Bega High School
Students across the Bega Valley have been celebrating some outstanding HSC results released Friday morning.
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Given the incredibly challenging year students have had due to bushfires and then COVID closures, the results are all the more impressive.
Beha High School graduate Serena Claringbold said she was very happy with her results, which included Band 6 results (90 per cent or higher) in Mathematics Standard 2 and Community and Family Studies. She said she received Band 5s (80-89 per cent) in all her other subjects.
"With the year we had I wasn't holding my breath, but I'm very happy with what I got," Serena said.
She admitted her self motivation during COVID-enforced home schooling "was quite lacking I must say" - "but it was also good experience in a different type of learning that will come in helpful at university when it's a lot more self-directed."
Serena already attained early entry in to Australian National University to study Political Science.
"I'm very excited by that - I want to try and make a difference."
Among other great results at Bega High, three Industrial Technology Timber students all achieved Band 6 results, while there were also Band 6 results across Maths, Chemistry, Drama and Music.
And according to relieving principal Scott Defina there were "heaps of Band 5s" among the 72-strong 2020 cohort as well.
"We had outstanding results last year, but this year has surpassed them.
"It's a credit to the amount of work teachers put in during the COVID lockdown time and then, when the kids came back, all the extra time the teachers put in with each student.
"You don't get results like that without the dedication from teachers, from the students and from parents - it's a real community result."
Sapphire Coast Anglican College
Nicholas Fantham of Sapphire Coast Anglican College was the school captain in his senior year and dux, so it was no surprise to see him name among the highest achievers.
Nicholas scored Band 6 results (90 per cent or higher) in both Maths Advanced and PDHPE. He also picked up high Band 5 results (80-89 per cent) in Biology and Chemistry.
SCAC principal Tracey Gray said Nicholas was given an ATAR of 94.15.
"Everyone has done so well," Ms Gray said.
"We had 100 pert cent of our Tourism students score Band 5, compared to the state average of 17.39 per cent - it was outstanding."
Ms Gray said Jessica Peters also scored well across her subjects as did Cleo Stylianou.
More importantly, all 18 graduating SCAC students had already secured post-school pathways she said.
"That's more important to me than a score - that they are pursuing what they want.
"Especially given the year we've all been through, we're just so relieved in this year of challenges and more importantly that they have come out the other side with positive mental health."
Eden Marine High
Eden Marine High School principal Viv Chelin said her HSC students achieved "excellent results" this year.
"Despite all the challenges they have faced, students achieved 37 Band 5 and Band 6 results and it is fantastic to have so many results in the top two bands.
"These results are the product of three things - students focusing on their learning, teachers and students working hard together, and the ongoing support of parents and the broader community.
"We are so proud of all our HSC students - their determination, resilience and capacity to face and overcome challenges is evident by their excellent results.
"A huge thank you to all staff at EMHS for the significant amount of time and energy they continually poured into ensuring continuity of learning throughout the year.
"An amazing effort from the EMHS learning community!"
Hunter de Jong was among those top Eden students, attaining an ATAR of 88.10.
Hunter said he almost had an advantage over other students as he studied via "virtual school" Aurora College from Year 7 to Year 10.
Aurora students connect with their teachers and classmates in timetabled lessons through an online learning environment.
He said in Year 7 with a young teen's free will it was hard to stay motivated, but by his senior years he was in a better mindset of focusing on what he wanted to achieve. He studied all subjects bar English virtually, with his English classes at Eden Marine.
He's happy with his marks as well as achieving early entry to University of Wollongong to study mechatronic Engineering - think robotics, computer learning and automating processes.
Lumen Christi Catholic College
Lumen Christi Catholic College is proud to congratulate the class of 2020 for their excellent HSC results.
Principal Shane Giles said the cohort returned strong results across the disciplines with a number of Band 5 and Band 6 results in English, Maths, the Sciences and Humanities and Creative and Performing Arts, and PDHPE
"Lumen students studied a wide variety of courses, returning strong results in Extension Maths, English, Science and History. Courses based on major project work returned results in the high bands.
"Students submitted projects and sat examinations in subjects such as, Music, Drama and Visual Arts, returning a number of Band 5 and Band 6 results.
"The college supports students in the completion of distance education courses. These students retuned marks in the highest bands for Spanish Continuers and Design and Technology.
"A number of students sat the Hospitality exam as early commencement Year 11 students. Along with their Year 12 peers, they achieved the highest bands available for the course.
"Of the 388 examinations sat at the college, 30 per cent returned grades in the highest bands and most student returned results ranging through the mid-70 to 90 per cent range.
"The college congratulates all of the students for their strong showing and thanks the parents for their support through this difficult year. Congratulations to the teaching and support staff who partnered, mentored, taught and encouraged in all contexts and learning situations both onsite and remote!"