Ms Brady - 7 & 10

Term 2 has been a very busy term for Year 7 settling into the way we learn and work at KKHS. Year 7 have completed their first projects in all courses including the submission of high-quality assessment tasks where students were able to demonstrate the skills, knowledge and understanding they have developed throughout the project. Students have also participated in NAPLAN assessments, excursions, University of Newcastle workshops, sporting competitions/gala days, exploring all the extra curricula opportunities available to them at KKHS and by the end of term they will have fitted in Stage 4 Camp too.

We were able to have Year 7 parents/carers on-site for the first time in a couple of years for an information session on how to best help their child, where staff presented to parents’ information on accessing Sentral Parent Portal and Canvas, Learning and Wellbeing programs available to support your child and a meet and greet with Year 7 teachers. Big thanks to Mr Berry, Mr Asvestas, Ms Sams and all teachers involved with Year 7 and supporting them to have a fantastic term.

Year 10 have also had a busy term including the appointment of our student ambassadors, Josh Harrison, Darcy Jones, Lachlan Hancock, Jemma Lynch, Hope Taylor and Grace Williams, who were outstanding representatives of Year 10 at the recent KKHS Business Breakfast. Year 10 have also participated in Speed Careering and a Newcastle University visit which are important opportunities for students as they will be participating in Stage 6 Try a Course early in Term 3 in preparation for Stage 6 subject selections. If students have questions about what subjects they should be selecting for next year they should speak to the Head Teacher of the subject, the careers advisor and deputies for support.

Stage 4 students have been participating in workshops run by the University of Newcastle. Year 8 explored The Teenage Brain workshop and participated in mindfulness activities. Year 7 students and Ms Sams went to Kurri Kurri Community Library and participated in the Connecting to Community workshop. All students engaged in the workshops, were excellent representatives of KKHS and are keen for the next Uni visit.

Stage 4 reports will be published via Sentral Parent Portal at the end of Term 2 and you will notice that there is a lot of information available for you about your child(ren) and their academic progress. Reports in Stage 4 reflect the importance placed on skill development throughout Year 7 and 8 including Literacy and Numeracy skills, subject specific skills and interpersonal skill development in preparation for Stages 5 and 6. Students will still receive an A-E grade for academic outcomes. Students have also reflected on their own learning throughout the semester which gives valuable insight into how students see their own learning progressing and where they need to improve throughout Semester 2. If you have any questions or concerns about your child’s learning, please contact their classroom teacher. If you do not yet have access to the Sentral Parent Portal, please contact the office for this to be organised.

A reminder that KKHS is a uniform school, and all students are expected to be in full school uniform every day. It is also the expectation that all students are ready to learn every lesson, every day. Please support your child by reminding them to charge their laptop every night and bring books, pens and charged laptop every day. Enjoy a safe and happy break and get ready for Term 3.

Ms Somerville - Years 8 & 11

Term 2 always seems to fly by so quickly and I’m not sure if it’s because we have so many events scheduled to showcase the students or if it’s because everyone is back into the routine of being at school.

This term Year 8 have had a focus on being ready to learn where we have been encouraging students to bring their laptop, a book and pen each day. Most students are very organized but some may need reminding, especially to have their laptop charged so that it can be used throughout the day. They have also had the opportunity to visit Oakvale Farm as part of their project launch for Stem. I know that many are looking forward to going on camp this term which is fantastic as they missed out on many events last year due to COVID restrictions.

Year 11 have had information sessions this term with Newcastle University about alternate pathways into further studies which has started them thinking about the future as they are almost two thirds of the way through their courses. I have been reminding students regularly about staying on top of assessments and utilizing the Study Centre especially on a Friday when most students finish early. This will also help with developing good study habits which will prepare them for achieving success as they move into Year 12. If you are needing any help with developing better study habits or are concerned about how your student is going, please contact their Year Advisor Mrs Douglas who will be more than happy to help

Don’t forget that Year 12 students as well as the Year 11 accelerated students will sitting the trial HSC exams in week 1 next term and should have received their timetable. Similarly to previous years, we will be running them at Kurri TAFE which will allow the students to complete their exams in a quieter setting. The accelerated students will be marked as being on school business the day before and the day of their exam so that their attendance is not impacted. All students are welcome to come and work in the Study Centre during this time if they feel that this will be more effective for their revision. Please remember that students need to be at the exam location at least 10 minutes before the start time of the exam. I’m sure while students may be slightly nervous, they will be focused on doing their best.

Year 12 students should also now be having conversations with our careers advisor about completing early entry applications into university. We have been highly successful with this program in the past and may allow students the opportunity to lock in offers before their HSC examinations. If you haven’t already done this, please contact Mrs Brackley who has been replacing Mrs Sellars Fogarty while she has been on leave.

As we move further into the colder months and it is harder to get out of bed that attendance really matters no matter how chilly it is. Just days missed = years lost.

Mr Brown - Years 9 & 12

Firstly, congratulations to Ms Toni Wilson who has accepted the role of Deputy Principal Inclusion at KKHS, leaving big shoes to fill within the Stage 5 space. Term 2 was off to a flying start with student engagement at an all time high. Students have been heavily involved in developing their skills sets to become successful and independent 21st Century learners. School norms have allowed clear expectations across the board for all students in all classes and is reflected in the high-quality classwork being submitted throughout this term.

Year 9 have been working extremely hard in class, with the quality of assessments being produced a reflection of their time, effort and care. Students have participated in a police liaison officer visit and a resume writing workshop presented by the Newcastle University was available to a select number of students. Year 9 have skill development at the base of every class with specific focuses on problem-solving, interpersonal, communication and collaboration skills across faculties. These skills enable students to be effective contributors to society and puts them in good stead for future endeavours.

As Year 12 move towards the end of their schooling journey some significant milestones are upcoming, including final assessment tasks, trial and HSC examinations, their graduation ceremony and formal. Students are encouraged to utilise the Study Centre throughout the week when they do not have a class. This quiet space readily provides teacher assistance for students that require support, require a calm space to study, or finish off assignments. Taking initiative to seek support is an important skill required for successful learners.

High expectations are ever present at KKHS. Attendance, school uniform, and appropriate use of mobile phones are no exception. Students missing time in the classroom miss the opportunity to experience the content first hand. Wearing correct school uniform promotes school pride and sense of belonging. Any families experiencing difficulties in arranging school uniforms, please contact the front office and we will assist you. Students are reminded to have their mobile phones in their bags and on silent once they enter their classroom. Parents and carers please contact the front office to communicate any necessary messages to your child during school hours.

Mrs Edwards - Big Picture Academy, Aboriginal Education, Covod ILSP & Careers

Careers and future planning were a focus for our Year 10 students who attended the Speed Careers event at school in Week 7. Students cycled through a number of different careers options with businesses such as Boeing, Snowy Hydro, HNE Heath, East Maitland Vets, St Nicholas Childcare and Jason Reading Landscaping showing our students a variety of different post school options available to them. This is the time of year that employers are often posting opportunities for apprenticeships or traineeships. It is important for those students who are in Year 12, or those in Year 11 and 10 who are considering employment to be checking their emails regularly to have access to these opportunities. Your Careers Advisor will email the links to these jobs via your school email. If you need assistance with these job applications, please see Ms Brackley in the Careers Office.

As we move towards the end of the term, our Big Picture students are getting ready to send out their invitations for their Term 2 Exhibitions. They are being encouraged to invite a diverse group of people to their exhibitions so that they can proudly show off their work! Part of the work in Big Picture learning is to expose our students to a variety of outlearning experiences. In Week 9, we are all going to Luna Park to spend time together as a culture building activity. Each Advisory used their skills to plan this excursion. Utilising their communication skills, they rang Luna Park and organised a time for us to go (with the park closed to the public on this day to everyone but Big Picture students), they used their numeracy skills to budget the cost of the excursion and worked together to create a Risk Management Plan to minimise any risks for our day out. I can certainly vouch for our students when I say we are all excited about this adventure!

We have a number of initiatives for Aboriginal Education which are just beginning to come to fruition. The Clontarf Academy for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander boys officially opened this term and a number of our boys have been to visit the space (formerly the Museum) and sign up. If you are an A&TSI male, you are welcome to visit Clark during Lunch 1 and Lunch 2 to have a chat and see the benefits of becoming members of the Clontarf Academy. Towards the end of the term, Ms Lewis and Ms Grainger will be meeting to plan the Sista Speak sessions for our A&TSI girls which will begin to run in Term 3. In addition to this, I am working with Ms Da Silva and Mrs Sutherland to organise our A&TSI girls camp, Dreaming Together, which will occur towards the end of Term 3. Our Young Mob program also started this term, with Aunty Jen and Aunty Yvonne, coming every Wednesday to run the program which involves students connecting with culture, their identity and each other.

Term 2 saw the second of our inter-school challenges between Kurri Kurri, Cessnock and Mount View High Schools. This term was the Public Speaking challenge which we won! We were proudly represented by Sam T., Georgie C. and Charlotte M., who passionately addressed the issues of everyday racism and the importance of reconciliation.

The theme for Reconciliation this year is Be Brave, Make Change and to celebrate Reconciliation Week, our JAECG leaders attended the Elders Morning Tea in Cessnock. Furthermore, we will also be running activities during Week 10 of this term to celebrate the history, culture, and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples during NAIDOC week, with this year’s theme being Get Up! Stand Up! Show Up!

With the aim of improving support for our A&TSI students, we have introduced an initiative called the Roadmap to Success. The aim of this program is to better inform parents and/or caregivers of the progress of A&TSI students, provide information on assessment tasks and ways to assist your children. This program is aimed towards students in Years 10-12 at this stage and parents and/or caregivers will receive a progress report in Week 8 which will feature an overview of their students’ progress related to attendance, application and when assessment tasks are taking place. The first of these reports will be emailed to parents and/or caregivers during Week 8 of Term 2.

Ms Toni Wilson - Inclusion & Support

It is an honour and a privilege to accept the permanent position of DP Inclusion and Support at KKHS.

This is a new DP role to support the NSW Government’s The Inclusive, Engaging and Respectful Schools (IER) package that includes three new policies to help schools manage the diverse spectrum of student needs to improve outcomes for all students in every public school across New South Wales.

The new policies, framework and procedures aim to strengthen the engagement and participation of all students, including those with disability, complex and challenging behaviours and additional needs.

Although this role is still being developed at KKHS, much of it will see me supporting IER across the school. At present I am the line manager for Kuta-kaya and Student Engagement and Attendance and am extremely fortunate to be working with a dedicated and passionate team of professionals that come to school every day to support our students to thrive and succeed.

This is an exciting space for me to be working in and developing, and I look forward to sharing more information with you, our school community, as it progresses.

Learning & Support