Student Services

Welcome to Term 2. As always, our Student Services team is dedicated to supporting the wellbeing and academic success of our students. We have some exciting initiatives in the works this term. Below are some ongoing programs, and important reminders to share with you. Here’s what’s happening this term:

Homework and Assessment Support 

Is your young person in need of support with completing their homework or an assessment task? Do they want a quiet space with individual support and access to resources needed to work on a task? 

The Student Services faculty is excited to announce that we will be running homework and assessment support before school each morning. Young people can visit the staffroom between 8:15am - 8:45am to work with one of our brilliant Student Learning Support Officers (SLSOs) and earn Sentral points for being proactive and responsible.

Raise Mentoring Program

This term we have seventeen of our young people from Year 8 and 9 participating in the Raise Mentoring Program. Mentoring improves a young person’s ability to bounce back after stress and enhances recovery. Mentors help young people to increase confidence, adapt to new situations, develop coping skills to deal with adversity and overcome challenges. We are so encouraged to see our students engaging and thriving in this program. 

Money Mentoring Program

Henry Kendall High School is running a small group financial literacy workshops/mentoring facilitated by a qualified accountant Natasha Palmer, as part of a Community Compass initiative. This program is fully funded through The Department of Communities and Justice. The topics covered in these workshops include: 

• Creating a budget, obstacles to saving, needs vs wants, financial paperwork, setting up and canceling direct debits, credit cards and loans. We currently have 5 senior students engaged in the program this term.

This term we are starting a new wellbeing program called Aspire. The program aims to equip participants in Years 8 to 10 with support, life skills and strategies to carry with them into the future.

The program has three components over six sessions:

Understanding Me - mindfulness, self worth and body image

Myself and Others - healthy relationships

My Future Self - goal setting, career planning.

Drumbeat

Throughout Term 2 Mr Fabila will be running Drumbeat with a group of students from Years 7 and 8. Holyoake’s DRUMBEAT is the world’s first structured learning program using music, psychology and neurobiology to reconnect with ourselves and others. 

Didjeribone Performance

The students from Cooinda, Special Education, and elective Music were treated to a special visit from Tjupurru, a proud Jabirr Jabirr man. He shared his cultural knowledge, musical expertise on the Didjeribone and wowed the students with his use of technology. 

The show featured a seismic sensor used as a microphone, a slide Didgeridoo and a crazy bunch of cables that turned a few lucky students into a live electronic drum kit. Thanks again to Tjupurru for visiting us!

Student Services has been running Breakfast Club every Thursday morning from 8:15am-8:45am. Breakfast items have been generously donated by Bakers Delight West Gosford and are available for all students who need breakfast. 

The program is designed to benefit young people’s health and wellbeing by improving nutrition and eating habits, improving readiness to learn and cognitive function, enhances engagement and productivity in the classroom and it gives the opportunity for young people to network and build on their social skills.

*If you are interested in your young person participating in any of the programs listed above or would like more information. Please contact the school on (02) 4325 2110.

Year 8 Love Bites Program

NAPCAN’s highly regarded Love Bites Program has been running in schools since 2005. The program aims to provide a safe environment in which young people can discuss and learn about their rights and responsibilities in relationships and look at ways to access support when needed. On Thursday 23 May, the Year 8 cohort participated in the whole day program. Students were incredibly respectful towards the facilitators and are to be commended on their behavior, participation and creativity during sessions. 

Meet The Team

In Student Services, we have a wonderful team of wellbeing and learning support staff. 

Throughout the year, we will be highlighting our staff in our newsletter and you will get the opportunity to get to know us a little better.

Ask Izzy helps you find support, now and nearby!

Ask Izzy is a website that connects people in need with housing, a meal, money help, family violence support, counseling and much more. It is free and anonymous, with thousands of services listed across Australia.

LINK:  https://askizzy.org.au/

Mrs Tegan Hoole

Head Teacher Student Services