Year Advisers

The Year Adviser is a subject-based teacher who also has the special care of a particular year group. The Year Adviser usually takes the group from Year 7 through to Year 12 and over that period of time is able to get to know students as individuals and assist them as they mature and move through their school lives.  The Year Adviser should be the first point of contact for both students and parents regarding any concerns they may have about school or if they have any information, even of a sensitive nature, which would help the school better support our students. The Year Adviser is part of the school Wellbeing Team and liaises closely with the HT Wellbeing and the School Counsellor.

Head Teacher Wellbeing

The Head Teacher Wellbeing is a member of the school executive and is responsible, along with all members of staff for ensuring that student wellbeing is a high priority.  The Head Teacher Wellbeing is also available to talk to students regarding any personal or school-based issues and will often work with the student individually or involve the Year Adviser, the Deputy Principal, other agencies, parents and the School Counsellor, where appropriate, to resolve issues. The Head Teacher Wellbeing is also responsible for supporting the Year Advisors through regular meetings and in coordinating a range of preventative wellbeing programs for all students.

The Head Teacher Wellbeing also coordinates the school Learning Support Team responsible for monitoring the progress of students receiving special funding through the Department of Education (DoE). Other students requiring special care and support may also be supported by this team comprising of the relevant Year Adviser, parents, the School Counsellor, Itinerant Support staff where applicable, and DoE personnel.

School Counsellor

The School Counsellor is available to assist all students and parents.

Year 7

Year 7 Transition Program

This new program addresses the "Transition and Student Success" recommendations by Dr Tracy Worthington (June 2018) that HGHS should "spend more time building a community of practice at the beginning of the year so that more students feel welcome and supported... help students feel recognised... minimise anxiety about high school." The program helps reduce the "culture shock" of the move to high school, nurturing self-esteem, social connectedness and academic self-concept from the very beginning of high school. The program will form an important part of our Positive Education program for Year 7.

Student connection and fun are privileged boosting students' "relational capacity".

21st Century skills of collaboration and critical and creative thinking are prioritised: "Critical and Creative Thinking are integral activities that require students to think broadly and deeply using skills, behaviours and dispositions such as reason, logic, resourcefulness, imagination and innovation" (The Australian Curriculum).

PBL as a G&T strategy: students engage in solving a real-world problem or answering a complex question. They demonstrate their knowledge and skills by developing a public product or presentation for a real audience... By presenting students with a mix of choice & responsibility, cognitive concepts & practical activities, within an environment of real-world authenticity, projects engage students in deep long-lasting learning (Buck Institute).

Year 7 Orientation

The Year 7 orientation program covers a number of activities to help Year 6 students make a smooth transition to High School. The Open Day and Year 6/7 Orientation Day provide girls and parents with an opportunity to familiarise themselves with the school and to meet their Peer Support Leaders. Tours of the school and small group activities are conducted in a friendly and warm environment.

On their first day of high school Year 7 students are again welcomed by their Peer Support leaders and parents are able to attend to any enrolment matters.

The SRC hosts a welcome BBQ for Year 7 students during the first weeks of school.

Peer Support Program

This program is held weekly over Term 1 to ensure that Year 7 feels a sense of connection and belonging to their new school. It is another opportunity for girls to develop friendships, not only within their own year group but also with their Year 10 Peer Support Leaders. For Year 10 students it provides a great opportunity for the development of effective leadership and communication skills.

Year 7 Camp

This Camp is held in the first few weeks of school to enable students to make friendships within their year. Many of our students are the only girls from their primary school and the camp, through its interactive group activities, ensures that girls mix and meet each other on a personal level. The camp enhances student self –esteem through its outdoor challenge program and through workshops that encourage girls to focus on their individual, personal strengths. The camp is really about having fun and trying something new!

Friendship and Tolerance

This workshop is held for Year 7 in Term 1 and provides an opportunity for the school to discuss the issues of bullying and safety, especially internet safety. The theatrical performance Verbal Combat by Brainstorm productions provides and engaging stimulus for discussion.

Year 8

Year 8 students are involved in the High Resolves program, a leadership program that encourages students to discuss and act on key global issues.  Year 8 students also further explore the issue of internet safety and cyberbullying through designated workshops and a parent information evening.

Year 9

The Year 9 Camp held in Term 3 enables students to develop skills in leadership and team building. Activities such as rope courses, canoeing and abseiling help students to confront physical challenges and move outside their comfort zones.

All Year 9 participate in leadership training courses during Term 4 to prepare them for the leadership roles of Peer Support Leader or a Facilitator in the High Resolves program. Students not selected for either of these programs still benefit from the intensive 2 day training programs and are able to utilize their leadership skills through involvement in the SRC, Prefect Body or other leadership activities such as MUNA or school representation in their senior years.

Students from Year 9 are also selected to train as baristas for the school's Café Gratitude. This café is student-led, and the students learn how to make and serve a range of coffee styles in a professionally run café situation. Students not only learn the art of making fine coffee but also develop in confidence and learn valuable workplace related skills.

Year 10

Year 10 Student Wellbeing Leaders (SWL)

SWL is a separate Year 10 roll call class fostering leadership and collaboration across the school. The SWL students are a fundamental part of our school's positive education program working with other students and teachers to develop and lead positive education initiatives through our Friday Focus extended roll calls held each fortnight.

Other Year 10 Wellbeing Programs

The wellbeing programs for Year 10 are varied and are designed to prepare the students for life's challenges. Hornsby Girls High School recognizes the importance of each student understanding her own strengths and being able to draw on these to find a personal sense of resilience when facing obstacles. Programs include: Work Experience, Australian Business Week, Life and Resilience Week, mental health, body image, personal safety issues, and tolerance and understanding others. Programs are flexible and are able to cater for the needs of particular groups.

Year 11

Year 11 students participate in Camp Jindabyne, a week-long experience early in Term 1 which gives the girls the opportunity to bond as a senior year group. The camp also constitutes part of the Department of Education's compulsory 25 hour Crossroads Course. New students to the school are also able to develop new friendships. The camp further develops students' skills of confidence and communication, and activities are designed to offer them a range of new experiences.

Other programs for Year 11 are the Driver Education Program and the Healthy Lifestyle Program, in which the students have an opportunity to discuss relevant lifestyle and health issues with registered GPs in a structured, small group program.

The Building Strength program is offered to all Year 11 students and gives them the chance to understand themselves as learners and to develop effective study skills. The program is workshop-based and is run fortnightly during Semester 1.

Year 12

Year 12 students are nurtured in their HSC year both individually and as the senior year group. The role of the Year Advisor is crucial in monitoring students' social and emotional well-being and regular feedback is given to the Deputy Principal responsible for Year 12 by all teaching staff.

While the Year 12 students do have the HSC as a strong academic focus, welfare programs are such that students can see themselves as unique individuals who are much more than a "mark" in the HSC or an ATAR score. The school provides a well-established mentor system for all Year 12 students. Staff mentors meet regularly with students on a one-to one basis or in small groups to support and encourage them in all their endeavours. Positive relationships are established between the students and their mentors, creating for the students a real sense of belonging to a caring and nurturing school.

Grit Factor Program

Hornsby Girls High School's Positive Education Program for Year 12 is called the 'Grit Factor.' It runs on Fridays period 3 once a fortnight. The program aims to strengthen resilience in the students' final year of school through physical fitness and persistence to long term goals. The structured Grit Factor program supports student wellbeing through promoting physical fitness and social/emotional connections.