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High Notes, Vol 25 No 18, June 14 2024

From the Principal

Vale Sam Kremer

Firstly, I’d like to pay my respects to Sam Kremer, an Old Boy from the class of 1992 who passed away last week. Sam was highly involved in Rifle Shooting, coaching our boys to numerous successes and his passing has had a profound impact on those who worked with him over the years. He was always to be seen working with the boys and refining the equipment, often arriving early, or staying back late to ensure the best environment for the boys. The school was very lucky to have such a devoted individual who gave so much back to the school, embodying the ethos of High Spirit. He will be missed by many.

Year 9 Progress and Report Meetings

This week I continued to meet with students to discuss their reports, in this case working through the majority of Year 9. In general, the boys were aware of what went well and what they could do to improve for next semester which was great to hear. Many students improved their overall results significantly with the introduction of their two elective courses and fewer mandated subjects. This is a good time for Year 9 students to reflect on what they’d like to study for their three elective courses in Year 10. They will be finalising their preferences in Term 3, so I encourage the boys to speak with their teachers to ensure that they’re well informed before making their decisions.

My discussions with Year 9 this week largely focused on the five learning behaviours reported on across all subjects so that the boys could see the importance of each in their future learning. I recommend parents talk through these with their son for each individual subject, while also considering any patterns that can be found across the report to have a more targeted approach to supporting him. The consistent demonstration of engagement, organisational skills, effective writing technique, utilising feedback and overall behaviour in class is a great indicator of a student working towards his personal best in areas that will have a profound impact on their HSC and beyond. To encourage the boys to pursue excellence in these areas and to recognise their dedication, Award Scheme points are added each semester for those who consistently display these behaviours.

Letters have been sent home to parents of Year 9 boys who improved significantly from last semester to continue their personal growth. We want to acknowledge the efforts of these boys to make such significant inroads in their learning. Students who underperformed this semester also had letters sent to their parents to encourage them to apply themselves to the best of their ability. The wellbeing team will be working with these students to support them in establishing goals and plans to achieve them.

Parent-Teacher Interviews

Next Monday 17 June the school day will finish at lunch due to the Year 8 and 9 Parent-Teacher Interviews. All parents who requested interviews would have received their schedule by now and the zoom links to use on the day. The flexibility these zoom sessions provide, allowing parents to log in from multiple locations (even internationally in some cases) to speak with their son’s teachers has been found to be worthwhile for our school community. We hope parents find these discussions insightful to enhance their son’s learning.

Lost Property

On a separate matter, in recent weeks there have been a large number of student belongings that have been found without clearly labelled names. Please ensure that all items, especially clothing, are clearly labelled so that our Lost Property staff can ensure the items are returned promptly to their rightful owners. 

Student Improvement

As a final note, this week I’d like to focus on students’ use of feedback in their written work. Every semester teachers report on how well students are able to reflect on teacher feedback and apply this to their work. Taking note of these comments, reflecting on them, and incorporating this into their own work is an essential skill for self-improvement. If a student is unsure of how to improve after receiving feedback, it’s essential that they clarify this with their teacher.

Once students know how to improve, they need to set themselves one or two goals to develop for the next task. In this way, the boys can enhance their skills one step at a time and receive more feedback for future tasks. Students who refine their work as they’re provided feedback can apply what they’ve learned in a timely manner, increasing the likelihood of retaining the skills they learned for their future success.
Jamie Kay
Relieving Principal