HSC Academic Results & Success Stories 2019 1
WELCOME H E A DM A S T E R
Tony George
C
H E Aongratulations DM A S T E R to the Class of 2019 who achieved excellent HSC results. The entire cohort
Tony George
worked with diligence and commitment and we are extremely proud of their achievements. I am particularly encouraged by the steady improvement over the past decade that has seen a reduction in the ATAR “tail” – in fact, almost two thirds of our cohort over the past five years has consistently attained an ATAR of 80 and above, and 93% of all results achieved in the HSC were in the top 3 Bands. Well done! Of particular note is that we understand more than 40% of our students were given an early offer to university! We also congratulate the record-breaking number of boys whose practical works were nominated and/or selected for ArtExpress, Encore, OnStage, Shape and InTech. And we continue to be inspired by the extraordinary number of boys involved in our Cadet Corps and those being awarded their Gold Duke of Edinburgh Award. As a non-selective school, we aim to not only support our top learners who fall within the top 5% of the State, but we work hard to make sure the entire cohort achieves their full potential. As the top 5% are almost guaranteed to score highly, the real difference is made with the other 95%, and the Class of 2019 has delivered one of the best overall academic performances with respect to ATAR in the School’s history. That said, our top achievers continue to do us proud – we applaud Joshua Han’s result of 99.95, the top achievers and all-rounders who led the cohort with their outstanding rankings and marks. However, not only do we applaud and celebrate their academic achievements, we delight in their
growth and character development as young men of wisdom and compassion. The stories of Josh, Will, Archie, Tom, Peter, Alex, Blake and Jack, as examples, are wonderfully encouraging.
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These qualities are exactly the kind we are looking for as students of Macquarie University and we are proud to support William and Blake who have not only proven themselves academically, but have contributed towards positive change in their community. MACQUARIE UNIVERSITY
Thank you to our exemplary teaching staff and faithful parents whose dedication and commitment have been instrumental in developing all our students (intellectually, physically, socially, emotionally and spiritually) and ensuring they remain
focussed and inspired throughout their learning journey. Contemporary educational evidence indicates that outstanding teachers have a greater impact on lower to middle ability students. It is the broader cohort of students that benefit most from the impact of teachers and of the School, and this is seen in more students achieving academically better than they otherwise would. The positive impact of teachers and the School is seen in a cohort’s ATARs being more concentrated towards the top, of which a median ATAR, together with a tighter spread, is a better measure. This positive impact of a King’s education academically is seen in the steady improvement of our boys’ ATAR results over the past decade. Ironically, the achievement of the entire cohort of our boys and thus our School is rarely shown in the newspaper league tables. NSW is the only Australian state to rank schools on the performance of the top 5-10% of students, those achieving a Band 6 (other states now use median scores). Consequently, the ranking is based on the performance of only the top students, not the School, and is largely influenced by whether or not a
SCHOOL HIGHLIGHTS
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99.95
85.6
233
1/3
Top ATAR Joshua Han (perfect score)
Median ATAR in 2019
233 Band 6 results from 183 students
Over 1/3 of the cohort achieved all of their results as a Band 5 or 6
school is selective as well as the number of academic scholarships on offer. Even though The King’s School has steadily improved its academic performance with respect to ATAR over the past decade, rankings in the newspaper league tables have always shown significant volatility for non-selective schools. While we acknowledge the utility of the newspaper league tables as leverage for the marketing of schools and as a talking point about performance of the top students, they are not a means of recognising the performance of our students or of the School. The King’s School has recently reviewed its strategic direction and has affirmed its three strategic distinctives – Academic Excellence with Character Development in the context of Christian Community. Consequently, the School is also reviewing its scholarships policies and practices to better reflect these distinctives. Academic Excellence will always be a priority. However, the School will seek to broaden and expand its offer of scholarships that encourage and enhance Character Development as well as Christian Community, ensuring that The King’s School sustains its diversity and continues to produce graduates who are recognised as Global Thought Leaders. On behalf of the School community, I would like to thank our Year 12 Kingsmen of 2019 for their positive impact on the life of our School, for their wonderful achievements so broad and so rich, and for the wonderful young men of wisdom and character they have become. We wish them the very best for their future endeavours and we look forward to hearing about their successes in the coming years. With warm regards,
Tony George Headmaster, The King’s School
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1
3
93%
43
5
4
3
Of all results achieved were in the top 3 bands (4, 5 and 6)
Nominations for ArtExpress (Visual Arts), ENCORE (Music), OnStage (Drama), Shape (Design and Technology) and InTech (Industrial Technology)
Boys in the All Rounders List – scores of 90% or above in 10 or more units
State rankings Chinese Continuers 3rd Korean and Literature 4th Chemistry 8th Mathematics 13th
Students achieved an ATAR over 99
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WELCOME
DE P U T Y H E A D ( AC A DE M IC S)
Jacqueline Camilleri
C
ongratulations to the class of 2019! We celebrate the amazing work of Year 12 students who have gained excellent HSC results across a wide range of courses. What makes them all the more impressive, is that they have been achieved by students who have kept a healthy balance of academic and co-curricular endeavours.
The focus on Academic Excellence and Character Development continues to produce confident, well-rounded young men who are fully equipped for life beyond the School gates. Thank you to all teaching and support staff who have helped to shape and mould these fine young men. Some of the highlights include: •
Total number of Band 6s: 233
• Almost
2/3 of the cohort achieved an ATAR above 80; (top 20% of their age group); a consistent trend for TKS, in recent years
• 114
boys, out of 183 (62%), gained at least 1 Band 6 Result (Distinguished Achievers)
• Over
1/3 of the cohort achieved all of their results as a Band 5 or 6
• Drama
had 79.16% of students achieve a Band 6 Result
• Chinese
Continuers had 70% of students achieve a Band 6 Result
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• Visual
Arts had 68% of students achieve a Band 6 Result
• Top
ATAR: (One perfect ATAR, Joshua Han)
• 4
boys named in the Top Achievers list (state ranking): Chinese Continuer (3rd), Korean and Literature (4th), Chemistry (8th), Mathematics (13th)
• 5
boys named in the Top All-Rounders
• Highest
record in TKS history of nominations (43) for subjects with practical components for possible inclusion in displays or performance next year: Design and Technology (1), Drama (18), Industrial Technology (9), Music (2) and Visual Arts (13)
• In
addition to the outstanding practical works nominations, 7 student works have been selected for display at ARTEXPRESS (6) and SHAPE (1)
• All
Year 11 2019 accelerated students, Mathematics (12) and Physics (1) received Band 6 results with Jun Yin (Dux of Year 11) and Alexander Lin achieving a perfect score in Mathematics
• In
2019, King’s had boys awarded early entry to a range of leading Australian universities including Macquarie University, the University of New England, University of Wollongong, Western Sydney University and Australian National University. Macquarie University alone accepted 52 King’s students (almost 30%) into the 2019 Macquarie Leaders and Achievers Early Entry Scheme.
Jacqueline Camilleri Deputy Head (Academics), The King’s School
SCHOOL RESULTS
Percentage (%) of Students Above Each ATAR ATAR
2013
2014
2015
2016
2017
2018
2019
99
8
1.5
6
6
8
7
2
95
25
19
22
26
24
25
17
90
41
35
34
42
41
38
35
80
64
58
60
67
66
63
63
70
80
76
75
79
84
80
79
60
91
91
87
92
91
91
92
50
96
95
95
97
96
97
98
Students
198
205
189
206
211
208
183
Median
85.30
83.15
83.25
87.45
86.95
86.30
85.6
Mean
82.85
80.38
80.53
83.20
83.02
82.58
81.89
Distribution of ATAR Results in Each Year 100
90
80
Average UniScore
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
2014
2015
2016
2017
2018
2019
Year
Over several years, HSC results from the tail of the cohort continue to diminish and our middle cohort results continue to strengthen. 5
TOP ATAR & DUX
Joshua Han ATAR 99.95
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well-rounded student and a natural born leader both inside and outside the classroom, Joshua Han could not be a more impressive young man to receive the top ATAR for his 2019 cohort.
Josh received a perfect ATAR score of 99.95, the second perfect score for the Han family after his brother Oscar in 2018. Josh humbly credits much of his success to his dedicated teachers, stating King’s was invaluable to his performance in the HSC.
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“I was very lucky to have selfless teachers who sacrificed their time not only to cover syllabus content, but to create much-needed appreciation for the learning journey. They helped me put myself in a good position for the HSC exams,” he said. “The teachers were very caring, considerate and willing to answer all questions. On a tangible level, they contributed immensely to not only my results, but the enduring passion of my subjects.” Josh also commented on the positive learning environment created by the staff and students, who truly value the student – making him feel always supported.
“In this regard, my House tutor, for the past five years, showed incredible kindness and encouragement always motivating me to try even harder,” he said. With an excellent mind, a positive can-do attitude and the capacity to work well independently, there’s no surprise Josh finished Year 12 acquiring several awards and prizes. For his academic excellence, he was awarded Academic Honour Colours, Academic Proficiency and prizes for Chemistry, English Advanced, Mathematics Extension 1 and the English Language. He also impressively ranked 8th in the State for 2 Unit Chemistry. Due to Josh’s continuous hard work and academic achievements he was awarded the high esteem of Dux of the School.
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The most special thing I will remember is that King’s is a place where anyone can succeed.
“It is both an honour and privilege to be Dux of the School. If you asked me in Year 9 if I was going to be Dux, I would hardly believe it.” While at King’s, Josh was also heavily involved in the co-curricular area, finding his true passion in music. Involved in Choir, Senior Symphonic Band and proficient at piano, Josh regards his many first prize winnings at international and domestic competitions as one of his more noteworthy achievements at King’s. “Co-curricular pursuits formed a much-needed means to overcome the pressure associated with studying, and notably, the stress of the HSC years. In the junior years, being a part of the choir, with routine Monday morning rehearsals, helped me to face upcoming challenges of the day,” he said.
Josh has chosen to study a double degree, a Bachelor of Arts and Doctor of Medicine, majoring in English and minoring in Data Science at the University of Sydney. His decision to study Medicine stems from his aspirations to give back to the community, the same primary medical care he has been fortunate to receive in his life. “I hope to revisit rural communities in Australia and South America. I have seen first-hand they are in need of good healthcare and medical practitioners. My ultimate goal is to be a surgeon in the front lines, helping those who are afflicted by cancers and disease,” he said.
“I am thankful for the pure opportunity that the Dux award brings – like the University of Sydney’s Future Leaders Scheme. It has also given me a sense of responsibility to try my hardest in academics and overall character building, as I seek to better the lives of others through healthcare.” As he now transitions to his next chapter, he reflects on the many wonderful moments shared at King’s and will always remember the close friendships and bonds created and strengthened whilst eating in the Dining Hall or during late nights in the CLL. “The most special thing I will remember is that King’s is a place where anyone can succeed. Whether it be in academics, sports, music or drama, King’s nurtures talent and develops the young leaders of tomorrow,” said Josh.
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DUKE OF EDINBURGH’S AWARD
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The remarkable number of Kingsmen who received their Gold Duke of Edinburgh Awards this year.
T
he Duke of Edinburgh’s Award is an internationally recognised program, open to individuals aged 14 to 24, which aims to empower young people to undergo new experiences and aids them in building valuable life and work-related skills. The journey is completely their own, meaning the sky is the limit for what can be achieved. “The Duke of Edinburgh program opened up new experiences that I otherwise wouldn’t have had. The week I spent in New Caledonia for my Gold Adventurous Journey was one of the best weeks in my life, learning a completely new skill and experiencing a culture in a way that
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otherwise would have been impossible,” said Will Bird. To attain this Award there are three levels that must be completed consecutively - Bronze, Silver and Gold. These levels must be done within a determined timeframe and each become progressively more challenging. There are four sections which must be completed – physical recreation, skills, voluntary service, adventurous journey and a gold residential project (Gold level only). Gold Duke of Edinburgh participants are challenged to complete service within the community, improve their personal health and fitness, expand and widen their interests, explore and undergo new adventures, and finally must complete a purposeful project that will build on a talent previously developed.
“Although attaining the Gold Award was no easy task, its completion provided several new and challenging opportunities that changed the way I see the world. From the modest and remote Isle of Pines in New Caledonia to the small French town of Annecy, these experiences, coupled with studying the French language, gave insight into how different cultures around the world live, teaching me that the world is always bigger than what we think. These experiences also helped me to build independence as I had to navigate unfamiliar settings. Not to mention, the Award is attractive to universities and future employers!” said Will. 2019 marked the 60th Anniversary of the Award, an especially memorable year for King’s as some of our students were fortunate enough to be presented the Award by His Royal Highness Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex.
SCHOOL RESULTS
Top
1%
in the state
Top NSW Achievers’ List
ATAR
Joshua Han
99.95
Kenuka Wijayatunga
99.50
Nicholas Dang
4
99.05
Individual Subject Rankings Paul Lapinski Jeongwoo Kim Joshua Han Donghyeon Lee
Top NSW Rankings
Chinese Continuers Korean and Literature Chemistry Mathematics
3rd NSW Rank 4th NSW Rank 8th NSW Rank 13th NSW Rank
All Year 11 accelerated students, Mathematics (12) and Physics (1) received Band 6 results with Jun Yin (Dux of Year 11) and Alexander Lin achieving a perfect score in Mathematics.
Above
All Rounders’ List NSW Ranking For scoring 90% or above in 10 or more units
90%
Joshua Han
Kah Tim Ho
Harrison Keen
William Konstandinidis
Kenuka Wijayatunga
Top Performing Courses 2019
Visual Arts
Studies of Religion 1
PDHPE
Software Design & Development
Music 2
Music Extension
Modern History
Mathematics Standard 2
Mathematics
Mathematics Extension 2
Measure Names School Proportion of Band 5 and 6 Results State Proportion of Band 5 and 6 Results
Mathematics Extension 1
IPT
Legal Studies
Investigating Science
History Extension
Industrial technology
Geography
German Continuers
French Extension
French Continuers
0
English Extension 2
10
0
English EAL/D
10
English Extension 1
20
English Advanced
30
20
Economics
40
30
Engineering Studies
40
Drama
50
Earth & Environmental Science
60
50
Chinese Continuers
70
60
Chemistry
80
70
Biology
80
Business Studies
90
Agriculture
100
90
Ancient History
State vs King’s Bands 5 and 6 Combined
Course 100
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ALAN MITCHELL PRIZE
Will Bird Winner 2019
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S
trong leadership, determination and communication are words that come to mind when describing Will Bird.
Establishing himself as an impressive member of the 2019 cohort from the time he arrived on campus six years ago, Will has been an active member of The King’s School both, in his academics and co-curricular involvement. He took advantage of every opportunity offered, demonstrating dedication, responsibility and genuine talent. For his immense contributions to the School and his altruistic attitude, Will was honourably awarded the Alan Mitchell Prize for being the best all round boy. “I was very surprised when I read the awards for the first time – there were a number of really strong candidates, so I am incredibly proud to be recognised with the Alan Mitchell Prize,” Will said. Academically, Will was a strong student concluding his Year 12 with several awards including academic prizes for French Continuers, French Extension and Music 2, along with receiving Full Colours for academic proficiency. In recognition for his academic abilities he was awarded the Nan Blaicklock Fellowship and Neville Body Scholarships. Participating in many co-curricular activities at King’s, Will’s contributions were vast. “I was an active musician, playing in the String Orchestra, Cello Ensemble, Piano Trio and Cello Trio. I also participated actively in the Cadet Corps, becoming Adjutant in Year 12 after working my way through the ranks each year. Sport was also a big part of my life at King’s, playing Cricket in the summer and Football in the winter, as well as refereeing each year. I also did quite a bit of charity work, participating twice in Write a Book in a Day and shaving my head for the World’s Greatest Shave.” Will never strayed from a challenge which was apparent as he served the School as both Vice-Captain and Adjutant of the Cadet Corps in 2019. For his natural leadership abilities, Will was awarded the Adjutant Prize. “I really enjoyed my time in the Corps, each year bringing with it a new challenge as I went up in rank and responsibility. Becoming Adjutant was a huge step up, but it was a challenge that I really enjoyed taking on, creating memories on camp and at the Passing Out Parade that I will remember forever. Also, participating in and leading the World’s Greatest Shave this year was
a highlight, raising money for a fantastic cause and being able to draw together the whole School’s support.” Will also has achieved his Gold Duke of Edinburgh’s Award, showcasing his many qualities including initiative, endurance and willingness to help others. Now that Will has graduated, he intends to take a gap year and travel before heading to university where he will study Medicine – a long standing passion. Reflecting on his many joyous moments at King’s, Will shall miss the relationships forged and nurtured while on campus. “The thing I’ll miss the most will be the relationships and the ease of creating them. Seeing your friends every day and getting to know your teachers on a more personal level is something special about King’s.” “Before coming to King’s I immediately knew this was the right School for me. Six years later and after everything that I’ve experienced during my time here, I still stand by this belief.”
“
I was very surprised when I read the awards for the first time – there were a number of really strong candidates, so I am incredibly proud to be recognised with the Alan Mitchell Prize.
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OUTSTANDING PRACTICAL WORKS AND RESULTS
Art Express Visual Arts
NOMINATED
Mark Ao ‘Waiting’
NOMINATED
Mack Holz ‘Lightning Ridge: The Home of the Black Opal and Me’
SELECTED
Oscar Browne ‘Dark Matter’
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NOMINATED
Noah Olejniczak ‘Oculus’
SELECTED
Ross Collins ‘Tempus Vernon’
NOMINATED
Joshua Caldwell ‘Dry Spell’
NOMINATED
Lucas Trotman ‘Captured Ephemerality’
SELECTED
Samuel Forster ‘The Hollow Man’
NOMINATED
Willem Gribble ‘Waiting’
NOMINATED
Sidney White ‘Hillview, Strathmore Lane’
SELECTED
Bodhi Leonard ‘Erosion of Time’
SELECTED
William Russell ‘Power of Flight’
SELECTED
Jordan Williams ‘I Am. Am I’
Encore Music
NOMINATED
William Konstandinidis
NOMINATED
Joshua Wehbe
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OUTSTANDING PRACTICAL WORKS AND RESULTS
Onstage Drama
NOMINATIONS
Group
Liam Bishell Joshua Coppolelli Henry Doering Benedict Emmett Samuel Groutsis Mack Holz Isaac Lane Jacob Lummis Benjamin MacLeod Ariyan Sharma Joshua Wehbe
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Onstage Drama
NOMINATED
NOMINATED
Harrison Keen Individual
NOMINATED
NOMINATED
Liam Bishell Individual
Corey DaleyRobertson Individual
Benedict Emmett Individual
NOMINATED
NOMINATED
NOMINATED
Isaac Lane Individual
Shape
Mark Richardson Individual
Ariyan Sharma Individual
Shape
Design and Technology
Industrial Technology
NOMINATED
Lyal Stanford Stanford Industries Hearing Preservation System
SELECTED
Miles Davey Steam Bent Bench, American White Oak
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OUTSTANDING PRACTICAL WORKS AND RESULTS
InTech
Industrial Technology
SELECTED
NOMINATED
Jack Hando New Guinea Rose Wood Cabinet
NOMINATED
Lyal Stanford Belt Grinding Station
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NOMINATED
NOMINATED
Willem Gribble Mid Century Modern Inspired Walnut Desk
Samuel Forster Counterweight Desk
William FultonKennedy Work Trailer and Toolboxes
NOMINATED
NOMINATED
NOMINATED
Thomas Jarvis Log Splitter
D’Arcy Needham Golf Buggy
Nicholas Pierides Camping Trailer
Two Nominations
Sam Forster ArtExpress & InTech For his adjustable counterweight desk Sam received a nomination for InTech (Industrial Technology). He was also selected for ArtExpress for his work, The Hollow Man, which used mediums of photography, installation and sculpture to depict isolating forces of contemporary society. Sam will pursue his studies in Engineering next year.
Josh Wehbe Encore & OnStage Josh was nominated for both Encore (Music) and Onstage (Drama) for his group performance. Music and Drama will continue to be his passion, while he pursues a Bachelor of Law and Bachelor of Planning at Macquarie University.
Lyall Stanford Shape & InTech Lyall was nominated for both Shape (Design and Technology) for his innovative hearing preservation system aimed to reduce hearing loss and InTech (Industrial Technology) for his belt grinding station. Lyal intends to study Industrial Design at the University of New South Wales (UNSW).
Willem Gribble ArtExpress & InTech For his body of work, A Man is a Man, Willem was nominated for ArtExpress. Using photography, film and sculpture, his work evoked the incongruity between masculinity and emotion within men. He was also selected for InTech (Industrial Technology) for his simple, yet elegant mid-century inspired walnut desk. Along with travelling, Willem will continue his creative journey studying a Bachelor of Product Design at the University of Sydney Technology (UTS).
17 Samuel Forster ‘The Hollow Man’
UNIVERSITY EARLY ENTRY
W
ith the aim that every boy in Year 12 leaves King’s with the best opportunity to pursue his dreams and passions, Head of Careers, Anthony Attard has spent 2019 working diligently to ensure this expectation becomes a reality. Assisting with university applications, overseeing careers aptitude testing and advising boys on job opportunities as they arise, are just some of the support our boys are offered as they move beyond the gates of King’s.
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This past year, King’s saw a significant number of students being awarded early entry through a range of schemes both in Australia and overseas. “We had well over 150 boys apply for early entry into a range of degrees from Agriculture to Law, through the School’s Recommendation Scheme and/or separate schemes run by the universities,” said Anthony. Today, we believe the focus for university entry is moving away from strictly academic results to look more at extra-curricular involvement and achievements. Universities are also placing increasing significance on the well-rounded nature of applicants, an easy task for a King’s student to demonstrate. The early entry offer is an excellent route to take for students as it goes a long way taking stress off the final exams, allowing students a certain piece of mind to enjoy their final days at King’s. In many instances, the School has seen the reduced pressure on students translate into exceptional results.
“Being awarded early entry seems to spur motivation to achieve even greater marks. This year, most of our boys who were granted early entry went on to achieve ATARs well above the minimum requirements of their acceptance,” said Anthony. In 2019, King’s had boys awarded early entry to a range of leading Australian universities including Macquarie University, the University of New England, University of Wollongong, Western Sydney University and Australian National University. Macquarie University alone accepted 52 King’s students into the 2019 Macquarie Leaders and Achievers Early Entry Scheme.
Y E A R 1 2 C O O R DI NAT O R
Sally Edwards
EARLY ENTRY COURSES
A
n impressive number of boys received early entry to Macquarie University alone – Nearly 30% of the cohort who sat for their HSC examination. Aaron Banick Bachelor of Business Analytics Adham Mikhael Bachelor of Commerce Ariyan Sharma Bachelor of Marine Science Ashok Hettigama Bachelor of Commerce Azaan Waqar Bachelor of Business Administration Benjamin Macleod Bachelor of Commerce & Bachelor of Engineering (Honours)
I
am so proud of each and every one of our 2019 graduates. This is a year group of diverse individuals who are all on their own journeys, however, are all similar in one simple way – character. Their character is their defining feature. They were dedicated to consistently working hard to achieve their personal goals, be it in professional sport, Agriculture, Science, Business, Education, the Arts or the vast array of passions they are following. HSC success not only includes ATAR success, something that our men achieved to an exceptional standard, but also success in practical subjects which saw an impressive number of nominations across all eligible subjects. The Class of 2019 will be remembered as a cohort of young men who celebrated the uncelebrated, followed and excelled in their passions, achieved to a high standard in a vast array of areas and were young men of character who displayed beautiful mateship and supported each other to work hard to achieve HSC success.
Sally Edwards Assistant Director of Studies, The King’s School
Benjamin Wall Bachelor of Media & Communications Blake Cocker Bachelor of Commerce Blake Males Bachelor of Commerce Campbell Wallace Bachelor of Commerce & Bachelor of Laws Darren Sun Bachelor of Actuarial Studies Eric Su Bachelor of Commerce & Bachelor of Mathematical Sciences Ethan Miller Bachelor of Commerce & Bachelor of Mathematical Sciences Finlay Grieve Bachelor of Business Administration Gaari Shah Brittain Bachelor of Arts
Joseph Cheung Bachelor of Medical Sciences Joshua Coppolelli Bachelor of Media & Communications Bachelor of Cognitive & Brain Sciences Bachelor of Psychology Joshua Wehbe Bachelor of Planning Bachelor of Laws Kenuka Wijayatunga Bachelor of Information Technology Bachelor of Actuarial Studies Korban Percival Bachelor of Commerce Bachelor of Information Technology Liam Bishell Bachelor of Commerce Martin Clarke Bachelor of Security Studies Mattia Dolera Bachelor of Arts Michael Koutsoukos Bachelor of Commerce Bachelor of Planning Nicholas Coulton Bachelor of Human Sciences Bachelor of Psychology Nicholas Pierides Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) Civil Engineering Nixon Chan Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) Mechanical Engineering Oliver McMorran Bachelor of Advanced Science Omar Mirza Bachelor of Game Design & Development Paul Lapinski Bachelor of Arts Bachelor of Laws Bachelor of International Studies Samuel Groutsis Bachelor of Commerce
Gian Gill Bachelor of Professional Accounting
Shaveel Prasad Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) Mechatronic Engineering Bachelor of Commerce
Haochuan Xu Bachelor of Business Analytics
Steven Galatoula Bachelor of Commerce
Harry Vale Bachelor of Business Administration
Steven Li Bachelor of Technology Commerce Bachelor of Information Bachelor of Cyber Security & Master of Information Technology in Cyber Security
Hugo Padley Bachelor of Media & Communications Hunter Gillhespy Bachelor of Commerce Jack Gavan Bachelor of Arts Bachelor of Laws Jack Hando Bachelor of Human Sciences Bachelor of Medical Sciences Jacob Alvarez Bachelor of Laws James Usher Bachelor of Marine Science Bachelor of Arts Bachelor of Science John Doumit Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) Civil Engineering Bachelor of Medical Sciences Bachelor of Planning John Kim Bachelor of Information Technology Bachelor of Actuarial Studies
Tahn Henley Bachelor of Commerce Bachelor of Psychology Vincent Wong Bachelor of Marketing & Media Bachelor of Medical Sciences & Master of Biotechnology Teo van Aanholt Bachelor of Business Administration Thomas Elton Bachelor of Business Administration Bachelor of Advanced Information Technology Bachelor of Advanced Science Bachelor of Advanced Information Technology Wesley Cheung Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) Mechanical Engineering William Konstandinidis Bachelor of Commerce Bachelor of Laws William Russell Bachelor of Arts 19
2019 SCHOOL CAPTAIN
F I NA L S T U DE N T A DDR E S S
Archie Stacy
On his final day as School Captain, Archie Stacy shared some poignant words with the student body. His speech is reproduced in full.
I
’d like to tell you a small story of a time at school where I got pretty good at lying. From about Year 7 to 11, I would disappear every week around the same time, for about an hour, and come back to my boarding house, emerging late at night with a guilty look on my face, and each time I would use a new story to cover up where I had been. Now, I can promise you whatever illegal or strange thing you may be thinking I was doing, I wasn’t. Rather, I was returning from the music block where I had been practicing my instrument, but did not want my mates to know that I missed a game of touch or a trip to Parra for music, so I would lie. I would lie and say that I had an array of persisting injuries that meant I needed daily physio, or that I had decided to stay at dinner for an extra three hours. It’s not that I didn’t enjoy playing it, nor was I ashamed, more simply I would just say to myself “it’s better if people didn’t know”. It wasn’t until this year that I actually felt comfortable enough that I didn’t have to lie anymore, and that could tell the truth about what I do every day when I disappear. But did I leave it all too late?
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The purpose of me telling this is story is that I want you to think of a moment when you wanted to do something, but people’s opinions of you stopped you from doing it or made you lie because you were embarrassed. When people called you a ‘try hard’ just because you chose to do something most wouldn’t do. As I’m speaking today just keep thinking about that thing, that passion. There are two things that I believe this school can give you if you choose to take them. The first is self-pride. This is not arrogance, but it is when we take pride in every action we make. When we stand for others on a bus, when we give the athletics carnival a crack, when we do whatever our hobby is, we are proud to do it because that’s
what we enjoy doing. Self-pride means that when you are knocked down by a challenge, you pick yourself up, put your shoulders back and finish what you set out to achieve. I would say grab life by the balls, but that’s not really promoting good sportsmanship, so, grab life by the hand, shake it firmly and look it in the eye, because we were not sent to this School to quit as soon as someone bagged us out about what we choose to do. The second thing that makes a real Kingsman is mutual respect. Respect is not just admiring those who are similar to you, but admiring those who are dissimilar as well. Mutual Respect means that we don’t respect people based on their skills, but rather on their
“
There will come a time while you’re at this school, where you will find what you excel in, and you will know that this is your passion. It’s the things that give you Goosebumps. actions. What do I mean? We should respect those who try their hardest in whatever they do, whether it’s academic or sporting or anything. We don’t just respect those who do the same things as us, that’s not respect. As Kingsmen we respect those who behind the scenes, work their asses off, not for the glory, but because they love what they do and they have a goal. Respect is seen by younger boys who respect the wisdom of senior boys, but it’s also seen by Seniors respecting the new ideas of younger students. Even Year 12 students need younger boys to keep us humble, as much as we may not admit it. Self-pride and mutual respect go hand in hand. Self-pride means you always try and be the best, in manners, attitude, performance and effort. And when you do achieve something, be proud. But, when others also achieve, you can empathise what they’ve been through, so respect their hard work. It’s through this that we build success, and support. You know what’s interesting, last Friday, many of you cheered and whistled for our debating team, yet you may have not known a single one of them, likewise, this Saturday we will cheer and whistle for our athletes, yet you might not know anyone in the team. But that’s okay, because you don’t need to know someone’s name to go up to them afterwards, despite their result and say ‘good effort mate’. That’s what respect is. One thing you may have heard me say this year is celebrate the uncelebrated, but what does it mean? We have all been granted the most incredible opportunity by our families, to attend an institution that wears it colours in so many different areas. But why do your parents send you here, it’s because they
want you to be the best person you can be. A wise philosopher named ‘Wreck it Ralph’ once said “there’s no one I’d rather be than me”. This School gives everyone one of you the opportunity to leave this place as the best person you can be, because it lets you have fun, with your mates, and pursue whatever passion you wish to pursue. I’m so fortunate I learnt this when I was in Year 7, and I never stopped doing the things I loved doing and I have no regrets. But we can achieve so much more if we help others achieve with us as well, even in areas that we don’t like as much, that’s why we celebrate those who go uncelebrated, because we’re bounded by the common factors of hard work and bit of fun. And we do love a bit of banter, and taking the mickey out of each other. It keeps us honest, but we also know where to draw the line, that’s what makes us different to other schools. And it’s okay to be different, embrace our differences, show others that we’re okay with being different and then show them how good it is to be different. Society lacks men who are different, who are proud, but humble, who are strong, but let others go first. Who are confident, but always kind to others, regardless of what we think of them. I know we can be like this, but it must become a part of our culture. It’s a conscious act, it’s not given to us. Nothing is given to us in life except opportunities, but if we waste them, then that opportunity becomes lost.
perform together, and as a school we stand together. We climb upon each other’s shoulders and stand higher than any other school in this country. We get around our mates whenever they beat the opposition, because why not? We love winning, and when we don’t win, we pick our friends up, pat them on the back and smile knowing we will beat that challenge next time. There will come a time while you’re at this school, where you will find what you excel in, and you will know that this is your passion. It’s the things that give you Goosebumps, that make you work early in the morning or late into the night. If you have found it, good, keep doing it, keep improving and convince some of your mates to give it a go as well. If you haven’t found it yet, keep looking, keep trying new things and don’t give up. Don’t be persuaded by others to stop doing something, be persuaded to start doing something. This School gave me the opportunity to become the best person I could be, and I had whole lot of fun while doing it. What will be your legacy, what will you become obsessed with and how will you celebrate the uncelebrated? Self-pride, mutual respect and passion define this great school. Long live The King’s School and good luck for whatever you choose to do in life. Thank you.
Archie Stacy 2019 School Captain, The King’s School
I’ve used this quote before, “It’s amazing what you can accomplish if you don’t care who gets the credit”. No, let me change that, “it’s amazing what King’s can accomplish if we don’t care who takes the credit”. As a school we achieve together, as a school we
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SPORTING SUCCESS
Will Johnston
C
aptain of the 2019 basketball team Will was the recipient of the Peter Yeend Basketball Shield and the Graham Kelly Basketball Trophy for his outstanding efforts within the King’s basketball program. Working hard at his passion, Will’s commitment has paid off as he now is attending Perkiomen School in Pennsylvania, USA where he will undertake a post graduate year to play basketball. His goals stretch to winning the season’s state championship which subsequently will aid him in his pursuit to play college basketball while attaining his university degree. Will aspires to play professional basketball one day. “I am thankful for all my teachers and friends for the confidence and constant support that helped me become the person that I am today,” he said.
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Jordan Williams Playing Rugby 1st XV and an ArtExpress selection for his body of work I am. Am I., Jordan was an exemplary Kingsman as he took advantage of all opportunities presented during his King’s experience. “Being able to participate in a diverse range of activities has helped strengthen my character to be the best I can be,” he said. Jordan’s life after King’s will include both his passions. He will attend the National Art School to study a Bachelor of Fine Arts where he can further explore his art understanding. He will also play Rugby for the Australian Men’s Sevens program and has joined his local Rugby Club.
Miles Davey
Johnny Connolly
Demonstrating great skill and perseverance in both his academics and co-curricular pursuits, Miles has established himself as a truly well-rounded Kingsman. Miles received a nomination for InTech as well as a selection for Shape for his Major Work in Industrial Technology – an American white oak steam bent bench. He also represented NSW and Australia in both Sailing and Windsurfing, winning four national titles and achieving high ranks in the world championships. He hopes to continue this passion professionally, with one day reaching his goal of being an Olympic Gold medallist. During this pursuit Miles will study a Bachelor of Commerce majoring in Finance.
An integral member of the King’s Rugby program, Johnny was awarded the Walter Friend Rugby Cup for his exceptional ability and commitment to the sport. “I will deeply miss wearing King’s white and blue, 3.15pm kick-off, war cries and the atmosphere while walking onto the JS White Oval,” he said. Johnny now intends to pursue a career in physical and health education and is currently looking towards university to complete a Bachelor of Education as he aspires to be a primary years PDHPE teacher. Along with furthering his education, he is hopeful he will be playing for the NSW Waratahs this year, with the back-up plan of playing for the U20 Junior Wallabies team.
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INDUSTRY PATHWAYS
S
tudents in Years 11 and 12 have the opportunity to study towards the NSW Higher School Certificate, including acceleration programs or to gain dual accreditation through the Vocational Education and Training (VET) in schools program. These pathways give all boys the opportunity to choose a course of study that caters for their interests and ambitions for life beyond school.
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King’s offers 48 HSC subjects
• Students
can specialise in a particular area or choose a diverse combination of subjects
• Marks
come from a combination of internal assessments and external HSC exams, as well as major projects and performances in specialist subjects
• Students
can achieve both HSC and a nationally recognised Certificate II or Certificate III in their area of interest
• VET
courses can be combined traineeship or apprenticeship
• Courses
are available on Campus in Business Services and Primary Industries, and a broad range of other courses are available through partnership with TAFE
• Students
may be eligible for an ATAR (depending on their pattern of study).
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P RO F I L E
Tom Jarvis
A
s a Year 12 student, Tom was accepted into the UBS Business Cadetship Program, a program which combines university study with paid work. In this 4-year program, Tom will have the opportunity to work full time in the financial service industry while doing part time studies for the first two years, which will turn into a more flexible work study balance in the following years.
While at King’s, Tom’s contributions to the co-curricular program were significant. As a boarder he took advantage of every opportunity presented on campus. His involvement spanned from rowing and rugby, the Cadet Corps and the Duke of Edinburgh Scheme, as well as Agriculture and Industrial Arts Clubs. With the help of, Careers Advisor, Anthony Attard, Tom was able to attain his UBS Cadetship. After several interviews and competing against boys from the top Sydney schools, Tom was one of three boys selected from the Sydney region. This was an especially large achievement as his selection came from not just his academics but his well-rounded nature. “I was 100% surprised to receive the UBS as I wasn’t the top candidate academically. I was selected based on the potential they could see in me,” Tom said. This is a unique opportunity for Tom as it gives him the chance to discover within the workforce where his strengths lie, from which he then can tailor a degree to suit his professional interests. Tom has started his UBS Cadetship, now working in finance at Sydney’s UBS firm and studying a Bachelor of Business at the University of Technology Sydney (UTS). His short-term future goal is to work in an investment bank, while in the long run he would like to work in agriculture investment. “Coming from a rural area I have experienced the positive benefit large investment has on these communities. I want to help with this and give back to these communities.” “The many skills developed at King’s – practical, social and conceptual – all helped me achieve my UBS Cadetship and if I didn’t go to King’s I probably wouldn’t have had this opportunity.”
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P RO F I L E
Peter McLeod
S
tudying mandatory Technology in Years 7 and 8 introduces students to basic hand and machinery skills, as well as design skills in CAD drawing, in both 2 and 3 dimensions. These boys then progress on to a variety of Industrial and Design electives in Years 9 and 10, studying a range of Technology courses including Graphics, Industrial Technology, Design and Engineering. This progression can then continue to Year 11, Term 4 when students get to officially start their 10 months stretch, working vigorously towards the completion of their HSC Major Projects.
Completing projects of this magnitude and quality takes an enormous amount of time, dedication and cooperation between all parties involved, yet is extremely rewarding. The skills learnt along the way are vast and invaluable as they can transcend to life after King’s. Peter McLeod is a prime example of a student who turned a personal passion into an HSC project and then to a future industry pathway. 26
Brainstorming since Year 7 and beginning practical work in Year 11, Peter set out to build a boat, or at the very least the hull of a 19ft Barrel back boat for his HSC Major Work project. Peter had always been interested in technology which played a significant part in the amount of time and dedication spent in Industrial Arts Club. “Industrial Arts Club was somewhere where I could be creative, problem solve and learn advanced woodworking and metalworking skills - something I really enjoy,” he said. Although the process was extremely rigorous and time consuming, even sometimes having Peter feel he’d bitten off more than he could chew, he persevered with the end goal in mind. Peter believes this opportunity helped him on his journey towards finding his passion and future career. He now is working full time as a yacht rigging technician in Kirribilli and hopes to one day own his own boat building business. “Kings helped open this door, as my boss is an old Joeys boy who understands how valuable a good education is.”
ACCELERATED COURSES
P RO F I L E
Alexander Lin
A
s a non-selective School, it’s essential for King’s to challenge boys, giving them opportunities so they may follow their passions. This means they need to be pushed beyond the general curriculum and be encouraged to work at a level which is matched with their abilities.
Success for a Kingsman is not defined by the School or society but by the boy himself. Success is for each individual student to feel a sense of rigour, motivation, achievement and enjoyment from what he is learning. This is different for each boy, which is why it is essential to ensure we cater for all students, particularly those whose passions lie outside the mould of the general school curriculum.
but has excelled. Through his ability to think abstractly and at a deeper level, Alexander has received first place in his cohort throughout his Year 11 and 12 courses.
qualifying exam and Summer Program exams. He has also gained acceptance for the 2020 Summer program where he can hopefully represent the National team once more.
“I enjoy taking accelerated courses as I enjoy the challenge and the opportunity to interactive with others who have new and varying perspectives,” said Alexander.
“Accelerated courses really helped me explore my passion and make new friends while connecting with students in various years, both at King’s and beyond.”
Alexander Lin has been a part of the King’s accelerated Mathematics program since he arrived in Year 7, followed by accelerated Physics in Year 10 when his abilities became evident. Alex not only kept up with the workload
Beyond the School, Alexander represented Australia in the 2019 Asian Region Physics Olympiad. His accelerated courses greatly benefited him, aiding his outstanding achievements in the Physics Olympiad
“I would recommend these courses to a student who is passionate about the subject. It can’t be forced by parents or teachers; it has to be something you love.”
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SCHOLARSHIPS
Scholarship Success at Macquarie Uni
S
everal high achieving students from the 2019 cohort received Scholarships to university after King’s. Two students in particular, Blake Cocker and William Konstandindis, received outstanding achievements as they were awarded Macquarie University Leaders and Achievers Scholarships for 2020.
William has been offered early entry for a Bachelor of Commerce and Bachelor of Laws, while Blake has been offered early entry for a Bachelor of Commerce. The scholarships are worth $20,000 and $50,000 respectively and have been awarded based on their Year 11 school marks, leadership qualities and extra-curricular activities at King’s and in their communities. This achievement comes as a great accomplishment as they were selected from thousands of Leaders and Achievers applicants from around NSW. Both boys have excelled academically and have proven to be positive leaders within their community.
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THE FUTURE PROJECT
P RO F I L E
Jack Thomas
T
he Future Project at The King’s School aims to motivate and engage the next generation of scientists and engineers. It does this by partnering with private companies and leading scientists, who then work with students from King’s and collaborating schools on real research projects in industry standard research facilities,” said Dr Vera Munro-Smith, Director of The Future Project. One exemplary emerging scientist who went above and beyond The Future Project intern program is Jack Thomas.
“As the Future Project is only five or so years old, I was one of the first students to be given the opportunity to continue conducting research after the program ends in Year 11, Term 2. This allowed me to complete one of my more noteworthy achievements, conducting novel and exciting scientific research and receiving Honour Colours,” Jack said.
Over the course of his time in The Future Project, Jack conducted research, composed content and published several investigative papers. Three of his more esteemed papers have either been published, accepted and waiting to be published or will soon be submitted for publishing to the Young Scientists Journal. Due to his significant time and effort spent within The Future Project and elsewhere around the School, Jack was awarded the Old Boys’ Union Prize for School Citizenship. “It was an honour to receive this award and to be recognised by a respected body for my achievements,” said Jack. Jack has always had passion for science, specifically in micro biology and environmental science, but it was The Future Project which took him in the direction of scientific research and communication.
me get to where I am now. By providing me a passage through which to explore and apply my passion for science, while having the best teaching and learning resources available, King’s kept me motivated and undoubtedly made my HSC success possible.” Next year Jack will begin a Bachelor of Advanced Science at the Australian National University (ANU), where he plans to major in environmental science, focusing on environmental microbiology in various applications, whilst looking for opportunities to be involved in new and innovative projects. Looking back on his time at King’s, Jack reflects on the amazing opportunities and experiences within the Science Department, The Future Project and Cadet Corps, yet says his greatest memory and what he will miss most comes from the friendships made in class and in his boarding house, Broughton Forrest.
“The skills acquired from industry scientists, the many research projects completed, and the various articles published in scientific journals all helped 29
2019 HSC COURSE LIST
Agriculture Ancient History Biology Business Studies Chemistry Chinese and Literature Chinese Continuers Design and Technology Drama Earth and Environmental Science Economics Engineering Studies English Advanced English EALD English Extension 1 English Extension 2 English Standard French Continuers French Extension Geography German Continuers History Extension Industrial Technology Metal Industrial Technology Timber Information Processes and Technology Investigating Science Japanese Beginners Korean and Literature Legal Studies Mathematics Mathematics Extension 1 Mathematics Extension 2 Mathematics Standard 2 Modern Greek Beginners Modern History Music 2 Music Extension PDHPE Physics Science Extension Software Design & Development Studies of Religion I Visual Arts
TAFE/VET Courses Automotive Construction Electrotechnology Primary Industries Tourism Travel and Events 30
GLOSSARY
The HSC mark Is a 50:50 combination of a student’s examination mark and school-based assessment mark that may include tests, written or oral assignments, practical activities, fieldwork and projects. Schools submit an HSC assessment mark for every student in every course. NESA puts the marks through a process of moderation to allow a fair comparison of marks in each course across different schools.
Performance Bands HSC marks for each course are divided into bands and each band aligns with a description of a typical performance by a student within that mark range. For a 2 unit course, Band 6 indicates the highest level of performance and the minimum standard expected is 50. Band 6 = 90-100 marks, Band 5 = 80-89 marks; Band 4 = 70-79 marks; Band 3 = 60 - 69 marks; Band 2 = 50-59 marks; Band 1 = 0-49 marks. Each band is aligned to what a student at that level of performance typically knows, understands and can do. The ‘average’ performance in most courses is usually a mark in the mid-70s (Band 4). For an Extension course, the bands are E4 (highest level of performance) to E1.
SMH league tables The list published and the information provided in The Sydney Morning Herald is a limited measure. It only takes into consideration Band 6 results. It is important to recognise that other statistics are also important such as percentage of students in each of the other bands and course means compared with state means. The Honour Roll includes the schools with students who achieved Band 6 only (90 or higher) in a course. High Scores is the number of Band 6 scores. Success is High Scores expressed as a percentage of entries, rounded to two decimal places. Rank is based on the precise success rate.
Distinguished Achievers are the students who achieved a result in the highest band (Band 6 or Band E4) for one or more courses.
Educational Access Schemes (EAS) Help students who have experienced long-term educational disadvantage gain admission to tertiary study.
Schools Recommendation Schemes (SRS) Aim to help you access higher education through recommendations from your school. Unis use a wide range of selection criteria, including school recommendations, senior secondary studies and personal awards and achievements. Early entry schemes (including SRS) make offers before the December and January offer rounds.
Equity Scholarships (ES) Help financially disadvantaged students with the general costs associated with tertiary study. By submitting just one application you’ll be considered for all available Equity Scholarships for which you’re eligible.
The ATAR is a rank, not a mark. The Australian Tertiary Admission Rank (ATAR) is a number between 0.00 and 99.95 that indicates a student’s position relative to all the students in their age group (ie all 16 to 20 year olds in NSW). So, an ATAR of 80.00 means that you are 20 per cent from the top of your age group (not your Year 12 group). Almost 2/3 of King’s boys, consistently attain an ATAR above 80, ie top 20%. 63% of our students gained ATARs over 80 in 2019 (63% in 2018 and 66% in 2017). The average ATAR across the state is usually around 70.00. The ATAR helps universities rank applicants for selection into their courses.
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The King’s School www.kings.edu.au P: +612 9683 8555 E: tks@kings.edu.au A: PO Box 1 Parramatta 2124, NSW Australia Cricos No: 02326F The Council of The King’s School, ABN: 24 481 364 152 Incorporated by The King’s School Council Act 1893 32