2021 Achievements PRINCIPAL’S EXCELLENCE ASSEMBLY ADDRESS Friday 11 February 2022
Welcome to you all on behalf our school community to an Excellence Assembly that reflects both the innovation and persistence of our wonderful school and its community. At the heart are our students whose courage, determination, and commitment we celebrate today. That includes all our students, those who are not featured in the video and those who are. Each one has their own story, set their own goals and took the opportunity to reflect on their progress and achievements. The 150 students and 2 staff who feature in this video received significant recognition for outstanding achievements in a range of academic, sporting, arts and school service opportunities offered by the school. In the excellence assembly program and accompanying Missing Link there will be more details and copies of the citations for each award winner. We will also be publishing our Year in Review highlighting as many of the events and highlights of the year as we can. As principal I usually like to speak at this assembly about our progress and achievements in the previous year and reflect on our core value for 2021 – Excellence and its question – have you done your best? I often share our school data and highlight the “numbers”. Today I want to highlight the people and the ways we stay connected to #TeamRootyHill. • Let me highlight the 7500 wellbeing and 200 enrolment interview contacts made by our administrative and school learning support teams. • Let me recognise the thousands of online chats, the Google meets and classes that kept us connected during 70 days of hard lockdown and beyond that. • Let me recognise the high levels of student attendance at online classes as we ran a “synchronous” timetable. • Let me recognise that there are some advantages to online learning including the teacher being able to work 1:1 with students and let me thank teachers and students for developing strong relationships online. • Let me give deserved recognition to Year 12 2021 who achieved 49% of HSC results in the top 3 bands. • Let me commend Ms Dolling for her leadership as a teacher and for leading the learning support team and Ms Vuki who took a powerful role as a community leader in 2021. They are recognised in this video. Last year was a year of challenge and opportunity, a year requiring even more innovation and creativity, a year of managing our physical and emotional safety, a year of teamwork between families, students and the school. It was a year where we had to do our best. It was a year where we had to expect our best. It was a year when leadership came from unusual places, when our Year 9 poets told us in beautifully presented narrative poetry of their life and imaginative experiences, including experience under COVID and our Year 11
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& 12 musicians mastered recording their performances to show the high quality of their work. It was a year when our teachers worked together online in professional learning and leadership teams to deliver the first year of the School Improvement Plan and make significant progress towards our improvement measures. We did our best. I am so proud of where we are. In 2022 the school turns 60. As we celebrate our 60th anniversary year we have an opportunity to live the legacy of our values, not by choosing just one value but by understanding that when the school’s founding fathers (and indeed they were all men) chose the school motto PERSIST they believed that this school would have high expectations, would have people who would work together, who would persist and who would believe that every student should have their best opportunity. So many of our alumni mention the PERSIST motto and values staying with them, even after they left the school. We have learnt much about ourselves in the last 2 years, and in the last 60 years. Now we have the opportunity to celebrate together. Congratulations to all our award winners, their teachers and families and please enjoy the rest of this video. Ms Christine Cawsey AM – Principal
Additional Principal Messages from the School’s Annual Report
1. Academic Achievement: Year 12 2021 performed above planned expectations and met the school’s targets, with 49% of Year 12 results achieved at Band 4,5 or 6 – 10% more than the previous year and the best results in over a decade. 2. The families of our students have become poorer and less formally qualified over the last 5 years (FOEI). However, their aspirations, relationship with the school and its staff and support of our work remains a strong cultural feature of the school. The community engagement data showed an increase in contact and connection during COVID. In 2022, we will celebrate the 60th Anniversary of the school and hope to reestablish our Parents and Citizens Association if we can raise the $6000 per annum cost. 3. Academic growth and Progress: Years 7 – 11 results showed significant growth. They are still below state average and below the school target of an average GPA of 3.5. It should be noted that, in the last 5 Year 7 cohorts enrolled 60% of incoming students were performing below grade average and below Stage 3 benchmarks at end Year 6 and in the first semester of Year 7. This has significant implications for the balance between revision and explicit instruction
using capabilities and content/concepts and subject based learning. 4. Aboriginal and Torres Islander students demonstrated their overall academic growth at and above the expected level. All Stage 6 Aboriginal and Torres Islander students met the HSC minimum standards requirements in 2021. All staff completed cultural competency training with Evolve Communities and the AECG partnership and Reconciliation Action Plan were embedded. 5. NAPLAN growth in Reading, Writing and Numeracy to Year 9 was significantly above state average. Any measure using state averages in 2022 must be treated with some caution given the different modes of testing and the impact of COVID – although patterns over 35 years are more robust when used to interpret school trends. 6. Vocational Education (VET): As a result of significant innovation, 79% of students studying VET frameworks were still able to complete qualifications despite COVID-19. Unfortunately, this was down on the previous year’s completion which was over 90% and was a direct impact of extended lockdown. 7. Post-school destinations: 100 Year 12 students who did the HSC in 2021 received early or first round offers for university. (UAC SRS “School Recommendation Scheme” Offers - 29 offers / 29 students; Macquarie Leaders and Achievers Early Offers - 21 offers / 15 students; WSU True Reward Early Offers - 70 offers / 56 students) 8. Student Agency: Secondary school is “hard” and the evidence from 2021 showed the importance of student agency to student growth and attainment (see Slide 6). Working together students, staff and partners are refining a model of student agency where students are the central decision makers for their own school journey supported, where possible by their families. A 3-year study of personalised academic subject-based goal setting, reflection and review will complement the evidence of the impact of the strengths based goal setting embedded in practice in the last plan. 9. Formative assessment: There is a pattern (20192021) in the ‘stories behind the curve’ showing that the results in subjects and faculties that best used task based formative assessment measured by specific success criteria, consistent marking practices (including SOLO) and analysis of students work samples achieved the most authentic results against the ACARA capabilities and course performance descriptors. Those subjects also had the most success with students constructing report comments that were personalised – not replicating “teacher” comments. 10. New Practice: In 2021, there was a focus on deep professional learning that would lead to improved systems of practice across the school – to stop doing what did not work, to start doing what worked best and to be more adaptable. There is evidence from across the school that administrative staff, learning support staff and teachers addressed, made progress 2
towards and achieved professional development goals related to student attendance, wellbeing, connection, growth and achievement. Of the goals (up to 5 per teacher- including COVID goal) set by teaching staff, 15% were planned and delivered at APST Proficient; 54% at APST HA and 32% at APST Lead. 11. Theories of Practice: Having clear, research and evidence informed theories and platforms for each strategic direction was critical to the design and delivery of key strategic projects and initiatives for the school plan. There was a measurable impact of using evidence as a baseline for the 8 implementation plans (see Posters). 12. Strategic Improvement Plan: The software and systems published by DoE for the new SIP are extremely cumbersome, repetitive, and inflexible. One of the school’s major innovations was to adapt tools and practices from the previous school planning process for use by Professional Learning and Leadership Teams – yearly planners that included “quick wins” in Term 1 and quarterly reporting; evidence sets and cover sheets to provide ongoing evidence for the School Excellence Framework criteria, evaluation posters and action recommendations to inform 2022 implementation planning. The school is holding itself to high standards for external validation. 13. School Operations: There were 11 areas in the school’s annual operations plan in 2021 and 10 achieved all milestones – indicating that the school is very well organised and well managed by the teams delegated each of the roles. While the systems and practices of a large secondary, the 2 that did not were impacted by COVID-19 restrictions. 14. Partnering: In 2021, the school continued to leverage key partnering relationships on projects and programs for students within the SIP. In 2022, the school will adopt new partnering initiatives including the Educational Pathways Program. Thank you to all community and business partners including Origin, ABCN, Learning Creates, Real Schools (new).
Ms Christine Cawsey AM – Principal
STAFF & COMMUNITY AWARDS Leadership for Learning Award - Brianna Dolling In 2009, ACER published a book written by the school principal called Learning for Leadership based on the story of the school's leadership in professional practice. The proceeds of the book are now used to give this award, an award given to a teacher in the school who, in the opinion of the principal and deputy principals has demonstrated
exemplary leadership as a classroom teacher and leader of teachers. Brianna Dolling has been a teacher and leader at this school since 2010. This award recognises her exemplary teaching, her mastery of the school’s platforms, her capacity to mentor colleagues, her leadership in the design of high impact professional learning delivered at APST Highly Accomplished standards, her ability to work across all subjects to assist students and teachers to produce high quality assessment results and her willingness to adapt practices to meet new and emerging needs. This award recognises the leadership, mentoring and support that Brianna has provided to the school and its staff in understanding and embedding the Nationally Consistent Collection of Data and Disability Standards into teaching, learning and wellbeing practice. Brianna has shown colleagues how to deconstruct learning and assessment tasks so they can make appropriate adjustments to meet the needs of over 125 students on individualised learning plans. Brianna consults with parents and engages the parents of students with complex needs in planning their child’s journey through school. She is fearless in speaking for students with staff, community organisations, health professionals and Department of Education specialists. She manages a large and complex team of Learning and Support Teachers, School Learning Support Officers and administrative staff providing support to students in class, the Year 7-9 Learning Centre and the Year 10-12 Senior Study. Over 350 students receive targeted support each year and in 2021 during 70 days of hard COVID lockdown, Brianna worked with the Learning Support Team to redesign the model of support for the school’s most at risk students to move online. The impact of this work was that almost all those students continued to make growth and progress, some well above the trajectory that was expected. As a professional practice mentor, professional learning and leadership team coordinator and major contributor to the work of the intensive support team, Brianna influences the work of teachers and other staff every day. Her deep intellectual understanding of curriculum and the needs of students across a range of abilities, experiences and cultural and linguistically diverse backgrounds is exemplary. Few teacher leaders achieve the level of influence and impact achieved by Brianna. Few teacher leaders see every challenge as a reason to be more innovative, to have higher expectations, to find new ways of practice and to constantly measure the value that the team is adding to student progress and success. Brianna does. The school is delighted to recognise Brianna Dolling as the recipient of this award for 2021 and to invite her to join the very special group of teacher leaders who have received this recognition in previous years. 3
Parents & Citizens Association and School Council Award for Outstanding Community Contribution - Thelma Vuki In 2013, the school’s Parents & Citizens Association (P&C) commissioned an award to be presented by the P&C to a student, staff member, parent, alumni or community partner whose work for the school community has made a significant difference to the school. In 2021 the school decided to give this award to Caroline (Thelma) Vuki, the Deputy Principal of the school for her work and influence in supporting the Pacifica community during the COVID pandemic and particularly during the period of hard lockdown. Thelma was previously recognised for her educational leadership and her engagement as a senior woman of influence by the Western Sydney Pacific Women’s Professional & Business Network.
STUDENT INDIVIDUAL & TEAM ACHIEVEMENT AWARDS School Council Student of the Year Genoveva-Constantina Stuparu
Dux of the School - Arya Nooralizadeh Asl
During the pandemic, Thelma (and her husband Zac) used their influence as elders of the Fijian community and members of a local church to work with health professionals, western Sydney Local Health District and the Fijian community to encourage vaccination, reassure anxious community members and provide detailed advice. Thelma translated documents, renewed her fluency in Fijian (one of several languages she speaks in addition to English) and presented in videos, forums of up to 500 people and in key documents. Her calm, reassuring presence supported families and this was continued in January 2022 when she contacted families in the school community who had been impacted by the Tongan volcano and tsunami. She is held in high regard in the school and the community for her capacity to explain the cultural and linguistically diverse needs of Pacifica and Maori students to teachers and departmental officials. She is highly respected by students and their families seek her wisdom in making hard decisions. There have been many significant community leaders and influencers who have been recognised with this award. Thelma is one of them and the school community is delighted to recognise her contributions with his award.
Dux of the School Address
I just want to start off by saying how surreal this moment feels. From coming to Australia when I was 8, not being able to speak any English and missing out on the foundations that Years K-2 would have taught me to become Year 12 2021 dux. My name is Arya Nooralizadeh and thank you to my family, my fellow students and staff. Some may assume that I was just born smart, but what If I told you that anyone one of you could also be standing here. It was not an easy journey. I had to learn from a young age to rely on myself for my academic performance. In primary school I read simple books mainly with pictures to help me understand the words. My primary school teachers helped me to read and write. I used a dictionary and researched the words I remembered from conversations my friends had in the playground and used them to learn English. I did this all the way from Year 3 to Year 7 because I was unable to get much help from my parents in regard to my school and studies, they also did not speak any English. Early high school was hard. I was bullied by a few students due to my features and I failed in some classes. I grew up. During my senior years I had stress in my personal life. Due to the constant stress and worrying I was often not 4
myself. When I felt stressed, I remembered why my family and I migrated here, I finally understood how much they sacrificed for me and my sister to get a better education in a place like Australia. By remembering where we started, I began focusing more on school. I no longer just wanted to settle for average. I wanted to do my best. My goal was to get a scholarship and go to university, get a good job and support my parents and make sure they live their best life. I would like to be able to work on developing technologies that can help those with injuries and disabilities. I always believe in this quote with all my heart and today is a testimony to this quote “hard work, pays off” I know people in my year group who are easily much quicker at learning much more. At times it was hard to stay motivated and it is important to give yourself a break but never give up. It is important to set goals and I thank my teachers who understand and helped me achieve my goals. I wasn’t always good at advanced maths, physics, engineering studies, advanced English, business studies or investigating science. I asked (sometimes many times a day and even after school) for help from my teachers constantly gave me feedback, more resources, marked my practice papers, helped me write practice essays until I finally learnt how to write proper essays. Thank you to my teachers. In the end, our biggest fan is you, but your biggest enemy can also be you. You can choose what is best for you, but you also choose badly at times. I learnt to see the difference. I recommend good habits, good sleep, positive people, and hobbies away from study. Thank you to the friends who shared the senior school times with me. I want to include a quote from Kobe Bryant “Great things come with hard work and perseverance no excuses” and with that set your goals, and most importantly don’t care about what others say if they try to put you down. I want to finish by saying that I did set goals and I hoped to make you proud. I also wanted to make myself proud and make my family proud. I hope I have done that.
Representative Team of the Year – SRC Green Team Team Members: Chloe Ayre Rubaina Parmar Kalley Shields Ahlaam Saleem Um-e-Farwar Syed Cezlie Prasad
Xiu Hui Lim Mahek Janif Iqra Sehar Ashmeet Parmar Corey Hargreaves
Year 10
Zahra Almoaiel Reign Dimayuga Bianca Dodd Rebecca Chau Paula Gevero Dansia Gomes Alesha Hussein Mahek Janif Makaila Marquez Rene Sarraj Jazmine Susi Angelina Zamora
Visual Arts Acquisition Prize – Freya Howson Artist Statement:
In our Busy worlds, people forget about the little things in our lives that bring us joy even in small amounts. I wanted to remind people of the simplicity of our lives and how we need to take a step back from the hustle and bustle of our faced paced worlds in the 21st century and take a moment to enjoy the things that life is about, the things we love. My series simplicitea focus on the simplicity and beauty of tea. I took inspiration from 16th-century Dutch memento mori artworks to utilise hidden meaning within my series to help demonstrate the value of taking a break in our lives and appreciating small details to fully appreciate the bigger things in our lives. I want people to understand that in our ever-changing and advancing world we can lose ourselves in the hectic lifestyles we think that we need to survive. Because of this, I wanted my series to focus on such simple, small things in many people’s lives, like their morning cuppa tea or coffee. Something Australians see a lot of importance in our lives. I wanted to focus on the little things that people associate with their morning cuppa tea or coffee such as reading the newspaper, having a biccy or reading a book or even snuggling up in bed for a moment. I focused on these little details in addition to the beauty and delicacy of the fine-china teacups that I used to help remind people to see the beauty and details of different things in their life and to offer a friendly reminder to slow down and have a break.
RoSA GPA Awards – 4.5 or above Year 11
Malaika Ali Jamee Balzan Andrew Doan 5
Reuben F Scarf Award for Commitment & Ampol Best All-Rounder Award Reuben F Scarf Award – Haris Abawi Ampol Best All-Rounder – Paris Paraan
Deputy Principal’s Award for Most Improved Student
Year 7 - Mali Coombes Year 8 - Kalley Shields Year 9 - Faataita Falemoe Year 9 - Leanne Ross
Year 10 - Soubhan Sarwar Year 11 - Benjamin Dickson Year 11 - Kamran Maliki Year 12 - Shara-Lee Green
Andy McKay VET Student of the Year & Betty Andersen Memorial Practical Science Award Andy McKay VET Student of the Year - Retail Services – Candice Cowgill Betty Andersen Memorial Practical Science Award – Arya Nooralizadeh
Jan Van Doorn Personal Best Award
Year 7 - Vianca Pelayo Year 8 - Marianna Bonilla Ataides Year 9 - Madiha Ali
Year 10 - Noor Al Kanem Year 11 - Nicayla Storozuk Year 12 - Rosie Gale
Australian Defence Force Long Tan Youth Leadership & Teamwork Award Year 12 - Cassandra King Year 10 - Naba Alhameed
Chifley Science & Technology Prize – Stefan Adamovic Australian Defence Force Future Innovators Award Year 12 - Zac Russell Year 10 - Justine Ademovic
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Chifley School Service Award
Year 7 - Riley Marshall Year 8 - Jayden Chua Year 9 - Rubaina Parmar
Year 10 - Manar Munshid Year 11 - Malaika Ali Year 12 - Lorrye Genobili Year 12 - Keiara Laidlaw
through a screen, this did not stop them from being inspirational, helpful and reliable people that I could get help from. I would like to acknowledge my friends and thank them for guiding me through this journey. These friends of mine have been able to push me forward and make me strive throughout this school year. They’ve been able to get me back on my feet through the rough obstacles, though they have also made my strengths even stronger during the times when I was at my best. Thank you. Lastly, I want to thank my family. My family has been an essential part of this success. I am grateful for my parents who have always led the path to right decisions when it came to my learning. They’ve motivated me to remain resilient when it comes to my studies, and my love and thanks to them is never ending. I would also like to thank my big sister who has mentored me throughout my first year of high school, who has helped me become the persistent student that I am today.
Dux Years 7 – 11
Year 7 – Jemuel Nallas Year 7 – Ashmeet Parmar Year 8 – Rebecca Gao
Year 9 – Marian Unay Year 10 – Zahra Almoaiel Year 11 – Jamee Balzan
Now to my fellow year group, this year has truly been strange with another lockdown, restricting us from seeing each other at school. It was definitely the time of boredom and isolation, but I think it has actually helped us become better students overall. We’ve compromised at home when times seemed rough and were still able to contact each other. As you can see, all of us are strong and independent people, and I would like all of you to recognise that. With this, I don’t see the point of being scared or intimidated by next year, as I think that nothing can really stop us in our tracks. As long as we have each other, I think that’s what matters most. I look forward to starting a new chapter with you all next year. Thank you.
Year 7 – Ashmeet Parmar
Dux Speeches Year 7 – Jemuel Nallas
Good afternoon, Mrs Cawsey, teachers and fellow students. Being selected as the DUX of Year 7 as of 2021 is a great and significant accomplishment, and I couldn't be more honoured to be speaking up here today. I would like to extend my thanks to those who have guided me to this amazing success. If it weren’t for these inspirational people, I don’t think I would’ve achieved this award alone. Firstly, I would like to thank my teachers who have shown their commitment towards my education. You have all helped me improve as a successful student with your assistance and advice. Your determination has especially stood out to me during Learning From Home. Even though the only form of communication with my teachers was
Good afternoon fellow peers, teachers, Ms Cawsey, Ms Vuki, Ms Andrews, and Ms Tracy. I am standing here today having achieved the DUX award year 7 2021, I am extremely honoured to have achieved this great achievement as this had been my goal since the start of the year and I have finally achieved it. I am also very grateful to all the people who helped me get here with all their help and support throughout my first year of high school which was very different from any usual year because of Covid. From all the teachers that taught not only me but many students present here today countless things with their dedication to teaching us and nonstop hours of work even though our year was really different because of online learning. At the start we struggled to communicate with our teachers, asking for feedback and questions. But we started all coming together and got through it in different ways such as playing Kahoots or Quizlets and in online learning, we started turning on our cameras and unmuting our microphones. This allowed our teachers and us to start communicating better therefore we learnt more and were more motivated to learn. This helped me become something I dreamed to become ever since I joined Rooty Hill High School. 7
To all of my friends that stayed by my side throughout the whole year and motivated me to push forward even when things weren’t looking the best. They always kept me smiling and brightened up my school days when I wasn’t feeling that great. But most importantly my family helped me no matter what I was going through, they gave me all the support I needed whether it would be with learning or even motivation. They always lent a helping hand and stuck by my side no matter what which gave me the confidence I needed to follow my dreams and take the many opportunities that they created. So now I would like to encourage everyone to pursue your dreams, follow your passion, try your best and work hard. At the start, you may be questioning yourself if this will work out in the end but as long as you try your best you’ll be surprised to see how far you’ve made it. Things may get tough sometimes but as long as you don’t give up it’ll work out in the end, this is what I did and now I have made it past my very first year of high school, ready to take on year 8. I would also like to congratulate my fellow peers for making the transition from primary school to high school and completing year 7 even though it was hard to get used to it at all at first. Finally, I would like to pay my gratitude to Ms Tracy, our year advisor, Ms Andrews, Ms Vuki and our hard-working principal, Ms Cawsey. Thank you.
Year 8 – Rebecca Gao
Good afternoon to Ms Cawsey, Ms Mattimore, Ms Andrews and Ms Pozoglou, and fellow peers. Welcome to the Principal’s assembly for 2021, my name is Rebecca Gao. I am genuinely honoured to be receiving the Year 8 DUX title for 2021 today, in front of you all. As we all recognised, this year was difficult, interesting and chaotic for every single one of us. We experienced something new as we spent a whole semester learning from home while following our usual timetable. As a result of the obstacles, we’ve matured and gained more resilience. Even after the new variant of COVID affected everyone within the school community, we all attempted our best. I am particularly appreciative of the teachers who put all their effort into the google classrooms and meetings to keep us engaged, motivated and learning during that period.
improvement and being optimistic. 2022 will be our last year in junior school before we enter into senior school. Most of all, I wish everyone a safe and happy holiday before we enter our last junior year. Sincerely Rebecca.
Year 9 – Marian Unay
Good morning distinguished guests, teachers, and fellow peers. It is an absolute honour to be named the Year 9 DUX of 2021 and speak on behalf of our cohort and our outstanding achievements. Earning the title of DUX is undoubtedly not a feat attained alone. There are so many people that have worked hard despite this year’s many challenges and their collective effort is what we should acknowledge. I would also like to congratulate you all for concluding yet another year of high school. To think of it, we’ve completed the halfway mark of our high school journey. 3 years down and 3 more to go. It’s only a matter of time until all of us will stand on this stage wearing our graduation gowns and throwing our caps. Being stuck in between junior and senior school has got me thinking about what I’ve lost growing up and what I’ve gained. Do we lose more than we gain as we grow older? It’s a tough question, but I’d say it’s purely subjective. Yes, we lose a lot of things as we grow, but it’s up to you to gain just as much along the way. Per se, we do gain the difficult task of keeping our white shirts clean next year. What’s so special about adults, anyway? Yeah; they have cars, but they still pay for them. They get to have more freedom, I guess. Regardless, I’ll bet that the majority don’t know what they’re doing most of the time. It’s harder than you might think. Adults are portrayed as people who have it all sorted out. In which we all know, they don’t... none of us do. One thing I know for sure is that problems are often a visitor to the average household of an adult. Bills, jobs, housekeeping, children, and not having summer holidays off. We are taught that in adulthood, or more suitably, in our late teenage years that we’re supposed to think about what we want to do. Like okay? Let me just think of something I want to do for the rest of my life, because there’s definitely something I can think of. Though, it’s okay to be unsure. And no, I’m not saying “follow your dreams”, because dreams change and people change. It’s the things we lose and gain that lead us to our decisions that are important. .
2021 is coming to an end and we’ll be graced with a fresh new year. A year where we will achieve our goals and put our best foot forward. I’m thankful for everyone who has always been by my side - especially my teachers, friends and family. I wish to congratulate everybody for working their hardest this year. Despite the obstacles throughout the year, I believe we have made that happen.
During our childhood we’ve probably lost some friendships here and there, baby teeth, our sense of wonder, that one obsessive phase over a fictional character (still guilty) and atrocious haircuts. We are increasingly taught to be logical and calculative, which causes that sense of nostalgic innocence to fade and the concern for simple matters to sprout into questions about life's purpose. Well, you know what I think? Our sense of wonder is never truly lost. Whether we are questioning the life cycle of stars or the complexities of math, it’s still there. It could also be the small voice in the back of your head asking, “Does Mr Hewitt only own two sweaters?”
I highly encourage you all to enter 2022 with a goal of performing to your personal best, constantly striving for
I mean weren’t we all spoilt by the privilege of being a child for the first couple years of our lives? You can’t deny 8
that as babies, we had the power of the world in our hands, well, at least power over our parents. Though, I am glad to have lost some things, like the fear of the first day of school. I look back on it and think about how hopeless we all were. Crying and stamping our little feet, thinking it was the end of the world because our parents were gone. Now in high school, we may think it’s the end of the world because of upcoming exams that seem to pile up higher and higher alongside our growing responsibilities. Needless to say, for every situation I stop feeling stressed about, there’s reliably that one topic test or assessment around the corner that I’ve forgotten about that turns on alarms in my head. Come on, we’ve all been through it. There are some days where we feel as though the workload is too much, that there isn’t any point in this. That we have nothing to gain. But in fact, the experience itself is what you gain. And it’s not just getting used to the feeling of failure, it’s knowing how to get back up again. Now don’t expect life to go in one straight line for it to only have a few bumps- because life isn’t perfect, we aren’t perfect. Life contains many twists and turns. To us, those twists and turns could be lockdown and learning from home. It may also be a personal experience. But they don’t always have to be negative, those that are positive help shape your mindset just as much. These experiences help us survive reality. Because society isn’t perfect, we just learn to live in it. It’s up to you to put it to use. Furthermore, I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone. Thank you to all my friends who have accompanied me through my worst and my best. Thank you for giving me wonderful memories I will cherish. Thank you to my teachers, who may or may not have secretly sighed every time they’ve received an email from me. Your efforts are very much appreciated and I am so grateful to be a student of yours. Thank you to my family for trusting me once more and for doing their best to help me achieve my goals. Congratulations once again, to all of you. Stay safe during the holidays!
individually, but I did promise I would keep this speech short (but I’m sure you all know who you are). This year has been a tough one, half of it we spent in lockdown, let's be honest we all joined a few classes from bed, if we even joined at all, the teachers sat there awkwardly waiting for us to answer questions and that year group call where we all sat there waiting with our cameras on. So, I was told to give a tip on how to be successful at school, so my tip is really just to do it, do the work, pay attention, put the hard work in. There isn’t really a shortcut I can give you that can promise straight A’s (and if there was, let’s be honest I probably wouldn’t share it ahaha) it’s literally just hard work and if you put it in I promise you will see differences with your grades. And now, we are at a point where some of us won’t be at Rooty Hill next year as some take on apprenticeships and some are moving to other schools. So I wanted to wish you all the best of luck and hope you have many amazing memories in your new places. For the rest of us will be together for the next 2 years and I hope I am presented with another opportunity in the future to come up on stage and talk about our achievements together, but for everyone in this room I would like to wish you all the best of luck for the future and a safe and happy holiday. Thank you.
Year 11 – Jamee Balzan
Good morning, Ms Cawsey, Mrs Vuki, Miss Edney, Miss Munzie, English teachers, and Year 11. This year has been a rollercoaster. Never again did I expect to be standing here in front of you all. Personally, for me this year has had more downfalls and obstacles than any other- but I am eternally grateful for all of you.
Year 10 – Zahra Almoaiel
Through all of the challenges we have faced, whether that be lockdown, covid restrictions, a heavier workload, fluctuating relationships, diminishing work ethic, or all of the above and more, many of us including myself have lost sight of the end goal. I’ve struggled to find motivation or purpose in my work, driven my teachers to insanity through severe procrastination and wasted potential, and had more breakdowns than ever over all of the obstacles thrown my way this year. I was eager to see an end to 2020, and more eager to see an end to 2021; but I’ve now realised what really matters.
I would like to begin by just thanking my teachers for the amazing support and help they provided throughout this entire year. I’m especially thankful to the teachers who read my 3-page essays for short questions and would still give me feedback at 3 am in the morning. (you all are the best…)
Challenges aren’t going to go away on January 1st. Covid restrictions will not fully ease for a long time, schoolwork will not just get easier, relationships will not always be ideal, and major changes in life, especially at this age, cannot just not happen. My problems will not disappear when I finish school- they will always be with me in some form. I was too busy convincing myself that everything will just turn out right in the end, to realise that I control my own destiny, and so do all of you. It didn’t matter if I was having the absolute worst time and wanted every obstacle to disappear. It was my own negative mindset that was exacerbating everything.
Good morning fellow students, distinguished guests, teachers and our wonderful principal Miss Cawsey. I’m truly honoured and grateful to be the Year 10 DUX of 2021. I would like to start off by noting that I’m aware my speech last year was quite long, and I promise to keep this one much shorter. I think it was quite long due to the fact that I didn’t think I would be presented with this opportunity to speak again but here we are.
I also want to thank my friends and peers, so all of you for the support and encouragement you have given me throughout the year. To my many friends who have made school a lot more enjoyable and are super encouraging. I would have given a shout out to each one of you
I completely understand that this is easier said than done. But I’m not more special or important than anyone here today, and if I can push myself, so can you. I was able to 9
take agency over my own learning again, to be optimistic, to embrace what little positive things I did have this year. And this change in mindset is part of why I’m standing here today. I believe in all of you, probably more than you do in yourself. You all have potential, and I’m already immensely proud of you all for making it through year 11. I want to thank you all for your support and guidance. Without the help of my teachers, the love of my friends, and the kindness of my peers, I would not have been able to find the good in a bad situation. Please don’t hesitate to come to me if you ever need anything, because I’m more than happy to help every one of you. I will forever appreciate you all, and I wish you the best for your futures. Thank you for listening.
Student Subject, Achievement & Sport Awards Year 7
Name Mali Coombes
Noreen Daylo Baylin Hickson Taiba Hussain Firaba Hussaini Riley Marshall Summer Masterson Jemuel Nallas Myah Nguyen
Ashmeet Parmar
Ava Partridge Yonalee Polwaththa Gallage Cecilia Tapaatoutai Samuel Vista
Award Principal’s Award for Outstanding Achievement Best Performer Personal Development, Health & Physical Education Principal’s Award for Outstanding Achievement VIEW Award for Outstanding Achievement in Education Best Performer Human Society & Its Environment Best Performer Languages Other Than English Principal’s Award for Outstanding Achievement Principal’s Award for Outstanding Achievement Sports Champion – Junior Girls Principal’s Award for Outstanding Achievement Principal’s Award for Outstanding Achievement Principal’s Award for Outstanding Achievement Best Performer Creative & Performing Arts Best Performer English Best Performer Mathematics Principal’s Award for Outstanding Achievement Principal’s Award for Outstanding Achievement Best Performer Science Best Performer Technology & Applied Studies Principal’s Award for Outstanding Achievement
Year 8 Name
Henrietta Ah Lam Ramon Ayoub Mariana Bonilla Ataides Gabriella Creswell
Rebecca Gao Zakir Gloria Sidra Jafari Matthew Lim Laurel Lyttleton Ayesha Memon Angelina Ofisa Zahra Rajayee Dhwani Ramwani
Year 9 Name Chloe Ayre Gabrielle Coagas Gabriel Convento Charlize Dela Torre Zena Jalil Xiu Hui Lim
Henna Mansory
Award Best Performer English Principal’s Award for Outstanding Achievement Principal’s Award for Outstanding Achievement Best Performer Personal Development, Health & Physical Education Best Performer Technology & Applied Studies Principal’s Award for Outstanding Achievement Best Performer Creative & Performing Arts Best Performer Human Society & Its Environment Best Performer Science Principal’s Award for Outstanding Achievement Best Performer Mathematics Principal’s Award for Outstanding Achievement Principal’s Award for Outstanding Achievement Principal’s Award for Outstanding Achievement Principal’s Award for Outstanding Achievement Premiers Sporting Challenge Principal’s Award for Outstanding Achievement Principal’s Award for Outstanding Achievement
Award
Principal’s Award for Outstanding Achievement Principal’s Award for Outstanding Achievement Principal’s Award for Outstanding Achievement Principal’s Award for Outstanding Achievement Principal’s Award for Outstanding Achievement Principal’s Award for Outstanding Achievement Principal’s Award for Outstanding Achievement Best Performer Personal Development, Health & Physical Education Best Performer Science 10
Terry Nguyen Cezlie Prasad Reece RichmondCassells Ryzell Soria Taliyah Suitupe Marian Unay Monique Yeng
Year 10 Name Azeem Ali
Zahra Almoaiel
Jennifer Buckley Rebecca Chau
Reign Dimayuga
Bianca Dodd Dansia Gomes Alesha Hussein Mahek Janif Makaila Marquez Owen Munday Ucheme Ohiaeri Rene Sarraj
Jazmine Susi Angelina Zamora
Best Performer Technology & Applied Studies Principal’s Award for Outstanding Achievement Best Performer English Sports Champion – Junior Boys Best Performer Mathematics Principal’s Award for Outstanding Achievement Best Performer Creative & Performing Arts Principal’s Award for Outstanding Achievement Best Performer Human Society & Its Environment
Award
Best Performer Technology & Applied Studies Principal’s Award for Outstanding Achievement Best Performer Human Society & Its Environment Best Performer Mathematics Best Performer Science Best Performer Creative & Performing Arts Principal’s Award for Outstanding Achievement Principal’s Award for Outstanding Achievement Best Performer Personal Development, Health & Physical Education Principal’s Award for Outstanding Achievement Principal’s Award for Outstanding Achievement Principal’s Award for Outstanding Achievement Principal’s Award for Outstanding Achievement Principal’s Award for Outstanding Achievement Principal’s Award for Outstanding Achievement Principal’s Award for Outstanding Achievement Principal’s Award for Outstanding Achievement Best Performer English Principal’s Award for Outstanding Achievement Principal’s Award for Outstanding Achievement
Year 11 Name
Stefan Adamovic Malaika Ali
Jamee Balzan
Anam Diwan Andrew Doan
Zoe Gower
Nicole Li Tamana Mansory Chloe Paz
Bilal Shah Nicayla Storozuk Malakai Suitupe Kenneth Villalon Gracie Williams Joel Zahra
Year 12 Name
Haris Abawi Phoebe Birett Dana Bonifacio
Kiarne Fitzgerald Lorrye Genobili Cassandra King
Award Principal’s Award for Outstanding Achievement Principal’s Award for Outstanding Achievement Principal’s Award for Outstanding Achievement Best Performer Human Society & Its Environment Best Performer Science Best Performer Technology & Applied Studies Principal’s Award for Outstanding Achievement Best Performer Mathematics Principal’s Award for Outstanding Achievement Best Performer Creative & Performing Arts Principal’s Award for Outstanding Achievement Principal’s Award for Outstanding Achievement Principal’s Award for Outstanding Achievement Personal Development, Health & Physical Education Principal’s Award for Outstanding Achievement Principal’s Award for Outstanding Achievement Best Performer VET Entertainment Industry & Retail Services Sports Champion – Senior Boys Best Performer English Principal’s Award for Outstanding Achievement Award Principal’s Award for Outstanding Achievement Principal’s Award for Outstanding Achievement Principal’s Award for Outstanding Achievement Best Performer Personal Development, Health & Physical Education Best Performer Human Society & Its Environment Principal’s Award for Outstanding Achievement Sports Champion – Senior Girls 11
Zoe Krabbe Timuray Mentesh Arya Nooralizadeh Asl Paris Paraan GenovevaConstantina Stuparu Jason Suarez Mussa Talabani Katie Toogood
Principal’s Award for Outstanding Achievement Principal’s Award for Outstanding Achievement Best Performer Mathematics Best Performer Science Principal’s Award for Outstanding Achievement Best Performer Creative & Performing Arts Principal’s Award for Outstanding Achievement Best Performer Technology & Applied Studies Principal’s Award for Outstanding Achievement Principal’s Award for Outstanding Achievement
Rooty Hill High School Learning, Leadership & Achievement North Parade, Rooty Hill NSW 2766 P.O. Box 70, Rooty Hill NSW 2766 Phone: 02 9625 8104 Follow Rooty Hill High School:
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