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As we start the end term we see the return of the warmer weather. Our Year 12s have now finished and are currently completing their final WACE exams. We look forward to farewelling them at Valedictory on 18 November.
Year 12 final celebrations
As we ended last term, we held a special breakfast for our Year 12s followed by a final assembly, where the staff and students were able to farewell our students. This is always an emotional day as we reflect on our their journey through high school. This year the Year 12 ball was at the Convention Centre. It was a spectacular evening and I want to thank all our staff who attended to supervise.
OLNA testing, exams and Workplace Learning
This time of the year is a busy one for final assessments and exams. In Week 3 and 4 we had the addition of a new OLNA testing schedule for our Year 9s. In Week 5 and 6 our Year 11s will undertake their ATAR exams and in Week 5 our Year 10s and Week 6 our Year 9s will have their end of year exams.
Year 11 students who do not have exams will be participating in Workplace Learning. There will be a study program at school for those Year 11s who are not attending a placement. We thank all our community members who generously take on our students to help them prepare for the workforce.
Quiz Night
At the end of last term, we held our annual quiz night. It was an amazing community event with a fun, friendly atmosphere. This year we raised over $11 000 which was an outstanding effort and we will use this money to upgrade areas of the school when the build has been completed. Thank you to all our staff for supporting this fundraising event and especially to Angie Lukan who coordinated the evening and sourced the prizes. Thank you to all our staff, families and community members for donating prizes and to Cynthia Pickering for her support to Angie.
Congratulations to our Music students
At the end of last term some of our music students participated in the Contemporary Music Ensemble Festival. We congratulate Brooke Daljac, Chloe Daljac, Silas Kempt, Abigail Letts, Mark Rouillard and Riley Sachse who received an Excellent Award at this festival, and congratulations also to teacher Dom Zurzolo.
Congratulations to our Outdoor Education students
Many of our Outdoor Education students are completing their expeditions now that the weather is improving. Recently our Year 11 Outdoor Education ATAR students walked the Cape to Cape covering an impressive 131km in 3 and a bit days. Congratulations to these students and their teachers for their efforts.
Wellness Week
Week 2 of this term we held a wellness week where we focus on things we can do to be physically and mentally healthy. Thank you to Louise our School Nurse for organising the week and to Bea and Sarah our School Psychologists for their support and activities, and to our Student Services team and Student Councillors for running a range of lunchtime activities during the week. Thank you also to all those who helped behind the scenes – it was really appreciated.
Greatest Shave
During wellness week we held our annual fundraiser for the Leukaemia Foundation to raise money for research into treatments and a cure for blood cancer. Each year we have brave students and staff shave their heads, while others colour their hair or support the cause by purchasing items from the bake sale or making donations. A huge thank you to Mr Cameron and Mr Eden and Alex Wakeham and Ryan Death for being brave to take the shave this year. The school raised over $3600 for the cause and this is an amazing effort – congratulations to our school community!
Twilight Concert
One of the highlights for our school events is the annual Twilight concert which is held in the main quad from 5pm while the sun goes down. Thank you to Marcus Roberts and Michelle Vivian for coordinating the evening and to all our music and IMSS teachers who prepared the students and supported the performance. The weather was particular perfect this year and the finale as always was spectacular - featuring all of the music students, this year performing songs by the Doors. Thank you to the MusiKal parents for their support for the evening and for their fundraising. Their efforts support the music department in purchasing equipment and this year we saw the fruits of this with the new marimba on display.
Kalamunda Day
Each year we hold Kalamunda Day to celebrate our school values of Pride, Respect, Resilience, Love of Learning and Community. It is a way for us to reflect on what these values mean to us and to celebrate the diversity of our school community. During our assembly we hold a flag parade of all the countries of birth of our students and staff (this year we had 44 countries represented). Following our assembly, we have an afternoon of activities organised by our staff in Learning Areas. A highlight for the day is the staff band who perform.
Interschool Athletics Carnival
In Week 3 we sent a team of students to participate in the Interschool Athletics Carnival. We congratulate all our students on their efforts and were very pleased to win the 7-10 Gold Division. We also congratulate Sienna Jones and Lily Adjuk who were both named champion girls for their year group. Thank you to all our staff for support the students to participate in this event.
Write-a-book in a day
Congratulations to our Year 9 group, 'The Random Kiddos', for being shortlisted for an award. They are Sheyanne-May Bain, Jasmine Barton, Talay Hollier, Sophie Horne. Chloe Jacobs, Kieran McGlinn, Alicia Mikosza, Zoë Pearce, Zoe Besch. You can read these books in our last issue of the News Review.
Building update
These are some progress photos from our building program.
Wishing everyone all the best for a successful last term.
Helen Deacon
Principal
November as always is a particularly busy time for our Year 11 and 12 students, as they complete their respective years, and move on to new challenges. This year has again gone by too quickly and I cannot believe our Class of 2022 have completed their formal education. Preparation is well under way for the Class of 2023, for their concluding year of schooling.
The Year 12s have their WACE exams during November and as this is a culmination of the years’ hard work our thoughts were with them as they endeavoured to do their very best and achieve results that will enable them to pursue their chosen further study at University or continue along their pathways. Our Year 12 Valedictory will be on Friday 18 November which will be an amazing and appropriate way to end our class of 2022 years at school. I am extremely proud of our Year 12’s accomplishments and sincerely hope they all find happiness and success in whatever life pursuits they choose.
Our Year 11 students are finishing off the year by completing all course work, exams and workplace learning. Students on workplace learning should return their logbooks and students doing exams (over Weeks 5 and 6) will come back to school from Monday 21 to Tuesday 22 November for feedback from their respective exams. In the midst of all that the Class of 2023 will be making final arrangements for the design and ordering of their Leavers Jackets for those with Good Standing early in Term 1 2023. The Year 11 River Cruise on the Tuesday 22 November, last day for our Year 11 students will end the year on an enjoyable note.
I would like to wish everyone a happy and safe holiday and look forward to the New Year and all its new opportunities.
Sharon AndrewsProgram Coordinator - Pathways
As we swiftly make our way to the finish line of Year 10, we are doing anything but slowing down. This week the Year 10s are completing their Semester 2 examinations which will help to give them some practice and a sense of what to expect as they head into Year 11. I wish them all the very best and hope they reap the reward for their studying efforts.
During Week 9 we will have the Year 10-11 Transition days which is a great opportunity for students to get a taster of the courses they have chosen to study next year. Over the 3 days, students will engage in subject lessons and seminars to help them make a smooth transition into Year 11.
The Year 10 Dinner Dance will be held on the Thursday night of Week 9 which is just over a month away! It is going to be a wonderful way to finish and celebrate the year. For those students who have their good standing, invitations and permission forms will be coming out in the next few weeks. It has been fantastic to see that many of the Year 10s have taken it upon themselves to organise contracts to help them improve. If you are unsure of the Good Standing Policy, please get in contact and I can help you. Enjoy the rest of term!
Amber BullockAt this stage of the year, the two most important things on everyone’s minds are the upcoming exams and the end of year activities.
Exams
I want to wish our Year 9s the best of luck for their first set of formal exams. It is a very important time for them as they look to set themselves up for Senior School.
Remember that preparation should have started by now, rather than leaving it to the night before. If a student is sick during exams they will need a medical certificate so that staff can factor this into their final grades. When preparing for exams please ensure that you:
- Get a good night’s sleep.
- Make sure you have breakfast so you are ready to go in the morning.
- Pack your bag the night before so you know you have all the materials you require and what room you have your exam in.
End of Year Activities
As a part of the Good Standing Program we are offering students in Years 7, 8 and 9 the opportunity to participate in the end of year activities.
The Year 7s will be going to the movies on Monday December 12. The Year 8’s will be having their Outdoor Cinema and pizza dinner evening here at school (which is always a resounding success) on Wednesday December 14 and of course our Year 9’s will have their annual River Rock on Tuesday December 13. The cost for these events will be distributed shortly..
For a student to be eligible to attend any of the above activities they must meet the following criteria:
-Student to have Good Standing as at Year 7 – 3pm Friday Dec 9; Year 8 – 3pm Wednesday December 14 and Year 9 – 3pm Tuesday Dec 13.
-If staff identify students who have not been following our five values of Pride, Respect, Learning, Community and Resilience then students will need to negotiate their inclusion with the individual staff member.
-Student’s school fees should also have been paid by 8 December, or arrangements have been made with the School Business Manager Mrs Jeni Jorritsma.
Remember that if you have any questions then please contact the relevant Year Coordinator at school on 9293 6400.
Mark Pettit
Deputy Principal - Student Services / Middle School
Kalamunda Day: The Great Escape
As part of our Kalamunda Day celebrations students were challenged to beat the clock in our Science Department Escape Room event for 2022. Very popular in previous years, this time around a second theme was added, meaning 2 rooms were open to the keen and scientifically minded.
Escapees had the choice of ‘Elements’ in room SC6 or ‘Glass’ in SC7.
In order to ‘escape’, students had to unravel a sequence of Science-based puzzles, generating solutions to be entered onto a device in order to reach the final destination, all before the clock ran out. (Those who didn’t make it were allowed more time or just released anyway, in the spirit of participation and effort.)
Well done to all who ran the gauntlet, and to Science staff who organised and ran the event.
Lindesay Pound
Science Teacher
This year, we are pleased to announce that 3 students received High Distinctions, 15 students received Distinctions and 52 students received Credits. This year, the Best in School Award went to William Holt in Year 8. Well done to all students who took part in the competition. A special thank you to Debbie Yeoh who coordinated the competition.
Alanna Webb
Head Of Mathematics Learning Area
Bahasa Indonesia
Year 7 classes
My Year 7 students had a great experience to showcase their musical and dancing skills during class. My Language Assistant Miska, showed the students how to play the Angklung and dance the Cenderawasih dance.
Year 7 played the national Indonesian song by Angklung. The Angklung is a traditional bamboo instrument from West Java, Indonesia. The base of the frame Angklung is held with one hand while the other hand shakes the instrument rapidly from side to side. Moreover, they are learning traditional Indonesian dance. The dance is called Cenderawasih from Bali. This dance represented the Cenderawasih bird life. They also learnt how to use a fan for dancing.
Below are photos of students’ participation in these events. They enjoyed the experience.
Year 8 Indonesian class - Cendrawasih Dance Bali
Balinese dance is part of an ancient dance tradition incorporate eyes, facial expressions, and bodily gestures. The dance tradition has become part of the religious and artistic expression among the Balinese people (also non-Balinese). Balinese dances are dynamic, angular, and intensely expressive and usually express the stories or dance-drama.
The costumes and makeup reflect the character and the bird itself. Dancers use maroon skirts with a golden motif and also a pair of flowing scarves as the yellow wings. The skirts serve as the colourful tails of the birds of paradise. While the yellow scarves give the impression of wings. The fluttering of the skirts (while moving) gives an impression of flight.
Below students in Year 8 are performing the dance with such elegance with the assistance of my Language Assistant, Miska. It was an opportunity for the students to experience and absorb this great dance and understand the meaning.
Ibu Kaler
Indonesian Teacher
Year 9 Career Taster- It’s a child play
Our Year 9 students continue to explore careers, this time some of our students attended a career taster on early childhood education at North TAFE in Leederville on 13 October. This session was very practical where our students learnt to prepare activities and resources for toddlers and kindy. They also learnt how to look after babies. It was a fun filled day!
The Career Department- Year 11 and 12
At our school we take pride in delivering the best resources to improve the learning outcome of our students. We have purchased a subscription to the Career Department website (https://www.thecareersdepartment.com/) to enrich the curriculum of our Career and enterprise students in 2023 ( Year 11 and 12). This tool offers career planning and development, networking, virtual work experience and micro credential skills training. Parents and carers can get access to it as well.
We had a session with our upcoming Year 11 and 12 career enterprise students and teacher to present the tool seeking feedback on the benefit of implementing the tool at our school. The feedback was very positive from our students - they thought that this tool will improve greatly their learning outcomes in their chosen subject.
Amanda Moreno Diaz
Career Practitioner
What Is Happiness?
Coming up with a formal definition of happiness can be tricky. After all, shouldn’t we just know it when we feel it? In fact, we often use the term to describe a range of positive emotions, including amusement, joy, pride, and contentment.
For most, the term happiness is interchangeable with “subjective well-being”, which is typically measured by asking people about how satisfied they feel with their lives (evaluative), how much positive and negative emotion they tend to feel (affective), and their sense of meaning and purpose (eudaimonic). In her 2007 book The How of Happiness, positive psychology researcher Sonja Lyubomirsky elaborates, describing happiness as “the experience of joy, contentment, or positive well-being, combined with a sense that one’s life is good, meaningful, and worthwhile.”
Social and cultural factors also influence how we think about happiness. For example, people from cultures that embrace more collectivist ideals think about happiness more in terms of harmony and contentment, while more individualistic-minded people connect it to feelings of exuberance and joy. Happiness levels are also shaped by social groups, like families; happier people increase the happiness of people around them.
12 Steps to Happiness
Here are a dozen research-tested happiness activities you can start practicing today, to find ones that work best for you:
- Do more activities that truly engage you.At home and at work, seek out more challenging and absorbing experiences in which you “lose yourself,” experiencing what researchers call “a state of flow.”
- Savour life’s joys. Pay close attention to life’s momentary pleasures and wonders through thinking, writing, or drawing, or by sharing them with others.
- Learn to forgive.Keep a journal or write a letter in which you work on letting go of anger and resentment toward someone who has hurt or wronged you.
- Practice acts of kindness.Do good things for others—whether friends or strangers, directly or anonymously, spontaneously or planned.
- Nurture relationships.Pick a relationship in need of strengthening, and invest time and energy in healing, cultivating, affirming, and enjoying it.
- Cultivate Keep a journal in which you imagine and write about the best possible future for yourself, or practice looking at the bright side of every situation.
- Avoid over-thinking and social comparison.Use strategies (such as distraction) to cut down on how often you dwell on your problems, and guard against comparing yourself to others.
- Develop strategies for coping.Practice ways to endure or surmount a recent stress, hardship, or trauma. Reach out to others for support.
- Count your blessings.Express gratitude for what you have—either privately, through contemplation or journaling, or to someone else—or convey your appreciation to people whom you’ve never properly thanked.
- Strengthen your spiritual connections. Religious and spiritual people are generally happier, perhaps because of the social connections they get through their community.
- Commit to your goals.Pick one, two, or three significant goals that are meaningful to you, and devote time and effort to pursuing them.
- Take care of your body.This could mean exercise, of course, but also meditating, smiling, or laughing.
The above article has many free resources available for you to access, such as goal-setting sheets, identifying your strengths, developing optimism and many more. Click on the link below to access these; you may like to do this activity with your children and learn together. Here’s to cultivating more happiness in our lives and who doesn’t want that?
12 Steps to Happiness | Greater Good (berkeley.edu)
“Definition of Happiness” by Greater Good in Education Oct issue 2022
“12 Steps to Happiness” by Stacy Kennelly / August 9, 2012
Aundraea Stevens
Convenor of the Mental Health and Wellbeing Committee
Many people often wonder what their P&C contributions are used for. The following is just one example of how this money is utilised.
After many years in the planning the canteen finally has a dishwasher. Thank you to all the parents who paid their P&C contributions in 2020/21 which enabled the P&C to purchase the industrial dishwasher. It was installed over the last holiday period. The dishwasher will save time for the canteen staff and improve hygiene. Canteen staff will no longer need to hand wash dishes. As it runs a short cycle at 70+ degrees it is also much more hygenic.
The P&C has ongoing plans to add to and update items in the canteen to improve the service to the students.
The next meeting of the P&C is on Monday 21st November 2022. You are most welcome to attend.
Andrea Doust
P&C President
Enrolments are open for VacSwim swimming lessons during the summer school holidays.
VacSwim is a great school holiday activity that teaches valuable safety skills to help keep your child safe in the water.
There are programs for everyone, from beginners to advanced swimmers. Students 14 years and over (or who will be turning 14 years in the same calendar year of the course) can enrol in Stage 16 to enable them to achieve their Bronze Medallion.
Places are limited, so get in early. Enrol today at education.wa.edu.au/vacswim
WAAPA Summer School 2023
Join us at WAAPA in January 2023 for fun, new friends and lots of performing! This summer WAAPA is offering a range of performing arts courses as part of our school holiday program for secondary school students. Classes for young people from Year 7 to 12 in Acting, Dance, Screen performance, Jazz and Music Theatre means there is something for everyone with a passion for the arts. Our wonderful staff cater for all abilities and experience levels. For information about the many courses on offer please visit Summer School 2023 or contact Gabrielle Metcalf at explore.waapa@ecu.edu.au or 9370 6775.