Killara High School

From the Principal

Week 6 

Students have been busy engaging with their learning and completing assessments as they adjust to a return to face-to-face learning. There is certainly a positive atmosphere amongst students as they reconnect with their friends and teachers. I would like to commend all students on their display of maturity, responsibility and care for each other during this dynamic period where rules have changed around a range of school activities. 

 

Students have responded to this “new normal” very well and this includes:

  • No school assemblies
  • School sporting activities have changed
  • School incursions and excursions are on hold
  • Work experience is not to occur. The department will reassess in Term 3 2020.
  • No inter-school activities (debating, inter-school sport).

Our school canteen is currently not operating and work is underway in order to resume of services. 

 

During the COVID-19 isolation phase, the importance of schools as a shared space for learning and social connection for both students and staff became more apparent than ever. We all thrive within environments where: we have positive relations; our minds are positively challenged; we feel productive; and where our full potential is able to be realised. Our school provides these experiences. Walking around the school and seeing students engaging excitedly in classroom discussions, debates, experiments and many other activities is a reflection of students thriving and a sense of routine and normalcy returning into their lives. I thank our families for their efforts in supporting our teachers in allowing for learning to continue whilst we worked through Phases 0 and 1. 

 

Thank you to our P&C: Laser Cutter 

 

Students have been using our new laser cutting machine to turn their concepts into prototypes. This new machine has contributed towards students developing a deeper understanding of the design process.  We thank our wonderful P&C for their contributions towards this project.

 

 

National Reconciliation Week 

 

Our school acknowledged National Reconciliation Week by creating a showcase of displays in the library. National Reconciliation Week is a time for all Australians to learn about our shared histories, cultures, and achievements, and to explore how each of us can contribute to achieving reconciliation in Australia.

 

The Week runs from 27 May to 3 June every year. These dates commemorate two significant milestones in the reconciliation journey – the successful 1967 referendum and the High Court Mabo decision.

 

More information relating to Reconciliation Week at Killara High School is located here: https://killara-h.schools.nsw.gov.au/the-lion-library/library-blog/

 

 

A message from our school captains:

 

To mark the end of the first week of face-to-face learning this term, our School Captains Astrid and Will addressed the school on Friday 29 May. Here is a copy of their message to the school. 

 

"First of all, we would like to congratulate everyone on completing Term 2 Week 5. It’s a bit weird to be congratulated on completing a random week in the middle of the term, but this marks the first whole week of face-to-face learning for the entire school, and I think we all deserve a pat on the back for getting through that.

 

We all spent this time apart in very different ways and we urge you not to judge how other people spent it. Some may have found quarantine an easy time to pick-up new hobbies or get on top of their learning, but others may have struggled a lot more and just tried to come out the other end as healthy as possible, and that’s completely fine. 

 

This pandemic is unlike anything we have experienced before and probably not something we will experience again. We are really going down in history as the school group that went through COVID-19. We have had to adapt in a way that hasn’t really been done before, and at a seriously rapid pace. I found it a bit strange that even in such a different situation, I got into a new set of habits so quickly. It was quite nice rolling out of bed at 8:47, doing Maths in my pyjamas, and having a cheeky nap during the recess break. It is maybe a bit of a shock to come back to full time school but everyone will fall back into those school habits soon enough. While saying that, we should also try to keep hold of some of the helpful habits we have created at home, maybe not the 8:47 wake-up but perhaps making time for yourself to relax every day. We were given an opportunity to step back, slow down and learn a lot about ourselves and we shouldn’t let go of that quite yet.

 

To all the year 12’s out there sitting in English right now, if my Maths is correct, we have 75 days left of high school. We will have about 12 more assemblies, whether they be on Zoom or not. We get the satisfaction of finishing school on a Friday afternoon 15 more times. Out of approximately 533 weeks of our schooling lives, we’re about to enter the final 15. That's the final 2%. Although things may be happening a little differently as we finish high school this year, please be sure to cherish the moments at Killara.

 

Lastly we would like to thank every single teacher and staff member at this school for their hard work and adaptability over these last weeks. You have all had to re-plan your teaching to fit the new online platforms and then re-plan again when you suddenly had to go back to face-to-face teaching. Although I am sure all of you are happier back in the traditional classroom setting, you must be commended for throwing yourself in the deep end and for taking this opportunity to learn and improve computer skills that can really only get more valuable in the future.

 

Every single person has experienced this pandemic differently. Let us share our stories and successes with the people around us and enjoy this time we have back together. Thank you".

 

School uniform

 

I am appealing to all families to support our school by encouraging students to wear school uniform. 

 

NSW Schools expect students to wear the uniform during school hours, while travelling to and from school, and when engaged in school activities out of school hours.

 

I would be very appreciative if you could support our school in this endeavour. It takes team work and we are here to support all students and families at this time. 

 

If you need to purchase an item of school uniform, here are the steps to take:

 

How to order

If you need to purchase an item of school uniform, here are the steps to take:

  • Uniform items can be ordered online at: Qkr! which is accessed via an app on your mobile phone. Instructions on how to download and use the app can be found on the Killara High School website under the Uniform Shop tab (found under Parent Services).
  • The Uniform Shop is open on Tuesday and Friday mornings from 8.00am to 10.30am for online order collection
  • Parents are currently not able to attend the Uniform Shop. Fitting of garments will be limited along with the number of students in the shop at any one time due to limited space. Just a reminder that parents are not to come to the uniform shop at present.
  • Students are to collect online orders from the shop door in E Block. Please allow 24 hours from the time of placing the order for the order to be ready. If an item needs to be changed or refunded, please leave the item at the uniform shop during the above hours. Students can return the following day to collect their items.

Alternatively students can purchase uniforms with card or cash.  

Thank you in advance for your ongoing attention to this matter.

 

Robin Chand

Principal (Relieving)