Issue 3 – May 2019

Newsletter Articles

Principal’s Report

As we begin Term 2, we are reminded of how busy a term it is. We started with our school Open Day on the first Friday, which was well attended and a great opportunity for prospective parents to see the school in operation. This was followed closely by our Parent-Teacher meetings.

NAPLAN Online

By far this has been the most significant change to our school year, with an enormous amount of planning and resourcing going into ensuring this runs as smoothly as possible. As I write we are half way through and can report that our careful preparation has paid off. Despite some initial glitches with the Australian Curriculum and Assessment and Reporting Authority (ACARA) platform, experienced in the middle session of the first day, things have progressed smoothly since. There has been a lot of focus in the media with many schools experiencing significant connectivity and technical issues. We are very grateful to our IT staff, administration and teachers for all their work in preparing for the tests and as such we have been able to successfully navigate these difficulties.

Our students are also to be commended on their resilience in navigating these glitches, and this certainly helps students gain the necessary experience for testing in an online environment. Results on these NAPLAN tests will presumably be available later in the year however it is unclear at this stage how ACARA will deal with the issues experienced across Australia, including the validity of the data.

NAPLAN improvements

Recently ACARA uploaded the 2018 NAPLAN data onto the MySchool website. We were contacted directly by ACARA and congratulated on our results.

“I am pleased to advise that ACARA has identified your school as having demonstrated substantially above average gain in reading and/or numeracy achievement, as measured by NAPLAN.”

Our school should be very proud of this commendation recognising the great work of our staff.

Cause to be proud

Congratulations to our newest student leaders in Middle School Saige Lawler and Emma Snell and the Year 7 student leaders listed in the Middle School Report.

We had a number of talented Kalamunda SHS students and staff participate at the recent ANZAC ceremony before the Len Hall Memorial AFL game on 29 April at Optus Stadium.

Students, Morgan Taylor (Year 12) and Jack Binns (Year 9) played trumpet/ bugle in the band before the match, along with staff Peter Hind.

Dave Billing (D&T teacher) entertained all at half time with his rendition of Waltzing Matilda.

Gabe Stevens (Year 7) played trumpet at the ANZAC assembly at Darlington Primary School and he and members of the KSHS choir participated in the ESC ANZAC assembly as well.

We also share a number of alumni success stories, and feel proud of the small part Kalamunda SHS played in their development.

Kendal Gear - Finalist in Archibald Prize 2019 – Kendal was part of the Gifted and Talented Visual Art program, has also been a tutor for the program.

Brooke Tia Silcox – “Judas Collar” Nominated for Best Short Film at the 8th Annual Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts (AACTA) (Australian equivalent of the Oscars)

Since then the film has won best narrative short film at the 2018 Austin Film Festival and recently selected for the 2019 Dallas International Film Festival.

The film is now eligible to enter the Academy Awards for 2020 and is raising money for that chance.

Mat de Koning – “Meal Tickets” documentary about a Perth rockband Screwtop Detonators (also from KSHS) and their journey chasing their dreams. Winner Best Australian Documentary and Winner Best Emerging Director (Melbourne Documentary Film Festival 2017), Official Selections – Melbourne International Film Festival, Revelation Film Festival Perth and Sydney Indie Film Festival.

The P&C are hosting an event showing the documentary and both Brooke and Mat will be attending to participate in a Q&A after the screening.

Many recent former KSHS students are continuing to achieve beyond school. You can read of their success in the Music News section.

ANZAC assembly

This year we held our assembly under our new shade shelter (provided through the Local Jobs Local Projects funding). It was a very moving assembly and the new venue a great success in accommodating the whole school event.

Mother’s Day Breakfast

Thank you to our school psychologist Jenny, along with staff and student leaders and helpers, for all their efforts in preparing for this special breakfast. It was a wonderful morning and beautiful music was provided by Josh Stanley-Hart, Ruby Austin, and Emma Snell, along with a reflection on mothers by guest speaker Stephanie Kershaw (Hockeyroos)

Quiz Night

Once again we will be holding this fundraising event. Please save the date 28 June and come along and book a table.

Welcome to new staff and students

We welcome Daniel Cargill (D&T) and Alana Sanbrook (Home Ec) as they join us to cover leave for Rosie Martin and Alicia Matrakis, who are both preparing for the safe arrival of new family members.

We also welcome a number of new students to the school this term:

Bailey Anderson, Erin de Haas, Jazmyn Francis, Nick Gilenko, Johndhel Brian Licudan, Kathlene Licudan, Sharmaine Cheska, Suzzaine Chelsey, Tanya Richards, Marc Rouillard, Bradley Rupe, Blair Trethowen and Taylor Trounson.

Helen Deacon
Principal

Senior School Report

The Senior School students have settled into Term 2 with the attention towards Externally Set Task’s (EST’s), exams, Workplace Learning (WPL) and career information. With the first round of formal reporting fast approaching it is important that students maintain their effort through to the end of semester and use their reports to provide a great opportunity to reflect on their successes and areas that can be improved.

The Class of 2019 are having to confront the reality that school for them will be ending in a little over a term. This is not a lot of time to make the necessary changes to achieve the results they aspire too. The leavers jackets have quickly become a feature of the Year 12 school uniform, identifying them as being in their final year. It has been great to see how the cohort has approached the ESTs and hopefully this will be replicated in the upcoming Semester 1 exams. Whilst this is a stressful time for our Senior School students, it is important to recognise the benefits of a balanced approach to study, physical activity, social life and sleep.

All Year 12 students are required to complete the online collection of student declaration and permission details for the Authority. The Authority’s purpose is to ensure all Year 12 students are aware of the requirements to achieve the Western Australian Certificate of Education (WACE) and for sitting the WACE examinations. Additional information can be found in the Year 12 Information Handbook which is available on the Authority website.

For the Year 11 and 12 students sitting exams, it is imperative to remember being prepared for your exams is a key element. Having everything you need available and remaining focused will certainly help support the achievement of better results. I would also like to remind all Year 11 and 12 students that Semester 1 is fast drawing to an end, and so attendance and completion of assessments are also important in ensuring good results. It is vital for all Senior School students to ensure that every piece of work is handed in on time and each one of you is putting in the required effort and study time required to succeed.

The Year 10 group participated in the career expo in the early part of the term and will soon be making important decisions about next year. The students were then able to talk to a range of universities, training institutions, employers and careers advisors. This is a significant time for Year 10s building information towards making choices for Year 11. Parents, there is an information evening at 6pm on 18 June where we will discuss the WACE, pathways and the course counselling process.

Can I also remind all Year 11 and 12 students along with parents, that Connect is a vital part of the school communication and a lot of information is available on Connect. So please make you time to check any updates or reminders. Please contact me if you have any concerns on 9293 6400.

Sharon Andrews
Head of Senior School

Year 11 Report

During Week 5 and 6, your child will either be sitting their ATAR Examinations, Work Place Learning or attending school. Students preparing for their Exams or their Work Place Learning, I wish them all the best.

We have started looking at the Year 11s academic progress and identifying students who may need support or to change courses, in order to succeed in Year 11 and continue their studies into Year 12. We will be getting in contact with you if this affects your child.

The OLNA results have recently been published. The results were printed and handed out to students. Year 11 students who have not passed still have three more opportunities before the end of Year 12 to achieve their OLNA.

As the weather is becoming colder, please ensure your child is wearing full school uniform. The new school tracksuit pants are available through Lowes. There are some Year 11s who are also wearing jumpers other than the school ones or hoodies underneath. It is important for your child to realise that if they are out of uniform it is marked on the system and can lead to a loss of Good Standing. Good Standing is required in order to attend rewards and the School Ball in 2020.

Please don’t hesitate to contact me, your child’s Mentor Teacher or Learning Area Teacher if you have any questions. Nicole.Sijka@education.wa.edu.au

Nicole Sijka
Year 11 Coordinator

Year 10 Report

There have been a number of highlights for the Year 10 cohort since our last communication. Towards the end of last term we had a Rewards Sausage Sizzle for the house with the most Kala Credits. The lucky winners from Year 10 on this occasion were Orion so well done to all who contributed! In addition to this, we had our first year group assembly of the term where the Top Mentor Class Award went to 10.9. This class managed to accumulate a total of around 40 Kala Credits per student throughout Term 1. Their reward was a delectable breakfast of fresh fruit and croissants. It is always a pleasure to see so many of our students recognised for demonstrating our school values.

In terms of events, our students have been very busy participating in a range of activities. Last term, the Year 10 Science AE Class attended the Science and Engineering Challenge, a nationwide STEM program run by the University of Newcastle. Students were involved in hands on activities such as designing an earthquake proof building, constructing a bridge that could support a trolley carrying gold, and designing and operating a bionic hand. Students were required to work as a team, and be innovative and resourceful in order to gain points for their school. Kalamunda did extremely well, placing second for the day. An excellent achievement for all involved. Congratulations to the following students who attended:

Aimee Bowers, Phoebe Boyd, Sophie Catchpole, Samuel Clark, Adam Cook, Savannah Coupland, Griffin Crossman, Kourtney Cummings, Annalies Day, Anthony Doust, Sophia Ferrari, Dean Giovanazzo, Kristy Golden, Elizabeth Kingston, Filip Kovacevic, Oliver Lee-Rosser, Drew Mann, Rohan McCallion, Charlotte McCullen, Isabelle Miller, Alice Ninduara, Lance Ocampo, Jewel Pivac, Sophie Ries, Hayden Schwinkowski, Kelsey Sieczka, Lily Trott, Sylvia Veale, Jorgia Watson, and Evie Williams.

Students were also accompanied and encouraged by Mrs Stewart and Ms Penglis from our Science Department during the program.

Week 2 was also an eventful week this term with students attending the Kalamunda Careers Expo and participating in the Elevate Seminar. Both events were valuable in giving students the opportunity to think about future pathways and strategies for success. With OLNA results now distributed, and examinations coming up shortly, students will begin to have a broader picture of what success looks like for them and how they can set goals to achieve this. We also have our Year 10 Parent Information Evening in Week 8 which will give an overview of study pathways and options beyond Year 10. This will also be an opportunity to ask any questions that you may have in relation to WACE or other courses available.

As ever, should you have any questions or concerns regarding your student please do not hesitate to contact me. Karen.stuart@education.wa.edu.au

Karen Stuart
Year 10 Coordinator

Middle School Report

Bibbulmun Challenge

We are now winding up our Bibbulmun Challenge for another year. We have had a number of staff make their first journey and seem to have come through better than myself. I want to congratulate all of the students, staff and parents who made the journey this year. It is without doubt a wonderful initiative and I know I refer students to it as they move through Middle School, reminding them about how they felt on that day and how they overcame any problems. I especially want to thank our school Chaplain Desi and also our amazing Year 8 Coordinator Mr Meaden. Once again we gave the mentor classes the added task of compiling a photographic display of the day and they will be working with their mentor teachers to compile a presentation that represents our 5 School Values and how they related to the day. These presentations will be judged by an independent panel that no mentor teachers will be a part of (yes that includes our amazing principal Ms Deacon) as the best presentation will receive a breakfast for their mentor that will be cooked by myself, Mr Meaden and Ms Shepherd. More details soon.

Online Safety

I do get some great information from The Office of the eSafety Commissioner so I like to pass this on when I get it. I have copied this from their newsletter and have taken the tour as well. It is extremely informative and well thought out. It is also a great starting point if you are feeling a little overwhelmed about all of the Online programs, apps and games that are out there.

Awards

We had a Middle School Assembly on 8 May so congratulations to all of our Values Award winners.

Student Leaders

Now that the Year 7s have been here for a term we have gone through a process to select our Year 7 Student Leaders. All students who nominated should be very proud of themselves as the applications were all of an extremely high standard and myself, Ms Archdall and Ms shepherd had some very difficult decisions to make to select them. We would like to congratulate the following students and hope and look forward to their contribution as Student Leaders.

We have also selected our two Middle School leaders to represent the Middle School and who will actively assist the Year 12 Student Council in ensuring that the Middle School has a voice within the Senior School.

Mark Pettit
Head of Middle School

Year 9 Report

NAPLAN is over so we can all take a little breath and get back to our normal routine. I am so proud of all the Year 9s who tried their best despite the change to online testing this year. I hope that we all achieve our potential. For those of you that receive band 8 or higher in each of the NAPLAN components will be exempt from ONLA in Year 10 which will be a great reprieve for you.

As well as the challenge of NAPLAN and the business of school in general we have had many of our students getting involved in the school community. A number of the Year 9s stepped up to assist in the Bibbulumun Challenge and form connections with the Year 8s. Our student leaders have also been very active helping out at the Mother’s Day Breakfast, to which they did a tremendous job representing our school.

I would like to take the time to congratulate our new Middle School Leaders, Saige Lawler and Emma Snell. They are very deserving of this role and I know they will do their absolute best to support the school and the cohort.

The cold weather has now definitely set in and the hoodies have now returned. I would like to remind you that hoodies and tracksuit pants no matter the colour are not part of the school uniform. Appropriate navy blue or white long sleeve under shirts can be worn under the school t-shirt if you are prone to the cold and need some extra insulating layers. Students who receive more than five uniform infringements may lose their good standing and then be ineligible to attend the Year 9 Reward Day at the end of term.

If you have any queries or concerns please feel free to contact me. The best form of communication is via email at laura.cheetham@education.wa.edu.au.

Laura Cheetham
Year 9 Coordinator

Year 8 Report

Welcome to the beginning of Term 2!

We are off to an amazing start with a renewed sense of self and engagement being demonstrated by most if not all Year 8 students. I feel that some of the teething issues surrounding settling into the greater school community and leaving the Year 7 nest are reducing at a rapid rate – which is very pleasing to see.

I presented a large number of School Value Awards at our Middle School assembly last week which indicates to me we have some great students who do demonstrate RESPECT, take PRIDE in what they do and PRIDE within themselves, are RESILIENT at times of pressure and make an effort to contribute to the school COMMUNITY.

Year 8 Bibbulmun Challenge

Congratulations to ALL students who have participated and are due to participate in the 10km walk along the iconic Bibbulmun Track. Our fearless Middle School Leader (Mark Pettit) has masterfully created a program that incorporates our stunning surrounding landscape and the various challenges of high school – from Years 7-12.

The walk is an enriching experience and a perfect way to build lasting relationships with teachers, students and our connection to the land. If your child has not yet filled in their permission slip, please direct them to their mentor teacher for assistance or myself.

Up and coming events

• Public Holiday on the 3 June 2019 – students do NOT attend school on this day.
• 19th Annual Kalamunda SHS Quiz Night – we encourage parents, teachers, friends of the family and community members to buy a ticket and attend our quiz night. It is generally an exciting night full of laughs and knowledge.
• Middle School Rewards Day – in an effort to reward Year 8 students for keeping their Good Standing, I am currently organising a day at the movies followed by lunch at the park. The venue, location and event itinerary will be confirmed in the coming weeks and permission slips sent home in due course.

Once again, your feedback as a parent, carer and community member is paramount. Please contact me if you need anything!

Ashley Meaden
Year 8 Coordinator

“Some people can’t believe in themselves until someone else believes in them first.” – Sean Maguire, from Good Will Hunting

Year 7 Report

Liveability Studies

All Year 7 students have been able to enjoy the last of the warm weather outdoors during their recent HASS Liveability Inquiry. It has been great to see students immersed in their studies completing field sketches of the year 7 areas including the C Block and the Top Court Area. Students also utilised Landgate and Google Maps on their devices to get accurate measurements and information about the existing facilities before joining peers in a group to redesign the whole area and plan a presentation to their class. The ideas and designs were of a high quality taking into account accessibility, sustainability, Health and enjoyment.

Forensic Science Incursion

Congratulations to Ms Bullock for organising a fantastic and engaging hands on science incursion for the Year 7 cohort to attend. Students reflected their enjoyment of being able to move freely from station to station as they used the forensic methods to attempt to solve the mystery. The guest speaker was engaging and the level of questions and answers from students showed their engagement in the experience.

Recess and Lunchtime Activities

It is fantastic to see so many Year 7 students utilising the top courts to join in games of soccer. The new goals provided by the Phys Ed department allow for proper games to be played and the addition of new sports equipment in the Year 7 office allows more students to be involved. In addition, Year 7 students have access to the gym every Thursday at recess and lunchtime.

Upcoming Events

The Year 7s will soon be attending an excursion into the city to study Civics and Citizenship at the Frances Burt Law Education Centre and to Elizabeth Quay to participate in Liveability Studies.

The semester will finish with a terrific rewards day that all Year 7s with Good Standing will be invited to attend.

Susan Archdall
Year 7 Coordinator

Mother’s Day Breakfast

On Friday 10 May we celebrated the wonderful job our mothers, stepmothers, grandmothers, aunties and carers do by providing a lovely breakfast for them and their children. The event has become so popular that this year we held the event in the school cafeteria, which proved to be a good decision.

With the help of donations from IGA Kalamunda we managed to cook bacon and eggs muffins; ham, cheese and tomato croissants, toast, cereal, yoghurt and fruit; along with tea, coffee, milo and juices. Our dedicated team of helpers were definitely kept busy! Ruby Austin and Josh Stanley-Hart and Emma Snell provided us with some beautiful music throughout the morning.

This year our guest speaker was Australian Hockeyroo Stephanie Kershaw. Stephanie provided us with an entertaining account of the pranks her and her friends got up to, which provided us an insight to the patience her mother had for Stephanie as she was growing up. Stephanie also explained the role her mother played in helping her achieve her goal of becoming a Hockeyroo, which at the time may not have always been appreciated, but Stephanie made it very clear that, in looking back, her mother was her rock and number one supporter

Our student speaker this year was Ruby Ireland who paid a lovely tribute to her mum. I think her talk caused a few tears from mums around the room, especially Ruby’s mum!

The school appreciates having the opportunity to provide our students with the chance to let their mothers, stepmothers, grandmothers, aunties and carers know how much of an important role these women play in their lives and help them connect with each other.

I would like to thank those students and staff involved in making the morning a success.

Jenny Edmonds
School Psychologist

English News

2019 Reading Challenge

Academic Excellence Students from Year 7 to 9 are taking on the 2019 Reading Challenge in a quest to develop their knowledge of narrative conventions across different genres. These students are joined by a group of Year 10s who are acting as mentors to younger students and fostering a sense of community for their peers. Over the course of the year, all participants have been challenged to read books from a wide variety of genres and to share short reviews. There are 24 different categories that students are aiming to complete, ranging from war and historical fiction through to Australian books and stories published more than 50 years ago. Currently the Year 7AE class are leading the way with more than 50 reviews posted in Term 1. Well done Year 7s! It has been wonderful to see students actively posting their reviews in the Reading Challenge Connect page and reading beyond their usual comfort zones.

The Cotherstone Press

Earlier this year a small group of students came together to create Kalamunda Senior High School’s first creative writing group. With a focus on creating exceptional imaginative writing and learning new skills, the group now meets once a fortnight to share and critique work as well as enjoy a dedicated space to write in a supportive environment. After much deliberation, the group has settled on the name The Cotherstone Press, reflecting aims to publish their work and our location at KSHS. Members are currently working on writing for competitions, with each student working towards their finished pieces with the feedback and support of the group. Students interested in joining The Cotherstone Press are welcome to speak with Mrs Adams at the English Office.

Sarah Adams
English Teacher

Mathematics Update

Working towards one of our objectives to ensure that students are able to interpret numeracy in their personal and work lives as active citizens, students in Years 9-12 were involved in a finance incursion. Guest speakers from Commonwealth Bank, as part of their Start Smart program, delivered workshops designed to develop student’s financial knowledge and capacity specific for their age and need. Students were engaged in the activities and asked several questions on the topics discussed. We aim to offer these opportunities to students each year to develop their financial literacy in a real life context in addition to mathematical concepts and processes.

Exposing students to mathematics outside of the classroom is a valuable exercise and I encourage parents to engage in these conversations with students where possible. For example, involving students in discussing the family budget and developing meal plans develops their understanding of financial budgeting and planning in a context that they can identify with.

Please regularly check the Connect class pages for updates on work and assessments. All students have access to mathspace.co and I encourage all students to use it whether it be part of homework or study to continually push themselves to be the best that they can be.

If parents/caregivers have any questions or queries regarding your child’s learning program and progress, please feel free to contact their classroom teacher or the Head of Learning Area throughout the year.

Jessica Millar
Head of Mathematics Learning Area

Health, Outdoor and Physical Education News

The Outdoor Adventure Program students from Years 8, 9 and 10, as well as the Certificate II Outdoor Recreation students have ventured to Stathams Quarry this term to test their abseiling skills.

Lightning Carnival News

Both Year 8 and 9 students that nominated to participate in the netball, soccer and basketball Lightning Carnivals came away with some pleasing results.

Soccer Program Updates

All three Specialist Soccer Program Teams have played their first interschool matches of 2019. The girls soccer team played against a strong Willetton SHS and unfortunately lost 6-0. Special mention must go to Jade Di Mattina, Isabella Dunlop, Jessie-Lee McMahon, Alice Baker and Montanna Thumwood who all put in excellent performances on the day. The Year 8 boys interschool soccer team drew their first home game 3-3 against Southern River SHS and the Year 9 boys won their first home game against Belmont SHS.

Upcoming HOPE events:

Alice Hall
Health and Physical Education Teacher

Music News

On the 9 April the senior concert band, strings and choir combined to perform several items at the annual KSHS ANZAC ceremony. This year the event was held outside on Kostera oval. The logistics of having some 80 plus music students perform outside took weeks in the planning. A big thanks goes to Mr Hind, Mrs Tweddle and Mrs Spogowski for all of their efforts leading up to the day and at the ceremony. The students performed respectfully and I was very impressed by the whole event.

Friday the 12 April was also the opening of the annual Kalamunda Show. Once again we had been fortunate enough to secure three hours of performance time on the main stage. Every year I see students grow in confidence and ability and this year I was really impressed by all of the student’s professionalism. It was wonderful to see some students performing their own compositions and the feedback I have received from parents, show organizers and audience members has been very positive. I would like to thank all of the students who performed and congratulate them on their professional conduct, exemplary behavior and amazing musical talents. Well done to all involved!

Each year we have students who leave KSHS having formed a band at school then venture off into the big wide world. We have had several bands that keep going after school has finished and go to WAAPA and release music, which is really exciting. On Friday 28 June Spici Water, Dolce Blue and Freehand have teamed up to do a show at the Kalamunda Hotel. All three bands started here at KSHS in my certificate of music course and it is fantastic to see them continuing to live their dreams beyond school. Spici Water is AJ Goulden’s band from last year- now at WAAPA. Dolce Blue is Veronica Zurzolo’s band. Veronica is at ECU/WAAPA studying band management. Also in the band and from the same year at KSHS is Brody Honey, Daniel Taylor and Lachlan Casey- from three years ago. Freehand is Gemma Addison’s band from two years ago. Gemma is also at WAAPA and Josh Stanley-Hart plays guitar with them. Josh is currently in Year 11 in the music Certificate III course. I think it’s fantastic that the musical community that we are fostering here are supporting each other and doing well out there in the music industry.

Lastly on Monday 6 May ‘Musikal’ met for our annual AGM. The meeting was well attended and all executive committee positions were dissolved. Nominations were called for and all executive positions were filled:

President – Marcus Roberts nominated by Michelle Vivian, seconded by Anne- Marie Taylor.

Vice president- Michelle Vivian nominated by Anne-Marie Taylor, seconded by Marcus Roberts.

Treasurer – Erin Ashbolt nominated by Michelle Vivian, seconded by Marcus Roberts.

Secretary – Alex Stevens nominated by Felicity Kingston, seconded by Andrea Doust.

General committee members - Andrea Doust, Felicity Kingston, Anne-Marie Taylor, Kai Pabst.

A special thanks goes to Helen Addison who has retired from the Treasurer position this year. Helen has been so supportive of ‘Musikal’ over the last five years and has helped in so many ways over that time. She will be sorely missed! But thank you Helen for all of your hard work.

Marcus Roberts
Director of Music

Indonesian

Indonesian Readers for Primary Schools

Both Year 8 Indonesian classes completed a project on creating Indonesian readers for the local primary schools where Indonesian is taught. It took about four weeks to complete. They were shown samples of readers before they embarked on their own work. The students were asked to select a topic and research it.

Readers included topics like:

All the students really enjoyed making these readers for the primary school students, and I hope they will enjoy them. All students put thought into adding their own little twist to the readers to make them stand out. I think we all had a lot of fun making these!

Isabella Martignoli
Year 8 Student

Year 9 Role Play

This term, in Indonesian, the Year 9 students have been focusing on going to the doctor. With so many students constantly being out of class sick, Ibu Kaler thought it best to teach us, what to say at the doctor, in case we ever got sick while travelling in Indonesia. We had the most entertaining time, wrapping our classmates up in bandages (head to toe, of course) and making up over exaggerated scenarios as to why we were hurt (the cows had a serious vendetta against [half] the class).

However, all play and no work would make for a rather hopeless bunch of kids, so Ibu Kaler incorporated our messing around into a rather fun assignment. We were to get into groups of two or three and work on a roleplay. There would be a doctor, a receptionist and a patient. Each of the groups must act out (in Indonesian of course) a scenario where a patient must make an appointment (with the receptionist) and then go in and explain to the doctor what was wrong. It was then the doctor’s job to ask the right questions and prescribe the appropriate medicine.

Aside from being a fabulously practical assignment, it allowed us to have a fairly free reign on what we wanted to do. This enabled us to get creative and have more fun than we thought we possibly could when it came to assignments. Ibu Kaler is most definitely the best of the best when it comes to making work and tests engaging, practical and all in all, absolutely marvelous!

Katrina Beronja
Year 9 Student

Visual Art Excursion

On Thursday 11 April the Year 11 and 12 ATAR Visual Arts students headed into city to visit the Perth Cultural Centre.

The first stop was the State Library of WA, where the education officer gave a tour called “Beyond the Book” and highlighted objects in the collection such as maps, pamphlets and photos.

The students then spent time at the Shaun Tan exhibition ‘Cicada’ before visiting the Art Gallery of Western Australia and taking in the Year 12 Perspectives Pulse Exhibition. This showcases the best artwork across the state from the previous year. It was wonderful to see ex-student Charlotte Meagher’s oil painting on display.

Claire Eden
Visual Art Teacher

Languages

Health and Well- being Italian, Indonesian and Japanese style!

Living a life that is well balanced can be tricky. All countries around the world adopt different practices that promote good emotional and physical health at home and the work place. The Languages Team at KSHS have put together some fun facts about some unique routines and strategies that Indonesian, Italian and Japanese people put into place in order to live a happier and healthier life.

Italy

Spend mealtimes with family

Just as important as what’s on the menu is who you sit down at the table to eat with. Spending mealtimes with family is still a key part of Italian food culture – good news, as research shows that people who eat together are healthier, show fewer signs of depression and have a more positive outlook on life.

Take a passeggiata

Taking a passeggiata, or short stroll, happens all across Italy in the biggest cities and smallest towns, usually in the afternoon or early evening. The purpose is to socialise with friends and family, escape the daily grind and clear the head – and even a slow 20-minute walk burns around 80 calories.

Don’t go out with wet hair

These days, the idea that wet hair causes sickness is generally considered to be an old wives’ tale. In Italy, however, this belief is widely held to be true – so leave the house without blow-drying at your peril. While we now know a virus causes the common cold, there could be some method in the Italians’ madness. One theory suggests there could be an increased risk of getting sick due to cold – and therefore constricted – blood vessels being less able to transport infection-fighting white blood cells around the body.

Enjoy Simple, Fresh Food

The Tuscan diet is loaded with beans, which are high in protein and soluble fibre that fill you up for a long time for very few calories. Riboletta soup and pasta e fagioli are two popular hearty dishes that feature beans.

Balsamic vinegar from Modena is another flavourful, yet very low-calorie, product of Italy that is used freely to flavour foods and salads.

Down south, the fresh fish, herbs, artichokes, capers, and gigantic lemons contribute to delicious and healthy cuisine. Pasta is served al dente, with a little olive oil or tomato sauce and vegetables, and always in small portions.

"Our cooking is simple and genuine," says a local Italian. "We start with fresh ingredients, often from our own gardens. We don't buy precooked foods. [We] eat lots of vegetables, keep it simple, and try to eat like our grandparents."

Love of Land and nature

The results indicated robust trends among the very old residents of Cilento (a small Southern village). All of them exhibited high levels of mental well-being and low levels of depression and anxiety — all of which is rooted in their sense of purpose and relationship to their surroundings. The researchers note, “The group’s love of their land is a common theme and gives them a purpose in life. Most of them are still working in their homes and on the land”.

Italians Eat Slowly

When it comes to mindful eating practices, eating slowly is definitely one of them. For Italians, the purpose of a meal is not just to address hunger. Mealtimes are regarded as almost sacred, a time dedicated to being spent with loved ones, savouring the nourishment prepared by people who understand food well – it’s about enjoyment and good company. You’ll be hard-pressed to find an Italian who is willing to eat at his or her desk, and especially in rural areas, many workers return home during lunchtime to enjoy a freshly-prepared meal. According to a study published in the British Medical Journal, eating slowly can help to improve satiety, aid digestion and encourage weight loss.

Japan

Shinrin-yoku

森林浴

森林 shinrin - forest

浴 yoku – bathing

“Shinrinyoku” is a term that means ‘forest bathing’ or ‘taking in the atmosphere of the forest’ and it is a popular past time in Japan, after studies in the 1980’s showed the many health benefits of spending time in nature.

The idea is to spend a relaxing time in the forest – quietly and calmly walking; just ‘being’ in the forest. The use of the kanji 浴 shows the importance of it just ‘being’ as it is treated like the Hot Springs bathing – where you just sit and relax.

The scientifically proven benefits of shinrinyoku include:

• boosted immune system functioning, with an increase in the count of the body's Natural Killer (NK) cells;
• reduced blood pressure;
• reduced stress;
• improved mood;
• increased ability to focus, even in children with ADHD;
• accelerated recovery from surgery or illness;
• increased energy level;
• improved sleep.

When was the last time you just walked into the abundant bushland around Kalamunda and just sat and enjoyed the tranquillity and beauty? Maybe you could give it a shot!

Victoria Maguire
Japanese Teacher

10 Traditional Indonesian Medicine Recipes with Real Health Benefits

Long before modern Western medicine was introduced, Indonesians managed to combat many illnesses with traditional medicinal recipes. Even now, many households still prefer these ancient recipes over modern medicines, while companies incorporate this old wisdom into today’s products. From fever cures to weight-loss potions, discover Indonesia’s incredible traditional medicinal recipes.

Turmeric-Tamarind herbal

Often found in Asian cooking recipes, turmeric is also cherished for its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. Combined with tamarind, the turmeric acid herbal is a proven remedy for menstrual pain, inflammation, high blood pressure, and more. Many also count on this herbal to lose weight. To make this beverage, brew shredded or powdered turmeric and tamarind in the same amount, add palm sugar and a little salt to taste.

Temulawak

Temulawak, or Java ginger, is a spice plant native to Indonesia and for centuries it has been observed to yield several health benefits. Temulawak drinks have been used to relieve nausea, dizziness, and symptoms of cold. But perhaps the most common use for this herb is to improve appetite, especially for children. To make a temulawak potion, mash temulawak and brew with tamarind and palm sugar, keep it boiling until only half the water remains.

Rice-Kencur herbal

This herbal remains one of Indonesia’s favorite not only for the health benefits, but also for the fresh and delicious taste. Kencur, also known as aromatic ginger or sand ginger, is rich in zinc and other minerals, making it a common ingredient for various traditional cooking and medicinal recipes throughout Asia. Combined with rice and other spices, the herbal drink helps with cholesterol, inflammation, and overall immune system. To make the rice and kecur herbal, first you’ll have to prepare the rice grains by soaking them for three hours. Brew kencur with a little turmeric, tamarind, ginger, and palm sugar. After the water boils, take all the ingredients and mash them together, then brew once more.

Javanese chili herbal

This herbal uses Piper retrofractum, also known as puyang chili, Javanese chili, Javanese long pepper, or Balinese long pepper. Often used as spice and seasoning in traditional meals, this herb is also effective to treat soreness or stiffness in the body. The abundance of iron and other nutritions also help the body to produce more red blood cells and prevent anemia. To make this herbal drink, you can mash or chop the chili, or dry it before, then boil with water. Add honey or palm sugar to taste according to your preference.

Pahitan

Pahitan is derived from the word ’pahit’ that means bitter. Basically an assortment of bitter things, this herbal drink incorporates various leaves, mainly sambiloto, but also brotowali, meniran, lempuyang, and others in smaller measure. This traditional medicine is predictably notorious for its unpleasant taste, but its efficacy has stood the test of time in helping with high blood sugar, cholesterol, and the digestive system. It also helps with smaller discomfort like open wounds, fever, stiffness, and headache.

Kumis kucing

Orthosiphon aristatus, or cat’s whiskers or Java tea, is a tropical medicinal herb that is often used in medicine recipes, both traditional and modern. Its popularity is partly due to the immense availability and low maintenance, so anyone can grow these in their own backyard, but also for the rich nutrients. There are different recipes for different symptoms that this plant can help treat. But for the most part, brewing the plant is enough to make a traditional medicine that helps with diabetes, high blood pressure, fever, even STDs. Kumis kucing drink is also safe to consume every day until the symptoms are relieved.

Uyup-uyup

This herbal drink is especially popular among breastfeeding mothers, as the nutrients inside are proven to help increase milk production and its quality, among other benefits such as eliminating bad body odour and relieving digestive problems. Uyup-uyup, or gepyokan, uses kencur, ginger, galingale, temulawak, puyang, and kunir; chopped then mashed, and then brewed together. You can also add sugar to help with the taste.

Italian Guest Speaker- Eros Scagnetti

Year 8 and 9 Italian students had an inspirational visit from Eros Scagnetti from the University of Western Australia. Eros graduated with an Honours Degree in Italian and is currently working on his PhD. Eros is also involved with the Student Engagement Team of UWA. The purpose of this visit was to remind our students about the numerous academic and social benefits that studying European Languages can bring and how students can link their language learning to any industry and future careers. Eros asked students the types of jobs that they are interested in pursuing. Responses included; Formula 1 driver, pharmacist, doctor, engineer and professional baseball player. Eros was able to link the Italian language and knowledge of the Italian culture to each one of these careers and how they can be applied.

Eros described learning a foreign language as a gym work out. It may take time to see progress but the results are pleasing and beneficial. When learning a language, students are developing and refining practical skills for the changing world and also learning skills that help the brain process information quicker. Studies have shown that studying a foreign language increases the grey matter in our brain making us better at critical thinking, creativity and memorising.

Eros mentioned that when people learn languages, it teaches them how to be human; to have empathy, appreciation and respect for all cultures, patience and the understanding that beneath all of our differences, we have a lot in common as human beings. This is an important message for us all!

Students and Eros had a discussion about the world of robots and artificial intelligence. The point of this discussion was to make students aware of the changing world- globalisation. Eros explained that robots cannot recreate creativity or be creative. Robots do not have the interpersonal skills of a human being. However, the ability to understand a foreign language and having cultural competency are skills that will never become obsolete.

Did you know? Lo sapete?

• Australia signed a three year agreement with the European Union increasing exporting and importing between Australia and Europe. This has created many career opportunities which employers will need to hire people with language and culture skills for marketing.
• There are over 270 spoken in Australia.
• Italian culture has helped shaped the Perth community eg; architecture, food and wine, agriculture, theatre, music.
• Olive oil was not available inside supermarkets until the 60s. It was a difficult product to find and could only be bought at the pharmacy.

Maria Pennington
Teacher in Charge of Languages

A Message from the Community Health Nurse

Flu (influenza)

• Influenza (flu) is a common, highly contagious virus that affects the respiratory system.
• The virus can cause a mild to serious illness and even death in young children, older adults and vulnerable people.
• Getting the flu vaccine is your best protection against the flu. Protect yourself and your family.

The flu is not the same as the common cold.

There are two basic types of flu – A and B – that cause illness in people.

These are called the seasonal flu viruses, as they emerge each year, mostly in the winter months.

The best way to prevent catching the flu is to have the flu vaccination.

Follow these tips to help avoid, or to stop yourself giving it to others:

• Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze.
• Throw used tissues in the bin.
• Wash your hands often with soap and water or use antibacterial hand sanitisers, especially after you cough.
• Try to avoid close contact with people who have flu symptoms.
• If you have the flu, stay home from work or school and limit your contact with other people.

For more information on flu and the flu vaccine please take a look at the articles below or speak to your Community Health Nurse or regular health care provider.

Louise.Jonker@health.wa.gov.au

Louise Jonker
School Nurse

From the P&C

KidSport

EdConnect Australia

July school holidays EXPLORE Short Courses

These July school holidays WAAPA at ECU is offering performing arts courses for children in Years 1 to 12.