Principals Report

A New School Year

Welcome to 2023, and to the start of another school year. 2023 will be an exciting, challenging and rewarding year. It’s hard to believe that we are already four weeks in! A particular welcome to parents and students new to Henry Kendall High School, especially our Year 7 cohort.

There has been an extremely settled and industrious start to the school year. Our students have returned with a positive and focused mindset and have engaged themselves straight into learning. As I move about the school there is a sense of calm - a very good indicator of the strength of our school culture and the value our students place in being part of Henry Kendall High. It is wonderful to see that our students are keen to make the most of each opportunity and to contribute positively to what is their school.

New Staff

We have only a couple of new staff this year, however we do have some important changes in leadership positions:

Mr Hugh Carpenter joins us in PDHPE, and
Mrs Angela Towns joins us in Special Education.

We are excited to have two fabulous teachers join our team. Additionally:

Mr Gareth Wright continues as relieving Deputy Principal
Mr Michael Mellish continues as relieving Head Teacher PDHPE
Mrs Tegan Hoole is relieving as Head Teacher Student Services, and
Ms Jade Ridley is relieving Sports Coordinator.

Outstanding HSC Results

17 students attained Band 6 results (there were 6 the previous year).
Nearly 39% of our total results were in the top 2 bands, and 70% were in the top 3 bands. This is the highest result in the top 2 bands ever attained by our school, and as such we have received recognition by the Secretary of the Department of Education for this outstanding result.
Xander James, Emily Duruz and Quang Vuong each achieved 2 Band 6 results. Our highest individual result was Zoe Webb (Mathematics Standard 2) who all achieved 99 and 19th in the state!
22 out of 29 courses had more than 20% of students in the top 2 Bands.

The 2021 HSC cohort have achieved wonderful results that are a tribute to their commitment, resilience and hard work – even more so when we consider that both years of their senior study were impacted by covid. Well done to the class of 2022.

I take this opportunity to acknowledge and thank our wonderful HSC teachers. The selfless work they do is a significant factor in the achievement of our students. Their dedication, passion, drive, subject knowledge, and depth of educational expertise is valued and appreciated.

A Strong & Open Partnership

We have a strong and supportive culture at Henry Kendall High School, where parents and staff work together to nurture and grow the most important people in your world … your children.

A sign of any mature organisation is knowing that if people want to voice an opinion or concern, they have permission to do so. As Principal, I can proudly say that we are all part of a school where opinion and feedback are accepted and valued … not always practical or within policy, but certainly heard.

The vast majority of feedback is positive and we love receiving affirmation from parents. There are also occasions where parents/carers feel the need to share insights or perspectives of a negative nature. We value that feedback as well. We are not sharing information about how to highlight concerns because of a perceived problem. In fact, we have quite the opposite! The vast majority of feedback we receive is complimentary.

I shared this message at the start of 2022, and I do so again at the start of 2023 because we value the partnership we have with the community and we want to ensure that you understand our school-based procedures for expressing concerns, should you ever feel the need. The best person to assist you initially is your child’s classroom teacher or Year Adviser. If you still have concerns after chatting to your child’s teacher, then please feel free to contact a member of the school executive team. Please see the attached School Community Charter for more information on this topic.

Vape Detectors

As I announced last year our school has invested in vape detectors in the school toilets to address the rise in students vaping, particularly in the student toilets. Last year this led to other students feeling unable to access the amenities to which they are entitled to utilise – and feel confident that they can do so safely.

The combination of external camera’s and internal detectors were installed over January and went live at the start of the school year. The results, even so early on, have been excellent. The detectors are very effective, and in almost every case the individual/s responsible have been identified.

Most importantly, the feedback from other students is one of appreciation. Groups of students are no longer congregating in the toilets, and the air quality is cleaner.

Vaping amongst our young people is a broad societal issue, and our measures will not solve this. However, our toilet facilities are for all students where they should feel safe, and I am pleased that the investment made is having a positive impact to this end.

Mobile Phones

Parents are reminded that our school maintains a strong mobile phone policy in classroom situations.

All students are required to have their devices (including headphones) in their bags prior to entry to the classroom. If the device is to be used within the learning program, the teacher will ask students to retrieve their device. Any student who has a device out in a classroom context when they shouldn’t do will have the device confiscated and they will need to collect it from the Deputy Principal at the end of the school day. Repeated infringements will require the device to be collected by parents.

Parents and carers support in reinforcing the school’s expectations with their children would be greatly appreciated.

Parents & Community Association

Our P&C is a valuable component of our school, and meet in the Staff Common Room in the Administration Building at 7.00pm on the scheduled dates. There are two meetings in Term 1, then one meeting in each of Terms 2, 3 and 4.

Tuesday 28 February - General Meeting
Tuesday 28 March - AGM
Tuesday 23 May - General Meeting
Tuesday 15 August - General Meeting
Tuesday 7 November - General Meeting

Mr Andrew Backhouse

Principal