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PRINCIPAL REPORT

BY BRIAN FERGUSON

From The Principal

Welcome to the start of the 2026 school year! I hope you all had a wonderful and restful break with family and friends. As we begin this new year, we have exciting opportunities ahead, and I am eager to see all that we will achieve together at North Sydney Boys.

This year brings new beginnings, and I would like to extend a warm welcome to our new Year 8-11 students, as well as our Year 7 cohort, the Class of 2031, who have just returned from their first camp. We are thrilled to have you join our school community.

I am pleased to announce some exciting developments around the school. The rollout of new desks, chairs and cupboards in classrooms is continuing across the school. During the recent school holidays, we had the upstairs corridor and stairwells in B Block painted. It has totally transformed the space, bringing more light and showcasing the beauty of the heritage building. The next step in this space is to get carpet on the stairwells as well as some acoustic panelling.

We have recently ordered more outdoor furniture which will provide seating for the boys and more classrooms have been measured for new cupboards at the front of the room. In addition, five more Smartboards will be going into classrooms. One of the highlights of the start of our year is our annual Vital Eyes initiative, which has already been a great success.

This initiative allows us to showcase all the updates and improvements to the school, and it provides a platform for valuable feedback from parents. It’s a fantastic way to begin the year and ensure we are continually moving forward together. We deeply appreciate the support and suggestions, and we look forward to sharing the findings with the P&C and the broader school community.

As always, if parents have any questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to reach out to the Year Advisers, who are always available to support your child’s wellbeing. Thank you for your ongoing support, and here’s to a fantastic year ahead!

Class of 2025 HSC Results

We are thrilled to announce the outstanding achievements of the Class of 2025 in the HSC. For the third year in a row, North Sydney Boys High School ranked 1st in the state. A total of 156 students sat their HSC exams in 2025, and the results were truly remarkable.

Of the 926 exams sat, our students achieved 663Band 6s, resulting in a record-breaking success rate of 71.6%.This is a testament to the hard work and dedication of our students and staff.

• We are particularly proud of the following highlights:

• Seven students achieved the top ATAR of 99.95.

• Eleven students earned state ranks including two firsts with two students achieving two state ranks each.

• There were 71 All-round Achievers, students who achieved a Band 6 or Extension Band 4 in at least 10 units.

• Of the 156 students who sat the HSC, 149 achieved at least one Band 6 or E4 result, with three students achieving 7 Band 6/E4 results and one student an incredible 8 Band 6/ E4 results.

The Class of 2025 also had outstanding success in the HSC Showcases:

• Two students were nominated for the Young Writers Showcase, with one student’s major work selected for the showcase. This student is now a published author.

• Eight students had the HSC Music performance nominated for ENCORE, with one student being placed on the reserve list for his performance. The same student also had his composition nominated.

• One student had his Visual Arts HSC major work selected for exhibition in ARTEXPRESS. His work is currently hanging in the new building of the Art Gallery of NSW.

• One student had his Design & Technology major work nominated for SHAPE.

In addition to these individual successes, North Sydney Boys also excelled in subject rankings:

• 1st in the state for English with 75.6% of all students achieving the top band.

• 2nd in the state for Mathematics with 90.3% of all students achieving the top band.

The Class of 2025’s success is a result of their collaboration and their willingness to support each other, both academically and personally. Together, they formed a strong, unified cohort that demonstrated exceptional teamwork and determination.

To celebrate these remarkable achievements, we held a Celebration Assembly on Thursday, 5 February, where we acknowledged and honoured the success of our students.

We congratulate the Class of 2025 on their exceptional results and thank them for their contributions to the proud legacy of North Sydney Boys High School.

Leadership & Enrichment Activity Program

LEAP provides students with an excellent opportunity to explore the wide variety of extracurricular activities available at North Sydney Boys. The LEAP Club Day was held on Thursday 12 February, and it was a fantastic success.

During the event, the various student-led committees and clubs showcased what they have to offer beyond the classroom. Students had the chance to learn about and join a range of groups, including music and drama ensembles, debating, public speaking, chess, robotics, multimedia, paper folding, Duke of Edinburgh, computing, history, economics, politics, and philosophy clubs, among many others. With over 30 different clubs to choose from, there is something for everyone!

We are thrilled to see so many students engaging with these opportunities and getting involved in the vibrant extracurricular life of our school. We encourage all students to explore these clubs and make the most of the enriching experiences they provide.

Year 7 Camp

Our new Year 7 students have recently had the opportunity to bond with one another and get to know some of our staff during their inaugural camp at the Sydney Academy of Sport and Recreation Centre at Narrabeen.

The camp was filled with a range of outdoor activities that allowed the boys to develop new skills, from abseiling to participating in team-building exercises. This was also a fantastic opportunity for the students to form new friendships in a supportive, hands-on environment away from the classroom. The boys had a lot of fun, and it was great to see them step out of their comfort zones and embrace the challenges of camp life. This experience is just the beginning of a larger Outdoor Education journey that continues throughout their time at the school. Our program culminates in Year 11 with the ski camp, offering students a range of diverse activities that promote physical and personal growth. We are excited to watch these students progress through this program, as it plays an important role in fostering strong connections, leadership, and confidence.

Thank you to the staff who helped organise and supervise the camp, and to the parents for supporting this valuable experience. We look forward to seeing how the bonds formed at camp will continue to grow throughout the year and beyond.

Crawford Shield

This year, Melbourne students will be visiting NSB and staying with host families as part of our long-standing tradition of the Crawford Shield. Our teams have been training hard and are eager to take on the challenge in badminton, basketball, chess, cricket, debating, futsal, music, table tennis, volleyball and water polo. This annual event is a wonderful opportunity for our students to showcase their skills, represent our school, and foster camaraderie with their peers from Melbourne High School.The enthusiasm is already building, and we know that our Falcons are ready to give their all. Fly, Falcons, fly! Thank you to all the coaches, staff, and parents who are supporting our students in their preparation for this exciting event.

Swimming Carnival

The whole school swimming carnival will take place on Friday 6 March 2026, at the Auburn Aquatic Centre. This highly anticipated event promises to be a fun and energetic day for all students. Full details, along with a permission note, will be sent to all parents and carers shortly.

The swimming carnival is considered a normal school day, and we expect all students to attend and participate. It’s a fantastic opportunity for students to engage in friendly competition, celebrate school spirit, and show their support for their house teams.We encourage all students to participate in a race, whether you’re aiming for a personal best time or simply joining in for the fun!

Students should come dressed in their house colours to support their teams:

• Harvey – Yellow

• Hinder – Blue

• Smith – Red

• Williams – Green

We look forward to seeing all our students give their best and embrace the spirit of the day.

Welcome to New Staff

We are pleased to welcome back Ms Vincy Lai and Mr Saul Han to the HSIE Faculty after their secondments last year. We also welcome Mr Ben O’Grady and Mr Mark Hamilton as permanent teachers in our Inclusive Education Faculty and Mr Dean Faught as our new Teacher Librarian.

Year Advisers

Our Year Advisers for 2026 are:

Year 7

Year 8

Year 9

Year 10

Year 11

Year 12

Head Teachers

English

Mathematics

Dion Avramides

Daisy Du

Jacob Parker

Ana-Maria Dumitrescu

Matthew Tran

Emma Dell

Deputy Principals

Each of our Deputy Principals is responsible for the following year groups:

Year 7 and 10

Year 8 and 11

Year 9 and 12

Adele Walker

Yugen Pillay

Michael Iverach

Science

CAPA

Languages

TAS

PDHPE

HSIE

Teacher Administration

Teaching and Learning

Wellbeing

Inclusive Education

Loveday Recny

Aida Sarofim

Kylie Chan

Jenny Grimley

Djida Djiafri (Rel)

Brian Johnson (Rel)

Jane Everingham

Stuart Madgwick

Daisy Douglas

Jane Everingham

Georgina Willma

Kathy Coady

JAPAN TOUR

BY 2025 Year 10 & Year 11 Group

Year 11

The NSBHS 2026 Japanese School Trip provided those of us who went with endless opportunities to develop and allow ourselves to fully experience Japanese culture and its school system. The first week was eventful, starting with two nights in Hiroshima. We went to a variety of different landmarks, such as the Hiroshima Peace Memorial and Miyajima Island. We saw plenty of deer that we were sadly unable to touch. Following this was Kyoto, where we were able to experience Japanese temples and shrines. We even visited Tokyo TOEI Studio Park, where we could observe the filming of historical dramas, and a live ninja performance.

The hotel accommodation at all locations were fantastic, and we all had a great time even when sightseeing and the day was over. Following this, we visited Gion Corner, a cultural experience to observe traditional art performances including Geisha performances, a tea ceremony, Noh theatre and koto performances. The first week of Japan was truly exciting, unique, and unforgettable.

In the second week, we again had the opportunity to meet our host buddies in Kokusai. We enjoyed the weekend catching up, eating at many restaurants and getting used to daily life in Tokyo. We received a warm welcome from the Kokusai principal, and engaged in interactive Japanese classes taught by exceptional language teachers. Attending the classes our host students showed us how different Japanese school life was to ours, meeting new classmates and creating even more lasting friendships. We experienced true Japanese classroom culture, and saw the daily activities students had whether it was during breaks, or in after school club activities. After school ended, we followed our host students as we visited popular destinations in Tokyo, going shopping, eating, and making incredible memories. It was wonderful to spend our final day in Japan with them, having our last hours in Tokyo singing, eating, and

sharing the beautiful memories we made as our trip came to an end. Many emotional goodbyes were made at the airport terminal, but the bonds we’ve forged between schools across the globe will last longer.

The trip gave us insight into the amazing Japanese culture and school life, forming many lasting memories, and strengthening our bond not only between us but with our Japanese hosts as well, whom we will meet again.

Year 12

The exchange program with Tokyo Metropolitan Kokusai High School has become one of the most eagerly anticipated opportunities for students, offering a chance to cultivate friendships and immerse ourselves in a different culture. While the first week of the trip allowed us to explore some of Japan’s most famous historical and cultural sites, it was the second week with our host buddies that became the most memorable and meaningful part of the journey. Attending Kokusai High School alongside our hosts was the highlight of the exchange, enabling us to participate in classes and engage with new people, while partaking in cultural experiences such as calligraphy and the tea ceremony, which fostered a deeper understanding and appreciation of Japanese traditions. Additionally, we found ourselves exploring Tokyo each afternoon, surveying the city from the perspective of local students rather than as tourists. Our hosts guided us through their favourite places, whether it was a small shop filled with unfamiliar snacks or a bustling street lined with food stalls, ultimately providing us with the opportunity to experience the energy of the city after school hours. However, above all, the exchange was defined by the friendships we formed. Whether at school or out in the city, we shared countless moments of laughter and conversation. By the end of the week, saying goodbye was difficult, as the connections we had built were genuine and lasting. The experience was not only enjoyable but also unforgettable, leaving us with memories and friendships that we all hope to revisit in the future.