Deputy Principal         Years 8, 10, 12

Leadership Day at Gosford Public School 

Gosford Public School invited some of the School Leadership Team to address their students, on what it means to be a leader. The invitation was a wonderful opportunity for some of our students to return to their primary school and showcase personal and academic growth. All students from Henry Kendall High School spoke with conviction and pride. It was wonderful to hear about personal journeys to leadership. They expressed their gratitude to their teachers for believing in them and nurturing their abilities and attributes. Students spoke about achievements and disappointments which were all important in building the wonderful leaders they are today. 

A huge congratulations to: Georgia Peritsch, Tycen Bedford, Phuntsok Tentso and Pavani Pathak. 

Below are some excerpts of the leaders inspirational speeches: 

“What does it actually mean to lead? I would say that for me, I perceive the role of a leader as someone who is passionate about leading, someone who is eager to help their community in achieving its best results. This may include the most minimalistic and simplest things, like being a good listener and supportive to others that are in need to share their problems or suggestions. A leader is someone who feels proud of what they contribute to their organisation and the people within it and beyond.

A good leader must be open minded, respectful and open to new perspectives and ideas. These attributes make someone approachable, letting everyone share their opinions because in the end, the big solution to the project or problem doesn’t just come from one person. It comes from a team of people working together collaboratively and each new idea bounces off from the previous one and we just keep building on and on and on until everyone agrees with it. The job of the leader in this case is to involve everyone in, to motivate and lead them to seeing the best version of themselves.

Leadership is such an important part of life as it teaches you essential skills such as being responsible, organised, and accountable for the goals you set in your life. It also teaches you to think outside of the box and see the bigger picture and see the positive side of things, being optimistic and believing in yourself.”

Pavani Pathak - Year 11 

“To achieve any of your goals, you have to be passionate, and leadership is just like that. However, leadership does not require any special label or badge. To be a real leader, it requires you to be passionate about your peers, and help them to strive for success. That right there is your success. Leadership is never just about you, in fact, leadership is more socially based than anything else. Leadership is about working in a team, and this is not just in school. 

Workplaces require high amounts of teamwork to achieve corporate goals, governments all across the globe require teamwork to make the world a better place, and even sport teams require teamwork, you’ll never score a goal if no one passes. When you all finish primary school, you can look back just like me, and realize that even the small things that you do to help, can make you the world's greatest leader.”

Tycen Bedford - Year 9 

“Believe in yourself: Leadership starts with self-belief. Have confidence in your abilities and believe that you have something valuable to offer. Trust yourself and your instincts.

Lead by Example: Actions speak louder that words. Be a role model for others by demonstrating the qualities you want to see in them. Show integrity, empathy, and a strong work ethic. 

Develop your skills: Leadership is a journey of continuous learning and growth. Seek opportunities to develop your skills and knowledge. Take courses, read books and learn from experienced leaders.

Build relationships: Leadership is about people. Take the time to build strong relationships with those around you. Listen actively and be supportive, create an environment where everyone feels valued and heard.

Take the initiative: Leaders don’t wait for opportunities to come to them; they create them. Step out of your comfort zone and embrace challenges. Be proactive and solution orientated.

Communicate effectively: Good communication is the backbone of effective leadership. Be clear, concise, and open in your communication. Listen actively and encourage others to share their ideas. 

Embrace failure: Leaders aren’t afraid to fail. They see failures as an opportunity for growth and learning. Embrace your mistakes, learn from them, and encourage other to do the same.”

 Phuntsok Tentso - Year 10 

Mrs Natalie Wearne

Deputy Principal