Principal's Report
Global Scholars Award
In 2018 I introduced a voluntary competition in the school that focussed on the idea of Global Citizenship. It is called the Global Scholars Award.
The reality is that we live in an interconnected world, dependent on each other. We are faced with issues that affect us all – economic factors, sustainability, religion, race, diversity, respect, equality and poverty. A global citizen is someone who recognises this and is willing to act to make the world a more equitable and sustainable place.
Each of us are, every day, asked to explore complex and controversial global issues we encounter through the media and our own experiences. As young people the students of our school are confronted by and are trying to make sense of a world marked by division, conflict, environmental change, inequality and poverty.
What our students learn now about global issues has a critical role to play in equipping their generation with the vision and means to rise to complex challenges that transcend national borders.
As students we want them to explore and question the world around them - to think critically, advocate for social justice and apply their understanding to real-world issues. This is what this award is about.
In 2019 the award will be a video competition between Henry Kendall High School and Gosford High School. Students are challenged to create a one minute video on the topic of, “What does it mean to be a global citizen in 2019?’.
There will be three categories – Years 7 & 8 , Years 9 & 10 and Years 11 & 12.
In each category there will be an award winner from each school, and an overall award winner. Award winners will be presented on Presentation Evening at the end of the year. The award winners from each school will each receive $80 and a certificate of recognition, and the overall award winner will receive $150 and a certificate. Awards are generously sponsored by the P&C.
Videos are due by Friday 16 August, and we are looking forward to some powerful, creative and inspiring entries as our talented students rise to the challenge.
Tell Them From Me Survey
Recently 614 students across all year levels completed the first of two survey’s in 2019 designed to inform school directions and guide areas for improvement. These survey’s – Tell Them From Me – are completed by students in Terms 2 and 4 and by staff and parents in Term 4.
The surveys focus on gaining insights into areas such as social-emotional outcomes, academic outcomes, sense of belonging, effective teaching and learning factors, and student engagement.
The results will be closely analysed by the school executive, and used to guide school improvement directions including the major review of our Stage 4 curriculum occurring over the next six months.
I will keep our community informed regarding the survey results.
Contributing to Sustainability
This term our school is involved in two programs aimed at reducing our environmental footprint. The first involves the installation of a significant number of solar panels on the roof of three of our main buildings which will provide sustainable energy back into the grid and reduce our burden on external power supply.
The second program will see the replacement of every light fitting in the school with LED lighting, providing for a significant reduction in energy consumption on a daily basis.
Moving to Electronic Based Student Reports
This year we are introducing the provision of student reports online through the Sentral Parent and Student Portal. Paper copy reports will also be provided for all students during 2019 as we introduce this new process, however we intend to phase these out in 2020. I am aware that some families do not have ready access to the internet, and in these cases paper based reports will continue to be provided in 2020 and beyond.
At this point nearly 500 families are utilising the parent portal and it is our hope that this will be increased further this year as we introduce more functionality, including student reporting. Any families needing information on accessing the portal are encouraged to ring or email the school and our team are ready to provide assistance in getting it set up.
Several advantages are foreseen in moving to electronic based reports. Families are able to download the documents and retain these in a centralised place, and as a school we are able to proactively cut down the quantity of paper we are required to produce. Any feedback on this initiative is encouraged.
Review of our Stage 4 Curriculum
As I foreshadowed in our first newsletter of the year, this term I am commencing a significant review of the way we deliver teaching and learning in Years 7 and 8. This review will include survey’s and interviews of students, parents and teachers to guide us in ascertaining what is working well, what we need to rethink, the relevance of our teaching and learning, and the engagement and motivation levels of our students. The information that we collect and collate will be cross referenced with educational policy directions and with the significant body of research that exists about the future focussed directions of education in order to best prepare our students for the rapidly changing world they are entering.
At the core of this review is one key question that I am seeking to answer, and that will be defining in the directions of our school; “What is our vision for contemporary learning design”. At the heart of this question is attaining a balance in teaching students the knowledge, skills and character traits they will need to lead successful, adaptable and meaningful lives.
I place great value in the input of our parent body in this discourse, and well as the voice of our students. Parent survey’s will be emailed and won’t be onerous or time consuming to complete. These responses will be automatically collated, and I encourage all parents to share their thoughts via this survey. Surveys will be emailed out later this month.
Term 4 School Development Days 2019
Throughout 2019 the staff will be completing additional hours of professional learning. This will be in lieu of the two Development Days at the end of term 4, when the school will be non-operational.
Parents & Community Association
The P&C Meets in the Nichols Meeting room in the Administration building at 7.00pm on the 3rd Tuesday of each month, with our next P&C Meeting for 2019 being the Tuesday 21 May. I welcome all parents to join our P&C and take an active role in our school.
Mr Andrew Backhouse
Principal