Ms Kasey Brady - Years 7 &10

As we reach the end of a busy and rewarding school year, I want to acknowledge the hard work, growth, and achievements of our students across all year groups.

Year 10 students have finished the year with enthusiasm, maturity, and a strong commitment to their futures. Their involvement in a wide range of programs has been exceptional. Students have volunteered within the community, engaged in elective immersion days, and participated in authentic assessment tasks in English, which has been widely praised by staff.

Our VET students have also shown impressive dedication, completing their White Cards and induction training in preparation for senior studies in 2026.

Many Year 10 students took the opportunity to undertake valuable work experience placements. These experiences not only provided a realistic insight into potential careers but have also led to School-Based Apprenticeships and Traineeships (SBATs), apprenticeships, and traineeships for several students. For others, the experience strengthened their decision to return to school next year with a clearer sense of direction.

All reports from staff reflect just how impressive this cohort has been. Their responsibility, organisation, and positive attitude have set them up for a successful transition into their senior years.

I would like to extend my sincere thanks to their Year Advisor, Mr Asvestas, for his unwavering encouragement and support throughout the year. It has been wonderful to watch Year 10 rise to every challenge, and we look forward to welcoming them back as senior students in 2026.

Our Year 7 students have now completed their first year of high school—a year filled with new routines, friendships, learning experiences, and plenty of growth. As they move into Year 8, there will be some changes to class groups; however, the same rules, routines, expectations, and high standards will remain to support ongoing success.

A heartfelt thank you to the Year 7 teaching team and Year Advisor Mrs O’Halloran for their dedication and support throughout the year. We are excited for what this group will achieve as they continue their KKHS journey.

We have also enjoyed welcoming our incoming Year 7 2026 students through a comprehensive and well-received transition program. Students have engaged in a range of activities designed to build confidence, familiarity, and connection with staff and the school environment.

This year’s transition has included:

Multiple visits to KKHS to experience high-school routines and expectations.
Two A&TSI orientation days, including visits to Clontarf and Dream Together.
BreakThru visits for students requiring additional transition support.
Enrichment workshops for the incoming 7 Academic Enrichment class, organised by Mrs Weir and Ms Da Silva, focusing on team-building and skill development.
Parent information sessions.

These activities have helped incoming students build early connections with KKHS staff and gain an understanding of the support available to them, especially during the important first weeks of high school. Feedback from students has been overwhelmingly positive—they are excited and eager to begin their high-school journey.

Thank you to Mrs Weir, Ms Da Silva, Ms Trayhurn, KKHS teachers, Renee Smith, the Clontarf team, and many other staff for their efforts in ensuring our newest students feel welcomed, prepared, and supported.

A reminder to all students and families—especially our new seniors—that KKHS is a uniformed school. School uniform, including polo shirts, shorts, and jumpers, can be purchased at Lowes in Cessnock. Wearing the correct uniform each day plays an important role in maintaining a positive and cohesive school culture.

Thank you to our students, families, and staff for your ongoing support throughout 2025. We wish you all a safe, enjoyable, and relaxing holiday break, and we look forward to seeing everyone return refreshed for another successful year at KKHS.

Mrs Jane Somerville - Years 8 & 11

As we reach the end of another busy and rewarding school year, we want to pause and reflect on the many successes our students have achieved. This year has been filled with hard work, growth, resilience, and countless moments of pride. Whether it was academic improvement, participation in extracurricular activities, personal achievements or positive contributions to school life, our students have demonstrated determination and enthusiasm.

We are incredibly proud of the progress our students have made. It has been wonderful to watch them build confidence, strengthen friendships, and challenge themselves in new ways. Their effort and commitment this year deserve to be acknowledged and celebrated as we finish the term.

End-of-year reports will be sent home shortly, providing families with a clear snapshot of each student’s achievements, areas of progress, and next steps for learning. We encourage you to take some time to read through the report with your child—celebrating their strengths while discussing goals for the year ahead.

As we look toward 2026, we are excited about the fresh opportunities a new year brings. Students will return to new classes, new teachers, new challenges and new opportunities. A new school year is always filled with possibilities, and we are confident our students will continue to rise to the challenge. However, the holiday break is a welcomed time for everyone. It provides us with the chance to rest, recharge, and spend quality time with family and friends. After a full year of learning, routines, assessments and activities, this break is important and we hope all our families enjoy a safe, relaxing, and enjoyable holiday period.

Mr Joshua Brown - Years 9 & 12

As the school year draws to a close, we would like to extend our heartfelt thanks to our dedicated Year Advisers in Year 9 Miss Bailey and Year 12 Miss Trayhurn, as well as to all parents and carers, for your ongoing support throughout the year. We sincerely appreciate our Year Advisers for their unwavering dedication and support in enhancing the educational experiences of our students. Their commitment to nurturing each student’s growth, providing guidance, and fostering a positive learning environment has been instrumental in creating opportunities for personal development, academic success, and wellbeing. Through their thoughtful leadership and genuine care, they have made a meaningful difference in the lives of our Year 9 and 12 students and the wider school community.

Next year, careers immersion experiences are coming thick and fast for the soon to be Year 10 students. These opportunities will allow students to gain valuable insight into various career pathways through hands-on experiences, workplace visits, and industry engagement. To ensure you don’t miss any important updates or deadlines, we encourage you to regularly check emails for key information. Staying informed will help students make the most of these valuable experiences as they explore their future directions.

As our Year 9 students prepare to transition into Year 10, we wish them every success in the year ahead. I encourage students to have a safe and enjoyable break ready for a jam-packed year in 2026.

We are also proud of the continued success of our Hands on Learning program, which forms an important part of our learning opportunities. This program has provided Year 10 students with valuable practical experiences under the guidance of Mr Garrard. It offers students the chance to engage directly with hands-on projects in Timber, fostering skills that extend beyond the traditional classroom setting. The enthusiasm, creativity, and growth demonstrated by our Hands on Learning students have been truly inspiring. We are committed to further developing and expanding these opportunities in the coming year to support student engagement and skill-building in meaningful, real-world contexts. Year 9 integration into the program has started in preparation for 2026.

Additionally, we would like to acknowledge our Year 8 students, who will be making an exciting transition into Year 9 next year. Students have selected their two electives, the first time they have chosen subjects. This key moment in their learning journey allows them to explore new interests, discover hidden talents, and begin focusing on areas that inspire them.

Finally, we send our best wishes to all families for a safe, restful, and joyful holiday season. We look forward to welcoming students back refreshed and ready for an exciting new year.

Dates to Remember

Term 4

Term 1 2026