music Extension course, and an impressive 98% in Music 2, our equal highest Music 2 result at HVGS ever. PDHPE students more than doubled the State average in Band 6 results. All HSC Visual Arts students received Band 5/6 results, with more than double the State average achieving at the highest level (Band 6). VET Hospitality students achieved Band 5/6 results at nearly three times the State benchmark. HVGS enjoyed a large number of early entry offers in 2021, with nearly half of our graduates receiving early entry offers for university placement either via direct application to tertiary institutions, or through UAC’s early entry and SRS schemes.

I’m planning to commence a double degree in aerospace and mechatronics engineering at the University of Newcastle, although I’m remaining flexible with my options at this point. Favourite subject at school and why? Both Extension 2 Mathematics and Physics. Extension 2 Math was great because it was another standard of mathematics that I found challenging and interesting. Physics was enjoyable because there are so many realworld applications that explain the way things work. What is your personal view of success? Success looks different to everyone. There’s always that next step, the next level to attain. To me, success is being able to do what you need to do to get where you want to be in a manner that’s sustainable and enjoyable. I was to start the past year over; I might have made some different choices. However, I certainly don’t regret the route I took; the successes precipitate enjoyment, and the challenges build character. I look forward to what the next few years will bring.

Your philosophy about how you approached this year? I didn’t approach this year any different from the previous few. I focused slightly more on competitive swimming than school until a couple of weeks before the trial examinations, when my time allocation shifted. Success in Year 12 isn’t necessarily about an enormous commitment to study; it’s actively thinking about your process so that you can make the right action at the right time and consistently fit in these small efforts along the way.

DISTINGUISHED ACHIEVERS Congratulations to the following students who were named on the NSW Education Standards Authority Distinguished Achievers List for achieving a result in the highest band (Band 6/E4, equivalent to 90%) in one or more of their subjects.

Ella Bendeich

Lucy Long What is your big dream in life?

Olivia Blissett James Burke Morgan Clyne Charlotte Coakes-Jenkins Kiahny Rose Cooper Angelina Devorsine Kathleen Doherty Ellen Dungavell

My short-term aspiration is to get through university and out into the real world. I’m looking forward to making new friends and connections at university and refining my career options and place in the world. A such, I don’t really have a ‘big dream’, but I’m looking forward to developing one as opportunities arise! What further study do you intend to do after the HSC? My first preference is to study for a double degree in Law and Forensic Sciences at the University of Technology in Sydney.

Jack Ellis Emily Fortunaso-Klocker Asher Gale Riley Hackett Olivia Halliwell Genevieve Janse van Rensburg Claire Lawrence

Favourite subject at school and why? I thoroughly enjoyed all my school subjects, and probably Legal Studies and French would have to be my favourites! Despite the funky grammar, I love learning the French language, and it is a fantastic experience learning in-depth about another culture. Legal Studies was academically challenging and a fascinating aspect of real-world life that I want to pursue in the future.

Georgia Lidbury

How you define success?

Bridie Long

My view of success has changed and I have grown to understand that you don’t have to be the best or get 100% in every task to be successful. I would define success as knowing that you did the best possible with the time and resources provided, despite the outcome.

Lucy Long Sophie O'Brien Hannah Rath Angus Rogers

Your philosophy about how you approached this year?

Lucy Saywell

My motto that I tried to approach this year with was; ‘all she can be’. This meant I tried to put 100% effort into all my assessments to do my personal best. It meant focussing on my own successes and failures rather than others to keep focussed. I have also tried to keep a balanced mindset; keeping fit, going out with friends and studying whilst staying flexible and openminded due to COVID-19.

Ian Stalker Charlotte Stephenson Rose Sutherland Laura Way

UNIVERSITY EARLY ENTRY OFFERS More than 40 students from the Class of 2021 have been successful in receiving early entry offers to university. A number of students received multiple offers from a variety of institutions.

Kathleen Doherty What is your big dream in life?

The following infographic indicates the courses broadly grouped by area of study.

I want to study Archaeology more than anything. I also want to travel around Italy. This has always been a key dream of mine, and one day I hope to get there and create memories I'll never forget. What further study do you intend to do after the HSC?

Engineering and related disciplines

Laws

Business and related disciplines

I intend to study a double degree with a Bachelor of Arts (Archaeology), and a Bachelor of Law at the University of Queensland. Favourite subject at school and why? I've always loved history, especially ancient history and so it's no surprise that my favourite subject at school is Extension History because you can focus on your areas of interest. I wrote a paper on the authenticity of the Nefertiti Bust and some of the controversies that surround it. We learnt about how history is constructed and how it has been interpreted differently over many years.

Creative Arts and related disciplines

Technology and related disciplines

Science and related disciplines

Education & Training

Arts Communications and related and related disciplines disciplines

How do you define success? Success depends on the person you ask, and it's hard to define because it's difficult to measure. Being successful is when you are happy. Success has to be in the little things. Success is how you talk to people and treat them. It's setting your mind to something and achieving it! Success is when you feel accomplished. Success is also doing something for others because you want to, not because there is a prize. So, success can be a range of things, but most importantly, to be 'successful', you have to balance your needs and the needs of others. Your philosophy about how you approached this year? It has been vital for me to remember to work with my peers and acknowledge we needed to lean on each other for support. I got through this year by keeping my head down but not being afraid to put my pen down and to go outside to enjoy the things going on around me.

YEAR 12 TERTIARY SCHOLARSHIPS Emily FortunasoKlocker The Hunter Valley Grammar School Scholarship for Teaching Olivia Paul

What is your big dream in life? I would like to see how far I can go in triathlon and also to become a sports physician one day. What further study do you intend to do after the HSC?

The Hunter Valley Grammar School's Tertiary Scholarship for Built Environment, Design Technologies & Engineering Kiahny Cooper

The Jason Johnston Tertiary Scholarship for Health Sciences Holly Baker

The Tassell Financial Planning Pty Ltd Tertiary Scholarship for Performing Morgan Clyne

The Tassell Financial Planning Pty Ltd Tertiary Scholarship for Business and Finance Alexander Gray

I would like to do sports medicine with a focus on injury prevention and injury management. What is your favourite subject at school and why? Maths and PDHPE are my favourite subjects. Maths, because of the fun challenge that comes with solving complicated problems and the fact that there is just one correct answer. I enjoy PDHPE as it relates to what I do in my sport, and it allows me to apply the content I learn in PE in a practical way. How do you define success? Success is a sense of accomplishment and fulfilment received by the effort you have put into achieving something. I find the amount of effort put in determines the subsequent degree of success felt. Success is not only coming in first place but is achieved when we learn from our mistakes and use newfound knowledge to drive our future aspirations. Success is also being the best version of yourself and having strong relationships with friends, family and within your community. What was your philosophy about how you approached this year? Setting small and large goals gave me direction this year and allowed me to focus on my long term goals. Taking time off to do something relaxing and enjoyable, such as cooking, I found very helpful and sustainable. For me, training has been beneficial and have given me time away from study and the stress of schoolwork.

Morgan Clyne What is your big dream in life? My ultimate big dream in life would be to create theatre to empower people. Something I’ve always had in the back of my mind is the possibility of writing a play and then actually putting it on. What further study do you intend to do after the HSC? I’m hoping to get into a course at one of Australia’s leading drama schools, studying the practice of stage management. I’ve had an interview with NIDA and VCA, so now it’s just waiting with all my fingers and toes crossed! What is your favourite subject at school and why? My favourite subject might have been art - sorry, Mrs White! Drama is my passion, but I found my art major work to be a great outlet and creative pastime that I could turn to when I felt swamped by all my other subjects. My major work was quite political in message and, I feel, is a super powerful statement against the patriarchal micro-aggressions young women face in their everyday lives.

Your Year 12 tips for other students? Take the little things, and make them extraordinary. Try hard but not too hard; your best is good enough. I actively paid attention in class, I was involved in every discussion and I took a whole heap of notes. I did all the assigned work and tried my best to do the stuff my teacher’s strongly encouraged me to do. Que será, será: I always tried to keep it in perspective, and I know my mental health was better for it. If you completely tank a subject you needed to do well in, take a bridging course. Keep it all in perspective, and let the wise words of Doris day guide you.

STORIES OF SUCCESS SPORT

PERFORMING ARTS

When it comes to grit and determination in the sporting arena, our Year 12 students have shone. After two difficult years in school sport, we congratulate our sportspeople for their fantastic achievements.

The musicians and performers from the Class of 2021 have moved and amazed us with their creative talents and commitment to their craft. They have enhanced the cultural fabric of the School and we are richer for it.

Congratulations to Liverpool House Captain Thomas Irwin who achieved selection into the 2021 NSW CIS Golf team in his final year. This caps of a wonderful sporting career at Hunter Valley Grammar School. Shannon Burton's selection into the CIS Secondary Open Girls Basketball team brought to a close her wonderful sporting achievements as an elite sportsperson at school level. Congratulations Shannon.

Olivia Blissett (Violin) and Ellen Dungavell (Flute) were selected as soloists to perform with the Hunter Valley Grammar School Symphony Orchestra in 2021. Both Olivia and Ellen were founding members and musical leaders of the Symphony Orchestra. Congratulations to Olivia and Ellen on their outstanding effort, talent and commitment to their musical studies, and for inspiring younger musicians at HVGS.

ENDEAVOUR STUDENTS We wish to celebrate the Year 12 graduates who have attended Hunter Valley Grammar School for all of their schooling.

Holly Baker

Harry Gabites

James Beavis

Leeloo Green

Ella Bendeich

Olivia Halliwell

Emma Bilkey

Haniya Rana

Harris Clowes

Sabeera Rana

Harrison Daines

Patrick Ryan

Angelina Devorsine

Ethan Sparkes

Molly Fisher

Maxwell Weston-Aarts

Holly Baker

James Beavis

Ella Bendeich

Emma Bilkey

Harris Clowes

Harrison Daines

Angelina Devorsine

Molly Fisher

Lachlan Frost

Harry Gabites

SECOND GENERATION STUDENTS We wish to acknowledge our Second Generation students and their parents for being such a vital part of the HVGS community over a long period of time. Gabrielle Leggett Daughter of Brad Leggett (Class of 1996)

Leeloo Green

Olivia Halliwell

Haniya Rana

Sabeera Rana

Patrick Ryan

Ethan Sparks

Georgia Lidbury Daughter of Greg Lidbury (Class of 1994)

Gabrielle Leggett

Georgia Lidbury

Maxwell Weston-Aarts