End of Term 1 - 2024

Middle School/HSIE

Middle School Faculty

The Middle School Faculty would like to formally welcome our new Year 7 students and their families to Henry Kendall High School. This year Middle School will be taught by the familiar faces of Mr Luke Banks, Miss Tamara Sexty, Mr Mark Macdonald and Mr Kent Silver. This year we have been joined by Mr Augustus Withers, Mrs Meera Martin and Mrs Gemma Luca. Middle School teachers have been impressed with the way Year 7 have commenced the school year and we look forward to getting to know our students as the term continues.

 

I have had several enquiries about the curriculum structure in Middle School and this very different from parents’ experiences in high school. Middle School has four strands;

  • Global Awareness (GA)
  • Human Relationships (HR)
  • Investigation and Communication (IC)
  • Project Based Learning (PBL)

We have successfully developed an integrated curriculum in Middle School. This means a Middle School strand may have content and outcomes associated with several subject areas. For example, our first unit in Project Based Learning is called “Texts and Teamwork” and contains English, Technology and History/Geography components.

 

We would like to invite students and teachers to the Year 7 Information Evening on Wednesday 4 March from 6:00 pm. We will be able to discuss the ethos and structure of Middle School in greater detail. Further information about this event will be provided to students very soon.

Organisation tips for Year 7 students

  • Write down homework and reminders in your Henry Kendall High School Year 7 Planner. You should have this with you every day.
  • Organise your school bag and required equipment the night before. Check your timetable to ensure you have everything you need.
  • Place a timetable on the fridge so the family can help with your organisation
  • Make a note of when you need your PE gear
  • Ensure that all your books are covered and labelled

All Year 7 students have received information about camp in Week 11. Students need to bring in their completed permission notes by Wednesday 26 February. Details about payment options are included in the camp information.

 

Middle School and Young Achiever students will be receiving information about their fieldwork experiences to support Global Awareness and Geography in the coming days. We will be heading to Bouddi National Park to complement work completed as part of their study of Landscapes and Landforms.  

 

Please contact Middle School if you have any concerns or enquiries. We are very happy to help!

 

Looking forward to an amazing school year ahead.

HSIE and Language Faculty

The HSIE Faculty would like to welcome Mr Mitchell Herring and Mr Alex Rozario to our team in 2020. Mr Herring will be teaching HSIE and French, while Mr Rozario is teaching HSIE subjects while Mrs Mitchell continues her maternity leave this year. As well as being outstanding classroom practitioners, both Mr Herring and Mr Rozario attended Henry Kendall HS and it has been wonderful to welcome them back to their old stomping ground.

 

HSIE/Language staff  include Mr Macdonald (Head Teacher), Mr Judd Newton, Mr David Ardley, Mr Luke Banks, Mrs Julia Kostalas, Mr Mitchell Herring,  Mr Alex Rozario, Miss Cassandra McLennan and Mrs Raegan Travica.

 

Our Year 12 students have returned enthusiastic and prepared for the year ahead. Students will be receiving feedback on task completed in Term 4, while many subject areas have important formal tasks due early this term. It is vital that HSC students complete all necessary class work and homework, in addition to their formal assessment tasks. A number of subjects set work to be completed over the school holiday period and this is now due.

 

We would like to congratulate our new Year 11 cohort on their successful transition from the junior school. Your teachers have been impressed with the settled and productive start you have made to your senior studies.

 

Our Year 9 and 10 students have commenced new programs in Elective History and Commerce in 2020. We are looking forward to the opportunities these new subjects bring.

 

Year 10 students are currently studying a depth study that focuses on Genocide and the Holocaust. An excursion to Sydney Jewish Museum has been organised for Monday, 16 March, 2020. This a wonderful opportunity to hear from survivors, leading educators and experience the museum’s outstanding collection

 

The HSIE Faculty has a renewed focus on practical fieldwork that supports the study of Geography in 2020. Our first fieldwork adventure has been organised for our senior Geography students and they will soon be embarking on their four day excursion to Mount Kosciuszko.

We wish everyone a productive and positive 2020 school year.

Mr Mark Macdonald

Head Teacher Middle School/HSIE and Languages