Penrith High Towers-Alumni

The first edition of the school's magazine Towers was published in September 1950.

This Towers Souvenir Edition was to commemorate the establishment of the high school and the completion of the new school.

The magazine has some invaluable information about the history behind Penrith High and the importance of its name "The Towers".

Hence, the background photo of the Towers in each edition of the Towers-Alumni Newsletter.

The first edition of the Towers-Alumni Newsletter was in Term 1 2018.

We thank Principal, Mark Long, for his vision in establishing this newsletter and also Mr Clark Stone, Head Teacher History, for suggesting the name to incorporate the Towers and our Alumni.

Cathie Fayle

Editor Towers-Alumni Newsletter

Please click on the links below to have a great read:

Dear Penrith Alumni,

As you may have read in the previous newsletter, I have accepted a new role based in California, USA as the CEO of Bridges Education Group. Bridges has had a close relationship with Penrith since we engaged with two of the world's leading academics, Drs Susan Baum and Robin Schader in 2017. The work around twice exceptionality has heavily influenced our strategies for students in both curriculum and wellbeing and was so successful that large pieces of the learnings at Penrith High were shared by our talented staff across the NSW Department of Education as one of 4 early adopter schools for the High Potential and Gifted Education Policy rollout.

To say leaving Penrith High is bittersweet is an understatement. For a job I only accepted for 10 weeks in 2016 to now be finishing has been the most rewarding position of my career. The Principalship of any school is a privilege and at Penrith High, students, staff, families and alumni have achieved so much.

I recently had the opportunity to speak with the school’s podcast team, The Penrith Perception and we covered a variety of areas that we have collectively improved for students and staff. In no particular order, I am incredibly proud of:

· The deep commitment to curriculum, assessment and learning for students. Our staff have engaged with many of the world’s leading experts in gifted education and this is evident in classrooms and around the school each day.

· The facilities on a site that opened in 1950 have undergone so many improvements. The Department, parents, students, staff and alumni have all made contribution of money and time. The Alumni Garden, IA Lawn, Cafeteria, Yarning Circle and cricket nets, basketball court gardens, CAPA courtyards and each of the 70+ classrooms could all be favourite spaces. That we now have exceptional spaces for all 935 students and 130+ staff has been a large community effort. The facilities newsletter with before and after photos is always an important reminder about how far we have come and inspires all of us about what is next. An update will be in our next newsletter in 2024.

· Our co-curricular and enrichment programs are equal to any school, in any sector and a key reason why applications to the school have more than tripled since 2016 to be at the top of the state. For many years I have spoken about the reciprocity between academic performance and wellbeing for gifted students. With over 100 programs, activities and clubs, there are ample ways for students to find a passion and their tribe. Student voice and agency is on display each day across all 4 domains of giftedness- intellectual, creative, physical and social emotional and I smile when I see year 7 students connected with seniors through a student initiated club in place to share the passion of that interest. As we know schools are, by design linked horizontally, but our plan has always been to have connections vertically and diagonally so that students can find their tribe - even if it is just one other to start with. Reinstituting Prefects after the pause in 1983 has led to so many essential student leadership roles being created which teach invaluable skills, allow for mistakes to be made and students better equipped for life beyond school.

· Our staff, as a result of the collective work and professional learning opportunities are highly sought after. Almost all of the current school executive have been promoted into their Head Teacher and Deputy Principal roles, many others have taken their experiences to other schools through promotion and more will move into key leadership roles in the coming years. All of our staff (teaching and non teaching) are both caring and exceptionally talented.

· Our respect and knowledge of traditions and shaping the future directions. Our school dates back well before the opening of the high school in 1950. Once located at Penrith Public School, the new school opened in 1950 and was then designated a fully selective high school

in 1989. When I arrived, I was struck by the feeling of division marked by the 1989 repositioning. Some of our most successful alumni come from the pre 1989 cohorts and regardless, we are the same school anchored in the rich traditions of The Towers Mansion, Towers Magazine, our motto Altiora Peto, our school crest and we even hold onto the Brown and Gold on Year 12 graduation gowns despite the move to our new school colours in the early 2000s. Our Alumni is an elite group. Membership cannot be bought, only earned and so many of alumni give back in a variety of ways. It is a piece of work that we will see the true dividend from over the next 10-20 years. I have thoroughly enjoyed meeting many of you on school tours, reunions, alumni nights, spontaneous visits and weaving our shared history dating back to foundation Headmaster, Hector McGregor to now. I hope through the Alumni Garden, 70th Anniversary Captains Book, restored honour boards and the quarterly Towers Alumni publication that everyone feels connected with the school regardless of your graduation year.

I have been blessed to be surrounded by exceptional people. My first Director (my boss), Ms Deb Summerhayes is now the Deputy Secretary of the Department of Education. My second, Ms Kay Rigas is the Executive Director for 268 schools in Metropolitan South and West. I have thoroughly enjoyed the conversations with students over an ATAR discussion, a game of handball or any number of other places at school. Our P&C Presidents, Mr David Shead, Mr Praba Maheswaran and Ms Mini Matthews were each outstanding in their commitment to the school and advice to me. Our staff are world class. I could list their qualities, but we see this each day and many of you have also seen this on your visits. I thank them for their work.

For any Principal, their senior executive team and at Penrith High that is the three Deputy Principals and Business Manager make or break the school. Deputies, Mr Brian Ferguson (now Principal at North Sydney Boys HS), Ms Jaclyn Cush (Relieving Principal), Ms Doris Lee and Mrs Maria Ryan, our Business Manager, brought immense depth and contrast to their responsibilities. Words cannot describe the time, commitment and talent the students, staff, alumni and I benefitted from not to mention the many laughs we would have across the days, late at night and occasionally over weekends when interesting events arose. This team is why, in my absence from the school as the Director Educational Leadership for Sutherland it continued to move to an even higher level with Ms Trang Lam (now substantive Deputy Principal) and Mr Anthony Vassallo stepping in. I sincerely thank Jaclyn Cush for leading with such outstanding expertise as Relieving Principal in my much longer than expected time supporting the schools in Sutherland.

Thank you also to Ms Cathie Fayle who has cared for our archives and edited each of the Towers-Alumni since I suggested the idea of “another task” with a wry smile. Cathie has picked it up and run with it and what has been shared and published is special.

I want to express my condolences to the family and friends of Matthew McCarron (1998). Matthew joined us at our first Alumni Night and we connected that night as we both finished high school in the same year, albeit at different schools. He dropped into the school just before COVID lockdowns to view his paver in the Alumni Garden but we had to remain socially distanced and in masks. Matthew was bright, passionate about many pursuits and I know from different conversations highly regarded by his peers and teachers. A life taken too early.

Finally, I thank everyone for the opportunity to both lead and serve the Penrith community and will watch with hope and excitement about how far Penrith High will go in the years ahead. The sky is the limit and as someone who grew up in greater Sydney, Penrith High is a school that models the very best public education offers.

Warm regards,

Mark Long

B.PE, B.Ed, M.Ed (Lead) HFTGN

Episode 23 of The Penrith Perception came out over the school holiday break.

This episode is a very special one called 'The Long Goodbye' as the team chats to our previous School Principal, Mr Mark Long.

Mr Long was the Substantive Principal at Penrith Selective High School from 2016-2023. He has had a marvellous career in public education and especially in selective high schools.

In this episode we chat about his career in leadership, his love of education and the legacy he leaves behind as he soars to new heights in the United States.

You can listen to the episode on Spotify or use the link below.

Congratulations to our three duxes, Brian Liu, Tamiz Rumey Jiffrey and Kedar Mehta. These students achieved an ATAR of 99.35. Our three duxes of 2023 were closely followed by Rahul Joshi with an ATAR of 99.15 and Ayaan Shaikh with 99.00. An additional 6 names will be added to the HSC Excellence Honour Board in the School Hall. This board acknowledges students who achieve the top band (Band 6 or E4) in all courses studied. Further to this we also had 304 mentions on the Distinguished Achievers List for Band 6 or E4 results in individual HSC courses, which is a 12% increase from 2022. All this has seen our school rank shift from 40 to 35 in NSW. The median ATAR also increased to 92.20 in 2023.

We are proud to share some exciting news from our 2023 HSC cohort!

Gianne Lois Magcalayo's exceptional Visual Arts Body of Work is currently showcased at the Art Gallery of New South Wales for ArtExpress!

A huge congratulations to Gianne and a big thank you to her visual Arts teachers, Iain Wallace and Cameron Ferguson, for their support.

Let us also appreciate the staff who helped Gianne through her HSC journey.

Don't miss the chance to see her amazing work!

ArtExpress runs from 8 February -21 April 2024 at the Art Gallery of New South Wales.

In March we were thrilled to honour one of our outstanding staff members, Mr Clark Stone.

Mr Stone is our History Head Teacher and he was awarded the Rotary Excellence in Education Award.

This award is in recognition of his remarkable dedication to education at our school which spans many years.

Congratulations, Mr Stone!

A few weeks ago I had the pleasure of returning to Penrith High, five years after I graduated in 2019. It was wonderful to come back, feel big and old, see familiar faces, and meet some unfamiliar ones. Most of all, it was wonderful to see that PHS is still doing what it has always done—teaching and equipping the leaders of the future to take their first steps in a wider world. What follows are some reflections on how my time at PHS equipped me to go on and serve.

When I graduated in 2019, I was heading off to Sydney University to study Politics and International Relations. From my experiences at Penrith, both inside the classroom and outside, through opportunities such as debating and, most significantly, Model United Nations, I was inspired to become a diplomat and serve my country on the global stage by supporting a free and open international order and opposing injustice.

At Sydney University I helped lead the Sydney University Evangelical Union, a christian student society on campus, and I also participated in debating and Model UN. The highlight of my time there was being the Director-General of the Asia-Pacific Model United Nations Conference, where I helped organise a conference hosting over 100 directors and delegates from over 20 countries across southeast Asia and the Pacific. I also returned as a director to the UN Headquarters in New York, where I had gone with Rhys O’Connor and Victor Zhou (also 2019 PHS graduates) as delegates in 2020 after our successful sweep of the Australian Model UN scene!

My time at Sydney opened my eyes to the way the global international order worked, and I became aware of the deep security challenges facing the Indo-Pacific. I learnt that, while deft diplomacy is no doubt needed to navigate the challenges of the future, a strong and well-ordered Defence Force is also essential to support our regional and global neighbours through crises and tragedies. Thus, when the opportunity came to join the Royal Australian Navy as a Submarine Warfare Officer, I took it and commenced military work at the beginning of 2023.

I have learnt valuable skills in leadership, management and command, as well as principles of navigation and warfare. I haven’t left my diplomatic background at the door, however: last year I had the opportunity to speak at the Sea Power Conference in Sydney, where I addressed an audience including 15 Navy Chiefs from around the world about the importance of Navy diplomacy in addressing regional and global issues. In addition to researching and advising senior officials on similar issues, I am currently preparing for a sea deployment which will help Australia’s pacific neighbours build their resilience to domestic strife and natural disasters—essential in a world where climate change presents an increasing threat.

There is no doubt that I would not be where I am today without Penrith. In my junior years especially, the school’s culture was shaped by its commitment to global citizenship, service and duty. School Spirit Week and Multicultural Day were highlights of the calendar, celebrating the diversity of our community and encouraging us to serve one another. Model UN was particularly influential in opening my eyes to the work of the UN, diplomatic services and other international organisations in striving towards peace, ending poverty and attacking injustice around the world.

PHS has shaped and influenced me in ways I can’t fathom, to become a better global citizen than I could ever have been otherwise. Thank you.

David, known as Dave was a very valued member of the Technology and Applied Science Faculty of Penrith High School. Having learnt his trade as a Draftsman at Sydney Water he studied at Goulburn Teachers College to become, what was known as an Industrial Arts Teacher. Penrith High was not his first teaching school, however, I think he taught here the longest.

He was a very talented craftsman. His ability with design and his craftsmanship was second to none. He had a great rapport with the students. He taught the senior students Design and Technology. Many major works gained Band 6. Numerous were spotlighted in the TAS journals and some even were in the HSC exhibitions. He nurtured his students. His calm approach was known throughout the school. Many students wanted to be in Mr Russell’s classes. His visual teaching aids are still visible in the workshops now. Endless worksheets and practical drawings are still in the workshops as well. He spent countless hours drawing, cutting and mounting templates so all students knew what was to be made and what it should look like.

As a long time Penrith High teacher he completed many extra curricular activities as well as taking numerous, too many to remember, sporting teams to the highest level. Boys Hockey and Cricket were a standout. He reached the state finals twice with Hockey and coached the boys Cricket team to be CHS winners in the Alan Davidson Shield in 1996(pictured below).

Dave was also the go to man for any repairs to equipment and classroom furniture. Dave and Sheena Williams from the SASS staff entered all School and HSC participants into their appropriate examinations. This was a long and tedious job. Dave never complained. That is what stands out about him. A most gentle and calming man always ready to help all.

He was the instigator of the “staff gift” - the official staff handicapped running race at every Athletics Carnival. It was a handicapped race with, maybe, some bets taken and a quirky statement about each participant. The common room used to house the winners pictures which are now in the archives. He actually built the frames for them. Such great memories. Dave was also the official starter of every race at the athletics and swimming carnivals. He was always there with his earmuffs or ears plugged and starter's gun.

He knew the rules to every sport and was keen for all students to enter.

Nothing was too much for him.

At the end of Term 4 each year, Year 7 would go to Penrith Lakes and fly kites. The students would design and build their own kites. Dave was instrumental in ensuring all students produced a quality kite. He assisted the students with design, material choice and construction. He spent many a lunchtime hammering, screwing and even sewing the kite materials.

It was usually a hot sultry day culminating with a typical evening storm. Dave was in charge of the BBQ, and the majority of the excursion. It was always a great end to the Technology Course in Year 7 and an end of year celebration.

Dave was also fond of 60's and 70's music. This was evident when one of the TAS morning teas was 70’s themed. We all dressed up. It was a great event.

Dave was also a well respected Year Adviser twice as well as Sports Organiser. He worked on the Board of Studies as Coordinator for the school and some of his design students received full marks.

Memories from

Robyn Myers

TAS Teacher

Although Penrith High was opened to students in 1950 the official opening did not take place until 20th April 1951.

This official invitation is a recent addition to the school's archives.

The invitation was originally folded in three. Although it is still in its entirety in the frame a copy of the first page has been made.

You will find the frame hanging in the school foyer.

Each year in term 1 we try to update all our honour boards in the hall or around the school.

Below are photos of the updated boards. If the boards are newer it means the past boards are full.

Please don't hesitate to contact Cathie in the library if you want your board photo where your name is printed to be sent to you or published. You can do this by emailing:

cathie.fayle@det.nsw.edu.au

Kind regards

Cathie Fayle

Editor

If you are interested please email the school on: penrith-h.school@det.nsw.edu.au

Attention Cathie in the library for further details

NOTE: the school was not established until 1950 so bear this in mind.

In addition, if the Alumni listed below(or anyone who can help as to what area of defence they were attached - Army, Navy, Air Force) could email the school on the above address, it would be much appreciated.

Harry Grimes(Vietnam)

Brian Carney

Alan Ormerod

Ian Dickens(Vietnam)

Anthony Charles Dickens

It is with great excitement we share the cast of our 2024 Musical - NEVERMORE: THE IMAGINARY AND MYSTERIOUS DEATH OF EDGAR ALLAN POE!

The Musical will be on May 2 and May 3 2024.

This steampunk musical combines haunting music and poetic storytelling to reveal the internal and external struggles of Poe's life. The story blurs the lines between fact and fiction - after all, as Poe himself writes, "All that we see or seem is but a dream within a dream."

Music, Lyrics and book by Jonathan Christenson

Directed by Ellie Kennedy

Below are the six players and our leading man, Edgar Allan Poe!

Tickets are now on sale for May 2 and May 3:

https://www.trybooking.com/CQLYH

Email: penrith-h.school@det.nsw.edu.au
Website: http://penrith-h.schools.nsw.gov.au
Location: Penrith Selective High School, 158-240 High St, Penrith NSW, Australia
Phone: (02) 4721 0529
Facebook: facebook.com/penrithselectivehighschool