DEPUTIES

 DESKS

Jane Somerville - Deputy Principal Years 7 & 10

As another year draws to a close, it is the perfect time to reflect on the many successes and milestones we have achieved together as a school community. This has been a year filled with dedication, resilience, and growth across all year levels, and we are proud of all that our students have accomplished.

Another Year 12 cohort hasmarked the end of their high school journey with many students already received early university offers, a testament to their hard work and commitment over the years. I know that Mrs Tilden has worked incredibly hard in this space and is also proud of their success. Her guidance has been instrumental in helping these students navigate their post school aspirations. 

We are eagerly awaiting their HSC results and ATARs, which will be released on Wednesday, 18th December. To celebrate their achievements, we warmly invite all Year 12 students from 2024 to join us for a celebratory breakfast BBQ at the school. This event will provide a wonderful opportunity for teachers and students to come together, reflect on their accomplishments, and share their plans for the future. 

Year 10 students have ended the year on a high note, demonstrating responsibility, organisation, and a commitment to their futures. Some have used this time productively to do some work experience and get a taste of what the real world has in store for them. This work placement has resulted in SBATS, Traineeships and Apprenticeships, while for others it has consolidated their decisions about returning to school next year and has given them a greater understanding of what is involved in potential careers.  I would like to thank their Year Advisors, Mrs. Tilden and Ms. Merrett, for their ongoing encouragement and support throughout the year. It has been wonderful to watch Year 10 rise to the challenge, and we look forward to seeing them as seniors when they return with enthusiasm next year. Don’t forget that Senior uniform is different to the junior one so if Santa needs a last minute suggestion – Flanagan’s in Cessnock should have plenty of stock to have them ready for the new year.  

Year 7 students have thrown themselves into their new classes this term as we said farewell to Hubs and found ourselves back into smaller class groups. Students transitioned easily into the new spaces and I am confident that Year 7 are ready and excited for the changes ahead as they meet even more new teachers and utilise even more new learning spaces as they hit Year 8.  The changes to classes certainly didn’t unsettle GOLD at all - who demonstrated resilience, co-operation and strength to take out the prestige HUB CUP challenge this term. As they move into Year 8, while there will be some changes to class groups, the same rules, routines, norms, and high expectations that guided them this year will remain in place to ensure their continued success. A big thank you to the Year 7 teachers, and Year Advisor Mrs Dunn for their dedication and support. We are excited to see what this group of students will achieve in the coming year. 

As we head into the Christmas holidays, we hope every member of our school community takes this time to rest, recharge, and enjoy quality time with family and friends. When we return in the new year, we look forward to continuing our journey of learning and success together. 

Thank you for your continued support and partnership throughout the year. We wish you all a restful and safe holiday season and a Happy New Year. 

Joshua Brown - Deputy Principal Year 8 and 11/12  

As we reflect on another remarkable year at KKHS, I want to take this opportunity to express my gratitude to all those who have contributed to making 2024 a year of growth, achievement, and community. It has been a year full of successes, challenges, and memories that will last a lifetime. 

A Special Thanks to Our Year Advisors 

Our heartfelt thanks go to our Year Advisors for Year 8 Ms Bailey and Year 11/12 Ms Trayhurn, whose dedication and support have made a significant difference to our students. Through their guidance and mentorship, they have created an environment where students feel valued and empowered to achieve their best.  

Gratitude to Our Parents and Carers 

To the parents and carers, thank you for your continued support. Your involvement in your child’s education—whether through attending school events, meetings or simply offering support and encouragement at home—has been essential to our success in 2024. The partnership between the school and families has been vital in helping our students thrive, and we are so thankful for the role you play in supporting our school community. 

Year 11 Transitioning into Year 12 

As we look ahead to 2025, we want to acknowledge our Year 11 students as they prepare for their final year of study. Year 12 is a pivotal time in a student’s academic journey, and we are proud of the resilience and determination shown by our Year 11 cohort this year. We know that they are ready to tackle the challenges of their final year and that we will continue to support them in their pursuit of success as they prepare for exams, post-school pathways, and future careers. 

Year 8 into Year 9: Electives and New Opportunities 

Next year, our Year 8 students will be making an exciting transition into Year 9, where they will experience choosing their own subjects (their two electives) for the first time! This is a key moment in their learning journey, where they can explore new interests, discover hidden talents, and begin to focus on areas that are of significant interest to them. From creative arts to sciences, technology, and beyond, we encourage all students to explore their options and embrace the exciting possibilities that come with this new chapter. 

Hands on Learning 

We are also proud of the success of our Hands on Learning program, which has allowed students to engage in practical learning experiences with Mr Garrard. This program, which connects students with hands-on projects in Timber has been an invaluable opportunity for our students to develop skills beyond the classroom. The enthusiasm and growth demonstrated by our Hands on Learning students have been inspiring, and we look forward to expanding these opportunities in the coming year. 

Wishing You a Joyous Holiday Season 

As we close the year, we want to wish all of our students, staff, parents, and carers a restful and joyous holiday season. It’s a time to reflect on the achievements of the past year, recharge, and spend quality time with loved ones. We are incredibly grateful for the hard work, dedication, and positivity that everyone has contributed to make this year so memorable. 

Thank you again for being an essential part of our community. We look forward to the exciting opportunities that the new year will bring, and we can't wait to continue working together to support our students in their journey of growth and success. 

Wishing you all a safe, happy, and healthy holiday season! 

 Kasey Brady - Deputy Principal Year 9 & 12

Term 4 certainly hasn’t disappointed, it has been just as busy as the rest of the year as we not only wrap up 2024 but make sure we, both staff and students, are prepared for 2025.  

Year 9 have also been busy completing assessment tasks and participating in all activities available to them from sport to rewards excursions. They have had an amazing year with students producing some fantastic work in class, Ms Golding and the English team were blown away by the quantity and quality of work produced by Year 9 in their final assessment task and we have introduced many students to our work experience program where students complete one-day work per week. With students moving into Year 10 next year they will have a careers lesson with Ms Tilden where more students will have access to the work experience program but also start looking at their pathway for post school and what that might look like and how we can support at school to achieve their goals. Exciting times ahead for Year 9 in 2025.  

The application process for the HPGE classes in 2025 for Years 8, 9 and 10 has now been finalised and all students should be aware of the outcome of their application. It was a difficult process for all Head Teachers to make decisions on who was successful as students engaged in the workshops and produced high quality submissions. If you have questions or queries about your child’s placement, please speak to the relevant Head Teachers.     

The end of the year has also seen Year 7 2025 complete their transition to KKHS where students have had the opportunity to become familiar with the high expectations, routines and norms of KKHS. This year incoming students have had the opportunity to participate in visits to KKHS, Mrs O’Halloran (Year Advisor) has been out to visit all our partner primary schools and get to know students, A&TSI students have participated in two orientation visits including a visit to Clontarf and Dream Together, participate in BreakThru visits for those requiring a little bit more support in the transition process and Mrs Weir and Ms Da Silva organising the enrichment workshops for our incoming 7 Blue Hub students where they participated in a range of team building and skill development sessions facilitate by KKHS teachers who are experts in their subject area. By all accounts these visits have been extremely well received by students who are now even more keen to get to high school and start their learning journey. All programs are designed to support students take on the challenges and excitement of starting high school and make some connections with KKHS staff to ensure students are aware of who they can go to for support, especially in those early weeks. Thanks to Mrs Weir, Ms Da Silva, Mrs O’Halloran, KKHS teachers, Renee Smith and the Clontarf team – Noah, Andrew, Ethan and Jarrad, and many other staff at KKHS for organising the transition program and supporting our newest students to ensure they feel welcome and supported at KKHS.    

A reminder to all students and parents regarding school uniform. The school uniform can be purchase from Flanagan’s Menswear in Cessnock and as a uniformed school, it is important to wear school uniform including polo shirts, jumpers and shorts, every day.   

Thank you for your ongoing support in 2024 and have a safe and happy holiday. 

Toni Wilson - Deputy Principal Inclusion & Support

What a wonderfully inclusive 2024 we have had at KKHS with a wealth of wellbeing and support programs as well as extra-curricular activities offered across the school. These additional opportunities provided to our students offer growth opportunities outside of the key education learning areas to build an understanding on important current teenager topics and a sense of belonging to our school community. 

Our special education faculty Kuta-kaya has been steadily growing over the past five years and in 2025 we welcome our tenth support class. In this space we will have new staff and students which we will be excited to announce in the new year. In the interim we are farewelling two fabulous support teachers Dominique Cook and Jessica Desborough, who we wish every success to. 

Attendance continued to be a major focus this term and we are grateful for the collaborative effort that is contributing to an ongoing improvement. Together we recognise the importance of regular attendance in maximising learning opportunities and fostering a strong sense of belonging within our school community. We initiated a weekly 100% attendance draw and were able to provide a $6 canteen voucher to over 60 students who attended the full five days with no truancy or lateness to class. A massive thank you to the KKHS P&C for supporting this important attendance initiative.  

As we move forward into 2025, let us build upon the successes of this year and embrace new challenges and opportunities by continuing to improve our attendance at school. 

The mobile phone ban continues in 2025 in public high schools across NSW. Students must have their mobile phones turned off and locked in their Yondr pouch. THIS is an expectation for all students at KKHS from Term 1 Day 1 2025. 

With the increased access and use of technology over the summer school holidays, it is a timely reminder for our community, parents and carers that support, and information can be accessed through the E-Safety Commissioner https://www.esafety.gov.au/. 

There is information for children and young people on this site as well. 

Wishing you all a safe and happy break and look forward to working with you in 2025.