February 16, 2024 | News
16th February 2024
From The Principal
I hope this first newsletter for 2024 finds you all in good health and feeling excited about the promise of another productive and successful year at Kyneton High School. In welcoming you to the new academic year, I am delighted to share some updates and achievements that have made it such a positive start.
First and foremost, I am pleased to report that we had a very settled beginning to the school year, thanks to the enthusiasm and support of our students, families and staff. Our Family Interviews for Years 7 to 10 enabled an outstanding opportunity for students, Home Group teachers and parents/carers to talk about the year ahead. These conversations in the first week contribute to a positive learning environment that is truly commendable and sets a fantastic tone for the rest of the year.
A noticeable change on returning to school this year is the dramatic transformation of our school environment. Over the past year our school underwent significant capital works, including the demolition of four buildings. The new landscaping has not only revitalized the interior of our school grounds but also opened up the campus, providing a more inviting space for our thriving school.
The culmination of these building works came with the official opening of our new building, Ngurrak, on Monday, 12th February 2024. It was a pleasure to have The Hon. Mary-Anne Thomas, Member for Macedon and Minister for Health, grace us with her presence for this significant occasion. Her unwavering support for Kyneton High School has always been evident. In fact, it was she who came to the school in November 2020 to present us with the $10.991 million “cheque” which delivered the news of the government funding that was instrumental in realizing this capital works project.
Our Welcome Assembly for Year 7 students was a heartwarming event and a proud tradition of our school. It was a happy occasion filled with excitement and enthusiasm as our newest members of the school community were officially welcomed. I am incredibly proud of the Year 7 students who represented their Home Groups at the assembly and shared their Learning Affirmations. Congratulations to Bella Harley, Tahli McGregor, Kaden Peters, Clementine Nelms, and Charlie Behan for their outstanding contributions.
It was also a special opportunity for our school captains and vice-captains to address the whole school assembly for the first time. I am pleased to announce that our school captains for 2024 are Olivia Hedge and Ava Coleman, with Devin Spear and Kisha Monleon serving as Vice Captains. Their messages of encouragement and commitment to learning were truly inspiring. We wish them well in their year of leadership and service to the school.
Finally, I encourage everyone to strive for success, embrace challenges, and celebrate achievements, both big and small.
Wishing you all a fantastic start to the school year!
Ana Rees
Principal
We have had a wonderful start to the school year and your high school journey. Although I was a little shocked at the sound of “Class of 2029” all the junior staff have had a great time getting to know KHS’s newest students.
High school is important, fun, scary, exciting, wonderful, challenging and so so many other things. What ever it is to you, it becomes a memorable period of our lives. I’m excited about all of the memories you are about to make over the next 6 years, and the people you will be when you leave Kyneton High. I wish you all the best with this year and the rest of your time at high school and want to share with you a blessing that was given to my Year 7 class when I was where you are.
May the road rise up to meet you. May the wind be always at your back. May the warm rays of sun fall upon your home, And may the land of a friend always be near.
James Turnbull
Year 7 Leader
Ngurrak
The official opening of our new Ngurrak Middle Years building took place on Monday 12th of February. Official photos taken of the opening did not reach us in time for this week’s Newsletter! Watch this space next time.
Year 7 STEAM
In STEAM class, students have been participating in some team challenges.
7E had 10 minutes to build a freestanding tower out of pasta and playdough.
This helped them to develop their skills in teamwork, engineering and creativity.
Ms Sharpe
Bubbleology
Year 7 students
had their first science experiments at Kyneton High School, using thinking skills to try to produce the biggest bubble possible, while showing how to be safe in a lab.
The record so far is
23 x 37 cm!
Ms Quynh
Year 11 Science
Year 11 students also ignited their chemistry studies conducting flame tests of different metals, and using the results to identify an unknown metal. This demonstrates the existence of energy levels within atoms. Hope this fuels their blazing curiosity for the learning ahead!
Sport
Meet The New House Logos
Feedback from students found that students didn’t know what house they belonged to and we wanted to change that. This is the first step in improving our school culture/pride and house pride for our school carnivals and house sports/events.
Ben Hill and I have been working on these for some time now (special thanks to Gareth, Tim and Lucky for their assistance). We surveyed students for ideas and tried to pick animals that were found in our local area. You may have cheekily seen these advertised around the school already, we wanted to get students and staff talking and so far it has!
Mr Eddy
Senior Volleyball
Year 11 students also ignited their chemistry studies conducting flame tests of different metals, and using the results to identify an unknown metal. This demonstrates the existence of energy levels within atoms. Hope this fuels their blazing curiosity for the learning ahead!
Our Senior Men’s and Women’s volleyball teams ventured out to Epping for this event. These teams have been training hard since last year in preparation for competition day. Both teams had success on the day and just missed the final by a couple of points. Other staff on the day had nothing but high praise for the quality our students produced. Overall it was a successful day and the students should be really proud of their efforts.
Coach Swanny
Senior students competed at the interschool cricket comp on Monday the 12th of February. We have been training hard for weeks in the lead up to this event. Due to heat restrictions, we only played the one game. Unfortunately we lost but had a great day out. Special mention to our Captain Iain Kosmac for this leadership on the day and to Bryn Sawyer who was our leading run scorer with 44 runs.
Mr Eddy
Senior Cricket
EmpowHER Athlete
Development Program
The EmpowHER Athlete Development Program kicked off this week with the girls completing their strength and conditioning testing this morning! The girls train Tuesday and Thursday mornings from 7.15-8.30 am to enhance their strength and development in their chosen sport and give them the skills to be a well rounded athlete. The program runs for 8 weeks each term and follows a strength and conditioning program that is suited to their phases of training!
Ms Simpson
Instrumental Music
It is with great excitement that the Instrumental Music Department can say it has finally moved in to its newly renovated spaces, as of the start of the year. After moving all our instruments and equipment at least three times last year, it was wonderful to find permanent homes for everything. We have two new spaces – one will be used as a teaching space for individual and group lessons, while the other will be the dedicated ensemble/band room. Each room features masses of storage, acoustic treatments and lots of power points! We are expecting that these rooms will be well utilised by students, both in their lessons and at recess and lunch.
We also welcome a new (but not so new) staff member to our team. Andrew Zollia is our new ensemble coordinator. He will be coordinating ensemble and band practices, doing all he can to encourage students to take up an instrument, and organising incursions and excursions for musical and non musical students alike.
Mary Ann Thomas had a tour of our new rooms on Monday. There was a small group of instrumental students led by Andrew, to welcome her in, to the tune of “I Heard It Through The Grapevine” . It was a great effort for these students to put something together in a very short timeframe. We look forward to hearing much more music around the school as our program steadily builds.
And speaking of building the program, I will, with the help of our brass and woodwind teacher Sue, be running a choir or singing group on Tuesday lunchtimes in Room 6A. (This is the Instrumental Teaching room). We will welcome all comers, regardless of age or ability. There will be no audition process. If your child loves singing in the shower, in the car or while walking the dog, encourage them to come and check us out next Tuesday. We will promote an open and friendly environment in the group, while learning some cool songs and building confidence and self belief. We would love to see lots of students there.
Keep an eye on the newsletter for more news of the music kind. If you ever have any questions about our program don’t hesitate to get in touch with me through the office.
Juli Robinson
Instrumental Music Coordinator
Library News
Welcome to the Library for 2024!
We have seen many new faces coming to the Library in these first weeks of term, and it seems that our students have settled back in to the routine of their Library visits. For our new families, the Library is open from 8.30 am, and is available at recess and lunchtime for students to come and spend time reading or relaxing with friends. We have puzzles, games, colouring-in, papercraft activities, Thursday lunchtime TV sessions, a Book Review group, and other fun activities to keep students occupied.
Our Book Review Group meets 2-3 times a term to look through, and borrow, our brand new books before they are put out on the shelves. In return we ask that the students then complete a short book review on a slip to be placed inside the book, as a way to promote the books to other students. If your child loves reading, and would like to be a part of this group, please encourage them to come along on Thursday lunchtimes. The meeting days will be advertised on Xuno and by posters in the Library.
Book Tastings
The first Book Tasting for the term occurred last week and was enjoyed by 7D. They tried books from several different genres and had the opportunity to borrow at the end of the session. Some feedback:
I really enjoyed that I got to ‘taste’ some books I wouldn’t usually read.
I enjoyed how it wasn’t just one book and we saw a bit of a lot of books.
I read a book about history, but I didn’t think I’d like it, but I did.
Francesca
Tucking into some tasty reading
Meet Xander! Xander is a part of the Head Start apprenticeship and Traineeship Program and has commenced a school-based apprenticeship in 2024. Xander is a valued part of the team at Lachlan Fleming Construction.
Xander has been able to get started early on his apprenticeship whilst completing his VCE VM program. This gives him an opportunity to get an idea of what the world is like before transitioning to fulltime employment.
Head Start is a revised model for school-based apprenticeships and traineeships (SBAT) undertaken by students which allows students to spend more time in paid work and on the job training to develop the skills that industry and employers need whilst also attending school to work toward a Year 12 qualification.
Students are supported by a Head Start Coordinator, their role is to support students to ensure they are progressing well with their schoolwork, training and employment. The students have reported that they enjoy being able to break up their school week with work whilst working toward completing Year 12 and it has assisted them to build their confidence and learn important transferrable employability skills.
Students explore industries by completing Work Based Learning and are matched with a suitable employer. During the SBAT students enrol with a training organisation to complete a Certificate II or III level qualification.
If you would like to know more about the Head Start Program, please contact the Head Start Coordinator in your school or alternatively you can email the Loddon Mallee Hub on headstart.lm@education.vic.gov.au
From The Archives
The Garden and Grounds
With the exception of an allotment on the eastern side of the school, the whole of the grounds have now been laid out in lawns and gardens. The staff and pupils take a keen interest in the upkeep of the grounds and grateful appreciation of the attention given to the house gardens by all concerned is now publicly expressed.
Every effort has been made to have the above allotment prepared for a girls’ playground. The matter has been brought under the notice of the school council and an endeavour made to enlist the interest and support of prominent citizens. Another twelve months have elapsed and this area is still a wilderness of weeds and a reproach to the school. It is very necessary that the girls should have a playing area. The matter is now definitely brought under the notice of parents and others and their interest and co-operation earnestly requested.
Kyneton Guardian 17th December 1932
Thanks to Mal Closter
The KHS Gardens as they appeared in the 1932 Kyneton High School Magazine
School Notices
KHS Student Leadership Team 2024
The School is in good hands!
2024 Captains Olivia Hedge (L) and Ava Coleman (R)
and Vice Captains Devin Spear and Kisha Monleon
Nominations are now open for you to join the
KHS Student Leadership Team for 2024!
If you would like to nominate yourself, or, someone else for the SLT 2024, the following roles are now open;
– Year Level Captain (open to any Year 7-11 student)
– (School Values) Respect Captain (open to any student from Year 7-12)
– (School Values) Diversity Captain (open to any student from Year 7-12)
– (School Values) Excellence Captain (open to any student from Year 7-12)
– (School Values) Sustainability Captain (open to any student from Year 7-12)
Please use the link below to view the role description & complete a google form nomination.
https://forms.gle/cFP3k7GiGgT55FvGA
Nominations close by 3.30pm next Friday 23/02.
Any questions please contact Mr Hill.
Flexischools Canteen App
View/download detailed information below:
2024 KHS Co-Curricular Activities Schedule – Week 4
MONDAY | TUESDAY | WEDNESDAY | THURSDAY | FRIDAY | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
BEFORE SCHOOL | EmpowHER ADP Miss Simpson Gym Shed | EmpowHER ADP Miss Simpson Gym Shed | |||
BEFORE SCHOOL | Brekky Club SLT Lounge | Brekky Club SLT Lounge | Brekky Club SLT Lounge | ||
RECESS | Boxing Club & Gym Mr Hill Gym Shed | Boxing Club & Gym Mr Hill Gym Shed | Boxing Club & Gym Mr Hill Gym Shed | Boxing Club & Gym CLOSED | Boxing Club & Gym Mr Hill Gym Shed |
RECESS | Student Leadership Lounge – Borrow Sports equipment – Heat up food – Redeem MyMahi rewards | Student Leadership Lounge – Borrow Sports equipment – Heat up food – Redeem MyMahi rewards | Student Leadership Lounge – Borrow Sports equipment – Heat up food – Redeem MyMahi rewards | Student Leadership Lounge CLOSED | Student Leadership Lounge – Borrow Sports equipment – Heat up food – Redeem MyMahi rewards |
LUNCH | Pride Crew / Diversity Club (Alternate weeks) Miss Simpson Ngurrak Building | Book Review Group (2-3 times per term) Library Francesca | |||
LUNCH | !!!Surprise your eyes!!! Video with Stephen Library | ||||
LUNCH | Dungeons & Dragons Bards’ group (mixed year levels) Mat Hub | Dungeons & Dragons Senior group Ms Daws Hub Year 7s Mat Hub | Dungeons & Dragons Senior group Ms Daws Hub | Dungeons & Dragons Senior group Mat Hub | Dungeons & Dragons Senior group Ms Daws Hub Year 8s Mat Hub |
LUNCH | Student Leadership Lounge – Borrow Sports equipment – Heat up food – Redeem MyMahi rewards | Student Leadership Lounge – Borrow Sports equipment – Heat up food – Redeem MyMahi rewards | Student Leadership Lounge – Borrow Sports equipment – Heat up food – Redeem MyMahi rewards | Student Leadership Lounge CLOSED | Student Leadership Lounge – Borrow Sports equipment – Heat up food – Redeem MyMahi rewards |
Positive Behaviour At KHS
Positive behaviours help to create a school climate where all people feel welcomed, connected, safe and ready to learn. Behaviour expectations make up our school rules and are on the KHS Schoolwide Positive Behaviour Matrix.
‘Non-negotiables’ are expected behaviours that are fair and reasonable for all. They make up our school rules. Some examples of ‘non-negotiables’ at KHS include:
– hats off in class
– wear school uniform
– bags and phones in lockers
Each day, students are informed of an expected behaviour during their Period 2 class. During this session, students are shown how they can achieve this behaviour and staff explain their responsibility in helping and supporting students. It is made clear that warnings are given alongside further consequences that reflect our school policy.
This week we have discussed behaviours such as:
– expected uniform
– phones must be in lockers
– being organised for learning
– appropriate use of toilets
– using the canteen
In each newsletter you will be able to read the school expected behaviours that have been covered for that fortnight. Please reach out to your child’s Home Group Teacher, Year Level Leader or Celene Black if you have any questions or would like to chat further.
Rotary Youth Program of Enrichment Weekend Camp
Friday 22nd March to Sunday 24th March at Camp Getaway, Axedale.
Students aged 15 to 17 have the opportunity to attend a camp that builds personal and social capabilities to do with leadership and teamwork. It involves physical exercise both indoors and outdoors. The program is free which includes all costs and transport to and from the camp. Our Rotary contact person is John Condliffe. If you would like further information please contact your Year Level Leader or Celene Black.
Privacy Collection Notice
Mobile Phone Policy
Parental Control On Devices
Coming Events
Wednesday 21st February | Year 7 family evening 4.30 Darren Pereira parent workshop 5.15 Xuno workshop 5.30 BBQ |
Thursday 22nd February | Student photos Year 11 VCE information night 6.30pm |
Monday 26th February | Year 10 Holocaust Museum excursion |
Wednesday 28th February | Year 12 VCE Information night 6.30pm |
Friday 1st March | Swimming carnival |
Wednesday 6th March to Friday 8th March | Year 7 camp |
Thursday 7th March | Prospective parents tour 10am |
Friday 8th March | International Women’s Day |
Monday 11th March | Labour Day public holiday |
Wednesday 13th March | Year 7 & 9 NAPLAN |
Thursday 14th March to Monday 25th March | Year 7 & 9 NAPLAN |
Friday 22nd March | Year 9 Applied & VM Grand Prix excursion |
Tuesday 26th March | Uniform fittings 12-7pm |
Wednesday 27th March | Uniform fittings 12-7pm |
Thursday 28th March | End of term 2.30pm finish |
Monday 15th April | Begin term 2 |
Community Notices
Recognising and rewarding volunteer leadership
The Zonta Club of Kyneton is pleased to announce that applications are now open for the 2024 Zonta Young Women in Public Affairs awards program. This prestigious award encourages the young women of today to become the leaders of tomorrow.
The successful applicant will receive an award of $400 from the Zonta Club of Kyneton and will then be nominated for a District 23 Award, valued at US$5,000.
Applicants should be aged between 16 and 19 years on 1 April 2024, and studying at a secondary school, college or university. Applicants are asked to reflect on their own voluntary commitment to their school and to their community, and on the issues that limit the empowerment of women in Australia and around the world.
Applications are due by March 8th 2024. Please contact secretary@zontakyneton.org.au for an application form or telephone 0417 541 371 for further information.
Zonta International is a leading global organisation of individuals working together to build a better world for women and girls. The YWPA award is one of the many programs for women and girls sponsored by Zonta International.
KYNETON HIGH SCHOOL