Dear Killara Families,

Welcome to Term 4, 2022. It has been wonderful seeing students engaging with their learning experiences across the school. Term 4 brings about new beginnings, and part of this includes the commencement of the HSC course for our Year 11 students.

We welcome our new school captains Filip and Mischa. I know that Filip and Mischa will be committed, kind and visionary leaders who will lead our school with determination and confidence. Alongside our captains, I congratulate all student leaders on their appointment.

There are wonderful learning experiences taking place daily across our school, and I’m committed to being closer to the point of educational impact in classrooms, alongside our teachers and students, and therefore I have decided to give up my physical office and transform the Killara High School Principal’s office into a collaboration space for students and staff. This means that I will no longer have a physical office, rather, I will be out and about throughout the day in classrooms, playgrounds and other locations alongside our students and teachers. This will make me more accessible to students and staff. I look forward to spending more time alongside our students and teachers.

HSC Commences for Year 12

The Higher School Certificate examinations have commenced and I applaud all HSC students for their commitment towards their studies. Andrew Noble our NESA Presiding Officer and classroom teachers have reported that our students have been demonstrating determination, commitment and care. I encourage all students to maintain a balanced approach towards their studies, by including exercise, social activities and healthy eating and sleeping habits into their routines. Our school staff are prepared to assist all students. Our Head Teacher Wellbeing, Year Advisers, Deputy Principals, School Nurse and Classroom Teachers are all committed towards supporting our students.

School Development Projects

In collaboration with our generous and hardworking P&C, Killara High School has commenced working with the NSW Department of Education’s Asset Management Unit on three large development projects. The projects include an outdoor learning area behind D block overlooking the oval, a covered outdoor learning area over the lower basketball courts, and synthetic grass on our school oval. These projects will enhance the learning experiences for all our students and provide significant scope for additional school activities. This project can largely proceed thanks to the generous contribution of our families to the P&C building fund. We have formed a project reference group that includes representatives from the P&C, NSW Department of Education Asset Management Unit and our school staff. I thank all parents and staff involved in this project and I look forward to providing updates to our community on the progress of these works.

KHS Strategic Improvement Plan 2021-2025

Our school is working towards our goals as showcased within our School Improvement Plan 2021-2025. A visualisation that outlines the key aspects of our school’s 5-year plan is featured here.

Inclusive, Engaging and Respectful Schools Package

The Inclusive, Engaging and Respectful (IER) Schools package was announced in February this year by NSW Minister for Education and Early Learning, Hon Sarah Mitchell.

It centres on three new policies and procedures and a framework that together set the guidelines for how we ensure all children and young people can learn through public education in a safe and engaging way.

The IER Schools package includes the:

Inclusive Education Policy for students with disability
Student Behaviour Policy and Procedures
Restrictive Practices Framework and Restrictive Practices Reduction and Elimination Policy and Procedures.

With these new policies, we want all students to:

be included in all aspects of school life and supported to learn to their fullest capability
be supported in engaging, respectful, and effective classrooms with positive and inclusive practices
feel welcomed, valued and safe in our schools and classroom

Two of the policies are new: the Inclusive Education Policy; and the Restrictive Practices Framework and policy. Both clarify existing legal obligations, effective, appropriate and prohibited practices, and the rights of students, parents and carers.

The Student Behaviour Policy replaces the Student Discipline in Government Schools and Suspension and Expulsion Policy. The key change is the approach all NSW public schools will take to address disruptive or inappropriate behaviour by a student. The duration of a suspension will be reduced along with the number of suspensions across a school year. Every school will be able to draw on the support of a range of staff including behaviour specialists to effectively address issues resulting in these behaviours in order to prevent future escalations. We will continue to work closely with you and all our families.

The Inclusive Education Policy for students with disability and the Student Behaviour Policy have become operational in Term 4, 2022 and the Restrictive Practices Policy becomes operational in Term 1, 2023.

Our school already takes a strong, positive student-centred approach, but we want to work with you to ensure, together, every student has the right support at the right time to help them grow into confident, resilient adults.

For more information on these policies, please visit the NSW Department of Education website.

Last Day of Term 4, 2022

The last day for student attendance in Term 4, 2022 is Friday 16 December.

Robin Chand

Principal

Student Support Team

KYDS Free Mental Health Webinars

HSC Seminars for Years 10 & 11