Newsletter Term 1 Week 4 2024

Principals Report

Dear Parents and Carers,

It is wonderful to see all students back in full school uniform and ready to learn for the year. Already all students in years 7-11 have been given their assessment books and have been instructed on how to add the dates of these to their google calendar. If students can learn to be organised and responsible for themselves, they will be more successful learners.

Our focus this year for teachers is on the creation of new syllabi in most faculties, which reflect a change in focus to one where students learn topics in greater depth. Students in Maths and English in years 7 and 9 will be working from these new syllabus areas this year. In the classes, teachers aim to give students feedback, so that they know how to improve. All teachers continue to provide the conditions for calm classroom environments and ensuring all students are challenged.

It was great to see so many parents at the information evenings we held last week at the Forestville RSL club, it is our aim to work in partnership with you, and by speaking the same “language” we can guide and nurture our young people. Keep your eye out for the parenting sessions that we are running later in the term, the first one will be on Restorative Conversations.

This year we have timetabled assemblies every fortnight on a Friday morning. Our first assembly was to celebrate the High Achievers in the 2023 HSC, we had 25 students with an ATAR over 90! Our dux was Diane Luong, with an ATAR of 98.5, we also congratulate Diane as she came 1st in the State for French Continuers. We also had Ava Scotter who came 1st in the state in Dutch continuers. Once again, the results of our Advanced English cohort were incredible, with 2nd in the whole state, only beaten by North Sydney Boys ( who are selective of course).

As our aim is to develop independent, confident young problem solvers, we would like students to have a go at seeking help for themselves, both in class and for other matters. We don’t want students to totally take things into their own hands and become vigilantes, but to come to their teachers for assistance and advice in school matters. It will save parents time and hassle if students learn to speak up as well.

We welcome a number of new staff, although we are still looking for another English teacher, we feel fortunate that we have been able to get teachers in this very tight labour market.

English – Ms Mishelle Swavley, Ms Melissa Rhodes, and Ms Penny Le Page-Smith (PT)
Languages – Ms Nicole Lau
Maths – Mr Chris Trieu, Mr Sinclair Barry
HSIE – Ms Catherine Xin, Mr Allen Jarret
PE- Ms Leonie Antonio, Mr Andrew Reid, Mr Daniel Cunningham (PT)
TAS- Mr Tony Patton, Ms Ella Rossmanith-Jones, Mr Olivia Xao

Once again, welcome back and lets all have another fantastic year.

Hayley Emmerton
Principal

Dates to Remember

High Achievers Recognised

We celebrated the incredible achievements of High Achievers at our last whole school assembly. These students all gained an ATAR of over 90, which puts them in the top 10% of the state.  The result of their hard work, means that many more doors are opened to them in their choices that they are able to make at university.  Below is a list of the students that were awarded with a trophy at the assembly, with the course that they are proposing to study at university.

We were delighted to have Courtney Diggins as our guest speaker at the High Achievers Assembly. Courtney graduated Killarney Heights High School as school captain in 2015, where she too was recognised as a high achiever with an ATAR above 90. Courtney was an active participant in many extra-curricular activities including a long-standing membership of the Student Representative Council. In 2020 she completed a Bachelor of Biomedical Engineering at  Sydney University, and when speaking with our students promoted the importance of being involved in the learning community that you are a part of as this created opportunities for her to experience some of the most exciting parts of her career; including working in Germany in the design and production of biomedical materials. When Courtney spoke she was able to demonstrate how her ability to be flexible, willingness to accept challenges and diversify her skills has led to her move to Analytics and Machine Learning as the Senior Performance Analyst at Allianz Insurance.

Diane Luong (DUX 2023)
Lillian Clark, B.Medical & Biomedical Science, Sydney Uni 
Andy (Tuong-Hao) Shih, B.Engineering (Electrical), UNSW
Tara Laytham, B.Molecular Biotechnology, UTS
Mia-Isabelle Warren
Hao Zheng, B.Engineering (Chemical), UNSW
Joshua Nam, B.Engineering and Commerce, Sydney Uni
Daniel Nel,  B.Bio-medical Engineering & Bio-Medical Science, Sydney Uni
Aryan Reddy, B.Engineering (Honours) (Chemical and Biomolecular), Sydney Uni
Archie Tong
Daphne  (Nikie /Hanyue) Zhang, B.Applied Science (Diagnostic Radiography), Sydney Uni
Freddy Hill, B.Aeronautical Engineering (honours), Sydney Uni
Tom Vardanega, Gap year then Speech Pathology, Macquarie Uni
Florian Drabbe, B.Cybersecurity, UTS
Sarah Blake, B.Business, UTS
Jacky (Tianhe) Zhan
Jason Huang
Frank (Xingjian) Lu
Lily Wyer,  Primary Education, Macquarie Uni
Georgie Sturmey-Volz
Zac Blades, B.Laws, B.Arts majoring in Psych, Macquarie Uni
Kyan Grimm
Sienna Belahouane, B.Forensic Science, UTS
Katherine Shevchenko, B.Law, UTS

Year 7 News

Year 7 Camp

On Wednesday 14^th Feb, Year 7 met bright and early to set off for three days of adventures at The Great Aussie Bush Camp in Tea Gardens. The aim of this camp was to encourage all students to step out of their comfort zone and experience new challenges whilst building relationships with their peers. We had a fun-packed three days with activities such as high-ropes, leap of faith, kayaking, crate climb, archery and of course the extremely wet and muddy ‘Lost World’. The teachers who attended enjoyed getting to know our new cohort of students and watched as new friendships were formed. It was a joy to see students giving words of encouragement on the challenging activities and helping others to overcome their fears. We were also fortunate to witness some amazing dance floor moves at the night-time disco!

Well done to Year 7 for demonstrating our Killarney values of Respect, Connect and Aspire, and for your positivity and enthusiasm, even after sleeping on the metal beds!

Thank you to the teachers and Year 10 Peer Support Leaders who gave up their time to support Year 7 on camp. 

This is what a few students had to say about the experience:

I found camp really fun. Even with all the rain, thunderstorm, late nights and some very questionable food, it was still extremely fun. My highlight was definitely the high ropes activity. At the time our class went it was raining but that only made it more fun. Each section of it was challenging but super confidence boosting. I found Leap of Faith scary and once I was on the top of the 11-metre pole I realised how high it was. The point was to jump and grab a trapeze bar but I missed…by a lot! Even after all this, it was still an awesome trip.
Willow, 7S

The bush camp was fun and exciting, and my favourite was the flying fox because I did a challenge with my friends mid-air.
Allen 7H

The Great Aussie Bush Camp was a camp that I’ll always remember. My most favourite and challenging activity was the flying fox. Playing scissors, paper, rock with my friends 15 metres in the air was scary but the view was absolutely insane! Another thing in will never forget were the so called ‘amazing’ tents…I’m scarred from the beds!
Eliza 7S

My most enjoyable part of the tremendously tiring school camp was kayaking, the highly know sport where one utilises a canoe to glide across the murky river grounds.
Jaden 7H

Camp was really fun, there were so many activities. My favourite activity was the Leap of Faith, it was really thrilling. The tents not so much, sooo hot but we were with our friends. Thank you, teachers.
Tom 7P

During camp my highlight was the mud run. I loved it because it was challenging and I had so much fun getting splashed. The activity was hard in some places as you had to crawl through mud, go under logs, crawl through pipes and tirelessly try your best to get to the end. A challenge I overcame was when I did the high ropes. There were log swings that you had to swing on to reach the platform, there was a singular rope that you had to walk on and a few ropes to hold on to. Even though I was scared it was super fun! One thing I will remember was the amazing food. It was very yummy and I enjoyed it very much. Overall, the Great Aussie Bush Camp was exciting and thrilling.
Emily, 7S

The best thing about camp was the Dual Flying Fox because I felt like a bird soaring through the sky! I also made lots of new friends.
Piper 7P

Camp was such a fun experience and a great opportunity to hang out with friends and get to know new people. With great and challenging activities, we all had a great time and made some great memories along the way.
Evie 7N

The camp highlight for me was easily all the friends I made. I met so many new people and a bunch of different personalities. Spending the night with people you have never met before in a 12-person tent is a recipe for making new, lifelong friends.
Jett, 7S

Paula Morris
Year 7 Advisor

Year 7 2025 Extension Class Test

Homework 'MILO' Club

It takes a village to raise a child and at KHHS we know how important a little bit of extra support can be. So, if you’re looking for some regular academic assistance for your child, or even just a quiet space for them to work, the KHHS Homework Club is the place to be.

Nicknamed the MILO Club*, our school’s Homework Club is a calm, inclusive and supportive space for Killarney students to work independently and collaboratively with peers. It is also a space for students to seek support from teachers to complete school tasks and work towards their academic potential.

Milo Club sessions are held every Monday and Thursday after school between 3:15pm and 5:00pm in the Library (E Block). All students are welcome. Light refreshments and snacks will be provided.

Start date: Monday 4th March, 2024 - Week 6, Term 1 (and every week thereafter, Terms 2-4)

Monday's session: numeracy focus with Mr. Chu

Thursday's session: literacy focus with Ms. Zoeller

Please encourage your children to attend, particularly close to assessment due dates.

* MILO Club = My Independent Learning Opportunity and a place to drink Milo

Vaccinations

TAS

TAS (Technological and Applied Studies)

Welcome to the Exciting World of Technology at Killarney Heights High School!

As we kick off the new academic year, we are thrilled to welcome you all to our Technology department at Killarney Heights High School! Whether you're diving into the Technology Mandatory course for years 7 and 8 or exploring elective subjects for years 9 and 11, get ready for an adventure in innovation, creativity, collaboration and problem-solving.

For our year 7 and 8 students, the Technology Mandatory course awaits you with a plethora of hands-on experiences and exciting projects in the context areas of Agriculture and Food Technology, Digital Technology, Engineered Systems and Materials Technology. From learning the fundamentals of design to exploring a different range of materials and equipment within the context area students are studying, this course is designed to ignite your curiosity and equip you with essential skills for the future. Students will spend 13 weeks in a content area prior to rotating teachers to study a different area, with 3 rotations throughout the academic year.

For our years 9 and 11 students, the elective subjects offer a wide range of opportunities to delve deeper into specific areas of interest. Whether it's coding and programming, multimedia design, engineering, cooking, timber or textiles skills, there's something for everyone to explore and excel in.

A gentle reminder to all students participating in Technology classes: please ensure you come prepared with closed leather shoes and any other Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) as outlined by your classroom teacher. Safety is our top priority, and these measures ensure that everyone can engage in hands-on learning in a secure environment.

We can't wait to see what you'll create, innovate, and achieve in the realm of Technology this year. Let's embark on this journey together, embracing challenges and celebrating successes along the way.

Wishing you all a fantastic and fulfilling year ahead!

TAS Faculty

Wellbeing

KHHS Counsellors

Lucas Knight has joined the School Counselling Service at Killarney Heights High this year and will be providing psychological counselling, assessment and intervention services. He will be in on Mondays, Wednesdays (even term weeks) and Thursdays while Ali Malone remains within the team and will be providing services on Tuesdays, Wednesday (odd weeks) and Fridays. Students can self-refer by visiting the school counselling office to make an appointment, or be referred through their Year Advisor or class teacher. Parents seeking a confidential appointment for their child may contact the school email address, which will be forwarded onto the school counsellor.

 If you are looking for practical advice and information to learn more about your child's mental health, the DET Mental Health and Wellbeing has some helpful resources.

Alternatively, for more targeted and free services, the EPIC parent program Term 1 is an online learning experience for psychological support, while the Empowering Parents in Crisis is a 5 week in person program that helps inform and support the mental health needs of teens and their families. It involves five consecutive Mondays commencing on Monday 12th February, 7.30pm-8.45pm and is offered free of charge.

We look forward to supporting the Killarney Heights School community this year,

Regards Ali Malone and Lucas Knight

SPECIAL REPORT: The Wellbeing Barometer 2024

The Wellbeing Barometer survey has proven to be an invaluable tool for schools, providing insights into the state of youth mental health and wellbeing. Whilst last year’s results focussed the spotlight on areas of concern, there were also many highlights that demonstrated the resilience and adaptability of students and emphasised the necessity of prevention strategies.

Participating in this year's survey, will assist in identifying areas of strength and concern, as well as pinpointing opportunities for early intervention. Previously gathered information has helped support families as they navigate difficult conversations that enable understanding and foster connections to build relationships.

This survey is part of an ongoing, longitudinal study, with the results being instrumental in tailoring support for students and their families. Participation is strongly encouraged, as it provides a comprehensive view of students' experiences, challenges, and achievements over the past year. Its aim is to capture a comprehensive picture of young people's lives, allowing for a tailored approach to enhance mental and emotional wellbeing.

We encourage you to take a few moments to complete a survey for each of your children. This will help us determine the nature and extent of your concerns and how best to support families in the months ahead. Responses remain anonymous and will only be reported on an aggregated basis. You are asked to base your responses on observations made in the last 12 months.

Acquiring the skills for future independence, taking healthy risks, and giving young people the opportunity to emancipate from parents, are key developmental tasks that are essential if we are to stave off the impact of mental illness in the future. Please reflect on the information offered in this Special Report, and as always, we welcome your feedback. If this raises any concerns for you or your child, please reach out to the school or seek professional medical advice.

Here is the link to your special report 

https://killarney-h.schools.nsw.schooltv.me/wellbeing_news/special-report-wellbeing-barometer-2024-au

SPECIAL REPORT: Toxic Achievement Culture

Toxic achievement culture is characterised by the entanglement of self-worth, achievement and the relentless pursuit of academic or extracurricular success - at any cost! This phenomenon goes beyond the mere quest for success. it embeds a belief in students that their merit is exclusively tied to their achievements, often propelled by intense external pressures from families, schools, and society.

Some students are overfilling their schedules with activities aimed at "getting ahead". However, the consequences are proving to be detrimental on students' mental and physical health resulting in burnout and heightened levels of stress. This culture is also being aggravated by parental expectations, peer competition and a relentless comparison ethos often driven by social media.

There is nothing wrong with having ambition, but it's crucial to ensure that this desire doesn't push our young people into a toxic cycle of achievement and make them feel that they must achieve in order to matter. The relentless drive to excel is leading many students to prioritise accolades over genuine learning and personal growth, often at the expense of their own wellbeing and interpersonal relationships. As adult carers, we need to advocate for a more balanced and holistic approach to achievement, emphasising the importance of resilience, wellbeing, and the pursuit of diverse interests.

This Special Report will help you understand the signs of toxic achievement, and how to address them so as to teach students how to adopt a better work/life balance.

Here is the link to your Special Report 

https://killarney-h.schools.nsw.schooltv.me/wellbeing_news/special-report-toxic-achievement-culture

KHHS Parent Seminar

Embracing Restorative Practices in Schools and Homes: A Pathway to Building Stronger Communities

Killarney Heights High School would like to invite parents to join us for a workshop on using restorative practices at home to support young people to resolve conflict and develop effective communications skills.

A shift away from more punitive approaches, restorative practice addresses behaviours of concern by supporting young people to understand the impacts of their actions, repair any harm they may have caused and forge positive relationships within their community. By prioritizing empathy, communication and collaboration, restorative practices pave the way for a harmonious and supportive school community in which everyone can thrive.

Please join us in understanding and applying these transformative strategies in an enriching information session tailored for parents of secondary students.

Please RSVP to killarney-h.school@det.nsw.edu.au

Student Achievements

In January Patrick (year 9) and Max (Year 8) Charlton were selected to represent NSW up at the National Futsal Championships up in Queensland.

Pat playing in the U14’s and Max in the U12’s.  The tournament, which ran between 5th - 9th January, was fierce with the home state QLD taking out the championship in both age groups.

New Canteen Menu for 2024

Community News

Let's Play! Hard Court - Killarney Heights Oval

Council is seeking feedback on a proposed basketball facility in our area. View the concept plans and share your feedback. Comments close Friday 1 March.

Link: https://yoursay.northernbeaches.nsw.gov.au/Hard-Court-Killarney-Heights-Oval