From the Deputies Desks

Ms Brady - Years 7 & 10

Well Term 4 hasn’t disappointed, it has been just as busy as the rest of the year as we not only wrap up 2022 but make sure we, both staff and students, are prepared for 2023.  

Year 10 have navigated end of year examinations (at end of Term 3) as part of the skill development focus to ensure students are prepared for senior studies. Year 10 have completed subject selections and are focused on getting ready to move into Year 11. Students will have up until Week 5 of next year to make any changes to their program of study. Those students who are looking at alternative pathways have been participating in TAFE taster courses and completing certificates including White Card to ensure they are prepared to navigate their pathway over the next couple of years. Big thanks to Ms Twyford who as Year 10 Year Advisor has been an ongoing source of support for students and families.  

Year 7 have not stopped this term, they have been on excursions, finalising projects and getting into the Tech rooms to ensure their catapult is working to optimum levels to support their quest at winning the coveted HUB Cup. Blue Hub are the defending champions and are going to find it tough to reclaim the cup in 2022. To support students in their transition to Year 8 where they will be in new rooms and have different teachers in all subject areas, they will be participating in Year 8 Preset Days with their new teachers in Stem, Quest and Lifestyle. These days are designed for students to get to know their new teachers and Head Teachers who they will be dealing with in 2023, the teachers to get to know the students and for students to experience what learning in Year 8 will be like in 2023. I’m sure they won’t be surprised to learn that the Rules, Routines, Norms and High Expectations we have had for them in Year 7 will not be changing as they move into Year 8. Year 7 have had a very positive start to High School and I would like to thank Mrs Sams, Year 7 teachers, and Mr Berry and Mr Asvestas (Year Advisors) for support students along the way. I look forward to seeing all the amazing accomplishments this group of students can achieve in 2023.  

The application process for the HPGE classes for 2023 has now been finalised and all students should be aware of the outcome of their application. It was a difficult process for all Head Teachers to make decisions on who was successful as students engaged in the workshops and produced high quality submissions, identifying potential solutions to the problem they worked on throughout the two days. If you have questions or queries about your child’s placement, please speak to the relevant Head Teachers.   

The end of the year has also seen Year 7 2023 complete their transition to KKHS where students have had the opportunity to get familiar with the high expectations, routines and norms of KKHS. This year incoming students have had the opportunity to participate in visits to KKHS, Ms Bailey (Year Advisor) has been out to visit all our partner primary schools and get to know students, A&TSI students have participated in two orientation visits including a visit to Clontarf, participate in BreakThru visits for those requiring a little bit more support in the transition process and new for 2022 Mrs Sams (rel HT Year 7) introduced enrichment workshops for our incoming 7 Blue Hub students where they participated in a range of team building and skill development sessions facilitate by KKHS teachers who are experts in their subject area. By all accounts these visits have been extremely well received by students who are now even more keen to get to high school and start their learning journey. All programs are designed to support students take on the challenges and excitement of starting high school and make some connections with KKHS staff to ensure students are aware of who they can go to for support, especially in those early weeks. Thanks to Mrs Sams (rel. HT Year 7), Ms Bailey (Year Advisor), Year 7 teachers, Ms Edwards (DP A&TSI Education), Mrs Weir (HT LaST) and many other staff at KKHS for organising the transition program and supporting our newest students to ensure they feel welcome and supported at KKHS.  

A reminder to all students and parents regarding school uniform. The school can be purchase from Flanagan’s Menswear in Cessnock. As we are a uniformed school, I would like to remind parents the importance of wearing school uniform including polo shirts, jumpers and shorts. Year 10 don’t forget to purchase your senior polo shirt ready to start 2023 as seniors!! 

Thank you for your ongoing support in 2022 and have a safe and happy holiday. 

Ms Somerville - Years 8 & 11

While many people think that Term 4 is the run down into the holidays, I can assure you that it just as busy as the rest of the year. While we farewelled one year group and wished them well as they sat their HSC exams, another year group took the first step as they embarked upon their HSC journey with Year 11 making decisions about what subjects to keep and what ones to drop as they officially became Year 12. Some students even completed one of their HSC examinations this year as part of the accelerated program the school offers and from all accounts went into the examination not only confident but well prepared which will give them an insight as to what is required for next year when they complete the rest of their HSC courses.  As these students were my first year 7 year group to supervise upon becoming Deputy Principal, I am finding it hard to grasp that they have begun their final year at school. How time flies! All Year 11 students should have received their assessment information for each course so they can create a plan and be prepared for every assessment as it approaches. They should also have viewed the official NESA documents regarding the rules and procedures for Year 12 2023. If you are not sure if your student has accessed these documents or has misplaced them, they are easily accessed at any time via their Year 12 2023 Canvas course.  

Year 8 also made some decisions about their learning pathways for next year.  Some students completed applications to be a part of our Big Picture Education class while others completed the steps to be a part of the High Potential classes. All students have made subject selections regarding what electives they are going to be studying next year and I know that many of them are looking forward to exploring these options. Some students may have missed out on their first choices for electives but as students often change their minds, there may be some opportunities to move electives early in the new year. Year 8 have also spent the final weeks of the term farewelling the size and the space of the HUB rooms that they been in for the last two years and have been preparing for the transition into Year 9 classes which will be much smaller in comparison. I am sure that they will look forward to the new opportunities that Year 9 will bring and am confident they will embrace everything that these new experiences have to offer.  

As we move towards the end of the year there are still some important events for our departing Year 12 students. The HSC BBQ Breakfast will be held on Thursday 15th December to celebrate the achievements of finishing year 12 and to share the joy as students receive their HSC results. It is also an important day for those students who are receiving an ATAR, with it being released later that morning. The BBQ breakfast is also a chance for students to catch up with Year 12 teachers as well as to get some advice regarding possible future pathways. It was very pleasing to find out that many of our Year 12 students were successful in their applications into university via the Early Entry Scheme taking away the worry of being accepted into university before the release of the ATAR. I am hoping that many students take up this chance for a catch up and for a ‘free feed”! 

As we wrap up 2022, I would like to thank all students and families for their support this year and hope that everyone has a safe and restful break over the Christmas holidays. 

Mr Brown - Years 9 & 12

Term 4 has been busy for our Year 9 students; they have completed all assessments for the year and performed well across the board. Students are encouraged to finish the school year strongly through striving for their personal best in all lessons. UNISTEPs provided a design workshop for our students this term, which allowed students the opportunities to select a problem and create a solution using the supplied materials. Students enjoyed the sessions and were praised for their respect and insightful questioning. I would like to thank Ms Trayhurn (Year 9 Advisor) for her tireless efforts in supporting our students both inside and outside of the classroom.  

As students move towards entering Year 10, they are encouraged to work on their organisational skills in meeting set deadlines with assessment tasks and ensure high quality submissions. At the end of Year 10 students will receive their Record of Student Achievement (ROSA) which will be based on work across Stage 5. Planning is underway for Year 10, students who have applied for the HPGE class would have received a notification on their application. If there are any questions around this area, please direct to the appropriate head teachers.  

Term 4 was all about the HSC for Year 12, as 13 years of schooling concluded. I was pleased to see students engaging with their teachers throughout the time preparing for exams, completing revision and many, many past papers. A shout out to all HSC teachers who not only supported, but motivated students to keep going at every hurdle they have had to overcome over the past 2 years, while ensuring that they were ready for their HSC exams. Mrs O’Halloran as Year Advisor has gone above and beyond to support our student throughout their last years of school. Along with Heather Sutherland, Mrs O’Halloran ensured Year 12 were able to have an enjoyable evening at their Year 12 formal.  

Uniform continues to be a concern if your student does not have the correct school uniform, or you need support in ensuring this occurs please contact the school so we can work towards a solution together. I want to see all Year 10 students in 2023 in full school uniform, if you are unsure of this please look at the school website for clarification.   

As always if you have any concerns please contact myself at the school or arrange for a meeting.  

Happy and safe holidays!  

Mrs Edwards - Aboriginal Education, Big Picture Academy & Equity

Our students have been just as busy as ever in Term 4! Potential Year 8 Big Picture student participated in an academically rigorous process, competing for a place in the 2023 Year 9 Big Picture class. Students were required to undertake a variety of activities which included participating in shadow periods in each of the Advisories to discover the intricacies of each year in Big Picture. As a result of their participation in the shadow days and the submission of academic activities, 17 students were offered a position in the 2023 Year 9 Big Picture class. For any student who did not receive a place in the class, they will be placed on the waiting list and if a student was to leave, they will be offered a place in the class. Big Picture t-shirts are currently on sale from the Front Office, so I encourage all students to purchase your shirts to be ready to start the 2023 in Big Picture uniform. We are looking forward to welcoming all of these students to our Big Picture Academy next year. 

Our Covid tutors have been busy tutoring our Year 8 students to assist with improving their literacy and numeracy skills. Pre and post testing of students have shown an improvement in both the literacy and numeracy progressions of these students. Furthermore, we have been tutoring Year 7 & 8 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students, utilising culturally appropriate resources to improve the literacy skills of these students. Our students have commented that they have enjoyed using these resources to learn more about their culture and the tutors have told me that the students have been asking some very good questions about the history and culture of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as a result. 

First Nations students have also had a number of opportunities during Term 4 to participate in programs which have been designed to immerse themselves in culture and work with mentors to continue with their goal setting journey. Mentoring sessions for our Years 7, 8 & 9 girls has resumed under the Dream Together program which we began at camp in Term 3. During Week 8, the girls have met with their mentors and yarned about the things that they have been grateful for in 2022 and set short- and longer-term goals leading in 2023. All of the girls have been provided with Dream Big Journals, designed by Kylie Captain a proud Gamilaroi woman and educator, who is passionate about Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children reaching their full potential. The girls will be utilising the journals to set goals and design plans to work towards these goals in 2023. 

Two of our JAECG members, Kobi Murray and Samuel Tedd, proudly represented our school in Week 7 at St Phillips Christian College during the AET leadership day. Kurri Kurri High School will be hosting the first AET leadership day in Term 1 next year, and the JAECG are currently working on plans to make this day as engaging as possible for the young leaders who will be frequenting our school. Furthermore, our JAECG and other regular attendees of these meetings have been working with Deadly Ed to produce an appropriate mural which will be featured in the school. Students have worked together and designed this mural which will feature the skills of all students involved.  

Year 10 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander girls have been working with Kelly Nixon on the Yakka Introduction to Work Program, a career’s readiness program designed to help the girls develop the skills and resources ready for the workforce. The current Year 9 girls will be participating in this program in 2023. 

During Week 8, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students were offered the opportunity to participate in Speaking in Colour workshops where they were able to experience a range of activities such as Yidaki (Didgeridoo) playing, art appreciation, weaving workshops, Aboriginal Dance workshops and speaking with Elders. We will endeavour to continue provide this range of cultural activities to our students in 2023. 

Wishing all of our families and students a safe and happy holidays! See you all in 2023!