Student Services

As we move to the mid-year holiday, it is a great time to reflect on the exciting welfare programs that have happened this term.

Youth Aware of Mental Health (YAM)

This term Year 9 completed Youth Aware of Mental Health. This is a state-wide program created in partnership with Black Dog Institute and the Department of Education. YAM offered our students a hands-on approach to mental health issues such as stress, crisis, depression and suicide. Our students were engaged and receptive to the program. Well done Year 9.

SALSA Program

The Students as Lifestyle Activists (SALSA) is a program funded by Western Sydney General Practitioners, in partnership with Sydney University.  Our Year 10 PASS class trained to be mentors and facilitated lessons in the benefits of health and fitness for all Year 7. Year 10 PASS have done a fantastic job, realising it’s not always easy being the teacher! They have demonstrated outstanding commitment and leadership. 14 students from the class have volunteered to work on implementing whole school health and fitness initiatives. We look forward to hearing what these will be.

Top Blokes

Top Blokes is a preventative evidence-based social education program providing a positive platform for young men to develop personal qualities including integrity, character and respect for others while becoming positive role models to their peers. Our Year 9 and 10 cohort graduated this week and we are excited to announce that 30 Year 7 boys will complete the junior version, called Stepping Up over the next 2 terms. Sam Horn, one of our graduates from the 2018 Stepping Up program had the opportunity to appear on Studio 10 last week. Sam proved himself a capable ambassador for our school and the Top Blokes program in his television debut. He will tell the school about Studio 10 experience on Celebration Assembly this week.

Congratulations to our Year 9 and 10 Top Blokes for 2019. They are Bayley Campbell, Cody Turner, Richard Newling, Zach Beckett, Tim Cuthbert, Aiden Gleeson, Reed Hill, Glen Simpson Sam Bissett and Dannen Cowgill.

Thank-you to Top Blokes Foundation for your ongoing support of our school.

Chaplaincy Service

Our Chaplaincy Service is an integral part of the support we offer at Henry Kendall High School. Mel Gould is our wonderful chaplain who is with us every Wednesday and Thursday. She is always available for students to self-refer on these days. No appointment is necessary. Mel also conducts a Life Skills cooking class, mentoring some of our Year 9 and 10 students. The Soroptimist International Brisbane Water generously sponsors this program.

Stand Tall- The Event

On Wednesday 12 June, Year 10 students attended Stand Tall – The Event. This was a very special opportunity for our students. The Event encouraged high school students to stand tall and make positive choices. It featured inspirational speakers who powerfully addressed many of the critical issues confronting today's high school students. On the day, 6500 students from around NSW/ACT were encouraged to embrace their future through empowering messages by cultural influencers, sports stars & musicians.

Students left the day with a few key messages:

• Self-belief and hope that they can enjoy a successful future.
• The power of resilience, learning that the past does not dictate the future.
• How to take a stand against bullying and other dangerous behaviours and become leaders.

Creating Chances

Creating Chances is program that develops responsibility, sound values, leadership, teamwork, self-awareness, independence and communication in young men. Twenty boys in Year 8 had the opportunity to participate in this program during Term 1 and 2.

Last term they worked with mentors to prepare games and develop skills to become coaches for Gosford Primary School students. 60 students from Years 3 and 4 visited Henry Kendall High School each week and the boys taught them a variety of sporting games.

“The main things we really liked about the program is playing with kids each week. We loved seeing them smile and have fun with their friends. We also liked being their role models. Some of us never thought we would do this!” said Charlie Court

Mio Pagacs told the school on assembly “I think the program was great and I looked forward to participating in it every Thursday. We’ve been told that the primary school kids ask their teachers “when are we going back to Creating Chances?” They also looked forward to each week. We would like to thank our mentors Rob and Jamie, Gosford RSL for their sponsorship and Mr Backhouse for giving us this opportunity.”

Congratulations to the following boys who graduated this week- Zach Bissett, Travis Burgess, Isaac Centorino, Zach Bissett, Jacob Dunn,  Max Finn,  Izac Hamilton-Tate, Jonathon Mao, Jake Mathews, Connor McKaig, Mio Pagnacs,  Brock Walsh,  Brody Martin,  Mason Guilding, Cayden Simmons,  Thomas Wade,  Charlie Court,  Jino Park.