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Kogarah High School Newsletter
Gladstone Street Kogarah NSW 2217 T 9587 5815 F 9553 8316 W http://www.kogarah-high-school.net
Term 1 - Week 3
Tuesday, 10 February 2015
PRINCIPAL’S REPORT
Welcome
2015 has started very
well. I would like to
welcome all new
parents to our school
and thank all families
for the time taken and
the effort given in
making sure our students are well
prepared for the new school year. With
very few exceptions our students
presented on Day One in full school
uniform and well equipped for their
lessons – a great start to our new year.
Director, Public Schools NSW,
School Achievement Award
At the end of 2014 I had the privilege of
accepting this prestigious award on
behalf of our school. An independent
panel of School Principals, School
Directors, and Community
Representatives considered work done
in schools in the Sydney Area. They
considered the impact of the work on
improving teaching and learning and
the impact on improving student
learning outcomes. There are 538
schools in the Ultimo network of
Editor: S Alexander
Calendar
Important dates for Term 1, 2015
Week 3
Mon Feb 9
Year 11 Learning
Conference
Week 4
Fri Feb 20
Swimming Carnival
Week 5
Fri Feb 27
HSC English Study
Day, University of
Sydney
Week 6
Mon Mar 2
Zone Swimming Day 1
Tue Mar 3
Year 6 Open Night
Year 7 Meet the
Teacher Night
Fri Mar 6
Week 7
Mon Mar 9
Tue Mar 10
Fri Mar 13
Zone Swimming Day 2
School photos day
Vaccinations yr 7 & 8
Cross Country Carnival
Week 9—10
Mon Mar 23 - Thu Apr 2
Year 12 mid course
examinations
Week 10
Thu Apr 2
Fri Apr 3
LAST DAY OF TERM 1
Good Friday
Public Holiday
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KHS Newsletter - Term 1 - Week 3
Tuesday, 10 February 2015
 increased support and opportunities for
all students to experience success
I value and thank the school community for
the confidence shown towards our school.
By us all working together our students
benefit greatly.
Our new staff for 2015 include –
schools and 8 School Achievement Awards
were issued. Of these 8 only 3 were
awarded to High Schools. The teachers of
Kogarah High School are caring and
committed. They are very skilled and
knowledgeable. They should be very proud
of this recognition as should the whole
school community. The school was
recognised for its outstanding contribution
to Public Education and achievements
associated with a transformed school
culture.
Increased Enrolments, New
Teachers
This year we have welcomed just over 140
Year 7 students. This compares to 89
students in 2010. Our school has grown
from 642 students in 2010 to well over 800
students (970 when we include students
from the Intensive English Centre).
Ms Nicole Best – Head Teacher Welfare
Mr Michael Doherty – Head Teacher Social
Science
Ms Leah McKeown – Head Teacher
Creative and Performing Arts
Ms Iskra Spencer – Head Teacher English
(commenced in Term 4 2014)
Ms Lily Zheng – Science
Ms Robeya Ahmed – Science
Mr James Guilford – Social Science
Ms Kristen Macdonald – Social Science
Ms Mary Soumaher – Creative and
Performing Arts
Ms Jasmine Tezel – Creative and
Performing Arts.
Welcome back to
This has meant -
Ms Michelle Batten - School Counsellor
Ms Nicole Burrows – PD/H/PE
Ms Toni Arfarnis – Transition Coordinator/
Social Science
Mr Paul Keller - Mathematics
 a greater choice of subjects - extensive
COMPASS
curriculum
 employment of more teachers, support
staff and clerical assistance
Our partnership with the University of
Sydney continues to grow. There is no
doubt this association with the university
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KHS Newsletter - Term 1 - Week 3
has raised the aspirations of our students
and provided them with many wonderful
opportunities.
School Infrastructure
To ensure the best possible learning
environment for our students, school
refurbishment and capital development
continues. This year brings the following
improvements-
 addition of a new Science laboratory
equipped to support all aspects of 21st
century learning
 new cabling throughout the school to
improve the use of technology in
teaching
 new covered outdoor learning space
fully equipped with power and lighting
 new playground seating areas
School Vision and Direction for
2015
During 2014 there was extensive
consultation with the school community
regarding the new SCHOOL PLAN 20152017.From that process the School Vision
Statement was revised.
Kogarah High School is a school where
every student values learning, strives for
excellence, has opportunities to experience
success and develop skills to confidently
meet the challenges of the 21st century.
Tuesday, 10 February 2015
Learn | Achieve | Celebrate - are the key
words we use to help spell out our dream
for our school and to describe what we do
best - develop young people who are

Skilled learners

Responsible citizens

Prepared and confident about their
future
Ours is a busy school where extension
programs and programs of excellence in all
areas of school life have produced
outstanding achievements. Encourage your
child to seek out and take up the vast
number of opportunities this school has to
offer. Our students and our school are
positioned well for success. There is a real
CAN DO attitude.
Our student and teacher profile is diverse
but our school community is united in
wanting the very best learning outcomes
for our students.
2015 will be a great year for teaching and
learning at Kogarah High School.
Mrs Virginia Pacey.
PRINCIPAL
Homework Centre
The school operates a Homework Centre
for all students which is held in the school
library from 3.00 - 4:30pm on
Monday afternoons. The centre is staffed
by teachers from the school assisted by
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KHS Newsletter - Term 1 - Week 3
Tuesday, 10 February 2015
The basic rules of homework are
that it:
 is appropriate for each student's age
and ability
 takes into account students' other
commitments, such as sport, parttime employment and home
responsibilities
 takes into account technology such
student volunteers from the University of
Sydney Compass Program. These
student volunteers are available to act as
tutors for students in assisting with
research tasks, study and the completion
of homework and assignments.
as email and the Internet so that
students without access are not
disadvantaged.
Homework at Kogarah High
The regular setting of homework by
teachers is school policy. The nature,
frequency and volume of homework set
are left to the professional judgement of
teachers in consultation with Head
Teachers and students.
Staff are encouraged to use the School
Diary to monitor homework completion.
Homework will generally range from 45 90 minutes a day in Years 7-9. In Years
10 to 12, homework will generally
increase, and require from 1-3 hours per
week night, with up to 6 hours on
weekends during peak assessment
periods.
Home reading (on a daily basis) to
improve literacy skills is school policy
and considered to be an essential
component of homework. All students
Editor: S Alexander
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KHS Newsletter - Term 1 - Week 3
should read for at least 20 minutes as a
part of regular homework. Failure by
students to complete homework on a
regular basis will be followed up with
parents.
Tuesday, 10 February 2015
Useful information for parents
What is Kik and why is it popular?
Kik is a free texting app popular with
younger teens who generally have a limited
texting plan or use an iPod Touch.
Year advisors
Find out more about Kik messenger:
http://www.schoolatoz.nsw.edu.au/
Year advisors are an integral part of our
school welfare program. They are the focal technology/technology-az/-/
technology_glossary/7w0F/5353/
point for information about student
Kik+messenger
progress and should be the first point of
contact for most parent concerns/inquiries.
Find out why experts say it's the No.1
social media problem involving kids:
The Year Advisor team for this year is:
http://www.smh.com.au/digital-life/digitallife-news/experts-warn-of-apps-hiddenYear 7: Ms Annie Duong
dangers-201311302yif3.html#ixzz2mYlkXFyd
Year 8 Ms Abbey Sleiman
Year 9: Mr Blake Compton
Year 10: Ms Darlia Brunt
Year 11: Ms Michaela Clark
Year 12: Mr Dylan Hughes
School weeks
Q: Why does the school use "week 6"
instead of dates?
A: We find it useful for planning each term.
Here are the actual dates for the rest of this
term for most of NSW.
TERM 1
Week 2 2/2
Week 3 9/2
Week 4 16/2
Week 5 23/2
Week 6 2/3
Week 7 9/3
Week 8 16/3
Week 9 23/3
Week 10 30/3
week B
week A
week B
week A
week B
week A
week B
week A
week B
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KHS Newsletter - Term 1 - Week 3
Helping with homework
Tuesday, 10 February 2015
The benefit of team sports
How much should you help your child with
homework? When your child makes a
mistake, should you fix it? Teachers talk
about how parents can help kids take
responsibility for their homework and
avoid Thursday night meltdowns.
If you want your child to grow up to be a
confident and well-adjusted adult, then
team sports may well be the answer.
Find out more:
http://www.schoolatoz.nsw.edu.au/
wellbeing/fitness/benefits-of-team-sports
Find out more:
http://www.schoolatoz.nsw.edu.au/
homework-and-study/homework-tips/
helping-your-primary-school-child-withhomework
Teen or tween moods
As a parent you may feel distressed by
disrespectful or rude behaviour in your
teenager. Although the phase will pass
Homework, hot weather and class sizes – eventually, there are some strategies that
here are some answers to frequently
can help you manage this kind of
asked questions about going to a NSW
behaviour in the meantime.
public school.
Dealing with disrespectful or rude
Find out more:
behaviour: http://bit.ly/1kGgkBZ
http://www.schoolatoz.nsw.edu.au/en/
homework-and-study/planning-for-thefuture/back-to-school-2014
Editor: S Alexander
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KHS Newsletter - Term 1 - Week 3
Tuesday, 10 February 2015
Important Information for Students
Sport and our Houses
Sport as an aspect of the school curriculum is an integral part of an individual’s
development, requiring physical involvement in organized games or activities within
an accepted set of rules.
Participation, enjoyment and skill development of all students are the cornerstone of
school sport.
Kogarah High School holds three major carnivals annually, Athletics, Swimming and
Cross Country.
Our Houses are named after four famous Australian sportsmen who are also ex
Kogarah High students. You can earn house points through participation in sporting
challenges throughout the year.
ROSEWALL (red)
ONEILL (yellow)
CRAMPTON (green)
CHAPMAN (blue)
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KHS Newsletter - Term 1 - Week 3
Tuesday, 10 February 2015
Merit System
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KHS Newsletter - Term 1 - Week 3
Tuesday, 10 February 2015
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KHS Newsletter - Term 1 - Week 3
Tuesday, 10 February 2015
School Uniform
Kogarah High School is a uniform school and we believe that it is important to be well
groomed and present a positive image to the community. School uniform also puts
students in the right frame of mind for school and study and it gives them a sense of
being part of the school community.
Girls Uniform
Boy's Uniform
Grey and maroon plaid skirt
grey trousers or shorts
Maroon/grey slacks
white collared shirt
white collared shirt
black covered leather shoes
black covered leather shoes
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KHS Newsletter - Term 1 - Week 3
Tuesday, 10 February 2015
More information on school uniform:
http://www.kogarah h.schools.nsw.edu.au/admin/policies/uniform/
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KHS Newsletter - Term 1 - Week 3
Tuesday, 10 February 2015
Close Circuit Television (CCTV) installed at Kogarah High
School
Following on from discussions with teachers, parents and students, the school has
recently installed and is now using Close Circuit Television (CCTV) to
assist in the monitoring of our premises (school corridors, sickbay and library). Our
school is used by numerous community providers. Their safety and the safety of
Kogarah High School students and staff is our highest priority.
WH&S Committee, Kogarah High School
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