A New School Year

Welcome to 2024 and to the start of another school year. 2024 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 School. 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 several new staff this year:

Mr Steven Allenson joins us in HSIE
Mrs Kassandra Friend joins us in TAS
Ms Natasha Kelly joins us in Special Education
Ms Abbie Peterson joins us in Special Education
Mrs Lauren Boutry joins us in Science
Mr Lachlan Gunn joins us in Student Services and
Mr Alex Talty joins us in Special Education.

Enhancing Our School

As a school we value the quality of the environment we provide for our students and that we work in each day and are continually looking to ensuring an aesthetically engaging outlook. This year we have had several pieces of wall art installed at two of our entry points, providing an exciting and high quality visual impact. These pieces were conceived by a team of staff who identified themes relating to our bushland setting, the Bellbird poem of Henry Kendall, the local birdlife with a particular focus on Bellbirds, the Black Cockatoo, and its significance in Indigenous Culture, and incorporating the schools Acknowledgement of Country.

As you can see by the photo’s, the results are stunning and provide a significant visual impact for our school. A third piece will now be undertaken on the outside of our Cooinda Room, and we will be connecting with our Cooinda students in the design of the work.

Outstanding HSC Results

12 students attained Band 6 results.
Nearly 27% of our total results were in the top 2 bands, and 65% were in the top 3 bands.
Alexander McGavin achieved 4 Band 6 results and Georgia Muspratt achieved 3.
Our highest individual result was Georgia Muspratt (Mathematics Advanced) who all achieved 97.
Our top ATAR and Dux of 2023 was Alexander McGavin with 98.3.
13 courses had more than 20% of students in the top 2 Bands, including every Mathematics course.

The 2023 HSC cohort have achieved wonderful results that are a tribute to their commitment, resilience and hard work – well done to the Class of 2023.

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 in 2022 and 2023, and I do so again at the start of 2024 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.

New Behaviour Policy

From the start of 2024 the department has released a new Student Behaviour Policy that strengthens our commitment to providing a safe, supportive and responsive environment for everyone in our school. The new policy affirms that we teach and model the inclusive and safe behaviours we value in our students. As part of the policy a Behaviour Code for Students has been developed, and I have included it in this newsletter. This Code articulates expectations of behaviour for students in all public schools in NSW, and I strongly encourage parents to read it and discuss the Code with your children.

Attendance Matters

We want to do all we can to be sure your child achieves their potential and enjoys being in school.

We know that school is the best place to learn. By attending school every day your child will get the most out of their learning and improve their career and life options.

When your child is absent it is important you let the school know, including the reason why, on the day or the day before. This helps make sure we know where our students are and offer support for you and your family if needed.

If you are having trouble getting your child to school every day or on time, please talk to your child’s Year Adviser, our Student Services Team, or the Deputy Principal, so we can work together, because every day counts.

Missing a day here or there may not seem like much, but absences add up and can negatively impact your child’s learning and wellbeing. When your child misses one day a week that’s 40 days of school and 8 weeks of learning in one year. Over an entire school journey this adds up to 2.5 years of lost learning.

COVID-19 is still circulating in the community. We can all minimise the spread of COVID-19 and other respiratory diseases by maintaining good hygiene practices at home and school.

Please contact the school if your child needs to miss school for any reason, so we can plan continued support for your child’s learning and wellbeing.

Vape Detectors

As most parents are aware, our school has vape detectors in the school toilets to address the rise in students vaping, particularly in the student toilets. In previous times 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 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

As you are aware, mobile phones are banned in all public schools as part of government policy.

The key points to remind parents are;

The policy applies to mobile phones, all headphones, iPads, and smart watches and will occur during all school hours, including break times such as during lunch and recess.
Students have a mobile phone pouch in which to safely store their devices. This pouch is theirs and is to be brought to school every day.
Mobile phones and other devices are to be placed in the pouch on entry to the school grounds, the pouch locked and placed in their bag for the duration of the school day.
Students unlock their pouch at an unlocking station as they leave the school grounds at the end of the day, or at the school office if required to leave early.
This policy applies to school events at alternative venues.
Students who have a medical, wellbeing or learning need which will require them to access a mobile phone as defined in their health care plan and supported by medical advice may apply for an exemption. All exemptions will be considered on a case-by-case basis through application to the Principal. Supporting evidence from a medical practitioner and medical sign-off will be required, and the application will be assessed at a level that requires a student health care plan.
In case of emergencies, parents can get in contact with their children through the school office on 43252110.
Student failure to comply with the policy will result in disciplinary measures being applied.

We are excited that our school is a mobile phone-free space, and since its introduction the removal of phones has seen a dramatic increase in social interaction, physical movement, and a decrease in disengagement and in online bullying.

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 27 February – General Meeting
Tuesday 26 March – AGM
Tuesday 28 May – General Meeting
Tuesday 20 August – General Meeting
Tuesday 12 November – General Meeting

Mr Andrew Backhouse

Principal

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