Middle School/HSIE News

HSIE Report

Is it Week 11 already? This terms has certainly flown by and the opportunity to pause and reflect on a productive Term 1 is a welcome one.

A highlight of Term One was the Year 10 History Excursion to the Sydney Jewish Museum. Faculty members were impressed with the level of maturity and insight displayed by our students on the day. Students were able to hear the story of Eddie Jaku, a 98 year old survivor of the Holocaust. His story of survival was miraculous and his love of life clearly evident. It was a moment when history truly comes alive and it was wonderful to share this with our Year 10 cohort.

I would also like to congratulate our Year 11 Legal Studies team on resounding Round One win in the 2019 Mock Trial Competition. Thomas Whelan and Shireen Khoshnoud-Rad (Barristers) Ainslee Fernandes (Solicitor), Adrian Crnalic and Chloe Matthews (Witnesses), Isabella Dowe (Court Officer) travelled to face Asquith Girls High School. The team was victorious by over 40 points. I would like to thank Mrs Julia Kostalas for her expertise and passion for this competition.

Congratulations to our Year 11 students who have completed their first assessment tasks in the senior school this term. Your teachers have been impressed with the mature and focused way you have approached these tasks and results have been pleasing.

Middle School News

Year 7 Middle School students have just returned to school after an amazing three days at the Great Aussie Bush Camp. This was a wonderful end to a promising and productive first term at high school.

I would like to congratulate our Year 7 students on their wonderful behaviour over the course of the three days. Thanks to our Year 10 Peer Support students for their guidance and encouragement of Year 7. We will have students write their reflections about camp in our first newsletter issue in Term 2.

Middle School teachers have been impressed with the way students have made the transition to Henry Kendall High School and coped with the class work, homework and assessment demands of high school. Classes have been settled and productive all term. Middle School students have focused on the Seven Steps to Writing Success program in PBL and HR. The ‘sizzling starts’ to their writing have been outstanding and Miss Searle, Mrs Jones and Miss Sexty have been impressed with their efforts. Middle School students will continue working on their persuasive and narrative writing as NAPLAN approaches in Term Two.

Wishing you all the very best for Easter and the holidays

Mr Mark Macdonald

Head Teacher – HSIE, LOTE and Middle School