MISSING LINK Term 4 2019
PRINCIPAL’S REPORT Sometimes at the end of Term 4 I include my speech to the Presentation Assemblies as my report for Term 4 and, while I will refer to it, I would also like to make 10 other comments. 1. We were very pleased that Ms Vuki was confirmed and started as our substantive Deputy Principal in Term 4 and Ms Kennerson was appointed as Head Teacher HSIE. We are sure they will make a lasting impact in their new roles. 2. There were five presentation assemblies in Term 4, The first was for Year 11 who completed their Preliminary HSC and started the HSC this term. At that assembly I spoke about the word “catastrophe” and all its meanings from major crisis to the small “mini-crises” of our lives that include forgetting deadlines, not getting work done in time and missing out on opportunities. Little did we know at that assembly in Early November that major “catastrophes” in terms of bush fires and extremely poor and hazardous air quality would dominate the last weeks of the term. 3. The Years 7 – 10 Presentation Assemblies were held on the last Friday of term and we were pleased to welcome 148 parents who joined us. It was a real privilege to hear the responses of the Dux in each year – their speeches and the speeches of the Year Advisers are included in this ML. Every person that spoke talked about the strengths and opportunities this school – and its highly committed staff-provide. 4. It was important to speak about 2019 as the last year of the “teens” and to celebrate hundreds of awards reflecting student progress and “personal bests”. 5. We acknowledged Year 10 for their ROSA grades and the fact that almost all Year 10 students met the HSC minimum requirements assessment in reading, writing and numeracy during the year. We also recognised the success of the YEP (Young Entrepreneurs Program) and the number of pieces of recognition received by individual students and groups in Semester 2. 6. We recognised Year 9 students for completing and graduating from junior high school. Students thanked all their teachers in Years 7 – 9, their Year Advisers and a special presentation was made to Ms Andrews – Head Teacher Junior school. 7. We acknowledged the successes of Year 8 and the success of the Career Explorer program in helping students decide what electives they wish to do for Year 9. Year 8 students read their reports and most were very pleased with what they had achieved. 1