Secondary School

Our secondary school offers a program for students in Years 7-12 which is designed to provide a positive and engaging learning environment, preparing them with skills for the 21st century. We offer an appropriate level of challenge for each student, and the opportunity for students to achieve their best possible Higher School Certificate results. We strive to create an environment where young people develop skills and dispositions supporting them for success in an ever-changing world. We focus on creating an environment that is innovative and agile, and caters for and develops individual interests. We celebrate our cultural diversity, acknowledging that while ‘we are many, we are one.’

We are committed to providing our students with an educational experience that will develop every aspect of their being to their fullest potential. We are just as interested in ‘who’ each young person is, as much as what they achieve.

We believe that education is more than academics – it includes developing the whole person through a program of strong academics, varied extracurricular options, and intentional spiritual and emotional nurturing. It is this kind of education that can change students—and change their world through them.

As a school we encourage each student to achieve success in reaching their personal goals. We see our role as a partnership with parents/carers who are working with us from home to achieve the best outcomes for their child.

The NSW Educational Standards Authority (NESA) syllabus is delivered by caring, qualified and experienced teachers who have a proven record of assisting students to achieve their personal best. The close and supportive working relationship between students and staff provides an atmosphere for individual accountability and achievement.

Student Leadership

Students from each year level are given the opportunity to be nominated to be part of the Student Representative Council. These students are mentored by a teacher, and work together to make the school an even better place, identifying what they would like to improve, harnessing and using the energy of the student body. This is an opportunity for students to develop skills including public speaking, minute taking, chairing of meetings, interpersonal skills and other relevant skills. From time to time, they work with local community groups and attend community gatherings.

As senior students, Year 11 and 12 are provided with leadership opportunities and training. Students can take on leadership roles such as School Captains, Vice Captains, Prefects and Sports House Captains.

Staff

Teachers at Kempsey Adventist School (KAS) are passionate, vibrant and care for each individual child. As a team, they are committed to providing learning opportunities that inspire students to want to learn and to do their best. Their own professional development means that they are learning to teach in a way that will prepare young people for success in the 21st century.

Our teachers are the main link in communication between home and school. Prompt follow-up of any student difficulty or circumstance to ensure a lasting effective solution is vitally important to our staff. Your child is important to us. With staff, parents and students working together in partnership, we are better able to ensure the best possible learning experiences for each child.

For a detailed list of KAS staff, click here

Academic Excellence

Kempsey Adventist School (KAS) provides students with an energetic and challenging learning environment where they can learn, play, support, work, laugh, read and pray together. Academic excellence is encouraged through supportive teaching methods and a structured academic program that focuses on teaching skills, knowledge and understanding for success.

The secondary school program is designed to enhance the academic, emotional, spiritual, social and physical development of each child. We provide experiences that will cultivate balanced students with integrity, who are committed to being the ‘best version of themselves’, therefore positively contributing to our community.

Our Learning Enrichment team supports students who require support, using QuickSmart to support those who need extra encouragement in Literacy and Numeracy. In addition to this, we are committed to creating opportunities for students to be extended.

We are also committed to ‘Closing the Gap’ in education and provide support for indigenous students in the key areas of Literacy and Numeracy.

In addition to this, all students are able to access after-school tutoring each week for a number of subjects, lunchtime support for English and general assessment task support.

Our secondary school is registered with the NSW Educational Standards Authority (NESA) to cater for students from Years 7-12.

Curriculum

Year 7 and 8

Compulsory subjects include:
Religious Studies, English, Mathematics, Science, History, Geography, Music, Visual Arts, Technology Mandatory, Personal Development, Health and Physical Education (PDHPE), Sport and LOTE (French)

Year 9 and 10

Compulsory subjects include:
Religious Studies, English, Mathematics, Science, Australian Geography, Australian History, Personal Development, Health and Physical Education (PDHPE) and Sport

Electives:
Food Technology, Industrial Technology (Building and Construction), Visual Arts, Information & Software Technology, Commerce, Marine and Aquaculture Technology, Photography and Digital Media, Child Studies, Agri Foods, Commerce and Physical and Sports Studies, together with an extensive range of on-line courses.

Full details of on-line courses supported by KAS are available upon request.

Year 11 and 12

Compulsory subjects include:
English (Advanced), English (Standard) or English Studies

Electives:
General Mathematics, Mathematics, Studies of Religion, Geography, Biology, Food Technology, Information Process and Technology, Business Studies, Chemistry, Personal Development, Health and Physical Education (PDHPE), Community and Family Studies, Work Studies, Sport, Lifestyle and Recreational Studies (SLR), Modern History, Early Childhood, VET Primary Industries (Horticulture), Geography, Photography and Digital Media, VET Construction, Visual Arts and Industrial technology, together with an extensive range of on-line courses.

Full details of on-line courses supported by KAS are available upon request.

Compressed Curriculum HSC

Doing the HSC Differently

Each year, all around the country, the pressure and emotional toll of the HSC on students and their families is high. KAS is transitioning to offering a Compressed Curriculum model which will allow students to experience the HSC in a way that will reduce pressure, and also provide more choices.

Under the new model, students begin their HSC in the latter part of Term 4 in their Year 10 year, beginning four subjects, two of which they will complete (both their Year 11 Preliminary and Year 12 HSC course) in one year. At the end of Year 11, they will sit the HSC exam for two subjects, allowing them to experience what it takes to complete a HSC subject. In their final year of school, students will complete their final four subjects, therefore, distributing the associated pressure.

The new pattern of study for Year 11 and 12 students will continue to offer KAS students the ability to study two subjects (typically English and Mathematics) over two years. It will also allow students to study and complete two other HSC subjects in the first year and then another two HSC subjects in the second year. The new model of delivery allows students to experience the completion of two HSC subjects in the first year prior to completing the remaining four in the final year. It reduces the number of subjects our students are dividing their attention between each year and enables them to make more informed subject choices in the second year. The new model gives KAS students the option in the second year to select subjects that either further develop an identified career path or diversify their learning to increase their career options.

This model also provides opportunities for acceleration. For example, students who have already met Year 10 outcomes by the end of Year 9 have the opportunity to commence the Preliminary course at the end of Year 9.

A flexible study pattern like this may then include beginning a university subject before finishing secondary school.

Please contact the school for more information.

Bring Your Own Designated Device Program (BYODD)

To enhance student’s access to rich technology and increase the ownership of their learning journey beyond the classroom, KAS is implementing a Bring Your Own Designated Device (BYODD) technology program across the secondary school, starting with Year 7 and Year 10 in 2020 and becoming compulsory for all other secondary year levels by 2022. Through this programme we hope to achieve the following:

Empower content creators – dedicated devices to provide continuity in building content such as coding/building mobile and web applications, visual arts projects, engineering design and more.
Promote learning outside the classroom – Students will no longer be dependent on the teacher and school’s technology in the class setting. Access to progress learning around areas such as Maths Pathways can be done anytime and anywhere, allowing students to catch up or move ahead.
Give students control of their own learning journey – BYODD enables the portability of the students’ work, where they are working on their own projects and bringing their learning journey into the teacher or subject matter expert for guidance and continued learning.

A key focus of this initiative is digital citizenship, which is the responsible use of technology. Your child will learn digital skills, ethics, etiquette and online safety. These are important aspects of participating in today’s world and developing the skills required to thrive in the 21st Century.

KAS has published designated device options to families.

Three Way Interviews

Three Way Interviews (parent-student-teacher) are great opportunities to connect with your child’s teacher and shouldn’t be missed. At the start of each year, families receive a calendar that outlines dates for the year. In addition to this, specific details about how to book an interview will be published. This is done using the website www.schoolinterviews.com.au and a code is given. Parents are able to book a time suitable for them.

Below are some tips about getting the best out of your time with the teacher.

Take some time before your meeting to write down any questions you would like to ask or comments you would like to make. Interviews usually run for only 10 minutes, so it’s good to have a reminder of the points you wanted to cover.

Common questions may include:

How is my child fitting in with other children?
What are the students working on now in class?
Is there anything about my child’s needs that I should know?
Does my child ask questions, participate in class discussions/classroom activities?
Is my child’s reading progress satisfactory?
What activities does my child seem to enjoy the most at school?
Who are my child’s friends?
Is my child’s numeracy progress satisfactory?
Does my child join in with other children in the playground?
What kinds of things will the class be doing over the next few weeks?
Can you tell me the best time and way to contact you if I have a query or concern?
Do you have any concerns about my child?
How is my child progressing in comparison to others in his/her year level?

Also, list anything that might be happening at home that may be helpful for your child’s teacher to know.

Research demonstrates that parent involvement in their child’s education has a very powerful and positive impact on the effective learning and development of their child. This is always most effective where parents and teachers work in a partnership, characterised by open communication and mutual support.

Links for Parents

Cyber(Smart) Parents
Cybersafety information for parents, kids, teens and young adults
http://www.cybersmart.gov.au/Parents.aspx

NSW Curriculum and Education Information
http://www.educationstandards.nsw.edu.au/wps/portal/nesa/parents/parent-guide/

Organising your Child for School
Organising your house and life for a smooth return to the routine of school
Top 10 Back to School Tips

Bullying – No Way!
The Bullying, No Way! website includes interactive applications, including a choose- your-own-adventure game for students to learn how to deal with bullying, and videos for parents and students.

The site also includes information on:

helping your child if they are being bullied
identifying the signs that your child might be bullying others
getting help and support.

Understanding Mental Illness
A national initiative for depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder and postnatal depression Beyond Blue

Links for Students

Staying CyberSmart

Cybersafety information for parents, kids and teens

https://esafety.gov.au/

https://safeonsocial.com

Bullying – No Way!

The Bullying, No Way! website includes interactive applications, including a choose- your-own-adventure game for students to learn how to deal with bullying, and videos for parents and students.

The site also includes information on: