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December 5, 2023 | News
KHS Newsletter : 5th December
5th December 2023
We ended the 2023 academic year with Begin 2024 – a period of two weeks during which we started our 2024 timetable, marking significant transition points for students going into their middle and senior years. The feedback from staff is that it has been highly successful, with students being very focused and positively engaged in their new classes. It was particularly pleasing to see that students were making a serious effort to be well prepared and ready for learning next year. At the end of the second week the whole school participated in a fundraising event organised by the School for Student Leadership Team of 2023 – Abbie Clifford, Sarah Dillon, Peter Norris, Freya Allen, Connor Irving and Regan O’Toole. Their chosen recipient for the fundraising was the CFA, who were on hand on the day to provide a supportive presence. We were fortunate that the weather turned on such a warm and sunny afternoon for a very enjoyable event which showcased a strong sense of school pride.
As we approach the end of another incredible year and we reflect on the accomplishments of our students, I am inspired by the hard work of our staff who have encouraged our students to be resilient and to develop their passion for learning. From academic and sporting achievements to artistic activities and co-curricular participation, each success contributes to our school community. Together, we have created an environment that fosters not only academic excellence but also personal and social development.
As usual, our school magazine, Columns, has captured the highlights of this year superbly. In addition to that, 2023 is the centenary edition of Columns, and so it also reflects on Kyneton High Schools’s significant contribution to education in our community over the past 100 years. I hope you can enjoy the opportunity to obtain a copy of this important edition and extend my thanks and appreciation to our Columns editors, Stephen McDonald and Maree Jamieson.
I want to take a moment, as we bid farewell to 2023, to wish every member of our school community a joyful and restful holiday season. My heartfelt appreciation goes out to our parents and carers for your partnership and involvement in your child’s education. To our students, we hope your holiday is filled with much laughter and fun with family and friends. To our staff, enjoy your well-deserved time of relaxation and rejuvenation during the holiday break.
On behalf of the entire Kyneton High School family,
I extend warm wishes for a safe, happy, and festive Christmas and a New Year.
Ana Rees – Principal
Year 12 Valedictory Dinner
Kyneton High School held our annual Valedictory Dinner on Friday 17th November.
The Year 12 students, their families and staff had an absolutely wonderful evening celebrating the end of school life for these beautiful students. The Valedictory Dinner is the celebration of 13 years of education for our Year 12 students as one phase of their lives finishes and another begins!! There was lots of dancing and many many happy smiles.
We absolutely commend this beautiful cohort of Year 12 students. It’s been such a pleasure supporting you throughout this year!!
Also just a reminder that photos from the evening are now available on the photographer’s website. Access to these photos was provided to families on the night, and we will also send the link to families again on Xuno. They make wonderful Christmas presents for grandparents!!!
Annette Brown
on behalf of the Senior Years Team
Physical Sciences
Year 10 Physical Sciences had a great Begin 2024! In the first week, students collaboratively built a Rube Goldberg Machine.
We split the class into small teams of two or three members and they had to design a small section of a much larger machine as well as co-ordinate the transitions from their section to the others on either side.
If you have you ever wondered why these things are called Rube Goldberg machines, click over to Wikipedia where enlightenment quite possibly awaits.
It was a fantastic demonstration of creativity and teamwork as well as an opportunity to show a very solid understanding of motion, forces and momentum!
The beast in action!
Brace yourself… this goes fast!
In our 2nd week, we investigated how truthful viral science videos were. Students made temporary tattoos using whiteboard markers, plates and water before creating “frozen” streams of water with balloons, tape and water.
Video: the amazing frozen water stream!
Later in the week, students built “gravity defying” tensegrity structures
and their own cup-blowing-over smoke cannons!
Mr Pererea
The wonderful world of tensegrity!
What it is… and how to make one!
So you don’t get bored over the holidays (;
Defying gravity!
Video: Smoke guns
Wrangling Reactions
The new class of Year 11 chemistry students had their debut practicals during Begin.
The photos are students exploring precipitation reactions, where solid products are formed from reacting two clear solutions.
Ms Quynh
(Science/ Chemistry)
Selamat Berbahagia
Bu Kiky!
The Kyneton High School would like to congratulate the wonderful Bu Kiky for receiving a Special Commendation for her teaching from the Australia-Indonesia Institute, Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. We all know what a dedicated and passionate teacher she is and it is a well-deserved acknowledgment from this Department.
Here is an excerpt from the letter by Greg Fealy, the chair of the Department:
I am writing to inform you that the selection panel for the 2023 Australia-Indonesia Institute’s Indonesian Studies Awards has decided to present you with a special commendation for your achievements as an Indonesian studies teacher. This year’s teaching awards were very competitive and many of the other nominees had many years of service behind them. But the panel members were very impressed with what you have achieved in a relatively short space of time in rural Victorian schools and we wanted to give recognition of your professionalism and dedication. We very much hope that you will apply or allow yourself to be nominated for the Language Teaching Award in future years.
Elena Williams, Arminia Rosenberg & Lydia Santoso
Bu Kiky attended the awards in Sydney on Saturday night and said it was a wonderful celebration of Australian-Indonesian Teachers. She met many like minded teachers and it was a great opportunity to network and learn more about other schools LOTE programs. She also looked fabulous!!!
Well done Bu! Kyneton High School, staff and students are very very fortunate to have you with us!
Cassie Gunter
The last time we met them, they were here…
First HPV Race
A Huge Success
Look at them now!
On Thursday 23rd November the KHS HPV Racing Team and Miss DeMoel took off to Maryborough, for the annual Energy Breakthrough. It had been explained to the students just what the event was about, however nothing could have prepare them for what they were about to experience.
Thursday night involved the students setting up camp with the help of Ms Dixen and with the weather being four seasons in one, students were starting to understand how the weekend might look.
Friday morning students were up early and eager to experience the first 2 stages of the event. A wet and wild morning made it challenging for anyone to stay dry, but nothing stopped the team from making the most of the amazing opportunity. Scrutineering was first with Miss DeMoel on edge about passing. Thankfully our amazing young adjudicator Hayley happily passed the ‘DeMoelisher’ with flying colours and enjoying it as much as the students did, acknowledged that ‘they really are country kids aren’t they!’
The next step was the Display and Presentation, where the students spoke about the development of the trike, team selection, curricular links, sponsorship, sustainability, and rider & trike safety. With the wind and the rain now getting heavier, the adjudicators were considerate of the conditions and commended the team on their effort and enthusiasm and wished them well for the race.
Friday night Miss Thomas and Mr Hill arrived in time for the practice night ride, the team thanked Ms Dixen for her support and then got ready to put the trike to the test. All the students were able to get a good feeling about the track and be comfortable in the trike. A fun night in the marquee playing Taboo to quiet down before bed.
The next morning students woke early and could feel the sense of something big about to happen. All staff and students got organised and ready for the race. Maverick opened the race for KHS and put the team in a good position. Students were then on rotation riding between 30 and 45 minute stints before changing over. The night ride paired the riders in blocked stints to help conserve energy the best they could. The partnerships were Maverick Kelly and Bryn Sawyer, Abbie Clifford and Sarah Dillon, Kai Murphy and Hamish Whyte, and Eden Levi and Gussie Simpson-Purdon. Oliver May, Ewan Buchholtz and Iain Kosmac were the pit crew to help with the change-overs and preparing the next riders for their stint. By 9am all the team were fatigued and could see the finish. All riders gave it their all in their last stint with Kai Murphy finishing the race.
A quiet drive home afterwards and some very tired and sore bodies, the students were grinning from ear to ear to share with their families their HPV experience from the weekend. The team were also sharing their ideas and plans for the 2024 HPV Racing season.
After the completion of the Design and Construction, Display and Presentation, and the Trial (Race), the team achieved a score of 76/100. A fantastic result for a first time entry.
A huge thank you to all the staff, students, parents and sponsors who helped Miss DeMoel and the team compete in the Energy Breakthrough.
Miss DeMoel
Video: Scenes from the event
Event Sponsors
Since 1991, the Energy Breakthrough has provided opportunities for students, teachers, parents and local industry to work together to design and construct a vehicle, a machine or innovation in technology that will represent an ‘energy breakthrough’.
The program is unique in that all teams must compete across three areas of assessment:
1. Design and construction
2. Display and presentation
3. Trials
Teams of students can participate in Robotics, Junkyard Challenge, Pushcarts, Human Powered Vehicles (HPVs) this was Kyneton High’s entry! and Energy Efficient Vehicles (EEVs).
The Energy Breakthrough is a joint initiative of the Country Education Partnership (CEP) and the Central Goldfields Shire Council (CGSC).
Learn more about the Energy Breakthrough
Ben Hill
KHS Students Take The Lead
Year 11 Kyneton High School students Ava Coleman, Jen Girvan and Leathan Coates (alongside another three of their peers; Gabe Weller, Caitlyn Merrall and Oliver Watt not pictured) attended the School for Student Leadership in 2021 and completed their Community Learning Project in 2022. They planned, organised and facilitated a highly successful community Family Fun Day at the Kyneton Rangers Soccer Club to raise awareness and funds for Men’s Mental Health.
The students have been waiting to identify a local charity that supports men’s mental health and have chosen to donate the $4000 they raised to HALT. They presented their donation to HALT at a men’s health workshop at Kyneton Chiropractic Life on Wednesday 25/10.
The Kyneton High School community are extremely proud of our students and their efforts. In particular, the perseverance and passion they have demonstrated to commit themselves to a goal and see it through until what they saw as successful completion. Jeremy from HALT was adamant to the students that their work and effort will save lives. Strong words yes, but the fact is, the money will ensure HALT continues their outstanding work in enabling others with the tools to enable positive mental health.
HALT events provide tradies and apprentices with the tools to start having conversations about mental health, and we encourage tradies to support their mates when they’re going through tough times.
HALT also runs a HALT-Friendly Clinics Program in order to complement their outreach work with tradies. The first of its kind the program directly links HALT event attendees with GP and psychologist clinics in their local area that have a specific interest, knowledge and skills in men’s mental health and suicide prevention.
The students’ efforts will enable HALT to work in Kyneton. If you’d like HALT to attend your workplace, club or social group, or would like to host an online or in-person HALT ‘Save your Bacon’ event, a HALT Toolbox Talk, or would just like more information on HALT and what we can offer, you can email jeremy@halt.org.au or call us on 0409 756 274
Ava Coleman, Jen Girvan and Leathan Coates
Colour Run
The Colour Run was held on Friday December 1st. Student runners were all having fun and being active on what turned out to be a fabulous, sunny day.
The School For Student Leadership students (Abbie Clifford, Sarah Dillon, Peter Norris, Freya Allen, Connor Irving and Regan O’Toole) were incredible in organising the whole event and running the two groups through the course.
Mr Romer
The students were raising money for the local CFA to help with the upcoming fire season. With the kind support from Kyneton Woolworths and a gold coin donation to run, over $1000 was raised.
Mr Eddy is on the prowl for donations of golf equipment.
For more info, see the article below by Zoe Moffatt over at the Star Weekly.
Golf a hit with Kyneton youth
Year 9 Outdoor Ed
Year 9 OED’s last activity for 2023: Hike / Giant Swing / Canoe (however no photos of canoe!)
Mr Vine
The Addams Family
They all worked hard to learn their lines and songs to perform with the Gisborne Secondary College students.
On Monday 20th November, the following students participated in a call back to audition for a main role for the production of The Addams Family: Bryn Sawyer, Eden Levi, Freya Allen, Gussie Simspon-Purdon, Miranda Gayfer-Lawerence, Alec White and Raph Nelms.
A total of 15 students from KHS has been cast in the production for 2024 and I look forward to seeing them continue to push themselves out of their comfort zones and shine like the stars they are!
Ms Scott
EXCITING NEWS!
The Performing Arts Creative Team at Gisborne Secondary College in collaborating with Kyneton High School are very pleased to announce the 2024 Production of ‘The Addams Family’
PRODUCTION DATES – August 8-17 2024
REHEARSALS – Monday and Tuesday 3:30-5:30pm at GSC (commencing 2024). Not all students will be required both days. A calendar/roster will be provided. TRANSPORT OPTIONS WILL BE PROVIDED DEPENDING ON NUMBERS FROM KHS
STAY INFORMED – Please check you xuno messages for more information regarding audition times, rehearsals and transport options
Further info:
KHS Performing Arts teacher: Alex Scott alex.scott2@education.vic.gov.au
Gisborne Secondary College Production Manager: Mrs Skeen at kitty.skeen@education.vic.gov.au
Please see/download full information below:
School Notices
Updated Student Dress Code
Please note that School Council have recently approved some adjustments to our Student Dress Code (school uniform) Policy. These changes have been made based on feedback gathered from student focus groups, parents, and staff.
A great deal of discussion was had at the School Council level about the feedback and potential changes. We anticipate that we now have a very sustainable policy and hope that students and families will welcome the additional flexibility and choice in the updated policy.
In summary:
- All students are expected to wear the school uniform at school. School uniform items are outlined in the Student Dress Code (attached)
- There continues to be no specific ‘summer’ and ‘winter’ or ‘boys’ and ‘girls’ uniform. Students should select the items they are comfortable wearing.
Recent changes:
- The main change to the policy is that students may now wear PE uniform items in Academic classes. From the policy:
- Students must wear sports uniform items for their practical Physical Education classes.
- They may also wear sports uniform items in their academic classes, however there is an expectation that students will change into clean uniform following practical Physical Education classes.
- Note that while students may wear runners of their choice for practical Physical Education classes, they must wear all black shoes while in other classes.
- NB. Students will still be allocated time to get changed for PE and will be expected to get changed after PE.
- Shoes or boots are to be worn as part of the school uniform and must comply with the following criteria:
- The shoe must be black, including the sole.
- The shoe fully encloses the foot, i.e., no areas of the foot not covered by the upper section of the shoe.
- No steel-capped shoes/boots.
- Work boots may only be permitted in some Year 11 and 12 VET subjects. This will be communicated to students and their families by the subject teacher.
- The main change to this part of the policy is that shoes need not have an entirely leather upper – areas of mesh/fabric are permitted as long as the entire shoe is black.
- Students must wear socks, and these should preferably be black or white. Plain black or navy tights/leggings are permitted to be worn only with the school skirt or dress.
- Changes made to wording in this section.
- Students may wear a plain black, white or navy long sleeve t-shirt or thermal top underneath their uniform shirt.
- Added Navy as an option
- Year 12 students may wear their Year 12 KHS tops/jumpers in lieu of other uniform tops.
Please note that students are not to wear the following either with or in place of their school uniform.
- Jeans
- Leggings (unless plain black or navy and worn with the school skirt or dress)
- Non-Kyneton High School track pants
- ‘Active wear’ or ‘Athleisure’ items
- Hoodies
- Non-uniform shoes
This applies to ALL STUDENTS FROM YEARS 7-12. Please see the attached Dress Code for further information.
Buying School Uniform
Uniform items can be ordered from Noone’s online shop: https://www.noone.com.au/school/kyneton-high-school/shop
Or you can visit the Noone Bendigo Store at a time that suits you to try on items and buy in person.
Address: 21 Queen Street, Bendigo Vic 3550
Contact Details: Phone: 03 7018 4199 / Email: bendigo@noone.com.au
Trading Hours
Monday – Friday 9.00am-5.00pm
Saturday 9.00am-12.00pm
Sunday and Public Holidays CLOSED
We are also liaising with Noone to organise additional fitting opportunities through the year in 2024 to provide more opportunities for fittings closer to home.
Second hand items
While we do not currently have the ability or space to run a secondhand uniform shop, some uniform items and books may be available second hand. You may wish to join the KHS Secondhand Uniforms & Books Buy, Swap and Sell Facebook group to buy or sell secondhand items.
Support for families
If your family is facing financial hardship and cannot purchase uniform, please contact the General Office to discuss options by emailing kyneton.hs@education.vic.gov.au. There may be ways we can support you.
Library
Reminder
The Library will be closed for stocktake from Monday December 11th. This is a reminder to dig out all Library books from in lockers or under beds and return them this week so we can count them then tuck them in for a good long sleep over the holidays.
Thankyou!
Francesca
Coming up…
Some dates for the diary
| Monday 4th December | Activities Year 10 Funfields excursion |
| Tuesday 5th December | Activities VHAP English masterclass 11.45-1.45 |
| Wednesday 6th December | Activities |
| Thursday 7th December | Activies Class parties day School Council |
| Friday 8th December | Activities Year 7 Funfields Excursion Year 10 last day |
| Monday 11th December | Activities Year 8 Melton wave pool excursion Library closed VCE results released |
| Tuesday 12th December | Year 7 2024 Orientation Day No other students at school |
| Wednesday 13th December | Activities VHAP Maths Games Day |
| Thursday 14th December | Activities Awards ceremony rehearsal Awards ceremony (pm) |
| Monday 18th December – Wednesday 20th December | General Office closed |
| Wednesday 20th December | School’s Out For Summer! 1.30 p.m. finish |
Employment Opportunity
Campaspe Dental Practice
Receptionist required 3 to 4 days per week. Hours flexible for the right applicant.
Must have excellent communication skills and a calm demeanour.
Please contact Harsh Sharma on 0430 677 711 for further information.
You might be interested in joining us for a screening of the documentary Equal the Contest followed by a panel discussion which includes filmmaker and football player Mitch Nivalis.
This is a free event as part of the 16 Days of Activism against gender based violence with screenings in both Kyneton and Sunbury.
Please register to attend here: www.surveymonkey.com/r/equalthecontest
Cheers,
Rhani
Sunbury Cobaw Community Health
We are pleased to announce the Big Summer Read is taking place at Woodend Library these summer holidays!
The Big Summer Read aims to arrest the ‘summer slide’ by engaging children and their families in a fun and dynamic campaign through public libraries, to encourage children to read and log at least 10 books!
A competitive element with prizes provides added incentive for participation, while distinctive state-wide branding encourages participation in the program, whether children are at home or on holidays elsewhere in Victoria.
The BSR runs from 1 December 2023 until 31 January 2024. Registrations can be completed online at https://plv.beanstack.org or by visiting a local public library!
For more information please contact shaeh@ncgrl.vic.gov.au.
With thanks,
Woodend Library Team
Woodend Library
Cnr Forrest and High Street Woodend
Phone – 54272074
Email – woodend2@ncgrl.vic.gov.au
Employment Opportunity for KHS Students
The Kyneton Sports and Aquatic Centre will soon be recruiting for Lifeguards over summer, and we are always looking for Learn to Swim Instructors. This could suit some KHS students after school. We can possibly assist with funding of their courses as well.
For more information contact the KTSAC manager Luke Harrison
Email: lharrison@mrsc.vic.gov.au
KYNETON HIGH SCHOOL