School News
Young Achievers Class
Author Visit
On Wednesday 14 November, the Year 7 and 8 Young Achievers classes were visited by esteemed Australian author Claire Zorn. The visit was part of a prize won by the school thanks to Loreli Malicia (Year 7 YAP), who’s ‘What Matters?’ writing competition entry was shortlisted earlier in the year.
Claire has won a number of awards for each of her three Young Adult fiction novels. The students are most familiar with her haunting dystopian novel, ‘The Sky So Heavy’. Both classes learned about her writing process in an engaging and informative presentation.
The Year 7 class then participated in a two hour creative writing workshop in which Claire worked through the creative process when establishing characters and setting. Claire noted that our students were “some of the most creative she’s ever worked with”.
High Resolves Seminar
On Monday 19 November students in the Young Achievers Program participated in two seminars delivered by High Resolves. These seminars were titled ‘Social Justice’ and ‘Personal Impact’. This highly engaging and thought-provoking workshops challenged the students to think critically and creatively about various problems facing our world and society.
The students completed a number of collaborative and individual tasks to inspire them to think about how they can make a difference in this world. The High Resolves presenter, Lauren, noted the maturity and confidence on display from the students.
We are very proud to see our students thinking so carefully and critically about a number of issues in our society.
Mr Blake Wawrzyk
Head Teacher English / YAP Coordinator
Congratulation Nikau Davis - Artexpress Nomination!
We are very excited to have received an Artexpress Nomination for Nikau Davis with her Year 12 Visual Arts Body of Work titled "Fathomless: Opaque at Heart (and Surface)".
Her amazing collection of self portraits display phenomenal technical drawing skills and a very strong conceptual elegance. It is wonderful to have these skills recognised outside of the school arena.
Congratulations Nikau! We look forward to seeing your artistic progress over the next few years.
Ms Dawn Keft - Teacher CAPA
illuminate Challenge
Seven of our Year 9 students, guided by Mrs Cortaville-Smith, were part of the illuminate Challenge on Monday 12 November at Ourimbah University.
Year 9 students Brandon Willmette, Jared Muxlow, Lara Hookway, Saroj Bhatt, Charlotte Tucker, Hamish Watts and Reece Bennett participated in the illuminate Challenge
illuminate Education designs and delivers intensive education programs that run over a week, allowing students to experience first-hand what it takes to be an entrepreneur and small business champions. Facilitated by skilled staff with the support of the local business community, students learn what it takes to start a new business in a week, going through the process of developing the idea, refining it, making sure it connects with customers and is viable – all the way up to pitching for investment to get it off the ground! With specially designed for high schools, primary schools and the ability to customise programs for your own needs that aligns to Australian Curriculum outcomes and delivered by trained educators, illuminate Education provides the opportunity for your students to thrive and learn in an environment like no other.
Mrs Leanne Cortaville-Smith - Careers Adviser
Teacher Professional Learning - Mr Judd Newton
There is nothing like picking up some new ideas to put a spring in your step. As part of my ongoing professional development, I had the good fortune to attend the 2018 GTA NSW Stage 6 Geography Teacher Conference in Sydney this year – and I must say that my mind is now boiling over with ideas.
One of the most wonderful things about teaching geography is that the information we teach is never stagnant and much like our lives, environments and cities our understanding of the world is in a constant state of flux and evolution. The conference was attended by several excellent key note speakers from across Australia discussing topics from climate change through to urban renewal. We looked at innovate approaches to teaching senior geography; flipped classrooms, buying into the Senior Geography Project (SGP) and building a story with curriculum are just some examples.
I am very excited for the future of Geography at Henry Kendall High School, and hopefully students will be too!
Mr Judd Newton
HSIE Teacher
White Ribbon Day
'I swear, never to commit, excuse or remain silent about violence against women. This is my Oath.'
Henry Kendall High School staff and students take the oath.
WhiteRibbon #WhiteRibbonDay #NotViolent #NotSilent#StandUpAndSpeakOut