Principal's Report
LOT'S TO CELEBRATE THIS TERM!!
Henry Kendall has been one busy place throughout Term 2, as this newsletter will demonstrate. Along with a mountain of events there has been significant student achievement to be celebrated. I won’t detail these as they are outlined further on, however can I congratulate our student body and the staff that make these achievements possible – well done and I am, as always, extremely proud of this wonderful school.
CONCERNS AROUND VAPING
As many parents and carers are aware, the student use of e-cigarettes (otherwise known as ‘vaping’) across local schools and in the community is alarming and concerning. We take this issue seriously due to the negative health effects vaping can have on young people, who are too often ignoring the risks associated with the practice.
As a school we are taking a strong stance on the use and supply of vapes. Ongoing awareness raising and educational programs are being implemented to provide a proactive approach. Those caught using have discipline processes applied. The supply to persons under 18 is illegal, and I am involving the police in such instances as well as school actions.
However, most important is the understanding of our parent community about the risks and support in educating your children. We are asking parents to be informed about this ongoing concern and to speak to their children about making positive decisions. Additional information to support parents and students can be found attached and at
https://www.health.nsw.gov.au/tobacco/Pages/electronic-cigarettes.aspx
Additionally, I encourage parents to watch this video
SUBJECT SELECTION
Our preparations for our 2022 curriculum are now well underway with the subject selection process occurring for Year 8 into 9 and Year 10 into 11. These are important processes and I encourage students and parents to to engage with as much information as possible.
As many will be aware the government has introduced changes to the elective options schools can offer from 2022. Essentially there are now only four types of courses that can be offered, three of which are NESA developed and must be studied for the full two years. The fourth option provides for the inclusion of a department developed course from which there are 7 to chose from. Our school is only currently resourced for one of these – iSTEM. Students can choose to study iSTEM, however it can only be offered as a one-year course and will not appear on the students Record of Student Achievement (ROSA). Please contact the school if you would like more information regarding this.
Year 10 students are reminded that the subject selection portal will close after your interview on Tuesday 13 of July.
ATTENDANCE
I need to raise the issue of student attendance which is showing a decline through the first part of this year. It is important that we all have awareness of not only the importance of student attendance overall, but the concept that every single day matters.
Non-attendance has a variety of effects on students, both academically and socially. There is extensive research to support this. Absenteeism can increase social isolation, including alienation and lack of engagement with the school community and peers, leading to emotional and behavioural difficulties that can be lasting through life. It is also associated with an increased likelihood of drop-out and lowered expectations for future success. Coupled with these social factors are the impacts on academic growth and development, which then often lead to a decline in self-belief and self-worth as students fall further behind their peers.
As a school we are placing a spotlight on student attendance – both whole and partial day. However I am crucially aware that this, like many aspects of education, must be a partnership between home and the school. I encourage parents and carers to emphasise the important of strong attendance patterns with your children, and don’t accept reasons for not attending that aren’t valid. Please also work with our school processes for explaining valid reasons for non-attendance.
For your interest I’ve included a poster from the Department of Education that provides some interesting data on how a pattern of non-attendance can add up.
P&C ASSOCIATION
The P&C meets at 7.00pm in the Nichols Meeting room in the Administration building on the following dates for 2021;
- Tuesday 10 August – General Meeting
- Tuesday 2 November – General Meeting
Mr Andrew Backhouse
Principal