HSC 2019: Best performing northern beaches students
Here are our best northern beaches HSC students of 2019. We are highlighting and celebrating the pupils who achieved incredible results this year. If schools want their top students recognised email the editor@manlydaily.com.au.
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Here is our roll call of best performing HSC students on the northern beaches. If you have contributions contact the editor@manlydaily.com.au.
Story of adversity to motiviate others
A Pittwater High School pupil who was unable to attend classes for nearly three years because of a chronic gastrointestinal illness, achieved a 97.85 ATAR.
Ryan Russell, 17, is from a single parent family and at his sickest was confined to a wheelchair.
He also suffered chronic pain that was untreatable.
The 6ft 5inch student still has a contracture in his knee after growing so fast while he was immobile.
But his dream of becoming a cardiovascular surgeon drove him on, inspiring him to abandon computer gaming and apply himself to study.
He achieved three Band 6’s, narrowly missing out on the full house by just a couple of points.
“Along with his strength of spirit and determination he has been able to conquer all the difficulties that have been thrown at him,” mum Leanne said.
“Our family has been living with my 86-year-old father since 2010, when we moved home to help support my father to care for my mother with dementia.
“Ryan and his younger sister April were young carers for their grandmother, spending much of their young lives around nursing homes and dementia patients.
“Since Ryan was very young he has shown incredible compassion for the homeless, aged and needy in our society.
“He has been a wonderful support for our family at the same time as battling his own health issues to come out with this wonderful result.”
Ms Russell said she hoped her son’s story could motivate many other young teens to strive to do their best despite adversity.
Scotland Island girl’s incredible ATAR result
Geordie Smith, 17, of Pittwater House, achieved a 99.05 ATAR in the HSC.
The Scotland Island resident, Avalon FC player and Newport surf club member, got a Band 6 in Extension 1 maths, biology, PDHPE and business studies and a Band 5 in English Advanced.
She now plans to study biomedical engineering at university.
“I was surprised when I got the results,” Geordie said.
“My parents were shocked too. My mum didn’t believe me at first.”
Geordie said she got through her HSC year by making sure she balanced study with having fun, in particular participating in sport.
Talking Italian
Rebecca Walker, of North Curl, topped the state for Italian continuers.
The pupil who went to Monte Sant’ Angelo Mercy College in North Sydney achieved an ATAR of 98.6.
Proud dad John Walker said although his daughter did not want a fuss, it was important to celebrate the big wins and this is one of them.
Budding businessman
Davidson High School student James Mirabito beat all other students in the state in business studies.
The 18-year-old from Belrose came first in the course in this year’s HSC and was honoured on Monday in a First in Course awards ceremony at UNSW, attended by Premier Gladys Berejiklian and Minister for Education Sarah Mitchell.
Mackellar Year 11 Manly girl gets top in state for Aboriginal Studies
The Northern Beaches Secondary College Mackellar Girls student completed Aboriginal Studies a year before the rest of her HSC peers, blitzing the course as an accelerated student while still in Year 11. Incredibly she achieved the top result in NSW.
Pittwater House has a great HSC year
Pittwater House is celebrating after 40 per cent of the Girls College and 36 per cent of Boys Grammar School achieved Band 6 in one or more subjects as well as two accelerated Year 11 girls.
“We are incredibly proud of our Class of 2019 for the hard work and dedication they have shown throughout the year,” Dr Nancy Hillier, principal of Pittwater House School said.
“We wish them every success as they take the next step toward their future.
“Although there are many students who are overseas or uncontactable today, of the 18 ATARS we have been told thus far, we are pleased to report that 11 of these are over 95.
“Over 42 per cent of the cohort had already received guaranteed pre-entry into their chosen university courses prior to receiving their HSC results.”
All Rounders (90+ in all subjects)
Annabelle Hyde
Tamsyn Martin
Top Achievers (Top 5 in NSW)
Mia Giladi (Year 11 accelerated) – Dance
Distinguished Achievers (90+ in one or more subjects)
Madeleine Adams
Luke Buckton
Daya Chadda-Harmer
Samuel Chapman
William D’Elmaine
Naveen Dhillon
Isabella Dunkin
Alfred Eagleton
Ryan Garay
Benjamin Glixman
Lia Guard
Lara Huby-Stewart
Linda Lock
Luca Newland Dailly
Matilda Peate
Thomas Pinnington
Ashley Potter
Matthew Roussouw
Renee Rounds
Geordie Smith
Isabella Stevens
Ryan Tauhid
Lachlan Thomas-Smith
Isabella Thomassian
Natasha Trevena
Zoe Tulk
Isla Walker
Special Congratulations
Mitchell Wong – Selected for inclusion in ARTEXPRESS (Visual Arts)
Isabella Thomassian (Year 11 accelerated) – Selected to perform two works at Callback 2019 (Dance)
St Luke’s celebrates success:
St Luke’s is celebrating after teh school came 28th in the State overall. It also scored the following impressive results:
— 13th in the State – Comprehensive Schools (Incl Single Sex / Co-Educational)
— 9th in the State – Co-Educational Schools (Incl Selective / Comprehensive)
— 3rd in the State – Comprehensive Co-Educational Schools (After Reddam House and Al-Faisal College)
— 2nd on the Northern Beaches - Overall (After Manly Selective High School)
—1st on the Northern Beaches - Independent Schools
— 1st on the Northern Beaches - Comprehensive Schools
Top Atar:
Rachel Hansen 99.7
All Round Achievers:
The following 8 students gained 90 or more in 10 units or more and were recognised on the All Round Achievers List:
— Oscar Ansted
— Maddison Bowyer
— Georgia Coleman
— Rachel Hansen
— Benjamin Jeffcoat
— Dexter Konijn
— Vicki Patapis
— Finn Wilson
Three students were one mark off this list: Katja Amet, Jack Bunton and Jack Hobson
Top Achievers
Top achievers:
Two students placed in the top 20 in a course and were recognised on the Top Achievers list:
— Rachel Hansen placed 12th in Biology with a mark of 95.
— Ryan Costin placed 19th in Mathematics Standard 2 with a mark of 98.
One student received a mark of 50/50 for his Music 2 Performance: Nikolas Rejto