Newsletter Term 1 April 2024

Principals Report

Cyber Safety

Cyber safety is something that our children have to deal with that we never encountered in our childhood. When I was young, there were no phone cameras at our fingertips: the closest thing to an instant photo may have been the old Polaroid image. We knew not to speak to the strange person on the bus or give them our phone number.

You may be shocked to hear that 80% of all socialization between young people occurs via technology. The young adults in our care must navigate the ubiquitous technology and variety of programs and apps that are ever changing.  Yet we expect them to be savvy enough not to “friend” everyone who asks. We expect them to change their settings to private. We also expect them to be smart enough not to chat with just anyone and not put themselves in danger by revealing private information.

Parents can control some of this through the settings on your router at home, however it is difficult to monitor children at all times when they use their computer or their mobile phones. Along with this is the necessity that our children are educated so that they are aware of the issues of privacy and protecting their personal images and information.

A further issue is that students can engage in bullying behaviour through online programs such as Snapchat, Tik Tok or Messenger. Bullying in this manner is easy for students to engage in as the students can hide behind an anonymous profile. It is dangerous and destructive and definitely not a good practice.

At Killarney Heights High School we aim to educate students about how to keep themselves safe in the technological world.  This is done through a variety of ways, in ICT classes, through small group programs and external presenters.

Parents also need to be informed about how to keep their children safe, last year we ran a Cybersafety session with parents from year 6 as well as our parents. Parents also have access to SchoolTV, which is a great source of information for parents of school age students.  You can find a link to this on our website (under Technology Tab/Parents)

 https://killarney-h.schools.nsw.schooltv.me/.

There are also some great resources on the website of the e-safety commissioner.

https://www.esafety.gov.au/young-people

Parents need to be aware of the danger of giving their children unlimited access to data on their phone or computer.  It is the parent’s responsibility to setup safeguards to limit access to websites and material that their children are not mature enough to access. The link below gives some tips.

https://www.esafety.gov.au/parents/issues-and-advice/parental-controls

As well as this, make sure you are aware of the websites or apps that your child is accessing, for example TikTok has a minimum age of 13 to use this, however, we have seen evidence that many students younger than this have been accessing this platform.

Being aware of your child’s use of their mobile phone is not an invasion of their privacy.  It is your role as a parent to ensure that your child is safe. Obviously, this supervision is relaxed once your child is older and is mature enough to cope with social media.  Who is paying for the data on their phone? Once a student is old enough to have a job and pay for their phone means they are probably old enough for you to step back.

All mobile phones are banned in NSW Government schools.  As a student walks into the school they should lock their phone in their Yondr pouch and not access this during school hours. If the student fails to comply, the student takes the phone  to the office where it is stored in the front office for the student to collect at the end of the day. If a student reoffends, a parent will be called to pick up the phone.

I was recently alerted to the tendency for students to sleep with their phones next to their bed with half an ear out for a message or a call all through the night. This may lead to sleep deprivation and the consequent downturn in concentration.

Hayley Emmerton
Principal

Dates to Remember

Extended Leave

An Extended Leave Application Form needs to be submitted if you are taking your child out of school for more than 5 days.  Please submit this at least 2 weeks prior to travel for approval as it will need to be checked against times when assessments are due or exam periods.  Leave applications may not be approved.

The Extended Leave Form can be found on our website under About Our School/Rules and Policies/Attendance Policy

https://killarney-h.schools.nsw.gov.au/about-our-school/rules-and-policies.html

Talented Top 10

The "Talented Top 10" will be chosen every fortnight at school to encourage students to be the best version of themselves everyday, to uphold the school values of respect, connect and aspire. Every fortnight the top 10 students in the school with the most amount of Killas will be receiving a $10 canteen voucher. 

Year 9 News

Chris Morgan will be connecting with Year 9 students on 11/04/2024 10:00am, as part of Olympics Unleashed.

The students will learn from Chris Morgan's Olympic journey how to build resilience, the importance of setting goals and how to find what you are passionate about.

Students will hear firsthand from Chris Morgan about how they overcame challenges to compete in their chosen sport at the very highest level, and how some lessons they’ve learned in sport can help students to be the best they can be – whether that’s in school, at home, on the sporting field or with friends.

April Kang
Year 9 Advisor

Year 12 News

It was fantastic to see Yr 12 all enjoying their final Swimming and Cross Country Carnivals with an entertaining Dive Competition and the Annual Staff vs Yr 12 Relay. I look forward to similar participation in the Athletics Carnival. 

Year 12 students have been busy studying, completing their assessment tasks and engaging in a study skills workshop and are now over half way through their HSC courses.  All Year 12 students are reminded that stress is a normal part of studying for the HSC and that it is best managed through balance with leisure activities. While students should maintain good study habits through the holidays they should also prioritise some self care over the two weeks by carrying out exercise, listening to music, reading, socialising or time in a casual job.  They are reminded that the HSC is a marathon, not a sprint and that regular revision, drafting and study should fit into their daily schedules. Local libraries like Chatswood and Forestville libraries offer a space where students can study in groups or individually.  

I hope that all Year 12 students enjoy their holiday break and look forward to seeing them next term.

Jo Killick
Year 12 Advisor

CAPA

Year 7 - Food in Art -Collage

Year 7 have been working on their assessment of ‘Brilliant Burger.’ They are creating a collage of a burger that consists of any food product. This task challenges their ability of cutting and gluing in a sophisticated way, as well as being mindful of proportion, colour, shape, texture and observation to detail.

Year 8 - Animal Drawing

Year 8 have been looking at animals and their significance in the artworld. They are currently drawing an A3 tonal realistic image using the grid method of an animal, focusing on their observation skills, animal proportions, tonal variety and mark making.

Year 9 Still Life Painting

Our sensational Year 9 artists have spent this term learning painting techniques by painting a Still Life. They have been focusing on colour mixing, and using directional brushstrokes and tonal variety to transform 2D shapes into 3D forms. We have been studying Post impressionist artist Paul Cezanne and Contemporary artist Yasumasa Morimura for inspiration. We think their paintings look as good as Cezanne’s!

Year 10 The Human Body -Drawing

Year 10 have been learning about the human body in Visual Arts. They are currently creating an A3 tonal drawing of a person with extreme foreshortening. They are focusing on creating hyper realism through mark making, observation of detail and tonal variety.   

Year 11 Australian Landscapes - Painting

Year 11 have been looking at how Australian artists have interpreted the landscape throughout history. They are currently working on their own A3 painting of an Australian landscape reference image of their choice. They have been developing their painting skills by exploring colour mixing, paint application and developing their own painting style. They have a choice of oil paint, acrylic paint and gouache. They have also been encouraged to use impasto mediums to create texture.

Year 11 and Year 12 Visit the Art Gallery of NSW

A few weekends ago, our Year 11 and Year 12 artists along with Ms Slater, Ms Legend and Ms Bailey visited the Art Gallery of NSW to view the ARTEXPRESS Exhibition. ARTEXPRESS is a display of exemplary artworks from the previous year's HSC. Year 12 students got to see a variety of Band 6 artworks up close and were able to reflect on their own Body of Work, while Year 11 were able to see what’s in store for them next year. We had a great time and were fortunate enough to also visit the Louise Bourgeois Exhibition. It was fantastic to see the students reflect on their own art practice so independently and we loved hearing which artworks they loved (and disliked!).

Year 12 - Body of Work

Year 12 are currently working hard on their Body of Work. There are lots of exciting artworks in the making and we can’t wait for you to see them once they’re done!

Manly Art Gallery - Out Front 2024

Congratulations to our Year 12 Visual Arts student 2023 Tia Nicholson who had her Body of Work showcased at Manly Art Gallery ‘Out Front’. This exhibition showcases young emerging artists from the Northern Beaches community and the quality of teaching in Northern Beaches secondary schools. 

Out Front is on until April 14th at Manly Art Gallery.

HSIE

Zac Blades, who completed his HSC at Killarney Heights HS in 2023, is pictured receiving his award for his project for Society and Culture at the Mitchell Library.

The Society & Culture awards are awarded annually to students who have performed outstandingly in their overall HSC results or for their work in producing an exceptional Personal Interest Project (PIP).

The Awards Ceremony was held at the Mitchell Library, Sydney on March 8^th 2024

TAS

Technological and Applied Studies

As we stride towards the culmination of another enriching term, it's heartening to witness the dedication and enthusiasm of our students across all levels. Here's a glimpse into the bustling activities within our TAS department:

Years 7 and 8: Our young innovators are gearing up for the final stages of their 13-week rotation in their current context areas. With practical and digital portfolios slated for submission in Term 2, Week 3A, they're channeling their creativity and skills into crafting impressive projects. Come Monday of Week 4B, a wave of excitement awaits as all classes transition to new context areas, ready to embark on fresh challenges under the guidance of different a TAS teacher.

Years 9 and 10: Our students in Years 9 and 10 are thoroughly immersed in their elective subjects, embracing the diverse realms of Food Technology, Industrial Technology - Timber, Engineering, Multimedia, Computing Technology, Graphics Technology, and Textiles Technology. Their dedication towards the submission of Assessment Task #1 is truly commendable, reflecting their commitment to excellence.

Stage 6: Our senior students are in the throes of creativity as they delve deep into their Minor and Major design projects. Year 12 students in Design and Technology, Industrial Technology Timber, Multimedia, and Textiles and Design are currently engrossed in the meticulous crafting of their written portfolios and the production of their design masterpieces, be it a Product, System, Environment, or Textiles item.

To all our TAS students: your passion and perseverance are the driving forces behind the exceptional work you produce. Continue to push boundaries, explore new horizons, and strive for excellence. Remember, it's the journey of creation that shapes not only your designs but also your growth as individuals.

As we navigate through these dynamic times, let's continue to support and inspire one another within our TAS community. Together, we'll create wonders beyond imagination.

Keep igniting those sparks of creativity, TAS students! Your endeavors will undoubtedly lead to remarkable design achievements.

Ms A. Kleindienst

Library

The NSW Premier's Reading Challenge is now open and Killarney Heights High School is excited to be participating!

What is the NSW Premier’s Reading Challenge?

The PRC is a statewide Challenge that encourages students to develop a love of reading for leisure and pleasure in students and enables them to experience quality literature. It is not a competition, but a challenge to encourage each student to read, to read more, and to read more widely.

All students who complete the challenge and have their reading record validated by the school’s PRC coordinator will receive a certificate signed by the Premier of NSW.

How many books do students need to read?

Students in Year 3 to Year 10 are challenged to read 20 books independently. At least 10 of these books must be from the relevant Challenge booklists, and up to 10 books can be personal choice books.

If a book is from an approved PRC series, students can enter up to 5 books as Challenge books, and can read up to 10 other books from the same series as Personal Choice books. More information on the rules of the Challenge can be found on the PRC website.

Books must be added to a student’s online reading record by Friday 23 August 2024 in order for their reading record to be validated and receive a certificate.

How do students log their reading?

Students can access the PRC’s Student Experience site using their DoE username and password, or can log into the site via the Student Portal. A video guide explaining how to use the Student Experience site can be found here.

How can students find books on the NSW PRC challenge lists?

Students can locate PRC listed books using our school catalogue Oliver available via their DET student portal and using the search by list function.

A quick guide for logging books:

1. Log into the Student experience site using your DoE student username and password.
2. Use the blue search bar to search for books you have read.

2a. If the title appears, click “Add to Reading Log” to add it as a PRC book.

2b. If the title does not appear, you will need to enter it as a personal choice book.

To enter a personal choice book:

1. Click on the icon in the top right hand corner:
2. Click on “My reading log”

3. Fill in the book details under the “Add a Personal Choice book” field and click “add”

If you have any issues with logging books, please speak to Ms Thompson at the library.

Or ask our librarians for help.

Ms. Kate Thompson
PRC Coordinator at Killarney Heights High School

Wellbeing

We are excited to have OurFutures Institute work with our school to deliver evidence-based, curriculum-aligned substance use and mental health programs for our students in PDHPE.

The learning is delivered through interactive cartoon education modules that young people identify with, using a social influence and harm minimisation approach. By focusing on prevention, OurFutures looks to step in before harmful patterns of substance use start.

The award-winning programs have been developed over two decades of rigorous research, and were co-designed with more than 200 young people and 390 teachers. They have proven efficacy from 8 clinical trials with 240 schools and 21,000 students. The modules consist of alcohol, substance use, and mental health education, with more on the way soon.

The prevention education covers curriculum relevant content including: alcohol prevention education and harms; Cannabis and Drug prevention education and harms; and Mental Health wellbeing.

In recognition of the rising vaping crisis, OurFutures has taken action by developing Australia's most rigorous evaluation of a vaping prevention program that KHHS is planning on rolling out in Term 3.

We’re so happy to be able to set up our students for a bright and healthy future with OurFuture’s innovative prevention education!

Find out more here: https://ourfuturesinstitute.org.au/

From "no" to "go": Motivation and goal-setting made easy

Free webinar | Parents, teachers & teens 

30th April & 1st May

Join KYDS on the 30th April (1pm) or 1st May (6:30pm, repeated) for a free webinar on how to help young people build and maintain motivation to achieve worthwhile goals. 

Register for free: https://form-aus.keela.co/Motivation-and-goal-setting-made-easy

Wellbeing Workshop

Georgie Furze will be giving a presentation to parents at Forestville RSL on Monday 13th May.  An invitation requiring RSVP will be sent closer to the day.

Harmony Day

Last week, KHHS hosted its annual Harmony Day assembly, bringing together students and staff to celebrate our diverse community.

The event featured a dynamic presentation by guest speaker and renowned young adult author, Will Kostakis who captivated students with engaging storytelling and humorous anecdotes from his own multicultural upbringing.

Reflecting on the journey that led him to become a celebrated author, his message resonated deeply, emphasizing the importance of embracing individuality, celebrating diversity, and finding strength in our differences.

The audience was also treated to a moving performance by student vocalist Neesha Bhagwat as well as speeches by student Kathriarachchi and KHHS Anti-Racism Coordinator Jo Talwa.

Students also viewed a short film of the KHHS ‘My Cultural Kitchen Rules’ cooking competition, adding a delicious twist to the day. Showcasing a variety of mouthwatering dishes representing the cultural heritage of our students, the competition illuminated the richness and vibrancy of our Killarney community.

As the assembly concluded, the spirit of Harmony Day lingered, reminding us of the strength in our diversity. Let's continue to celebrate our differences and foster a community of understanding and acceptance at KHHS

Aboriginal Education News

Acknowledgement of Country Workshop with Killarney Heights Primary School

In Week 7 representatives from the Prefect Team went to the Primary School and ran an Acknowledgement of Country Workshop with the Year 6 leadership team where the Prefects shared their understanding on the significance of an Acknowledgement of Country.

During this workshop the leaders of KHHS worked in small groups with the KHPS leadership team to help them develop the skills and knowledge to write their own Acknowledgement of Country. It was lovely to see the Yr 12 Prefect Team share their understanding throughout the workshop and at the end of everyone shared the Acknowledgements they had written.

Band News

Band Camp

In Week 6, students in our Instrumental Music Ensembles Program attended a 3-day Band Camp at Camp Kedron in Ingleside. Students were rehearsing, workshopping, or receiving tuition for a total of about 12 hours. That’s about 6 weeks’ worth of rehearsals in the space of two and a half days! We had instrumental tutors come in to give students specialised instruction, workshops with jazz trumpeter, Tim Crow, and Instrumental Director of The Arts Unit, Steve Williams.

But it wasn’t all work. All students got to participate in one of the venue led activities that were on offer, including archery and rock climbing. Students performed for each other at a talent quest on Wednesday night, and were treated to a performance by an ex-student, Louis Wishart and his funk band on Thursday night.

We are all very proud of how hard the students worked at Band Camp, not to mention how amazing all the ensembles sounded at the camp concert on Friday afternoon. You can hear the results from the camp at our first major performance at the school on Thursday, April 11th at 6pm.

Bunnings BBQ Fundraiser

Bunnings BBQ Success

Last Saturday was the Band's bi-annual Bunnings BBQ/Cake stall fundraiser.

From 8am until 4pm the fabulous band students and band parents volunteered - providing baked goods, cooking the BBQ, serving customers, and ensuring the day went smoothly.  A highlight of the day for the Bunnings customers was the energetic performance from three of our superstars in the making from the Guitar Ensemble. What a fabulous atmosphere the variety of songs bought to the day. There were numerous positive comments from customers regarding the talented performers, and the friendly and efficient students who also looked very professional in their band uniforms.  The day was a success and takings exceeded $4K.  Thanks to everyone who contributed on the day.

Stewart House Fundraiser

Help Support the Valuable Work of Stewart House

Every year, 1,600 public school children attend Stewart House next to Curl Curl beach at no cost to their parents or carers. During a 12-day stay, they are provided with dental, optical, hearing and medical screening and treatment. Donation envelopes can be found at our front office or use the QR code which can be found on the flyer.

Community News

Northern Beaches and Mosman College

Link for term 2 Course guide

https://bit.ly/3TTOE2B