Principal's Message

Year 12 Graduation

I was privileged to attend the Year 12 graduation ceremony on Thursday morning. It was wonderful to see so many students acknowledged for the contributions they have made to the school community over the years, and recognised for their academic and sporting achievements. Year 12 are an outstanding group of young women and men and I wish them all the best as they move into the next stage of their lives. I would also like to take this opportunity to thank their teachers and parents/carers who have supported them to achieve this very important milestone.

Senior Executive Update

The senior leadership team in Term 4 will consist of Mrs Maloney and Mr Knott, who will continue relieving as deputy principals while Mr Kayes is on leave till the end of the school year. Mrs Maloney and Mr Knott have been in their respective deputy principal positions for all of Term 3, so there should be no ongoing disruptions to school routines during the very busy term as we approach the end of the school year. Mrs Maloney will continue looking after years 7, 8 and 9, while Mr Knott will look after years 10, 11 and 12 in Term 4.

BYOD Update

I would like to thank all parents who have completed the BYOD survey – with 280 respondents, including a significant number of very insightful suggestions and recommendations that will help shape the school’s BYOD policy. While a significant majority of parents (83%) support the introduction of BYOD at Kellyville High School, some issues raised in the parent survey include:

Distraction and Off-Task Behaviour: This was the most selected issue, with 78.15% of respondents worried about students being distracted by activities like social media and gaming. Written comments reinforce this, with parents noting that teachers may not be able to see a student's screen to prevent them from playing games during class.
Device Damage, Theft, and Security: A significant majority of parents (73.38%) expressed concern about potential damage to their child's device at school. This issue is compounded by concerns over theft and the physical security of devices, with several parents highlighting the school's lack of lockers for safe storage. The added weight of the device in already heavy school bags was also frequently mentioned.
Equity and Cost: Many parents are concerned about the financial aspects of a BYOD program. 62.95% worried about students who may not be able to afford a suitable device, and 40.29% had concerns about the cost to their own family. Consequently, 87.32% of respondents believe there should be an assistance program for families in need.
Cyberbullying and Access to Inappropriate Content: Student safety online is a major concern. Cyberbullying was the second-highest ranked issue in its category, with 57.04% of parents selecting it. This was closely followed by concerns about students accessing inappropriate content, which was selected by 55.19% of respondents.
Loss of Handwriting Skills and Stamina for Exams: While 43.70% of parents were concerned about a "Disruption to traditional teaching methods", numerous written comments specified this concern. Parents expressed worries that a focus on typing would cause handwriting skills to deteriorate and that students would not have the physical stamina to handwrite for long periods in formal exams, such as the HSC.

The school is currently developing a BYOD policy that will take parent, student and staff feedback into consideration. It is anticipated that information relating to device specifications will be shared with families in Term 4, providing ample time to secure a suitable device in time for the 2026 school year.

School starting time 2026

From Term 1, 2026, the school will start at 8:50 am and finish at 2:50 pm, except for Mondays, when the school will finish at 1:50 pm. The (morning) school bus timetable will be adjusted accordingly and it is anticipated that the new school bus timetable will be updated in time for the 2026 school year. I am aware that some parents may be concerned with the potential of increased traffic when Kellyville High School aligns its starting time with other schools in the area, however, I anticipate that the new school bus timetable will encourage more students to catch a school bus rather than be driven to school. In addition, with a later start, students will have more options for catching public buses to school, which should also see a reduction in traffic.

In the meantime, school buses and the school starting time will remain as they currently stand in 2025 until the end of the current school year.

Applying for leave – travel

I would again like to remind parents that children under the age of 17 must be at school every day, unless they are unwell. On occasion, students may go on family holidays or attend religious or cultural events, for example, during a school term. In the event that you are planning to travel during the school term, you must apply for Extended Leave – Travel for your child. This application ensures that all legal requirements are met and that I can, if travel is approved, issue your child with an official certificate. I would also like to emphasise that all applications for extended leave – travel, should be made at least 3 weeks prior to the intended date of travel. If an application is made late, it may not be approved. The Extended Leave – Travel form can be found by following this link: https://kellyville-h.schools.nsw.gov.au/about-our-school/rules-and-policies.html

New school website launched

We’re excited to announce the launch of our newly upgraded school website, which went live yesterday! This update is part of the NSW Department of Education’s 2025 initiative to modernise digital infrastructure across public schools, ensuring that online platforms are more accessible, engaging, and user-friendly.

The redesigned site offers:

A clean, modern layout that’s easier to navigate
Streamlined access to key information for families, students, and staff
Enhanced mobile responsiveness and accessibility features
Updated content that better reflects our school’s vibrant community

This upgrade supports the Department’s broader vision for a world-class public education system, where digital tools play a vital role in communication and connection. We encourage everyone to explore the new site and see the improvements first-hand: Kellyville High School