Killara High School

From the Principal

Week 8 

Dear Killara Families, 

 

As we near the end of the school year, I would like to congratulate all students for working towards their personal best achievements in 2020. I would also like to recognise the wonderful work of our teachers. Our caring teachers aim to unleash the high potential in every student and they enjoy seeing students grow, succeed and thrive through all learning experiences.

 

A remarkable educational leader at Killara High School

I would like to recognise Mrs Jenny Newell. Mrs Newell is an educational leader who has successfully taught within the NSW and ACT education sectors. Mrs Newell’s teaching career will reach 50 years at the end of 2021, with 36 years of teaching at Killara High School. Mrs Newell is a remarkable leader across the school particularly in technology integration, English and teaching in the specialist area of English as an Additional Language or Dialect (EAL/D). Working with teachers and students across the school in various courses has allowed many students to develop strong working relationships with Mrs Newell. As an exceptional teacher, Mrs Newell has mentored many teachers. Mrs Newell has relieved as Principal, Deputy Principal and undertaken various executive roles during her time at Killara High School. Supporting students succeed in their learning and ensuring that all students experience growth and attainment is what motivates Mrs Newell. Having supported and attended our school’s Cambodia and Vietnam tour seven times, organising the Comedy for a Cause evening over many years, managing our annual Chinese and Korean community evenings, supporting the technology committee, coordinating the EAL/D faculty, and teaching multiple courses, Mrs Newell is a leader with talents and expertise across many areas. One of Mrs Newell’s earliest educational engagements involved teaching in the Western Highlands province of Papua New Guinea at Mount Hagen Secondary School, with one of her former students becoming Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea. Mrs Newell has also successfully taught in Hong Kong and delivered professional learning experiences for teachers at Killara High School and across the state. We are honoured to have Mrs Newell at our school, as a teacher, colleague and friend. Her enthusiasm for expanding the boundaries in teaching and learning is highly respected. We look forward to many more years with Mrs Newell leading, teaching and mentoring at Killara High School.

 

Welcome Year 7, 2021

We will soon welcome our wonderful Year 7, 2021 students and their families to our school. 

 

Years 7,11 and 12 2021 commence school on Friday 29 January 2021. This is Week 1 A. Our whole school returns on Monday 1 February. This is Week 2 B. 

 

Here are some useful contacts for our new Year 7, 2021 students and families:

  • Year 7 Year Advisers​ - Hannah Zhang and Libby Broughton
  • Stage 4 Head Teacher - Ruth Charles
  • Deputy Principal for Year 7 2021 - Melissa Gleeson
  • Head Teacher for BYOD - Simon Harper

Surf Aware Program

Our students have been productively engaging in a range of learning experiences across the school and beyond. During Week 7 and Week 8 we had half of Year 9 and Year 7 students engaged in an important surf aware program at Newport Beach. The remainder of Year 9 will complete this program in Week 9. This program is operated by staff from Surf Life Saving Australia. Students have been enjoying themselves in the company of their friends, teachers and the wonderful surrounds of Newport Beach. I thank our entire PDHPE staff, especially Mrs Shapiro and Mrs Downes for their management of this important program that develops life skills that are paramount.

 

Year 10 Work Experience

Year 10 students have been completing their work experience program and it has been inspirational seeing our students exploring different careers. I want to thank Mrs Kiernan and Mrs Dolan for their efforts in creating an exciting new program for our students. Some Year 10 students will also work towards an initiative challenge where they will work in groups to identify and respond to a community issue. 

 

Sydney Academy Online Chess Competition

On Wednesday 26 August, five Year 8 students participated in an online one-day interschool chess challenge organised by the Sydney Academy of Chess for the Northern Sydney region. Each competitor played 6 games in the tournament and all of our students performed well. Our students took the top five positions in the region and they were invited to compete in the semi-final held on Friday, 20 November.

 

In the semi-final, six students participated in the competition. Killara High School came second with a total score of 18.5 out of 24. Two of our students, Boyu Luan and Cai Berman, had their best individual scores in the competition. Final round will be held on Friday 4 December.

 

Year 9 Fun Day

Year 9 enjoyed their Fun Day in the K Block undercroft with music, pizzas and ice cream on 3 December. The purpose of this day was to allow students to celebrate the year with friends and teachers, and to strengthen the ethos that #WeAreTeamKHS. I thank the entire Year 9 wellbeing team for their support of this great initiative. 

Killara High School is a happy and vibrant place with learning experiences continually stretching the minds of our young people, and we look forward to sharing more of our wonderful events with you in the future.

 

Robin Chand

Principal (Relieving)