Dear Parents and Caregivers of Year 12,

I hope that everyone in the community are well and are coping during our lock down. I was very happy to have over 100 of our Year 12 students in the zoom meeting yesterday, updating and clarifying the DoE directions from last week. I appreciate that this is a difficult situation for all of year 12 and their families. It is difficult to keep the momentum going and to stay on track, both learning from home, and having the HSC start date pushed back. I also acknowledge and am upset on how the current health order restrictions are impacting on the traditional end to Year 12. Please find below clarification around the directions from last week, and please, if you have any concerns contact me directly at the school.

HSC Beginning Date November 9

NESA have pushed back the start date to the HSC external examinations to November 9. This has been done to give students more time to prepare. I understand, for some students the preference would have been to complete the examinations as scheduled, but this direction is now official. Please make sure you are continuing to revise, engage with your online lessons and most importantly, reaching out for support to keep your momentum and study timetable in place. I also want to press the importance of finding your balance, ensuring you are taking time out and listening to yourself when you need a break. Again, please contact your Mentor, Year Advisers, Mr Shephard, Mr McCord or myself if you need any support at all.

Minimum Standard Testing

Students who are yet to meet the Minimum Standards that NESA set in literacy and numeracy, no longer need to complete these extra examinations this year. The school will be informed on September 8, how we can assess these students and inform NESA if they meet the standards. All students who are in this situation have been contacted directly by the school. If anyone has any questions round this change please contact Miss Harding, Mrs Shields or myself.

Return to Face to Face

The Minister for Education last week talked about two possible models for a return to school. Considering the current health situation in the Hunter, I am not planning for the model discussed around a week 10 Term 3 re-entry. I don’t feel that this will be possible. However, if we are directed to return to school at the start of week 10, I will inform the entire community. The model discussed as a “staggered start” from October 25, is far more likely at present. With this in mind, I believe that Year 12 will be back at school learning face to face from this date. As we get closer to this date, I will communicate further around what the restrictions are like for this return to school. What I want to emphasis here, beyond this, is that classes for year 12 will continue after the end of this term, remotely, until the October 25 return to school. I don’t want students to think that Year 12 is over at the end of this term. Considering the disruption to your learning and preparation for the external examinations it is important that lessons continue, and staff will be continuing to engage with students in line from the start of Term 4, leading up to the return to face to face on October 25. If people have any questions about this, please contact myself or Mr McCord at the school.

Graduation Assembly

Our traditional day for the Year 12 Graduation Assembly, is the last day of Term 3. This is not viable under the current health restrictions, even if we do return to school in week 10. Therefore, I am looking at holding this event on either Friday October 29, or Friday November 5. At this stage I don’t believe we will be able to hold our Graduation Assembly in 2021 as we have in the past. I can’t see the health restrictions, on a return to school from October 25, allowing for family to attend, or a style of assembly as we are accustomed too. I don’t want to make definitive decisions around this event so far from the date, so I will inform Year 12 and families on the style of assembly as we get closer. I am sorry that I can’t be any more specific at this point on such an important event. If you have any questions or concerns about the Graduation Assembly, please contact me at the school.

Last Week of School

Traditionally, the Graduation Assembly is the culmination of the final week of school, where activities are organised to support Year 12 in their celebration of ending school. Obviously, in light of what I have outlined above, it isn’t possible to plan for these events as we traditionally do. I have asked Year 12 to offer suggestions for other things that we could possibly do during this time, whether it be Week 10 Term 3, or the other weeks after a return to face to face learning. I will keep Year 12 and families informed of what decisions are made around these events as soon as I can.

Formal

The final thing I want to discuss is the Year 12 Formal set for November 22 at Merewether Surf House. It is highly likely now that the rescheduled above date will fall within the external examination timetable. I will communicate further about a possible date once we have seen the new HSC timetable, which is due for release mid-September. Once we finalise a date, we will then need to ensure that the event is possible under the health restrictions at that time. Again, I am so sorry that I can’t provide any more clarity around the formal at this stage, however, once I can I will make contact.

Thank you for your ongoing support of the school, and thank you Year 12 for staying strong and rolling with the many changes that have been thrown your way this year and last. I understand and feel the strain you are under, but we are all in this together and will support wherever possible. Please stay safe, take care, and look after yourselves.

Thinking of all of you,

Mark Snedden

Principal Kotara High School

September 2, 2021