Leadership Program

The aim of the SGHS Awards Scheme is to recognise and encourage student participation in a range of activities associated with the school.  It is an attainable award, where with effort, students will receive credit for their overall involvement in school activities.

There are four categories of award: bronze, silver, gold and school medal. A student who achieves two bronze awards is eligible to seek a silver award. A student who receives a silver award is then eligible to seek a gold award.  Students will receive a certificate and a badge to recognise their achievements.
A student, who enrols in Year 11, enters the scheme at the gold level.

It is not possible to qualify for more than one award per annum.  An award is not cumulative beyond a single calendar year except in special circumstances, such as prolonged illness or girls who join the school after Year 7.

The scheme is essentially administered by students.   It is their responsibility to check their eligibility and to lodge an application form with the Student Leadership Coordinator. A sheet will be distributed so that records may be kept and a teacher or supervisor’s signature will be needed to confirm the achievement.

To gain an award a student will need to show in one calendar year, eligibility in five of the categories, the first two being compulsory. The award criteria are listed separately and have been emailed to each student.

Award Criteria

Categories of Recognition

1. Academic Achievement – Compulsory Activity

• A student in Years 7- 8 needs to achieve an ‘A’ grade in 8 subjects in either the half yearly or yearly report. A student in Years 9-10 needs to achieve an ‘A’ grade in 7 subjects in either the half yearly or yearly report.
• A student in Year 11 needs to achieve a mark of more than 80% in 9 units in their final report.
• A student in Year 12 needs to achieve a mark of more than 80% in 8 units in their final report.
  or
• A student needs to be awarded 5 Academic Merit Certificates at the Merit Assembly in December.

2. Carnivals - Compulsory Activity

• A student will need to have participated satisfactorily in two of the three annual school carnivals -
• Swimming Carnival (compete in at least one event)
• Athletics Carnival (compete in at least two events)
• Cross Country Carnival

NB.  Only in exceptional circumstances may this requirement be waived by the Deputy Principal.

3. Sport (Representative)

• A student needs to have participated satisfactorily (80% attendance) in one of the following co curricular sports (not scheduled sport):
• Basketball, Water Polo, Netball, Rowing, Hockey, Fencing, Skiing, Table Tennis, Badminton.
  or
• Achieved Regional, State or National selection arising out of membership of the school.

4. Performances (Representative)

A student will need to have been selected for and participated satisfactorily in a Regional, State or National performing group arising out of membership of the school e.g. NSW State Drama/Dance, Debating, Music, Tournament of Minds, or gained a place in the Latin Reading Competitions or Japanese Speech Contest.

5. School Activities – Elected/Nominated Positions
A student needs to have taken an active part in ONEof the following:

• School Prefect Body
• Student Representative Council
• Captain/Vice Captain of co curricular activities
• House Captain/Vice-Captain
• School Council
• Peer Support Leadership
• Have been nominated by the school for a special award e.g. Minister’s Award for Student Excellence, Order of  Australia Certificate, Queens Trust for Young Australians

6. School Activities – School Based

A student needs to have participated satisfactorily in ONE of the following:

• Library Monitorship       
• School club or committees e.g. Chess Club, Bridge Club, Maths Club, Chronicle Committee, JAM, ISSGHS, Knitting in Company, Environment Group, Young Conspirators, Imagizine
• School photographer, stage crew, lighting/sound engineers
• Music ensemble/group e.g. Choir, Senior Vocal, Wind Ensemble, Percussion Ensemble, Chamber Ensemble (Cannot be same as Category 4)
• The Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme
• Shakespeare Festival at school level
• Years 7 – 11 Major Drama Productions (not Drama Days)

7. School Activities – Enrichment/Extension

A student needs to have met TWO of the following criteria:

• A grade of at least a Distinction in a National Standardised Test (e.g. English, Mathematics, Science, Language, Geography, Economics, Computing)

NB.  Students with 2 distinctions do not need any other activity in this category

• A commendation in the Herald’s Young Writer of the Year Award
• A commendation in the Young Scientist Award / BHP Science Award or similar
• The Australian Youth Forum or CRA National Youth Science Forum, Harry Messel Science School
• The Mathematics Enrichment Activities
• The Mock Trial Competition
• Model United Nations
• Da Vinci Decathlon
• A Gold Award in the Chinese Eisteddfod 
• A Gold Award in the International Latin Exam or a Medallion in the International Mythology Exam.
• Participation in NSW Classics Camp
• Selection to sit for an Olympiad Examination
• An commendation in the STC Young Playwright Competition
• An entry selected for Page to Stage Young Dramatists
• An entry accepted into ARTEXPRESS or a curated exhibition
• A commendation in a film/essay/writing/poetry competition
• An entry selected into the NSW Design Competition
• An award in one of the State History Competitions
• Debating/Public Speaking
• Any other enrichment activity approved by the Deputy Principal

8. School and Community Service

A student will need to have met ONE of the following criteria:

• Assistance at an organisational level with Parent/Teacher Nights/Orientation Night/Presentation Day/ School Visits/Open Night/Languages Festival
• Participation with support groups e.g. parking
• Hosting of a billet or overseas student
• Assisting with coaching of sport, music, debating, Tournament of Minds
• Participation in a school approved community service project (Note: charity collection must be on  2 separate occasions)
• Participation in a special school service project approved by the Deputy Principal